The Billionaire’s Prodigal Wife
Chapter 58

It was nearly midnight when Mackenna’s phone rang.

“Mackenna,” Alessandro’s voice sounded tired as he spoke into her ear.

“How is she? Have you seen her?”

“I just left her room. They have her sedated.”

“What happened Alessandro? How did he get to her?”

“Salvatore paid three million dollars to one of Carlos’ team to let him and his guards slip by. The man escorted him to Dulce’s, made it look like he was there to protect her and then let him into her apartment. He was the one who reported nobody had been in or out. Carlos is dealing with him.” He was quiet for a moment as if gathering his thoughts, “he beat her badly Mackenna. She has broken ribs and a broken wrist, likely some internal bleeding. He sexually assaulted her repeatedly.”

“Why would he do this?” she fought the bile rising to her throat.

“Because of the video. He told her she knew what she was doing when she released it and he was going to make her pay. The video ultimately was his undoing, and he knew it. Dulce knew between you and I we would figure out immediately who was in the video, and we did.”

“Is she going to be alright”

“Only time will tell. She was most concerned to know if he was dead. I can’t same I blame her.”

“And is he?”

“I personally verified it. I checked every damn birthmark on his body to make sure it was him. My grandmother told me of a specific one I verified. There can be no mistaking the bullet in his head ended his life. I only wish we had been able to draw his death out much longer than a quick bullet,” his voice was cold and hard.

Mackenna said nothing to his comment. She knew he was beyond rational where his grandfather is concerned. His next words surprised her.

“I’ll be on the next flight home. I should be arriving by noon tomorrow.”

“What? Why? You couldn’t have landed there three hours ago. What about Dulce?” Mackenna asked seriously.

“Mackenna, my first stop here was to verify my grandfather was dead. I have checked on my grandmother and made sure she was safe. I then stopped here at the hospital, made sure Dulce has the best care in the world personally paid for by House of Giordano. My responsibility ends there. She has her family here and frankly the last thing I would think she needs is any member of Giordano hanging over her right now. While I am sorry for what my grandfather has done, it doesn’t erase all she has done. My place is with my wife who is recovering from a nasty fall and a head injury and so I am coming home.”

She was quiet for a moment as another questioned popped into her head she had been meaning to ask, “How did you get here so fast this morning?”

“I was coming home for a lunch break and was almost there when Dulce called. I had declined the call not knowing what she wanted. She then called you, Nuncio sent a text message to me, Carlos and Rio and the rest moved fast.”

“Oh,” she was quiet. “You were coming home for lunch?”

His chuckle echoed in the silence of her bedroom, “well, not exactly for lunch.”

“Oh,” her voice paused as his meaning suddenly struck her, “oh. You were coming home to have me for lunch.”

“It is the best thing about your apartment being thirty minutes from the office.” He muffled the receiver as he spoke to someone. “Mackenna, my parents are here. I will call you back shortly. Is this, okay?”

“Of course,” she paused, “I love you Alessandro.”

“I love you too, amore, I miss you and I’ll call you soon.”

Savannah knocked on her bedroom door. “Hey just heading in for another overnight shift, they just called as they’re short staffed. Was that Alessandro? How’s Dulce?”

“Bad,” she shook her head sadly. “He beat her up and sexually assaulted her.”

“I suppose Alessandro is now going to be gone for a while then.”

“No, he’s coming home tomorrow. He said his place is with me and he’ll be here by noon.”

“Seriously? Good for him putting you first.”

“I feel guilty. I know she probably wants him at her side.”

Savannah shook her head. “I’m with him. His place is with you. She had her reasons for doing what she did, and I don’t wish the hell she is going through on anyone, but she certainly shouldn’t be expecting either of you to automatically forgive her for what she’s done.”

“He blackmailed her.” Mackenna still felt the need to defend her, “he threatened to kill her daughter.”

“At least she has a child. Because she kept her mouth shut, you and Alessandro don’t.” Savannah folded her arms furiously over her chest. “I’m with Alessandro on this one Mac. She screwed up in the worst of ways.”

“You all talked about this haven’t you?”

