An air of power and entitlement, even strict authority, surrounds him.
There's something familiar about him, yet also not. I rack my brain, trying to remember all the faces I saw when I was with Tiero, but my mind comes up blank. I'm sure I have not met him before.
Clad in black denim jeans, well-worn leather boots, and a short-sleeved, dark T-shirt, he smiles at me in a way that's arrogant and a tad condescending. I take an immediate dislike to him.
Then his eyes meet mine.
For a millisecond, my heart falters.
Hazel-brown eyes stare back at me.
My stomach somersaults.
I forget how to breathe and clasp Aiden's arm in shock. My gaze races to my fiancé's, but he doesn't appear as taken aback as I am. Can't he see it?
If he can, he has one hell of a poker face.
Niccolo's eyes… they're so much like…
The man in question grins at me. But there's nothing genuine about it.
Shivers run down my spine, and my grip on Ade tightens.
"I can see why he was so taken with you. You're a pretty little thing, aren't you, Miss Ella Rose O'Neil?"
Is he talking about Tiero? And 'thing'? My dislike for this guy is growing with each word that's coming out of his mouth.
I ignore his comment as much for Ade's sake as for mine. Beside me, Ade's hands clench into fists.
"Why are you here, Romero?" my fiancé asks through gritted teeth. "Rumor has it you're trying to establish yourself in Sicily. Chicago not big enough for your family?"
"Oh, Chicago is plenty big for my family, but I'm growing the business, my mother's family business, to be more precise."
He's lowering his gun as he walks toward me, his gaze intense. I instinctively take a step closer to Ade who wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me close.
His eyes intently locked on me, he continues, "After your deceased lover killed my grandfather and all his male descendants, his crown now falls to me. I'm making beautiful headway in bringing all of Sicily under my control, but for the icing on the cake, I need a little something."
My head is spinning, trying to make sense of everything he's saying. Tiero killed his grandfather… who was that? I've never heard the name Romero before. And from what I learned, Tiero killed a lot of people, all bad Ade assured me, after I disappeared. Apparently, he did a cleanse to rid himself of his enemies. Enemies who might also come after me. So who is Niccolo talking about?
"It's silly, really. Archaic, if you asked me, but it seems I have to abide by these rules… at least if I want things to go easier for me. I mean, who wants to make more work for themselves than they have to, right?"
His gaze bounces between Ade and me before he continues. "For me to take over De Marco's empire. I need something… something that's hidden right here on this island. But don't worry, as soon as I have it, I will leave you to it. After all, today isa special day, is it not? So to speed things up, perhaps you can be of assistance?"
What?
His words sound polite… on the surface. His tone, however, suggests something else.
Taking over the De Marco empire? I'll be damned if I help him do that.
"Who was your grandfather?" I ask, finally finding my voice.
His cool gaze lands on mine again, and that arrogant smile is back.
"Niccolo Molinaro. I'm named after him."
The sheer mention of that name makes me gasp.
Molinaro. The man who tried to kidnap me—twice. The man who risked the life of his own daughter to lure me into a trap… quite successfully too. If it hadn't been for Alonzo, I'd probably be dead now.
