Page 10

CHAPTER 9

M atteo

Perhaps I should have chastised Giulia for throwing the hairbrush at me. She’s got a great aim and if my reflexes weren’t as sharp as they are, it would have hit me square in the face. I’d probably have a black eye. It’s not behavior I can allow. If she did something like that in front of one of my brothers or, worse, in front of my men, I’d have to make a public example of her. It’s old-fashioned, but in our world, a man who can’t control his woman is seen as weak.

Right now, I haven’t got it in me to punish her, though. It’s been years since I was this relaxed. Contentment has seeped into my bones and I could just melt into the mattress.

I smile as Giulia heads for the bathroom. The spring in her step mirrors the intense joy I feel. This thing between us is so right, I can’t believe it didn’t happen years ago. I guess the stars have only just aligned, or some shit. If I believed in it, I’d say fate had finally brought us together. I laugh at the turn my thoughts have taken. I’ll be studying my horoscope next. If my brothers knew I was ascribing events to some intangible force, they’d never let me hear the end of it.

Though I told Giulia we could take things slow, that might prove a challenge. The urge to bind us together, to ensure she can’t get away from me is strong. I’ve loved this woman for most of my life. Though my brother’s wife, Isabella, was a part of our friendship group, Giulia is the one I was always closest to. We spent more time together. Until I fucked up at Johnny’s funeral, we shared everything. I missed her every second she wasn’t in my life.

Claiming her gorgeous body has only intensified how I feel about her. I can envision a future for us as man and wife. It seems crazy since only two days ago I was a confirmed bachelor. Settling down never entered my thoughts. Why would it? Three of my brothers are married. None of them can keep their hands off their wives, so the next generation of Volantes is assured. I was under no pressure to follow the path they took.

Now I want nothing more than to mark her as mine. I need to possess every part of Giulia. I want to put a baby in her. It must be something primal, this drive that comes with finding the right woman. Shit! There I go with the fated stuff again.

Deciding I need fresh air to clear my head, I get out of bed and rummage through the top drawer of the dresser for clean underwear. I put it on and then look for some running shorts. There’s a blue pair in the bottom drawer along with my sweatpants. My dress pants and shirts are all hanging in the closet. I’d have been happy to live out of my suitcase while I was here, but Livvy insisted on arranging everything for me when we first arrived.

I pull on my running shorts, but don’t bother with a t-shirt. I like to feel the air on my skin as I run. My sneakers are a pair I’ve had for years. Though they’re well worn, they’re still comfortable.

As I sit on the edge of the bed to tie my laces, I hear what an untrained ear might think is a cat being tortured. Thankfully, it’s not. It’s Giulia belting out some song I don’t recognize. She couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket, but I admire her enthusiasm.

I get up and push open the bathroom door, pleased that Giulia didn’t lock me out. As I step into the room, I’m repelled by a rush of steam. Giulia doesn’t go for half measures in the shower. She likes it freezing cold or scalding hot.

“Giulia.”

She pops her head out of the shower cubicle. Her hair is foamy with shampoo and she looks adorable despite the frown on her face.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m going for a run.”

Her nose wrinkles. “You’re not expecting me to join you?”

I know better than that. While Giulia has incredible stamina and speed, she doesn’t enjoy running. She prefers to mitigate her love of junk food with a combination of swimming and Pilates.

“No, sweetheart. You stay here and bake your birthday brownies. Just try not to burn the house down.”

“Jeez, Matteo, I start one small fire and…”

Leaving her to rant, I close the bathroom door and head downstairs. The fire Giulia’s referring to happened one summer when she spent time with my family up in Maine. While my dad and siblings were out on the lake, we used the fire pit at the rear of the property to toast marshmallows. Giulia panicked when hers caught alight and she couldn’t blow it out. She threw the stick into the grass, starting a fire.

Thankfully, Mamma doused the flames before they could take hold. We agreed the incident would be our secret. My father would have lectured Giulia endlessly about her carelessness and Mamma knew she’d be upset by that. She’s always had a soft spot for Giulia. She’ll be thrilled when she hears we’re together.

The house is quiet as I head downstairs. Rosalia should have been here first thing, but I messaged her not to bother coming until the afternoon. I’m not sure why Gabriele employs the girl full-time. He never leaves his house in Rome these days and according to Damiano, I’m the first guest who’s ever stayed here. Perhaps he owes her family a favor.

I slip out through the front door, closing it behind me. For a moment, I wonder if I should go back inside and tell Giulia where the weapons are. I have guns stashed throughout the house in case of emergency.

I decide against it. The house is secure. Giulia is perfectly safe so there’s no point in making her think otherwise.

