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Enzo.What he’d said on parting came back to me.
As soon as I could breathe again, I turned my head to find Salvatore holding my hair.
‘It’s Enzo. I know it’s Enzo that has her.’
‘Enzo?’ I heard one of his knees crack as he bent his legs to come down to my level.
‘Yes. He was here earlier.’
‘I know.’
‘But you don’t know it all, and I should have told you. I should have told you everything.’
‘Yes, you should have done, and I suggest you start right now.’
Suddenly, I was being lifted. As Salvatore swung me up high in his arms, I couldn’t help but be comforted by his concern. Despite our previous anger towards each other, I placed my arms around his neck and drew strength from our closeness.
‘Bruno, I’ll be back in ten minutes. I want every inch of the villa and the surrounding area searched while I’m gone.’
Taking a few long strides inside the villa, Salvatore found the bottom of the staircase and even with me in his arms he took the stairs two a time. He kicked the bottom of our door and twisting his body he walked us both through the open doorway before the door returned with force to close behind us.
‘Tell me,’ he implored as he walked us over to one of the comfortable chairs in front of our balcony. Once in place, he sat down heavily and pulled me further into his lap before wrapping his arms tightly around me.
‘I’m going to say everything as quickly as I can. I want Mia home and time is important.’
‘Tell me,’ he demanded.
‘Nonno told me he was dying. He asked for my help to get the nurses he knew he would need. He told me that in order to protect you and the rest of the family, I had to keep it to myself.’ With my face half buried as I lay on his chest, I began to absentmindedly play with one of the buttons on his shirt, losing my train of thought as my beautiful sister filled my head.
‘Even from me?’ One large, tattooed hand caught mine and effectively stopped my fidgeting and made me refocus.
‘Yes,’ I whispered. ‘He told me he’d known all about you growing up and when I asked why he hadn’t done more to help you, he said you were best left where you were, rather than being around Gianni and Valentina. I had a row with him that day. I shouted at him for playing us all like pawns in his game. Then he told me that you were his favourite grandson and would be taking over from him. This party was an excuse to get my family accepted back into the fold, as he said strength came from unity and he wanted to leave us stronger than when he took over. I had no idea he was going to announce you as his successor today, and in him doing so, I’m worried this role is going to be forced on you sooner rather than later.’
‘That worries you?’
‘Yes, but not as much as the thought of you not believing me and me losing Mia.’ I sat up and pressing a hand to his chest to support myself, I looked down at him. He looked tired and worn, but I could no longer see the anger caught in his eyes.
‘I was born to do this, little bird.’ The conviction his words held, soothed and cajoled me.
I felt his chest rise under my hand as he inhaled a calming breath and let his words resonate for a few seconds.
‘I know, I think I’ve always known so.’
‘And now… tell me about Enzo.’
I looked down, suddenly ashamed. Salvatore lifted my chin to make my eyes refocus on him.
‘I should have told you earlier and now it’s all my fault.’
‘You should have, and we will return to that fact later, but for now just tell me about Enzo.’
‘He has always been uncomfortable to be around, if you get my drift?’
‘I do.’
‘Well, he caught me under the stairs when I was looking for Maria this morning.’
‘You mean when you left my sight?’
