Page 9 of Love & Power

Beatrice seems slightly younger than Gemma with dark curly hair and eyes as green as fresh grass. Her energy reminded me a lot of Braxton—playful and full of life. It was going to be so much fun to see how seriously old Ralph was going to deal with these two. I’d left him behind to make sure that the Old Guard was set up with whatever they needed to watch over things while I was gone. It would also make people question if I really left the town, let alone the country. People were well aware I didn’t go many places without my looming bodyguard.

“I suppose so.” I laughed, flattered at the rumor.

One of the guys snorted behind me. “Don’t even try to deny that, Luna. It’s one hundred percent true.”

I scowled at Hound over my shoulder and flipped him off. In turn, he held his hands up in the shape of a heart and fluttered his lashes at me.

“Oh God,” I groaned, returning my attention to the two ladies. “I think it’s about time I get him to bed. He becomes far more annoying the longer he stays awake.”

Beatrice tried to hide her smile by dropping her head, but the way her shoulders shook, I knew she was laughing. Gemma cleared her throat forcefully at Beatrice, who instantly righted herself with a neutral expression resting on her face. While Gemma might look sweet and gentle, I was getting the feeling she might be the opposite.

“Signor Raffa, would you like us to take them up to their rooms?” Gemma asked, her tone full of reverence.

Grandfather nodded but took both my hands in his. “You and your men will have the whole third floor to yourselves. My rooms are on the second level should you need me. There are ten bedrooms along with a private sitting room for you to enjoy in peace. The only people on my staff who will step foot on the third floor are these two ladies and two maids who maintain the house. I will introduce you to them tomorrow so you know what they look like. Sleep well and sleep as long as you like. We need you rested and your mind clear.” He kissed my cheeks before squeezing my hands.

Beatrice gestured for us to follow her as she took us down the hall to a flight of stairs. The ornate manner of the polished wooden staircase had me guessing this wasn’t original to the monastery but was still old. When we got to the second floor, Beatrice pointed out Grandfather’s personal study and bedroom among the row of doors. There were also men standing guard as if this was the royal palace, but as Grandfather had mentioned before, I was going to need to adjust my thinking. I was safe for the most part with an ocean between the lions who were hunting me down and me. All that changed the second I set foot in Nepreea. This was their world, and I was the fish out of water.

“Only two rooms have a bathroom connected to them,” Beatrice informed us. “Both are at the end of the hall opposite each other. The remaining eight rooms have two bathrooms to share with double sinks. I’m sure this will be an adjustment for you all, but there is only so much you can do with a historic building. All the rooms are prepared so choose whichever you like, and we’ll bring your luggage to you.”

I felt a little guilty about the number of suitcases I’d packed, but I had no idea what to prepare for. While I could go shopping, easily finding the latest fashions and trends, there were just some things you needed to guarantee you had with you. Walking to the end of the hall, I opened the door to the left first, peeking into the room. It was incredibly small compared to any room I’ve had before, but the furniture was high quality and looked comfortable. Poking my head into the room opposite, I smiled at the sight of a canopy bed.

What caught my eye was the canopy wrapped in aster flowers and ivy instead of being shrouded in sheer fabric. They were my mother’s favorite flowers and something that inspired her for my name. A vintage cream and gold vanity sat just under a window with a short, round stool providing the perfect height to use the mirror. Walking farther into the room, I found a small sitting area with a sage green chaise and two matching armchairs with a cream-colored coffee table. A pair of doors just beyond the seating area caught my eye. The glass panes had been frosted for privacy since the bathroom was just to the right.

The handles turned easily, and I pulled them toward me, revealing a balcony. It was only big enough for one chair to sit on it with a slender table beside it. The railing was lined with boxes of flowers draping over the edge. Moving the chair out of the way, I gazed down and with the soft light from the house illuminating the space, I discovered a courtyard. In the shadows, it was a whimsical sight with a fountain in the center, cobblestones, and lush plants giving life to the harsh stone home.

“This was your mother’s room, you know,” someone said from behind me.

five

Startled, I spun to face the intruder, gun drawn. Gemma raised her hands, showing me she was unarmed and took a few steps back. “I apologize, Lady Astin, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

It took my brain a minute to register that she was speaking in Nepreeian. “What did you say?” I asked in the same language without lowering my weapon.

