Page 8 of Tito

I stared at him. “I just can't see you as mafia.”

He chuckled and replied, “I’m not a huge part. I am a bodyguard for the Descalias.” He shrugged. “I don’t run the deals, loan sharking, gun outfits and schemes that a mademan does. I just protect my family, really. So don’t glorify me.”

I turned and grasped his jaw as I told him firmly, “I will so glorify you. You just said it. You take care of your family. That’s a huge deal to me.” I leaned in and kissed him.

He kissed me back and the kiss got heavy. I didn’t care, I was once again… lost in my passion for this man.

A knock came on my door.

Breaking apart, we both looked over at it.

Tito glanced at the clock and groaned. “We totally missed breakfast.”

I nodded. “And Zia Maria hates that.”

“She sure does,” he said as he got out of the bed and looked for his clothes.

“Go into the bathroom,” I said as I picked my dress up and donned it quickly.

“What?” He stared at me.

I shooed at him then knelt to grab his tie. “Get dressed!” I handed it to him.

Grabbing it, he rushed into the bathroom and shut the door.

I hurried over to the door, just as another knock sounded. Yanking my dress down, I swung it open.

Zia, herself, stood there.

Oh gosh, Tito’s mom was here as he hid in my bathroom.

Smiling, she paused to take a closer look at me. “Are you okay, mia cara?”

Nodding my head, I replied, “Yes, I am. I-I overslept. I’m sorry.”

“I wasn’t worried.” She smiled at me. “I know that Tito comes to get you every morning.”

I had no idea how to reply, so I simply nodded at her.

“So, is he here?” she asked.

I instantly nodded again. No use in lying as I could tell she knew already.

She beamed at me now. “Oh, bene! Bene,” she exclaimed as she looked excited. Then she paused to say, “I saved you both a plate. Come get it in the kitchen when you are…when you um...”She chuckled and placed her hands together like in prayer. “You just do not know how long I waited for this day to come!” She laughed then turned to scurry down the hallway.

I blinked hard as I stared at her disappearing form. Turning, I closed the door.

Tito stood there. “She knows.”

I laughed as I gave him a nod. “She seems to.”

“No, there’s noseems toabout that woman.” He smiled as he sat and put his socks on his feet. “If Mama knows something, she knows it. In fact, I think that’s why she came knocking on your door.” He put his shoes on now. “She wanted to verify that we were together.”

I grinned at him and tugged my sundress off. “Why would she think that?”

Pausing his shoe lace tying, he slowly peered up along my nude body. “Maledettamente caldo!” He lapsed into shocked Italian.

I grabbed my bra from the bed as I laughed. “I need to put my undergarments on. That sundress is a little see-thru.”