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“Nothing happened. And again, I don’t lose.” I walk out, leaving her to eat her breakfast. I have too much shit to do. First on my list is finding out why a certain dark angel is suddenly everywhere I fucking turn.
Chapter Four
It’s a lot easier to get into T’s house than I thought it would be. I actually feel a tiny bit of remorse for having to deceive him and Holly about why I’m here. But what am I supposed to tell them? That our father sent me to look after my big brother? He’d kick me out quicker than an atheist hoping to attend Sunday mass.
Izzy is becoming attached already. I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing. When I watch my brother with her, I can’t help but wish she always had him around. Always had an uncle to watch over her. A male figure other than her grandfather and the men who work for him. He’s so gentle with her. So different. Not at all what I expected from the ruthless Theo Valentino I’ve heard about.
I’ve just finished showering in the adjoining bathroom located in the guest room of The Valentino Estate. This house makes the Four Seasons look like a three-star motel. “Izzy, are you dressed? We should get a start on our day,” I call through the door. But I get no response. Nudging the hinges open, I look into the bedroom. Izzy isn’t here. “Fuck! Izzy?” I call out louder. I draw a gun from my bag before I run out the door and down the stairs. “Izzy? Where are you?” I yell. Two soldiers look at each other as they see me jogging through the foyer of the house.
“Ah, ma’am. Wait.” One of them puts his hands up like he’s going to stop me. I don’t think. I just act. I take aim and shoot. Not to kill, just to keep him at a distance. Stop him before he reaches me.
“Move!” I hiss as I run past him. The other guard is speaking into an earpiece, following behind me as I enter the kitchen and halt in my tracks.
“Izzy, oh thank God!” I heave out, my eyes darting between my daughter and my brother. She is sitting at the bench on a high stool. With a plate full of pancakes topped with ice cream.
“Mama, Zio T made pancakes.” Izzy smiles.
“I see,” I say, unsure how I’m going to explain to T that I just shot one of his soldiers in the leg.
“Izzy, I’m going to show your mom the fish tank in the dining room. Will you be okay here, eating your breakfast by yourself?” T asks.
“Uh-huh. You can leave the ice cream tub out.” She nods.
“Sure thing,bella. Be right back.”
The second soldier, the one with two good legs, enters the kitchen. He looks ready to grab me when T cocks his head to the side and glares at him. “Touch her and you die,” he says, brushing past. The soldier looks just as confused as I am right now.
I follow T out of the kitchen and into the dining room.
“Was it necessary to shoot him?” my brother asks me, as he types something into his phone before putting it back into his pocket.
“I thought so at the time. I-I didn’t know where Izzy was.”
“Nothing will happen to her in my house. I can promise you that.”
“You can’t promise that. No one can.”
“You’re right. I can’t. But what I can promise is that I will rain hell down on anyone who has even the slightest thought of hurting that little girl.”
I don’t know what to say. I’m speechless. This is uncharted territory. “I appreciate that, but I don’t need a man to come to our rescue. Izzy and I are far from damsels in distress.”
“That’s probably the most honest thing you’ve said since you arrived.” His gaze pierces through me, questioning, seeking answers he won’t find. After scrutinizing my emotionless expression, he sighs, giving up. “Why are you here, Angelica?”
“I’m here because I just found out I have a brother. I wanted to meet you. Izzy wanted to meet you. You know, we can go. It’s fine. I shouldn’t have brought her here anyway.”
“I don’t want you to go. What I want is the truth.”
“The truth is that, for the first time in my life, I have a sibling. Izzy has an uncle. I want that for her—a family. I know it’s not ideal. I know it’s not what you want, and I can’t begin to say that I understand how you must feel with this news. But that’s the truth. I want the opportunity to get to know you, Theo.” As I say the words, I realize they’re actually true. I do want to get to know him. I do want Izzy to have a family.
“Fine, but try to refrain from shooting any more of my men.” He smirks. “Come on, the pancakes are getting cold."
I sit down next to Izzy, and T piles up a plate for me as well. “Where’s Holly?” I ask. The moment the question slips out, I wish I could take it back. A look of pure anguish clouds my brother’s face.
“Out. Running errands apparently. Look, I hate to leave you, but I have a meeting I can’t miss. Make yourself at home.” He walks out of the room without a backwards glance.
“Ma, I like it here,” Izzy says as she shoves a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth.
“Yeah, I’m sure you do. You know you can’t eat ice cream for breakfast every day, Izzy.”
