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I step into the shower, and Armani joins me.
While we wash our bodies, he asks, “Is there anything you want to do before my vacation is over?”
I shake my head. “Nothing I can think of. I like spending time with you at home.”
We finish up and get dressed, and I must admit, I love how comfortable we’ve become around each other.
How’s it possible that you meet a person one day, and the next, it feels like they’ve been there forever?
When we’re ready, we head out of the house. Armani opens the door, and seeing a rectangular box lying on the step, he pauses and gestures for me to wait. “Stay back.”
Crouching, he carefully removes the lid, then a frown forms on his forehead. “It’s roses. You can come.”
As I step closer, Armani takes the note out of the flowers and reads it. His features darken as his controlled demeanor slips, and the mafioso in him rises to the surface.
His eyes flick to me. “It’s for you.”
“Me?” I gasp with surprise.
Stepping closer, I take hold of his hand and read the note.
My lovely Tiana,
I can’t wait to see you again.
I miss the taste of your lips.
xxx
Your one and only love.
Confused as hell, I shake my head. “It must be a mistake. Someone must’ve left it at the wrong door.”
Armani picks up the flowers and walks back into the house. I follow him to the kitchen and watch as he throws them in the trash.
“The note has your name on it.” He pins me with an angry look. “Tiana’s not a name you’ll commonly hear in Italy.”
My eyes dart over his face, and fear bleeds into my soul. My voice quivers as I say, “I don’t know who sent the flowers.”
Armani’s features soften a bit, and he comes to hug me. “I know, bella. Sorry, I’m not accusing you of anything. I’m worried as fuck you’ve attracted the wrong person’s attention.”
Relief pours through me because Armani believes me.
Wrapping my arms around him, I ask, “A stalker? Really? But why?”
“It doesn’t take much to catch the attention of a sick bastard. You’re beautiful, Tiana. Any fucking man would give his right testicle to have you.”
Thinking rationally, I ask, “Maybe it’s a prank?”
Armani pulls away from me and reads the note again. “Yeah, it could be a prank.” He looks at me again. “Just be careful when you leave the house. If you feel unsafe while I’m at work, ask one of the neighbors to walk you to the store or home. Better yet, ask Mamma and Zia Giada.”
I nod quickly. “I will.”
Armani drops the note on the kitchen table, and taking hold of my hand, again, he leads me out of the house.
I notice how on guard he is as we walk to a café and hate that a stupid prankster has ruined our morning.
When we take a seat at a table, I catch Armani’s worried gaze and say, “Try to forget about it, moya lyubov'. Let’s enjoy our breakfast.”
He visibly relaxes and gives me a smile, but the worry’s still in his sharp gaze.
Chapter 32
Armani
I’ve been back at work for a month, and I’m finally starting to get the hang of my new position.
Franco, the boss I’m reporting to, is in his mid-sixties, and he’s been around the block a couple of times. He has an easygoing personality, so we get along.
Instead of being an enforcer, like I was before training at St. Monarch’s, I now supervise all the shipments coming and leaving the northern area of Italy.
There’s not as much action, and I travel more, which means I sometimes have to leave Tiana alone at home for a couple of days.
Not once has she complained, and seeing the happiness on her face whenever I get home makes it all worth it.
It’s only temporary. I’ll work my ass off for the next promotion, which will put me in charge of the enforcers.
My phone buzzes, and checking the device, I see a text from Tiana. She’s sent me a photo of her, Mamma, and Zia Giada baking in our kitchen.
Having fun with Mamma and Zia Giada, but I miss you.
I quickly reply that I miss her too, then put my phone away and check the schedule for the next ten days. I make sure no routes have been double-booked. It’s a countermeasure we take to ensure if there’s a roadblock on a particular road, we don’t lose more than one truck.
I check who the drivers will be for the next shipment, transporting weapons and counterfeit money to the rest of Europe.
My phone starts to ring, and seeing Mamma’s name, I frown.
“Ciao, Mamma?”
“A package was delivered for Tiana. It’s a beautiful set of earrings. She’s so upset, she threw it in the trash,” Mamma whispers, giving me the impression she’s hiding while making the call so Tiana won’t know.
