Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Damien
One thirty-two in the afternoon. I’ve been at the Fiorelli’s home for an hour now. I wait in the courtyard as instructed. While I’m here I scope the place out. I make note of every single camera. I’ll need to ensure I have access to them.
Eivor Fiorelli isn’t a client I’ve worked for before. I only arrived back in Italy a couple weeks ago. I was in Germany on another job for several months. A job that hadn’t ended well. A job I’d sooner wish to forget.
I walk the grounds of the cobblestone courtyard and count each pace.
I calculate how long it would take me to get from one end to other at the pace I’m currently moving.
I look around me and find any blind spots.
It’s easy enough to see the windows at the back of the house if I stand near the pavilion.
If I stand under the pavilion, almost everything is blocked out by the large white roof.
I’ll need to stand near the stairs instead if I want to keep an eye on everything at once.
One forty-six in the afternoon is when Eivor Fiorelli walks through the back door and down the path into the courtyard. He’s alone.
“Rosalie and Alessio will be here shortly,” he tells me. “You must be Damian Rossi. I need to brief you a bit more before they arrive. I trust you read the documents I sent you?”
I straighten my shoulders. He steps in front of me. “Yes, Sir,” I tell him.
“Good. Now, my niece and her fiancé will be married in just a couple weeks. They’ll be getting married at a courthouse first, the actual wedding is just for show.
There will be many important people here, as well as at their engagement gala I’ve arranged,” Eivor explains.
“Your job is to keep an eye on both of them. They will believe that you have been assigned to watch over Rosalie when she is away from her home, and it is… But, I need you to keep close attention on Alessio. Any information you find out about him comes back to me and no one else.”
I nod in response. “Of course. I work for you. Anything you ask of me, I will do,” I tell him, perhaps even reassuring the man. After all, he’s paying me a lot of money to do this job. More than I’ve made in my last three jobs combined.
“Good. Alessio is the closest to Carmine, and Carmine has stolen my nephew, Soren, away from me. As you know. I am losing control of my family. I’d like to gain some of it back. This marriage is part of that. But any information I can use against them in the future is what I’m really looking for.”
“They must be dangerous people,” I reply. “I will bring you any information I can find.”
“I’m more dangerous,” Eivor insists, his eyes getting hot. “More than they even know, and you’re part of why, Damian. You do this for me, and I’ll make sure you never have to work for another family again. You fuck this up, and I’ll make sure you never work again. Are we clear?”
I eye him from head to toe. I could take him out in a second flat, that I’m sure of.
I have no interest in doing this though.
My only interest right now is doing what he pays me to do.
I have no attachment to any of these people.
The money is all that matters. Protecting my clients is all that matters. Finding the information he desires…
“We’re clear, Mr. Fiorelli,” I agree with a nod.
A moment later he looks behind me away from the pavilion.
“You’re here! Finally.” Eivor steps around me.
I look over.
It’s 1:55 pm, and who I imagine are Alessio and Rosalie are walking over to us. They’re bundled up in their winter coats and scarfs. One red headed, one dark haired. Snow gathers on their heads and their expressions look uncertain.
“This is Damian Rossi,” Eivor introduces me as I stand behind him. My suit covered by no jacket, no hat, no scarf. The cold doesn’t bother me. “He will be keeping an eye on you, dear niece, when you’re away from home. Your safety is my top priority.”
“I thought I didn’t need a bodyguard,” Rosalie says, her brow furrowing.
“That was before your engagement. Before your brother’s little scuffle with the Carvels. They’re still quite upset, don’t you remember? This isn’t just for you, it’s for Alessio too.” Eivor waves his hand at the man. “To keep both of you safe.”
I watch Alessio, dark and glossy eyed, narrow those eyes. He’s clearly suspicious of Eivor. I don’t blame him. The man puts on a good act, but it’s easy to tell that’s what it is.
“If you think it’s for the best,” Rosalie agrees with a soft nod. She seems submissive and quiet in his presence.
