***


July 2nd, 2020—Desires.

Giuseppe’s silence about the Cardi family fuels Nicolo’s curiosity. He barely slept. Lili isn’t even in the room and all he can think about is her. The sun filters in through the dark curtains. A stiff, professional knock brings him back; he calls them in. Piero enters—then Lili, right behind him.

His fist tightens as another foreign emotion curls through him. Does she have someone? She gives him a slight smile before bowing, her attention seemingly elsewhere. He notices how she averts her gaze, how she refuses to speak.

He watches as she places his breakfast in front of him before she turns to start cleaning the tables on the other side of the room, keeping her distance without a word. He bites his lower lip as he sees her bend to pick up a piece of paper she knocked off his desk.

The newspaper in his hands shows Giuseppe’s exhausted face under the headline: ‘Double–agent refuses to speak.’ His demeanor only changed after he met Lili yesterday. The mention of the Cardi family made him pale and he kept glancing at Lili. Did she have something to do with this?

Did Giuseppe reveal something he wasn’t supposed to? Maybe warning Nicolo and the others about her was a mistake. The way her eyes catch his—those soft, doe-brown eyes—makes his pulse spike. Was Giuseppe right to advise caution around her? He wonders, as she locks eyes with him.

Then he looks purposefully at the paper before at her and a wicked smile lifts the corners of her lips. A smile that would only make sense if she had something to do with this. Is someone targeting him via her? If Giuseppe’s warning is true, she’s dangerous—maybe too dangerous to have so close.

“Are you still concerned over what that liar said about the Cardi? I doubt Lili worked that closely with their investigations.” Piero states with a shrug. “She seems far too innocent, plus I know the person who recommended her. She’s completely harmless. Have you seen her?”

“Yes, she’s got a rather cute frame.” Nicolo adds casually, watching as she walks closer while cleaning. “Much too small to hurt anyone.”

Angelo turns to look at him in shock. Nicolo nods briefly before returning to his newspaper, while Piero switches on the television to the local news. The reports make it clear Giuseppe’s arrest has stirred dangerous waters. The sound of the newscasters and reports echoes through the room.

He feels her presence right behind him. Lili leans closer, her lips approaching his, making his eyes close automatically, only for her to pull away the last second, leaving him panting. Who are the Cardi—and what is she doing to him?

He needs more information, but the closer he gets, the fewer answers he can find. There’s something in her—unlike anyone he’s known—and it leaves him awestruck.

“My Don, you have work to complete, as do I. We’d best get to it.” He swallows as she continues, a careful tilt to her head. “Excuse me, I must go to the restroom.”

He wonders if she’s simply wary. He rubs his forehead with his fingers in annoyance, before deciding to keep trying.

***

July 7th, 2020—Determination.

What just happened? I held strong yesterday. Barely. But today, just one glance from him and my resolve begins to crumble. As soon as I set foot in the bathroom, I lock the door behind me. I’m not supposed to get involved—but I already am.

His desirous gaze scorches my spine, leaving me panting with need. His green eyes are full of lust—raw and unguarded. No man has ever dared look at me that way before. Just the thought of being with him? I shake my head. Ginny once warned me about Italian men.

Maybe she wasn’t exaggerating. I turn the sink on and splash my face with cold water. His gaze tightens something deep inside me; I want more. Nicolo enters my mind again, his fiery gaze sliding over my body like a caress meant to leave me wanton.

I walk over to the mirror, focusing on my flushed cheeks, lusty gaze, and parted, panting lips. I need to complete this mission and escape the Villa before I cross a line I can’t uncross. Before dangerous territory becomes impossible to resist.

I pull out my phone, intent on listening to a few of the recordings I captured around the house. The Don’s office isn’t the only place I planted bugs in. To identify threats to the Omertà, I placed recording devices in every room of the Villa. As I listen to the different voices, a conversation catches my attention.

“You seem mighty interested in that maid. Wanting her?” Piero asks with a knowing tone as he lowers his voice. “She is your type, isn’t she?”

“Watch your mouth,” Nicolo warns though without any real heat or anger in his voice. “Don’t speak so crudely of a lady, you know that’s not how you were raised.”

“Come on, Boss. I’ve known you since we were kids. She’s different from your usual conquests—I can tell by how you look at her.” His teasing tone fades a little. “But she’s a Legit. You sure you want to risk bringing her into our world?”

“It’s more than that, Piero.” Nicolo’s fingers drum against his desk. “Lili seems… different. The way she carries herself, how she handles pressure. It’s rare to find a woman like her in this world.”

