“D’Angelo followed you to the Mereaux residence?”
“More or less. He arrived a few minutes after I did.”
“He didn’t harm you or the Mereaux woman?”
“No. Mia handled it like a trouper. He came in and demanded the doll. Luc had told us what to say so it would be a clear-cut case of theft.” Her brow wrinkled. “Or is it burglary?” She shrugged. “No matter. They taped every last word. Then David ripped open the poor doll and removed Brimstone. Lord, it was huge. And because it’s worth so much, taking it makes it a far more serious crime. Somehow I don’t think he’s going to get out of this one as easily as he’s gotten out of so many of his other problems.”
“He won’t be getting out of those, either. He and his father are under investigation for embezzlement.”
“Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy,” Gianna said cheerfully.
Constantine checked his watch. “Moretti should be arriving shortly. I need to get back to the Diamondt building.”
“I gather I’m coming with you?” she asked.
He shot her a hard look. “You, piccola, will not be out of my sight for the rest of our stay in Seattle.”
She sighed. “Sort of thought you might say that.”
Gianna and Constantine arrived at the Diamondt building shortly after four. To her intense surprise, the first person she saw when she entered the foyer was her oldest cousin, Sev. She made a beeline for him.
“Severo Dante, what on earth are you doing here?” she demanded.
He jerked at her question and swept around to confront her. She checked her forward momentum at the last instant, only just preventing herself from giving the man a hug.
He was as tall as Sev—two or three inches over six feet—with hair every bit as black. He also possessed the same intense golden eyes as both her cousin and her grandfather, Primo. His features were equally hard, cut in strong, less-than-handsome lines, but all the more powerful because of it. He’d dressed in a black suit, one that emphasized his broad shoulders and strong, muscular legs, and cloaked him in darkness.
Unable to help herself, she fell back a step, thoroughly intimidated. “I’m sorry. I thought you were my cousin.” She glanced over her shoulder, searching for Constantine, before offering her hand with a hesitant smile. “I don’t suppose you have any Dante relatives in your background? You could pass for one of my family without any problem at all. The resemblance is really quite amazing.”
He didn’t speak for a long moment. Then in a voice as deep and black as his appearance, he asked, “Who are you?”
Her hand dropped slowly to her side. “I’m Gianna Dante. Constantine Romano is my fiancé,” she explained stiffly.
His eyes narrowed in open displeasure. To her extreme relief, she felt the reassuring pressure of Constantine’s hands on her shoulder. “Is there a problem?”
Moretti hesitated, then shook his head. “I’m satisfied with what I’ve seen here. Send the contract,” he said, his gaze never shifting from Gianna. And with that, he turned and left, flowing from the building like black fog.
“What the hell was that about?” Constantine demanded.
“I think I remember where I heard the name Moretti before,” Gianna murmured, stricken. “That’s the name of the woman my uncle Dominic had an affair with. The woman he was leaving Aunt Laura for. Oh, Constantine. I think maybe Uncle Dominic did more than have an affair with her. A lot more.”
Ten
Constantine stared after Gabe Moretti in disbelief. “You think he’s a Dante? Seriously?”
“I don’t know.” Gianna gnawed on her lower lip. “You saw him. Don’t you think he could have passed for Sev’s twin brother?”
“Don’t jump to any rash conclusions,” Constantine warned. “You’re far too good at that.”
She swiveled to face him, planting her hands on her shapely hips. “Tell me you’re not going to rub that in my face for the rest of our lives.”
The time had come to deal with her impulsiveness once and for all. He approached and went toe-to-toe with her. “I won’t rub it in your face, if you promise not to act rashly.”