Chapter 55

Chapter

Fifty-Five

"No friendship is an accident."

― O. Henry

Alexsei

I landed a hard punch across his face, the crack of my knuckles vibrating through me as blood trickled from his nose.

"Well, I guess Caia filled you in," he winced, pressing his sleeve against the drip.

I raised my fist for another hit, but he blocked it, a smirk twisting his lips.

"Romaniev, I let you get in that one because I deserved it," he said, slipping behind his desk. "I'm not letting it happen again. Now, sit down, stronzo ."

I shoved his hand away, pacing to calm the fire in my veins.

"I always knew you were a snake, but I didn't think you'd be this slimy, Lazzio," I spat. "How fucking dare you betray me like that?"

He chuckled, smug as ever. "If ‘betraying' means telling your wife you've been living in the same city for the past year and pushing her to come see you, so you could finally get your closure and move on, then yeah, call me Judas."

This morning, after Caia broke my heart all over again, I demanded she spill everything—no more secrets. Reluctantly, she caved and let slip that it was Angelo Lazzio who told her that I was in New York.

Fucking Angelo Lazzio.

Apparently, he'd shown up at her place a week ago, acting all concerned about my well-being, suggesting that maybe a visit from her would give me the closure I so desperately needed. What he didn't know was that Caia had been feeling threatened by some stranger and, using that, she found a way to ask for my help.

She wanted my protection and, maybe, my forgiveness.

When she told me, I couldn't decide if I wanted to laugh or beat the shit out of Angelo. Obviously, I chose the latter. I sped across the city to his gallery and barged into his office ready for blood.

Angelo leaned back in his chair, eyes on me. "You have every right to be pissed. But think—why would I do this? Why push Caia to see you if I didn't think it was for the best?"

"Don't try to play the saint," I growled.

"I'm not," he laughed. "But that doesn't change the fact that you needed this. You've been stuck, Romaniev. If seeing her is what'll finally help you move on, then so be it."

My jaw tightened. "You don't get to fucking decide what's best for me, Lazzio."

"No," he said, locking eyes with me, "but someone had to do something. You've been spinning in circles, Romaniev. It's time to break out."

I dragged a hand through my hair and dropped into the chair opposite his desk, feeling drained by all the bullshit life's been throwing at me.

Annoyingly enough, Lazzio was right.

I'd been lost in this dark hole for the last two years, and he'd been watching me the whole time. But the fact that he saw through my mess, and thought he could help, grated on my nerves.

"I know it hurts your pride," he continued. "But look at the bright side. Now you can finally move on with your life." His phone started ringing just as he finished.

I scoffed, bitterness rising up inside me. If only he knew.

Seeing Caia, hearing her say my name, has only made me more obsessed than ever. Now, I was determined to get my wife back, no matter how much she fucking resisted.

"It's even more fucked up now, thanks to you, asshole," I muttered, barely audible, exhaling a heavy sigh.

He chuckled, answering his phone. " Salve, Bruno. Come stai? Ho ricevuto la tua proposta. Sono a bordo. Ci vediamo a Venezia. "

While he spoke in heathen language, I let my eyes wander over his desk, noting the mix of personal crap and business stuff. A picture of him with his parents at a restaurant on the Amalfi Coast, another of him cuddling that stupid Pomeranian of his, Giorgio.

Then, something small caught my eye behind one of the photos.

I reached for it, turning it in my hand—a YSL Rouge Pur Couture lipstick.

Just then, the door swung open, and Jade Whitenhouse strutted in, a folder clutched under her arm. She looked like she was headed to a prairie picnic or about to star in a cowboy show—tight black tube top, a flowy white mini skirt, and high-heeled boots. Her hair pulled high, lips painted in a bold red.

I glanced at the lipstick in my hand, a smirk tugging at my lips.

"Hey, Alexsei," she purred, ignoring Angelo, who was still on the phone. "Long time no see."

"Jade," I replied with a smirk, lifting the lipstick. "Looks like you dropped something."

Angelo's eyes flicked toward the lipstick, narrowing as realization hit him. He quickly ended his call. "Miss Whitenhouse, how many times do I have to tell you to knock before?—"

"Yes, it's mine!" She snatched it from my hand with a grin. "I've been looking for it everywhere. Must've dropped it this morning when..." She trailed off, glancing between me and Angelo, her lips clamped shut like she was holding back something juicy.