I want to hear more but worry about my phone being overheard, so I turn it off. I know what he’s seeing; the fearlessness, passion, authority, and confidence. I want to tell him everything. Who I am, why I’m here, and my purpose.

The hair on the back of my neck stands up, my gaze going to the crack of light beneath the bathroom door in the mirror. My hand slides to the butt of the magnum strapped to my waist. A shadow flickers then a barely audible creak in the floorboard.

Someone’s just outside the door. I hear the hammer of a gun click, and I get as low as I can to the floor before crawling to pull a compact out of a nearby drawer. I crawl silently—still more enemies to uncover in this house.

I take in a deep breath, a sharp burst of citrus cleaner stings my nose. Few outsiders are trusted; if someone’s onto me, it’s dangerous. In this world, there are enemies everywhere. Even within the walls of a Villa that’s supposed to be safe for its occupants.

Even if I could question everyone, the multitude of people who saw Nicolo and I together is far too great. It’s why the Mafia have few they trust, and even fewer outsiders who can enter our ranks. Blood ties are important to the Mafia.

Pressed against the wall beside the door, I slide down to a crouch. The compact mirror in my hand shakes slightly as I angle it under the door’s half-inch gap. Through its reflection, I can make out black boots on the other side, about two feet from the threshold.

The silencer of a semi-automatic pistol glints in my makeshift surveillance tool. Unfortunately, I can’t see what kind of gun they have or who they are. The person twists the doorknob, their face concealed by a ski–mask, though I can tell it’s a male by his build.

“Miss Lili, the Don is looking for you.” The voice calls, accented by heavy Italian. “He asked I bring you to him.” Does this guy even know how the Don usually summons me? “You know the Boss, demanding and impatient.”

I close my nose with my fingers and lower my chin. If I’m careful, I can throw them off my trail. Silently, I clear my throat, adjust my position, then take a deep breath. I mimic Stella’s tone, dropping my voice and lacing it with command.

“Sono Stella! Il capocuoco!” “I’m Stella! The head chef!” I watch as the person slips the gun under their black leather jacket in my mirror beneath the door. “Lili è in cucina.” ‘Lili is in the kitchen.’

“Grazie, Stella!” The voice calls back and I check the compact to confirm them putting the gun away.

When the person steps away, I wait a few minutes before stepping out of the room to return to the Boss. If they’re targeting me, I can’t tip them off; collateral damage isn’t tolerated.

As I walk through the finely decorated halls, I run into Stella, and thank her, which only earns me a confused nod, before stopping by the cleaning closet and grabbing my cart of cleaning supplies. I reenter the Don’s office right as the room empties, and set to clearing the glasses and plates away, my focus sharp and unshifting.

Should I mention the attempt to Nicolo? But I have no evidence, no suspect, or a motive. Here, I’m a maid, not a Donna. It’s the first job I’ve ever had to remind myself of that fact. He has no reason to protect me. I can’t let him know how much pull he really has.

“Infiltrato.” ‘Infiltrator.’ I hear him say and glance over my shoulder to see him on the phone. “Chi è?” ‘Who is?’

Even his voice sounds like temptation—but I can’t afford to be tempted right now. I tear my gaze from him as he turns to look at me and refocus on my task. I need to finish my job, not get caught up in whatever he causes my heart to do.

I’m here to protect the underworld—quietly, efficiently, without leaving a trace. Why does it feel as though the Romano Don is not a danger to it? Like there’s someone else using his family to hide? I mindlessly fill my cart with my cleaning supplies, too distracted to notice his approach.

“Lili.” His rumbling tone so close to me startles me from my thoughts and I turn to find him standing far closer than he should be. “Allow me to apologize. The cook informed me someone questioned her about you, so I think your life is in danger.”

“Danger?” I almost laugh until I remind myself again that I can’t directly tell him who I am, so I play along. “I see. Well, it is not as though it is your fault, my Don. Lady Liliana was often in danger, as was I—thanks to my proximity to her. It’s nothing new.”

His features tighten briefly before he offers me his hand. For several moments, I wonder if I should, because I don’t know how I’ll handle his touch, but I eventually shrug and take it. I instantly regret it and try to pull away, but his grip tightens.

“They think you are my woman. So, let me make you mine. My men will protect you.” I let out a breath, meeting his gaze to find that devilish smirk on his face that makes me want to end him. “Having… fun and protecting you would be… delicious, right?”

“I am a maid, my Don. It wouldn’t be proper…” I lie, heart pounding harder than I wish it would.

If he’s the enemy, I’ll do what I must. But every instinct says he isn’t. Which means someone else is hiding in plain sight—and they want me dead. Is there more than one enemy within the Romano Villa?