Page 51 of King Of Order

Just before lunchtime, footsteps sounded outside, and moments later, Chiara appeared at the open door, leaning against the frame like she owned the place—which, technically, she did.

We hadn’t spoken since the day prior.

She’d disappeared into her house, and I, to my new digs, not wanting to speak to her until I cooled off.

Given it was the weekend, she stayed in, and none of the proximity alerts beeped to show movement in or out of her house.

I spent Saturday evening reviewing my monthly reports with a beer and a quickcarbonarathat I pulled together in all its creamy glory.

I’d only gone to bed when the lights went off in her house.

So far, Sunday had been uneventful, and it seemed she was adhering to my strict rules.

‘You’ve truly set up shop here, haven’t you?’ she teased, her voice carrying that sweet lilt that made me want to pull her close.

‘Need to keep an eye on things,’ I said, nodding toward the screens without looking up. ‘Don’t want any surprises.’

Her eyes flicked to the security feed and then back to me, her expression unreadable. She shifted her weight and folded her arms, biting her lip like she had something on her mind.

‘You OK?’ I asked, turning to face her.

She hesitated for a second, then straightened as if bracing herself. ‘I was thinking maybe we should go to the hospital.’

I arched a brow, my pulse quickening. ‘What for?’

‘My father,’ she said, her voice quieter now. ‘I haven’t seen him since—well, you know.’ She cleared her throat. ‘I need to check on him, Rio. Which means you’ll have to come with me.’

I stopped what I was doing, really looking at her now.

Her eyes hardened at the mention of her father, lips pursed, face brimming with reluctance.

I recognized the energy: a woman bound by duty, not love.

‘You sure you want to?’ I asked, closing the laptop lid and walking over to her.

‘I have no choice,’ she admitted, brushing a hand through her tawny hair. ‘I have to go. I have to check on him, and I’d appreciate it if you were beside me, too. I don’t know; be my buffer. My sanity.’

‘Also, in case Claudio shows up.’

She nodded, mouth pressed, in a sign of strain. ‘That too.’

I studied her for a beat, seeing how much this weighed on her.

I sensed she rarely let anyone in.

The fact that she wanted me in attendance, that she needed me, meant something.

Even if she was paying me for the privilege.

‘Alright,’ I said, keeping my tone even. ‘Let’s go.’

Relief flashed in her eyes, though she tried to cover it up with a nonchalant shrug. ‘Grazie. I didn’t want to head in alone.’

I stepped arched a brow at her. ‘Like it or not, woman, we’re in this together. You and me.’

She looked up at me, something like gratitude shining in her eyes before she masked it with a smirk. ‘Don’t go all soft on me now, Rio.’

I chuckled, shaking my head. ‘I’m not going soft, trust me.’

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