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***October 13th, 2020—GrandfatherSomething is off. I don’t know what it is, but I cradle Nicolo’s head against my chest as I strain to listen. Footsteps quietly shuffling along the corridor. His arm pulls me closer, heat searing through our clothes. I slowly reach under his arm for the gun in his holster. Nicolo and I slow our breathing, forcing the sexual tension to dissipate as survival instincts take over. I track the sound past my desk as it nears the door. Then it opens. I aim directly at our visitor’s face; eyes narrowed with focus. A man in a suit steps forward carrying a large, black suitcase, one hand raised, the other waving the briefcase like an offering. As if that would ease the tension coiling through my arm. “Y-your grandfather sent me.” The man stammers, carefully placing the suitcase on the table with trembling hands. “I was instructed to deliver this to you personally. Please—the gun—I’m just the messenger.”He’s white as a ghost, body visibly shaking. Just an average person. My grandfather? I hesitate; my gun still trained on him as I search his strained expression. This man isn’t one of my contacts, or within the Accardi, so how does he know my grandfather?Nicolo meets my gaze, jaw clenching before he slowly lowers me to the floor. He turns to face our visitor, one shoulder blocking me from the view. His entire body is tense like a snake preparing to strike, and I instinctively press myself against the wall. “Who allowed you to walk in here like this?” Nicolo demands, his fists clenching at his sides. “I hate interruptions more than anything else on this planet.” With that, my finger shifts a little on the trigger as I study the man’s face for any kind of deception. His breathing quickens as he pushes the suitcase closer, then raises his empty hands back, his eyes closed tight in fear. He’s clearly out of his depth. Still, that fear earns him a sliver of leniency. The tension in the air crackles like the atmosphere before a storm. Silence fills the room and my jaw clenches.“What do you know about my grandfather?” I grab Nicolo’s forearm as I step to his side, back firm. “I’m not known for patience, so hurry.”“There was a car accident yesterday evening on the coastal road.” His voice softens, professional detachment failing to mask genuine sympathy. “The official report states that your grandfather, Lorenzo, didn’t survive. I’m truly sorry.”The words echo through the thick air. My head shakes in disbelief as I think to my teasing yet stern grandfather. I freeze, grip tightening on Nicolo’s arm. No. No, no, no, it can’t be. My vision blurs with tears as I stare at the messenger, disbelief warring with dread.Nicolo takes the gun from my hand and nods towards the briefcase. I retrieve my magnum, aim again, and approach. The man retreats, trembling as he presses himself against the door. Inside the briefcase are papers with handwriting that could only belong to my grandfather; carrying the scent of his favorite cigars. A tremor crawls up my arm. Everything business related is written in substitution ciphers—this is no different. Moving to digital storage has been my plan, but I must be careful. Despite my skills, I know how fallible technology can be. There’s a reason we waited so long to upgrade. We’ll use a similar cipher system in the app once it’s complete. I’ve uploaded most of Accardi documents, so this must concern my parents—it doesn’t match anything I’ve uploaded previously. I would’ve noticed while managing the uploads. Even the Accardi have piles of useless family paperwork—but this isn’t that. Deciphering it will take time, but it confirms one part of the man’s story – he came at my grandfather’s behest. I glance at Nicolo and nod, but his expression remains unchanged.“My name is John Teller, a junior partner with Lawkey Lawyers. Your grandfather is in a medically induced coma, though has been formally declared dead.” The man clasps his hands together pleadingly. “That’s all I know! I’ll forget the information as soon as I leave, I swear!!! My Boss told me to deliver the suitcase directly to you. Please don’t kill me! I have a wife and a baby on the way!” My gun lowers—and so do John’s shoulders, a fraction of relief easing into his posture. Anyone in our world knows: if you want to protect your family, you never mention them to anyone in the Mafia. His declaration, though morally questionable, lends even more credibility to his story. With my questions answered, I glance at Nicolo who still has his gun trained on John. He can manage things from here. I need to make some calls, to verify through my personal resources, not just take a stranger’s word. “I-I swear it’s all I know. It’s all I know!” the man stammers, shouting, and as I pass him towards the door, I spot a drop of sweat rolling down his neck. “Please, I really don’t want to die.”