Wife By Force: International Billionaires II: The Italians

by Caro LaFever

  “No, that can’t possibly be—”

  “True. It’s very true.” Her papa stared at her, his brown gaze serious. “I saw him only a few weeks after the news and he appeared as if he’d lost a stone. His mamma fretted for months.”

  “That couldn’t have been about me.” Chaotic emotion flashed through her. “He was probably upset about his father’s illness.”

  “No, I don’t believe so. And during all these years, when he didn’t stop...”

  She squinted at him as he trailed off. “Didn’t stop what?”

  He coughed once more. “I’m not supposed to tell you this, but I think you should know.”

  Her head buzzed with a sudden premonition of something earth-shattering coming her way. “Maybe I don’t want to know?”

  A twinkle lit in his eyes. “I thought you had a right to know everything, muffin?”

  She gave him a tight smile in acknowledgment of the tease. Suddenly, his other words hit her. “Wait a minute. Who told you not to tell me—whatever you’re going to tell me?”

  “Dante.”

  Resentment flared inside. “Tell me.”

  Her father looked at her and sighed. “Remember, Lara. He loves you.”

  “Tell me.”

  He leaned against the stone bench, his gnarled hands resting on his lap, his face solemn. “I didn’t want to let you go to England twelve years ago.”

  “I know that.” She spat the words, her love for Dante twisting around the old anger. “I found out he was behind it.”

  “You did?” He gave her a quizzical glance. “How did you—”

  “Never mind.” She waved the question away, trying to wave the lingering hurt away also. “It doesn’t matter.”

  Her father eyed her but continued. “The only way he got me to agree was by telling me his security team would protect you in England.”

  “What?” Her spine went rigid.

  “He watched over you. All those years.”

  She breathed in. Out.

  I kept track.

  His words at the pool came back to her with sharp clarity as shock cascaded inside her.

  “Even after your marriage, he insisted on continuing.”

  “He spied on me.” Her breath rasped in her throat. “For years.”

  “No, muffin.”

  She turned to glare at her father. “What else would you call it?”

  “Love.” His gaze was earnest. “I’d call it love.”

  The words hit her heart with heated truth. Could it genuinely be? All these years?

  “He didn’t intrude on your life. He didn’t impose.” Her papa’s voice was thoughtful. “The only thing he did was watch out for you and make sure you were safe.”

  The truth welled inside her, wrapping around her soul.

  “I have to admit, I was grateful.” Her father squeezed her leg. “I didn’t think much of your Gerry’s ability to protect you.”

  “I know you didn’t—”

  “So it was nice to know Dante had it well in hand,” he chuckled. “As he always does.”

  Reluctant affection ran through her. “He’s such a control freak.”

  “He does enjoy arranging things, doesn’t he?” Her father grinned. “Which is why I wasn’t that surprised when he came to me about eighteen months ago, right after Gerry died in that car wreck.”

  “He came to visit you then?”

  “Yes,” he nodded. “He had a plan.”

  Groaning, she put her head in her hands. “Why am I not surprised?”

  “He wanted you home, in Italy.” Her father’s voice grew soft. “I wanted you here, too.”

  “What did you both do?”

  “It was mostly Dante, but I concurred.” His hand smoothed over her hair. “He made sure that property was available for your school.”

  “What?” Her head whipped up.

  Her papa’s brown eyes met hers. “He helped a bit with those permits you were having trouble with.”

  “I can’t believe—”

  “Believe it.” His gaze narrowed. “Also believe that it takes nothing away from your accomplishment. You have every right to be proud of what you’ve done.”

  She took the words in, knowing they were true. “I know, but—”

  “He merely eased your way.” Her father took her hand in his. “Because he loves you.”

  “I don’t know—”

  “He confirmed it when he came to ask for your hand.”

  “What did he say?” she mumbled, confusion fluttering in her stomach.

