The Italian's Unexpected Heir

“I’ll slice it up.” Sylvie grabbed a knife and set to work thinly slicing the bread. She wished there was more she could do than just stand around working the kitchen. “Have they said how it’s going? Are their efforts holding off the fire?”

“They said so far so good but that could change with a gust of wind.”

The thought of it sent a shiver of apprehension skittering down her spine.

And then she realized that Enzo shouldn’t be facing this nightmare alone. Sure, she was there, but she wasn’t family. He needed his sisters.

She wasn’t sure how Enzo would feel about her interfering, but lately she had the feeling he wasn’t thinking clearly. He was being driven by ghosts of the past. Maybe it was time he was surrounded by the people who loved him here and now—his sisters...and her—even if he didn’t love her in return.

She pulled her phone from her pocket. She had Bianca’s number but not Gia’s. She was certain once Bianca heard the news that she’d call her sister.

Sylvie hurriedly pressed Dial before she had a chance to talk herself out of it. The phone rang once, twice, three times. Her heart started to sink. Bianca was very busy these days, between planning her Christmas wedding and assuming her new royal duties.

But then the call was picked up and Bianca’s voice came on the line. “Sylvie, hi. What’s going on?”

“Bianca, thank goodness. Have you talked to your brother recently?”

“No, why?” Concern rang out in Bianca’s voice. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s the estate. There’s a wildfire...its headed for the villa.”

* * *

Everything had changed.

And now it was about to change once more.

The speed at which Enzo’s life was evolving was dizzying. He paused and leaned upon the shovel he’d been using to help widen the cleared property line between his estate and the neighbors’, where the wildfire was wreaking utter devastation. He grabbed a rag from his back pocket to run across his sweaty brow.

He gazed out over the vineyard as a light layer of smoke mingled with the sun’s rays. The sunlight bounced off the droplets of dew, making them sparkle as though the long lines of grapevines were in fact strung with glittering jewels.

It wasn’t so long ago that this place had been his dream. He’d gone off to make a name for himself so that when he returned, his father would take him on as a full partner—respecting his input. But that day had never come. It was snatched away from both of them when a delivery truck ran a stop sign.

In the end Enzo had won the vineyard by default. It certainly didn’t feel like a win. It definitely felt more like a tremendous loss—the loss of his parents, the loss of his idyllic vision of them, the loss of his love for these rolling hills and lush vines where he and his sisters used to go exploring.

A sound caught his attention. He glanced over his shoulder. Caught up in his memories, for the briefest second he expected to see his sisters, Bianca and Gia, trekking their way toward him, laughing about something. When he’d ask what was so amusing, they’d shake their heads and say he wouldn’t get it. But in reality, there was no one there. It was just a gust of hot, smoky wind rustling the leaves on the nearby vines.

Bianca had moved on. In just a few short months she would become the Princess of Patazonia. He hadn’t been so sure about this love affair with a prince. In fact, he’d tried to keep them apart after Bianca returned from planning a royal wedding in Patazonia with a broken heart. But in the end, he saw that they truly belonged together.

And then there was his youngest sister, Gia. Her path to true love was not so simple. Not simple at all. To know that she’d been lied to all of her life by the people she was supposed to trust the most, their parents—it was unimaginable. And yet, through the darkest time in her life, she’d found love. Now both of his sisters were in committed relationships.

But not him—

“Enzo?”

He turned to find Vito standing there. He wasn’t sure what to say to his manager, who was also the closest thing he had to a parent these days. He’d done what Vito had implored him not to do—sold the estate. Well, almost; pen had not been put to paper because of the wildfire.

Worry showed in Vito’s eyes. “I wanted to let you know that the fire has really kicked up over the next hillside. They’ve thrown everything they’ve got at it. Perhaps it’s time we pulled back.”

“Did the firefighters tell us to move?” Enzo asked.

“Not yet. They said to be alert. They’re trying to contain it before it gets this far.”

“Good. Let’s hope they succeed,” Enzo said. “Tell our men, as always, it’s totally their choice if they stay or go. I will understand if they need to go. But I’m staying until we’re instructed otherwise.” He paused and looked at his friend, dirt and sweat smeared on his aging face. “You should go, too.”

Vito shook his head. “If you’re staying, I am, too.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” He pointed to the dark cloud in the distance. “You can see the fire isn’t far off.”