Chapter 13

I wake up to my alarm, which I can’t reach as I am tangled in glorious muscle. I slowly untangle to g****s of complaint as I turn off the alarm.

I have no idea what time Landon came to bed last night, as I didn’t wake up so I will just let him sleep.

I do my morning business with a long shower to help wake me up. I get dressed, do my hair, a light amount of makeup and grab everything I need as I don’t want to do another trip up and down those stairs. I hate them already!

Kissing Landon lightly on the cheek, I headed down to make some breakfast.

I was surprised to find Louie and 3 men casually sitting around the dining room table drinking coffee. Louie is, of course, in a full suit whereas the men are surprisingly in casual clothes. Jeans or slacks with hoodies or jumpers on.

“Morning” I call to them all.

“Good morning Princess” Louie calls back, as the others just say “Morning” or “Good morning” with a nod of their heads.

“Ew no, that name is not happening!” Seriously, I am not a 5 year old!

He chuckles “What about Principessa?”

“Yeah that’s not obviously still the same word, but in Italian.”

All the men try to hide their sniggers as he mock pouts. Yeah, he is fully relaxed with me, so no façade any more.

I quickly have some toast with juice, then all 5 of us get into the SUV. I don’t say anything but am hoping this isn’t going to be the normal. I will talk to Landon about it tonight.

Work is work. I’m so happy I kept up with everything while we were away as I would be screwed today. I already have emails coming in thick and fast from 8am.

At lunch, I go to the food court nearby and am not surprised to have at least 2 of the guys from this morning pretending to lounge around behind me. I just grab my food as take away and head back to my desk.

After lunch, I was finally able to get the courage to quickly speak to my boss. As I am still waiting for this all to be a dream or joke, it took every part of me to finally hand over the letter of resignation.

To say my boss was shocked was an understatement, however the fact that I am as well makes complete sense. She asked if there was anything she could do to make me change my mind and if I have a new job lined up.

I couldn’t tell her yeah, I kind of hooked up with the Italian Mafia boss in Sydney and he is forcing me to move to Italy with him. So I did a semi-truth to try and hide my extremely bad lying skills.

“I actually got a new job in Italy and will be moving there.” Yeah, that is true.

“Well, I can’t say that isn’t a surprise as well. Italy, really? I hear it’s beautiful and have it on my list of destinations. Maybe I will have to now to come and visit.”

“Absolutely!”

“So where in Italy? What’s the name of the company?” Yep, now I’m screwed.

“It’s in Malta and I’m not sure how to pronounce the name properly, so best I don’t try” we both laugh. Yay good one! “Now quickly about your 9am tomorrow, they want to know if they can change it to 10. You are free but have another at 10.30. Is half an hour enough time instead of an hour?” Good old diversion which thankfully works as we get back to it.

It’s just after 4.30 and nearly time to go when Karen appears in front of my desk with a massive grin on her face.

“What has you grinning like a mad woman?” I sat back in my chair.

“A couple of little birdies told me they saw you with a very handsome man a couple of times over the week AND on Saturday morning. Spill!”

“I’m surprised it’s taken you this long to appear then.”

“Well, it took a few of us to put it all together.”

“Gossiping as always I see. What else did you all surmise?”

“Every time you were holding hands and he looked scary, but in a really hot way. Hurry up and Spill!”

“Yeah, I kind of met someone in Sydney and we had some fun. Like I am sure you have heard many others did like Ryan…”

“Oh, I know, but nice try. Are you going to see him again?”

“We said we might try, but I have just handed in my notice” deflection time again. My favourite game today by the looks of it!

“What! No, don’t leave me here! No! You’re not allowed!”

“Sorry already done. I finish up in 4 weeks.”

“And where do you think you can go that is going to better than here?”

“Italy.”

“f**k no! Oh I love Italy. How long are you going for?”

“Don’t know, maybe a year, maybe forever. We will see how the job goes over there…” or the man. Same, same!

“Wait! So not as in holiday, you’re moving there?”

I nodded with a big smile on my face. Talking about it and seeing everyone’s reaction is actually making me more excited than nervous. It is a big adventure, in more ways than one. I should be thinking of the positives, not the negatives, and it’s not like I really have a choice.

I could almost see Landon carrying me onto the plane if I tried to say no. I smiled at the thought and how he would definitely be smacking my a*s on the way.

It takes a good 40 minutes of chatting before we both decide we really should go and stop gossiping. Especially since we can do that tomorrow anyway!

