Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
I drop my gun and holster it at my back. I’m so confused as I look into her hazel eyes. My brain glitches as images of my parents falling play on repeat.
She moves forward and cups my face. “You’re so beautiful. You look just like your mother. They would be so proud of you.”
While there are tears in her eyes, she has this air about her. This woman is fierce and holds a sense of power.
“Who are you?”
“A friend.”
I snort. “Really?” I say bitterly.
“I never meant what happened to your parents. I will forever regret that.”
“What do you want?”
“I just wanted to see. Everyone is so grown up now. I only wanted to see.”
I go to ask more questions, but as if the woman on the verge of tears were never here, her face hardens, and she turns and disappears. I look in the glass and the red dot is gone. My gaze turns to Bella and Carleen.
Why did she want to see them? Who is that woman? My parents died protecting her, so she must have been a friend.
“Hello, Lizzy.”
A chill runs through me as the words are spoken. I turn to find Riccardo, Gio’s parental grandfather. For some reason, I don’t think this man likes me.
I didn’t know he was even here in Italy. Last I heard he was back home in Jersey. This trip is a Di Lorenzo thing. Not even the guys’ dad came along for this trip. Although, Dante did tell me Riccardo Esposito and Giuseppe Di Lorenzo were once best friends, I get the feeling that has all changed.
“Hello, Mr. Esposito,” I reply.
He waves me off. “Oh please. You are dating my grandson quite seriously, aren’t you?”
I’m taken aback by the way he says the word grandson. I look him in his blue eyes, feeling a little defensive. I don’t want to answer his question.
“It seems Dante is quite taken with you,” he says when I don’t answer. “You should call me Riccardo or Papa Riccardo. After all, if I know my grandson well, we will be family soon.”
I breathe a breath of relief when I look over Riccardo’s shoulder to see Gio hovering over him. Jace is next to appear.
“Riccardo,” Gio rumbles, grabbing the man’s attention away from me.
I tap on the window and gesture for Bella and Carleen to come out. I’m ready to head back to the house. This has been way more than my brain can handle. I need to sit and process these events.
“Gio, I wasn’t expecting you here.”
“That seems to be a theme. Why are you here in Italy?”
“Can’t I visit home?”
Gio tilts his head to the side. “If it were home to you, I’d expect nothing less, but this hasn’t been your home in years. Are you even welcome here anymore?” He narrows his eyes on the man before him as if he’s a stranger and not his grandfather.
Riccardo looks to Jace and frowns. “Some things will never change. Have a good day, Lizzy. I’m sure I’ll see you again.”
He goes to walk away but stops and turns to me as Bella and Carleen step out of the store. He looks me over and then looks over Carleen. “May the best grandson win,” he mutters and walks off.
“What the heck was that about?” Carleen asks.
I shrug my shoulders. “I have no idea.”
“Ignore him. I’ll handle him when the time is right.” Gio turns on his megawatt smile, letting the deep frown fall from his face. “Ladies, there are shops all around. Uncle Gio is here to spend money. Shall we?”
Carleen laughs. “I thought you were here to take me back to my cage. Spend away, as long as it’s not online shopping, I’m down.”
Gio wraps an arm around her shoulders. He kisses her forehead and smiles down at her. “You will be free soon.”
Chapter 43
Family Legacy
Lizzy
We get back to the house and I get this feeling Jace and Gio are up to something. Gio holds Bella back as he whispers something to her. Jace has that secret smile on his lips. Dante hasn’t answered my last few texts.
I chalked it up as the poor reception we’ve been getting here at times. I want to talk to him about the strange woman in town and his grandfather. Something about both encounters has been nagging at me.
“Ugh, we’re back just in time,” Carleen says as she pulls her soaked shirt front from her chest.
I step through the front door right behind her and we both freeze. There are roses all over the foyer. Vases upon vases of red roses. Dante sits at the foot of the stairs, looking as handsome as ever, with a red rose clenched between his fingers. He’s dressed in a black suit with a white shirt that’s open at the top.
His dark hair is combed neatly into place. I can’t wait to mess it up later. As if hearing my thoughts, he bites his lip and crooks his finger at me.