“This room was one your mother used when staying here. Signor Raffa guessed you might enjoy it as much as your late mother did, which is why he’s having you stay on this floor,” Gemma explained, not moving a muscle. “Lady Astin, I mean you no harm. There is no need for the gun.”

“Words mean nothing. People will say whatever they need to to get the results they want,” I stated, having learned this lesson firsthand. “Why did you come into this room without making yourself known and speaking a language you had no way of knowing I was fluent in? I believe my grandfather asked the staff to speak English around us.”

She nodded. “Yes, Signor Raffa did give that order, but you forget he picked me to be one of your bodyguards.” Slowly, she lowered her hands to clasp them loosely. “The Don of our Family entrusted me with the sole heir to the Raffa name, and you don’t think he mentioned you speak perfect Nepreeian? Lady Astin, I do not say any of this to frighten or alarm you, but I don’t think you understand the importance you hold. For me to be selected, given the honor and trust of our leader to guard your life is the highest reward imaginable.”

“These are still just words,” I pointed out. “All I hear you saying is that you’re loyal to my grandfather. That he is the one you’re willing to die for, and since he asked you to protect me, you’ll do that… for him. None of that gives me any confidence in your ability to keep me alive. What if one day your Don changes his mind and tells you to kill me? Better yet, if you do kill me, then he’ll name you heir for your show of loyalty.”

Gemma held my gaze unflinching as I questioned her intentions. There was far more to this woman than you saw at face value. She’d been through hell and come out the other side stronger despite all the scars hidden deep inside. “Ivy told me you’d be the only one to take down the families and help us. I’m beginning to think she’s right.”

“Ivy, you mean Ivy Foxxx?” I asked, caught off guard by the shift in the conversation.

“Yes, Ivy called me a few days ago. She knew you’d be coming to Nepreea soon and wanted to make sure I’d say yes to being one of your bodyguards. You see, Ivy saved my life five years ago when I was taken off the streets and sold by the Accardi Family to be a sex slave,” Gemma said as she extended her wrist to show off a brand of an ‘X’ with a dot above and below. It was the same mark I’d seen on Ivy when we went dress shopping. “They knew my family was connected to the Raffas and wanted to prove they weren’t scared of Signor Raffa. The older he gets, the more bold they become, and no one knows why. Well, except for Ivy who wouldn’t tell me much but enough to look at things differently.”

I tried not to dwell on the fact that once more, Ivy was acting on information she definitely shouldn’t have. Thank fuck she wanted to be my best friend, and I really liked her too because I would hate to have to kill her.

“Well, here I am and so are you. Did Ivy’s call influence your decision to be my bodyguard? A moment ago, you said the honor of being asked by my grandfather was too vast to say no. So which is true? Are you here to see if I’m worthy of your loyalty because of my grandfather or Ivy?” I challenged, feeling like this conversation was going nowhere, and my arm was starting to get tired.

In a surprising move, Gemma walked right up to the gun, pressing her forehead against it. “It doesn’t matter what I think if you don’t believe I can ever be trusted. Both Signor Raffa and Ivy have my respect and trust. Being picked for this job is one the highest honors for me and my family for years of loyalty. However, I have yet to find someone to give my loyalty to, and the things I hear about you gives me hope.”

For the first time since we were introduced, I felt like I was seeing the real Gemma. Just for a moment, her shield slipped, and I could see the survivor before me, filled with so much rage at what had been done to her. In that second, I knew I could trust her to keep me alive, at least long enough to get the revenge Gemma so desperately craved. Who knows, maybe along the way, she’ll discover a reason to share her loyalty with me as well as her anger.

Lowering my gun, I slipped it back into the inner pants holster hiding under the jacket I wore. “Hope is a dangerous thing, Gemma. It can change your life for the better or destroy it in a second. Lucky for you, I love a good high-stakes game.” Letting out a sigh, I dropped into one of the armchairs and pointed at the bedroom door. “Now, you better unlock that before one of my men figures out something’s wrong. Their loyalty is so strong it’s blinding. My lovers won’t hesitate to destroy anything they suspect might be dangerous to me.”

Gemma blinked at me as if confused with the change in my demeanor. She’d catch on soon enough that I gave back whatever energy was given to me until I’ve made my point. Since I’d figured out what I needed from her, there was no reason to exert extra effort.