Alessio doesn’t speak.
Eivor leaves. I’m left alone with Rosalie and Alessio.
As I walk them to the pavilion, I notice immediately that Alessio is taller than me. By at least half a foot. I gauge whether or not he seems stronger than he looks. He’s slender, but under his coat he might be more muscular than I can tell.
I take in every face he makes, every move. I watch Rosalie too, but she seems far more relaxed than Alessio. She leans against the side of the swing in the middle of the pavilion and takes a deep breath.
“So. What is there to plan if we already know the wedding is happening here?” Alessio asks.
I stand off to the side, on the stairs of the structure so that I can see everything around me.
Though I’m uncertain who exactly I’m protecting them from here, I do my job regardless. I watch every single movement out of the corner of my eyes. I glance at them, I glance at the house, I look at the woods to the back of the garden.
Nothing is happening. Simply the two of them standing in the middle of the pavilion looking at each other cluelessly.
“I suppose deciding on the flowers would be the first step. I think pink roses would look great as an accent,” Rosalie suggests.
“Of course you would decide on pink,” Alessio says, and at first, I think it’s a quip, but then he stands closer to her and puts a hand on her back. “You’re beautiful in pink after all.”
Rosalie chuckles and look at him with a brow raised. They share a look that I can’t quite pinpoint, then look at me, then back at each other and her expression softens. “Well, if there’s a flower you’d prefer we can combine them. Provided they don’t look terrible together.”
“I think pink roses is a great idea, perhaps white as well?” Alessio suggests.
She nods and looks around. “Those would fit in nicely too. I’m thinking an arch of them in the middle leading up here,” she steps closer to me and the stairs and waves her arms around. “The green from the stems and leaves needs to be showing too. It’ll tie in nicely.”
Alessio follows her as she walks. “I agree. What about several arches leading up to the stairs? Down the makeshift aisleway.”
“Ohh yes, that would be gorgeous, besides my uncle told me there’s no budget.” She smiles at him with a brightness in her eyes.
Alessio smirks at her in response.
He seems so incredibly charming right now, compared to the silent and stone-faced version of him that had been fronting when Eivor was around.
I find myself questioning if the two of them are truly in love and getting married for more than just their families. I don’t know much about either of them, despite the research Eivor gave me. I have no way of knowing what is true and what is simply his opinion on things.
According to Eivor, Alessio is a cold and weak man. He doesn’t seem very cold right now. As he follows Rosalie down the stairs past me and walks with her along the hedges and cobblestone.
“How many people do you think we need to seat?” Rosalie asks. “Including both of our families that are in town, and out of town, that is about twenty people. Who knows who else my uncle will invite.”
“We should plan for fifty. I think we can get all of the chairs in here. We’ll need to get heaters as well so they don’t freeze their asses off.
Maybe they’ll think we’re crazy for having an outdoor wedding during the coldest winter anyone can remember here.
” Alessio laughs and glances over at me as they stand a few feet away.
“I don’t know how you’re out here without a coat. ”
I tilt my head toward them and push my sunglasses up the bridge of my nose. “What’s cold to Rome isn’t even close to cold for everywhere else, and besides, I’m used to the cold.”
“I can see that,” Alessio smirks at me, crookedly, and his eyes move down to my feet and back up.
I feel a buzz of something run up my spine.
The way his lips tug to the side. The way his long hair is speckled with snow.
His long dark hair is brushed back into a ponytail at the base of his neck, but several wavy strands stand out against the side of his face.
I can see why Rosalie would want to marry him.
I blink, and I’m grateful that my eyes are hidden.
The sky is getting darker as it threatens heavy rain.
I walk over to them more abruptly, and I place a hand on Alessio’s shoulder out of some instinct even I’m not aware of. I quickly put it down to my side.
He looks back at me. Rosalie looks at me as well and her eyes shift down to my hand.
“Time to go inside,” I tell them.
