4. Leonardo
Leonardo
Ireally should have more self-preservation instincts.
I normally did. But when the amazing-smelling man promised me that I would be safe, I took him at his word.
I knew without a doubt that he was my mate, but that didn’t necessarily mean he was a good person.
Especially with the way that I saw Gianni’s and Carlo’s faces pale when someone named Vincent Vittone was mentioned.
I didn’t immediately recognize the name, but I wasn’t really involved in anything with the pride beyond being the charity case that they couldn’t get rid of, so they abused me.
I followed the men without hesitation, but I did keep my eyes open to look out for any others from the pride who might be nearby. It wasn’t like any of them to give up so easily. Especially not when an order came directly from Alpha Franco.
We entered the alleyway, and when we came out from the other side, I immediately noticed several more from the pride waiting. I made a noise as I tightened my hold on the arm of the sexy man, which of course grabbed his attention.
“What is wrong?”
I nudged my head toward the group. “They’re from the pride,” I whispered. The other guy with us looked behind us, and when I did the same, I wished I hadn’t.
“Them too, huh?” I nodded. My mate wrapped his arm around me, and the other guy moved in close.
“Hang on” was the only warning I got before my stomach rolled over, and I suddenly found myself in the middle of a very nice room.
There was a pair of sofas and all of the other normal furniture you had in a living space.
“I’ll put in a call to Marcello to let him know to be on the lookout.
Since we entered the apartment this way, they won’t know where we went, and it shouldn’t be an issue for any of them to come and go as they please.
I don’t think it’s entirely safe for the two of you to be down on the streets though. ”
“Who are you guys?” I asked. I pulled away gently, and without hesitation, my mate let me go. I took a step back and wrapped my arms around my stomach, which was still protesting a little. “Why did Gianni’s and Carlo’s faces pale when you mentioned this Vincent guy?”
There was a groan from my mate, and at first, I thought he was in pain, but that didn’t seem to be the case. He had his hand on his face, and when he wiped it down, I could tell he was frustrated.
I looked at the other guy. “He seems frustrated,” I said. That earned me a smile. I glanced back at my mate, who still appeared to be…yeah, frustrated. I shrugged and walked over to the other guy.
“I’m Leonardo, but everyone calls me Leo,” I said as I held out my hand.
“I do apologize. I’m Rio. It’s not short for anything. I happen to be from there, and it is what my mother wished to name me.”
“Oh! Which Rio? The one here? Or in Greece?”
Rio glanced at my mate, who sighed. I looked back at him. “Is he all right? He seems…incredibly upset.”
“I don’t know,” Rio said, offering my mate a confused expression. “Are you going to talk to him, Sandro? Or are you going to leave your beloved wondering?” Rio asked before he looked back at me. “And to answer your earlier question, the one in Brazil. I’m from Rio de Janeiro.”
Sandro. I liked it. I offered Rio another smile before turning to gaze at my mate. Maybe he had simply decided that he no longer wanted anything to do with me. I sighed internally. It wouldn’t be the first time. Nor would it be the last with the way my life was.
Sandro finally spoke. “I just…how old are you?”
I scowled. “Why does it matter?”
“Were you born here? Raised here?” he asked.
“Yeah. And?”
Sandro turned his head toward Rio. “How does he not know who Vincent is?”
Rio shrugged. “I didn’t until the council reached out to my birth coven.”
“You lived on an entirely different continent and hemisphere,” Sandro said as his scowl deepened.
Rio grinned at me quickly before he glanced back at Sandro.
“It is true. Just because Leo here is from Italy doesn’t necessarily mean he knows who our coven master is.
Perhaps, as your beloved, you would offer him the courtesy to inform him?
Or even…properly introduce yourself. I’ll be in my room, contacting Marcello and then the others.
I do believe our time in Rome is going to be cut short. ”
Rio walked out of the room, leaving me with my mate. When I refocused on him, he patted the cushion beside him. “Will you sit, please? I need to discuss several things with you and will answer any questions you might have.”
He sounded…no longer frustrated, but possibly tired? “Sure,” I said. I sat down, just a bit farther away from him than I think he intended, as I wasn’t quite on the cushion next to him but also wasn’t on the one farthest away either.
