Page 109 of Strictly Forbidden

I stumbled back, acting like I’d been mortally wounded, even falling on the floor and playing dead. At least Max was concerned, immediately racing to me, licking my face as if that was going to bring me back to life.

Meanwhile, the second I opened one eye, I knew I wasn’t going to get by with my usual antics. She was a tough lady.

After a few seconds, I rose onto my elbow, watching as she flitted around the room. With the stone fireplace leading all the way to the massive wooden beams of the cathedral ceiling and the floor-to-ceiling windows highlighting the beautiful mountains that seemed as if you could reach out and touch them, I knew I’d done well with the purchase.

I listened with a smile on my face as she murmured her plans for decorating, loving that there’d been few long-term effects from the ordeal she’d been through. Would I consider us healed? Not a chance, but we’d both made a vow to each other not to allow the horrors to mold the rest of our lives.

Now I’d need to convince her to take a few more vows. I grinned until I heard a knock on the door. Who the fuck knew the address other than my attorney?

“The other woman?” she teased.

“Very funny. I already can’t handle you, darling.” I scampered to my feet, growling because of the interruption.

“Good point. Something for you to keep in mind.”

I was laughing by the time I opened the door. The last person I expected to see was Saldono Rinaldi and his goons. I’d brought a weapon with me but didn’t have it secured in a holster since it bothered the love of my life. But I reached for it anyway, finally noticing he had a bottle of champagne in his hand with a huge bow on it.

“Relax, Kage. You’re far too tense,” Saldono said.

Almost immediately, Noel was by my side, holding onto my arm. Yes, we were both eternally grateful for what he’d done inside the courtroom, the media sensation afterwards the thing movies were made of. Fortunately, he’d been careful, never arrested for the murder of his own son. What we had learned was that Gio had ordered my family to be killed because of an argument he’d overheard between my grandfather and his father.

He’d thought he was doing the right thing, gaining his father’s favor, but it had backfired on him. That’s why Saldono had made it his business to try to make amends his way.

That’s also when Gio had formed a plan of retaliation had been developed, his own act of revenge setting everything in motion.

Yeah, I owed him but with a man like Saldono, you never knew what to expect.

“What can I do for you?” I asked, trying not to sound irritated.

“I came by to congratulate you both on your new home. What else?” His grin told me that of course there was nothing that occurred in Denver he didn’t know about. As he held out the bottle to Noel, she took a few seconds before accepting.

“Thank you, Mr. Rinaldi. This is our home as you said.” It was her way of telling him politely he wasn’t welcome.

He laughed. “You are truly perfect for Kage, quite formidable. I only need to take a few minutes of your time. Can I come in?”

I didn’t see how I could avoid it.

Opening the door wider, I lifted one eyebrow as I glanced at Noel. Our communication skills were even better when we didn’t talk. After they entered, I glanced outside half expecting to see a full army.

There was no one.

After closing the door, I watched as the four men toured the place by themselves while Noel placed the bottle in the kitchen, returning with a frown on her face.

“What do they want?” she whispered.

“We’re going to find out.”

“Magnifioso,” Saldono said as he returned. “I do hope you’ll raise beautiful babies here.”

“Is there something you need to discuss?” I pressed.

“Yes. Noel, do you mind if Kage and I talk privately?”

I threw out my hand, shaking my head. “Anything that needs to be said will be done in front of her.”

He wasn’t miffed. In fact, I was certainly he was fairly impressed. “Very well. I’ll get to the point. I want you to lead the Rinaldi regime. You are the only man I can trust to do so.”

There was no way I’d been expecting that. None. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

---