Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29

A lexandra

“What is Christmas like in this house?” I asked, and it was funny the strange look the three of them shared together. Sitting at the same beautifully decorated dining room table allowed me to see the stark resemblance between the three siblings. What struck me wasn’t just that they could be considered triplets, but that they were all stunning.

Beautiful people from an amazing and very rich family.

Talk about being born with silver spoons in their mouths.

The two men remained silent, both of them continuing to cut their prime rib, acting as if I hadn’t asked a thing. With the light Spanish guitar music and the flickering candles, I was pulled into the beauty of the moment even as Isabella finally leaned over the table.

“Well, we used to have a week-long celebration. Every room was carefully and beautifully decorated. There was always Christmas music playing, presents brought almost every day by family and friends. There were so many Christmas trees and Babbo Natale always made a surprise visit with bags of toys.”

She was so animated I found myself leaning over the table. “Santa?”

Her smile was infectious. She picked up her wineglass creating prisms of color through the flickering flames. “Absolutely. Of course that was when we were younger. When we got older, we did some of that for the children of our employees. We had huge parties, always providing gifts for every family. My mother and father made certain of it. That was when bonuses were given out, treats of all kinds. And the food and wine flowed.”

“Wow,” I commented. “It sounds incredible.”

“Oh, every year topped the previous one. And you know, dear brother, that our entire group of employees and their families valued the parties and the extra love almost more than anything. They would have done anything for our father and mother. Anything.”

Isabella was being serious and the look on Nico’s face was unreadable, but his features were pinched.

“Don’t go there, Isabella. I’m doing my best to take over in Father’s footsteps.”

“Well, your best isn’t good enough,” she countered. The tension was very high.

Nico had obviously dropped all the traditions.

“Why do you make it sound like the festivities were all in the past?” I asked, taking another bite of the best French-style scalloped potatoes I’d ever had.

Isabella huffed and cursed under her breath. “Ask my stick in the mud brother.”

I knew exactly who she was talking about, of course, and slowly turned my head toward Nico. “Is this true? No more parties? No more holidays? No more Christmas trees?”

I’ll be damned if the man didn’t look sheepish.

“Business has intervened every year,” he offered, but I could tell he was embellishing. In other words, lying through his teeth.

“Bullshit,” Isabella said without hiding the word. “He just doesn’t care enough about family.” I knew she was throwing barbs at him and I could tell how much it bothered him.

Hissing, he jerked up his head, saying something in Italian and for the first time, Isabella backed down. There was also sadness in her eyes as she shrank back.

A few seconds of awkward silence passed.

“Well, maybe the life you’ve brought to this family will rekindle some old traditions,” she said.

“Absolutely,” Domino said.

What did the handsome man do? Nico grumbled.

We finished our food in near silence until the sound of Nico’s phone broke the tense mood.

He yanked out his phone, staring at the screen. “I need to take this. I’m sorry.” Without waiting for anyone’s reply, he got up from the table, taking long strides from the room.

“Whew,” Domino said under his breath.

“Asshole,” Isabella added.

I did nothing more than glance toward the door. Nico was suddenly extremely tense all over again.

Nico

“You have information,” I said as soon as I’d walked out of the dining room. My contact in Italy had been slow to return my call, but he was a busy man.

Fernando was completely reliable, someone I would trust with my family and that was tough for me to say. “Sorry it took a little while. I had to push aside business. I don’t know what kind of shit is going on, but Elio suffered the consequences.”

I bristled, closing my eyes. “He’s dead.”

“Yeah, his house torn apart. By the point I got there, it was obvious the police had already been there collecting evidence.”

“But there’s more.”

“Boxes. I noticed banker-style boxes in his office. I have no clue what the hell he was doing and as you might imagine, they were trashed,” Fernando continued. “But there was a single piece of paper I found under the man’s desk that was missed.”

“Saying what?”

“It had your father’s name on it and a list of some contracts. I don’t know if they mean anything, but I thought you should know.”

I found myself leaning against the wall. I was no longer angry, just resigned. “Are you certain Elio is dead?”

“Oh, I’m certain. The amount of blood in the place was unimaginable. On the walls, the floors. No one could have survived.”

The loose ends were being tied up. “Anything else you can tell me?”

“His wife found him. That’s all I know and I had to be careful getting that.”

“I appreciate you finding out.”

“No problem, but do me a favor. Don’t call me for a while. I like laying low.”

I completely understood. “I won’t.”

There was no need for other pleasantries or lamenting over something I couldn’t control. The man in question was dead and couldn’t offer any additional help. But his death and the single piece of paper did provide clues. My father had likely known about the push in America. He could have attempted to make connections of his own. My father had been so certain the old ways still mattered that all arguments to the contrary had fallen on deaf ears.

It offered more credence to my thought that my father had been murdered, but right now, I couldn’t go down that path.

