Chapter 24
Allie
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay?”
Ellie bit her lip and stared at the blue waters of the northern Sardinian coastline.
Even as early in spring as it was, the ocean was a postcard-worthy vista of pristine beach, turquoise-hued ocean, punctuated with dangerously rocky coves that were perfect recreational grounds for smugglers and snorkeling.
Don Manca’s estate spanned almost as far as one could see between the two arms of headland that marked the boundaries of the family’s holdings on the eastern and western edges.
To the north was the Mediterranean ocean, a string of rocky islands, and eventually, Corsica.
To the south there were farmlands, small villages, and a thousand families, or perhaps more, who all bowed their heads as Don Manca passed by.
Their words of greeting to him were reverently soft with a hint of awe and maybe a little love.
They gave Mario almost as much respect. Even the local law enforcement treated him with respect.
It was a far cry from my childhood memories and the stalking I’d grown to fear.
Just a short boat ride away was a nature preserve with hiking and scenic views from the cliffs.
Beyond that, there were a myriad of million-dollar estates owned and populated by the elite few who could afford a slice of this wild island.
There were lavish resorts, spas, nightclubs, and all the glitterati Ellie could handle.
If she’d just get over herself.
“I can’t stay,” she said.
I knew why—that damn Ringo Devlin.
“You really should have a bodyguard.” Just being my sister and looking like me made her a target, despite the fact that we’d come out on top of this mess and the threats to Mario eliminated.
“I don’t want a bodyguard. I want to be as far away as possible from Italians and mobsters and all this crap.”
Did I blame her? I’d been there myself.
But something shifted while I was trapped in that cave.
I’d finally found my courage. Or maybe decided I didn’t like living like I was dying all the time.
I wanted to grab onto Mario and his family, and my family for all the good and the bad of it.
Which was why I really didn’t want Ellie to leave. But she was miserable here.
“Where will you go?” I asked quietly.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. That’s the best part. No one can track me if I don’t know where I’m going, right?”
I nodded, hesitantly. Even now, I itched to map an itinerary for her.
“Don’t be like that. I’m good at this. I’ll be fine. Dianora’s locked up. There’s no one running the Conti family who can pay anyone to hunt me down.” Ellie hesitated. “But if there were, they would target Mario, we’re not interesting enough for them anymore.”
“Thanks for the backhanded compliment.”
Ellie tugged my hand. She twisted it around until she made the ring catch the light just right. Her finger rubbed the crest engraved into the flat oval. “Power. That’s what people want. Not me. I’m nobody.”
That wasn’t true, but I’d try to give her as much protection as I could without smothering her.
“Mario and I will be in Rome for a week. Then we’re going to Amalfi, and—” Our plans were to flaunt the wedding, put both of our faces into the spotlight with his father’s network, and let the paparazzi or whoever was interested target us until the novelty wore off.
Ellie slapped a hand over my mouth. “I know your plans. He wines and dines you on the honeymoon you should have had. You’re his show pony for four weeks. And you get your grand Italian museum vacation. I got it.”
I brushed her hair back so I could wipe the moisture threatening to spill from her eyes. “Be careful.”
Ellie snorted. “That’s my line. You’re going to need it around these bastards.”
“Don’t call Loppa that. He’s a sweetheart.”
His head dipped slightly, just enough to acknowledge he’d heard us.
Ellie stared into the shadows. “If only I’d met you first,” she told Loppa.
“I would not leave my wife.”
“My poor broken heart.” She fake-sobbed.
I caught my giggle just in time. Ellie was too dramatic. The gold ring on his finger was practically embedded there with age. “Stop flirting.”
“Never.” Her smile faded too quickly.
“You could stay.” I tried to keep the longing note out of my voice. And I didn’t want it to sound like a question.
“I’d rather gouge my heart out with a spoon. No thanks.”
Beyond Loppa was another shadow. Ringo lurked there. Far enough away that Ellie couldn’t touch him, or take a swipe at him if she got too angry, and too close to let my sister breathe.
I hugged her.
“I’m only going to ask that you come back in time for the celebration. I need a maid of honor to put on display.”
“You’re going to make me wear pink, aren’t you?”
I shook my head. She’d look washed out in pink.
“Little flowers on a creamy beach dress that is too virginal for words?”
Damn it. Yes. “Naw.” I could picture her face once I sprung it on her, though.
Ellie tipped her head. “Any color, as long as it’s black…or bright red. Understand?”
I waited for her to get nervous.
“You’re not putting me in pastel.”
Technically, it wasn’t pastel. More… “airy” than that.
Her eyes rolled. “Allie…” It was as if she could read my mind.
Which meant I had to set her straight. “You dressed me in nude brothel wear.”
“Hell yeah. I’ll wear that.”
I cleared my throat reminding her she had no choice. “It’s my wedding party this time.” Besides, Mario’s bloodstain was set into the fabric by this point. She’d faint if she saw that.
