Page 20 of Ruthless Guardian

The hint of a smile plays across Isabella’s lips. It’s faint but I catch it because that’s what my years of training have taught me. To catch every detail, no matter how insignificant.

“Don’t miss me too much,signorina,” I call out over my shoulder and catch a flash of her middle finger in the air as I slide the doors closed.

Tony’s chuckle permeates the thick glass, and I can only imagine the sparkling review the little princess must be giving me. That’s her problem, not mine. My only purpose is to keep her safe. If she hates me for it, it’ll only make my job easier in some respects.

When I reach Valentino’s office, the door is ajar, and he’s sprawled across his leather chair, brows furrowed as he stares at the computer screen. A vase filled with fresh cala lilies sits on the corner of his massive desk, the delicate white flowers an odd contrast to the powerful man behind them.

“Knock, knock.”

His eyes lift to mine, and he motions me in, then points at the chair across his elaborate mahogany desk. It reminds me of the one my ownpapàhad all those years ago in Italy. Squeezing my eyes closed as I settle into the soft leather, I dismiss the unwanted memories of the past. They are exactly why I refuse to return to my motherland. Too much darkness, too many damned ghosts.

“Raffaele, I wanted to commend you on the work you’ve done so far. It’s impressive.”

“Grazie, signore.” I dip my head.

He heaves out a breath and strangles a pen in his fist. “As you know, my daughter has gotten it in her head to go to Rome for the summer.”

“Mmm.”Please, don’t ask me to accompany her.

“Have you changed your position on the topic?”

I shift in my seat, sliding to the edge. “Honestly, no. While I am very happy under your employ, I’ve only just returned to Manhattan, and I’d hoped to remain here. I consider guarding Isabella a privilege and not one that I take lightly. I am not certain that I will be able to do that to my best ability in Rome.”

“Why do you say that?”

Darkness seeps into the corners of my vision, and a familiar face coalesces, then that voice.

“Get the fuck out of my city, Raffaele. You are no longer welcome here.”

“But Papà…”

“And you’re no son of mine. You are a disgrace to the Ferrara name.”

I blink quickly, shaking the dark memories from the forefront of my mind. “There’s too much history for me there,signore. And I’d prefer to keep it dead and buried.”

He blows out another breath and props his elbows on the desk, piercing me with fathomless midnight irises. Before taking this job, I’d heard all kinds of stories about the infamous Luca Valentino. But now, in this moment, all I see is a frightened father. “And there’s nothing I can do to change your mind?”

I release a breath, the one I’ve been holding since I marched in. I already had a pretty good idea what I was walking in on. “I don’t think so?—”

“I’ll double your pay.Cazzo, I’ll triple it if that’s what it takes.”

“Signore—”

“Cut the bullshit, Raffaele. You know as well as I that I could force you into this. I don’t want to do that because I truly believe that in order for you to be effective, you must want the position. Up until the Rome trip came up, I believed you did. I need the man that I met on Park Avenue two weeks ago, the one that waswilling to jump into traffic to save my daughter. Are you still that man?”

I clear my throat, buying myself a few more seconds to think. Do I think the mafia king would make good on his promise to force me into this job? Probably. Would it involve threatening to murder everyone I know and love? Likely. It’s a good thing I don’t have many of those anymore. I knew very well what I was getting into before I signed on the dotted line.

“It’s three months, Raffaele, and you’ll be back in Manhattan. I promise to make it worth your while if you go willingly.”

“Can I have a day to consider?”

He nods. “But no more. My daughter informs me the deadline is quickly approaching, and I hate to disappoint her.” A bittersweet smile hitches up the hard line of his lips. “I thought I’d gone soft when I met her mother, but having a daughter, it changes you in ways you’d never imagine.”

“I bet.” I slowly rise, eager to finish this meeting.

“No wife or children in the cards for you, Raffaele?”

“No,capo. It wouldn’t be fair in my line of work. If I can’t devote a hundred percent of myself to the client, I’m not operating at full capacity. I could never do that with a family.”

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