Page 126 of Thorns of Death

“Zia likes to feed everyone,” Enrico explained. “She’s my mother’s sister and lived in South America for a long time.”

“Until he brought me here when his wife died,” Zia said in very broken English as she made the sign of the cross. Manuel’s eye roll didn’t escape me. It was subtle, but it was clear he didn’t like any reference to Donatella. It made me like him all the more. “Nowmangia, mangia.”

I knew that meant eat, so I smiled. “Good thing I like to eat.”

Enzo snickered softly. “If you eat the way Zia wants you to eat, you won’t fit through any door in a month.”

He and Amadeo shot to their feet and bent over, reaching for their backpacks. “Are you two going to school?”

“Sì.”

I stood up. “I can take you.” They both laughed, like I just uttered a joke. I frowned. “What?”

“We’re not babies.”

I shrugged. “I know. But it gives me a chance to see the area and your school. Besides, I always wanted someone to walk me to school.”

“It’s too far to walk,” Amadeo remarked reasonably.

I shrugged. “Okay, then we drive you to school. It was different for me not living at home and going to school. The boarding school had some perks, but that wasn’t one of them.” Both of them hesitated, their eyes darting to their father and then back to me. I looked over to Enrico. “Is… is that okay?”

Enrico’s hand came to the small of my back. “Allora, we’ll drive them to school.”

“Is that okay with you?” I asked the boys.

“Just don’t walk us inside,” Amadeo remarked. “It will make us look weak.”

I rolled my eyes, but before I could comment, Enzo beat me to it. “Unless you’re going to pretend to be our girlfriend.”

I scoffed. “In your dreams, buddy.”

Shoving one croissant into my mouth and grabbing another one, I said in a muffled voice, “Ready.” I glanced at Zia and smiled. “Grazie for…” I raised the croissant still in my hand. “They are delicious.”

Her wrinkled face lit up and she hurried to the elaborate coffee machine, pouring me a travel mug. “Per la strada.”

The scent wafted my way and I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply. “Ahhh, coffee.”

My husband’s lips lowered to my ear. “Careful or you’ll make me jealous of that coffee.”

I peeked at him through my eyelashes. “Nobody can replace my coffee.”

He slapped my ass. “We’ll see. Let’s go take the kids to school.”

We made our way out of the castello where an armored SUV waited for us. I noticed the security Enrico had here was beefed up. In Paris, it seemed less noticeable, or maybe he didn’t need security there.

“Is Manuel coming?” I asked, noticing different guards. One of them wore a baseball hat pulled far down over his forehead, making it hard to see his face.

“No, he has other things to take care of.” It seemed odd since he was always around when the entire family was together. But I didn’t question it. Instead, I nudged the boys into the car, then slid into the back seat with Enrico right behind me.

“Can we open the windows?” The moment I blurted the question, I groaned at my stupidity. The point of the armored SUV was to keep from getting shot, not to open the windows and let anyone take an aim. “Never mind,” I muttered before anyone could respond.

“You’ll get used to it,” Enzo said, something in his gaze telling me he understood.

I leaned back into the seat. I didn’t think I’d ever get used to having the need to hide behind the walls of Enrico’s castello. Or driving in an armored car.

“What grades are you two in?” I asked instead, focusing on them. “I’m guessing I should know.”

“High school,” they answered at the same time. “American ninth and tenth grade,” Amadeo finished.