“Yes,” she made a face as if it wasn’t even a real question. “You’ve been napping for days, and we’ve talked a lot he, Nuncio and I. Mac, he knows his place is with you and not with her. I’m glad he’s listening to the things we are all telling him.” She sat on the edge of the bed and changed the subject. “Did you tell him you had a panic attack this evening and fell and popped a couple stitches in your arm?”

“No and like I said to both of you earlier, he can replace out when he’s home. He has enough on his plate with his grandfather being shot in the head and his friend being raped and beaten.”

Savannah eyed her critically, but Mackenna didn’t back down.

“I will tell him tomorrow when I see him.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, I promise.” She sighed, “I know it’s stupid and I’m trying to forgive her and to be the better person, but she was in my head for over five years. Knowing he was there with her made me antsy and so I had a panic attack thinking the worst.”

“It would make anyone upset Mackenna. I agree he needed to go, not for her but for his own family and to lend support to his grandmother and father but after all Salvatore and Dulce put you through, it is not unexpected you still have issues with her. I personally think your heart is way too big for your mind to process.”

She chuckled at her friend’s description. “Perhaps. I have a counselling session in the morning I had rescheduled from Monday. I’ll explore this with her a bit.”

“Good. For now, you are on bed rest until the appointment tomorrow, understand?”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Also, Nuncio made dinner. He’s bringing yours in.”

“What did he make?” she smiled widely. “I’ve been smelling it for hours.”

“Pizza.”

“Yes,” they high fived. “Your boyfriend is the best.”

Savannah made a face. “Not sure how long he’ll be my boyfriend. He said we need to talk tomorrow. He said Rio is going to cover you tomorrow so we can chat. I think he’s going to end things.”

She paused for a minute and then Mackenna grinned broadly, “nope.”

“What do you mean nope.”

“I mean nope,” she couldn’t stop smiling at her friend. “I think I know what’s going on. Alessandro mentioned before he went to the office early this morning he set up for us to go see the house in the gated community where Derrick lives. I think he wants us to buy it but he’s going to want a ton of renovations. Once he buys it and it’s done, I’m probably moving in with him.”

“What about this place?”

She shrugged with a smirk, “Alessandro mentioned to me the other day my bodyguard needs a place to live too.”

“Oh, you think he’s going to ask to move in with me here?” Savannah blushed. “Really?”

“It’s not that far of a stretch. I mean he’s here all the time anyway and it makes sense.” She stared at Savannah, “would this be a good thing for you? I mean you fell hard for him, didn’t you?”

“Like a brick in a puddle,” she rolled her eyes. “Do you really think it’s what he wants to talk about?”

“It sure as hell isn’t about breaking up. The guy talked not ten hours ago about having you perform lap dances on him. You two are definitely not breaking up.”

“Thank god because I’d have to move in with you and Alessandro so you could hold me every night while I cry,” Savannah gave her a rueful smile. “My mom keeps asking to meet him.”

“Your dad would have had a field day with him.” Savannah’s foster parents who had adopted her as a teenager had loved her like she had been with them all her life. While her father had passed away, her mom still called her almost daily. How Savannah had been able to keep them apart so long was a testament to Savannah’s fear of being rejected.

“Well, if we aren’t breaking up tomorrow, maybe I’ll invite her to town soon.”

“Fun!” Mackenna squealed.

They both looked up as Nuncio walked into the room. “Why do you both look guilty?”

“We don’t. We were just talking.” Savannah stood up from the bed. “Alessandro called and gave Mac the rundown. He’s coming home tomorrow.”

“Yes, so I heard from Carlos,” he shook his head. “I was talking to my mother earlier and she said she’s never seen my older brother so angry.”

“Why were you talking to your mother,” Mackenna looked to Nuncio.

“I talk to her every day. She is my mama, and I am a good son,” he looked at her quizzically. “What are you digging for?”

“Nothing,” she smirked and started to move her blankets to get out of bed. She had just remembered Alessandro mentioning his grandmother’s ring.

“Where do you think you’re going.”

“Dinner, Savannah said dinner was almost ready.”

He pointed at her, “you stay there. I will bring you dinner in a bit. I have a movie we can watch on my laptop, and we can share the pizza after I run Savannah to work. Paparazzi is outside in full force as the word of Salvatore’s death has hit the news.”

“I should feel sad.”

“Why?” Both Savannah and Nuncio asked the question in unison.

