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“I thought you were Liv’s prince Sani?” Elle prodded, enjoying this conversation greatly.
His little head dropped down to his chest as he thought about it before he glanced back up. “I am, but I am too little. Gio is bigger and he can look after her until I am grown up.”
Elle stuck her bottom lip out and put her hand over her heart as she looked at me. I giggled and pulled Sani to my side, giving him a kiss on the top of his head.
“Sei un bravo ragazzo Sani.”
Changing the subject, Elle placed her wine glass down and pulled Raya onto her lap. “I want to go out tonight. Hit the ski bars with Liv. I think we need some sisterly bonding time if she is going to become a part of this family.”
I chuckled and leaned back on the bench. “Fine by me, but it is not me you have to ask.”
“Ask what?”
We looked to our right and there was the loved-up pair themselves. I couldn’t contain my happiness when I looked down and saw that they were holding hands. Liv noticeably tried to pull her hand out of Gio’s grip, but he held on tighter, causing her to scowl up at him and him to smirk. Adorable.
We all scooted along and they sat down next to me, Gio keeping Liv’s hand in his on his lap. This was huge. This was him declaring her as his and not caring who knew it. I was delighted.
“If I can come down here tonight for a few drinks with Liv,” Elle made praying hands and gave Gio her best innocent look.
“Absolutely not,” he said firmly, and I rolled my eyes. Elle's face dropped and rage replaced her hope, but before she could give him an earful, Olivia beat her to it.
“Why not? I would love to go out for a few drinks with Elle. That’s if it is okay with Cecilia and I will obviously put the children to bed first.” She leaned forward so she looked past Gio and at me.
“It is fine by me,” I smiled, enjoying seeing how this was going to play out. Let’s find out just how much power she has over my son.
“Because it is not safe,” Giovanni gritted through his teeth, staring daggers at Elle.
“What are you talking about? We are on a mountain in France and having a few drinks in a private resort ski bar? What is so dangerous about that?” Liv argued, glaring up at him. His head snapped down to hers.
“Two beautiful women in a bar alone are not safe. Ever.”
She scoffed and shook her head in disbelief, pulling her hand roughly from his grip. His frown deepened. Shit, he was ruining this. She was pulling away because he was coming on too strong.
“That is ridiculous. If Elle and I want to come here tonight for a few drinks, then we will. I am not even sure why she has to ask your permission in the first place. She is an adult and so am I,” she said, giving Elle a smile as my daughter's face turned to one of concern, looking between Gio and Liv. No one has ever spoken to Gio like this and not received his wrath. I swallowed my own nerves.
“Olivia. We will talk about this later,” he hissed.
“There is nothing to talk about. If you are that concerned about Elle’s safety, then some of your bodyguards can come too, but they need to give us space to enjoy ourselves,” she said calmly. My god, she was a firecracker. I was impressed.
Gio’s jaw ticked, and I could feel the fury radiating from him. I squeezed his knee, which caused his head to whip around to mine, and I gave him a warning look. I hoped it communicated the need to back off. That he needed to give her a little space. It seemed to work as he exhaled loudly.
“You can have two hours and then I am coming down here to join you,” he grunted, and Elle’s mouth dropped open before she clapped loudly, but Liv still looked unhappy.
“Two hours? Really?” she glanced up at him with fire in her eyes.
“Really. And that is me compromising.” His voice was hard and she rolled her eyes.
“Two hours is great!” Elle shouted, clearly trying to mediate between them. She was probably feeling guilty about causing a rift in their harmony, but what no one here realised except me was that this was an important lesson. Giovanni needs to know when he is being too much and Liv needs to learn what his boundaries are when it comes to protecting Elle and, more importantly, her. If only she knew who he was, his behaviour would make a lot more sense. He needs to tell her soon.
∞∞∞
Giovanni
“Eyes on them at all times. If men approach them, you subtly warn them away. No aggression unless necessary,” I ordered Angelo and Finch. They both nodded seriously. I hated this. I knew Elle went out all the time at uni but she always had her soldier and protector, Finch, with her, who posed as another student and she had a good group of friends. This was just her going to a bar with...Olivia. My need to control the situation was overwhelming. I wanted to be there. Their safety was my responsibility and yet, here I am being ordered to stay away by all the women in my life. And what was even more surprising is that I was listening.
Mamma pulled me to the side while Liv and Elle were upstairs getting ready and advised me to give Liv some room to breathe. To let her have fun and see that I am not who she thinks I am, an overprotective and jealous man. But that's the problem. I am who she thinks I am. My feelings for her have grown immensely this weekend and I know I am in trouble. This isn’t just about sex anymore. The need to protect and care for her is more than I have felt with anyone before. Even my sisters and mamma. Just the thought of her being somewhere I am not and around other men is causing my blood to boil. But mamma is right. I know she is. I have to chill the fuck out or I will scare her away.
“I will be there in two hours,” I gave both my men a curt nod and walked back inside the lodge. Liv and Elle were already in the living room with a glass of wine in hand. My eyes roamed Olivia’s body appreciatively. She looked gorgeous, which only tormented me more. Wearing a tight-fitting lace body suit and tight jeans that showed off her ass had me walking up behind her and giving it a squeeze. She jumped forward, startled by my action, but smiled seductively up at me.
