‘Dolcezza’. Sweetness. He’d used to call her that because he said she tasted and acted so sweet.
It scraped at wounds that were no longer raw and bleeding, but were not anywhere near healed.
‘Don’t call me that.”
‘Where are the crown jewels now?” he asked as if she’d never spoken.
‘I told you. They’re in the vault.”
His body went taut his attitude one of extreme alertness.
‘You’ve taken possession of them already?”
‘Your father thought they were not being transported from Mukar for a week or more.”
‘That is what the former crown prince wished. He told everyone they were being transported just
before the auction. He hoped to make the transfer in secret. It worked.”
‘Just because I did not know you had them does not mean no one is aware they have been brought here.”
‘They’re safe in the vault,” she repeated stubbornly.
‘perhaps, but you are not safe.”
He kept harping on it and she knew he was right, but she didn’t know what to do about it. And frankly, when she’d negotiated for the auction she hadn’t really cared about her safety one way or another.
The numbness after losing the baby and Salvatore had worn off but a certain malaise of spirit lingered on. Sure personal happiness was out of her reach she would risk anything, do anything to ensure it for a man who had been so good to her. di Adamo.
Salvatore had moved without her realizing, while her mind had been off in its own little world. His hand brushed her cheek and she felt the gentle touch like a branding that b0th burned and physically hurt .
‘I will never leave you alone.”
Leaving her dazed from that small interchange, he spun on his heel and left her office.
CHAPTER TWO
SALVATORE waited for Elisa to come out of her office. She’d spent the remaining hours of the afternoon working on the auction while Salvatore and di Adamo discussed new security features for the store and measures to keep b0th the old man and Elisa safe until the crown jewels were sold. di Adamo handled customers as well showing his grandson the ropes of the business while Salvatore made phone calls on his mobile and ordered necessary equipment to be installed immediately.
It had been a pleasant afternoon but the next few minutes did not promise to be so pleasant. He had to tell Elisa that he was going home with her. He had no choice, but he doubted very much she would see things that way.
She didn’t .
Five minutes later she was glaring at him as if he had suggested something obscene.
‘Go way.”
She shook her head so hard part of her hair slipped out of the French twist on the back of her head. It fell over one green eye and she impatiently shoved it aside. ‘you are not going home with me.”
‘lf anyone knows of the jewels’ whereabouts neither you nor your employer will be safe. He will be staying with his daughter and son-in-law. You have no one.”
An expression came into her eyes when he said that a bleakness of spirit he did not like and one he did not associate with the fiery woman who had been his lover.
‘I don’t have you either. Wouldn’t have you. Even as a misguided gift from my father. You aren’t going with me and that’s final.”
With that she marched past him and out the door, leaving di Adamo to lock up. Salvatore cursed and followed her.
‘At least allow me to drive you home.?