After holding the phone for a few seconds, I returned to the dining room. Dinner appeared to be over. Domino turned in my direction, realizing immediately something was going on. Isabella was directing the catering staff to get ready for dessert, but my lovely Alexandra was positioned in front of the French doors, staring longingly toward the orchards.

She seemed even more beautiful in the waning late afternoon sun. Twilight would soon take hold, my favorite time of the day. I had no intention of spoiling the lovely evening or the time I would get to spend with the girl who’d turned into a woman right before my eyes.

Yet tomorrow would provide a new set of challenges.

Domino tried to stop me, but I pushed him aside, giving him a look that was expressive enough he immediately backed off.

I flanked Alexandra’s side, acting as if I cared about the view she was admiring. It took her a few seconds to glance in my direction. “Important call?”

“Nothing to worry about.”

Her laugh was lilting as always. “You always say that, which then worries me.”

The draw to her was powerful. I brushed a strand of hair from her face. “You look incredible.”

“Your sister is… uncontrollable.”

I laughed. “Tell me something I don’t know. Did you enjoy dinner?”

“I did.”

There was commotion behind me, two soldiers pushing into the room. “Sophia insisted on seeing you,” one of them said.

I turned immediately. Sophia never came to the house. She understood the rules. There was no need, her usual method of contacting me via email or text. She was my lead computer expert and the look on her face made my anger immediately rise to the surface.

A bad feeling turned into one that was indescribable. “What is going on?”

She was panting as if she’d been running. “The cameras are out.”

“What?”

Her nod was followed by a gasping breath. “And there was a breach. It took me a little while to figure out how and which computer.”

I closed the distance, Domino right there by my side. “What the fuck?”

“You have another laptop here? Not one of yours?” Sophia asked.

It took me a few seconds to realize which one she could be talking about. “Alexandra’s. Fuck.”

“I scanned what I could and there was a warning. No name, but it has to be the person responsible for all of this.” Sophia was adamant.

“A warning?” Domino asked.

Sophia nodded again. “Sent to the owner of the laptop.”

An icy feeling shifted all the way down my spine. I slowly turned my head toward Alexandra. We locked eyes and I knew it was the truth. I’d not even given Alexandra’s laptop a thought.

“It was nothing,” she said. “I didn’t want to worry you.”

I was furious, but right now, I couldn’t deal with what she had or had not done. “Get the goddamn computers back online. Shut down that breach. And find out where it came from.”

“Yes, sir. I have the entire team working on it right now.”

The realization you’d been sabotaged was one of the most disturbing feelings in the world. All it had taken was one mistake, a laptop that I’d forgotten all about. I turned toward Alexandra, trying to curtail my anger. It wasn’t going to do any good at this point.

As I walked closer, I noticed she was ignoring me. I wanted to laugh and spew off angry words. But my hackles rose again. What the fuck?

She seemed to be concentrating on something outside the set of doors.

“Is something wrong?”

She opened the door and stepped out onto the patio, moving closer to the railing. “What is that bright orange ball?”

It took me a few seconds to realize what she was looking at. The moment of horror had me slightly frozen. “Listen to me. Stay right here. There’s a fire in the orchard.”

“A fire? Isn’t that close to the stable?”

“Yes. I’ll take care of it.”

“No. No! The horses. They must be saved.”

Her natural instinct to save and protect kicked in, the woman removing her heels and taking off running. “No!”

“What is going on?” Domino yelled as he moved outside.

“Fire. Call the fire department,” Alexandra yelled back.

“They won’t get here in time,” I growled, already racing off the porch.

“What do we do?” He hollered the question behind me.

“We operate the irrigation system. All of it.” It was the only way we might save the olive trees and the vineyard. I was positive the fire had been purposely set. I would bet my life on it.

My family had been through one horrific fire years before, the storm that had unleashed the lightning coming close to wiping out almost forty percent of the olive trees, but we’d persevered. Everyone on the property had come out with buckets of water, trying to stave off total devastation.

The fire department had been abysmal, but between everyone working together, including the children of the various families, myself included, we’d finally managed to snuff it out. The loss had been horrific, but we’d recovered in time.

Only this time, I doubted any of the employees would feel the incentive or the respect. Why should they? My sister was right. I’d changed so much I no longer recognized myself.

My mother hadn’t come to the house last Christmas. She’d called it too depressing. What was wrong with me?

The fire was getting worse, flames already licking up toward the sky. All I could think about was saving the woman who’d opened my heart.

This wasn’t lightning, a storm of any kind, or an accident. It wasn’t possible.

This was arson.

Twilight was setting in quickly, which added shadows everywhere. I couldn’t see Alexandra, my mind reeling with horrible thoughts. She was fucking barefoot, had no clue what she was getting herself into yet raced into danger.

I wanted to spank her for hours.

I wanted to hold her and keep her safe.

Every emotion jetted through me. I suddenly heard other yells and vehicles. They were coming from everywhere. Men. Women. Kids. What the hell was going on?

“We need to save the barn and the horses!” someone called.

