Page 36 of Sins
“As much as I could spend the night here,” Sienna pushed to her feet, “we should go back up before the others begin to look for you.”
“I suppose.” I hated to leave, but she was right. It would be impolite to leave my friends much longer.
When we stepped out of the high flowers, I found Grim waiting for me. When Elio saw me, he slapped Grim on the chest.
“See, they’re never far.” Elio reached for his wife, and they walked arm and arm back to the house. Sienna gave me a wave as they left.
“It might be wise for you tell me when you’re going to sneak off.” Grim undid the top button of his shirt. He sounded frustrated.
I licked around my mouth, suddenly irritated with his comment. “I was with Sienna, Grim. I hardly think that was sneaking off.” I brushed past him, and he followed me.
“I don’t like it when I can’t see you.” He tapped my hip when I wasn’t sure which way to go when we reached the house.
The rest of the evening went by quickly, and after our goodnights, Grim led me upstairs. I had no idea where my bedroom would be, but he seemed to know exactly where to go.
“Ah, yes, this place probably isn’t crawling with cameras like back home.” I chuckled. I knew it would piss him off. “I think I’m going to enjoy this vacation.” He steered me left down a very long hallway. I spotted an open door and saw my suitcase inside. “Well, on that note,” I stepped inside and turned to find him towering over me, “good night.”
He reached backand kicked the door shut with a smirk. “We’re sharing a room, sweetheart. Now, lose the dress.”
Grim lay heavily against me,his arm over my back and his hand cupped around my breast in a near dead sleep. The man was a beast—not that I would ever complain—but I needed to move, and I was determined not to miss a single moment of Italy. I managed to shimmy out of the bed, shower, and dress without waking the man who looked like a sketchbook drawing against the crisp white sheets. God, he was gorgeous. I snatched my sunglasses and my bag and headed downstairs.
“Good morning,” Piero, Elio’s father, greeted me as I entered the kitchen. He was perched at the large island reading the paper while a man dressed in a chef’s outfit was rolling out some pastry dough. I liked the fact that Piero was here in the kitchen and notsecluded in an office away from the family and staff. All signs that it was a big, happy home, and everyone co-existed as one big family.
“Good morning. Is anyone else awake?”
Just as the words came out, Sienna walked in. “I love that you’re up early,” she said, beaming. “I’m heading to the market. Would you care to join me?” Piero gave her a glance, and she sighed softly. “Vinni’s pulling the car around.”
“Good.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Be careful.”
“When have I not?” She playfully rolled her eyes. “The men in my world are so protective.”
“Don’t I know it.” I laughed as she led the way to the car.
Vinni was something else. He was kind, funny, and gave Sienna a massive amount of shit, which she happily took and gave right back. I wished the other girls were there to witness it. I knew my friends, though, and Minnie and Tess loved to sleep in.
When the car stopped in the plaza, Vinni and three other members of their security got out. Each was attractive in their own way, but one in particular was very handsome.
“I know.” Sienna seemed to read my mind as we made our way toward the fresh vegetable tables. “His ass is so tight you could bounce a dime off of it.” She laughed.
“It’s not just the ass, it’s the arms, the hair…” I played along as Vinni glanced back with an impressed grin.
Sienna crossed her arms. “Don’t act like you never stared at him.”
Vinni rolled his eyes and went back to scanning the area.
My head was on a swivel with all the stonework and history Italy offered. Not to mention the gorgeous flowers and friendly faces. “Are you happy here? Do you miss Sicily?”
“At first, yes,” she threaded her arm through mine, “but Montepulciano has my heart now.”
“I’m glad.” Suddenly, something amazing found its way to my nose and I headed for it. “Sienna, what is that smell?”
“Oh! That’s soup.” She tugged my arm, and we turned down a different street. The guys had to pivot to keep up.
We stopped at a vendor who was set up a little away from the others. “They have to sell down here, because at mealtime the line is so long it clogs the rest of the market.” She handed the lady some money, and we watched her pour the soup into a bowl, then she held it up for me to try. As soon as the taste smothered my tongue, I let out a moan. It was as if someone poured heaven in a cup andhehimself served it to me.
“I know. I swear after I discovered this soup I paid for their children’s first year of school.” She spoke to the couple, and they thanked me a few times as they bagged some for me to take with me. We thanked the couple, and as we did, two shots rang out, and in a split second the bag that held the container of soup flew in all directions and I felt myself being tackled hard to the ground. My heart dropped into my stomach as something sticky dripped down my face.
Sienna’s scream found my ears, and then I was jerked up and shoved behind Mr. Hotness. The security guard bled down his arm from a wound in his shoulder. More shots came, and he pressed my head down under the table. We kept low as he directed me to move with him behind two cars where Sienna was hunkered down with Vinni.