  “He said he’d waited forever and if he had to wait longer, he would.” Hugo clasped her hand, a wry smile on his face. “He said he’d wait forever for you if he had to.”

  “He loves me.” The words vibrated in her soul. Yet a discordant twang echoed through her as well. He hadn’t waited for her. Not at all. He’d pushed, he’d demanded, he’d forced.

  How could he have done that if he loved her?

  “He loves me?” A whisper of doubt ran through her voice.

  “Yes.” The one word rang with conviction. “Which was why I gladly gave my approval to his proposal. I knew you both had some issues, but I told him I was confident you’d figure it out together. I couldn’t think of a better man for you than Dante Casartelli.”

  Her throat clutched at the truth in her papa’s words. “There’s no better man.”

  “No, there isn’t. He proved it when he wanted to discuss my financial difficulties after I’d already approved of the marriage.”

  The old hurt from being forced to marry him rumbled in her. She bit her lip. It didn’t matter anymore. She loved him, so she’d forgiven him. However, it still hurt like an infected wound.

  “I found it hard to swallow,” her father continued. “My pride didn’t want to accept it. But it’s one thing to accept help from a mere neighbor, another to accept it from a son-in-law.”

  The hurt twitched, burned.

  “Yet Dante, being the man he is, wouldn’t let me believe that.” He grunted, his arms folding across his chest. “He made it clear the offer of help was not tied to the marriage.”

  Astonishment blanked her mind. What? “What?”

  There had to be some mistake.

  “I can’t believe it.” Something was wrong with this. Something had been missed or misinterpreted. Her forced marriage was a certainty. So what was all this about?

  “I’m telling you the truth,” her papa insisted. “He had the papers ready to be signed. I argued about it, said he was under no obligation, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer. You walked in just as we were finishing.”

  She scanned her father’s face and saw only solid truth. “You’re kidding.”

  “Why would I kid about such a thing?” Shaggy eyebrows rose. “Your Dante was adamant. He swept every one of my objections aside.”

  “That’s typical.” She was amazed she could enjoy some humor at this moment.

  Her papa chuckled. “Yes, your husband is forceful. But he did it all for you.”

  An aching joy mixed with hope blossomed in the pit of her stomach. “You think so?”

  “Again, I know. He told me he didn’t want you to worry about anything. He still wanted to marry you, and he told me he would continue to try and convince you. However, either way, he would make sure Andy’s problem was solved and I would keep the house.”

  Her heart thudded in her chest as the information sank in. “I’m…I’m…”

  “Speechless?” Her papa’s mouth curved. “That’s unusual. Especially since you were very verbal that day.”

  “I was angry.”

  “An understatement. I’d assured him you wouldn’t be around, yet there you were.”

  “I had a right to know what was going on.”

  Her father chuckled. “I suppose.”

  “Papa.”

  “In any event, he had it well in hand.” His gaze sparkled as he met her own. “As he always does.”

  “I’m not som
ething to be handled.”

  “Yes, yes.” Waving her objection aside, he continued. “But you must admit, muffin, he had you convinced by the end of the day.”

  Convinced he wouldn’t help if she didn’t comply.

  Convinced he was a monster.

  Convinced he was forcing her.

  But it had all been a lie. Why had he done it? She frowned in deep concentration.

  “I was happy for you. Dante is a man I can admire, a man I can trust with my daughter’s happiness.”

  “I’m not happy right now.”

  “Well,” he said. “Marriages have ups and downs. Notably in the early going. Still, Dante isn’t one to walk away from his promises.”

  “No. He’s not.” Not unless he was driven past the point of no return.

  “Whatever’s happened, it can be fixed. He won’t want to lose you. He loves you too much.”

  Was that the reason he had done something so rash? So crazy? Had her cool cucumber of a husband lost his head, lost his temper, and forced her because he truly loved her? A battalion of emotions poured through her: hope, fear, love, pain.

  “I need to find him. I have to find him.”

