Good.

I would never hurt our kids.

Hell, I couldn’t have set it up better. I hadn’t planned on her saying what she said, but I hoped it would ease some of the disquiet between them. People might have asked me whose side I was on here, the Scala’s or the Vero’s. But the answer would always remain the same.

I was on Ettore’s side.

He was my best friend and after everything he’d been through, he deserved happiness.

And maybe – just maybe – soft-hearted Vittoria would be the one to give it to him.

14. Everyone had something

Chapter 14

Everyone had something

Vittoria

It was difficult to bargain without a bargaining chip, but everyone had something of value.

My stomach tensed as I stepped out of the walk-in closet wearing the floor length pale satin, cream-colored robe. It felt wonderful against my skin, like a gentle fingers caress on my legs with every step I took. And when I approached the bed, I peered down at it, clutching the ends of robe together tightly before closing my eyes, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly.

Everyone had something.

Maybe Marco was right. Maybe there was no way to fix what I broke. But I still had something Ettore desired.

Me.

That night in the hotel, he called my toxic beauty a weapon and, as it so happened, right now, I needed one.

My hands loosened and the sides of the robe parted in the middle, revealing my softened belly and the small dark triangle of curls down below. I needed his attention and words were not working. I gently shrugged and the smooth material fell from my shoulders, down to my middle, leaving my breasts bared. I let the robe fall to the ground. The material gathered around my feet and then, I was left standing utterly nude and bared to him in the gentle warmth of lamplight.

Was he watching me?

I pulled away the covers and slipped onto the sheets, laying back with my heartbeat steadily throbbing at my throat. I blinked and swallowed hard, nerves attacking my stomach in a way that made me feel lightheaded. But it didn’t matter.

I was going to do this.

He hadn’t yet come when I called. Perhaps, when he heard his name on my lips as I touched myself, he would reconsider.

At least, I hoped he would.

“Please be watching,” I muttered under my breath as I moved my hands from my sides to my stomach. My fingertips glanced over my skin, circling and swirling slowly. I closed my eyes and let my head sink back into the plush pillow as my hands cautiously explored.

This wasn’t the first time I’d masturbated, but I had never done it quite so openly. It was always under the covers, in the dark with a hand slipped into my underwear. Never so… exposed.