‘How long is a while?’
‘A few weeks, a few months? It’s probably best that you forget about this place for the time being.’
The sadness was replaced with a flash of anger. ‘That’s easy for you to say. You haven’t spent the better part of two years working night and day to get a business off the ground.’
He allowed himself a small smile. ‘I know a little bit about the hard work it takes to establish a business.’
She grimaced. ‘But you don’t know how it feels to do it on your own with no support from anyone else. The fear that comes from knowing that one failure could mean you have nothing to help you look after your child.’ She shook her head, as if realising how much she’d revealed.
Romeo chose not to enlighten her about his personal relationship with fear and failure—of the rough, terrifying nights he’d spent on the streets when he was barely into his teens; of the desperate need for acceptance that had led him to contemplate, for a blessedly brief moment, whether he was truly his father’s son.
He’d rejected and stumbled away from the gang initiation rites and earned himself a bullseye on his back for a while. But it hadn’t stopped the fermenting thought that perhaps the life of a Mafioso was blueprinted in his blood.
That was a part of him he intended would never see the light of day.
But it was a thought he had never been able to shake off.
He downed the espresso and watched her struggle to get her emotions under control. ‘Tell me what you need to do to expedite things.’ He had spent most of the night putting things in place to remove her and Lucca as quickly as possible, but he had the feeling telling her that right now wouldn’t go down well.
‘I have to speak to Bronagh about assuming a full-time managerial position for starters. Then make sure the staff are taken care of.’ She started to slide her hands through her hair, realised she’d caught it in a ponytail and switched to sliding the long tail through her fingers. ‘I can’t just up and leave.’
The need to get her and Lucca away from here, as quickly as possible, smashed through the civilised barrier he’d placed on himself so far. ‘A Michelin-star chef will be here at nine to take over the day-to-day running of the restaurant. Once Lucca is awake, I have a team of movers waiting outside to pack your things. You can keep the apartment or I can arrange for it to be sold, that’s your choice. We’ll stop over in London, where we will be married at four this afternoon. After that we’ll fly straight from London to my island in Hawaii.’
She’d stilled as he spoke, her eyes growing wider with each plan he laid out. ‘But...we can’t get married that quickly,’ she blurted. ‘We need a special licence and that takes—’
‘It’s taken care of.’
She shook her head. ‘This is going too fast, Romeo.’
He folded his arms. ‘The sooner this layer of protection is in place, the sooner I can concentrate on dealing with Lorenzo.’
Apprehension crept into her eyes and he cursed under his breath.
She abandoned her coffee and folded her arms. Romeo willed his gaze to remain above her neckline, not to watch the tail of hair trail across her breasts with each breath she took. ‘Do we at least have time to discuss what sort of marriage we’re going to have?’
He tensed. ‘Excuse me?’
‘Well, this isn’t going to be a traditional marriage, is it? As you said, we’re only doing this to ensure Lucca’s safety, so I presume the physical side of things won’t be part of the marriage.’
Despite having told himself precisely the same thing after his control slipped last night, something moved through his belly that felt very much like rejection. He gritted his teeth.
‘If that is what you wish, then it will be so.’
Her lashes swept down. ‘Yes, that’s what I want. I think you’ll agree, sex tends to cause unnecessary confusion.’ A flush crept up her neck and Romeo was struck by how innocent she looked.
‘Sì, Lucca is the most important thing in all this.’ Why did the words feel so hard to get out?
She gave a brisk nod. ‘I’ll go and get changed. He’ll be waking up any minute now.’ She started to walk towards the door, then stopped and turned with a grace that hinted at balletic training.
Romeo frowned. He knew next to nothing about the mother of his child. All he had were the basic facts produced by his private investigators. He’d been so focused on his son that he’d only requested information from Maisie’s pregnancy to date.
He hadn’t really paid attention to their random conversations five years ago. He’d gone seeking oblivion of the carnal nature and had fallen head first into a maelstrom of emotions he still had a hard time reliving. He’d tried afterwards to explain it away as his grief talking, but that hadn’t quite rung true.
The idea that he’d been burying a lonely yearning that had chosen his mother’s death to emerge had shaken him to the core.
It wasn’t a place he wanted to visit ever again.
He mentally shrugged. He didn’t need to know any more about Maisie, other than that she would continue to remain devoted and invested in keeping their son safe.
‘I’d like to keep Bronagh as assistant manager. She’s been a huge support and I don’t want this new manager tossing her out after I’m gone, okay?’
‘If that’s what you need to put your mind at rest, then it will be done.’
She opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say more, but nodded and left.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out before it started to ring. Anger throbbed to life when he saw the familiar area code. Strolling out of the kitchen, he answered it.
‘You may be used to not taking no for an answer, but if you want to have any dealings with me, you’ll listen when I say I’ll be in touch when I’m good and ready.’
‘You have the benefit of youth on your side, Brunetti, but I’m reduced to counting the minutes.’
‘Perhaps you should remember that before you test me any further,’ he grated out.
Lorenzo gave a barking laugh. ‘You think I don’t know what you’re up to? You may secure your figlio a layer of protection, but your legacy will still need to be claimed.’
Romeo’s rage built. ‘My legacy doesn’t involve indulging a handful of geriatric old men, desperate to hang on to the old ways. I’m better at this game than you give me credit for. Being forced to live in the gutter has a way of bringing out a man’s survival instincts.’
For the first time, Lorenzo seemed to falter. ‘Brunetti...’
‘Do not call me again. I’ll be in touch when I’m ready.’ He hung up and turned at the sound of his son’s laughter.
The sound moved through him, and he froze in place for a second.
Gianlucca was his legacy. One he intended to guard with his life, if necessary.
He swallowed and got himself under control just as his son burst excitedly into the living room.
‘Mummy says we’re going on a plane today!’
‘Yes, you’re coming to live with me for a little while.’
‘Do you have a big house?’
The corner of Romeo’s mouth lifted. ‘It’s big enough for my needs, yes.’
Lucca’s head tilted pensively. ‘Does it have a duck pond?’
‘Not yet,’ he replied,