~~~~~

Florida Keys, United States. White sandy beaches, blue skies meshing with the ocean on the horizon. A deep breath brought with it the salty scent, and I sighed as I looked around. It had been a long time since I last visited the ‘Sunshine State,’ so I was a little excited to be here again. I glanced around the beachside mansion we would stay at with a soft sigh. Though the sights were beautiful, and the beaches sparkling, we remained mostly secluded to the mansion.

Nicolo had been acting a little odd since my family showed up, and I wondered what was up. The Don did not have the chance to visit places like this, so maybe he just had some jet lag. I shrugged as I turned back to the white brick house, then glanced skyward as a seagull flew overhead, wondering why or how he even had time for this. God forbid I mention coming alone. His response to that was ‘absolutely not.’

Did he trust me so little he thought my goal was to cheat? My gaze fell to catch movement in one ground–floor window as I started walking towards the door. Nico was on the phone again, perhaps using this opportunity to create some new contacts for himself. Even on a ‘vacation’ to somewhere new, we lived our jobs, so we had to make the most of every moment and get money when and where we could.

The Romano Family were not impressed with the expense of the trip until Nicolo mentioned he could use the chance to connect with mafia families in the Americas. A ruse; as we couldn’t let them know Vespus was a target of the Accardi for obvious reasons. They were still unaware of who married their Don, and the thought brought a little smirk to my face as I opened the door to hear Nico speaking in a slew of Italian, sounding rather upset.

“Lili…” He ended the call as soon as our eyes locked, and I swallowed at the heat in his gaze. “The family is still upset at our sudden departure. They think this is simply another pleasure trip.”

The way his voice deepened when he said ‘pleasure’ had my stomach clenching in anticipation. Nicolo walked closer to me, a wicked gleam in his eyes as his arms spread beside him. Perhaps my concern was misplaced, as Nico was acting the same as always. Like an egotistical, lustful maniac. I bit my lip as he walked closer, knowing that my expression likely mirrored his own. The things this man did to me.

“Of course, pleasure is always the first thing on my mind with you, but they are angry we left so soon after the dinner. That is the key aspect.” Nicolo’s hands planted firmly on his hips, then he suddenly pulled me by my waist, snug against his heat. “Why did we have to leave so soon?”

“My Vespus contact is being called back to the rig and has to leave soon.” I sighed as he dropped hot kisses along my neck. “That’s… very distracting, Nico.”

“Is it?” He wondered, tracing the line of my bikini top shoulder strap with his tongue, making my arms lift to tighten around his neck. “You seem to like it.”

“I thought we were talking.”

“You make it hard to listen walking around dressed like that.” His hands drifted lower down my waist to my exposed hip. “Like a mermaid, but way more seductive.”

I’d picked a purple string bikini to wear around the poolside today while I worked to review some files Marcello sent over concerning another job. I loved being near the water, and had an enormous collection of bathing suits to show for it, and this mansion had some of my best suits. It was why I picked this safe house for us to stay in when Nico asked. His fingers traced the string along my back with a feather–like touch, sending a thrill down my spine.

“It’s all I can think about,” Nicolo murmured against the top of my chest, the ghost of his breath making me gasp. “You’re so naughty, tempting me when I’m supposed to be working.”

My head fell back as his hand slid up my thighs, then his fingers shifted the fabric of my suit out of the way. Sparks flew from his touch throughout my body as I leaned heavily against him, barely able to stand on my now shaking legs. Once he learned the truth, that I loved him, he hadn’t held back in his affections, often turning me into a puddle. Rough lips closed over mine as my entire body tensed, and through slitted eyes, I gazed helplessly at him.

As soon as we made eye contact, I heard his zipper slide down, and then I was too overwhelmed to think. No matter where we were, or what we were doing, all he had to do was touch me. The second he did, I would always give myself to him. If love felt this good, why did I fight against it for so long? My body knew the truth before my heart and brain could recognize it. I arched as he shifted again, my skin tingling as he traced along my neck with his lips.

“Ti amo…” ‘I love you…’ Nico’s husky voice filled my ears and my heart more than I could likely ever explain.

So much of my life I’d spent protecting everyone as the future Donna of the Accardi, and for the first time I detested who I was. As my arms tightened around Nicolo, savoring his warmth as he carried me to bed, I considered my truth. Protecting others had always been a job, something I did out of necessity. Now I wanted to keep him safe, even if it meant losing my life. As a result, I was considering telling him to stay here instead of meeting the contact with me.

~~~~~

“My name is Avaritia Vespus. Nice to meet you. It’s also hard to believe it’s you!” The woman whispered in a gasp; her shock evident in her sharp features, blue eyes saucer wide. “Mr. Vespus has been searching for you for years!”

