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Lorenzo cleared his throat and silence fell over the room. Again the eyes of the men returned to her.

He approached. “You look beautiful.”

She rose in her heels and gave him her cheek to kiss. He ran his hand down her back and around to her hip, and Fabiana tried to remain unfazed by the brazen act. The truth was she had been rocked to her core. She suspected they had dealings outside of the law, but she couldn’t deny it now. These men were dangerous.

“Is Mira joining us?”

“She’s dressing.” The man said in a tight controlled voice. Now he was staring at her again. As were all the men.

“Giovanni, allow me to introduce Fabiana Antonia Girelli. She is Mira Ellison’s manager and business partner. Fabiana this is my cousin Giovanni Battaglia.”

Fabiana felt momentary panic as her mind jumped on the name. This was the man Mira had told her about. “He’s your cousin?”

“Yes,” Lorenzo chuckled. “My mother was Giovanni’s father’s sister.”

“Oh.” A renewed wave of apprehension swept through her.

The tall handsome stranger nodded. “Nice to meet you Fabiana.”

“Thank you for your help. We both are appreciative. I think you men have business to conduct, maybe me and my friend should go, um, we were thinking of continuing down to Tuscany and um, I mean to Firenze or no, maybe Venice. Yes. We had plans to go to Venice to visit friends, so, we, um, we will leave.”

Giovanni’s brow arched.

“Silence woman.” Lorenzo dismissed her ramble. “You and Mira are my guests for the next few days.” He then addressed his cousin. “We’ll rejoin you and Mira out front.”

He tugged her by the hand and walked her out of the sitting room away from the glaring eyes of the other men. Fabiana stepped briskly in her heels trying to keep up with his long strides. They headed in the direction of the dining room area. She yanked hard on her hand, freeing it from his grasp. “Stop pulling on me!” She backed away from him. “You lied to me. Who is your cousin really? Is he connected to the Cammora?”

“No.”

“And back there. Telling me to be quiet? How dare you!”

“You talk too much! Ask too many questions that are none of your concern. Don’t speak on things you don’t know. There is no alliance with the Cammora. My cousin is a businessman. That’s it.”

Fabiana narrowed her eyes on him. “Are you kidding me? I heard what they said. Whores, blood? What was that about?”

“None of your affair.” Lorenzo dismissed.

“Then why were you so enraged?”

“It is none of your affair!”

“Mira said he asked for access to our building and payment for his friendship. Now I know why. You set us up, all the while you’re telling me how good things can be between us. Go to hell. Mira and I are leaving.” She turned to march away, but he grabbed her and brought her back to him.

“We are not done, Fabiana.”

“Release me.

His hold tightened and his face came in close. “Relax, there is nothing to fear with me. Shhh…”

She stopped struggling, and he released one of her arms to stroke the side of her face. “Ah, Cara, so lovely. Forgive my rudeness. I reacted impulsively and frightened you.” His voice was smooth in ways that thrilled and frightened her. His mouth brushed hers, and she felt currents of desire ripple through the tease of a kiss and warmly course down her neck to her breasts and quivering belly. She was brought up against his tall imposing frame, and his tongue escaped his mouth entering hers slow and easy. “Yes, relax,” he breathed between the kiss until her arms lifted and circled his neck. He kissed her wildly, seizing her breath and draining all of her resistance. Fabiana’s head rolled back, and she fought to remember why she should be cautious. All of her ached to be explored by him.

The kiss ended naturally. His forehead pressed to hers, his nostrils flaring, he held her tight to him. She blinked at his closed eyes and the long lashes that rested upon his high cheekbones. He was the most complicated sexy man she’d ever known.

“I didn’t mean to upset you.” He confessed in a soft unsteady voice. “I had hoped that if Giovanni and your friend met, this entire mess with your lease could be settled. What happened wasn’t how she perceives it, how you perceive it. It’s business. How things are done.”

“Bullshit.” Fabiana touched his cheek. “That’s bullshit, Lorenzo.”

He kissed her again. She circled his neck with her raised arms, returning his passion. The taste of him intoxicating, she felt weightless. He sucked on her tongue before his kisses trailed the slender length of her neck. He lifted her in his arms, feeding on her as her feet left the ground. She tried to say more, but her voice melted into soft moans.