Page 24 of Wicked Throne

Just listened to him breathing. The more he breathed, the more guilt stretched over my body at the shit we'd done. Regret felt weird on me. I wasn't a fan.

"I went by your place," he said again. "You haven't been home in a few days. Then I saw Carmen at the grocery store....you're in Italy."

A cough tickled my throat and I managed to get out a strangled, "Well I am on my honeymoon, Nathan."

"Cool, cool," he replied.

I looked at the phone.

Nope.

"Everything we needed to say, was already said. You are married, Nathan. And now...so am I?"

He took a deep breath. "You think that he can do the shit to you that I did? I refuse to let you love another motherfucker."

"Love? I barely know Thierry....but I for sure never loved you, Nathan. We are done and will never be again. Do not call me again!"

Ending the call, I placed my phone inside of my tan-colored clutch that Trey had brought over in a suitcase. Out of all my friends, she knew my taste the best. If Naomi had picked up my clothing, I would have been so mix-matched that I would have hidden in shame.

Everyone was waiting for me at the bottom of the steps. Thierry took my hand in his. "Wife, I forgot to mention how nice looked tonight."

"Thank you," I nodded.

"The diamonds become you," he spoke again. "Now let's go we have reservations. Don't want to be late."

I heard Treyanna giggle and looked to see Enzo whispering something in her ear as I eased on my coat and a new pair of leather gloves that had been provided out of nowhere. My stomach gave a slight rumble. I was feeling famished.

Chapter 14

Thierry

Everything had happened in quite a blur. Dinner had been going wonderfully. We'd all been sitting around eating, laughing. The food had been delicious, almost like eating my mother's cooking. She'd been a wonderful cook and often my father had talked about how in their early days together she had made meals from scratch that had been passed down through her grandmother.

This dinner had been more than just a dinner, though. It was to let the other families know that I was here and that I would be heard. The restaurant, Pinchiorri, had two Michelin stars and had been funded by the Giancana family. The chef was a cousin of the Don's.

The energy in the room had shifted. Both Enzo and I felt it at the same time because we glanced at each other as Diamond and Treyanna cooed over photos on their phones. There was no need to alarm them.

A sharp pain wrenched through my shin and my eyes lifted to Enzo. He slowly jerked his head in one direction and I followed. A woman was approaching our table dressed in red and gold with white fur around her shoulders. The scene played out like watching a snake flanked by wolves approaching.

Talia Giancana, the daughter of Don Carmine Giancana approached.

I stood, and chatter seemed to stop when she approached.

"Talia," I kissed both of her cheeks and stood back to admire her.

She pretended not to enjoy the attention but we both knew it was a complete lie. It was why we had never worked out. When we'd been teenagers, I'd thought I'd marry her. Things had gone very wrong.

"And who is this delightful...creature?" She turned to Diamond.

I had never been a praying man.

Tonight, that changed. I just wanted Diamond to behave. Southerners were known for their charm. God, I just wanted her to be quiet for once in her life.

I watched my wife's eyebrow arch and then she stood, sizing up Talia.

"This delightful creature is his wife. I'm Ivy Knowles-Scarpetta."

Diamond's smooth brown hand stuck out and the diamond necklace she wore around her neck gleamed in the light of the chandeliers above. Talia's eyes darted overs Ivy's body, but her eyes were drawn to the necklace like a moth to a flame.