  “I think that would be a good first step.” Her father’s voice was mild, yet firm. “Find him and tell him you love him as much as he loves you.”

  A flush of embarrassment warmed her skin. “How did you know?”

  “Papas know their daughters.” Wise eyes met hers. “You’ve loved Dante for a long time.”

  Tears threatened once more. “Yes.”

  “Go find your husband.” He patted her arm. “And whatever you did, make it up to him.”

  Chapter 22

  By the time she arrived at the apartment in Florence, exhaustion weighed down every bone in her body. Not too late in the day to start contacting members of the Casartelli family, though. Now, it was even more imperative she find him and not only confess her love, but solve the mystery of why he’d let her think so poorly of him. If what her father said was true, Dante had allowed her to misjudge him for months. Years.

  Why?

  Curiosity blended with love inside her and it powered her on. Someone in his family would know where he was and she would make them squeal. Slumping into one of the leather couches, she focused on what she would say, how she would explain this mess without alarming everyone and raising too many questions.

  The intercom buzzed. “Signora Casartelli?” The disembodied voice of the doorman echoed through the living room.

  Could this be another missive from her husband? Perhaps he’d had second thoughts abut the divorce. She raced towards the intercom. “Yes?” she cried, holding her breath.

  “There is a Tomas Casartelli here to see you.”

  Her heart stuttered. Tomas could be here for just a friendly visit and she didn’t have it in her to pretend everything was fine. Or maybe, Tomas was here in his brother’s stead. Her heart picked up its beat. This was worth the risk to her pride. “He can come in.”

  Pacing over the gleaming hardwood floors and colorful oriental rugs, Lara waited impatiently for the knock that finally came. She ran to the door and threw it open. “Tomas.”

  “Si.” His eyes reminded her of his older brother’s at his worst. Distant and dark. He’d learned his brother’s tricks in the facial department as well. Bland and blank.

  She suddenly wanted to shake him. Shake the information out of him. Because she’d gotten good at reading between the lines of the Casartelli control.

  Tomas was here for a reason. And that reason was Dante.

  “Come in.” Restraining herself by a thread, she stepped back.

  He walked past her, his Armani jacket smooth, his tie knotted discreetly and perfectly under his chin, his entire body language one of subtle power. His older brother would be so proud.

  Again the urge to shake her husband’s whereabouts out of him nearly overcame her. “Tell me what’s going on with Dante.”

  “That’s not why I’m here.” He turned from his contemplation of the Florence skyline. “I’m here to pick up some papers he sent you. He was going to send his solicitor, but decided a family member should do this.”

  Her heart stopped. “Papers?”

  “Si.” His mouth thinned. “He said you would want to expedite the proceedings.”

  “You’ve talked to him.” Hope surged through her, swamping the momentary pang of knowing her husband believed she wanted a divorce.

  “Briefly.”

  “What did he say?” she snapped.

  Shoving his hands in his pockets, Tomas grimaced. “He wants to be done with this. He said you would readily agree.”

  “Done with my marriage?” She stuck her hands under her armpits to stop their trembling. “Your brother is wrong.”

  “Lara—”

  “Listen to me.” She paced up to him and got in his face. “Your brother might be a god in your eyes, but he can be wrong.”

  “I don’t want to get in the middle of this.” His cool demeanor was slipping away, and his glare now held frustration and a hint of pain.

  “You put yourself in the middle of this. Or in reality, Dante did.”

  Swearing, the younger man walked toward the kitchen. “I need a drink.”

  “You can have anything you want.” She followed him with tenacious intent. “As long as you tell me where he is.”

  “Dio.” Whipping around, he stared at her in astonishment. “Do you want to see me killed?”

  She gave him a pointed look. “I doubt your brother will kill you for telling his wife where he is.”

  “You haven’t seen how he is.” He paced to the refrigerator, yanked out a dark beer and popped the top. Taking a long swig of the brew, he at last met her glare. “He’s not himself.”

