Chapter 54

One month later.

I prowledthrough the crowd at the piazza. Shouldering past the many tourists and locals as they danced around the center bonfire.

I nodded to the bodyguard my girl knew about—then to the two she didn't. One of them gestured to the left with his head.

And that was when I spotted her.

Her blonde hair loose and falling in golden waves down her back, drawing every male eye to the generous swell of her hips as she moved and swayed to the music. Her left arm gracefully stretched out then swept over her head in time to the beat, while her right extended toward the crowd, holding a red plastic bucket.

I came up behind her and wrapped my arm tightly around her waist. Drawing her back against my hips and already growing cock, I growled, Bad girl, swaying your hips like this in front of other men—when youre supposed to be mine.

Ella giggled and turned in my arms. As she draped her left hand around my neck, she tilted her head back and smiled. "I'm all yours, husband."

I gave her a hard kiss on her sweet, full lips. "And don't you ever forget it, wife."

My hand caressed down her right arm to remove the bucket from her grasp. Lifting it out of her reach, I shook it until the coins rattled. "I thought I made myself clear about this?"

She stretched on her toes to reach it but was adorably too short. "Technically yes, but…"

"No buts. We agreed."

Giuseppe approached us with his hand over his heart. "So sorry, Signore Cavalieri. You have my word it won't happen again."

Handing him the bucket, I raised an eyebrow. "See that it doesn't."

Ella had joined the small string quartet that played in the piazza under the strict rule that she was not to move about the crowd busking for coins. For starters, it wasn't a good look for the wife of a multi-millionaire, but more importantly, it was dangerous.

Nothing had been resolved with the Agnellos. Her father was still screaming for war, while her sister had fled to Milan. Which left Dante scrambling to shore up loyalty.

And then there was Judge Marzio Delluci. We had something special planned for him, but it would take a great deal of secrecy and a delicate touch.

In the meantime, we had to keep our girls safe. None of them were crazy about having a bodyguard, which was why we decided to keep the additional two bodyguards under the radar.

Ella pretended to pout. "But I'm bored. Playing cello and then moving about the crowd is fun."

I spun her in a circle as we danced. "I have plenty of ways to keep you occupied until we leave for the ranch next week."

She rolled her eyes and gave a dramatic sigh. "Aunt Gabriella says it would be gauche if I allowed you to knock me up in the first six months of our marriage."

"Remind me to thank her," I quipped, pressing Ella closer.

"Besides, I need to focus on the Cavalieri School of Art and Music."

We had decided to turn Enzo's historical house overlooking the piazza into a school, art museum and gallery, and community center for the village.

Milana was overseeing the construction project. Bianca was handling the decorating, and we were headed to the Dolomites to spend a few months on the horse ranch so that Liliana and Ella could work together on the school curriculum. Meanwhile Amara was working the winery's more exalted clients for art donations for the museum while lining up local artists for the gallery.

Ella rested her head against my heart. "I can't wait to see the ballroom turned into a concert hall. The acoustics are perfect. And I already have half the program worked out for the memorial concert in Alfonso's honor to celebrate Festa di Tutti i Santi in November."

Just then, she leaned her head back to look up at me. "Thank you."

I frowned. "For what?"

"A few months ago, my life was empty. Now I have so many projects and ideas I don't know what to do with myself. All I ever wanted to do was share my love of music and help people. So thank you."

I cupped her cheek and placed a kiss on her forehead. "You're welcome, colomba mia."

She lowered her head and snuggled closer against my chest.

My hand stroked her long, soft hair. "Of course, you could say that I gave you purpose. That before me, your life was cold and meaningless. That I was the one who brought light and warmth. Like the sun, or a god. Maybe you should be worshipping me on your knees?—"

Her cheeks turned bright pink with embarrassment as several nearby dancing couples cast interested glances in our direction and smiled at our overheard conversation.

Ella groaned while reaching up to cover my mouth. "Oh my God. Please stop talking!"