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Even when I noticed four soldiers trailing us, reminding me that Sandro and I were not a normal couple, it only underlined the significance of this moment.

Sandro cared.

He was making an effort to make me happy, even with the limitations of the world we lived in.

I turned my attention back to the park. Fall colors were at their peak. The sun was low in the sky, casting a filter over the shades of orange, rust, yellow, and green.

We found an empty spot under an oak. Sandro lowered the basket, and took out the blanket and spread it on the grass.

“So, about the extra security.” He picked up our conversation from the elevators. “I’m going to ask Trevor for some references. It’s nothing new. The Russian Bratvas have ex-Spaetnaz soldiers guarding their family. Luca’s people are getting trained by ex-military as well to keep up with the Russian mafia in Chicago. The Rossis might be the small fish and larger organizations won’t cause us trouble for now, but once I make bigger moves, that will change.”

He put the basket at the edge of the blanket.

I kneeled and started taking out the utensils. “Joe Rossi did work with mercenaries to get to Ivy.”

He sat behind me and stretched out his long, muscular legs. “Yes. The way I see it, our family would be less on the streets dealing with gangs like Harlem. Old-school mobsters have no place in the new mafia. We don’t need an army, we need skilled soldiers and deep connections in every industry.

“We’ll have steadier income in a few months. Construction schemes are booming. That’s why we need to get Club Aristos up and running.”

I had ordered eggs, bacon, and hash browns while Sandro ordered the breakfast garbage, which was basically a glob of breakfast food, like mine, with added creamed beef and double biscuits. We also had a baguette and butter, a box of coffee, and two to-go cups.

I poured coffee into one of the cups and handed it to him. “Divina and I are about to submit our proposal for the repairs to the Rossi estate. Whatever happened there left a lot of bullet holes in the walls.”

Sandro shot me a wry smile before digging into his breakfast mess. He offered me a bite. I closed my eyes as I savored the artery-clogging goodness. “Oh my God, I should have ordered this.”

“Wanna switch?”

I gave him a dubious look. “What’s it going to cost me?”

His chest shook with a silent laugh. “I can think of several forms of payment.”

I returned his innuendo with a bat of my lashes. “Well, we’re in public, but after this, we could go back to the condo and pick up from yesterday.”

“Baby, you’re just going to fall asleep on our way back there.”

I giggled. “True. You didn’t let me sleep much last night.”

“I hope you’re not complaining.”

I flipped open the lid of the container. “How about you give me some of yours and I’ll share mine?”

He glanced at what I ordered and made a face. “I don’t think I’m going to win here.”

I lowered my food, went on all fours, and crawled to him. “I promise, you’ll win later.”

I leaned in and pressed a teasing kiss to his mouth. A suppressed groan vibrated in his chest. When I pulled back, I was struck by the intensity of his gaze.

My heart rate spiked and my lips tilted in an uncertain smile. Surely, he wasn’t thinking of a full-on make-out session in the middle of the park because that was how he was looking at me.

Like he wanted to devour me.

“Sandro?”

Sandro

I didn’t know if it was the setting, the surroundings, or simply being lost in Bianca’s brown eyes. Her family always teased she’d gotten the puppy-dog eyes down pat that made them give in to her demands. But now that I was the recipient of them, I was jealous. I wanted to be the only one to fulfill her every wish.

I was so gone for this girl, it wasn’t even funny.