Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
When I step foot on the front step, something feels off. It takes me a few seconds to realize what it is. The back side of one of the front bushes, low to the ground so it’s barely noticeable in the glow of the exterior lighting, has been trampled. The Rossi family, most notably Tosca, takes meticulous care of her house. The garden is no exception. They have both a full-time landscaper and arborist, even in the winter months.
I bend down and reach for the broken branches of the bush and lift it. Too much damage for an animal, and there’s no good reason a large animal would be anywhere near the front of the house. It sure as hell wouldn’t have been unnoticed, especially with the motion cameras.
I take out my phone and snap a few shots as the door to The Castle opens.
“You’re here.”
Tosca’s voice warms me even as I stand on her front steps as cold as a snowman.
She embraces me lightly before I’ve fully stood, and Nonna quickly toddles in from the reception room.
“Timeo,” she says in a low voice, a much lower register than she normally uses. “You home.”
I bend to let Nonna kiss each one of my cheeks, but wince when she gives me a hug. Fucking hell, I hate acting like a pussy.
“You hurt, Timeo.”
I nod and swallow. Both of these tenacious women are used to seeing the men they love hurt, but I’m not sure it ever gets any easier. My mother couldn’t care less, as long as no one impedes her shopping therapy sessions.
It feels good to have someone fucking care about you. No wonder my mother hates Tosca.
“Come in, come in, freeze my ass off,” Nonna says. God, I love this woman. “I make you cioccolata calda.”
“No, thanks, I’m good.”
I turn and watch as Tosca slides all the locks in place. It takes her a full minute.
Romeo’s done his job.
Tosca eagerly takes my arm and steers me to the sitting room, in the opposite direction of the hallway that leads to Starla’s room. She’s sharp as a tack and suspects why I’m here. “I know what you need that’ll warm you up better than hot chocolate.”
Fuck, yeah, a stiff drink sounds good right now, but I have to be at the top of my game. I decline, though this time it pains me.
“I want to catch up,” I say as politely as I can. “But I came here for a reason.”
Tosca smiles knowingly. Sadly. “I’m not sure she wants visitors right now, Timeo.”
I nod and turn toward Starla’s room. “With all due respect, I’m not asking her permission.”
Tosca and Nonna share a look before Nonna yawns widely.
“Bed. I go to bed. Timeo, you know where everything is.”
“Of course. You two get some rest and we’ll chat in the morning.”
Tosca sighs and finally nods.
Before they leave, Tosca shows me where the extra bedding is, the first aid supplies stocked amply enough to open a small hospital, and her stash of liquor. “Just in case. And if you need more than this couch to sleep on, you know you’re welcome to any room in the house.”
I nod. “Of course.”
“Good night, Timeo.”
“Tosca, one question—”
Turning to face me, she nods. “Yes?”
“What happened to the bush outside your house?”
Tosca frowns. “Where?”
“Outside your door.” I show her the picture on my phone. Shaking her head, she stifles another yawn. “I can’t think of why, Timeo. I’ll look into it in the morning.”
I nod and stretch, my own limbs ready for rest. I’m sure I’m making a big deal out of nothing. “Where’s Romeo right now?”
“Traveling, but he’ll be back this weekend.”
“Thank you. Good night.”
Even though I’m sure the two of them would happily stay up much later than this, I’m grateful they’ve given me and Starla some space.
The Rossi family home is enormous, boasting so many rooms I’ve lost count — twenty? Thirty? But Starla always liked staying on the first floor.
I don’t love that.
I was a frequent flyer in this house when she lived here. I always had a reason, an excuse to come, but…well, I suspect most of them knew what my real reason was.
I walk toward Starla’s room, my steps echoing in the large, vacant hallway. When I was a kid, I liked to pretend The Castle was haunted by ghosts from the past.
As an adult, I now know it is absolutely haunted, but not just by ghosts from the past.
Before I left — before I did my duty to the Montavio Brotherhood and put myself on the line — Starla and I were friends. Best friends. We were inseparable. I was careful with Starla, though, staying within the boundaries of platonic friendship.
Sergio would’ve killed me if I hadn’t, and I liked and respected Starla too much to have crossed that line.
But she’s an adult now. Things and circumstances have changed. And so have I. Sergio knows that we’re more at risk now than ever before. And Sergio also knows there’s no one, not one single member of his staff or anyone else’s, that would ever take Starla’s safety more seriously than I do.