I arch a brow. “Are you actually defending him?”
“I’m simply saying this needs to end,” Kace says. “Better it’s on our terms, and now it is.”
“Have you kept up with your home at all, Aria?” Ella asks.
I glance at my glass and Kace leans in and whispers, “You are not pregnant. Drink the wine.”
He’s right. I’m not. I’d know and Savage was right. I’m fretting over something that doesn’t even exist. That’s not good for me or Kace. I sip my wine and turn to her. “You mean here in Italy?”
“Yes. Cremona.”
“No.” There is a pinch in my chest. “No, I have not.” But Gio did, I think silently, and he never even told me what he found there or what it felt like to be there.
“Blake sent me some research to pass to you,” Kayden chimes in. “Apparently, your family business shut down after your father disappeared. His right-hand man, Luigi, stayed on long enough to handle the closing.”
“We looked into him,” Ella adds. “He went on to work at a winery and later died of a heart attack. The building where your father ran his operation, as well as your family home, was sold off to pay off debts.”
“Anything that might tell us what happened to her father?” Kace asks and thank God. I wouldn’t have asked. I wanted to, I did, but some part of me didn’t want to hear the answer. I guess there is still a coward inside me on some points that needs conquering.
I sip my wine, nervous to even hear his answer, disappointed when Kayden replies with, “No word on your father, Aria, but once we’re past the danger, Blake and I agreed to do some digging. We’ll stir the pot when it’s safe.”
“Thank you,” I say and when the waitress arrives with our coffee and dessert, I lean over to Kace and whisper, “thank you.”
He strokes my cheek, tenderness in his expression. He knew where my head was. He understood.
When dinner is over, the four of us decide to walk the neighborhood and arm in arm, Kace and I enjoy the exploration. We’re deep into the paths of winding roads, among little shops and restaurants, when Ella pauses at the door to a tattoo parlor. “The best tattoo artist in Italy works here.” She holds up her wrist. “He did my hawk and Kayden’s, too. Kayden’s first, of course. He was the Hawk long before I was his Lady Hawk.”
“The Hawk?” I ask.
“That’s what they call The Underground leaders. And I’m the Hawk’s woman.”
I glance up at Kace. “I need a musical note like you.”
“Do you now?”
“Yes. For the same reason you got them. I’ve always been told I can’t attach myself to music. Now I want to be a rebel, and I can because I’m no longer in hiding.”
He smiles one of his handsome smiles and kisses me. “Yes, you can, baby.”
“Well, let’s make it happen,” Kayden says, opening the door to the tattoo parlor.
Two hours later, I have newly inked musical notes on both of my arms to match Kace’s exactly, and I’m all smiles. I also have a date to learn to be a badass with Ella tomorrow. We arrive back at the castle to find a drunk Adrian and Savage on the porch, laughing and having a dumb joke contest. “What do you call a pig that does karate?” Adrian says as we join them.
“A pork chop,” Kace says, much to Adrian’s frustrated scowl. “And,” Kace says, “because I, too, can tell a bad joke, there was a mama tomato and six baby tomatoes—”
“No,” Adrian says. “Do not tell my favorite bad joke.”
Kace grins. “And one baby tomato fell behind—”
“—and the mom screamed, catch up!” Adrian finishes.
Savage smirks. “They’re torturing me.”
Kayden and Ella sit down on one of the steps to join Adrian and Savage and after a goodnight, Kace and I head on inside. Once we’re inside and the door shut behind us, Kace steps into me, his hands warmly resting at my waist. “We’re going back to Cremona to see the daisies. You have my word. Your father’s daisies.”
I push to my toes and kiss him on the mouth. He cups my head and his mouth slants over my mouth in a delicious assault that curls my toes. And when his lips part from mine, I am breathless when I say, “I cannot wait to see the daisies with the one true daisy in the wind.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
The next morning, Kace and I are treated to blueberry muffins and coffee by Marabella, which she delivers to our room. While we’re sharing the oversized chair in front of the fireplace munching, Kace’s phone rings. “Blake,” he greets, answering the line on speaker. “It’s me and Aria.”
“Aria,” Blake says. “Glad to hear we had Savage with you at that club. How are you?”
“Good as new and yes, thank God for Savage. He was amazing.” I wet my lips and dare to ask, “Anything on my brother?”
“He’s gone dark,” he says, “but I do believe Kayden can lure him out of the shadows. You’re both feeling good with the plans?”
“Except for the part where Kace goes to the meeting with Donelle alone,” I say, “yes.”
“Especially the part where I go to the meeting alone,” Kace counters, giving me a sideways look and sipping his coffee.
Blake chuckles. “I’m a married man who knows not to wade into this particular battle.”
He’s comparing us to his married life and when I meet Kace’s stare, his eyes are warm with the same understanding. “That’s between you two,” Blake adds, “and the team on the ground there.”
Reluctantly, I refocus on Blake and important and uncomfortable matters. “What about Nancy? I just can’t get my head around her being capable of doing me wrong. Or anyone wrong, for that matter.”
“Nancy has a sick mother and needs money. As for what we know, it’s not what we expected. The money came from Alexander.”
I suck in a breath and my gaze collides with Kace’s. “What is he up to, Kace?”
His expression tightens. “Any idea, Blake?”
“Several,” Blake says, “but I’m not inclined to speculate out loud. Nor am I inclined with all you two are facing to confirm my thoughts the slow way. I’d just as soon confront her and ask her.”
Kace looks to me. “Aria?”
“Yes,” I say, thinking of what Kayden said about unknowns being a problem. “Yes. Please just talk to her. How are you going to approach it?”
“As a member of your and Kace’s security team,” Blake states. “The question is, what do you want to do about her?”
“I want to fire her,” I say, “but then I think of her sick mom. It’s hard for me to be that cold.”
“Fire her,” Kace says, speaking to Blake. “Give her six months’ severance and pay her mother’s medical bills.”