“Water. We need water.”

The second cry was heartfelt. “Use the irrigation.” If anyone questioned my command, it didn’t show. Memories of the time when I was a kid and the other fire resurfaced. But there were more employees and it appeared every single one of those who lived on the property or close by had come out in full force.

A truck appeared on my right, the driver slamming on the brakes. Isabella jumped out, racing toward me. “Where did Alexandra go?”

“The horses.”

“Oh, God. No!”

The fire was getting worse, and people were screaming. Everyone was racing to get the hoses and the water going. While irrigation might save the trees and vineyards, there was only the normal amount of water for the stable.

Two hundred horses could perish.

Alexandra wasn’t going to allow that to happen. In the process, she could lose her life.

As soon as I neared the stable, the horror of what I was seeing set in. Whoever had done this would die by my hands. There would be no hesitation, no question.

People were everywhere, so many trying desperately to free the horses. I had to push my way through the crowd, trying desperately to get to the smoky front.

I bumped into Romeo, the shadows unable to hide how frantic he’d become. I grabbed his arm, yanking him closer. “Where is she?”

“Who?” he barked, trying to yell above the roar of the fire and the cries of the horses as they tried to flee.

“Alexandra.”

“I don’t know.”

“Where is Sassy?”

“Back of the stable.” He broke free, determined to save what he was responsible for.

I took a deep breath, wiping sweat from my face before racing into the barn. I had to save her. I would save her.

The smoke had already turned acrid, the horrible sounds of cracking wood and whinnying horses far greater than the rumble from the fire. I was in permanent motion, every action more perfunctory than anything, but I kept moving, pushing horses toward freedom and safety as I shoved my way to the back.

I knew Alexandra. She would do anything to save her horse.

The time seemed to slow, every sound shifting into an echo. All I could think about was the beautiful woman.

Finding her.

Saving her.

Protecting her.

Loving her.

The push to keep going did as it was intended, every cough and every wheeze ignored. I pushed out more horses, the terror so real for all of them. “Alexandra!” The call was likely drowned out, but I repeated it over and over again.

She didn’t call back.

Another cracking sound forced me to look up. It was too late. As a beam split off and fell from the ceiling, I only had time to shift to the right. But the heavy piece of wood fell on my leg, driving it into the gravel floor.

The pain was horrific, but the immobility was worse. I pushed and pulled, yelling for her continually. The flames were creeping closer. The heat was oppressive. Sweat stung my eyes.

I refused to die this way. No. No!

“Jesus Christ, brother. Can’t take you anywhere.”

Domino was suddenly there with Romeo, both men immediately moving to the beam.

“Get me out of here. Alexandra is still in here.”

I didn’t need to see their hesitation. I felt it. But they worked together, groaning as they attempted to remove the beam. I could hear their heavy breathing, the curse words that flowed from both their mouths. That didn’t stop them. While it seemed like it had taken forever, only a few seconds later, my leg was free.

There was no caution about my injury. I jumped to my feet, pushing myself further into the darkness. I would find her. I would save her.

Then I would hunt down the person responsible.

“What are you doing?” Domino called.

My answer was easy and slipping from the tip of my tongue. “Saving the woman I love.”

Time would continue taking a toll. I had no idea how many minutes had passed and it was something I would try to reflect on later. But a single whinny, one that sounded so forlorn, called my attention. I followed the sound, praying to God I was right.

“Alexandra!”

“Here. Help… us.”

“She’s here.” There was no time to lose, both men trailing closely behind me. I pushed my way forward, feeling for both the woman and Sassy. Suddenly, my leg no longer hurt. I had to save her.

When I found them huddled in a corner, I simply reacted. As we all raced to safety, the cracking sounds of additional timber could be heard all around us.

“The building is going down,” Romeo yelled.

I wasn’t going to allow that to happen. Not to my family. I pushed them all harder until we broke free from the building, the slight whiff of fresher air filling my lungs.

When we were a safe distance from the burning building, Alexandra fell against her horse.

“Are you hurt?” I pressed as I wrapped my arms around her.

“No. But Sassy. Is Sassy okay?” She was suddenly frantic.

“I think she’s fine. You saved so many horses,” Romeo managed, coughing after every second word.

“The other horses? The vineyards?” Alexandra flung herself into my arms.

“We’re saving them. We’ll rebuild the stable. Everything will be fine,” I told her. Of course that would be after I tracked the responsible bastard and ripped out his heart.

My gut told me this was Mattia’s doing. I would bet my life on it.

“We need help!” one of the workers called from off to the left closest to the vineyards.

I hesitated, wanting nothing to do with leaving Alexandra here alone.

“Go. Go! You need to save the crops!” she pushed me.

“You stay right here.”

She nodded, but I knew better. The woman was so damn hardheaded, but right now, I was thankful the girl was alive.

My anger fueled me and I kissed her forehead, racing off with the others.

We would save the goddamn crops.

Fuck the enemy.

He would soon be dead.