Jogging down the path at the side of the house, I cut across the lawn. Nobody would accuse me of being a poet, but something about the Italian countryside calls to my soul. My senses are awakened by it. Every sight, sound, and smell is more vivid. Colors are brighter. Food tastes better. I feel more alive. I’m at peace with the world until I remember Sofia Montalbano’s tragic death and I’m jolted back to the harsh reality of the type of man I am, one whose life is mired in violence. Somehow that hasn’t weighed on me so heavily since Giulia arrived.

Picking up my pace, I enter the forest. Leaves crunch beneath my feet as I dart between the trees. The farther into the woodland I get, the darker it becomes, though there’s still enough light for me to have a clear view of what’s ahead.

When I reach the high fence that marks the boundary of the villa’s grounds, I turn to the left and continue on my path through the trees. It’s a route I know well, having run it a few times since I arrived in Italy. As I head back toward the house, the loud snapping of a twig stops me in my tracks. Instinctively, I reach back for my gun, but of course I’m not carrying. It doesn’t matter. There are a dozen different ways I can disable an opponent without a gun.

I scan the forest, looking for an intruder. At first I don’t see anyone. I wonder if it might be a feral pig. I’ve seen them a couple of times, foraging in the undergrowth. Then a flash of blond hair alerts me to the presence of a young male. He’s about six feet tall and of average build. Though he doesn’t appear to be a threat, I don’t like a stranger being so close to the house.

I take a few steps toward him, and he turns to face me. I don’t recognize him as one of my cousin’s men or as a Rossi. His startled expression doesn’t scream mafia soldier , nor does the way he bolts off through the trees. It does, however, confirm he had no business being here. I don’t follow him. The forest is dense in places and if he knows his way around, he’ll lose me easily. Besides, I want to get back to the house to check on Giulia. I’ll also need to call Damiano to find out if the kid was caught on camera. Gabriele may not use this house, but he has some sophisticated security measures in place to protect it.

When I enter the house, I meet Giulia coming downstairs. She’s dressed in jeans shorts that I’d insist she change if there was another man around, and a white t-shirt. She looks so fuckable, it takes all my willpower not to throw her over my shoulder and carry her back upstairs.

The light purple hair I’m gradually coming to terms with is tucked behind her ears. I hope she grows her hair long again, but don’t offer my opinion. Knowing Giulia, she’d shave it off just to mess with me.

“You’re back already,” she says as she reaches the bottom step.

“Yeah, I just needed a quick run.”

Giulia makes a show of leaning close and sniffing me. She grins mischievously. “Now you need a shower.”

“Yeah, that’s where I’m headed.”

She goes to walk past me and I put a hand out to stop her.

“You didn’t see or hear anyone while I was out, did you?”

“No.” Giulia frowns. “Should I have?”

“No. There was someone in the woods, but he ran off when he saw me.”

“You think it was something to do with the girl who was killed?”

I shrug. “Probably not. I’m going to give Damiano a call.”

“Okay.”

I can’t resist pulling Giulia in for a kiss before heading upstairs. Her lips are sweet, like cotton candy. When I get to the bedroom, I grab my cellphone from the nightstand and go to the window. The view from here is of the driveway leading up to the house. Everything is peaceful, as I expected it to be.

I call Damiano’s number. He takes his sweet time about answering it and when he does, his voice is husky, like he just woke. “ Pronto .”

I forego the usual pleasantries. “There was someone here.”

“At the house?” Damiano instantly sounds more alert. My Italian cousins may do things at a slower pace than I’m used to, but with security they do not fuck about.

“In the forest.”

“When?”

“Five minutes ago. He was close to the house.”

“I’ll get my people on it.”

He doesn’t give me a chance to respond before cutting the call. There’s no point in going for a shower until Damiano gets back to me so I use the time to go to the walk-in wardrobe and pick out clothes for the day. I’ve been living in sweatpants or jeans for the last couple of weeks, but with Giulia here I want to make more of an effort. Dark blue dress pants and a white shirt will do the trick.

As I lay them across the bed, my phone vibrates. It’s Damiano, so I answer immediately.

“What have you got?”

“It’s a boy from the village, Adamo Gianotti. One of my men recognized him.”

“Is he related to the Montalbano girl?”

“No. Maurizio says the boy’s a loner. He’s harmless.”

“You sure?”

Damiano snorts derisively. “Of course not. That’s why I sent my men to have a word with him. They’ll find out what he was doing there.”

“I appreciate it.”

“Before you go, I’m taking Livvy to Lorenzo’s new vineyard near Siena. You and Giulia should join us.”

“Yeah, sure.” Giulia will probably enjoy seeing some of the Tuscan countryside and I know she won’t be shy about socializing with my cousins because she’s used to being around my family. My mother has always said that any woman who can survive Thanksgiving with my brothers can cope with anything.

