Page 160 of His Dark Demands
“Sergio Pisano is looking for a match for his youngest daughter. Fabio Ferrari suggested Roman.” I studied my father’s serious face. “Or Luca. Either would be fine. It could be lucrative.”
“We don’t need money.” He waved me off. “But the arrangement could get us a stronger foothold in Italy.”
I nodded. We’d been out of Italy for several decades and I’d wanted to have more of a presence in the homeland for some time.
“Which brother are you considering for the match?” he asked.
“Roman.” Earlier in the day, he’d pissed me off trying to save Wolf’s brother while putting Pippa at risk. That didn’t sit well with me. But having my daughter back, I wasn’t angry with him anymore. Just a little bitter… “It’s time he settled down.”
“Agreed. You handle it.”
“I have something else to discuss with you.” I finished off my drink and went to refill my glass.
“Continue.”
“Cara Clemente is alive but not for long.” I turned around to see his expression. Just as I expected, white as a ghost.
“How do you know she’s alive?”
“Do you remember the model I was dating before Isla, Courtney Collins?”
“Yes.”
“Courtney was Cara’s puppet. Her job was to get pregnant, which she failed at. Courtney confessed everything to me.”
Padre gulped. “Her brother killed your mother and the boys.”
“I know. That’s why I’m going to kill her.” I set glass on the coffee table. “Fabio is hunting her down and when he finds her, I’m going to end her.”
Padre nodded, a murderous glint in his eyes. “Good. You know, I wouldn’t trade the short time I had with your mother for all the money in the world. I might have only had her for five years, not nearly as long as I wanted, but I wouldn’t trade that time for anything.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Every day and every second you get with the ones you love is a gift, Ciro. Don’t take it for granted. Don’t waste another day being apart from Isla. You have a daughter now. Do you understand?”
“Yes. Thank you for saying that. I needed to hear it.”
“I want all of my children to be happy and to find love.”
“Isla is my person. She’s always been the one. I could’ve lost her yesterday, maybe Pippa too. I’ll be damned if I waste another second.”
We stared at the wall, both seeming deep in thought. Isla was on my mind, and I had a feeling my mother was on his mind.
I inhaled a calming breath and exhaled. Isla would eventually have to talk to me, and when she did, I would declare my love and devotion to her, something I should have done a long time ago.
48
ISLA
As I watchedthe sunrise out of my window, I thanked the universe for the safe return of my precious baby girl. She stayed attached to my breast all night, and I was just fine with it. I needed to be extra close to her to feel secure like she needed with me.
It must have been around seven in the morning. I should still be asleep, but I felt rested after all the craziness the past two days.
Shockingly, Ciro had left me alone as I’d requested. He didn’t bother me and Pippa once. Honestly, I wasn’t sure how I felt about him doing as I asked. In fact, I was a little annoyed that he’d actually listened to me.
I had dinner in my room and cuddled Pippa all evening, waiting for her daddy to knock at the door. Wouldn’t he want to give his baby girl a goodnight kiss? Usually, he was a persistent man about what he wanted.
Jon had popped in to check out my lovebug and make sure she was fine. She was perfect. He then told me he was leaving bright and early in the morning. Hisreal lifeneededhim. If I felt I would be okay without him, he was going back to San Francisco.
