“Mrs. Saldi? I have to get a confirmation from either your husband or Dario that it’s okay for you to leave the suite,” one said.
This was one of several recruits Dario had trained himself. She remembered him talking to Valentino about it a couple of years earlier at the lake house. They hadn’t wanted anyone to know. Dario had been on the lookout for men he believed would be good to make up their own personal soldiers, men they could count on, not recruited or made by Giuseppi or his capos. Dario wanted a small group of trained men he believed would be loyal to Valentino and him, with no ties to Miceli or any other crime family. Dario was suspicious of everyone, but these were the men he’d trained in secret and the only ones he allowed to guard Val if he wasn’t around. Even then, he was very aware Emmanuelle and her family were watching over him as well.
She remembered the two guards’ names—Lando Regio and Pace Detti. Neither was married. Both were in their thirties. It was clear they were ex-military. They held themselves the way Drago and Demetrio did—as if they could handle themselves. Lando was busy texting, as was Drago.
Emmanuelle decided to do a little texting of her own to Mariko. Not only do I have to answer to my husband, Dario and every one of my brothers, but also a set of Saldi bodyguards who have to check with either Val or Dario and a set of bodyguards who have to check with either Emilio or in this case Ricco. Testosterone much? The dark ages appear to be alive and well in our family.
She couldn’t take her phone into the shadows. She tapped her foot in front of the elevators, waiting for permission from a multitude of men, vowing she would just grab shadows from here on out. She would be honest and take back any promises she might have inadvertently made to her husband because this was ridiculous—hilarious, but still ridiculous—and she knew herself. She didn’t have the patience for it.
“Dario gave you the okay,” Lando said.
“How very generous of him,” Emmanuelle said, flashing Lando a smile. She looked up at Drago as the elevator doors slid open. He stepped on with her while Demetrio stayed behind. “I suppose you got the okay as well, because I’m not grown-up enough to make decisions all on my own.”
“Emme,” Drago reprimanded. “I do my job. I’m thorough. I keep you alive.”
“I told you Ricco was backing me up.”
“You’re a wild card, woman, you always have been. It isn’t like we all don’t know that. You get pissed and you go your own way. Every one of us knows you’re the most difficult detail.”
“I am not. Stefano is.”
Drago shook his head. “You are. By far. Emilio purposely trains the newbies with someone experienced on you because you’re going to give them hell every time. You’re going to give them the slip so many different ways. You’re the best training tool we have.”
Shocked, she stared at him. That just couldn’t be. “I’m not as bad as Nicoletta. She’s the wild child.”
“She doesn’t have near your imagination.”
Emmanuelle didn’t know whether to feel complimented or insulted. The elevator slid smoothly to a halt just as her phone vibrated. She glanced down at the text from Mariko.
Laughing emojis. I had no idea what I was getting into. They don’t tell us before they get us to fall in love. You were born into it and then fell for Val. He’d better treat you right. Are you truly happy with him? Do you know he loves you with all his heart?
Mariko had been there when Marge had spouted her poison. She didn’t know Valentino. She didn’t know Marge. She only knew the things Emmanuelle had told the family two years earlier, that Valentino had been with a woman and told her he had been ordered by his father to get Emme to fall for him so he could learn the Ferraro family secrets.
Absolutely he loves me. He would do anything for me. I should have told you the truth about that night. I was so afraid to be with him. I know Ricco had to tell you about how the shadows react differently. I was so terrified of loving him and what it might mean between our families. And he’s like Stefano in a lot of ways.
Emmanuelle stepped off the elevator into the private alcove built into the shadows for the family. The dim light threw the tubes in many different directions. Emme was careful to stay out of any of them.
I see that, Mariko admitted.
Coming to you now, Emme texted.
She locked her phone and handed it to Drago. “Take good care of him for me and don’t let anything happen to you. I refuse to believe I’m the worst in the family for cooperating with the bodyguards, even if that means including Elie.” That was said as a last resort.
Drago slipped her phone into his pocket. “Even including the daredevil. Be safe, Emme.” He stepped back onto the elevator, but didn’t allow the doors to close until she chose a tube and stepped into it. At once, the force pulled at her, ripping at her flesh and bones, threatening to tear her apart. She was so used to the sensation, it barely registered anymore.
The Saldi estate was impressive. Giuseppi had purchased it for Greta, claiming his bride needed a home befitting a queen. He had managed to secure a property that had been built with the finest materials and craftsmanship. The end result provided living and entertaining areas, nine full bathrooms and two partial baths, and five very large bedrooms with sitting rooms and walk-in closets. There was a panic room in the main master bedroom and hidden passageways for Giuseppi and his family to escape into if they needed to. The walls were thick to keep the house cool from the heat and warm from the cold. Greta’s favorite room had been the sunroom overlooking the vast gardens.
The entire estate was surrounded by two acres of trees and landscaped gardens. The wrought iron fence was high and surrounded the entire two acres. There were four points of entry. The front gate was always manned, while the other three had a code that had to be entered in order for the gate to open. The code was changed daily. Cameras were everywhere. The grounds were patrolled with armed guards and dogs.
When one entered through the back, the drive wound through an impressive riot of flowering trees and shrubs. Fortunately, there were plenty of low lights on the shrubs and trees to throw shadows. The detached garage was behind the main house. The garage was extremely large, with radiant heating not only on the floor but on the covered walkways leading to the garage. It was an eight-bay garage, with each bay holding up to four very large trucks or cars. It could hold a collection of cars, at least that was what Val had told her.
Ricco and Mariko waited just outside the garage. Ricco had a frown on his face, which immediately gave her pause.
“What is it?”
“I’m glad you called for backup, babe. Something big is going on here. I don’t think they’re waiting for Giuseppi to come home. They’ve got men everywhere, Emme. There are patrols on the grounds and in the house, and they have two shooters on the roof. That was just a cursory, very quick look.”
Mariko nodded. “On the street, they’ve got cameras as well as patrols, both in cars and walking up and down on both sides of the street from one end to the other. They’re heavily armed.”
Emmanuelle shook her head. “That really doesn’t make any sense. It sounds as if they’ve been here for a while, not just since Val’s been raiding their businesses.”
Ricco nodded. “Exactly my thought.”