Page 5 of Merciless Desires

“At all?”

He shook his head before speaking to my guards. “You two can ride in the SUV behind us. The two men in there will give you your assignments and show you where you’ll be staying when you aren’t on duty. Please make yourself at home.”

“Thank you, Mr. Bilotti,” Leo said. “We look forward to working with your team.”

“Wait, they are my guards,” I said. “You can’t tell them what to do.”

“I believe I just did.” Gio opened the back passenger door for me. “We’re all on the same page. Your father has briefed them, and they know what’s expected of them.”

“We’ll see you in the morning, Cinzia,” Alberto said. “You owe me a rematch in checkers.”

“You cheat.” I kissed his cheek. “But I’ll humor you.”

“Thank you.” Alberto waved as he and Leo walked to their car.

I had become quite fond of them over the past few weeks. Once Gio left Italy, my father assigned both of them to me. They kept me company and helped pass the time while I waited for Gio to contact me. Technically, I was still waiting.

“Get in.” Gio pointed to the backseat, his demeanor not as charismatic as I had come to expect.

“Ask me nicely,” I challenged him. “Maybe I’ll consider it.”

“Please get into the car.” He sighed. “We have to move it before airport security comes over, and I don’t need that hassle.”

“That’s better.” I slid into the backseat with him quickly getting in behind me. I had never been more aware of someone’s presence than I was at this moment. I wanted him close, but at the same time I had to keep my distance. I had to figure out how he felt about my father sending me here. Was I an obligation or a welcomed guest?

Once Conti got behind the wheel, he pulled away from the loading area. A tinge of excitement coursed through me as I gazed out the window. I had wanted to see New York City for as long as I could remember. Experiencing it with Gio was more than I ever expected.

“Do you make it a habit of kissing your guards?” Gio asked.

“What?” Is he upset?

“You kissed him.” His jaw tightened when he clenched his fist and rested it on his thigh. “Why?”

“Because he’s my friend.”

“He’s your guard. There’s a difference.”

“Why can’t he be both?” I asked. “You’re my friend and now you’re my guard.”

“I’m not your guard.” When he looked into my eyes, I remembered why I had fallen for him all those years ago. They were fierce and determined, but they were also sexy and mysterious. He would protect and care for me, but he could also make me a woman.

“Are you my friend?” I asked.

“You know I am.”

“Then tell me why I’m here. Why did my father send me?”

“Because his business was getting too intense. He couldn’t focus on getting the job done and protecting you, so he sent you to me.”

“He could have sent me to a safe house in Italy like he’s done before. Why would he send me to America?” I would much rather be with Gio than under my father’s strict rule, but I wanted to know if he did this as more than a debt he owed to my father. “Why am I here?”

“I didn’t question him.” He shrugged. “He gave me a job and I’m doing it.”

“So, I’m only business to you?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You haven’t said much of anything.” I inched closer to him, placing my hand on his thigh. “You haven’t even given me a proper kiss hello.”

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