“My pleasure.” His voice vibrated on the last word, turning it lascivious as he looked me over.
I should be offended, but all I felt was desire. A grin pinched my cheeks when I turned and left the kitchen. Guilt followed with a dampening rush, shutting down the giddy feeling as I retreated to my room.
I sensed Alessio even before I closed my door, turning and spotting him sitting in the lone chair in front of the balcony doors.
“What are you doing here?” I stalked toward him. “You can’t just come into my room like this.”
“It’s my house.” Each word was short, clipped, and full of anger.
I kicked at his chair. “Fuck you. I didn’t ask to come here. If you’re going to make me a prisoner, at least let me havesomeprivacy.”
“Tell me what I want to know and you can have all the fucking privacy you want.” He stood and prowled toward me, each movement intense and purposeful. “Tell me about Leo.”
“There’s nothing to tell. He’s my son.” I almost emphasized “my” but knew it would give him more incentive to push for answers.
He anchored his hands on his hips in a broad stance that was supposed to be intimidating. I found it intoxicating and bit the inside of my cheek to keep from leaning toward him.
Years of silence and now he demanded to know about Leo? No way. He’d hurt me, deeply. It seemed only fair I returned the favor.
“Ask me why you two are here.” The command brought back memories of late nights between the sheets, when he commanded things of my body that drove the passion between us to new, incredible heights.
I allowed my curiosity to bend to his will. “Why are we here?”
“I wanted to protect you.” He bowed his head, only for a heartbeat, but it was enough to show the first hints of regret. “You and Leo deserve that. You should be protected, even if I am the reason for the threat. I wanted that for you, to protect you from the world, and from myself.”
“And you feel that’s been effective?” I wanted to scoff at the idea but I held back, knowing deep down I had no way to protect us from people like the ones who shot up my boutique.
“It has.” He loomed in front of me, larger than life but with a vulnerable edge to his voice. “I’m done staying away, Lila. You’re in this now, whether either of us wanted it. And I’m done pushing you away.”
11
ALESSIO
Was there any way to convince Lila of the danger without telling her exactly who and what I’d become in the years since she met me? Unlikely. That single fact drove me to confront Lila last night, though it ended with me storming from her room and no agreement made.
The woman was determined to put herself in danger.
After I left, I’d forced my body to rest, even if my mind strayed into a constant loop of questions with no easy answers. I dressed with less care than usual since I had no intention of leaving the house and called for Matteo and Renzo to meet me in the study.
Dragging a hand through my hair before leaving my room, I took several seconds to lock my mind onto business. The peace and quiet in this room usually tempered my anger, but today the silence turned oppressive. I craved the sound of Lila’s voice and Leo’s laughter. I’d missed her with the kind of ache that felt like death, but nothing prepared me for the protectiveness that rose when I saw Leo for the first time.
I stalked from the room with its beige walls and priceless paintings and made my way down a narrow corridor hiddenfrom view behind a secret door, entering the study and crossing to the desk before Matteo joined me with Renzo on his heels.
Matteo went straight to the balcony and peered out, his body curved into a slouch.
Renzo stood ramrod straight at the side of the desk, his face as expressionless as a piece of paper and his clothing bristling with weapons.
I sat on the corner of the desk and watched my two friends, who were so opposite each other it was laughable, take one look at me and close ranks. I kept my voice steady as I began giving orders.
“I need you both on recon duty today. Run down the Verducci syndicate, check their recent movements. Find out if Leo and Lila are safe out there.” They were not. We all knew it, but Lila’s desire to be rid of me ruined all common sense. I met Renzo’s silent stare. “You think Lila will try to leave. I agree. We need to make sure that doesn’t happen while keeping tabs on the Verduccis. Find out what they know and who they’ve told.”
“If I can get close enough, I can tap into their systems.” Matteo’s smile held a vicious edge. “I can tell you how many times they shit every day if it helps.”
“Not sure that’s relevant information.” I slapped his shoulder in silent thanks for his attempt to lighten the mood. “Unless it helps us kill them.”
“You never know. I’m sure Renzo has blown up a few toilets.” Matteo cocked his hip forward and pretended to raise an invisible hat. “As the primary recon man, you get first dibs on toilet explosions.”
“Pass.” Renzo rubbed his thumb across the pistol I’d gifted him when he agreed to join my service. “I like to look them in the eye when they die. Make sure they know who cut their strings and left them shitting their pants.”
