“Dio! You’ve overbeaten the eggs,” Aunt Ursula exclaims. “They’re going to make clumps.”
“Oh, sorry,” I say, looking down at the mess I’ve made. “I’ll start over.” I get two new eggs and discard the overbeaten ones.
“Don’t worry, cara.” Aunt Ursula takes the bowl from me. “Go sit with Lucian. I can see your mind is elsewhere.”
My cheeks heat, but I take the out she’s giving me from cooking and walk to the living room. When I sit down next to Lucian, he picks up my left hand and presses a kiss to the ring on my finger.
“Don’t worry. Come back,” I hear him say, still on the call.
I snuggle up to his side and lean my head against his shoulder, our fingers linking. Closing my eyes, I listen to Lucian making one call after the other until my eyes drift shut.
LUCIAN
When I’m done with all the calls, I realize Elena’s asleep against my side.
I set the phone down on the arm of the chair and then carefully move her until her head rests on my lap. My fingers brush over the silky strands of her hair as I stare down at my beautiful wife.
The air fills with the delicious aroma of my aunt’s cooking as my thoughts turn to the attack.
I almost died the same way as my father.
I keep telling Elena and my aunt I’m okay, but I’m not. I’m fucking angry and desperate for revenge.
Umbria.
I’m going to fucking find you.
Elena stirs, and then her eyes flutter open. She turns onto her back and blinks up at me.
“Nice nap?” I ask, my tone giving away none of my feelings.
She nods then sits up. “Are you done with the calls?” she asks.
I nod, frustrated there isn’t more I can do to find Umbria.
Unable to sit still, I ask, “Want to go for a walk with me?”
“Sure.”
Rising to my feet, I take hold of Elena’s hand and walk to the sliding doors. I push it open, and as we step out onto the veranda, I lock my fingers with hers.
“Clear the area,” I say to Franco. “I want privacy.”
“Yes, sir,” Franco replies, and then he orders the men to withdraw out of the backyard.
We stroll in silence toward the fountain, the sound of the falling water comforting.
A soft smile forms around Elena’s lips, then she murmurs, “You were the answer to my prayer.”
I know she’s referring to the night I overheard her begging for mercy from a statue.
I give her hand a squeeze, and then she glances up at me. “So much has changed.”
“Yes, but you still can’t shoot for shit. We need to start with lessons again.” Just in case. If I take another hit with Elena nearby, I need to know she can handle a gun.
“We can start whenever you have time,” she says.
We keep walking until we reach the cliff. Elena lets out a sigh, her lips curved with a contented smile.
I pull her into my arms and looking down at her, I ask, “Are you happy, amore mio?”
Without hesitation, she nods. “Except for the incident. I hate the thought of you being in danger.”
“It’s the life we’ve been born into.”
She pulls a disgruntled face. “It doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“Of course not.” I lean down and press a quick kiss to her lips. “But, I have to admit I loved seeing you take charge. You also won’t hear me complain about the attention I got.”
My words make her grin. “You don’t need to get shot. I’ll give you attention whenever you want.”
“Yeah?” I lean down as she nods, and I press my mouth to hers. I tug at her lips, my tongue only touching hers for a moment before I pull back enough to capture her eyes. “What kind of attention are we talking about?” I murmur. I draw her bottom lip between my teeth then soothe it with my tongue.
“Any kind,” Elena breathes against my mouth.
“Be specific,” I demand while I move my hands to her ribs. My fingers curl into her, and I drink in the feel of how petite she feels under my touch.
Elena’s eyelashes lower, a dreamy expression on her face that makes me hard as fuck.
“I’ll kiss your bruises,” she says, and pushing up on her toes, her lips skim over my jaw, moving to my ear. When her teeth tug at my earlobe, I let out a growl, brimming with desire.
My hands move up, and I capture her breasts in a biting hold, unable to be gentle. My thumbs rub her nipples into tight peaks.
“And?” I ask, my voice hoarse with want.
Elena tugs at my earlobe again, then her breath fans over my skin. “I’ll massage the stress from your muscles.”
My lips curve up as I lower my mouth to her neck. I suck on her skin. “I like the sound of that.” My left hand slides down her curves, and when I palm her between the legs, I ask, “Like this?”