“He’s telling the truth, Nico.” I toss over my shoulder, grabbing the briefcase. “We’ll have to finish our little conversation later.” At the door, I glance back with a wink. “Don’t be too hard on him. He’s just a Legit.”My fingers work through my phone contacts until a firm arm wraps around my wrist. I look up into Nicolo’s handsome features with annoyance. Why can he never just leave me alone? He stares into my eyes with a concerned frown, before nodding. “If you want to talk, I’m here.” He tucks some hair behind my ear. “I love you, Amore Mio.” My tension fades at his understanding gaze before he returns to his office without another word.He’s paying attention. A small smile lifts my lips before fading as I refocus on my phone. There’s so much to figure out, but my grandfather takes top priority. Why have things changed? My eyes narrow as I walk with firm steps, dialing a number. “Marcello, explain.” I order, stopping inside my old apartment doorway here at the Villa, feeling out of place. “What is going on?” “Your Grandfather was in an accident.” Marcello doesn’t even know, and I turn and start walking towards the courtyard. “He didn’t make it.” My steps halt in the hallway; several of the servants stopping to stare at me in confusion. “I’m so sorry, Donna.”Are Nico, that lawyer’s junior partner, and I the only ones who know the truth? Where is my grandfather? Why am I getting conflicting stories from the lawyer’s office and my own family? What is my grandfather thinking?!After confirming other important details about the Accardi’s next move, I end the call just as I enter the vibrant courtyard. Even though I told Nicolo I need to focus on my work, he still managed to distract me today. My brows furrow with irritation and I sigh. When I’m not paying attention apparently my grandfather goes AWOL. I shouldn’t entertain Nicolo’s whims, yet I often find myself under his spell. My hands open and close at my sides as I pace, barely noticing the dull thud of the suitcase at my feet. Why did my grandfather need to disappear? I chew on my thumb, still knowing nothing about Vespus or what they want. One of my few links has vanished, just like my parents. If that lawyer is wrong and my grandfather truly died, I don’t know what I’ll do. He’s my only remaining family since my parents disappeared. I’ve never even met my father’s relatives. There aren’t many among the Accardi I trust, either. My eyes fall on the suitcase sitting on the path nearby. Perhaps my grandfather left clues inside. He and I always had our own ways of talking, ciphers that even Marcello and my grandfather’s second couldn’t understand. “Donna Romano?” Piero appears behind me, a friendly—albeit sad—smile on his face and tone to his voice. “Marcello asked me to check on you if I had a moment. I heard about your grandfather. I am so very sorry.” I sink onto a nearby bench, gaze falling to the concrete pathway. I need to act upset, though it feels as if I’m failing in that task since I know the truth. Grandfather’s alive—I just don’t know where. The lawyer’s junior partner said they publicly announced his death. Everyone in the Mafia who knows about ‘the Coverers’ will think he’s dead, which means he’ll fall off Vespus’s radar. The pieces are beginning to fall into place, but I need more details. For now, I must play along with his wishes yet again, annoying as it is. Not only must I become Donna and handle all the associated stress, but grandfather wants me to marry a stranger, and not investigate who’s after me. Then he fakes his death, leaving me to clean up the mess. What is that man thinking? Even in mourning, I can’t appear weak. As much as I want to collapse, I can run the Accardi without grandfather just fine, but I need more information. I will find out the truth if I have to hunt the man down myself.***Nicolo Romano—ProtectionNicolo flexes his fingers, knuckles cracking after Lili leaves the room. He focuses on the stranger who waltzed into the Villa as if he owned the place, purpose and connections unknown. The layers of new security that are being installed should’ve worked against him.To reach the Don and Donna’s office, this man would have had to pass several armed guards, and doors requiring passwords. Few people have full access to their inner sanctum. And this ‘John Teller’ had interrupted her opening up more to his advances. Nicolo sneers.“You haven’t answered my question.” Nicolo cracks his neck as he approaches, voice like arctic ice scraping ground, hands curl into fists with each step. “I’ve never heard of a ‘Lawkey Lawyer’ before.”