Page 45 of Stolen By the Enemy

“Luca, I’m glad to see you can make a decision. Did my little movie help you along?”

I find it funny that after sending the video that I made Grazia make, suddenly this man is ready to make a move.

Men often only do things when they feel like they have no choice.

“Don’t get cocky, Marco. We will come to Mexico and give you what you want, but we’re taking my sister home with us, so make sure she is unharmed and with you.”

I don’t hear Enzo in the background this time, so I assume he’s left his little brother to make the arrangements.

I heard more than enough of Luca’s drunk babbling while he was in Mexico—he told anyone who would listen that his brother would never let him take full control of anything.

It’s why he worked so hard to make this deal with my cousin a success. So, I suppose this is now him being able to take control.

Perhaps he should be thanking me.

“Grazia is fine, and will remain that way for as long as you co-operate. But step out of line in any way, Luca, and your sister is going to get caught in the crossfire. I can promise you that. I will send you my address, and when you can meet me. Bring the routes to sign over, in front of me. You can find your own cars and accommodation if you’re not flying back immediately. I’m not as gracious a host as my cousin.”

I don’t want the Baldinis to think that this is some sort of welcoming party.

They are only coming here for business, and if I see them step even one foot out of place, I won’t hesitate to have them executed.

“Oh, trust me, I know this already.” Luca’s tone is actually too cocky for my liking. He should remember who has the control here.

But my mind is too busy to deal with him right now. I just want to know that this whole thing is going to end soon, and I can go back to my normal life here in Mexico, with no seductive Italian girls tempting me to visit my beach house.

“We expect that we will have no issues when arriving, though, Marco. I don’t plan on using force, but we will if we have to.”

“I will instruct my security to let you and Enzo onto the property, along with one guard, to help you feel safe. But that is all.”

There is no way that they’re bringing more muscle with them, just in case they decide to try and take Grazia without paying the price.

I don’t trust these Italians with anything right now.

“That’s fine. But you should also be aware that we have security at home and will have more with us on the plane. If you try to do us dirty, you will regret it.”

I chuckle at him thinking that I am concerned at all about his “security at home”. Threats have never been the best way to motivate me, but these Baldinis don’t know that yet.

I will let him have his moment, believing that they have a layer of insurance.

“Likewise, Baldini.”

I drop the call and go to get dressed in a fresh outfit. I need to now go back to the beach house and bring Grazia here.

First, I go to tell Jane that she no longer needs to worry about going to the beach house, but that I do need her to set up for dinner here tonight.

I doubt the Baldinis will arrive today, so there is no harm in treating Grazia to a meal, as a small thank you for her kindness and compassion last night.

There’s an odd feeling in my gut as I think about Grazia going back home with her brothers.

I know that this is exactly what I need to do for the Baldinis to follow through on their part of this deal and to take Grazia back to the US, where I will no longer be distracted by her big brown eyes, long silky hair, and firm curvy body.

There has been very little work done while she’s been sauntering across the monitor screens on my desk.

But still, after last night, having Grazia around felt…nice. Besides Carlos, I’ve never had much of a family.

There’s never been anyone, other than Jane, to quietly listen to me without judging or trying to tell me what to do.

As I’m getting ready to leave, I laugh at myself.

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