Page 44 of To Have and To Hold

My forehead furrowed. “I-I um…do you know?”

She nodded. “Jano had to leave late at night. He told me what happened.”

Closing my eyes, I shook my head. “I didn’t know about any of it. I’ve heard the word war from my father, but I didn’t realize…” I stood and paced near the crystal-blue pool.

The sunlight danced on the Pacific Ocean like millions of shimmering diamonds.

When I turned back, Mia was waiting patiently. “I didn’t know there was a literal war. People are dying. People are being tortured.” I took a deep breath. “Dante…”

“Reinaldo and Jano,” Mia added. “Dario, Uncle Salvatore, and Uncle Carmine.”

“My dad.”

She pressed her lips together and nodded. “It’s a lot to take in.” She forced a smile. “I bet Uncle Carmine didn’t send you out here to lose your innocence.”

Dropping my hands to my sides, I stood taller. “Dario did. He thought I’d break.”

Mia’s eyebrows bunched as she stood. “No, he sent you out here because of me.” She came closer. “I’m not one to stick up for my brother, but he didn’t send you out here to fail. He sent you out here because I need help, and we both believed you would succeed.”

A lump formed in my throat.

“Thank you. I didn’t know that.” I looked back at the pool. “What time is dinner? Do I have time to swim a few laps?”

“I’ll talk to Viviana, but I’m sure we have time. Does this mean you’re going to stay here?”

I nodded. “I like Liliana, but one thing my father made me promise was that I would stay with you. Seeing as I’m breaking a million of his rules, I can at least follow that one.”

Mia wrapped her arms around my shoulders. “I’m glad.” She took a step back. “I miss the apartments and especially the tenants. It can get lonely here, even with Viviana and Silas. Jano is so busy…” She smiled. “I’m very glad you’re here, Izzy.”

I lowered my volume. “Your husband still scares me.”

She shook her head.

“Were you ever scared of him?”

Mia’s lips quirked. “Not scared. I thought he was an asshole.”

A laugh came from deep in my chest. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

“At the time, I was right.” Her smile softened and her eyes shone. “Since then, he’s proved me wrong.”

“For the first time since Papà told me that I was coming, I’m glad to be here.”

Days turned into a week.

One week turned into two.

Even though I was living in the same house, I rarely sawel Patr?n. The first time I did after Mia’s and my conversation, he and I passed ways in the kitchen. It was after I’d thought everyone had gone to bed, and the house was mostly dark. The light of the pool allowed enough illumination for me to search for a late-night snack. When I stepped from the pantry, he was there. All six feet-plus of muscle and tension. My first instinct was to scream or maybe run. In what order I didn’t know.

Instead, I remembered Mia’s words. When she first met him, she thought he was an asshole. Involuntarily, my cheeks rose, and my lips curled into a smile. “El patr?n.”

“Me puedes llamar deJano.” His features mellowed. “Gracias, chiquita.Thank you for staying with Mia and helping her out at the apartments. It means a lot to her.”

“I’m glad I can be of assistance.”

“You are. It’s one thing off my mind.” He nodded.

With that he was gone, out the door to the garage. I heard the garage door open. The time on the microwave was nearly midnight. I wondered how he knew the way Mia felt. It seemed like he was always working.

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