The room went dead silent, all eyes on Jade as we waited for her to explain herself.

"When, Miss Whitenhouse?" Angelo cut in, an eyebrow arched, suspicion lacing his tone. "What the hell were you doing in my office when I wasn't around?"

Jade's gaze flicked around, clearly trying to dodge the heat. "Well, I was just—" But she didn't get far before her phone buzzed. She checked it, relief washing over her face. "Ah, Volk and Sofiya are landing tonight," she chirped, her mood lifting. "We're planning a brunch tomorrow. Care to join us, Alexsei?"

Shit, I'd totally forgotten Volk was coming for the opening of Angelo's new museum exhibition. The theme was "Athena: The Goddess of War and Her Disciples." Ironically, that was Jade's brainchild.

Originally, Angelo wanted to focus on Alexander the Great and his epic conquests, but Jade worked her magic—whatever hold she had over him was both impressive and puzzling. She convinced him that spotlighting Athena and the fierce women who fought for their rights would be way more interesting. Unsurprisingly, Angelo caved.

Now, the exhibition would feature badass sculptures of Athena alongside legendary women warriors: Joan of Arc charging into battle, the suffragettes demanding their votes, Lady Fu Hao, the fierce Chinese general, Tomyris, the Scythian queen who took down Cyrus the Great, Cynane, Alexander's half-sister known for her military skills, Cleopatra, the sharp-witted ruler of Egypt, and Harriet Tubman, the fearless conductor of the Underground Railroad. Each piece would tell their stories and highlight their struggles.

Angelo leaned back, squinting at Jade. "Why the hell am I not invited to this little get-together?"

Jade rolled her eyes. "Because you're no fun, that's why."

He flashed her a wicked grin. "And you think you are? Miss Whitenhouse, if I find out your lipstick ended up on my desk because you had another romp in my office, I swear?—"

I let out a scoff. " Again? "

Watching their banter felt like a high-stakes tennis match; you had no clue who'd crack first, but the drama was worth every second.

"I promise you, Mister Lazzio," she interrupted, "I wasn't getting laid in your office this morning. I was hunting for my contract to check the maternity leave clause. Just in case."

Angelo's eyebrows shot up as he glanced at her stomach. "What?"

My jaw dropped. "You're pregnant?"

Jade kept her eyes locked on Angelo. "No, but you never know. It could happen anytime, right, Mister Lazzio? "

Angelo's smirk faded, replaced by irritation. "Miss Whitenhouse, you?—"

"Relax, I wouldn't do anything without giving you a heads-up." She winked and strutted out, her hips swaying and heels clicking against the floor. As she reached the door, she shot back a cheeky grin. "And keep your office tidy, boss. You never know when I might drop by for another surprise."

With that, she slammed the door behind her.

Angelo let out an exasperated sigh, running a hand through his hair. "I'm gonna kill her," he muttered, shaking his head.

I smirked. "I bet."

He got up, heading to his coffee machine. "Anyway," he said, pouring himself a cup, "how was the reunion with Caia?"

I let out a heavy sigh, rubbing my temples. "Unexpected. She thinks someone's after her, wants her dead."

He raised an eyebrow. "What? Who?"

"I don't know, but it's gotta be fucking Sadiek."

Angelo scowled. "Sadiek? He's dead, remember? You burned him alive. Last I checked, no one's cracked the code to bring the dead back."

I rolled my eyes. "Maybe they should, because dealing with your bullshit might just drive me to figure out how to off you."

Angelo laughed. "Why do you think Sadiek's behind this?"

Because I know deep down it's connected to him.

So, I laid it all out for Angelo: Caia and the night our son was taken. How a woman had shown up that night, threatening Caia and knocking her out with the damn skull Volk gifted me. That's why, when I insisted our son's death wasn't my fault, she shot back, "It may as well have been, Alexsei."

Caia thought she was protecting me. In her twisted logic, our son's death was my fault because of the woman I hurt—the same one who ended his life.

"The woman threatened to burn me alive just like I did to him ."

Angelo fell silent for a moment. "You burned Sadiek alive for touching your wife. So, this woman might be his girlfriend?"

I shook my head, standing up. "He only had whores, and I doubt they miss him."

"An ex-wife, then? Someone he was in love with?"

" Nyet. This bastard was?—"

Then it fucking hit me. I knew exactly who that woman was.

She wasn't just some fling; she meant something much bigger.

And I was certain that once I found her, there'd be hell to pay.