“Did they like them? They wear them to every dinner party! I've never seen such vain little girls.” He joked.
Don Giulio's granddaughters were fifteen years old, twins, his beloved girls and probably the best-connected ragazze in Italy. And the simple dinner parties Don Giulio referred to ranged from Italian politicians to European aristocracy.
“Va bene, Don Finisterra.Grazie mille.”
“Di niente, Camillo.Ciao.”
I hung up. Case closed.
Finisterra delivered on his promises. No one could get documents as fast as he could. Of course, my jewelry ‘gifts’ were always worth millions, and he gladly accepted the payment. Precious stones, gold, properties, had timeless value. No one paid for favors with money in our world.
I took care of a few more phone calls. When I looked at the clock, it was past nine in the morning.
With heavy steps, I made my way back upstairs. I stopped in front of the cherry wood door, unlocking the lock without haste. I wondered if Daisy was awake yet, although something told me she was. Either way, I would have to be cautious entering the room and prepare for any treacherous attack or escape attempt.
The door opened with a soft creak. I peered into the room, now flooded with morning light, and found a bed with rumpled sheets, but no sign of her.
The door swung open completely. I stepped forward, suspicious, and froze when I heard the sound of the shower.
She was in the bathroom.
Common sense told me to leave, lock the door, and come back in a few minutes. It wouldn't cost me anything, after all, we weren't due to leave for the airport until later that day. Still, my legs moved towards the bathroom and my shoulder found support in the open doorway.
The steam from the water wasn't enough to fog up the glass of the shower. I slid my eyes over the naked figure, with her back to me, taking my time to analyze every inch of that perfectly golden skin. The only tan line she had was a tiny triangle lost between her firm buttocks, telling me she sunbathed practically naked, for sure, in front of any man who wanted to see her.
The idea made me grit my teeth.
“Daisy.” I growled before common sense brought me back to reality.
She jumped like a cornered animal and turned to face me. Her soaked hair, pushed back, left nothing to the imagination.
I straightened up.
Daisy Parker was the opposite of everything I used to appreciate in women, yet I couldn't take my eyes off her naked body. The way her small breasts were perfectly round, withperky, red nipples. Or how the thin layer of hair between her legs was as blonde as the hair on her head, if not more so.
Realizing where my attention was focused, she covered herself as best she could with her arms, and I turned away, rubbing my face with my hand.
Damn it.
“Scusa,” I said, clearing my throat immediately when I noticed how hoarse my voice sounded.
“I-I... What does that mean?”
“I'm sorry,” I explained, placing my hands on my hips and taking a deep breath. I was shocked to realize how my body was reacting. “I need you to be ready in the next five minutes. There's something you have to do.”
“But—”
“No buts!” I growled, but it wasn't her I was angry with, it was myself. “Hurry up.”
“I have nothing to wear!” she squeaked behind me, with that southern accent licking my skin. “I mean... I don't havecleanclothes.”
“Certo. Give me a moment.”
I left the room and locked the door, rushing back to mine. A man's life was made up of morning erections, but having one at the expense of my hostage, worse, a dull American girl, had never been part of my plans.
When I returned to the room with one of my T-shirts and some gray sweatpants, she was waiting for me wrapped in a towel, sitting on the bed.
“Here you go. Don't be long.”
