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The car takingus to the mansion set on the mainland in Sicily is driven by one man from the family we’re visiting. It’s only when I saw the crest on the licence plate of the car did I realise who they were.
Thede Rossiclan is infamous in America with their Boss, Enzo, taking over after his father’s death. I don’t expect he’ll be here, since he lives in New York, which has me wondering about the rest of the family.
“Respect the host,” Judah says to me as we come to a stop at the entrance of the property. The car stills before the driver pulls up the long, winding driveway. Dim lighting offers a glow, making everything outside the car seem eerie. It’s as if we’re coming up to an old castle where Dracula could hide in the shadows. Something tells me there’s a more dangerous man who lives in the house that I come to see as we wind around the enormous fountain.
“And who is the host?” I whisper as I look out the window and up at the three-story building to my left. The door opens before Judah can reply, and when the driver helps me out, he offers a small smile before raking his gaze over me.
Judah is right behind me, his hard, muscular body flush against my curves. He leans his chin on my shoulder, and whispers in my ear, “Since you already know of de Rossi, you should know his right-hand man is Mario Errani.”
A gasp of realisation falls from my lips. “He’s Kai’s brother?”
“For the most part, yes. Mario’s family adopted Kai when he was younger,” Judah explains and I nod because Kai has already told me the story. When he admitted his past, that’s when the barrier between us fell, and I knew we had taken a step toward something new. We formed a connection that night, and now I can’t believe he’s angry with me to the point of not even wanting me near him.
He’s kept his distance all day. Even on the flight, he sat the farthest away from me. I meet his gaze for a moment, but he turns away and heads to the door.
“Come,” Judah orders before offering me his arm. From the outside, people looking in may think it’s rather romantic that we’re walking in together, but I know different. “Mario is the one who will lead the dinner, but make no mistake, any of these men here can do what they please.”
“What if Mario doesn’t like it?”
Judah shrugs, I can feel the movement against my arm. “He’ll kill them.” He says it so nonchalantly, it’s as if he’s talking about the weather. To them, murder, torture, and violence is second nature. So it doesn’t surprise me when he says, “Or he’ll make a public spectacle of them. Mario is happy working for Enzo, even though he’ll still oversee a lot of the Errani family business, he has stepped aside to allow Kai to take over. They’ll work in unison.”
That shocks me. It’s unheard of for there to be two heirs, and one to take a back seat to his own family’s organisation. “That’s never been done before.”
We step inside before we can continue our conversation. The house is nothing like the Venier mansion. The exterior is one colour rather than brickwork. And as Judah leads me inside, I take in the modern interior. There are bright artworks hanging on the walls, while the large chandelier takes over the entrance hall.
“There is more to Mario than meets the eye,” Judah says once we’re greeted by servers with silver trays of champagne, and before he can continue, we’re led into the living room which has no furniture except for a long bar along the one wall. The rest of the room has been emptied and I’m guessing it’s making space for the hoards of men in black suits and white shirts.
It’s as if they’ve all been given a specific uniform. One they cannot stray from. There are other women. I seek them out with glimpses around the room and find some of them are watching us.
“You’re going to be the belle of the ball,” Judah whispers in my ear. “I think you may need to watch your back.”
“Why? Because you’re such a catch?” I throw back my response, and I have to fight my smile when I feel the tension in Judah’s arm.
“Don’t push me tonight, little spy,” Judah warns in a low whisper. “Let’s get a drink.”
“Venier,” a deep baritone comes from behind us, and when we turn, I see a man who looks like he should be on the cover of a fashion magazine.
“Errani,” Judah says as he holds his hand out and they shake on it. “This is my fiancée, Brielle.”
“So this is the princess on the isle,” Mario remarks with a grin. He takes my hand before bringing it up to his lips and presses a kiss to my knuckles.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I offer with a shy smile.
“I can see why my brother is so intrigued by you,” he says then, and my mouth pops open. “He’s mentioned he was training you in some fighting. It’s good for a woman who is stepping up into a role like you will be.”
“He’s taught me a lot.” I nod, remembering that nobody else knows about our connection.
“Good.” He offers me a bow, before he says he needs to work the room. He’s an intriguing character, and I wonder if he’s also adopted, or if his bloodline was of the Errani clan.
I don’t ask Judah. Instead, I focus back on the men in the room. Each of them offers me a quick glance, but when they realise I’m with Judah, they turn away, as if they’re tryingnotto stare.
I don’t know exactly what the dynamic is between the Underbosses, but I do know there are families who are stronger than others.
We stop at the floor-to-ceiling windows and patio doors that lead out to a back garden. There isn’t beautiful greenery, instead, there’s a swimming pool that’s lit with soft blue lights. The water is crystal clear, and I’m pretty sure if the sun was still shining, it would illuminate the water.
I want nothing more than to run. I want to escape to the island, back to the Venier mansion. Never did I think I would everwantto go back there.
But now, being here, I want to gohome.