“Rio is correct. I’ve been somewhat rude. My name is Alessandro, but everyone calls me Sandro. I certainly wasn’t expecting to meet my beloved on this trip, and I’m afraid that you are only going to end up disappointed with who you have been paired with.”
Alessandro. I really liked that. I held out my hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Sandro. Is that what you wish for me to call you? Or do you truly prefer your given name?”
He shook his head and actually smiled. “Sandro is fine. My given name is a mouthful, and it has been so long since anyone has used it, I’m not sure I would respond.”
I tilted my head, thinking about what Sandro just said. It didn’t scent as if it was dishonest, but also not as fully the truth either.
“How old are you, Leo? Not that it matters, it seems. Naldo and Mazzi are of a similar age, but Abel is quite a bit younger than Marcello, and I have a feeling that might end up being the case for many in our coven.”
“I’m twenty-three. I’ll be twenty-four soon though,” I told him. “I guess you’re older, huh?”
Sandro nodded slowly. “Quite.” He rubbed his hand down his face again. “I’m not certain what to do with you now that you’ve literally run into me.”
I side-eyed Sandro. Surely the man knew how to have sex. He was… “You’re a vampire, right? That’s the scent?” I lived in Italy. There were lots of vampires here. Probably more than there were shifters, but I might have been wrong. But there seemed to be a lot of vampires here in Rome.
“Yes, I’m a vampire. My coven is in Naples. Rio is a warlock, as is Mazzi. Abel is a little fox shifter, and everyone else in the coven is either a vampire, or they live in the back of the compound and are donors that the coven has for…you know.”
“Sex and blood?” I knew how it worked. I wasn’t a virgin. I’d had sex with a vampire before. Sandro gave me a surprised look. I shrugged. “I know about vampires. I live in Rome, Sandro. Which reminds me, why did you ask if I spoke English?”
Sandro actually smiled, and it looked genuinely sweet.
For some reason, that irked me. “Abel,” he said.
“He’s from Montana most recently, and it’s a long story, and one I can share at some point, but I probably don’t have time for that now.
” He shook his head. “If you know about vampires, how do you not know about Master Vincent?”
“Am I supposed to? Is he popular?” My eyes tracked movement as Rio came back into the room.
“Marcello said he and Naldo were bringing the others back to the apartment,” Rio said. “We’ll head back to the villa for the time being and plan on returning to Rome for Abel’s holiday once Leo’s pride has been dealt with.”
“That wasn’t what I wished for,” Sandro said. “Marcello is going to be upset with me for ruining his beloved’s trip. He’s already irritated I disappointed Abel by not going with them to the fountain.”
I really didn’t understand most of what was being said. I mean, it made sense, but I had no clue who these people were.
“Can you tell me who this Vincent person is? You said he was your coven master?”
Sandro shook his head and then opened his mouth, but quickly closed it again. He did that a few times before he sighed. “He is our coven master, yes. Master Vincent Vittone is…how do you share something like this?” he asked Rio.
“I don’t know. Just spit it out,” Rio said. He shrugged before he walked out of the room again.
“Is he horrible or something? Because it will be difficult to be worse than Alpha Franco.”
“I cannot believe you haven’t heard of the Vittone family. We’re…let’s just say we are part of a certain type of organized crime family.”
It only took a moment for those words to register. “You mean like a mafia family?” As soon as I asked the question, Rio was back. He seemed to have perfect timing. He was holding his phone in his hand, and his eyes met mine and held a hint of uncertainty.
“Exactly like that,” Sandro said quietly.
“Really? Seriously?” I asked as I looked between the two with excitement. Rio started chuckling, and it quickly turned into full-on laughter.
“You’re not upset about that?” Sandro asked.
“What? Why would I be? I think it’s awesome!
” I was suddenly hit with a wonderful thought.
“Oh, hey. Is it possible that you have some guys that can go rough up Bruno and Pietro?” Rio was still laughing.
“You guys do that, right? I mean, I know I’m not really anything to any of you, but seriously, I could use some help in getting to the train station over on the other side of the city so I can get my bag from my locker. ”
Rio finally got himself under control and nodded as he sat down in a chair. “I can certainly help with your bag. But why is it in a locker?”