  “Where is he?”

  Another long tug of the beer. “Lara. He’s…he’s…” Shaking his head, he stopped.

  “He’s what? More importantly, he’s where?”

  Silence descended as the young man openly struggled with his words and emotions. “What happened?” he erupted. “You both looked so happy the last time I saw you.”

  “We were.” Sorrow lanced through her for what she’d so easily taken for granted.

  “I don’t get it.” Slamming the beer bottle on the counter, Tomas paced into the living room again.

  She followed, sensing a crack in his desire to do his brother’s bidding. “You don’t have to get it. You merely need to tell me where he is and let me take care of the rest. You do know where he is?”

  Her brother-in-law’s broad shoulders sagged. “Si.”

  “Tell me.” She put one hand on his arm and prayed. “I’ll make it right with him.”

  Turning, he glanced at her, black eyes blurred with worry. “I’ve never seen him like this.”

  “I’ll make it right.”

  “He’s out of control,” he whispered the words as if this was worse than having the plague.

  These Casartelli men and their need to hide their emotions. As if by hiding them they could deny how deeply and fully they cared for their family. She stared straight into his face. “I love him and he loves me.”

  “Of course he does.” Tomas’s eyes widened. “He would never have gone off the rails if he didn’t love you to distraction. He says he wants to quit the company and have me take over.”

  The horror in his voice would have been almost comical if it hadn’t matched her own horror at his words. Evidently, her husband was in a complete tailspin. Not only had Dante lost control of his emotions, he was also contemplating leaving the Casartelli empire? She could understand the male disbelief vibrating before her because she felt the same emotion. “He needs to see me. I’ll calm him down.”

  Sudden relief flooded his taut face. “You can do this?”

  “Yes.” Please God, help me. “Yes.”

  Digging his car keys from his pocket, Tomas was all action. “It would be impossible for you to find him. I’ll drive you there.
”

  She didn’t care how she got to Dante: airplane, car or donkey. Just so she could finally see him. “Let’s go.”

  * * *

  “We’re almost there.” Tomas handled his jaunty red Ferrari with the same finesse as his older brother did his elegant Mercedes.

  The bats in her stomach commenced a new dance that reached her throat. Now that she had her goal in sight, the words and phrases she’d practiced for days fled her mind. The only words she could think of to say to Dante were… I love you.

  Hopefully, they would be enough.

  “You’re ready?” Her brother-in-law’s question made every bat flying inside her claw madly at the lining of her stomach.

  “Yes,” she croaked through dry lips.

  The car slowed to turn into a rutted lane. Rows and rows of grape vines lined one side, while a wild crop of sunflowers brightened the other. There was no sign of a house or a villa or even a hut.

  “What is this place?”

  “My grandfather’s hideaway.” Tomas had to slow the car’s forward movement to a crawl in order to handle the bumps. “Dante comes here when he needs to think.”

  Think about divorcing her.

  Glancing around at the rolling hills, the silence of the fields hit her. This was as far away from her husband’s usual life as could be. She wondered what else he’d been thinking during these silent hours. A trembling fear swelled in her. Had he had time to button down all his emotions, tie up all the loose ends of his feelings for her? Was she too late?

  The car popped over a hill and she spotted a small, simple villa perched on a rolling knoll. The place appeared slightly decrepit, as if it had long been ignored. A copper shingle flapped on the roof. The windows were tightly shut, even though the sun tried to penetrate the dark curtains. But the views of the surrounding countryside must certainly compensate for the simplicity of the living quarters.

  “I like it.”

  Tomas turned to stare at her with mild incredulity. “Honestly?”

  “Yes.”

  “You and my brother are the only ones, then. The rest of the family won’t go near the place.”

  The car surged down the last of the driveway and came to a stop. The bats continued their crazy dance and her heart now joined them in a tribal thudding Lara was sure anyone close to her could hear.