“Not like you, piccola. I was thinking more like me. You aren’t anything like she is.”
Nicoletta shook her head but didn’t react to his statement. “I’m going to take a shower. You go find us food. If she’s really on the way, I hope you realize that no matter how much compassion you have for her, what she did was wrong. You’re her son, and even now, you’re trying to find excuses for her. I’m not going to get over it that easily, and she’s going to be tearing into me. It might be a good idea for me to go for a walk after breakfast. That path in the woods looked really intriguing.”
Was he making excuses for Eloisa? Had he been unconsciously trying to find reasons for his mother’s behavior his entire life? It was possible. Children did that. Was he still doing it? “You aren’t deserting me and leaving me to the wolves.”
“At least you know Eloisa is a wolf, mio marito.”
She flounced off toward the master bath. Within minutes he heard the shower come on and then a squeal and more water running and more squeals. Laughter followed. She definitely was adventurous. She hadn’t come back to ask him to show her how to use the various dials. She also hadn’t asked him for a map of the house. He liked that she at least identified him as her husband and that she hadn’t pulled away when he’d kissed her good morning and spent time with his mouth on her breast.
Taviano dressed carefully, but in casual clothes. They would be meeting with Stefano again very soon. Stefano had already devised a plan to take down Valdez and his army of gang members. The Ferraros would prefer to take the fight to them, keep it out of their own territory if possible. They knew Valdez would send his men there, hoping to catch them unawares and get to Lucia and Amo so Nicoletta would come quietly with him.
Benito Valdez didn’t really know Nicoletta. If she did come quietly with him, she would slit his throat the moment she got the chance. The man would never be able to go to sleep again. If the Demons did manage to get their hands on anyone Nicoletta loved or cared for, she knew the Ferraros would be coming through the shadows for them. She would just have to provide a distraction.
Taviano looked around his kitchen. He loved to cook. Now, having his woman in his home, the kitchen was suddenly completely different. He opened the crisper and found the vegetables he’d ordered delivered for their morning breakfast. He began quickly grilling them for omelets.
Nicoletta came into the kitchen looking beautiful in a light blue blouse tucked into a darker blue flowing skirt he was certain Lucia had chosen. A wide hand-painted leather belt cinched her small waist. The outfit was classic Lucia’s Treasures and looked as if it could be worn on the streets of one of the smaller villages in Italy or in New York and fit easily into either place. That was the beauty of Lucia’s fashions.
“Something smells delicious.”
“Coffee’s on.” Taviano indicated the pot in the corner of his workstation. He was already working on his second cup.
“I love the way coffee smells first thing in the morning,” she admitted. “And don’t you love the sound of those birds?” She did a little spin and then poured the coffee into a cup before going to stand beside the open door. The screen was in place to keep insects out, but Taviano loved the sounds of the birds as well, especially when he was cooking.
“Sometimes I play music, but most of the time, I just listen to the birds and the frogs, although they only sound off if it’s early or right after a rain.” He indicated the smaller table inside the rounded alcove. He preferred that space to eat breakfast unless he was eating outside.
He turned his head toward the front of his house. “She’s here.”
“How can you tell? There wasn’t a car.”
“She used the shadows. Feel the difference in the energy, Nicoletta.” He kept his voice low. “You can always feel an intruder. Our home has a specific energy. A particular set of notes to it. Call it a vibration. Once you get it, you’ll know when one note is jarring or out of place. Our family never jars, not even Eloisa, but the notes play differently.”
Nicoletta didn’t argue or act like he was crazy. She didn’t even lift an eyebrow at him. Instead, she nodded her head, frowning a little. Concentrating, as if listening, or trying to feel what he was explaining to her. She reached out and touched her fingertips to a shadow and then threaded her other fingers through his. At once, the jolt of their connection hit them both hard.