“Right.” She grinned with teeth showing to prove to me she was trying, but wasn’t on board with my vision.
After a moment, it fell. “Okay. I’ll be there.
Unless of course some hot foreigner kidnaps me and forces me to fly away with him on his private jet.
” Her hand flew to her forehead dramatically. “Death by sex, how traumatic.”
A voice from the far shadows muttered, “That can be arranged.”
“Shut the fuck up, Ringo! No one asked you.”
I kissed her quickly, because I didn’t want those two arguing again. “Firenze is waiting.” I glanced at the dark SUV in the circle driveway. Her chauffeur-slash-bodyguard waited beside it.
Only two suitcases were in the trunk. She’d bequeathed the lingerie to me.
She hugged me tighter. “I love you, big sis. Be deliriously happy.”
“I plan on it.” I’d be happier if she were that way, too. But until she got over Ringo, that was not a possibility.
As soon as Ellie let go, Mario wrapped an arm over my shoulders. “I’ll insist she is.”
“Good luck to both of you. Enjoy my clothes.” Ellie flounced away, giving Mario a sly wink.
Firenze frowned. He let her settle in the back seat and then walked over to stand in front of Mario. “To confirm, I have the right one, sì?”
I could feel my husband’s silent laughter. He squeezed my shoulder. “You put your ring on wrong this morning, Allie.”
I jabbed his rib cage in jest. “Ellie,” I teased.
Poor Firenze looked worried.
Mario sent me a cautionary warning with his eyes. “Allie. I know my wife.”
“You think so?”
His eyes raked down my body. “Every inch of her.”
I brushed the hair away from Mario’s brow. “I love you.”
Our lips met softly.
Mario hesitated before deepening the kiss. He brought my hand up so Firenze could see the sigil that wasn’t turned the wrong way. I shook his hand off and threaded my fingers through his hair, practically climbing into his body.
Firenze cleared his throat. “Thank you for confirming, Don Valentini.”
“Idiot.”
Mario broke the kiss to glare at Ringo.
His friend growled out a reply. “He should be able to tell them apart by now.”
“They are identical twins,” Firenze shot back.
“Not identical.” Mario touched my eyebrow and the curve of my hairline. Then, the sharp tip of my nose. “Ellie has a rounder face, and her hair swings to the left not the right.”
“That’s how you know?” I asked.
“There are other ways to tell. But those are for me only,” he whispered in my ear and ran his teeth on the edge where I was most ticklish.
A fission of passion shot down my spine.
Ellie pulled the door shut during our little display.
Her head was not bowed, but she looked away, giving us space or herself a distraction.
Nor did she look behind as Firenze got behind the wheel to drive her to the local ferry.
From there her destination options spread from Genoa to Napoli.
I hadn’t pre-planned which transport she’d board.
And Firenze was there to provide assurance that she hadn’t been followed and wasn’t being watched.
He’d know which one she picked, obviously, and tell Mario, who’d tell me. But other than that, he was forbidden from disclosing his knowledge on orders that came directly from Don Manca himself.
Speaking of the devil.
Mario’s grandfather slipped between us to peer at the dust settling. “She’s gone?”
“Sì, Aiaiu.” Mario’s voice was quiet.
“Good. I have work for that one. Hopefully he finds his brain again.” He directed an order at Ringo. “Come. There’s a power vacuum forming. We plan.” Poor Ringo, he hadn’t stopped staring at the empty road.
He’d fallen hard for my sister and was still denying it.
Worse, I knew Ellie felt the same way. That was why she was running so far and fast from the tranquil security of the island. Even though Leandro was dead, and Dianora was behind bars awaiting trial for shooting her father, I still worried. I’d always worry about my little sister.
Mario tugged me inside. “Sit by my side. You may not understand all the words, but I want your help to hone the arrangements.
As if taking over a seat of family power were a mere holiday to plan.
Ringo brushed by, his mind elsewhere.
Mario shot a hand out and tapped his waistline. “Pay attention.”
His friend stared down at the place he’d touched. It matched the almost-healed wound on my husband’s side.
“Or what? You’ll kill me?”
“It can be arranged,” Mario said.
Ringo studied me for a moment. “I bet your wife would jump for a chance to plan it.”
I blinked. “I’m not that bloodthirsty…yet.” But if he messed with my sister’s heart any harder, Mario wouldn’t be the one ordering the hit. I would. As it was, Ringo still held a place on my trust but verify list. His methods were suspect to say the least.
Mario smiled and pulled me close. He spoke a sweet nothing aloud that translated poorly, but compared me to one of Ulysses’ sea sirens. I frowned at him.
“They lured men to their deaths. I’m not sure that’s a compliment.”
Don Manca and the others laughed. Then the family patriarch pointed out something I’d missed.
“She understood that. Which means she’s one of ours now.”
Wow. I had a family with a code and their share of skeletons.
I fit right in.