Page 58 of Twisted Embrace

“Where do you live?”

He took a deep breath. “Currently, at the home Lucia and I grew up in. However, I’m having a house commissioned.”

“Oh.” I wasn’t certain what he wanted me to say. The range of questions floating in my mind sounded outlandish. Will it be kid friendly? Will there be a backyard to play in? Will it be cold and sterile?

God. What would happen when he found out about my lie?

Would he finally kill me then? My head ached, pushing past the last batch of pain reliever.

He was studying me so intently that I felt uncomfortable, as if he was undressing me with his eyes. He’d shown signs of his predatory hunger several times before, but it was as if he’d found somewhere to crawl inside of me. I tingled all over.

“You can make any changes to the house being built, Joy. I have no problem with that.”

Why were his words much colder than before? “Okay.” I was never at a loss for words, but I couldn’t seem to find my way out of the thick fog. I lifted my head, gasping loudly enough the man in the front passenger seat jerked around ready to shoot. “It’s incredible.”

I wasn’t a true aficionado of architecture, but I knew several styles from various magazines I’d read over the years. The Tuscany design was absolutely stunning. The front portico was fronted by rounded stone steps that had to be fifteen feet across. They led to a small receiving patio, then another set of stairs seemed to drift toward a set of stone pillars blanketed by a massive wood trellis. Vines with hot pink flowers draped through the open squares, creating a magical entrance.

There were two beautiful fountains by the rounded stairs, flowers in massive pots adorning them on all sides. Even the front door was grandiose, triple panels of all glass inviting guests into a fabulous home. On both sides of the covered porch were two massive three-story structures and from what I could see, another in the back with still two more perpendicular to the two in the front.

There had to be twenty thousand square feet if not twice that. The entire structure was built from the same stone.

“How many people currently live here?”

Enzo chuckled. “You mean other than the housekeepers and other staff? Only one.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“There were many tragedies here as well as a fire. Perhaps one day D’Artagnan’s brother will be lucky enough to find someone and have a family.”

“Like you did?”

As the drivers pulled into the circled portion of the driveway in front of the house, he slowly turned his head. The pull on the corners of his mouth was from amusement, the look in his eyes depicting lust. “Exactly like I did.”

That was as close to a compliment as I’d heard.

The soldiers emptied the vehicles first, Enzo climbing out seconds later. Without being asked, one of the men grabbed my suitcases, immediately taking them to the house. Before he walked up the stairs, the front door was opened and another gorgeous man moved toward one of the pillars, leaning against it.

D’Artagnan helped Lucia from the back of another SUV then lifted her into his arms.

“I can walk, silly,” she insisted. “I’m feeling much better.”

“That’s not going to happen,” he told her, heading up the stairs, stopping in front of the unknown man. The two spoke in Italian, only a few words I understood or even heard. Then the man from the house leaned over, kissing Lucia’s cheek, watching them enter the home before turning his attention toward us.

I could instantly tell there was bad blood between them. What little Lucia had told me about the new family formed after both fathers, considered Dons in the Five Families, had been killed wasn’t Hallmark material.

The unknown man jogged down the stairs. He was dressed much less formally in dark jeans and a polo. His eyes were just as penetrating, his dark hair unruly as if he’d just been in the middle of a savage session of passionate fucking. He approached me first, cocking his head as he scrutinized the new possession.

“Well, well, Enzo. You actually have good tastes.”

“Unlike you, Mattia.”

“Don’t mind my friend here. He’s always in a bad mood.” Mattia’s Italian accent was much heavier. However, it was easy to tell the deep rumble of his voice was meant to rile Enzo.

I stuck out my hand, already tired of the explosion of testosterone. “Hi there. I’m Joy Levin, Enzo’s main squeeze. But I’m not just the woman he’s fucking. I will be his wife. And as far as his grumpy mood, he has a damn good reason since he was forced to save my life three times in a little over twenty-four hours. It would be good of you to cease playing in the sandbox at least until he can get some rest.”

The tension surrounding the group was more explosive than their level of manhood, my outburst likely earning me another round of punishment. But I honestly didn’t care.

Mattia’s reaction was delayed but he accepted my gesture, his handshake firm. “I wonder what the other guy looks like. You’re one hell of a fighter. I only hope to be so lucky to find a woman of your caliber and beauty one day.” When he lifted my hand, lowering his head and kissing the top, I could feel Enzo flinching given his disapproval.

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