Page 95 of Secrets of the Brother
We spent hour after hour arguing over copyedits, fonts, colors, spacing. At times, I thought she deliberately disagreed with me just to be contrary. She even refused to leave for lunch. It had been my plan to show her off by treating her to a nice lunch outside the office, but she insisted on just ordering something in.
I thought my family were workaholics. Her work ethic put us to shame.
Still, I looked forward to a quiet dinner together.
She had been so wrapped up in work, she hadn’t even demanded I take her home.
I hoped later to keep her talking about her designs and our upcoming projects all the way back to the villa. I had most of my belongings moved there while we were in the office. I didn’t want to take Bianca to the home where Renata had lived. I already had a crew working on removing all the ghastly furnishings Renata purchased and another crew painting over the mural with her face on it.
I would sell the house and buy something special just for Bianca and me.
Something ancient we could restore together. A project we could share.
Until then, we would stay at the villa. It was more secure anyway.
I also texted Amara and asked if she would lend Bianca a few things until I could arrange for a personal shopper to drop off the purchases I'd made on the sly for Bianca from the designer shops in Rome while she was working at my desk.
I thought about having the guard I had watching her house and monitoring her parents’ movements pack up her things but thought better of it. I didn’t want another man, even an employee, touching my girl’s personal items and lingerie.
And yes, I was that jealous and possessive.
We were just wrapping up for the day when Liliana popped her head into the office. Her face looked strained. “There is someone here to see you. He doesn’t have an appointment.”
I held up Bianca’s coat for her to slip her arms in. “Tell whoever it is to go away and make one for another day.”
Before Liliana could respond, an odd-looking man with hanging jowls pushed past her. He had the appearance of someone who'd recently lost a great deal of weight and now his skin and clothes didn’t quite fit his new, smaller stature.
He pointed to the silver badge displaying a white cross and red shield and bearing the wordsArma dei Carabinierion his black uniform. “I amLuogotenente Carica SpecialeLongo, and I don’t make appointments.”
He looked pointedly at my hands on Bianca’s shoulders. “I’m investigating the recent death of your wife.”
CHAPTER24
ENZO
Keeping a steady gaze trained on Longo, I said to Bianca, “Wait for me in the executive lounge. I won’t be long.”
Bianca bristled. “I’m staying.”
Without saying a word, I bent and placed my shoulder into her midsection, lifting her high. Wrapping my arm around the backs of her thighs so she couldn’t kick, I turned to Longo. “Back in a moment.”
I stormed out of my office.
Bianca pounded her small fists on my back. “Put me down! Enzo! How dare you!”
Matteo looked up when we entered his office, leaning back in his chair and steepling his fingers. “I wish I could say this was the first time I’ve seen a Cavalieri cousin carrying a woman like a sack of potatoes into my office, but surprisingly enough, it’s not.”
I deposited Bianca onto his soft brown leather sofa. Pointing a stern finger at her, I ordered, “Stay.”
I then turned to Matteo. “Call the villa. An inspector just showed up. And keepherhere.”
Bianca sprang to her feet. “She was my sister. I deserve to hear what he has to say.”
“No, you don’t. I’ve already warned you. Your sister was involved with some seriously dangerous people and until I know who all the players are, the less your name is mentioned the better. I don’t need this asshole knowing who you are.”
She stretched her arms out wide to each side. “He’s a freakingLuogotenente Carica Specialewith theArma dei Carabinieri. You don’t think he already knows who I am?”
I crossed to her in two strides and wrapped my hands around her face, placing a hard kiss on her lips. Leaning in closer to her, I whispered in her ear, “Be a good girl for Matteo or I’ll take my belt to that pretty ass of yours later.”