They both look up at the sky as the clouds look even more ominous. “Of course,” Rosalie says. “I’d like just a minute to talk to Damian, okay, Alessio?”
Alessio eyes both of us, his expression darkening. “Alright. I’ll be inside.” He leans forward, and I recognize it as him trying to kiss Rosalie, but she doesn’t meet him in the middle. Not right away.
“Oh,” she mumbles. Then she leans in and presses her lips very softly to his. Her face is flushed pink, but I’m pretty sure that’s from the cold.
Or maybe not. When he pulls away after the soft kiss, she looks a bit discombobulated.
Alessio makes his way inside, and I’m outside in the ever-strengthening wind with Rosalie. She looks up at me with pale eyes and her lips turn down.
“My uncle has you here for a reason, don’t think I don’t know that. Whatever he’s up to, I’m not playing along,” she insists. “Keep my fiancé at arm’s length. Do you understand?”
“I work for Eivor; I’ll do as he requests,” I tell her.
“You work for me too. You’re here to protect me. If that is the truth. And I’m telling you to stay away from Alessio. We don’t need any drama,” Rosalie snips.
Compared to how sweet and submissive she sounded before, she sounds hot and irritated now. Her voice low and quiet but strong in its certainty. Certainty that I will listen to what she’s saying. Or else.
I have no doubt that this woman could do some damage if she wanted to.
I could kill her in a second flat, but maybe, just maybe, she’d leave me with some damage behind.
“Got it, Ms. Fiorelli. Or should I start calling you Mrs. Dresvanni already?” I ask her with a slight tilt of my head. My broad shoulders are far wider than her narrow ones.
She takes a step back and shakes her head. “Just Rosalie is fine,” she tells me. “Now, I’ll be going inside. You’re not needed there, right? Just outside the house? Go find something to keep yourself busy.”
I have to keep myself from chuckling. She is definitely a tough piece of work. I’m beginning to understand why Eivor hired me to do this job.
I head to my car for the time being, as I have no idea when they’ll be leaving and I’ll be needed again. I have to keep an eye on the front of the house, so I’m not parked in the garage.
I pull my phone out and instead of scrolling on it and getting distracted, I pull up the number to the only member of my family I have left. Well, the only member I’m still talking to.
I put the phone to my ear and tilt my head to the side, the other arm resting on the driver side door.
“Fiona, hey,” I say as her voice answers the phone. I hear a smile in her voice. I’m the only one in our family who calls her by her chosen name, rather than her dead name.
“Damian!” she says happily. “It’s been a few days; I thought you were heading to your new job today?” she asks me.
“I am, and that’s what I’m calling about.
I’m going to be gone for a few weeks, maybe a few months, I’m not sure how long.
I’ve gotta keep an eye on these two engaged folks and I’m not sure for how long.
I might be stuck here after they’re married to.
Guy wants some information, not sure what, but unless I get it, I think he’s going to be causing problems,” I explain.
“Jeez. This is the one paying you a ton, right?” she asks. I hear some movement in the background.
“Yeah, definitely enough to buy back Mom’s house,” I tell her. “He wants me to keep working for him after, but I’m not sure I like the guy.” I glance toward the house. Seeing nothing in particular happening at the front door.
“Follow your gut, Cousin,” Fiona reminds me. “Oh, you’ve got some mail here. Should I hang onto it until you get back?”
I roll my eyes. “Like you always do. Thanks again for letting me put my address as yours. Not having my own place is rough, but I’m on the road so often it’s just not needed.”
“Right, right. It’s no problem. You’re the only one in our family who actually gives a damn about me, so I think hanging onto your mail and picking up the phone for you every now and again is the least I can do,” she says with a smile in her voice.
I can’t help but smile slightly as well. “Alright. I’ll call you in a few weeks. I don’t want you getting involved in this so I’m layin’ as low as possible.”
“Got it. Love you, Cousin.”
“You too.”