Chapter Thirteen

Despite the way that Grazia is looking at me as I leave, I make sure to double check the lock on the front door once I'm out of the beach house.

I also check on the big windows, and make sure there aren't any strange weapons left lying around the property.

We've had a good chat, but I need to know that she's securely locked in here, since there might still be a chance that she's trying to escape.

Her eyes seem to be honest, but I've seen women lie through their teeth before, and I don't think I can ever trust one of them again.

If I ignore all of that, however, I have to admit that spending this time with Grazia has helped my stress immensely.

My shoulders feel lighter while I'm driving back home, although I have a bit of a headache from all of the feelings I dug into with Grazia.

I've always thought that therapy was ridiculous, wondering why anyone would pay to speak to someone about their problems.

My thoughts were that it would never help anything, but maybe I was wrong.

Even though my mind is still all over the place, something about talking so openly to Grazia, and for so long, has lifted some of the burden and stress I've been feeling.

There is still no way that I can trust her fully. She is an enemy, and as much as she is pretending to be happy to be with me, she is still in my house against her will.

I doubt she would pass up the next opportunity to try and escape. But I'm not about to let my guard down enough to give her that chance.

I'm already kicking myself for the way that I acted last night.

I should know better than to be so vulnerable with anyone, let alone a captive toy whose only purpose is to help me get what I am after.

She's good, though, at sympathizing with me. It felt like she understood, like she wasn't judging me, and like she cared about my stories of my parents. But who knows if it was all just an act.

But none of that matters now. I have to clear my head and light a fire under the asses of Luca and Enzo.

They are taking advantage of the patience that I've extended to them, and that's ending today. This can't go on any longer, because I don't know how much longer I can trust myself around Grazia.

We've already had sex, I've fallen asleep next to her, and now we've spent a whole night talking. The lines are blurred already.

If I don't sharpen them quickly, my whole plan may be ruined. And all for some Italian pussy.

Sex with Garzia been some of the best that I've had in my entire life. Grazia is not shy when she's naked, and she's more than willing to do her part.

Somehow, we just seem to know what the other person wants, and neither of us is left unsatisfied. However, I like uncomplicated sex and sleeping with Grazia is nothing if not complicated.

I hear my phone go off as soon as I walk into my house, but I need coffee before I look at it. If I am going to need to deal with any more issues this week, I'm going to need to do that with caffeine in me.

Tequila might be better, except that it won't help my resolution to be more clear-headed.

In the kitchen, I run into my housekeeper.

For a moment, I think about sending her to the beach house, but then I remember that I left Grazia to roam freely around the house before I left.

Now, I wonder if that was the best thing to do.

"Jane," I say to her, and she looks at me like she's in trouble. That's always how she looks, though.

I have tried to be as kind to her as I can, but being in this house can cause a type of constant anxiety and trauma.

"Yes, sir?"

I've caught her while she's busy sorting out breakfast, even though I hardly eat in the mornings. I have always made sure that she cooks for the rest of the staff in the house.

This also helps to make sure that Jane is looked after.

Since she feeds the security guys, they're more likely to make sure she's safe if something were to go wrong at the house.

"I may ask you to take some food over to the beach house a little later. Will you have time?"

I am asking out of politeness, because Jane has always been good to me and this house, but it's not a question, and she knows it.

"Yes, of course. Just let me know when you need me to go."

She smiles at me, showing the same softness that she's shown me since she started here, so many years ago.

I don't remember much about what it was like to have a mother, but I assume it's a lot like having Jane around to look after me.

She takes care of me if I am sick, makes sure I eat at least once a day, and has given me advice when I've come home drunk with too much on my mind.

She also cleans my house and reminds of me important dates, so it's kind of like having a mother and a personal assistant, I suppose.

"I will, thank you. And I'll have someone drive you, so you don't need to worry."

Jane is way too old to be trusted on the road now.

Taking my cup of coffee into my office, I switch on my computer and finally take out my phone to check on the message I received.

