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"It's nice to meet you," I said, breaking the silence first since the stubborn set of her jaw said she wasn't going to do it.
"Yeah, you too," she agreed, giving me an incline of her chin and nothing more.
"This is the part where you're supposed to give the woman a tour," Emilio supplied, shaking his head at me.
"Right," I said, nodding. "This is the kitchen and living space," I told her, waving an arm out. "Then down the hall is my room on the right. The first door on the left is my son's room. The last is for you to use."
I'd had some of my brother's men help me move Brit's things down into storage after I was sure Ottavio was asleep, not wanting him to think I was trying to erase her, but also needing to make space for Alessa to feel comfortable.
My mother had swooped in at the crack of dawn to "spruce up the place." I hadn't been back in to see what she'd done before rushing out, saying something about a date. Though I was sure I'd misheard her.
"And this is where you show her to her room so she can put down her things," Emilio prompted, rolling his eyes at me.
"Of course," I said, moving in that direction. "Let me show you your room," I offered, going down the hallway with the unknown woman behind me, then waving her into her space without entering myself. "You have your own powder room, but share the shower room with Ottavio. Though, I don't imagine you'll be needing to do too many overnights. I don't typically stay out all night."
"Okay," she agreed, clearly as awful at social mores as I was. Which was not going to make for the most comfortable of arrangements. But it was only for two and a half months. By then, Lorenzo figured we would know who'd killed Brit. We would have made a move to make them pay. And then I wouldn't have the need to be away from home as much. Even if I did, though, I could hire an actual nanny instead of someone from one of the Families.
"I'll let you settle in," I said, moving away quickly, not sure what the discomfort was about.
"She's prettier than I remember," Emilio said when I moved back into the kitchen, going for the coffee pot.
"Yeah, just as moody as I remember," Lorenzo agreed. "But prettier. Don't you think?" he asked, looking over at me.
"I didn't know her in the past, so how could I remember how pretty she is?"
Though, yeah, she was.
She had the kind of face that her tomboyish way of dress and her surly attitude seemed at odds with.
Soft, sweet, feminine.
She had delicate bone structure, full lips, wide, expressive, and round eyes that were a striking golden-brown color.
Definitely pretty.
"You'd never know looking at her that she could probably whoop my ass," Emilio said, looking pleased at the prospect.
"Yeah," Lorenzo agreed. "Hard to imagine. She looks like a strong wind could knock her over."
"Would you like a demonstration then?" Alessa asked, making all three of us jolt, turning guiltily back toward her. Caught gossiping. That was never a good look.
"I'll play alon—" Emilio started as he walked toward her.
He didn't get to finish his sentence, though.
One moment, he was approaching Alessa.
The next, he was flat on his back staring at the ceiling.
"Ow," Emilio said, laughing.
"Satisfied?" Alessa asked, reaching an arm down, waiting for Milo to latch on, then hauling him back onto his feet. "I'm stronger than I look. I'm more than capable of taking care of myself. And your son," she added, looking over at me.
"I believe that," I agreed.
Hell, I wasn't sure I would have been able to do a move that quickly. And I'd had a lot of training when I was younger.
"See, Santi, everything—" Lorenzo started, cutting off when his phone started to ring. "Excuse me," he said, moving out of the apartment and into the hall.
"So, Alessa," Emilio said, letting it hang.
"So, Emilio," Alessa shot back. "Nice belt buckle," she declared, looking down at the man's fist buckle, tattoos and all on the fingers.
"I know," Milo agreed, giving her one of his flirtatious smiles.
"No," I said, giving him a look that he seemed to immediately understand.
"Just being friendly. Since you can't seem to string more than a couple words together today," he shot back.
"I have a lot—" I started, but trailed off when Lorenzo came back into the apartment. There was something in his stride and his posture that put me immediately on edge.
"We need to roll out," he declared, giving Emilio a head jerk. It was some silent order. The two had been close for long enough that they didn't always need to say shit out loud for the other to understand. Whatever it was that was communicated had Milo making his way out of the apartment. "You're good here, right, Alessa?" Lorenzo asked.