Miss Avaritia isn’t actually related to Arnie Vespus. When someone joins the country, they have to prove their loyalty by changing their last name to his, and of course, Arnie makes them change their first name, too. Avaritia is one of his first members with a taste for the finer things in life, as well as an extremely wealthy history as the heiress for a major international corporation. Money was no issue for her, but she loved having more.

Perhaps that’s why Arnie gave her a name that meant ‘greedy.’ She remained outside the rig; on the coast to recruit more members to join their cult. Avaritia had the money and power to reach hundreds of thousands of people, and oversaw the list of requirements Arnie had for new members. She also paid for their travel to Vespus. Our little capture back at the Villa revealed all after the ‘truth serum’ worked its magic. Ginny also apparently became fast friends with her when she was preparing to go to the oil rig.

“I’m surprised you would volunteer that information.” I replied, then crossed my arms over my chest when she winked at Nicolo. “Then again, you probably want what’s in that case.”

“Darling, you’re paying me more to talk than I’ve ever invested in that little country of Arnie’s. As long as there’s money to be made, I’d sell my sister!” She laughed, her covetous gaze on the briefcase Nico carried as she rubbed her hands together. “When he discovered your father got your mother pregnant, he was rather angry. Then he started demanding you after your birth. Your parents disappeared, taking you with them, and he’s been looking for all of you since.”

“To what end? What do you get out of helping Arnie Vespus?”

“I ‘hold’ their money for them. There’s no escaping the rig once they get there, so they sign their money over to me blinded by his ‘good’ image. You, however, have something he wants. He hasn’t told anyone what that is, though.” Our contact remarked with a grin, then looked me up and down. “If I had to guess, he probably wanted you to be his first of many underage brides. Especially since you look so much like your mother. He has married two or three young girls after you left, but everyone knows they’re just placeholders for someone more important.”

Those were his three most recent wives, though they were ‘eighteen’ according to their parents, who approved the marriage. It wasn’t something I was unfamiliar with, as some cultures practiced a kind of arranged marriage with girls as young as twelve or thirteen to similar aged boys. Regardless, I personally couldn’t imagine it, and though I didn’t like it personally, what others did didn’t involve me. This situation was different than those cultures, as Arnie was simply a pervert from the states wanting to get as many women and girls for a harem as possible.

“What is happening on that rig?” I questioned, walking over to a mini–bar stationed within her suite, then grabbed a bottle of whiskey. “Why does he still need new members?”

“To hunt for you. He’s still pretty sure you’re in Italy. I bet when he finds out you’re here, he’ll come to visit!” She clapped her hands together excitedly, then her gaze focused on the bottle I was holding. “The last guys he sent, directly from the rig via my ship, never came back. I suppose your new husband had something to do with that? Would you like a glass of that?”

My gaze narrowed as I stared at her, hand reaching for the gun hidden under the waistband of my jeans behind me. I might know everything about her, but if she knew who I really was, this would be the end of her story. It became clear to me now. Arnie has heard of the Accardi family somehow. How? As such a small place, one not labeled by major powers as even being a country, he should have no such knowledge. The Accardi only work with those worthy of us, but his underling from the attack on the Villa knew my name.

“If you want to know what’s happening on the rig, I can get you access. For a price, of course.” She winked at Nicolo with a wicked grin on her full red lips, then her gaze locked with mine. “You did well for a maid from a no name family, by the way. Italian men are built different.”

“I simply caught the attention of my boss.” I countered, the hand on my gun relaxing a bit as she sipped at a teacup. “Are you a terrible liar or something? Your honesty is off–putting.”

“Not at all. No one will kill me for being honest here, so there is nothing for me to lose!”

Avaritia shrugged as if she didn’t care in the slightest. There was something in her demeanor that spoke volumes to her truthfulness on the matter of my identity. She truly believed I was a maid from the Orlando family, just like everyone else who was associated with the Romano Mafia. Perhaps I would take her up on the offer and infiltrate Vespus. They made an enemy of the Accardi and the Romano in their attack, so revenge was on the table.

“Mafia whistleblower Arnie Vespus warns that governments around the world are working with a mythical ‘Underworld Protection Detail.’ Meanwhile, the rest of the world laughs at his attempts to garner attention.” A nearby radio interrupted my thoughts, though I kept my gaze on Avaritia to observe her reaction. “The world knows the man is simply a lustful and power–hungry fool in support of outdated views.”

“You know, he got the idea of that ‘Underworld Protection Detail’ from a passage in a book he found as a child. Everyone told him it was just a silly fairytale, but he still believes it.” She said with a heavy sigh and a shake of her head. “Well, who cares what his personal beliefs are. Even if they are fake. He’s done right in the past by those people on that rig.”