6. Freedom on Hold #2
“You mean like bodyguards following me around everywhere?” God, I hated the idea of losing my freedom, but I supposed it was better than being forced out of the country.
“Si.”
I sighed, glancing out the window as we drove past the Colosseum. “It won’t be forever, though, will it? Just until this investigation is over?”
He tilted his head. “That depends on the outcome. But if they come for you or threaten you in any way, we might have to consider other options.”
“Like what?”
“Marriage is an option.”
“Marriage!” I laughed with disbelief. “Unless my husband is bulletproof and comes with an entire hit squad, I don’t see how that’s supposed to help.”
“If you married a very influential figure in Roman society, someone who the mafia wouldn’t dare touch, then you’ll be safer.”
“Like who?”
“I have an acquaintance. Someone I trust.”
I threw my head back against the chair and groaned. Not this again. Papi always had ‘an acquaintance’ he was trying to set me up with.
“Callum D’Ardenzi. You may have heard of him.”
My eyes widened. “The billionaire real estate mogul?” That man was impressive as hell. He owned one of Rome’s biggest development firms.
“That’s the one. I can introduce you at tonight's fundraiser. He’s attending, and he’s excited to meet you after all the wonderful things I’ve had to say about my clever, beautiful daughter.”
“This is insane,” I breathed. “He won’t be interested in me. And you can’t force him to marry me, Papi.”
“No. I can’t. But he’s keen to start a family. He wants to settle down, but he doesn’t have the time to date. And you two have a lot in common.”
“How romantic,” I scoffed, but I couldn’t help but feel a little curious. “Like what?”
“Well, he was also raised in the UK, but his mother was Italian, and he moved here when he was in his early twenties. He’s ambitious and kind. He’s sponsoring the fundraiser tonight, and he gives so much to the people of this city.”
“What are his red flags?” I raised my eyebrows at my papi’s amusement.
“Red flags?”
“Yes. He can’t be perfect.”
“I don’t know. Perhaps you can ask him that tonight.”
“Pfft, like he’ll be honest with me. He’ll probably say something like he’s a workaholic.”
“All I’m asking is for you to meet him and make up your own mind. I will make sure there is ample security at the hospital fundraiser. And I will pick you up myself and drive you there. What are your plans for today?”
“Sleeping. I wasn’t planning to go anywhere.”
“Bravo. It’s best that you don’t. I can station security outside your apartment building discreetly.”
“Is that really necessary? It seems like a lot when we don’t even know if I’m in any real danger yet.”
My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out to check the message from Ally. What the—
Okay, so they have the necklace, but they won’t release it to me. They said the hotel owner would like to speak to you and that they know I’m not you because of the hotel's CCTV footage. It’s all really weird. You’ll have to come and get it yourself.
Great. Well, I couldn’t because from this moment on, I was under surveillance and lockdown. Urgh, I couldn’t stand this already.
“Everything okay?” Papi asked when I groaned and dropped my phone into my handbag.
“I left Mum’s necklace at the hotel Allegra was staying at yesterday when I had drinks with her. She can’t get the necklace, so I need to go there myself.”
“Okay.” He rubbed his jaw. “Which hotel? I’ll take you there now.”
“You don’t have to. I’m sure you’ve got more important things to be doing today than chauffeuring your daughter around the city.”
He smiled, grabbing my hand and kissing the back of it. “For you, anything.”
“Are you sure? That would be so helpful. It was Hotel XO. The new one that just opened in Via Veneto.”
He paused, something dark flashing across his expression. “XO?”
“Si, why?”
“Non c’è problema.” He shook his head and leaned forward, instructing his driver to take us there.
When we pulled up outside the front door, I told him I’d be only a second, but he still sent one of his bodyguards inside with me.
I tried to ignore his looming presence as I approached the front desk and lowered my voice to the man standing behind it.
“Ciao.” I smiled, hating how much my cheeks were burning at just being here again. “I left my necklace at the spa after my… treatment yesterday. Has anything been handed in? It’s a gold chain with a sapphire locket.”
“Please wait a moment, signorina,” he said with a polite smile.
He picked up the phone and made a call. I glanced over my shoulder at my father’s security man, who was standing very close behind me, searching for any threats to my life.
This all felt so ridiculous. Yesterday, I was free to do as I pleased, so to speak. And now…
“Signorina,” the hotel clerk pulled my attention back to him.
He tilted his head, that fake smile still perfectly in place.
“My apologies, but the necklace is stored safely somewhere only the hotel owner has access to. He’s currently not on the premises, but if you don’t mind waiting, please take a seat in our restaurant and help yourself to the wine list.”
Shit. “Um, do you know how long he’ll be? I really can’t stay.”
“I do not.”
I groaned, slapping my hand against the marble top and offering a curt smile. “I’ll come back another day. Please, can you pass on a message? Just ask that it stays safe because it’s really sentimental to me.”
“Of course, signorina. Can I have your name and a contact number, which I can pass on so you can arrange a more convenient time to collect it?”
Why hadn’t I thought of that simple solution? Sleep-deprivation. That’s why.
“My name’s Aria. And my number is—”
“I strongly advise against that, signorina,” the deep voice of my father’s bodyguard made me jump, and I peered up at his stoic face that was hiding behind black sunglasses. Right. No personal information, even to a hotel clerk? This was crazy. I sighed.
“Sorry. I’ll call the hotel tomorrow and try then. Grazie.”
“No luck?” My father asked when I climbed back into the car with a huff.
“It was in the safe or something, and they didn’t have access to it. I’ll have to come back another time.”
He tsked and gazed up at the hotel as we drove away. “Wait until I have your security sorted.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but held back.
My papi was clearly so stressed and worried about what was happening or about to happen in the city that my necklace should be the least of his concerns.
I shouldn’t add to his stress by arguing over my lack of freedom or ability to do or go anywhere on my own at the moment.
He was only trying to keep me safe, and I wasn’t a brat, but...
that niggling, persistent voice wouldn’t stop reminding me I didn’t ask for any of this.