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She wasn’t surprised to feel a flare of heat between her legs. Her response to Farrell — to even thinking about being in bed with him — wasPavlovian.
There was no hope of controllingit.
Farrell and Nico talked softly behind Jenna and Angel as they made their way down the stairs leading from the roof to the courtyard. The girls had already run ahead, doubtless to tear apart the playroom on the main floor of thehouse.
Normally Jenna would be cautious about Lily’s safety. They had lived peacefully since Raneiro Donati’s death, but being Farrell Black’s daughter meant Lily — and Jenna — would forever betargets.
Farrell had aggressively addressed the problem, increasing security at all their properties, making his requirements for the guards more rigorous, letting Jenna in on it all until she felt every possible problem had beenaddressed.
The only thing more dangerous than the people who might come for them were the people Farrell hired to act as a fortress aroundthem.
Jenna had long ago stopped worrying about the dark side of Farrell’s business. She’d punished him for it in the past, had abandoned him not once, but twice. It had nearly destroyed him, had nearly destroyed them both. When it was all over, she knew total surrender was the only way to make peace withit.
She’d made her deal with the devil — and he was the love of herlife.
Security concerns had become a peripheral concern. She noticed the placement of guards, noticed movements in the trees around the villa in Tuscany when the guards changed shifts, had made a point to learn how to fire a weapon in case of emergency. Beyond that, she tried to focus onliving.
While the new Syndicate was run under the equal partnership of Nico, Farrell, Christophe, and Luca, Nico had been Raneiro Donati’s protege and was often seen as the organization’s de factoleader.
Jenna trusted him implicitly, knew he protected Angel and Stella with the same kind of ferocity Farrell poured into the safety of Jenna andLily.
They made their way through the courtyard at the center of the U-shaped villa. They would be safe here, surrounded by the men who had taken down Raneiro Donati and enough security to comprise a smallarmy.
“Charlotte and Christophe will be here tomorrow,” Angel said as they climbed the grand staircase to the second floor. “And I think Luca, Isabel, and Sofia are due in the dayafter.”
Jenna laughed. “Are they bringingearplugs?”
Angel grinned. “I don’t know, but I’ve installed doors on the playroom, just incase.”
“Smart,” Jennasaid.
Sofia was a few years older than Stella and Lily, but the three girls still managed to make a mess — and plenty of noise —together.
They turned left at the top of the stairs and continued down a long tiled hall until they came to a closed door at the end. Angel opened the door and they stepped into an expansive room with soaring ceilings and classicalmoldings.
“It’s quiet here at the end of the hall.” Angel crossed the room and pulled back the heavy draperies covering the terrace. Rome beckoned beyond the iron railing. “Plus, the terrace has a wonderful view of theBasilica.”
A canopied bed dominated the space, the linens a riot of silk and velvet and cotton. Jenna could almost feel them against her bareskin.
Could imagine Farrell’s body entwined with hers, the covers stripped back from the bed the way Farrell likedit.
“It’s perfect.” Jenna forced her eyes away from the bed to the famous dome in the distance. “Thankyou.”
“Don’t be silly.” Angel gave her a quick hug. “It’s been ages since we’ve had any time together. I’ve been counting the days. I’ve set up a room for Lily next door, although I expect she’ll end up in Stella’sroom.”
Jenna laughed. “I have a feeling you’re right.” She looked toward the hall. “Where is Farrell with thebags?”
Angel smiled. “I’m guessing the courtyard, with a stiff glass of Scotch in hishands.”
“You’re probably right,” Jennasaid.
“Take advantage of it,” Angel said. “There are fresh towels in the bath and a nice big tub. I’ll give Farrell a gentle reminder to bring up your things when I godownstairs.”
It was midday. In Tuscany she would be working in the kitchen with Carmen or taking sun on the terrace, watching Lily run wild with Lessa in the fields. In London, she might be meeting with the advisory board of the charity she’d started the year before, an organization that offered grants to single parents who wanted to further theireducation.
But here in Rome there was no schedule, no tasks awaiting herattention.
“A bath sounds lovely,”Jenna said. “And maybe anap.”
“I’ll send up a bottle of wine,” Angel said, squeezing herhand.
“You’re brilliant,” Jennasaid.
She watched as Angel closed the door behind her, then stepped out onto theterrace.
It was cold, in spite of the sun shining from a clear blue sky. Jenna drew in the bracing air and tried to exhale herworry.
She was in Rome. It was nearly Christmas and they were in the company of dear friends. They would spend the week relaxing and laughing, making food and watching their children, basking in the life that had been hard-won for them all. She would make love to Farrell in the canopied bed and sleep late wrapped in hisarms.
It would be an opportunity to center themselves around their little family — and the perfect time to tell Farrell about thebaby.
