Page 19 of The Hitman's Rose

“No. He never hit us,” I let out a sigh. “He just wasn’t very fatherly. He always wanted boys so that influenced the way he raised us. Sofia, Adrianna, and I were shooting guns by the time we were five. Papa always said it was for our protection but then he’d take Sofia and Adrianna into the meat locker.”

Giovanni tenses beside me.

“The meat locker?” Ademaro questions. I glance over at him and he gives me an apologetic look.

“The meat locker was where my dad took people to get answers out of them,” I reply. He nods his head in understanding.

“Why would Mario have you girls around that?” Giovanni asks. I look up at him and shrug.

“Not me. Just Sofia and Adrianna,” I squeeze his hand softly. “They kept me from him. Anytime he wanted me to go down there, one of them would hurry and volunteer while the other one would usher me across the house.”

“They are good sisters.”

“The best,” I correct with a smile.

“This is a first,” Giovanni grins.

“A first?”

“The first time you talked to me and didn’t call me Signore Tacchelli.” With the look on his face, you would think he won the lottery. He is all smiles.

“Oh. I’m sorry,” I blush. “I– I just–”

“Rosaline, how long have I been trying to get you to drop the formalities?” he chuckles. “It is nice for us to just talk. No formalities. No fears. Just Giovanni and Rosaline… and Ademaro.” He looks at Ademaro and grins. “Although, he’s always formal.”

“Yes, I know,” I groan.

“Did he upset you?” Giovanni asks in a fatherly tone, glaring at Ademaro.

“What? No!” I blurt. “I just mean that since he is your…helperthat he isn’t exactly relaxed around me.” The last of my words came out in defeat.

“Ah. I see,” Giovanni smirks at Ademaro then me. “Once he returns from Poland, I’ll give him some time off. You two can spend time together if you wish.”

“Really? You mean that!” My words come out in a rush. My cheeks are burning like crazy. I know I sound like an idiot but I can’t hide my excitement.

“Yes. Of course. If Ademaro is okay with that,” Giovani replies. We look at Ademaro.

“That sounds good, Boss,” Ademaro states.

“Ugh. Nevermind. I don’t want him forced to spend time with me,” I groan. Ademaro frowns and shakes his head.

“Rosaline, I assure you, I’d love nothing more than to spend time with you.” His words are warm, deep, and smooth. Everything about them has me glad to be sitting down.

How can one man be so incredible?I wonder as I take in everything about Ademaro. He really is something out of a romance novel. He’s tall, dresses nicely, hair is always flawless, and his smile can melt the North Pole. His mysterious vibe and bad boy job only adds to my attraction.

Who doesn’t love a bad boy?

“If you stare any harder, you’re going to burn a hole in him,” Giovanni whispers, leaning over to me. I can tell he is having a good ole time with me making a fool of myself.

“Ugh. I’m hopeless,” I mutter. “Absolutely hopeless.”

“You kids spend the rest of the day together,” Giovanni pats my hand. “Then, Ademaro, you’ll leave tomorrow and return in a week or so.”

“A week!” I protest, turning to face Giovanni. He nods.

“Yes. He needs to travel throughout Europe, not just go to Poland and come back.”

Giovanni’s right. I know he is. This is howthislife is. Ademaro can’t simply go to Poland, handle business, and come back. No. He has to work clean; however, I don’t need to tell him that. He’s Giovanni’s hitman after all.

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