She closed her eyes. “An Italian man phoned and told me the Espositos were coming for me and that if I wanted to keep myself and my baby safe, I had to leave immediately and do exactly what he said.” Her eyes opened and locked back onto his. “It’s how I ended up at that Bayswater flat.”
“An Italian man?” he clarified.
“Yes.”
“It must have been Rico.”
“The man who warned you?”
“Yes. Lorenzo’s son.”
“You are joking? Lorenzo’s ownsonis trying to help us? Why would he do that?” Without any warning, she jumped to her feet, her gaze darting in all directions. “Is this all a trap? A means to herd us into place so they…”
“No,” he interjected firmly. “I thought it was a trap too, but if it was, they would have ambushed us at that apartment. They had plenty of time to organise themselves while I was on my way to you.”
“But…” She sank back onto her seat, her face creased with thought. “Why? You’ve just told me how close the family are so why would he help us?”
This was something Niccolo had been thinking about a lot since he’d received Rico’s voice message. “There was talk in Accardiano about Rico and Marisa.” Realising the name would mean nothing to Georgia, he explained, “Marisa’s the sister of Gennaro’s wife.”
“Your sister-in-law’s sister?”
“Yes. Our families were very close when I was growing up. I’ve known both the sisters since they were tiny. Marisa’s a very good person, very religious. If the rumours about her and Rico are true, then I would imagine her influence is behind him helping us.”
“Really? Her influence would make him go against his own family?”
He looked directly into her eyes. “Love makes men do foolish things.”
She held the stare only a moment before a hint of colour stained her cheeks and she looked away. “You think he was foolish for helping us?”
“I can’t imagine his brothers will be happy if they find out,” he pointed out in an even tone. “But I could be wrong; it could be that he discovered his conscience for himself, but Marisa…” He lifted his shoulders. “If any woman was going to help him find it, it’s her.”
“You sound like you’re in love with her yourself.” He heard the effort it took to make her own tone light.
“Everyone falls in love with Marisa, but I’ve always thought of her like a cousin. Any love I have for her is platonic.”
Still avoiding his gaze, she tucked her hair behind her ears. “Well, whatever Rico’s reasons for helping us, I’m very grateful to him, and glad I trusted my instincts to trust him.”
Niccolo’s stomach dropped at a sudden image of what would have happened if Georgia hadn’t trusted Rico’s warning. A coldness like nothing else spread from his heart through to his veins, and he had to swallow to open his frozen vocal cords. “Believe me, no one is more grateful than I am,” he said hoarsely.
Dio, if he made it out of this mess alive, he could never repay the debt he owed Rico. A true debt.
At a time when he must have been reeling at the shock of his father’s sudden death, Rico had found the presence of mind to get Georgia out of vengeance’s way to safety and give Niccolo the means to reach her.
Her eyes had darted back to him. Even as deeper colour flushed over her cheeks, she held the stare, and now she was the one reaching forhishand, enveloping it between both of hers, her body twisting to face his.
For the longest time, neither of them spoke. Not with words. Words weren’t needed to know they were both processing just how much they owed Rico Esposito.
It was Georgia who broke the silence. “How do you think he knew about the baby?”
“They’ve had you under surveillance.”
That made her blink. “Seriously?”
“I’m guessing since Paris.”
Her eyes closed tightly, as if it hurt to even hear the wordParis, but then she lifted her chin and pulled a small smile to her face, looking at him as she said, “Oh well, that’s that mystery solved, because I didn’t tell anyone.”
“No one?”
