“I’ll probably stop by for a bit. I’m heading to Sicily tomorrow.”
He takes a sip of his drink and slams it on the table. “Well, young man. It was a pleasure to have you stay with us.” He gets up out of his seat and gestures for my hand.
I reach mine out and shake his.
I didn’t get what I came here for. I wanted his phone, but Nina never gave it to me. I got too distracted with her. She took up too much of my time. I can’t keep shirking off my duties in Italy.
I’ll be showing up empty-handed.
“I should be back in a week’s time. You’re not done with me yet.” I laugh.
“Son, you are welcome anytime. Do bring your father here sometime—he and I need to catch up.”
My tongue rolls over my teeth as I respond with a nod.
No fucking way.
As I walk toward the exit, Carlo waves his hand at me. The kind of wave that tells me he needs to talk.
I wait in the entrance of the restaurant, watching Amber from the window. She sits in my car waiting patiently.
Carlo walks toward me with a napkin still tucked into the collar of his shirt.
“You are leaving tonight?” His face shows he understands why.
“Yes. I need to sort some shit out with my father.” I roll my eyes. “Keep an eye on Nina while I’m gone? Enzo will be coming with me, and I don’t trust anyone else to watch over her but you and Max. I don’t think Kirill is here anymore, but just in case.”
“You got it, cousin.”
I nod as I open the doors, walking toward my car.
The air is beginning to get colder, and the wind brushes through my hair as I open the car door.
Amber’s face is filled with nothing but lust. I don’t even know why I brought her tonight. Ever since I felt even a drop of attraction for Nina, I haven’t been able to think about any other woman.
Shit pisses me off.
Amber tugs at the bottom of my tie, and the only thing I can think of is how Nina did that when I took her out of the club that one night.
The little woman has taken over my fucking mind.
“We can go to my place.” She doesn’t suggest it; she just says it.
“Not tonight.” I start my car and shift it into drive to drop her off. This is the last time I ever want to see her. She made me look weak when she tried to steal my money a couple weeks ago.
* * *
At the Romanos’ house, I find Nina in the library working on the painting. I lean against the fresh doors, watching her paint elegantly.
I love that she has hobbies and doesn’t care what other people think about them. Her mama probably loves that she paints. She must have learned to do it while she lived in Paris because her papa likes to bring up how it’s nonsense and a waste of time and money.
Her long hair falls down her back, moving softly with the motion of her hand.
“Hey,” I say softly, hoping not to scare her like I did before.
She turns her head and looks at me with a smile. “Hi.”
“You’ve gotten pretty far with the painting.”