Page 102 of Skin Deep

Chapter32

Harrison

We’d been in Italy for two months. Our last stop was in Milan. My sister and Kelly, along with my brothers, were meeting us. After Keely and Cash’s time in Ireland, they flew to Scotland to meet my brothers. Then they were flying here before we all boarded a private plate back to New York.

Back to whatever version of hell awaited us.

I’d asked Nicodemo for a company that dealt in almost indestructible cars. He’d set me up with a tinted-window SUV that could fit us all, and with an experienced driver that he trusted. I wanted something that would protect my wife. I was also picking up my boss, who probably had numerous prices on his head.

Georgina’s hand was in mine as we smoothly pulled onto the tarmac and close to the plane. She was looking out the opposite window. I could clearly feel her mood. Lately, she’d had more overcast days than sunny. She told me it was easier to describe her moods in terms of weather. I found I could understand them better that way, too. It wasn’t always easy cracking yourself open and going into detail about every separate hurt. It had to be tiring, and she didn’t need to add that to whatever she was already feeling—tired.

Besides, I was her shelter from the elements, so it made sense.

She was having more of those days because I decided to be honest with her about Miles. It was the first small squabble Stella and I got into over Georgina’s care. I couldn’t hold back something like that from her. Georgina could be fragile, but she was also strong. She knew that I’d protect her from anything or anyone who meant her harm—physically, emotionally, or mentally. But Stella worried that all the old feelings would come back, sending Georgina into darker days.

Close, but I could tell overcast was heading into darker. I’d been keeping a closer eye on her. Limiting her work. Encouraging her to do things that gave her soul peace. Even if it meant going to the beach and lounging there all day. She deserved it. She’d worked hard to become who she was in the world—she was a shrewd businesswoman with a fascinating mind. Which was why Elias and Miles threw me off. Georgina refused to let anyone bully her, but somehow, those two got stuck in the darkness of her head with her.

I squeezed her hand, not meaning to. The tension was eating me up inside, and I wanted him gone. He’d made more attempts to find her. He even showed up after a photoshoot, but he’d just missed us. Nicodemo was my ally in this and offered to “prenditi cura degli affari,” which meant, “take care of business.”

If anyone was going to take care of business, it was going to be me. Her husband.

When I first started working for Cash Kelly, I was a lawyer, but I still had my dream of a Yankee uniform. The reflection staring back at me through the window now wore dark sunglasses and an expensive suit. My mirror no longer had two faces, either.

I wasn't fucking around with Miles. When it came to my wife, to people important to me, I'd take care of business.

The SUV came to a smooth stop, and my family descended from the plane. My brothers came out first with their bags slung over their shoulders, followed by Kee and Cash. I kissed Georgina’s hand, then stepped out to meet them. My brothers and I hugged before they entered the car to greet Georgina.

They had given me a pass on not telling them about the situation between Cash and Kee, which had come out in Scotland. Simply because they knew what a force Kee was. If a man like Cash Kelly couldn't tame that wind...but they did attack him, inducting him into the Ryan family. They said if he was family, and he pulled some shit like that, he deserved it.

Kee hugged me, and I shook Kelly's hand.

“Harry Boy,” he said, following behind his wife to slip inside the car. I didn't miss how his hands reached for her hips as she went in ahead of him. It was protective, almost possessive. Something I did to show the world my wife was mine.

Something had changed between them while we were all apart.

We headed to lunch at a place Georgina knew about. Kee looked around and said, “This place fits a queen.” It was said almost playfully, and Georgina didn't hear, but I tugged on the end of her hair like I used to do when we were kids. She hated it. I decided to bring it back if she was going to keep up her shit.

Other than time spent going over everything we did during the last two months, recapping our “vacations,” lunch was mostly spent eating. It was a vast contrast to the conversations at Georgina’s family place in Modica.

Maybe it was how we dealt with things. With our fists. Then we moved on. But it lacked the warmth of my wife and her people. Their words were heated, but the affection was still in them.

My sister kept looking between me and my wife, maybe thinking there was trouble in paradise, even though we held hands the entire time and were eating off each other's plates.

Declan dropped his fork harder than necessary when Kee fed Cash some pasta. “What are we? Five? We can't keep our hands to ourselves? Do we need bibs, too?”

The entire table grinned, breaking the tension some, but conversation never really picked up. It seemed like our heads were stuffed with too many thoughts. Instead of going with us to the hospital, Georgina said she had a migraine and wanted to go back to the hotel. I was going to go with her, but Kelly pulled me aside while everyone checked in.

“We need to talk,” he said.

Lachlan and my brothers decided to stay back, so Lach offered to stay with Georgina while I was gone. I pulled all my brothers aside and told them it was more than just the Craigs now. I had a bad feeling about Miles. His obsession with my wife seemed unhealthy.

“Both men become petulant when they do not get what they want.”

They were a bunch of rich fuckers who were spoiled, which was what Nicodemo had told me. They were used to getting everything they wanted, but I still didn’t know enough about them. Whatever happened between my wife and those two, she kept it close. I could still tell sometimes that the memories haunted her, which was why I never pressed her for information. In time, I hoped she’d let the demons free on me, because I’d slaughter them for her.

“Harrison?”

I realized I was staring at Owen, but I wasn’t saying anything. I’d zoned out. I gave him their names.

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