“I told you what I know. They told me to bring you the briefcase… the woman took it.” The man sinks to his knees with his hands still in the air. “Please don’t kill me…” His horror is palpable—almost radiating off him as Nicolo moves closer. The man prostrates himself on the floor, tears running down his face. Perhaps he’s telling the truth—but it doesn’t explain how he got into the Villa. If someone granted their permission, why wasn’t Nicolo alerted? Someone should have reached out first. Only the Don, Donna, Consigliere, and Caproregime have that authority. If he or Lili hadn’t allowed it, who had? Piero or Marcello had to have been the one.“Who let you in?” He demands, rolling up his sleeves as the man looks up at him from the floor. “Answer.” “T-The… I think he said his name was Piero? He said someone reached out already.” John stutters, body trembling. “Please! C-call him! He’ll confirm it!”“He’s telling the truth, Boss. I let him through.” Piero appears in the doorway with Lili behind him, and Nicolo’s fingers clench again. “Marcello called saying someone had important information for the Donna, and to please let him through. You’re the most dangerous man I know—I knew you could handle one person if needed.” “Preferirei non farlo davanti a mia moglie! Amore Mio!” ‘I’d rather not do it in front of my wife! My Love!’ The Don yells, and Piero’s expression shifts to shock, the room falling silent. “E ‘così difficile da capire?” ‘Is it that hard to understand?’ Lili’s eyes widen, and he realizes the thought never occurred to her. Nicolo knows how silly it sounds—she was an heiress before becoming his wife. She surely isn’t oblivious to the torture that exists in their world. She’s likely endured her share of violence—he hates to think about it. Everyone in this world has scars. But letting her see him as the one inflicting pain? That’s different. That would make him part of her damage. And he’s not sure he could stand that. He wants her to find him charming, different from what she’s used to seeing in this world.“Leave.” Nicolo waves towards the man, who scrambles to his feet and runs for the door. “Tell no one you came here, anything you heard, or the information you passed on, or I will personally find you.” Liliana walks past him towards her desk before the click of her heels stop just behind him. The soft scent of lilac follows her, and his focus narrows to her again, his passion for her seemingly bottomless.“You know I cannot avoid death being who I am, Nico.” Her words are cold after several moments of silence, but he can’t turn to face her. “And you cannot avoid who you are when I’m around, either. We know what this world is to us. Trying to hide it from me is pointless. We can be married and work together.” She’s right, yet still. Showing her how cruel he can be goes against everything his father taught him. Then again, she’s not innocent—she convicted his cousin to death—so maybe he’s just being overprotective. It still doesn’t feel right for his wife to see that darkness, no matter how much she claims to be darkness incarnate. He rubs his head in frustration. True Mafia protect their women and children fiercely—why would he ever allow her to be in danger?“Tu sei mia moglie,” he growls, crossing his arms in front of his chest as he turns to her knowing smirk. “Non posso cambiare il fatto che voglio proteggerti.” “And that’s fine. But I don’t need protection from my husband, do I?”Maybe she’s realizing it’s easier to yield, though from her expression, he doubts it. Getting along is simpler than arguing. How does she know he fears scaring her? Does she think him weak? He stares into her beautiful brown eyes for a moment before he finally understands.There’s a connection, one he feels anytime she’s near, that makes him stop seeing women as objects needing protection. She is his wife, but she is dangerous—possibly more dangerous than he is. He can be himself without compromising his morals completely with her. “Piero, leave.” Nicolo orders, grinning lecherously down at his Lili, who flushes red when their gazes lock. “Now.” The man he was before he met her has gone insane for his little wife. He barely registers the click of the door before pinning her to the wall, burying his face in her neck. Lilac storms his senses as he remembers their first meeting—those warm brown eyes understanding his pain. Is that what has him wrapped around her dainty little finger? When her pouty lips part in a gasp, his vision narrows, and he catches her in another kiss. When she makes those sounds, he can’t resist. She’s his personal drug. She’s so strong, so utterly perfect, he can’t help but surrender to her again.“We have to make up for the earlier interruption, Amore Mio.” He grinds against her, watching her tongue moisten her lips. “Niente più prese in giro.” “No more teasing.”

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The Upcoming Donna: Liliana

KellyBrackettAuthor

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