The Billionaire's Sweet Revenge

THIRTEEN

Adrianna rushed into her hotel room with her arms full of packages. Her gaze moved immediately to the two queen-sized beds in search of her sister. Valerie wasn't there. Adrianna glanced toward the bathroom, but the door was opened.

She set her packages on the bed and then reached for her cell to call her sister. As she waited for her sister to answer the phone, she moved her gaze back around the room. The bed didn't appear to have been slept in—or sat upon. In fact, the room looked almost as clean as when they first walked inside.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Adrianna jumped. Val carried in the bucket of ice. Adrianna sighed. "Oh, there you are."

"Yes, I'm right here. What are you doing back so soon? I figured Mr. Sexy would have you out most of the day."

"I told him I wanted to come back to the hotel to get ready for the gala he's taking me to this evening."

Valerie's perfectly shaped waxed eyebrows arched. "A party? Oooh, how fun. Where is it at?"

Adrianna kept her attention on Valerie, surprised to see the energy her sister had now. Then again, with this disease, some days have her up and moving around, but most days has her in bed all day long with no strength to do anything.

"Gabriele's friend. I can't remember his name, but he's the prime minister."

Just as Val sat the bucket of ice on the table, she snapped around and stared at Adrianna with wide eyes. "Paolo Treloni?"

"You know him?"

Val moved to one of the cushioned chairs and sat. "Yes. I went out with a guy for a year and his uncle was Paolo."

Adrianna pieced together the information she knew so far, and her gut told her Dante Moretti was involved.

She took her red gown out of the box to hang it in the closet. "Val, tell me about this boyfriend. By chance, is his name Dante?" She peeked at her sister over her shoulder.

Val's gaze narrowed. "How do you know Dante?"

Chuckling softly, Adrianna shook her head. "Funny how it happened, but I noticed someone today at the restaurant Gabe took me to, and he looked familiar. I recalled seeing him with you in some of the photos you had. Then, Gabe had mentioned his friend, Dante had dated you, and so I put two and two together."

Valerie released a frustrated sigh and rested her head back against the cushions. "Dante was the worst mistake of my life."

Adrianna moved away from the closet and plopped down on the edge of the bed, facing her sister. "What happened?"

"I met him at one of the parties the models have after a big photo shoot. I can't even remember who he was with. I thought he was good looking, and he dressed nicely, so I hit on him." Valerie dropped her gaze to her finger as she drew an invisible line on the chair's armrest. "I thought we were happy together. I really thought he was the one."

"What happened to make you break up?"

Frowning, Val remained quiet for a few awkward moments. Adrianna figured her sister was probably caught up in her memories of yesteryear.

"I discovered," Val said, lifting her gaze, "that he was doing drugs. Not only was he using them, he was selling them."

Adrianna gasped and slapped a hand over her mouth. "Are you sure?"

"Oh, yes. I wondered why he was so very popular with many models. He sold steroids to the male models, and the females he sold cocaine. When I asked him to stop, he told me he wasn't doing anything wrong." She rolled her eyes. "I couldn't believe that he actually thought this was his career."

"Oh, Val." Adrianna moved off the bed and knelt by her sister's chair. "That's awful. I'm sure it broke your heart."

Val nodded. "Don't you remember those months when I was severely depressed?"

"Yes, I do." In a flash, the conversation she'd had with Gabriele returned. Apparently, Dante was just as upset over the break-up. "Gabe told me that Dante had a hard time getting over you, as well. Gabe said that Dante was depressed for months afterward."

Val arched an eyebrow. "Good. He deserved it."

Adrianna stroked her hand along her sister's frail arm. "I'm glad you got out of that relationship. If Dante had been arrested, you would have been caught up in all the mess."

"I know. And it would have ruined my career." She paused and shook her head again. "But I think it did ruin my career. After we stopped seeing each other was when everything started sloping downhill for me."

"But...Dante wasn't at fault for your disease."

"I don't know, Anna. He was the one who suggested having a photo shoot in the Brazilian forest. That's when I got the tick bite."

Adrianna sighed heavily. "Do you think his uncle, the prime minister knows?"

"Probably not."

"Do...you think Dante will be at the party tonight?" Adrianna asked hesitantly.

"That, my dear sister, is a good question. If there are people there who he can sell to, then yes, he'll be there."

Adrianna stood and returned to the other box on her bed. She lifted the lid and took out the heels Gabe had bought her that matched the dress. Her mind swirled in confusion and worry. Was this information something Gabe should know because Dante is his friend? And...because they are best friends, was Gabe buying drugs from Dante, too?

Her head started throbbing. She couldn't let this ruin her evening. She wanted to feel like Cinderella tonight. Becoming stressed over things that were out of her control wasn't worth the effort.

However, she really should say something to Gabe. She'd watch his expression carefully, and that would tell her if he was buying drugs from Dante, or not.

With the decision in mind, she gathered her underclothes and moved into the bathroom to get ready for her special date.

* * * *

Gabriele paced the floor in the lobby as he held a single lavender rose. Adrianna told him she'd meet him in the lobby. She didn't want him to come up to the room because of Valerie. He understood that but waiting for her to arrive made him impatient.

