Page 18 of Rise To Power

Then strong hands braced my ribs and pulled me from the water.

Bending over, I ripped the Velcro strap on my knife and slipped it from my thigh.

“Wait,” Marco said with a chuckle. “Put the knife away.”

“I’m just going to threaten them.” I pushed my hair from my eyes and spun to find Deidre. She braced her hands on the dock and launched out of the water like an Olympic swimmer.

Her eyes sparkled as she gazed at Emilio and Orlando. Her lips trembled from the cold, but her smile tempered my anger. I remember looking at Marco the same way the first time we met.

The three whispered as they dressed.

“I’ll speak with them both.” He took the knife from my chilled fingers. “Nothing like this will happen again.” Marco slipped his soaked jacket from my shivering body, replacing it with Antonio’s. Then his arm was around my shoulders.

I wanted to be angry, but Marco’s harshly spoken words reminded me of the vehemence of my father’s and my brother’s criticisms. Deidre was young and impressionable, but she was also raised in a family that spit on society’s rules but required adherence to their own.

“Don’t be angry with Orlando and Emilio. Deidre’s impulsive, and she’s persuasive. Not to mention she’s infatuated with your brother and Emilio. Look at them.”

His grip tightened on my shoulder. “It’s fucking irresponsible. Orlando has always been impulsive. I trust Emilio to be his voice of reason. But one glance at your sister has them both behaving foolishly.”

“I want her to have friends, to have fun.” I stiffened, remembering I was supposed to hate the man next to me. I stepped away from Marco. “I don’t want her to have regrets.”

We made our way back and slowed as we approached the house.

“How are we supposed to get inside without being noticed?” I asked.

Deidre snorted. “You could always sneak in by climbing the trellis again?”

I dropped my arms. I was already cold and wet. Now, I was pissed again. “Deidre, you need to shut up.”

“Oh, shit,” she stammered and slapped a hand over her mouth. “We’ll go make sure the coast is clear. Come on, Lanny.”

Before I could argue, Deidre scrambled toward the house with Orlando.

“Don’t worry,” Emilio said. “I know what you’re thinking, but she’s safe with us.”

“I doubt any girls are safe with you two.”

“Yeah, but she’s family now. So, we’ll take care of her.”

I wanted to believe him.

We entered the house. Voices and laughter spilled from the parlor. Timoteo approached. Tim was more than one of Santino’s soldiers. They were best friends, and he was just as over-protective as my brother.

“Allegra, Santi wants to see you.” Tim’s gaze raked over me. “He’s been looking for you.”

Marco tugged the jacket closed and tucked me close to his side. “You can tell him she’s with her fiancé.” He escorted me to the stairs.

“Allegra—” Tim said again.

“You can see she’s fine.” Antonio remained at the bottom of the stairs.

“Ally—”

I glanced over my shoulder. Tim’s gaze lingered on me. Worry furrowed his brow.

Marco tightened his hold on my elbow. “Eyes forward, Allegra, or I’ll take the knife from your thigh and gut him where he stands.”

Antonio took a menacing step closer to Tim. “Mr. Bruno won’t be disturbed for the remainder of the evening.”

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