Cazzo.
"Bruno?" Antonella's smile fades. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." I force my expression neutral. "I'll send someone to pick her up."
"Really?" Hope lights her face. "She can come here?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"Now. I'll arrange it."
Antonella's whole body relaxes. The tension I didn't notice she was carrying drains from her shoulders. She looks younger suddenly. Less burdened.
"Thank you." She squeezes my hand. "I know it's probably complicated. Having more people here. Security and everything."
"It's fine."
"Is it?" She searches my face. "I don't want to cause problems. If it's too much trouble?—"
"Antonella." I cut her off. "I said I'll arrange it. I will."
She bites her lip.
"I just... I know my family is a burden. The debt. My father's gambling. All of it." She looks down at our joined hands. "I don't want to make things harder for you."
"Your sister isn't a burden."
"But—"
"She can stay here until your father gets back. However long that takes."
Antonella's head snaps up. "You mean it?"
"I mean it."
She throws her arms around my neck. The movement catches me off guard. I freeze, hands hovering uselessly at my sides, while she buries her face in my shoulder.
"Thank you," she whispers against my skin. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."
My arms move. Wrap around her waist. Pull her closer.
She's warm. Soft. She smells like sex and jasmine and something uniquely her. My hands spread across her bare back, feeling the ridge of her spine, the curve of her ribs.
This is dangerous.
This is exactly what I warned myself against.
But I can't let go.
"Gianna will be safe here," I say into her hair. "I'll make sure of it."
Antonella
I've been standing in the entrance hall for twenty minutes, watching the driveway through the tall windows. Every car that passes on the road beyond the gates makes my heart jump.
Gianna is coming.