Geno swept her against him. Close. His pulse couldn’t seem to settle until he felt her soft skin, warm and alive against his. She made him smile. “Yeah, you do. And once you manage to get past the emotion, which I’m thankful you have, you’ll see the logic because you’re a logical person.”
She leaned her head against his side. “I don’t like you very much right now.”
“I know, baby, I’m sorry. I can be a first-class dick. Saving your life and all. I really think it would be beneficial to watch these movies so you could change your view of my behavior and regard me as your hero. I think that would go a long way to helping our relationship.”
She glanced up at the clock on the wall. “Your brothers will be coming in any minute. They’ve checked on you every hour on the hour. I’ll ask their opinion. I presume they’ve watched these movies. See if they think your behavior was heroic.”
Geno kept his expressionless mask on the outside, but inside he was smirking. He knew Salvatore and Lucca would back him up. His woman was important to all of them. There were always stories handed down in families, and his was no different. Once the eldest son found his woman, theothers weren’t far behind. That had proven to be true in Stefano’s family. Every one of his siblings had found the woman, or in Emmanuelle’s case the man, they were in love with.
“I’m certain my brothers have watched the movies multiple times, Amara. You’ll enjoy them.”
She steadfastly refused to turn her face up to his, probably knowing he’d kiss her.
“Hell of an engagement party,” he commented, his gaze on the stairs. She was right, his brothers were on the way up.
“I thought so. What do you suppose happened when we all disappeared from that room? Penelope and the other servers had to have noticed we were gone.”
“We always have an explanation,” Geno said. “Stefano is careful. You notice there is a back way out. The patio is an extension of the room. Valentino and Dario don’t ride the shadows. Most of the bodyguards and Emmanuelle remained to give the explanation that we were bothered by the paparazzi, and we left out the back with the others.”
“I suppose that happens enough that it’s a reasonable explanation.”
He nodded. “Much more plausible than ‘we disappeared into the shadows.’ ”
Salvatore and Lucca entered in near silence, their eyes moving over Geno with a hint of anxiety. He gave them both a quick grin to reassure them.
“I feel like someone beat me up with a baseball bat. It wasn’t one of you, was it? Maybe giving it a little too much enthusiasm?”
Neither of his brothers responded to his humor, telling him they’d felt the same fear Amaranthe had.
“You died, Geno,” Salvatore said, his tone low, almost accusing. “Right in front of us.”
“It was heroic,” he pointed out hastily and narrowed his eyes at his brother.
Salvatore nodded, following his lead. “Itwasheroic, but it was still a terrible thing for all of us to witness.”
“Especially Amaranthe,” Lucca added.
“Sheisstruggling,” Geno confirmed. “I told her it was because she’s never watched a Superman movie and doesn’t understand what a hero is.”
Salvatore and Lucca simultaneously gasped and stared at Amaranthe in horror.
“That can’t be true, Amara,” Lucca protested. “Everyone has watched those movies.”
She shook her head. “Don’t start, you two. I know Geno saved my life. I just don’t know if I can watch him do something like that over and over. And he will.” Her voice trembled, breaking Geno’s heart.
“Do you plan to keep putting your life on the line?” Salvatore demanded, scowling at her. “Because Geno isn’t the only hero in the family. I’d have to get in on that action. You are the only sister I have.”
“Yeah. If you’re going to insist on sticking your head on the chopping block,” Lucca added, “I’m going to have to play the hero as well. I can’t be outdone by my older brother.”
“Don’t encourage her.” Geno used his gruffest voice on his brothers. If his voice held a little too much affection, he ignored it.
He loved his brothers and couldn’t help being proud of them. He’d scared them. He hadn’t realized they would be nearly as afraid as Amaranthe, seeing him go down, but he should have. Both struggled to maintain in front of his woman, wanting her to believe they had every faith Geno would survive under any circumstance.
Amaranthe sighed. “I think all you Ferraros are alike. You think you can cheat death.”
“I’m compelled to point out, we wouldn’t have to be heroes if you weren’t throwing yourself under knives all the time,” Geno said. He tunneled his fingers in her hair, unable to resist another minute. So much silk. Very gently he began to massage her scalp, hoping to soothe her.
Lucca and Salvatore dropped into the two chairs facingthe bed. “I asked Lanz and Deangelo to check into the riders in Australia, Geno,” Lucca said.