“He was an evil piece of s**t,” Nuncio spat, “I only wish he had died much slower than a bullet to the brain. It was unfortunate they were trying to save Dulce’s life because he went much too quickly for my liking.”

Savannah wrinkled her nose, “Hippocratic oath and all prohibits me from the desire to see someone get murdered so I’m going to go to work. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She waved at Mackenna

Nuncio pointed at her, “stay put until I get back.”

She saluted him and nestled into her bed. “Yes sir.”

Her phone rang again, and she answered it again, “Alessandro.”

“Mackenna,” his voice was quiet over the line.

“What is wrong?” she asked seriously.

“Other than I am here and you are so far away from me, absolutely nothing. I am just missing you. My parents are in with Dulce’s family. I am in the limo heading to the airport. I just ended our call earlier abruptly and I’m missing you.”

“Oh,” she settled into her pillows.

“Why are you still awake?”

“I napped from about six until eleven and I’m wide awake. I missed dinner. Nuncio is running Savannah over to the hospital because she was called in but then he’s coming to sit up and feed me pizza and watch movies until I’m tired again.”

“Why did you nap so long in the evening?”

She took a breath, “It’s been a long day.”

“Mackenna, what aren’t you telling me?” Alessandro demanded with annoyance.

“I was going to tell you tomorrow.”

“What?” his voice was concerned.

“I got into my head and was overthinking things and was thinking of you being there with Dulce and even though I know there is nothing going on, I still have anxiety about her. I’m trying Alessandro. I’m really trying but with you there with her my head didn’t like it.”

“You had a panic attack.” Alessandro’s voice was matter of fact.

“I did and I went to grab the kitchen island and I missed it and I fell, and I hit my arm and a couple stitches broke and it was bleeding.”

His curse echoed over the line.

“Alessandro, I’m okay.”

“You are most assuredly not okay. Mackenna, the damage caused by her actions, and mine if I’m honest, are still affecting you. Regardless of her reasonings, she bullied and harassed you for years in the most cruel and callous ways and I turned a blind eye to it. I understand you are trying to be the bigger person but my love you do not need to. You owe her nothing. You owe me nothing. I understand why you have fears where she and I are concerned and all I can say is I promise I will spend the rest of my days making sure you know she is not a threat to you or to us. I am glad I made the decision to come home. It reaffirms my belief where I should be is with you.”

“I don’t want to be a clingy wife,” she protested.

“Mackenna,” he g*****d into the phone. “You are a strong and independent woman who has no need for a husband. You said it yourself earlier. You have clearly demonstrated you can live and thrive without me in your life. Look at the world you have created for yourself. You have an amazing life rich with love and friendship, a job you love and a community which you are immersed in. I am privileged you have agreed to let me part of this. As far as the anxiety and panic, it makes sense for you to be affected when I must interact with your tormentor. It is my intention to maintain my distance from her and have a professional relationship only. I am hopeful in time, without her involved in our lives, your anxiety will improve.”

“She was your friend,” she whispered. “I won’t ask you to give up your friends.”

“She has many friends and family. Friends come and go Mackenna. I am sure there are people in your life who were friends at one stage in your life who are no longer friends with you now. Our friendship, in retrospect, was toxic to those around us and I do not wish to be involved in such a thing again. I will maintain a professional relationship as much as I am contractually required as a freelance designer for House of Giordano, but it is the end of my personal relationship with Dulce.” He suddenly sighed, “I knew I had to go to Milan to deal with my grandfather and my family, but I did not want to make the stop to Dulce’s hospital. My family insisted I make the appearance and I did. All I want now is to come home to my wife.”

She was quiet on the other end of the phone and then he spoke, “Mackenna, are you still there?”

“I am,” she wiped a tear off her cheek. “I’m just processing everything. I love you.”

“I adore you,” he spoke gently.

She heard a key in the lock. “Nuncio is back.”

“Enjoy your dinner and movies my love. Get some sleep and I will see you tomorrow. I’m flying commercial and there is a layover. It was the quickest flight home I should be there around twelve-thirty.”

“I’ll see you then.” She hung up the phone and admitted to herself her heart was feeling better after hearing Alessandro speak.

She looked up and smiled at Nuncio as he appeared in the door of her room. She ended her call and looked at her friend. “I want to see the ring.”