things because they either want to tear you down or live through you vicariously.”
“You’ve been around my family a few times.”
It was the first time she’d heard a hint of bitterness in his voice. He finished off the Scotch in the glass and poured himself more.
“You must have formed opinions regarding the rumors.”
“You’ll have to be more specific. Which of the ten thousand rumors are you referring to?” She didn’t want to have this conversation. Her heart already was accelerating. She wished she hadn’t agreed to come inside. There had been a cool breeze coming off the lake. She moistened her lips again. “Can you open the door?”
He sent her one all-encompassing look, his gaze dwelling on her bare breasts. “I don’t want you to get cold, Grace. It won’t do your shoulder any good.”
“I’ll keep that side to the fireplace,” she promised. “I like the breeze on my body.”
“I like it on your body, too.” He stepped around her chair to go to the glass wall. As he did, he reached out and stroked her left breast, fingers tugging her nipple as he slipped past her.
Grace felt the jolt of lightning all the way to her toes. A single touch from him was all it took, his fingers flicking her nipple. His eyes dropping below her waist to dwell on the tiny triangle of leather, split by the lacing so her fiery curls could be seen. Instantly, she went damp and needy.
He folded the thick glass of the pocket door back to allow the night into the room. She inhaled deeply, drawing the night into her lungs, hoping the air would clear her head enough to let her listen with an open mind to whatever he had to say.
“Let’s not do this dance, bella. Everyone knows the Saldi family is a family of criminals. They pass that legacy from father to son.”
She watched as he paced restlessly across the room and then went back to the bar to pour himself another drink. She opened her mouth to protest, thought better of it, and remained silent.
Vittorio pressed the glass to his forehead. “Our family contends with those same rumors. In fact, we’re investigated on a regular basis. Because of the incident at the hotel, we will most likely come under scrutiny again.”
She would hardly call what had happened—a woman being shot to death—an incident. That seemed a little disrespectful, although she didn’t know how she would refer to the death. Again, she remained silent, just watching him. He was mesmerizing as he paced back and forth, the crystal glass pressed to his forehead, his body fluid, prowling across the floor like a feral tiger, caged and restless.
“People come to us, to my family. They have for hundreds of years, to fight against families like the Saldis. When they can’t get justice, or they’re threatened, they seek an audience with those we refer to as greeters.”
She frowned. That wasn’t what she’d been expecting. “Greeters?” She echoed the term, knowing it was important.
“The things I’m telling you, Grace, can’t go out of the family. We’re tied together. You’re one of us now and you need to know, but no one else can know, not your closest friend, not your business partner. No one. The things I tell you can’t go beyond this room. When I say it’s life or death to keep our family legacy secret, I’m not being dramatic.”
Katie was the only friend she had, and they weren’t yet that close. Grace didn’t dare, even now, show her a close friendship, although Vittorio had her guarded and the family had put her up in the Ferraro Hotel, so Haydon couldn’t get to her. She knew better. Haydon was patient and eventually his potential victims dropped their guard, then it was only a matter of time.
Grace nodded her head to show Vittorio she was listening. She narrowed her eyes when he took a small drink of the Scotch. She didn’t know enough about alcohol to know if that was a lot he drank, or a small amount, but either way, it was more than she’d ever seen him drink.
“Remember the ‘criteria’ my mother went on about that got you so upset?”
“Of course.” She still was a little upset about it. A woman didn’t want to think a man wouldn’t even look at her unless she met some standard the family had set.
“Have you ever noticed your shadow?”
She sat up very straight. Of course she’d noticed her shadow. It was strange. It had