Chapter 4

"Sienna, listen to me."

Alessandro practically flew out of the room, grabbing my wrist and pulling me into his office.

I could smell the cloying mix of cigar smoke and perfume in the air. My eyes scanned the room: an open bottle of Barolo on the desk, two crystal glasses still stained with wine.

How sophisticated. What a carefree life.

Early in the morning, in his top-floor casino office, drinking thousand-dollar wine and flirting with his assistant.

"It's not what you think," he said, stepping in front of me to block my view. "The deal at the docks was rough. Chloe and I were on edge all night. We came back, had a couple of drinks to unwind, and were just blowing off steam."

"You know how it is in our world. She's young and ambitious. She gets carried away."

A ruthless district Capo, now uncharacteristically scrambling to make excuses to me.

Chloe stood up from the sofa, adjusting her collar, her face a mask of perfect apology.

"Sienna, please don't get the wrong idea. There's nothing going on between the boss and me."

"This is just how we are with each other. We're used to it. You don't come to the casino often, so you probably don't understand our way of doing things."

I looked at her. Everything she said was meant to tell me that this kind of intimacy between them was normal.

She wanted to see me break, but she had chosen the wrong moment.

I had already decided to leave. Nothing involving Alessandro could hurt me anymore.

"I know," I nodded, my voice soft.

"I wasn't planning on blaming you," I said, meeting Alessandro's gaze, my tone calmer than it had ever been.

Alessandro froze. Even Chloe, who had been ready for a show, was stunned into silence.

"You're... not angry?" Alessandro stared at me, his brow furrowed, as if trying to identify something unfamiliar.

"Why would I be angry?" I placed the container of pancakes on his desk. "You've explained everything, haven't you?"

He visibly relaxed, his tense body slackening. "I knew you were the most understanding."

He reached out to touch my face, but I turned my head just enough for his hand to meet empty air. He awkwardly retracted it.

"I'll be home for dinner tonight," he said. "Make sure to prepare that veal I like."

Every time he did something to feel guilty about, he would come home for a meal.

As if a bowl of hot soup from me could smooth over his guilt, could wash away the filth he'd picked up outside.

My eyes drifted to Chloe. She didn't bother to hide the anger in her eyes, furious that he was going home to be with me tonight.

As expected, the next second she interjected, her voice feigning thoughtfulness.

"Sienna, I heard yesterday was your birthday. You must have been lonely all by yourself. Why don't you come over to my place for dinner tonight? I've got a gift to make it up to you."

As she spoke, she snuck a glance at Alessandro, gauging his reaction.

Predictably, Alessandro took the bait.

"Chloe, that's very thoughtful of you, to even think of getting a gift."

"Well then, Sienna, let's just go to her place tonight. She just hired a private chef, flew him in from Southern Italy at great expense."

Realizing his slip, he quickly added, "I meant the family has been using a new private chef for some events. The food's pretty good."

Alessandro didn't need to draw such a clear line between his professional and private life. Besides, I wasn't interested in whether he had eaten that chef's food before.

"Yes, yes, Sienna, you absolutely must come! I'll have the private chef prepare extra white truffles tonight. I guarantee even a refined artist like you will be satisfied!"

Her eyes were bright, like a spectator waiting for a good show.

I knew exactly what game she was playing. She wanted to humiliate me on her own turf, in front of Alessandro.

She had invited me a few times before, and I had always refused. I felt that going to a place like that was just asking for humiliation.

But today was different. Tomorrow morning, I would be on a flight to Europe.

Before I left, I didn't want to have a falling out with Alessandro. If he got suspicious, with his resources, I might not be able to get away.

I looked up at Chloe, a faint smile playing on my lips.

"Alright, I'll go."

Chloe was blindsided for a second. Then, an undisguised look of triumph spread across her face.