“Good.” He stood and checked his phone.
“Do me a favor and call off the watchdogs.”
“Elenora.” He leaned down low, bending at the waist, and placed his hands on the armrests of my chair. “My patience with your attitude will only fly for so long.” His eyes widened, and it took me back to the days when he would put me in my place because I went too far. “You’ll be kind to those who looked after her when you weren’t around. You have a second chance here to make things right.” He shook his head as I tried to cut in. “You will not hurt my young girl, or you will have to answer to me.”
“Are you quite finished?”
He waited a beat then slowly rose and left me alone with a racing heart.
Seriously? I sent another text to Mariano. For about the sixth time.
Sienna: Like I said, I can’t come today.
My heels clicked on the floor as I raced into the kitchen and found Donte working with some fresh herbs. We had become fast friends, and I really enjoyed watching him whip up delicious things to eat.
“Morning.” I took a moment to inhale the heavenly scent of whatever he was working on today. “Have you seen Elio? It’s been nearly two days since I’ve heard from him.” I was starting to get worried, as he and Piero had disappeared without a word. Even Niccola seemed to be absent. I thought I had heard his voice yesterday but couldn’t confirm it. I knew Andrea was off visiting her sick cousin. It was crazy quiet in the house.
“No, sorry, but Mr. Vinni raced by here not that long ago. He might know where he is.”
“Oh, yeah?” I turned and headed to see if he was out by the pool, but there was no sign of him.
Mariano: I’m heading up your way.
“No, no, no!”
I rushed back inside. “Donte, I’m not sure what to do here.”
“What’s wrong?” He wiped the herbs off the counter with a cloth as I panicked, not sure what I was allowed to share with him.
“Can you pretend that I have to stay home today? Mariano wants to take me out, and, well…”
“Not a problem.” He raised a hand, and I was pleased he didn’t make me have to explain further.
“There’s my girl!” Mariano boomed through the front door as a few of the female kitchen staff bolted for the pantry.
Lucky.
“Mariano.” I slapped on a fake smile and shook my head at him. “As I told you earlier, I’m not able to get away today.”
“I don’t take the word ‘no’ very well.” He winked and hopped up on the counter right in Donte’s way. “And I’ve been patient with you moving in here and me not seeing you as much, but all things must come to an end. So here I am, not taking no from you.”
Here we go again, that balance where I shouldn’t be going off alone with him, yet I need to act normal with him at the same time.
“Mr. DeSimone,” Donte stepped in, “The Don had asked Ms. Sienna to stay home today and help him with a few things.”
It took me a moment to remember that Don was a name for Piero.
“I’m sure he did.” He waved off Donte’s comment like it was a joke and went for my hand. “Come on, we have to make one stop along the way, but then we’ll have some fun.”
I scrambled for something. “Let me grab my purse.”
Once in the study, I scribbled on a notepad what was going on, folded it in half, and headed for the kitchen, handing Donte the note. “Can you give this to Elio, Vinni, or Niccola?”
“Of course. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah,” I shook my head, “I just want them to know this wasn’t my decision.”
“Oh, trust me, I’ll tell them what happened.”