“You want me to pick you up?”

“No, we’ll meet you there.” It’s an hour’s drive to Siena. While Livvy and Giulia got on well yesterday, I doubt they’ve become bosom buddies. The thought of being stuck in a car with them if Livvy starts being a brat and Giulia retaliates doesn’t appeal.

Damiano gives me the address of the vineyard and we agree to meet at one o’clock for lunch. Usually my Italian cousins wouldn’t eat until late afternoon so I know the time is a concession to the American habit of taking an early lunch. I end the call and take a shower to wash off the grime after my run. I dress and head downstairs to tell Giulia we have plans. She’s in the kitchen with Rosalia. They’re talking and laughing like old friends. I expected to find the kitchen turned upside down since Giulia planned to make brownies, but the place is spotless. For a minute I think she changed her mind, but then I smell something sweet in the air. The aroma is coming from the oven.

The moment she sees me, Rosalia excuses herself and leaves the room. I’m not sure if she’s shy with everyone or if I scare her. Usually, women are more at ease around me.

“I thought this place would look like a bomb hit it. Did Rosalia clean up?”

Giulia scowls. “I may not be the greatest baker, but I can wash dishes and wipe down countertops.”

“Of course.” I lean back against the table. “Damiano invited us to join him for lunch at Lorenzo’s new winery.”

Her eyes light up. “That sounds like fun.”

“Thought you’d be happy. It’s out near Siena so you’ll get to see some of the countryside.”

“Great.” She twists her mouth to the side the way she does when she’s thinking about a problem. “What time will we be back?”

“I don’t know. Why?”

She takes a deep breath and I brace myself for her to speak. “You know it’s Rosalia’s birthday?”

“Yes.” I don’t like where this is going.

“She’s going to La Stanza Rosso to celebrate. She asked if I wanted to go.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s sweet, and she knows I’m alone here.”

I scoff at that remark. “You’re not alone.”

“You know what I mean.” She doesn’t give me a chance to tell her I really don’t. “So can I go?”

I shake my head. “It’s not safe.”

Giulia purses her lips and I know she’s not going to give up easily. “It’s Damiano’s club, isn’t it?”

“That’s precisely why it’s not safe. Our enemies have eyes on the place. If you go there, you’ll be spotted.”

“Nobody knows me.”

“You’re an American woman out with the Volantes’ housekeeper. It doesn’t take a genius to work out you’re connected to me.”

Giulia’s scowl deepens. “I want to go, Matteo.”

I shake my head again.

Folding her arms across her chest, Giulia looks formidable. “Look, Matteo, I want to make something clear. I won’t be dictated to. If you want to carry on whatever this is between us, you need to accept I am not a doormat.”

Though she definitely has a submissive side, Giulia isn’t the type of woman who rolls over and plays dead just because she’s been ordered to. I like that she stands up for herself. At least, I do when it’s not me she’s rebelling against.

“I know who you are, Giulia.”

“So you know that I’m smart, that I’m aware of the dangers.”

Though I accept that Giulia isn’t some na?ve girl who’ll blithely walk into danger, I’m aware there is always a risk. My natural urge is to put my foot down and refuse to let her go, but I have to suppress it. I don’t want our entire relationship to be based on me being a dictator and her resenting me for curbing her freedom.

“Okay, you can go, but you’re taking several guards with you.”

Giulia’s eyes widen. “Oh.” She sounds as if she’s had the wind knocked out of her sails. She obviously expected to have to put up more of a fight. “I thought you’d insist on coming with me.”

“It’s even riskier if you’re seen with me.” Although I’m confident I can protect Giulia, I don’t want to put a target on her back unnecessarily. If I’m with her, people will realize how important she is to me. I won’t be able to hide my protectiveness. “Damiano’s men will watch over you and I trust you not to do anything stupid.”

“You do?”

“Of course.” It’s true. I do trust Giulia. She was brought up in this life and knows to be wary of strangers. She won’t leave her drink unattended or nip out into the back alley with some guy for a casual hook-up. I’ve seen how she scans her surroundings, mapping everything out. I’ll bet in any emergency she can find her way straight to an escape route.

“Thank you, Matteo.” She comes over and presses a kiss to my lips. “Really, thank you. I was afraid you were going to become a raging dictator and ban me from leaving the house.”

I laugh as if that’s an absurd notion as Giulia walks off, but in reality, it’s taking everything I have in me not to lay down the law and forbid her from leaving my sight. If this thing between us has any chance of working, I have to keep my urge to dominate in check. Giulia needs me to demonstrate my faith in her, but already I’m struggling. I have to tread lightly, otherwise I’ll wreck everything.