I turn everything off and say good night to my boss who, of course, still has her nose stuck in her computer.

I almost skipped out of the building to find the 2 guards from earlier lounging against a wall pretending not to act suspicious. I really do appreciate how they are wearing casual gear and keep their distance.

I found out in the car their names were Mark, Nico and Ant. Ant is driving and has been there the whole day, blending in better than the other 2.

“Boss is still in a meeting and said he would be back late. He apologies and will call when he can” Mark lets me know when we pull up in the driveway.

“No problems. Thank you. Will I see you all tomorrow?”

Everyone nods except Mark as he answers for them again, “Yes. We… are assigned to you only.”

“Oh ok. Poor you guys. Hopefully, you’re being paid enough. Night.”

Making myself a light tea, I just chill on the couch watching TV before going to bed.

I didn’t hear from Landon, which honestly made me a little sad. I wondered if him contacting me would make him look weak in front of the others or draw unwanted attention to me.

There is so much I need to learn whether I am curious or not. OK, honestly I am curious, just a little concerned about what some of the answers will be.

Of course, I woke up tangled with the arms and legs of the Adonis, that is my boyfriend. Yes, my boyfriend. Still getting used to that.

I untangle myself to him groaning and can’t help the giggle that escapes me at the thought that this may be the normal for the next 4 weeks.

Everything else is the same as yesterday with the breakfast, ride to work etc.

Karen stops by at lunch to demand we eat together and I tell her all about Landon.

We go down and get some food from the food court, then come up and take over a meeting room for lunch. I didn’t want the guys down stairs hearing me even if I do have to make some of it up.

“Holy f*****g s**t he is gorgeous” she says when I show her the photo of him and me in Sydney. “Why didn’t I find one of these in Sydney. So unfair!”

“Maybe because your married with a baby on the way… you know a couple of little road blocks there.”

“Yeah semantics!” we laugh as she is looking at more photos asking me more about him.

I didn’t tell her he was Italian as that would lead to questions I was not ready to answer. So he is just an entrepreneur that travels a lot.

On the way home, I got a text from my best friend Kylie reminding me that tonight’s netball game is at 8.30. Crap, I forgot about that. Oh s**t, there is no way I am going with all the guards and this is the other issue I have to get around to, telling everyone I am moving to Italy.

Maybe that could be next week’s problem?

My car is now at the house in the garage so I will just not tell them until the last minute and go by myself… yeah, let’s see how that goes. Going to netball by myself shouldn’t be that big a deal, should it? s**t!

I walked in to find Louie cooking. “Oh, what are you making?”

“Just good old spaghetti. Been craving it. It’ll be ready in 15.”

“Yum ok. Only a very small helping for me as I can’t eat too much before netball.” Yeah tell them at the last minute, i***t! There goes that plan.

“And when were you going to tell me? What time?” Landon walked in behind me.

I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes. Yep, he is going to make a big deal out of this.

“Seeing that I am an adult and have been playing it since I was 7… um that would be when I tell you what time I will be back. I will be back at about 10.” Yep I’m going to stand my ground as I need this tonight. I need my best friend and I need to work out what I can tell her and what I can’t. I really want to talk to her and tell her everything, but I don’t want to put her in danger. Would she be in danger if I told her?

He turns me around to face him “You can’t just go out without protection and without my saying so”.

“No, if you want a relationship, then you have to respect that there are 2 parties in it. You’re just lucky I wasn’t ready for Kylie to come here yet, so I didn’t get her to pick me up.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t know what to tell her yet! She knows me better than anyone else and she is going to know if I am lying but I don’t want her to worry.”

“Why would you lie?”

“So I am allowed to say, oh by the way, a man I met 1 week ago that happens to be the Italian Mafia boss, has moved me into his house and wants me to move to Italy with him. It’s kind of extremely super fast speed, but don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll be safe and fine with no independence and say in my life any more. So yeah I have 4 weeks to say goodbye to everything and everyone I know and love after a one-night stand” I am almost yelling the last part. My mouth is now off and running with the brain finally getting it all out.

My earlier excitement about moving to Italy is gone as it all dawns on me again.

His brows furrow as he studies my face. His left hand is still on my h*p and his right now touching my cheek. “I don’t normally negotiate. I tell people what to do and they do it” he continues, looking into my eyes as he thinks “tonight the guards will just follow you in their car and keep their distance. I will not let your safety be compromised, but I will give you… this tonight. Same story. I’m an entrepreneur who knows what he wants and that is you. Now come and have something to eat, then I will help you change”, he says it all so calmly while still watching my every reaction.

