I sighed, digging through my bag for the book I had brought. Another romance. Again, my heart just wasn’t into it. Keeping it against my leg, I scanned the water, watching my children. Mariano had integrated himself into a water game. Marciano held on to his cousin/guard’s neck, pretending he was riding a shark.
Mia. I sat up a bit taller, lowering my glasses. Each one of our children had their own personal guard. It was a security feature Luca refused to budge on. One of Mia’s, however, was notfamiglia. He was related to Uncle Tito, on his father’s side. Saverio. He was young, only a teen, and part of Guido’s team—and was specifically assigned to Mia, under her main guard.
He drew a lot of attention from the ladies around the pool. He was really tall for his age, a face like Adonis, an Italian powerhouse in build, and raven hair that I found Romeo staring at in awe sometimes. He was as dark as my husband, with eyes that could cut another man down to size with just a look.
Those eyes were currently narrowed on a group of young boys attempting to catch Mia’s attention while she floated, oblivious, on her raft, one hand splashing water as she drifted. She was older than she looked, more mature in looks than I had been at her age.
The expressionif looks could kill…it was created with men like Saverio in mind.
We’d known his parents for years. Mac and Mari were introduced to us by Rocco, and anytime we were together, Saverio seemed to be drawn to Mia.
She was much too young for him, or anyone, but time moves forward, and so does age. I’d occasionally bring him up, and her face would flush a deep, painful crimson, and she would refuse to talk about it. Instead, she’d change the subject to a safer topic, for her. Ballet.
Her life revolved around dancing. It had become her true love. Whoever won her heart would have to fight for it in that regard, and probably others. Her father being one of the top contenders.
Saverio looked toward one of the boys who had gotten too close, putting his solid bulk in front of the scraggly boy. The boy took one look at him, decided on another course, and was gone. When Saverio turned, Mia splashed him in the face with water, laughing. She thought he was too serious. It took him a moment, but he splashed her back and cracked a semblance of a smile.
Remembering the book in my hand, I set it down, knowing I wouldn’t read a word. I had decided to call Matteo when a man came to sit next to me, and I waited to dial the number.
Guido turned so fast that the man held his hands up in surrender. “It’s all right,” the stranger said, his accent soft, perhaps from somewhere in Texas. “I’m a friend of Mitch Lewis. We ride together, man. I was at the house last night. You patted me down. We’re acquainted.”
Guido took a step closer. “Move,” he said in a low, severe voice. “Now.”
The man slowly lowered his hands. “Mitch asked me to grab something out of his woman’s bag.”
Mitch watched the scene from the water, waving, giving the okay.
I pointed. “Mitch is waving, Guido.”
Another guard had walked over, and at Guido’s nod, turned and checked that this was, in fact, the truth.
“Retrieve it and go,” Guido snapped, rubbing his top teeth over his bottom lip after.
“It’s all right, Guido,” I spoke softly. “He’s just getting Mitch’s football from Violet’s bag.”
This wasn’t the place to start acting as though we were in Italy. Nor was this man a threat. Compared to what I was used to, he was on the tamer side of things. Blonde hair, blue eyes, tan skin, straight teeth, and tattoos from neck to legs. I remembered him from the night before. I had run downstairs to make tea and he’d been talking to Mitch. I only remembered because Mitch had called me kid, which made the man pause his ramblings, before I stuck out my tongue at Mitch and then went back to my room, not in the mood for strangers.
Guido nodded once but kept his eyes trained on the guy next to me, retrieving the football.
Peter sat on a raft, talking to two young girls in bikinis. He looked up and our eyes met. He gave me a slight wave. I waved back.
Violet had pleaded with me to tell him the truth, so I had. He was angry at first, understandably, but he knew I wouldn’t lie to him.
Also, I had come close to death. That seemed to soften him a bit to the news I hated to share with him.
Violent hadn’t mentioned it, but I knew that was another reason for this trip. Peter rode his bike here with Mitch. They wanted to put space between him and Sue. The last we heard, she was still going berserk after he broke up with her. And Peter needed some distance.
“It’s good to see Peter interested,” the man next to me said.
I blinked, turning to look at him. “You know Peter?”
“Sure.” He smiled, flashing a set of bright white teeth. “I had some work done on my bike in New York a while back. Been friends with Lewis and his family ever since.”
“Ah,” I nodded, turning my attention toward the water again. “I see. And yes,” I agreed, “I’m glad he’s interested too.”
“You ride?” he asked.
“Ride what?” My mind was two paces behind my mouth. I realized my mistake as soon as all cylinders caught up.
