GIOVANNI
Down the hallway, leading to my study, which I affectionately call my helm of affairs, I leave both women alone, hoping against hope that I won't return to find blood staining the floor. I know Alessia isn't one to shy away from a fight; she fits right in with Lucia. Pushing open the door to my study, I find Vittorio already waiting for me, a beacon of reliability in the chaos of my world. My butler, Francesco, stands beside my desk, holding a clean shirt in his hands.
"Sir, your shirt," Francesco says, his tone crisp and efficient as always.
I swiftly discard the blood-stained shirt and accept the fresh one from Francesco. He has a meticulous nature, which makes him invaluable in running the household and keeping the other servants in line.
"I have a guest, Francesco. Please ask Maria to attend to her needs. Anything she desires," I instruct, finishing buttoning my shirt.
"Anything else?" Francesco inquires, ever attentive to my needs.
"Not for now," I reply, moving to the shelf where a twelve-year-old brandy awaits me. Since I'm endeavoring to kick my cocaine addiction, alcohol has become my chosen vice when I need a buzz.
"Tell me," I say, settling into my chair and sliding a glass towards Vittorio.
"There's nothing from our spies. No information from the cops. Nobody knows who the shooter is," Vittorio reports, his voice grave with concern.
"His identity?" I inquire, taking a sip of the amber liquid in my glass.
"Nothing yet. Geno is still working with the cleaners," Vittorio replies, his brow furrowed in frustration.
Leaning back in my chair, I spin it absentmindedly. Who could be after me? Is there a new player in the game?
"What about Alessia? Anything I should be aware of?" I ask, considering the possibility that the assassin's target might not be me, but her.
It would be naive to assume otherwise. I'd wager my left testicle that tonight's attempt is merely a lure.
"Nothing. We're still combing through her history. She came to town six months ago and established her practice," Vittorio says. "What if Lucia is right and she's the spy?"
"Can't be," I reply, shaking my head. "There are only three people who know about my addiction and wanting to kick it. The two of us are here, and Lucia would die before betraying me."
"Hmm. You're saying none of our enemies could have thought that far ahead," Vittorio replies, nodding in understanding.
"Keep digging into Alessia's past. I'll speak with her tomorrow morning and find out if there's anything I should know." I wave at him in dismissal, and he steps out.
I go through some reports and sign some documents needing my signature before standing up to head to my room.
On my way to my room, I notice the room opposite mine is occupied. Lucia probably placed Alessia there to provoke me.
I move towards her door before realizing and then stop. Something about Alessia draws me strongly. The need to protect and care for her is so strong that it scares me. I shove my hand through my curls. I do not want her to have that kind of power over me, and who am I kidding? The stench of blood and sweat is glued to my skin, and I don't want her to see me like this again.
Decision made, I turn and enter my room, heading straight for the shower. Tonight is going to be a long night. I wake up tense, as usual. I check under my pillow for my gun and ensure that my door is still locked. I sit up and run my hand over my face, chasing the remnants of the nightmare away.
My stomach growling reminds me that I didn't have dinner last night. With my pajama bottoms on, I head downstairs to the kitchen. I stop when I see my sister and Alessia laughing as they butter their toast. Hmm. I guess I had nothing to worry about after all.
I shrug and head to the table, pressing a soft kiss to Lucia's head. "Good morning, sister."
I move to her right where Alessia is seated and grab her chin. I press a mouth kiss to her lips, her widened eyes telling me how surprised she is. "Good morning, Bella," I say, stealing the buttered toast out of her frozen hand and sitting beside her. That breaks her out of her shock.
"Will you please refrain from kissing me like I'm your woman or something?" She grits out.
"But you are," I reply, filling my cup with black coffee. "Black."
"I am not, and you know it," she says fiercely.
"Well, my men think you're mine because I brought you home. I've never brought a woman home before," I say nonchalantly. "I guess there's a first time for everything."
"Gio..."
"Do you want to be mine?" I ask, and as expected, her mouth drops open. I tuck a buttered toast into her mouth, and she sputters in outrage.
"What... what do you mean?"
"Eat your breakfast, Alessia, and stop playing my brother's game," Lucia advises, spoiling my fun.
I turn to Alessia. "Bella, when you're my woman, you won't even need to ask me to know."
I turn to my sister. "What's planned for today?" I ask, playing my role as personal assistant. She plans my schedule and receives invitations on my behalf.
"The usual. Nothing special," she says, "your schedule is on your desk."
"Hmm. Any news from Geno?" I ask, knowing she'd understand what I'm asking about.
"That report is on your desk," she says, and I nod in appreciation.
"Giovanni, I have a ground session today and two private ones this afternoon," Alessia informs me.
I know I should insist on her staying back until the identity of the perpetrator is found. But I also believe that her work is important.
"If you're going, you're going with two guards," I say. She opens her mouth to speak, and I beat her to it. "No objections."
"Hmm," she sighs and glares at me.
"Great, now that that's all settled. I'll leave you ladies to your tea," I wink at Alessia, picking up my cup and standing up.
Immediately, her eyes go to my bare chest, and I'm nothing if not proud of my pecs that I've gained through hard work. So, I pause and let her look to her full before she catches herself and looks away.
I chuckle wickedly and send her a grin. Immediately, I hear running and drop my cup. Reaching under the table, I slide out a gun that was tucked there. Lucia does the same when she sees me.
"Alessia, I want you behind that pillar," I point to the pillar in front of the stairs, "if anything happens, you run out the side door, got it?"
"Yes," she whispers and does as I instruct.
Vittorio calls out, "Gio, I'm coming in," and then he enters.
"What's going on?" I ask, grabbing my gun for ammo before cocking it.
"Salvatore Russo is at the gate and wants to have dinner with you," Vittorio reports.
"What? How many men are with him?" I inquire.
"Two, armed to their teeth," he replies, and I nod. I wouldn't expect anything less.
"This is definitely a surprise. Let him in, Vittorio," I order, and Francesco comes running in with my pajama shirt. "Thank you, Franco."
Alessia comes out from behind the pillar, "what now?"
I think about the situation and see no reason to hide her. "Come here, Bella. We're having guests for dinner."
Lucia sends me a look, and I shake my head. There will be no bloodshed this morning. Still, she places her gun beside her breakfast plate. Salvatore Russo is the don of the territory to my west. His territory ends just before the neutral zone, very close to Alessia's warehouse.
If he's coming with just two men, he isn't here to fight but to talk or openly declare war. It could go either way. He walks in, a tall man with dark hair shaved close to his skull. His body is covered with tattoos, and rumors have it that he's tattooed his fallen adversaries' names on his back. But all in all, Salvatore is a handsome man, and I can see why women easily flock to him.
"Moretti, sorry for the intrusion but I was in the neighborhood and you know how it goes," Salvatore says with a slimy smile.
"Ah! The lovely Lucia. A pleasure," he picks up Lucia's hand and bows down before her, kissing her knuckles in an old-fashioned gesture.
His eyes turn to Alessia. "And if it isn't the beautiful Alessia," he says and kisses her knuckles too.
I tighten my fist and turn to look at Alessia. How the hell does she know him?