After a moment, he k****s my forehead then pulls me in for a strong hug. His arms fully wrapped around me, trying to comfort me as he holds me as close as he can.

After what feels like a couple of minutes, my heart beat and breath is back to normal. I didn’t realise I was almost hyperventilating as I started yelling until he held me.

I hear Louie clear his throat and say quietly “dinner’s ready. On the table when you are….” And he stops or mouths the rest to Landon before I hear him retreat to the table.

Landon POV

I have grown up loving confrontation. I f*****g thrive on it!

The thrill of the game, the delicate line you manoeuvre around. Confrontation is in my b***d.

It is like everything I do, trying to make sure I am at least 3 steps ahead at all times. Keeping control and always being in control with no loose ends.

Whether it is physical or verbal, it is like oxygen. I need it, I crave it like an addict!

Whereas my beautiful Amore is the complete opposite, you can see it in her eyes, her body and the way she speaks. She hates confrontation.

Such a beautiful pure soul of goodness and here I am the complete f*****g opposite, obsessed with her innocence.

You would think I would hate it and need someone my equal. Someone who is pure fire, but instead I need her white to my black, I need her sunshine to my brimstone.

She shows me a different side that I didn’t really believe existed in this f****d up world any more. Everyone has had a story, an experience, something that turned the innocence they were born with into the society we have today. Money, power, abused, assaulted, cheated on, manipulated, intimidated the list goes on of how everyone has been tainted in one way or another.

You can’t take people at face value and need to be able to read people. That is something I was taught from an early age, like everyone in the business, although some just don’t get it and they don’t last long.

How did such a beautiful woman get to her age and still be so gentle?

Maybe it is the Australian country living as they are more isolated. Who knows? But what I do know is that I need to somehow protect her with every fibre of my f*****g being, somehow!

She has a fire for life still with that innocence and is protective of that which I also f*****g love!

Her struggle is a f*****g stab to my heart and seeing her struggle to confront me for some control gives me feelings I never knew I could have.

I remind myself I have to make her feel like she has some control in her life and give her little wins.

I would have normally raised an eyebrow at the person and waited for them to dig their own grave and laugh as they tried to scramble out of it. Normally, anyone raising their voice at me would learn very f*****g fast not to.

But my Amore, she has me and all my men wrapped around her little finger.

I see the way they are extra protective and vigilant around her. The way they treat her like their Queen, and they should too! They recognised her gentle soul and all heard how she took care of Leo that night.

Always so f*****g polite and thoughtful of everyone around her. I bet she doesn’t even realise she is saying thank you half the time, it is just an automated response from her.

I heard how every day she has bought something for the guards, whether it was a cookie or a cupcake!

I just need to give her the extra care at the moment she needs and that is what I will do. I would do f*****g anything for her.

“It’s all so fast. There is no way you can love me and how do you know you will love me?”

Once again, going to f**k up who made her feel like this. f*****g torture them for a week before I kill the fucker!

Her beautiful blue pools are staring into mine with so much uncertainty. It’s time.

“I have known since that first night. To me it’s not fast enough. I love you Amore” she almost gasps, searching my eyes, searching to see if I am telling the truth.

There was no way I would say it if I didn’t mean it. She will learn this.

She doesn’t say anything, almost bewildered. So f*****g adorable!

“Come, you need to eat.” I pecked her lips, then her forehead before leading her over to the table.

Lou has the biggest smile I have ever seen on his face. I rolled my eyes at him as I pushed her chair in for her. Yeah, I know he is going to tell Ma.

f**k, this is going to be painful, but it has to be said! She needed to know, she needed reassurance and the truth was the only thing that is going to do that. f**k, I sound so weak, but I don’t f*****g care!

Kate only had about 4 mouthfuls of tea, which Lou and I both didn’t like, even though she promised to have more after her game.

I was actually interested in going and watching except I had a zoom meeting with my stepfather and Ma tonight. I was going to use it to introduce her to them, but we can do that tomorrow.

Helping her get ready, I couldn’t help but have my hands all over her perfect body.

“Please” I g*****d and pleaded, trying to convince her of a quickie before she left.

Rejected!

I didn’t mind though, as the giggles and smiles I was getting made it all worth it.

f*****g PERFECT!