Page 28 of Rockstar Untamed
“Tom, I’m not sure that’s the right decision. Bay’s a strong woman; if she finds out Stu is out and you knew…one thing does strike me. I think he has help on the outside.”
That brought Tom to attention. “What?”
“I don’t know, it’s just Lawson isn’t the brightest button, it’s very hard for someone to disappear so easily without help.”
“Who the hell would aid that asshole? He had no-one on the outside except Kym, back in the day and she’d hardly help him.”
Roman was silent for a moment. “Did you read the letters?”
“From Lawson’s cell? Yes. I really wished I hadn’t, his bloodlust for my wife is what keeps me up nights. For someone as dim as Lawson, he sure has a varied imagination when it comes to the many ways he would like to murder Bay. God, even saying that makes me want to throw up.”
“He won’t get near her, Tom, I swear it.”
“Keep my girl’s safe, won’t you?”
“Do you even have to ask? Concentrate on Bay and Buddy, man, we’ve got this.”
Sailor was trembling so much that Bodhi had to take her hands in his. He smiled down at her as they watched the small car wind its way up the hill to the farmhouse, creating a dust storm behind it.
“Baby, it’s just mymom, not The Grim Reaper.”
Sailor wasn’t comforted. “What if she hates me on sight? Worse, what if she hates Tim? What if she thinks I’m using you both?”
Bodhi rolled his eyes. “She won’t, you know why? Because you’re not. She can see the truth of things, beautiful girl, I swear. As for her hating Tim…he’s my son. I guarantee half of that car’s trunk will be full of gifts for him. She loves me, she’ll love my family.”
Sailor blushed with pleasure, but still grumbled. “Momma’s boy.”
Bodhi laughed as he led her from their little hideout and out into the yard to meet his mother. “You betcha.”
Vittoria Creed stepped from the car and immediately Sailor felt herself relax. A petite woman, slim-framed, with a short, stylish white hair cut, and glasses on her nose, she had a kind face, and a ready smile. Vittoria hugged her son and smiled down at her grandson as he shook her hand, shyly but seriously. She turned towards her car and whistled, and a large dog bounded out of the car and over to them. He was so large that Tim took a step back, but the dog sniffed him and licked his face, making Tim laugh.
“And Mom, this is Sailor. Sailor, my mom, Vittoria.”
Sailor could see Vittoria sizing her up with the same huge green eyes that she had passed onto her son. Sailor, her heart thumping, met her gaze steadily. “It’s lovely to meet you,” she said in broken Italian, and Vittoria smiled, kissing Sailor’s cheeks.
“Sweetie, I speak English, but thank you for trying. I appreciate it.”
Vittoria turned to Claudio and Soleil who were waiting. “And you two…still trouble. Soleil, you grow more beautiful every day. Claudio, you’ve showered. That’s a good step.”
They all laughed, and Claudio ushered them all inside. In the kitchen, his cook had made a huge breakfast buffet and soon they were all talking over each other and grabbing food.
Sailor was happy just to watch this crazy Italian family. Vittoria squeezed her arm on the way around the buffet table and Sailor smiled back, relieved that the woman didn’t take against her right off the bat. She knew Vittoria would want to talk to her alone, however, and after breakfast, she wasn’t surprised when Vittoria asked her if she would like to walk down to the olive grove. Bodhi started to object, giving his mother a warning glance, but Sailor agreed readily.
Sure enough, as Vittoria took her arm, Sailor knew the question that was coming. “So, Sailor, I understand you worked for Bodhi’s agent?”
Sailor nodded. “Vittoria, I know what you must think, and so, I am ready and willing to tell you everything you need to know to prove that I couldn’t care less about Bodhi’s status or celebrity and definitely not his money. I love your son, completely and totally. I would live under a bridge with him.”
Vittoria nodded to herself. “Sailor…you must think I’m an interfering old woman, but I just want to know you. Bodhi had his demons when he was younger. He didn’t deal with his father’s death well. You know all of this?”
Sailor nodded. In bed, during the times they weren’t fucking each other senseless, they would talk. The way Bodhi talked about his dad made her heart hurt. “I wish I could have known him.”
“You’re a sweet girl,” Vittoria patted her hand. “Bodhi…he spiraled down and I blame myself for that, for leaving and coming back to Italy without him. It was my mistake and so you see, now, I am perhaps overly vigilant.” She smiled softly. “He may be nearly forty, but he’s still my little boy.”
“Vittoria, I swear to you. I will never hurt Bodhi. I couldn’t, it’s not in me. He has given me a life I thought impossible and I will try every day to repay him.”
Vittoria stopped and studied her for a long moment. “I believe you, Sailor King. It’s in your eyes. You love him.”
“Yes.”
