Dante Lucchese gave her that hickey, didn’t he?
Except, Alessandro is also staring at her. Like heknows.
“Don Lucchese sent his son to secure the land. We were held up at gunpoint a few months ago, and the thieves stole thousands of handpicked pistachios. They pushed around mybaby and threatened her life if I didn’t put down my weapon. Dante Lucchese bought the land next door days later.”
“At his father’s request?” Alessandro repeats.
Don Gallo seems confused. “That’s what he claims. We haven’t had a problem since.”
If her father looked closer, he’d realize the loss of pistachio nuts are the least of his problems.
My gaze locks on Alessandro. He doesn’t believe that’s why Dante is here either, does he?
“Emilio Conti visit my fratello?” The last word is said with clear sarcasm, except I’m more interested in the man’s first name. Until now, Alessandro and his men only referred to him as Conti. But Emilio … Something about his name nags at me, but I can’t quite work it out.
“No. Dante met him in Rome months ago. Something about repositioning Atlanta. My men inform me Conti left the meeting furious.”
Alessandro seems satisfied. “Lucky he left at all. Hollywood isn’t one to take shit.”
“Hollywood?” Luna bursts out, her English accent perfect. Realizing her mistake, she begins speaking in rapid Italian. “Ho sempre desiderato visitare la Hollywood Walk of Fame. Sai, dove tutte le famose star del cinema mettono le loro impronte digitali nel cemento? Padre, dovrai portarmi con te un giorno, presto…”
“Quiet, principessa. Alessandro and Riley aren’t here to listen to you ramble on.”
She nods, the picture of obedience.
The men turn back to business.
We finish our meal and say our goodbyes. My heart is in my stomach because our trip to Sicily’s ending. Will things now be different back in Sardinia?
The brunettes are gone, I reassure myself.
He’s holding my hand.
He seems lighter … happy, even.
We pause outside as Don Gallo waves his hands and enthusiastically describes the new pistachio crop about to be harvested after a two-year wait.
I feel a tug on my elbow.
Luna.
She pulls me out of earshot of the men. “Thank you. I owe you a huge favor.”
“Just be careful.” I feel obligated as an older woman to warn her.
Instead of being worried, she rolls her eyes. “Your boyfriend’s Alessandro Beneventi. You be careful.”
CHAPTER 24
SANDRO
“Change in plans.The yacht’s been directed to Salerno.”
There’s a long pause on the other end of the call. We’ve shit to do, and prolonging this trip upends the meetings I’ve scheduled tomorrow. I wait for Tommaso to ask why, but he doesn’t.
Next to me in the passenger seat of the Maserati, Miss Ears quietly listens. I should make her take her tits out and get us back into familiar territory. “I’m taking this baby for a test drive and am considering purchasing one. The car’s fucking sweet.”
“You’re shitting me, right?”
