Page 20 of Savage Claim

Amalia’s eyes landed on me, and she promptly burst into tears. “I’m sorry,” she wailed, and Elio yelped when she let go of him and practically launched herself at me.

“Easy!” he begged as I caught her.

“I’ve got her,” I assured him over her shoulder. I soothed my hands up and down her back. “I’m glad you’re home,” I told her.

“I lied to you,” Amalia blubbered into my shoulder.

“I know,” I said, “and you hurt me, but we’re going to work through it.” I looked up and saw Lorenzo and Elio staring at us. “We’re going to be fine.”

I helped Elio take her upstairs to get settled back in, and when we reached the top landing, her eyes went wide. “Why has the hallway been painted?” I followed her gaze down the length of the hallway. It had gone through a hefty renovation to repair the damage that Lorenzo had inflicted on it.

I looked at Elio, who looked guilty. He hadn’t mentioned much of what happened after she was taken to the hospital, then. “I’ll catch you up,” I told her. “It’s kind of a long story.”

CHAPTER 13

Lorenzo

“Don Vitali.” It was Giovani Gallo. “I heard that you took care of our shipment problem.”

“I hope so,” I mused. The first shipment after we rescued Isabella from Artem Volkov was due this week. If the Volkovs were down for the count, everything should come in as ordered. “Would you like some extra men in order to ensure that we both get what we’re expecting?”

“If you wouldn’t mind.” It went to show how put-out by this he had been that Don Gallo was asking for my assistance. Despite our business relationship as of late, the older man rarely wanted anything to do with me.

“They are at your disposal,” I promised. “Is there anything else that I can help you with?”

“The minor families are going to be gathering for their annual meeting soon,” he said.

The Vitali family, as the head of the Cosa Nostra, was never invited to this annual meeting. It was a way for the minor families to meet and discuss things without the major family’sinfluence. Instead, any issues that were introduced during this meeting would be brought to me to address afterward. “What about it?”

“Don Bianchi and I have been talking, and we both agree that we think you should host it this year.”

“Why would I do that?” I couldn’t remember a time when my father had ever gone to the minor families’ meeting, and he had never mentioned if my grandfather ever had either.

“There’s a rumor going around that you’re engaged,” he said. “Obviously, you need to address them and assure the families that you aren’t.”

Shit. “Where did this rumor come from?”

“Come now, Lorenzo,” the older man cajoled. “You’ve been seen out with this woman. Of course, there is going to be speculation.”

Before I could respond to that, there was a knock on my office door. “Hold on, Don Gallo,” I said and pressed the hold button on my phone. “Come in.”

Isabella came through the door. “Are you ready to go?” she asked.

“Go?”

She let out an annoyed huff. “We were supposed to meet my sister for lunch,” she said. “Remember?”

I hadn’t remembered, and considering the conversation that she was interrupting, it was the last thing on my to-do list. “I can’t today,” I said. “Cancel it.”

Isabella blinked, confused, and then shook her head. “Gemma goes back to work soon, and then when school goes back, she’ll be really busy, and I want?—”

I didn’t have time for this. “Dolcezza.” The word came out sharp, and she jumped slightly. “I’m busy. I can’t take you.”

“Then, let Damian drive me.”

“No.” If Isabella was out with Damian, it would only make the rumors worse. Even though we weren’t engaged, yet, I had to introduce her to the Cosa Nostra on my terms. Unsubstantiated rumors would only breed further resentment among the minor families, and it would make things unsafe for her regardless of her status with me.

“Lorenzo, why are you?—?”

---