Two days later…
I glare at the clock on my office wall, counting down the minutes until Linda arrives for yet another “discussion.” God only knows what her angle is this time. Maybe she just wants to stir the pot some more. Whatever it is, I’m dreading the conversation.
A knock at the door sets my jaw. My assistant peeks in, face pinched with that anxious look she always gets whenever Linda shows up.
“She’s here, sir.”
I give a curt nod, rising from behind my desk. “Send her in.”
Janine retreats. Seconds later, Linda sweeps inside like she owns the place. She’s in a fitted designer dress that screams money and vanity, her expensive and overpowering perfume hitting me seconds after she enters, a fake smile plastered on her face.
“Dante,” she says lightly. “You look busy.”
Her gaze flits around my office, searching for any sign of vulnerability, any clue about my personal life. I cross my arms over my chest, leaning against the edge of my desk. “I’m always busy. You have five minutes.”
Linda’s scarlet lips form a pout. “So brusque. You used to be more welcoming.”
“No, I really wasn’t.” I don’t bother hiding my impatience. “What do you want, Linda?”
She tosses her hair, stepping closer. “I need some money.” She sets her designer purse on the nearest chair and arches a brow. “I have expenses. Responsibilities.”
“Expenses?” A dark laugh spills from my throat. “Linda, your family already has enough money to live like royalty. If you can’t manage the budget they’ve put you on, that’s on you.”
She frowns. “Don’t patronize me. You know how much it costs to maintain my reputation in this city—”
“You mean to keep up appearances?” I interrupt, annoyance in my voice. “Your words, not mine. Keeping up your reputation is not my problem. I provided child support to Luca throughout his entire life, but he’s grown and married now. Hell, I even gave him a damn job here to ensure his financial security. And you—” I shake my head. “You used every cent you could for spa treatments and cosmetic tweaks and still had the nerve to come back to me for more money.”
Linda lifts her chin, arms crossed in that imperious way she’s mastered over the years. “I’m entitled to my share, Dante. After everything that happened between us. You left me to raise Luca alone—”
“Your share? I paid you above and beyond what was fair in child support.” I slam my palm against the desk. “And don’t you dare try to rewrite history when it comes to Luca.” Old anger rises just beneath the surface. “I asked you to leave with me. To run away. I was willing to give up everything for you, but your greed wouldn’t allow you to abandon your father’s fortune.”
Her lips part as if she wants to say something, but I don’t let her.
“You made a decision, Linda. You chose money over us.”
She exhales sharply, her eyes flashing. “What did you expect me to do? Live in exile? Your father would’ve disowned you if you married me without his blessing. My father would’ve cut me off entirely for marrying a man associated with the mob.” Her voice rises, her composure slipping. “You think I was going to throw away my entire life for love?”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Is that what you told yourself back then? That love wasn’t worth the sacrifice?” I shake my head. “You didn’t just walk away from me, Linda. You took our son, and made damn sure Luca was raised as a Patterson. You went out of your way to guarantee I’d always be on the outside looking in.”
She flinches, a small flicker of emotion flashing before the mask snaps back into place. “You were on the outside. Because your father never liked me. He thought I was too opinionated, too independent.” A humorless smirk touches her lips. “And Isabella? She hated me on sight.”
I take a deep breath, trying to calm down as my fingers tighten into a fist. “You spent years keeping me at arm’s length, using Luca as a pawn whenever it suited you. And when the Patterson empire crumbled, leaving you with nothing, suddenly I was useful again.”
Her eyes narrow. “I needed help. We were broke back then! You had the means to support us.”
I scoff. “Support you, you mean. I made sure Luca never wanted for anything. But you—” I tilt my head, assessing her with the kind of scrutiny I once wasted on her long ago. “Tell me, Linda. What did you do with the money I gave you?”
Her nostrils flare, her posture stiffening. “I used it to maintain some dignity. To ensure Luca wasn’t treated like some cast-off. Do you have any idea how humiliating it was? To go from being a powerful Patterson to nothing? People whispering behind my back, waiting for me to fail again?”
A cold smirk tugs at my lips. “So that’s what this is really about. Not Luca. You. Your pride. Your vanity.” I let my gaze drag over her, taking in the carefully preserved facade—the flawless makeup, the couture dress, the way she clings to luxury as if it defines her. “Maybe if you valued real connections over your bank account, you wouldn’t be here begging for another handout.”
Her eyes blaze with fury, but I see the truth in them. I’ve stripped her down to the raw core of what she really is: a woman who once had everything and now has nothing. And she knows it’s her own fault.
She lifts her chin, defiant. “Luca deserved more.”
I level her with a look so cold it could shatter stone. “Luca had everything. A father who was ready to be there. A chance to be raised as a Bellacino, to have real power behind his name. But you made damn sure he stayed a Patterson until there was nothing left of the Pattersons to cling to.”
Her lip trembles, but she recovers, her voice sharp. “I made choices based on what was best for him.”
“No.” I push off my desk, circling her like a predator sizing up prey. “You made choices based on what was best for you.” I pause, letting the weight of my words settle. “And look where it got you.”
She sucks in a breath but she has nothing left to say.
I step back, my voice calm and final. “You made your choices, Linda. Live with them.”
“I need money.”
“No.”
