Alfonzo by S. W. Frank

pain finally ceased .

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CHAPTER ELEVEN
    “ Hi dear ,” Gina Palazzo said then kissed the wrinkle d cheek of her ailing husband.
    In a weak voice he asked, “Where have you been?”
    She opened a window. The opulent room smelled of urine and feces. She vowed to fire the housekeeper. The feeble-minded woman was told to put fresh flowers in the vase daily. Those instructions were disobeyed!
    Gina’s blond hair was coiffed in a fashionable chignon. At age f ifty-three she looked ten years younger. False lashes raked over her husband with hidden disgust. He should be dead, instead, he continued to fight the cancer and spoil her plans for wealthy independence. Tired of living in the shadow of billionaire developer Luzo Palazzo, she craved independence!
    Luzo directed his cousin Carlo Dichenzo and that weasel attorney Alberti, to keep an eye on her. If Luzo suspected what she’d done, death would be her punishment; therefore she continue d the pretense of a loving wife. She sat on the bed and rubbed his hand, “I attended a charity function in New York for The American Cancer Society,” she smiled, “I gave a sizable donation on your behalf . You’re to receive honorable m ention in their literature.”
    This pleased Luzo, “Good…good, especially since I am going to America in the morning to see a specialist at Sloan-Kettering.”
    “America,” her eyes widened in surprise, “Luzo you cannot travel, you are too ill!”
    “It is arranged,” he answered with finality. The private jet would be waiting along with his nurse, Alberti and the Serano twins. Details he did not share.
    “Then I am going with you.”
    Luzo became weary. He must move in haste before the cancer attacked his brain. Fiery blue eyes did not waver, “You will remain here, Carlo will visit tomorrow with very important business documents and you must receive them .”
    The mention of Dichenzo silenced any further protestations, “Of course.”
    She rose and flitted through the door leaving him in his sick room. The stench sickened her. She traveled the wide spiral staircase to the main floor in search of the housekeeper and found her in the laundry room. “Why are there no fresh flowers Lisette ?”
    “S ignor e Pal azzo asked me to take them away.”
    Gina frowned, “His room has an awful stench, go clean it now.”
    The woman sat the towel atop the basket and hurried off.
    “Lazy woman!” Gina scowled.
    She was in a foul mood, her trip abroad was for nothing!
    In a fit of rage she marched outdoors to the garden. There were several bodyguards patrolling the huge estate . She noticed one in particular, Nico standing nearby having a smoke . He extinguished it in the decorative flower pot and she marched over. “My flower pot is not an ashtray.”
    The handsome and massive bodyguard did not smile. He never smiled. He never showed any emotion. She attempted to seduce him on many occasions but he a l way s walked away as if she were no thing more than a wisp of wind on the Italian hillside . N ico was her husband’s personal bodyguard, someone who might prove to be a formidable ally if she could win him over . Instead his loyalty remained ironclad like some devoted dog to its master. Pity! “Did you hear what I said?”
    Dark , cold eyes swept across her face, “Your statement did n’t require an answer.”
    She stepped forward inhaling the strong masculine scent of his earthy cologne. He was a man she would love to have in her bed. A d angerous and exciting lay by the appearance of his sensual mouth . Nico was a man who could pleasure her immensely, she could tell. “Signore Palazzo is dying and soon your services will no longer be needed…unless you cho o se to stay on with me.”
    For the first time there was a glimmer of mirth in the cold eyes and a tug at the corner of the sensual mouth, “I am not a boy Signora Palazzo and your whorish ways aren’t enticing .”
    She quickly raised her hand to strike his smug face but he caught