Page 44 of Stolen By the Enemy

But none of that matters now. I have to clear my head and light a fire under the asses of Luca and Enzo.

They are taking advantage of the patience that I’ve extended to them, and that’s ending today. This can’t go on any longer, because I don’t know how much longer I can trust myself around Grazia.

We’ve already had sex, I’ve fallen asleep next to her, and now we’ve spent a whole night talking. The lines are blurred already.

If I don’t sharpen them quickly, my whole plan may be ruined. And all for some Italian pussy.

Sex with Garzia been some of the best that I’ve had in my entire life. Grazia is not shy when she’s naked, and she’s more than willing to do her part.

Somehow, we just seem to know what the other person wants, and neither of us is left unsatisfied. However, I like uncomplicated sex and sleeping with Grazia is nothing if not complicated.

I hear my phone go off as soon as I walk into my house, but I need coffee before I look at it. If I am going to need to deal with any more issues this week, I’m going to need to do that with caffeine in me.

Tequila might be better, except that it won’t help my resolution to be more clear-headed.

In the kitchen, I run into my housekeeper.

For a moment, I think about sending her to the beach house, but then I remember that I left Grazia to roam freely around the house before I left.

Now, I wonder if that was the best thing to do.

“Jane,” I say to her, and she looks at me like she’s in trouble. That’s always how she looks, though.

I have tried to be as kind to her as I can, but being in this house can cause a type of constant anxiety and trauma.

“Yes, sir?”

I’ve caught her while she’s busy sorting out breakfast, even though I hardly eat in the mornings. I have always made sure that she cooks for the rest of the staff in the house.

This also helps to make sure that Jane is looked after.

Since she feeds the security guys, they’re more likely to make sure she’s safe if something were to go wrong at the house.

“I may ask you to take some food over to the beach house a little later. Will you have time?”

I am asking out of politeness, because Jane has always been good to me and this house, but it’s not a question, and she knows it.

“Yes, of course. Just let me know when you need me to go.”

She smiles at me, showing the same softness that she’s shown me since she started here, so many years ago.

I don’t remember much about what it was like to have a mother, but I assume it’s a lot like having Jane around to look after me.

She takes care of me if I am sick, makes sure I eat at least once a day, and has given me advice when I’ve come home drunk with too much on my mind.

She also cleans my house and reminds of me important dates, so it’s kind of like having a mother and a personal assistant, I suppose.

“I will, thank you. And I’ll have someone drive you, so you don’t need to worry.”

Jane is way too old to be trusted on the road now.

Taking my cup of coffee into my office, I switch on my computer and finally take out my phone to check on the message I received.

Thankfully, the message is actually good news.

Luca Baldini says he’s finally ready to meet me and hand over the rest of the money and routes.

I dial his number and call him. I want to hear it from his mouth so that I don’t get Grazia excited for nothing.