Page 28 of Sicilian Savior

My hands flew to my mouth. “Really? I can’t believe it!”

I ran forward and leaped up, throwing my arms around his neck. Instead of encircling me like he’d done before, he froze and stood like a marble statue while I clung to him. After a few moments, I realized how uncomfortable he seemed, and I slid back down to the ground.

“Sorry,” I said softly. “I just got really excited.”

“It’s great news. I don’t have all the details, but when Marcus and Piper arrive, they’ll fill us in.”

I stood in front of him, searching his face for some explanation for the newfound hardness in him.

Nothing.

Just a stoic expression and eyes that stared past me.

“Um,” I stumbled for words, looking to fill the void between us. “There’s really not a lot to eat here other than the basics already in the fridge and pantry. Do you think we could go to the market and get some groceries? Since I can’t help on the mission, I figure I can at least contribute by cooking for everyone this week. Authentic Sicilian in Sicily.”

“Yeah. That sounds good. Why don’t you grab your hat and sunglasses, and I’ll take you into town?”

Another cool answer. It set me harder on edge.

I hurried upstairs and grabbed my beige sun hat and sunglasses, then met Knox back down at the car. He opened the door for me, closing me in and getting into the driver’s seat without a word. The awkward silence rode along with us all the way to the little village a ten-minute drive away. I chewed on the inside of my cheek and twisted the bottom of my soft pink sundress until we parked just outside the market.

“Don’t leave my side,” he ordered as we got out. “Keep your sunglasses and hat on. Victor’s compound is still almost an hour away, so I can’t imagine we’ll bump into anyone, but we can’t be too careful. No sense in alerting them to our presence.”

“Got it,” I responded, happy to follow any orders that meant my son would return to me safe.

We walked together through the little village that looked more picturesque than I’d ever imagined.

“I can’t believe I’m in Sicily,” I said as I took it all in. “Pictures don’t do it justice.”

“Yeah. It’s pretty spectacular.”

I pursed my lips as I peered up at Knox. He still hadn’t looked at me today, and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why. But instead of fixating on the man with the hot and cold emotions, I decided to throw my energy into finding all the best ingredients at the little market ahead.

Knox and I perused the market side by side, and he kept a quiet watch over me the whole time. I filled our basket with fresh fruits, meats, and vegetables that had my little Sicilian heart leaping with excitement over all the authentic ingredients I could never get in Mountain Springs. Recipe after recipe rolled through my head while I gathered up everything I’d need to cook for an army. Well, a team of assassins, but close enough.

After we finished shopping for groceries, I spotted a stand where a man screamed loudly about his cannoli.

“We can’t be in Sicily and not get cannoli.” I nudged Knox with my elbow.

His jaw tightened and then softened. “I do really like cannoli.”

He glanced down, and the moment our eyes locked, I saw a flash of that same softness I’d seen before. But as quickly as it came, it disappeared as he snapped his eyes away.

What the hell?

Irritated and confused, I pushed the still-reeling thoughts about what I’d done wrong from my head and marched over to the cannoli man.

“I’ll take six, please,” I said, then glanced up at Knox. “One for each of us now, and one for each of us for dessert tonight, then one for Marcus and Piper.”

“Works for me,” Knox answered coolly.

Fighting the urge to ask him what was wrong, I paid the man with Knox’s money and took the cannoli.

After handing Knox the change, I made a mental note, adding it to the tally I silently kept. I felt bad he was footing the bill for all this, even though he’d told me about his fortune from his high-paid contracts and then some money they’d stolen from a cartel a little while back. Marcus had fallen for some woman in Colombia who’d gotten mixed up with the drug cartel. Knox and his team had rescued her and her father, and once they got them out, they also walked off with a bunch of bags full of money. It seemed Knox had more than enough money to pay for this trip, but it still upset me to be so dependent on another man. I tried to keep a mental note of how much he was spending so someday, when Luca was back and my store was doing well, I could pay him back.

It seemed surreal to me that soon I could start up the life I’d dreamed of building with Luca. Run my store, take care of my son, and finally get out from under the threat that loomed over us day in and day out. For so long, I’d just been Victor’s wife and then a broken-hearted woman on the run. I could barely imagine what my days would include when this ended... what it would be like when I blossomed out of my terrified victim role.

Finally, I could find solid ground under my own two feet and start to live a life where every second wasn’t filled with anguish and fear—each moment spent calculating every thought and action to ensure my safety and the safety of my son. Sheer survival left no room or energy for fun or joy, and we lived our lives under a dark, ominous storm cloud at all times. But now, the clouds were parting, and rays of light were starting to shine through. This nightmare would all be over soon, and we could start anew. I wanted to carve out a new world for Luca and myself, but in reality, I had no idea what that looked like.