Page 2 of Fortress of the Soul

Just what I want to be doing.“I’m sure she’s going to really appreciate her brother’s best friend tailing her.”

I know Angelo doesn’t give a fuck what Valentina appreciates, or doesn’t appreciate; it’s his way or the highway. Simple as that.

He just pats me on the back and wishes me luck.

I wish I’d been given some notice. I knew this weekend was coming up, but certainly not that I would be Valentina’s chaperone. We may as well call it what it is.

In addition to being his best friend, security detail, and right-hand man—that is, when Marco isn’t around—I’m now a personal bodyguard.

The wedding is meant to be low key, but I know what Valentina’s rich-bitch friends are like, and as it’s being held at her friend’s estate whose parents own a vineyard, that just about says it all.

I decide to take a detour over to her newly furnished office, located on the same floor as Marco’s realtor offices. She’s launched her own interior design business not long after graduating and is currently working on the Royale casino, the Medici’s latest project that has taken five years to finally get off the ground.

Since I haven’t caught up with Valentina in forever, I stop off to grab coffee and the salted caramel pretzels she likes.

I swing my car into the lot reserved for customers and grab the bag sitting on my passenger seat, along with the coffee.

Valentina shares the space with her best friend, Bianca, who is also her personal assistant.

The two of them are as thick as thieves.

I really don’t want to get cornered here all day, but I do need to fine tune the details with Valentina so I can plan ahead.I leave nothing to chance.

I walk right into her office, taking her in for a moment before she realizes I’m standing there.

Valentina has grown into a beautiful young woman. Long gone are the pigtails, dorky dresses, and the goofy grin whenever she’d see me.Replaced with a well-educated, well-dressed, and successful woman who speaks her mind, a trait that seems to run in the family. I’m proud of her and what she’s achieved.

A smile spreads across her face when she sees me in the doorway. “Enzo?”

I wave the bag of pretzels in the air. “I come bearing gifts.”

She rounds the desk, and my eyes suddenly dip down to her bare legs in the short skirt she’s wearing.Holy fuck.

I snap my eyes back up.What was that all about?

“I haven’t seen you in ages,” she says, giving me a hug.

She’s wearing some kind of sweet but floral fragrance and it hits my senses like no other. When she pulls back, I clear my throat.

“I was passing by,” I say. “I remembered how much you used to love these.”

She smiles and takes the bag out of my hand. “You even brought Bianca a coffee too. You’re the sweetest! She just had to run out to the bank.”

I pass her coffee and put the tray on the edge of her desk. “You did the place up nice, V. The casino is looking fantastic.”

She takes a sip as I try not to stare at her lips or comprehend why I’m suddenly noticing all these things about her that I shouldn’t be.

“Thanks, but I had to hire out help. With the contacts I get from this job, though, I should be able to pick up some new business and not ride on Angelo and Marco’s coattails.”

“I’m sure you will do just fine. You’re clearly talented.”

All of a sudden, she narrows her eyes. “I know why you’re here.”

My eyebrows raise in surprise. “You do?”

She sits down with dramatic flair. “I just got off the phone with Angelo.”

I take a seat too. “Oh yes, about that…”

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