“Oh.” She smiled, melting my resolve. “How did I do?”
“I haven’t had the chance to watch you yet.”
“All right.” She nodded. “I need more water. I ran out.”
“Come with me, Saverio,” Guido said, his eyes narrowed. He didn’t understand. If he did, there would be talk about sending Saverio back. “We have a security meeting.”
Luca was on his way to visit. He rarely came to Louisiana, unless he had to. Austin, though, he considered neutral ground.
Rocco would be in tow, along with Dario and a bunch of others. Maggie Beautiful missed us, Rocco had mentioned—therefore, Luca made it happen.
Scarlett had given me a peculiar look and laughed, and when I had told her to tell me, she said, “Lucamisses us.” It was the same look she’d given me when I told her Matteo felt left out.
Saverio nodded at Guido, at me, and then glanced at Mia before he turned to go.
“Find someone to replace him today,” I told Guido in Italian.
Saverio’s shoulders stiffened.
Guido nodded, but questions were building in his eyes. It was neither the time nor the place, but later, we would discuss this new turn of events and what it meant.
Mia gave me a curious look after they were gone. Jesus. Her mamma to the bone. Out of all traits, she had to inherit the insanely curious vein. That, and her ability to squeeze my heart in a vise-grip when she held something against me.
I followed her into the studio. She took a towel from the bar and wiped her neck. She refused to look at me, running her foot back and forth.
“Why did you send Saverio away?” she whispered.
I almost responded with “come again” to give me time to formulate a softer answer for her sake, but I didn’t.
“For his own safety,” I said, true to the bone.
She whipped around, her face suddenly going pale. “Is he—is he in trouble?”
I studied her face for a moment, finding the poison that seemed to seep into my veins at an astonishing rate.
“No,” I said. “Not immediately.”
She visibly relaxed, shoulders almost slumping with it.
There it was again. Proof.
“You feel him on a deeper level,” I said. Not sure what to call it or how else to explain it.
Her eyes came up to mine, almost in a glare. “Explain that to me,” she said quietly.
I cleared my throat. “What mamma and I have. The connection. The…what she calls humming in her blood. How she feels me.” I cleared my throat again, knowing the words were not coming out right. Never one to be nervous, this moment made me feel like I had the shakes. “How do you feel, Mia?”
“Fine,” she said too quickly. “A bit hot from dancing.”
I narrowed my eyes at her, and she turned hers away from mine. To the floor. Knowing that was not what I’d meant.
“Answer me,” I whispered.
“It’s true,” she said, her cheeks flaming. “I do…feel him. If there’s something wrong, I justknow. If he’s happy, Ijust seem toknowthat too.”
“How do you feel about that, my heart?”
She sighed, long and hard. Her hands curled at her sides, nails digging into her palms. “It irritates me!”