He'd thought nonstop about her since he brought her to the hotel to get ready for their evening. Dante's words also wouldn't leave Gabe's mind, but he didn't want to believe his friend. Why would Valerie play Adrianna's part? Why would she kiss him so passionately and share with him her thoughts? Unless, of course, it was a way to get back at Dante. Or, to try and seduce him in order to get in with his sister's fashion business.

Growling under his breath, he rubbed his forehead. He hated these doubts. He wanted to think only about the wonderful, passionate moments he and Adrianna had shared so far this trip. He wanted to imagine himself with her for the rest of his life, having children, raising them in the vineyard estate, and being blissfully happy with his family.

The ding from the elevator jarred him out of his thoughts and he snapped his gaze in that direction. The doors opened...and his breath caught in his throat. Out walked a vision in red. An angel. A princess. The most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.

She wore her hair styled loosely in a coil on top of her head as wisps of hair curled by her ears and around her neck. She wore no necklace to decorate her lovely neck, but on her wrist, she wore a bracelet. Having her on his arm tonight would be a complete joy. The only thing missing on her head would be a crown—she looked that majestic. He'd feel like the luckiest man at the party.

When her gaze met him, she smiled wide. Her gaze traveled over him slowly. He wore a regular black tuxedo and white shirt, but the suit was from Giorgio Armani. He wore the customary green and red royal sash across his chest, hooking inside his suit coat on the left side, and then stretching across his mid-section, coming to rest on his right hip.

The closer she walked toward him, the silver drop earrings hanging from her lobes glistened underneath the chandelier. By the time she stood in front of him, he was enveloped in her sensual flowery scented perfume. The sweet emotion held in her gaze nearly had him begging for her love. He hadn't planned on falling head over heels, and definitely not in such a short amount of time.

"Wipe your mouth, Gabe," she said in a teasing voice. "You're drooling."

"Forgive me, mí amore, but you have never looked lovelier." A blush brightened her face, and he smiled, running the back of his knuckles over her soft, hot cheek. "How will I be able to concentrate on the guests at the party when my thoughts will be filled solely with you?"

She chuckled. "You are such a charmer, Gabriele. Sometimes I wonder if you have memorized these phrases and use them on all the women you seduce."

Slowly, he shook his head as he gazed deeply into her azure eyes. "No. These words are for you, only. I speak with my heart when I'm with you."

Her whole countenance relaxed as she leaned against him. "You are an amazing man, Gabriele Marcelli. And I think you are the best thing I've seen for a very long time." She brushed her fingers across his sash. "You look very regal. Where is your crown?"

He laughed. "I'm only a Count. I do not own a crown."

He wanted to taste her lips, to suckle from the sweetness she offered, but he worried that he wouldn't want to stop once he started. And they were in a hotel lobby. It would be really easy to check out a room...

He shook away the thought. Tonight, he needed to attend this function. Because he was a member of Italy's royal court, it was necessary.

"Mí amore," he muttered as he added space between them, presenting her with the rose. "This is for you. I know the rose cannot compare to your beauty, but it's the only thing that comes close."

She took the flower and lifted it to her nose, inhaling as she kept her gaze locked with his. He loved the way his heartbeat thudded quickly whenever she gave him this sultry expression. He realized how much he'd worked to charm her since they first met, and he'd never tried this hard with any other woman. But he liked that she didn't give in so easily.

Gabriele presented his arm, which she hooked her arm around, and he escorted her out to the waiting limo. After they were inside, she turned to him and linked her fingers with his.

"I have something to tell you about Dante, but I'm not sure how you will take it."

He arched an eyebrow. "What do you know about Dante?"

"I asked Valerie about her relationship with him, and how they broke up." She shook her head. "I don't like what she told me."

Curiosity nudged him to find out more. "Tell me."

She drew invisible lines on his hand with her fingers. "She told me the reason she left him was that he sells drugs."

Her comment was ludicrous, and he laughed. "Valerie told you that?"

Adrianna nodded. "She said that he sold steroids to the male models and cocaine to the woman. When she asked him to stop, he was appalled because he didn't think he was doing anything wrong."

"My dear, sweet, Adrianna." He cupped her face tenderly. "I have been friends with Dante for years. Don't you think by now I would know if he was doing something illegal?"

"Yes. That's why I knew I had to talk to you. If he's not doing drugs, why had Valerie said that?"

"That is a very interesting question. I wish I knew how to answer it."

"Do you know what Dante does for a living?"

Gabriele nodded. "He works in my sister's company. He is the buyer-purchasing agent. He makes a lot of money since the company is so popular worldwide."

He switched his attention from her eyes to her mouth, desperately wanting to kiss her, but holding strong the best he could. The urge was great, but he must resist temptation. Carrying on a conversation was good, and yet, he couldn't stop looking at her mouth.

"I wonder why Valerie would think he sold drugs?"

"Did he try to sell some to your sister?"

"She didn't say. I would think that's what happened, but I don't want to jump to conclusions."

"So for now," he rubbed a locket of her hair between his thumb and finger, "let us not worry about that. I want to gaze upon your beauty and feel your silky-smooth skin...and hope this evening passes quickly so I can take you to my villa and be alone with you." He paused before adding, "As long as that is all right with you."

Holding his breath, he waited for her reaction, praying that she would allow him to do this and take their relationship to the next level.