“We had an issue arise in Italy. Explain it to them,” Luca instructs as he pours another glass of whiskey, and I proceed to do exactly that.
I provide a detailed account of the incident and the limited information we have to go on. “We’ll need to do a thorough investigation and shakedown. We’re unsure if this planned attack was intended for Ara, considering she was the only woman expected to be at the villa, but our arrival was only known by a few. It doesn’t change the fact that someone could’ve been waiting for their chance.” I look at Luca. It doesn’t comfort me to think of leaving him, but the sooner this threat is sorted, the better. “My first recommendation is to send me back. I’ll get to the bottom of this matter and reinstate your authority, removing this adversary.”
Luca shakes his head. “No, I need to return and deal with this myself. The only reason I came back was to make sure my wife was delivered here safely. I need you here.”
My jaw tics. I don’t like not being by his side. Although he’s more than capable of protecting himself, I take my responsibility seriously. And the best way to have our boss protected is by using me as a shield.
“There’s also the matter of Lily,” Luca says, tapping his finger against the tumbler thoughtfully.
“Who?” Tyson, the green-gemmed hound, asks.
“Mrs. Armani’s friend, Lily Taylor, was the woman caught in the crossfire. Ara’s advocated that she wants her guarded until the matter is dealt with, in case anyone gets cocky on New York territory.”
Tyson whistles. “Sounds like babysitting duty. Is she hot?”
“It’s irrelevant,” I scold quickly. The thought of any of these fuckers looking upon Lily makes my blood boil. She’s too innocent to be around the likes of men like this. Men likeme.
“Oh, come on, Lorenzo. Stop being so stiff,” Sky teases, forever the shit-stirrer of the group.
“Or maybe that’s the problem. He needs to be stiff so he can actually manage a release for once,” Izak, the hound with the yellow gem, dryly says.
“Enough,” I bite, and they’re quick to shut their yapping mouths before I have to do it for them. Always pushing boundaries, these young smartasses. Even at their age, I wasn’t so loose with my tongue, understanding the real threat of it being cut off.
The red-gemmed hound, Kage, remains quiet. The only thing that gets him engaged is the promise of bloodshed.
“Want us to follow her?” Tony, the oldest of the group and the one with the brown gem, asks. For the most part, he can rein in their shitty attitudes as well.
“No,” Luca says, considerately. “I want your identities to remain hidden. She’s protected at the hotel now, but going forward, she’ll need someone to remain with her at all times. The hounds are better suited to managing the current situation to make sure no one steps out of place. I want us to follow up on every person we conduct business with, reiterating our expectations. Our rates go up by ten percent, and anyone who revolts, show them that we mean business. As for her friend…” Luca’s sharp blue gaze lands on me. “I want you to follow Lily Taylor.”
All the suggestions and game plans circulating in my mind immediately halt. “Excuse me?”
Luca then looks to the leader of the hounds, Tony. “While I’m away, I want you guarding Ara day in and day out with your life. You’re permitted to reveal your identity as her bodyguard. Lorenzo will watch her friend. The sooner this is dealt with, the sooner we go back to normal.”
“I don’t follow,” I grit out, and I certainly don’t condone it. But I’m cautious with my words, because when Luca is in a bad mood, it’s poor timing to challenge his orders. I might get away with it sometimes, but I keep it to a minimum. I don’t fear Luca; I respect him and the role I’ve been given. But lately, he seems comfortable with putting himself on a ledge, sticking out his neck. I'd struggled being put in charge of following his wife around the moment he found out about her pregnancy, but to then be demoted again to babysit her friend… There are only so many blows I can handle, and his clear lack of dependency on me is concerning.
“There’s no way Ara will allow anyone she doesn’t trust near her friend. You should be honored,” Luca says dismissively.
“I regret to disagree,” I say quickly.
“Luckily, I don’t pay you to make opinions on the orders I give you.”
My jaw tics as he continues addressing the hounds. “Tony, Ara knows who you are. The rest of the hounds are better suited elsewhere. I want you to follow her like the air she breathes. If she so much as spills a tear or drop of coffee in your vicinity, I’ll have your head for it. You’re all dismissed.”
My hands curl into fists as I rein in my rising frustration. I don’t like this plan at all. Luca begins to look over the paperwork that was gathered on his desk during the time we were in Italy. When everyone else is gone and the door closes behind us, he says, “You don’t agree with the plan.”
I understand I have to be made an example of; speaking against him is as good as a crime, especially in front of the others. He suggests I sit across from him and then pulls another glass out from the desk's top drawer to pour me a whiskey. We rarely share a drink together, having always kept our relationship mostly business. But it’s times like this that I alsorealize, besides the new addition of his wife, I’m the only person he confides in because I’m willing to take his secrets to the grave.
“My expertise is better utilized elsewhere. Using me as a babysitter is a waste when I can better assist you in other areas. I’m even more surprised you’re willing to prioritize me being by anyone else’s side but yours or your wife’s. Do you really think Tony can do a better job than I?”
Luca stares at me, his expression unreadable. I thought I once understood how his mind worked, but more than ever, I realize that as he steps further into his power, a greater distance grows between us because of the way he approaches things. He wants to do everything himself, willing to put his life on the line for personal satisfaction when he wins.
“This has nothing to do with who I think can do a better job at protecting my wife. Both you and Tony are skilled in that regard. Don’t ever question my ability to make decisions to best protect my wife.”
I dip my head. “Apologies, sir.”
“There’s another task I want to assign you while you look after the Taylor woman,” Luca continues, and this does pique my interest. Despite his unhinged ways, Luca is very methodical. “I want to look into her father’s affairs and estates. I’ve heard rumors of fractures within his company. The man's empire is worth a fortune.”
Realization dawns on me. “Are you certain now is a good time to focus on expanding when we need to have the issue in Italy sorted first?”
