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“Can we stay here and pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist for just one more hour?”
After I washed her hair and thoroughly scrubbed her body, we came back to bed. Holly snuggled into my side, wrapping herself around me, and hasn’t moved since. That was two hours ago. “Someone’s going to bust the door down soon if we don’t get out there,” I say. Every thirty minutes or so, I’ve had fucking Neo either knocking on the door or sending me a text—apparently checking to see if I’m still alive.
“Neo made me put a gun in the bedside drawer. Just shoot anyone who comes in.”
“You don’t mean that, dolcezza.” I laugh.
“Yeah, probably not. What are you going to say to your mum?”
“What do you mean? What do I need to say to my mom?”
“She was heartbroken, T. You let her think you were dead. Do you have any idea what that does to a parent? No, of course you don’t.”
“Holly, Ma will be fine. She understands that sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do, for the greater good of the family. She’s not going to ask questions.”
“Mmm.” She rolls off me and out of bed. I watch her throw on a white sundress. Her hair has dried out a bit and hangs in waves down her back. Fuck, she’s gorgeous. “I need coffee. If you’d like to grace us all with your presence, your highness, I’m sure your family would appreciate seeing you.” She walks out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
I wonder if it’s just me, if I’m the only one who manages to piss her off all the time, or if she’s always been this feisty. She’s nothing like the shy girl I saw in the café that first night—the one too afraid to look up and meet everyone’s stare. No, now she’s a goddess, someone even I’d think twice before crossing. I smile as I drag my sorry ass out of bed. I walk into our shared closet, fully stocked with enough clothes for both of us.
I enjoy seeing our worlds coincide like this. All of our shit in one place, together. I have one more night here before I have to get back on the jet to Italy. And right now, leaving Holly again is the last thing I want to fucking do.
* * *
As soon as I walk into the dining room, Ma jumps up and hugs me in the way only a mother could. She doesn’t say anything as I return her embrace. When she pulls away, her hand comes out and slaps me across the back of my head. “Ow, fuck. Ma, what was that for?”
“For making your poor wife think you were dead. Don’t ever do that to her again, Theo. Now, come and eat. I can feel your ribs.”
I look around the dining room. Neo sits across from Holly, and Sonnie sits to her left, while the spot at the head of the table is empty. There are four of our other men joining us as well. What the fuck is going on? They’re here to do a job, to protect my wife and make sure no one gets into this house. Why are they sitting around like it’s the goddamn last supper? Everyone is staring my way, waiting for me to either say something or take my seat.
I look to Holly.This was her doing.She’s made friends with the soldiers. Of course she has. Neo should have put a stop to that. “T, did you know your mum makes the best pancakes? Like seriously, how are they this fluffy?” Holly smiles.
“Thank you, dear, I’ll show you the recipe,” Ma says.
“What fucking twilight zone did I wake up in?” I throw the question to Neo, as I lean down and kiss Holly’s forehead before taking my seat next to her.
“Don’t fucking ask. She even got the sauce recipe, man. The fucking sauce recipe. I’m gutted, Aunt Gloria. I’ve always been your favorite, and just like that, you went and replaced me with this one.” He waves his fork in Holly’s direction, and the corners of her lips tilt upwards.
“Nobody likes a crybaby, Neo. Get over it. Or better yet, go and find yourself a nice wife like Holly here, and I might pass the recipe on to her.” Ma laughs.
“Well, considering my girl is one in a million, Neo doesn’t stand a chance.”
“So, how long are you here for, Theo? Did you get everything in Italy sorted out?” I’m taken aback by my mother’s sudden change in conversation. Not once in my whole life have I ever heard her ask my father anything about the family business.
I want to tell her that it doesn’t concern her. It’s on the tip of my tongue, to remind her that it’s business and business does not concern wives. That’s what I was brought up to believe anyway. But then I look at Holly’s expectant face. She’s keen to know the answer too. I won’t tell them everything, but I can give them something. “I’m flying back out in the morning. I’m hoping only another couple of days on the mainland, and then we can all go home.”
“Great. I’ve never been to Italy. Gloria, I’m sure you can show me so many sites while T’s busy working. Oh, what’s the weather like? What should I pack?” Holly asks excitedly.
“Dolcezza, you’re not coming with me,” I state, and take a mouthful of pancakes.
“Oh, okay.” Holly pulls out her phone and taps away. “Sorry if this is rude, but I won’t be long.” She puts the phone to her ear and waits. We all sit and watch, wondering what the hell she’s doing. “Hey, Dean, it’s Holly. Actually, hold on a sec. I need to put you on speaker; my hands are full.” She taps the button and lets everyone at the table listen in. I already know who she’s called. Dean McKinley, one of her brother-in-law’s friends. What I don’t know iswhy. “I need a lift somewhere. You know I wouldn’t usually ever ask this, but it’s urgent, and I don’t know anyone else who can help.”
“A lift? Sure, where you at, Hol? I’ll come get you.” Dean, the fucker, sounds all too fucking happy to pick her up.
“Well, that’s the thing… I don’t need the car kind of lift. I need to borrow your jet. I need to get to Italy. Tomorrow, if it’s possible. I can pay you, of course.” I’m speechless. What the fuck is she thinking? She’s not getting on anyone else’s fucking jet.
“Ah, yeah, okay. Let me send a message and make sure my brother isn’t out of town. But even if he is, I’ll get him to send the jet back for you. What time tomorrow? And you’re not fucking paying anything. You’re family, Hol. If you ever need anything, all you have to do is ask,” the fucker says.
Fuck that. I reach over, grab the phone out of her hand, and hang it up. “You are not getting on his fucking jet. Forget it.”
