Page 13 of Claimed By the Enforcer

I walked Stefano to the door, and after one long goodbye kiss, I stood watching as he climbed into his car and drove away.

I sighed and shut the door. It was a beautiful morning and I refused to waste a perfectly good day sulking because Stefano left, so I grabbed a blanket and a book from the parlor and went outside.

I spread the blanket out under one of my favorite trees and made myself comfortable, diving into the world that was opened up before me.

Sometime later, Bianca came out of the house to find me.

“Signora, signora. Your brother is on the phone for you.”

“Gratzi,” I sat up, taking the phone from her.

“Teo?”

“Mia, I need you to do me a huge favor.”

“Is everything okay? Mia and the baby...”

“They are fine, but I need you to go to Cremona and pick up the bassinet before Mia comes home tomorrow.”

“All the way to Cremona? The furniture maker can't deliver?”

“There was a mix-up with their delivery guys. They can't get it out before Mia and Elio are released.”

“I don't have a car big enough to fit a bassinet in.”

“Luca does. You could ask him to go with you.”

“But—”

“Please, Mira? I dropped the ball on this, and I don't want to let Mia down. She has her heart set on it.”

I really didn't want to be stuck in a car with Luca for hours. “Why can't one of your men do it? Isn't that one of the perks of being don? You get to have lackies?”

“This is a custom made, one of a kind bassinet, hand crafted by Rudolfo Abate. He was the same man who made Mia’s bassinet when she was a baby. I had to hunt him down since he’d already retired and paid him a small fortune to re-make the bassinet from photos of the one Mia had as a baby. I don't trust just anyone with it. Please, Mira?”

“Okay, you know I'd do anything for my adorable nephew. Just send me the details and I'll call Luca.”

“Thank you. You know you're the best aunt Elio has ever had. And I know you're going to be his favorite zia ever.”

I rolled my eyes at the phone and chuckled. “I'm the only zia he's got.”

“That's beside the point.” Teo laughed. “But seriously, thank you.”

“You're welcome.”

I ended the call with Teo and dialed Luca, dreading the conversation and ready to get it over with.

“Ciao, principessa.”

“How many times have I told you not to call me that?” I mumbled but smiled to myself to hear him refer to me by the nickname he'd called me since we were young.

“Well let's see, three-hundred and sixty-five days a year, give or take a few... time's fifteen years...”

“Luca,” I called out, but it didn't faze him.

“Hold on. I've almost got it...”

“Luca,” I snapped.

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