Page 111 of Enduring Caine

“You’re a good woman.”

After Henri revealed he was the TPC agent, three guards arrived and transported Leo upstairs to Gio’s private physician. Likely on to a hospital after that, but Cristian encouraged us to return to our room.

“Honesty time.” I turned in his arms and draped my hands behind his neck. “Did you think I was fooling around with Vin?”

His jaw remained as clenched as it had been since I pulled him from the water last night. We needed to get him to Naples and the doctor he’d been referred to. He could have done more damage to the arm. Hopefully not irreparable. “Total honesty?”

I nodded, stomach twisting in knots.

“I noticed a change in you after New Year’s. You were quieter, less sure of yourself. And that got even worse whenever Vincenzo was around. Perhaps you fell into patterns more comfortable to the young woman you were when the two of you were together.”

A young woman who hadn’t found herself yet. Whose father had left when she was five and whose best friend didn’t talk to her anymore. My life’s plans were still in reach at that point, but the worst of my days were ahead of me.

Ten years ago, Vincenzo left me. Eight years ago, my mother died. Seven since my divorce. In some ways, I’d seen my breakup with Vin as the first domino in a long line of heartbreaks.

A long line I didn’t snap out of until Antonio. And here we stood, on the other side of another one of my scars, which could finally heal. Because in the end, Vincenzo didn’t have any power over me anymore.

He squeezed my waist. “I worried more that you’d lose your fire than that you’d cheat on me. So I suppose I worried I would lose that part of you to him.”

I ran fingers through the short hair over his ear, then down his jaw, and across his lips. Vincenzo said he wanted me, but he didn’t know who I was. This man in front of me—he did. He knew my fears, my hopes, and my dreams. At least, more of them than anyone else did.

He sawme.

And I loved him so much for it. “The next three and a half months apart is going to be harder than the last, isn’t it?”

“Sì, I expect they will.” He gave me a peck on the nose. “Come now. Let’s get our bags and leave. A week with Mario will have you begging to go home.”

I laughed and nodded, slipping out of his grip.

I sat at the dining table for breakfast, tired faces all around. Henri arrived with food and drinks, as though nothing had happened last night, despite some intense initial questions about why he was in the cave with a gun. I didn’t know how he got out of that, but if he was in the kitchen this morning, he must have had a good story.

Cesca drew in a deep breath and held it. Her eyes found mine, then fell to her hands in her lap.

Cristian reached over and put his hand on her shoulder.

She finally said, “Papa told me everything this morning. He said Vincenzo was working for a bad man and you caught him. Is that true? Is that what last night was all about?”

I nodded. Between the two of us, Antonio and I had cobbled together a story about my early suspicions of Vincenzo. About how I played along with having an interest in him, so he’d give away his plans, and about how he’d threatened me last night.

Giovanni took a cornetto from the tray on the table. “We’re fortunate Samantha was here when he attempted to deceive us. It’s just too bad he got away.”

“But we know who he works for.” Cristian nodded at Henri as the chef placed an espresso cup in front of him. “I didn’t think he’d be so bold. Fiori, that is.”

Henri’s gaze swept the group of us, and he gave me a small smile before retreating to the kitchen.

Antonio sat to my right, next to Cristian, so his good arm faced me. His hand ran along my thigh. “But you were so bold to take the fresco back from him. Do you think last night’s attempted theft was retaliation for that?”

“No,” I said, forgetting myself and my cover. Vincenzo had told me they were waiting for that painting to be delivered for some time. Although that could have been another lie. “I mean, you just got the fresco back yesterday, right? And I found Vincenzo’s note about the painting being delivered two days ago. He knew he wanted to steal it before he knew the fresco was here.”

“Good point,” said Antonio immediately, helping strengthen my case.

Giovanni’s eyes narrowed. “Fiori had a man inside my home for two years, spying and making plans. How much other damage did he do? Did he plant bugs? Had he stolen other things? We’re going to have to do the full security overhaul Leonardo’s been talking about. And verify everyone’s backgrounds all over again.”

“Speaking of Leonardo,” I said. “How’s he doing?”

Cristian and Gio looked at each other, then looked at Cesca. Maybe she hadn’t gotten a full update on everything that had happened last night.

“Thanks for helping my dad, Sam. And Antonio, I hope I see you again soon.” She stood and plucked three items off the tray Henri had brought, putting them on her plate. With that, she rounded the table and headed off.