And when I return to the salon now, the large man who arrived with her—still unintroduced, which means I was correct in my initial assumption of a bodyguard—lurks near the salon entrance, his head turning this way and that as though expecting a sudden assassin.
It's not unwarranted. Julian Castellani has a habit of slipping silently into the salon through the hidden door at the end of the room.
Anna-Vittoria accepts my offering of water with murmured thanks, gesturing for me to pour some into the glass for her.
"Mr. Julian Castellani should be with you shortly, ma'am," I tell her, backing away with a bow of the head.
"It is his brother I need to see," she says, settling back in the chair as though completely comfortable.
"Don Castellani is not on site at present, ma'am, but he has been alerted."
I move to the side of the room—some way from the bodyguard—and I wait.
And while I wait, my mind wanders. Anna-Vittoria Esposito is a VIP, so of course she has been made welcome—but the Esposito Boss does not make social calls. So what is she doing here?
When I took up the position here, I made myself very aware of the people who moved within the Castellanis' orbit, and their habits. I studied photographs that Julian provided, so that I'd always know the most important guests…and the ones to turn away.
So far in my time here, everything has gone smoothly. But Anna-Vittoria's arrival seems to promise change.
I don't like change.
Julian Castellani practically explodes into the room, followed by Leo Bernardi, a dark and hulking shadow to Julian, golden-haired and lean. Julian's pale eyes are fixed on Anna-Vittoria with interest. He gives me a glance, too, as he passes—that same impersonal look he gives everyone as though regarding them as a potential foe before remembering that they are a friend. And sometimes I see a certain…fondnesscome into the way he looks at me, as it does now, as if I were a beloved pet. It's endearing but unnerving.
Still, it's not unwelcome. I'd rather be liked than disliked when it comes to Julian Castellani.
His lover, Leo Bernardi, is a fellow recent addition to Redwood. He's all hard muscle, heavy brows and tattoos, his mannersuggesting carefully-leashed violence. Where Julian unsettles, Leo intimidates, though I've seen him be tender with Julian.
I've seen him be muchmorethan tender, and only five minutes ago. I went looking for Julian and Leo to let them know that Ms. Esposito was here, and stumbled upon them near the redwood grove, mating like—likeanimals, their skin glistening with sweat, Leo forcing noises out of Julian that I've never heard a man make before.
The back of my neck warms again with embarrassment at the memory. And something else simmers beneath it, a longing I don't dare keep in my mind too long. I force away the memory, hoping the heat in my neck doesn't climb past my collar.
Julian's lips curve into an imitation of a smile. "Anna-Vittoria Esposito. What an unexpected pleasure."
She rises, inclining her head. "Signor Castellani. Thank you for receiving me."
"And of course you've met my Leo, haven't you?" Julian indicates his companion.
"The Bernardi Lion," Anna-Vittoria says with a smile, and holds out a hand. "Yes. We have met." Leo takes it, muttering his hellos, that half-embarrassed, half-annoyed look he gets when anyone mentions that particular nickname.
"The Castellani Lion," Julian corrects her. "Leo belongs tousthese days."
Leo gives a small sigh of amused exasperation, but his eyes are soft when he glances at Julian.
I take a step forward. "May I get you gentlemen something to drink?"
"Coffee," Leo grunts. "You know how I like it."
Julian gives a wave of the hand. "Same for me."
I leave the room. But I close the door as slowly as I can, straining to hear.
"I've always admired your artistry," Anna-Vittoria says.
"Why, thank you," Julian replies. "I do take pride in my creativity."
Enough. I need to get the coffee. By the time I've collected a tray of espressos and a French press as backup, Alessandro Castellani has arrived, and I go to greet him in the foyer.
The Boss.
