Page 53 of Awakened in Her Enemy's Palazzo

It was an understatement. In a formal dinner suit he looked exclusive, and nothing short of heart-stoppingly spectacular.

He held out a crooked arm and after a moment she laid her hand on it, feeling the sinewed strength beneath her fingers.

‘Your carriage awaits.’

He set his teeth in a smile that she knew hid his struggle to control his raging libido.

‘Actually, your helicopter. The press will be there when we arrive.’

Grace hitched up her skirt as they stepped out onto the protective carpet of fake grass that had been thrown across the lawn, making a path to the helicopter. Her heels said thank you for the thought.

‘I know...you said.’

‘You know that it is unlikely anyone will ask you any questions?’

‘But if they do I won’t say anything. I’ll be fine, Theo,’ she said soothingly. She couldn’t really blame him for worrying that she would put her foot in it and embarrass him.

‘That damned story,’ he gritted. ‘I am so sorry.’

Grace was touched, but gave a philosophical shrug. ‘It’s not your fault,’ she said, and saw something flash in his eyes before he looked away.

At the other end of their transfer, where they parked up alongside three other helicopters, there was eco matting to protect her heels, and they were greeted by a uniformed team of concierges to guide them to the illuminated Palladian villa.

It was a massive edifice. The columns and steps leading up to a wide central entrance were guarded by what appeared to be statues of gods which were interspersed with ornamental fountains.

They came to a halt as a couple up ahead paused at the base of the villa steps to pose for photographs. She was aware of the pressure of Theo’s hand in the small of her back, making its presence felt.

‘This is pretty wow...’ she said.

If she had not spent the last few months of her life living at the palazzo Grace would have found her surroundings utterly overwhelming, but instead she was able to look around curiously.

‘Are you all right?’ he said from behind clenched teeth when it was their turn to pose.

Grace nodded, and glanced up at the tall, handsome man beside her, thinking it was more than could be said for her escort. She hadn’t realised how much Theo disliked the press till now. Despite his fixed smile, his black eyes sent laser rays of loathing at the faces behind the cameras. It was a surprise to her that they didn’t all immediately shrivel up and die, so great was the venom in his stare.

She felt some of the tension leave him as they moved ahead towards their hosts, who were waiting to greet them.

Grace had seen Sophia Halton on the screen, of course, but the flesh-and-blood version was even more stunning. Topping six feet even without the four-inch heels she was wearing, the woman was wrapped in a beaded gold gown that clung to her voluptuous curves. She was breathtaking.

‘Theo!’ Her smile as she stepped forward, hands outstretched to Theo, oozed warmth. ‘And this must be Grace...oh, you are so lovely.’

Bemused, Grace knew her smile was a little dazed. It was weird to be told you were lovely by a glowing goddess.

‘So happy you could join us...’ said Luca Ferrara.

With his neatly trimmed greying beard, he was a good couple of inches shorter than his statuesque wife. He appeared more restrained, but Grace liked the ironic twinkle in his eyes that suggested he had seen the effect his wife had on unsuspecting onlookers many a time before and he still got a kick out of it.

He opened his mouth, but Grace never got to hear what he was about to say as a figure in uniform, with a tray in one hand and a phone in the other, emerged to their right from behind one of the statues.

‘So, Grace... You enjoy a Ranieri—?’

He didn’t get any farther, and the slimy smile soon slid off his face. One minute he was standing there...the next he was up against one of the columns with Theo’s hand on his collar. There was an expression on his face that she had never seen before. His features were contorted into a primitive mask of fury.

‘Theo... Theo!Theo...’ Luca’s voice, low and calm, finally appeared to penetrate. ‘Let the guy breathe...just a little.’

Theo relaxed his grip enough for the man to open his mouth. ‘Do not say a word,’ he told him.

The guy closed his mouth, and Grace heard the sound of his phone being thrown on the floor and shattering before she found herself smoothly ushered into a side room by her hostess.

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