Page 5 of Daddy's Little Spy

“I hope you won’t be too hard on her,” Benny said when she’d fled the room.

“You always say that, but the last time I went easy on her she snuck out of the house, confronted her traitor of an uncle, and nearly got herself killed.”

The memory was still raw enough to have his stomach tying itself into a knot. “Still. She has a point. If you needed to make a judgment call in a situation like that, you wouldn’t take the time to call her first, even if it meant making a decision you knew she’d be unhappy with. If you’re going to run the business as partners, you need to learn to trust her.”

“I do trust her. It’s everyone else I worry about.”

Grinning, Benny stood and crossed the room to pour them each a finger of scotch. “Your father used to say the same thing about you when you joined the business.”

Emilio rolled his eyes, reminding Benny of the boy he’d been when he’d sat in on his first meeting with the men he now commanded. There were moments, like now, when he missed that boy, so cocky and self-assured. Without the weight of the world on his shoulders. Although he was only five years Emilio’s senior, there were times like this when five felt like fifty.

Maybe he should retire soon. Join Emilio’s parents in Italy, find a nice girl to settle down with. Someone he could spoil and punish as he pleased, and then make love to as the sun set over the hills.

But that wasn’t in the cards just yet. Things were too turbulent still with Amara’s side of the business, and he wouldn’t abandon them.

Draining his scotch, he held out a hand for Emilio’s glass. “I should go see to dinner.”

“No rush. You know Amara is always in a bit of a sulk after a hard punishment.”

“Just remind her she has cinnamon buns for dessert. That should cheer her right up.”

With a heavy sigh, Emilio stood, and the pair crossed the room together. “You know, when you finally get a little girl of your own, I’m going to spoil her rotten. See how you like it.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, cousin.”

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