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“Who?”
“The Valentinos.”
“As in…”
“One and the same.”
My head begins to hurt, and alarm bells start to ring. There is no such thing as coincidences in my world. Who the fuck is this woman?
Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer is my motto. That’s what I’m going to do.
“You do that. In the meantime, keep someone on her. And—”
Another knock sounds at the door. “Come in.”
“Sir, your guest has arrived,” Benvolio, my butler, announces. “The car is pulling up the drive now.”
“Thank you, Ben,” I say, scooting my chair back from the desk and grabbing the bouquet I handpicked earlier this morning.
“Knuckles, keep me posted. And don’t say a word about this to anyone. Not even Bones. Got me?”
“Yes, sir, Boss,” he replies.
We step out of my office and head in two different directions. He’s going through the kitchen to the garage to leave, and I’m heading for the front door.
By the time I’ve arrived at my motor court, Mila is just stepping from the car, holding the hand of the driver as he assists her.
“Thank you, Piero. You can place her bags in the Margherita Room,” I state.
“Yes, sir,” he says with a subtle bow as he moves to the rear of the Alfa Romeo Giulia.
“Benvenuta,” I greet her warmly as I take her hand and place the flowers in her free arm.
“Orange dahlias,” she says with a curious smile before burying her nose in them. “How….how did you know these were my favorites?”
There’s something akin to fear in her eyes, and I wonder why that look takes over in the most unusual moments. My mind drifts back to the report wondering what we will find.
“I saw you observe them in my garden the first time you were here. I did not realize they were your favorites, but I noticed that you appreciated them.”
“Well, they are my favorite.”
“Good. I picked those for you this morning,” I say, placing my arm low around her waist as I escort her up the steps.
“I thought we were staying at your place,” she says as we step into the foyer.
“This is my home. This entire villa is my home, and I reside in different residences on various days, depending on the purpose of my being there. But this…this is my primary home.”
I don’t tell her that the apartment I share with my daughter is the only portion of my home that is not open to visitors. My parents, siblings, Knuckles, Sabrina, and Bones, are the only people allowed to visit there.
Perhaps if things work the way I intend with Mila, I can also show her that place one day. Until then, she will have to be happy with seeing this estate.
“Why does one man need all of this space?” she mutters, her eyes taking in the white marble floors, the gilded paneling of the walls, the crystal chandelier hanging from the recessed ceiling, and the ceiling medallions.
“A man’s home should be his castle. And the size of that castle should represent the empire that he rules. I have a large empire, Mila. I have never led you to believe otherwise.”
“And yet, you live here all alone.”
Turning my lips down, I step close to her and embrace her at the elbow. “I’m trying to resolve that if you would quit being so stubborn.”