Thankfully, the message is actually good news.

Luca Baldini says he's finally ready to meet me and hand over the rest of the money and routes.

I dial his number and call him. I want to hear it from his mouth so that I don't get Grazia excited for nothing.

"Luca, I'm glad to see you can make a decision. Did my little movie help you along?"

I find it funny that after sending the video that I made Grazia make, suddenly this man is ready to make a move.

Men often only do things when they feel like they have no choice.

"Don't get cocky, Marco. We will come to Mexico and give you what you want, but we're taking my sister home with us, so make sure she is unharmed and with you."

I don't hear Enzo in the background this time, so I assume he's left his little brother to make the arrangements.

I heard more than enough of Luca's drunk babbling while he was in Mexico—he told anyone who would listen that his brother would never let him take full control of anything.

It's why he worked so hard to make this deal with my cousin a success. So, I suppose this is now him being able to take control.

Perhaps he should be thanking me.

"Grazia is fine, and will remain that way for as long as you co-operate. But step out of line in any way, Luca, and your sister is going to get caught in the crossfire. I can promise you that. I will send you my address, and when you can meet me. Bring the routes to sign over, in front of me. You can find your own cars and accommodation if you're not flying back immediately. I'm not as gracious a host as my cousin."

I don't want the Baldinis to think that this is some sort of welcoming party.

They are only coming here for business, and if I see them step even one foot out of place, I won't hesitate to have them executed.

"Oh, trust me, I know this already." Luca's tone is actually too cocky for my liking. He should remember who has the control here.

But my mind is too busy to deal with him right now. I just want to know that this whole thing is going to end soon, and I can go back to my normal life here in Mexico, with no seductive Italian girls tempting me to visit my beach house.

"We expect that we will have no issues when arriving, though, Marco. I don't plan on using force, but we will if we have to."

"I will instruct my security to let you and Enzo onto the property, along with one guard, to help you feel safe. But that is all."

There is no way that they're bringing more muscle with them, just in case they decide to try and take Grazia without paying the price.

I don't trust these Italians with anything right now.

"That's fine. But you should also be aware that we have security at home and will have more with us on the plane. If you try to do us dirty, you will regret it."

I chuckle at him thinking that I am concerned at all about his "security at home". Threats have never been the best way to motivate me, but these Baldinis don't know that yet.

I will let him have his moment, believing that they have a layer of insurance.

"Likewise, Baldini."

I drop the call and go to get dressed in a fresh outfit. I need to now go back to the beach house and bring Grazia here.

First, I go to tell Jane that she no longer needs to worry about going to the beach house, but that I do need her to set up for dinner here tonight.

I doubt the Baldinis will arrive today, so there is no harm in treating Grazia to a meal, as a small thank you for her kindness and compassion last night.

There's an odd feeling in my gut as I think about Grazia going back home with her brothers.

I know that this is exactly what I need to do for the Baldinis to follow through on their part of this deal and to take Grazia back to the US, where I will no longer be distracted by her big brown eyes, long silky hair, and firm curvy body.

There has been very little work done while she's been sauntering across the monitor screens on my desk.

But still, after last night, having Grazia around felt…nice. Besides Carlos, I've never had much of a family.

There's never been anyone, other than Jane, to quietly listen to me without judging or trying to tell me what to do.

As I'm getting ready to leave, I laugh at myself.

Thinking that the night of talking had anything to do with Grazia caring about what I have to say is humorous.

I know, and she does too, that she was acting out of survival, and I can't really blame her.

I'm actually impressed with how she has handled this whole situation.

Being kidnapped at gunpoint, taken to a strange country, and kept against her will, with the looming threat of danger, would have broken a weaker person.

Grazia has proven her strength, even though playing games almost cost the girl her life.

No one could really blame her for trying her luck.

I have barely seen her break down, she's held her own in almost all of our conversations, and even her attempts at escape have been dignified.

If she were to marry someone like me, she would do just fine in the world we live in with danger and threats around every corner.