*Vincenzo's POV*
In my line of work,there's very little room for reckless or impulsive behaviour,acting too fast and sometimes too slow could cause a catastrophe.
The mantra was drilled too deep into my head to ever escape it,and if practice truly made perfect then I should be the most rational controlled man in the world; however , shooting at that weird ginger was not something a controlled man would have done,was it now?
The phrase was a lie and If I find the cocky philosophist that made that phrase,I'll be sure to shoot him instead.
I reach into my pocket for a cigarette and I'm greeted with nothing,a memory of me quitting flashes before me.It's funny how I never needed to smoke until now. On other nights I would have gotten a cigarette to relieve my uneasiness,but that would mean I was rattled and I'll be damned if I ever admitted that matters of Evangeline was making me uneasy.
Gabriel's voice cuts through my thoughts as he walks beside me. "So... what do you think?"
I glance down at his face,barely registering his words,if not for the minute physical similarities they share,I wouldn't have believed they were related at all.
"About what?"
Gabriel begins his recitation of an alliance again and I let myself drift back into tackling the problem that's trying to make a madman out of me.
That damn phone.
Evangeline held onto it like a lifeline when Cameron literally harassed her. She cradled it to her chest too protectively for my comfort. It's more than just a phone—it's connected to something, or someone.
"What does the ginger's family do for you?" I interrupted, my voice flat.
"Oh Cameron?"Gabriel doesn't hesitate.
"They own some nightclubs, a few casinos in Monaco. We've used them for cleaning money."
I nod and let out a gust of air.
"We won't need them once we join forces," Gabriel adds, trying to sweeten the deal. "We can cut ties with Cameron's family. He crossed the line with my sister and we simply can't have him on our team,besides we would have to get even.''
Clever move, I think I'll rather deal with Cameron personally. Two bullets to the same shoulder blade weren't enough for making me loose my temper.I want him to beg for death itself,so I sure hope he enjoys the rest at the ICU.
"Vincenzo?"
I don't answer, my eyes fixating on the guest house ahead. It sat lonely behind the fountain,far from the other guest houses on the estate. I can't help but feel the location was intentional. He wanted me and his sister alone,basically pimping her out,hoping having sex with her sweetens the deal–and what's worse is that he may be right.
But before that,I had to figure out what Evangeline was hiding.
***
I slip into the guest house, my eyes scanning the room. I pause a millisecond when my eyes catch her,she's sitting prim and proper, like she's untouched by the chaos of the world.Her fingers are wrapped around that tiny rosary she always wears on her neck.
La Santarella.
"Thank you for earlier," she says softly,her pupils dilating.
She's trying to sound grateful, but she seems uneasy. She always is around me but today seems less disguised,I should do,or even say something to calm her right?
Wrong.
I shrug off my coat, tossing it aside and find the bar to pour myself a drink.
The tension in the room is thick, but I let it simmer. I don't care to break it,.
"Would you like a glass?" I ask casually,but I already know her answer.
She shakes her head, a tight smile on her lips. "It's late for drinking, don't you think?"
I smirked,and leaned against the counter taking a slow sip,taking her in.
She's in a white and peach night dress that flowed on her body like water,her wavy blonde hair falling over her shoulders and her eyes–fuck,her eyes,I never seen a shade of brown so goddamn enticing.
She shifts in her seat, her fingers brushing the cross again as if she is rebuking me.
"What were you and Gabriel talking about?" she asks, trying to change the subject.
"Nothing that should worry you."
"I hope it's talks of an apology,Cameron barely alive and despite today,he's a friend and he was under the influence of-"her gaze flicks to the glass in my hand. "Alcohol."
"Don't worry,I won't harass you because I'm drinking."
Her throat tightens and I realize I made it sound like I would harass her,but not because I was drinking.
"I didn't know you brought a gun," she says, her voice careful.
Another sip and I lean back,cocking my head."I always have a gun,"
Her lips press into a thin line, she's trying hard to maintain control. "There are gentler ways to handle things, you know."
I smirk, enjoying the way she's grasping for some sense of reason. It's almost cute.
"I know," I say, stepping closer. "That was the gentle way."
"You shot him,"she says.
"I don't miss," I say, my voice low and sharp. "I could have killed him, but I figured you'd hate to stain your precious conscience...and that pink dress you were wearing earlier."
She stiffens,looking up at me, her knuckles whitening as she clutches the fabric of her dress.
I dont think Ive ever argued with her before,had I known this would be so fun, I would have made a habit of getting under her skin.
"I'm just saying..." she starts again, her voice close to a tremble, "with death in the air,the last thing the estate needs is anothef dead man.."