Her eyes blaze. “Dante, don’t be foolish. If you force my hand, I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” I arch a brow, challenging her. “Run to your lawyers? Slander me in society circles? Attempt to blackmail me?”
She hesitates, glancing away, and I know she has no real leverage. She’s tried it before. My money is clean on the books, and any attempt to drag me into court would expose her financial mismanagement, not mine.
“Take the money you already get from your family and be grateful. Now get the fuck out of my office.”
Linda’s cheeks burn red. For a moment, she looks like she might retort, but instead she snatches her purse off the chair, letting out a dramatic huff. “This isn’t over.”
I shake my head. “It never is with you. My assistant will see you out.” I turn my back on her.
She sighs in disgust, turns on her heel, and strides to the door. I don’t relax until I hear it slam shut behind her.
God, she drains me. The only solace is knowing she left empty-handed, but she’s always been cunning. I’m sure she’ll come up with another attempt to get money. Let her try, I think darkly.
I’ve handled Linda before, and I can do it again.
Only this time, I have experience and wisdom on my side.
An hour or so later, I’m settled back at my desk, still seething from Linda’s demands. But there’s no time to brood. A different kind of problem demands my attention.
I need to uncover whatever Eva’s hiding.
My mind keeps replaying questionable moments spent with her. The way her guard would instantly go up the moment I mentioned her past, a cold, distant look in her eye, a downright refusal to talk about it. My instincts, honed from a lifetime of dealing with shady characters, scream she’s hiding something. Something big.
I pull out my phone and scroll through my contacts. One friend in the local precinct owes me favors. I dial his number.
He picks up on the second ring, caution in his voice. “Bellacino.”
“Jameson,” I say. “Need a quick background check. Quietly.”
He sighs. “You know I can’t keep doing you these personal favors, man. The department’s cracking down.”
I chuckle. “You said that last time. But I believe we have an arrangement.”
“Right. Fine. Give me the details.”
I glance at the door, ensuring it’s locked. “Eva Smith. That’s what she goes by, at least. I have her info from her employment forms. Sending it over now.”
A moment of silence. “Alright, got it. You suspect it’s not her real name?”
“I suspect she’s not who she says she is. I need whatever you can find. Address history, employment history, birth certificate, family members, all of it. And I need it soon.”
He mumbles something indecipherable. “Fine. But if this draws attention, I’m out.”
“It won’t. And if it does, I got you.”
He lets out an unamused grunt. “Sure.”
The line goes dead. I let out a slow breath, placing the phone on the desk. Guilt gnaws at me for the violation of trust, but I need to know more.
I can’t just let her go.
Less than an hour later, my phone rings, a call from an unknown number. My heart thuds as I answer. “Yes?”
“It’s Jameson,” he says in a low voice. “We need to be quick. I took a cursory look at your Ms. Smith. Nothing matches up with official records from the last decade. The data on her social is patchy. It’s like someone wiped out her past and created a new identity for her.”
My pulse spikes. “So she’s a ghost?”
Jameson coughs. “In a sense. She has minimal documentation prior to a few years ago. I’m doing a deeper dive on some flagged addresses and cross-referencing with older case files. If she’s in witness protection, or if she’s forging documents, it’ll take time to confirm.”
I grip the arm of my chair, knuckles whitening. “Keep digging. I don’t care what it takes. She’s important and I need the truth.”
A pause. “I’m risking a lot here, Bellacino. If someone finds out—”
“They won’t.” I drag a hand over my face, forcing a calmer tone. “Do this for me, and I’ll square your debt for good.”
He gasps with surprise. “For good? Okay. I’ll keep looking. I’ll call if I find anything else.”
The line cuts off. I toss my phone aside, staring at it with a mix of triumph and dread.
Eva, who the hell are you?
I sink into my chair, letting the adrenaline settle. My mind churns through the possibilities—she could be part of a rival family, or perhaps she has a criminal past. I can handle criminals, but can I handle it if Eva’s been lying to me about everything?
With a groan, I lean back, massaging the tense muscles in my neck. My day started with Linda’s demands, and it’s ending with the revelation that the woman I’m falling hard for might be an imposter. The irony isn’t lost on me. My life has always been about controlling every situation, but now I’m spinning.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself. If she’s lied, I’ll handle it. But I won’t jump to conclusions until I see the evidence. If her secrets endanger me—or her—I’ll figure out how to protect us both, even if it means burning a few bridges.
As I gather my things and prepare to head home, I can’t shake the flicker of hope that Eva’s reasons for lying won’t destroy us. Maybe the truth behind her fears is something we can confront together. I just need to know what I’m dealing with.
For now, I’m going to keep this revelation to myself and let her think I’m still giving her space. Because if she is in danger, or if she’s put me in danger, I need the upper hand.
I exit my office, instructing my assistant to cancel any remaining appointments. My footsteps echo through the dim hall as I leave business behind for the night. Outside, the city lights glow brightly, reminding me that wars can be fought anywhere—on the streets, in the boardrooms, even in the hearts of people I love.
I slide into my sedan, telling my driver to head uptown. It’s time to plan the next move. If the Lombardi’s efforts at taking me out and Linda’s attempts at extortion don’t break me, then nothing will—except maybe the truth about Eva Smith.
And I intend to uncover that truth, at any cost.