A genuine smile tugs at my lips and I take a step towards her,she stays rooted in her usual silent confrontational stance and I take in a deep breath of her perfectly curated smell.
I've noticed a small addiction to perfection she has,whether it's her look,her smell her voice.All to give a message her words wouldnt say,a polite insult or a hint to see yourself out. In this case,it was to tell me that she was of a higher moral ground than I did…and I gladly agree.
"La Santarella."I said,for the first time out loud.
Her eyebrow raises,obviously disapproving of the liberty I took and I know right then and there,I would call her that for as long as I lived.Saint Evangeline.
"What?"
"La Santarella."I repeated as I reached for her necklace and playfully flicked it, my finger brushed her skin for a second and goosebumps formed.
"Don't call me that.," she snaps quickly, her composure slipping for the first time.I knew she understood Italian but was quite impressed by how fast she did.
"Dont you agree that it suits you?" I teased,but I'm awfully bad at it and my voice made it sound like a threat.
Her eyes narrowed at me,and I realize,from this close that there were little hues of yellow in them.
I knew a lot about my wife,but there are some things you could only learn by close proximity,the important details.
I want to soak her all in, my eyes drift to her hair—soft,inviting my hands.
Her floral smell,her eternal blushed cheeks, even the judgement in her eyes were reeling me in.
I step even closer, close enough to see the pulse in her throat, the rise and fall of her chest beneath the peach fabric of her dress.
My hand twitches. I wonder how she moans,but the thought almost feels like a taboo.A dangerous surge of heat rushes to my member and I try to block out her face from my thoughts.
"Vincenzo."she calls,her voice soothing my aching brain.
"Yes?" I replied,only realising my lustful eyes were frozen on her neck.
"You disgust me."she spat.
"That's perfect."I smile as my eyes flick to her rosary,amused. "I would have been disappointed in you if I didn't."
I pull back, forcing myself to step away, the cross a reminder. Not tonight.
Her jaw tightens, and she gets up from the chair,keeping our gazes locked.
"Goodnight."she sighed and went into the room.
I frowned at myself,feeling a sting develop in my chest.
I felt like I was a child being scolded again.
Surely I don't feel regret. I glanced down at the glass in my hand and decided to blame the alcohol.
***
It's late. Evangeline is asleep in the room, her soft breathing filling the quiet night. I should also be asleep,but I can't. I would love to blame it on the uncomfortable couch but I've slept on harder surfaces.
I have now accepted that the cause of my insomnia was Evangeline,and it angered me a bit. This is why I wanted us to live in separate houses,she arouses everything in me I try to suppress:my anger,my suspicions,my obsession.
Her phone.
I get up from the couch and call my tech advisor and ask him to find a way to hack her phone. I'm shameless,I know.
The idiot took about seven minutes and needed me to download a spy ware app on her phone too before I get full access,but thats better than nithing so I take his word for it and creep to get her phone to complete the process.
"What am I doing?"I ask myself as I press the power button of the phone.
The screen lights up in my hand I swipe through her messages—nothing alarming at first. Just the usual formalities, brief exchanges. Even her call log is bleak.But then I notice an app, tucked neatly in a folder, one I barely notice.
I open it. It looks innocent enough at first glance—disguised as some planner or calendar. But the deeper I go, the clearer it becomes. This was what she was hiding.
My jaw clenches, and the grip on her phone tightens as I scroll through the messages.
Every word between them feels like a knife,and in this case,I would actually prefer being stabbed.
Plans. Code words–she was even going to dye her perfect hair brown.
The realization hits me like a punch to the gut. I keep scrolling, trying to find out how far this betrayal goes. They've been communicating for weeks—maybe longer. The girl who prioritised deceny and Composure was cheating on me?
How screwed up was I to drive the saint to sin?
But the most recent message makes my blood run cold.
Luca: "Sweetheart? Are you okay?"
Evangeline: "Vincenzo just shot someone."
Luca: "What?Is the person okay?What's going on?"
Evangeline: "Can we talk later,I think he's coming."
Luca: "My mind honestly can't rest thinking you are near that man,Stay safe and Text me soon, I Love you."
Evangeline : "Love you too."
I chuckled lowly,gripping the phone so hard it nearly cracks under the pressure.
The thought of her running into his arms, trusting him,I disgust her for trying to protect her and she is in love with this Luca for the same thing.
I go back to the room,a bit more carelessly and set the phone exactly where I found it.
She's sleeping peacefully still. Suspiciously peaceful for someone who was supposedly cheating and planning to run away.
It's probably the crying from earlier today that exhausted her.
I almost feel sorry for her,she might have to repeat the same ordeal soon.
"No one will take you away from me Santarella,not even yourself."