Sold To Mr. Milano - Daniella Wright Page 0,10

back to her father before I was ready. She was in awe of the big sprawling mansion and the property surrounding it, and of course, seemed nervous not knowing what would happen next. At the very least, the whole sight made her shut her mouth for once.

The staff knew better than to question me on why I was returning with a strange, pregnant woman in my possession. But my brothers, Felix and Pablo, didn’t feel the need to be so polite. They likely heard the others inside whispering about our guest’s arrival and were quick to meet us on the lawn, staring me down questioningly.

“Find a souvenir at the market, did you?” Felix quipped.

My brothers and I were born into a rich Argentinian family with Italian ancestry. Under my lead, we manage one of the largest operations of our family’s empire. We owned real estate in a number of cities including vineyards, bakeries, and dairy farms, just to name a few. We are a good looking group of men, but each of us harsh in our own ways.

I didn’t answer and kept marching right past them, but they followed closely behind. I motioned to several of my men to walk along with us, leading everyone to one of the side parlors - one with sliding doors that could be locked from the outside. I shoved Alicia inside, commanded two men to go in with her, and two men to wait right outside. She would be no match for their big stature, much less the giant rifles they kept perched on their shoulders.

With Alicia stowed away and under close watch, I stormed into the parlor next door and immediately went to the bar cart. I prepared myself for my brothers’ questioning as I poured a glass of fernet and coke over ice.

“Whoever that is and whatever she’s doing here…,” Pablo started slowly. “Please tell me she didn’t distract you from the guy we were tracking.”

I grunted, wanting to smack him for even thinking I would be so easily detoured. But any great leader has to know when to explode and when to keep it all simmering beneath the surface.

“No, of course not. I found him. He’s taken care of. We don’t have to worry about him anymore.”

They both let a soft sigh of relief escape their lips, and we went back to discussing regular business. Soon we were settled into chairs, sipping drinks, and smoking cigars. But there was an elephant in the room. The entire time I was mulling over this whole ordeal with Alicia in the back of my head, and they were trying to decide on the best time to ask what the hell had happened.

One of the kitchen staff workers gave them their opportunity. The older woman appeared in the doorway after a gentle knock.

“Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Milano. I just wanted to inform you that dinner will be served in one hour. Asados with mollejas and chinchulines,” she paused for a moment, choosing her next words carefully as she knew they were founded purely on gossip - something I didn’t take kindly to around my house. “Forgive me, sir. But...will the lady be joining us?”

I considered it for a moment, then made a quick decision as I had been forced to do a lot that day. “No, not joining. I’ll have her put up in a room. You may serve her there. Take note that she’s with child and adjust the meal accordingly, if necessary.”

“Yes, of course,” she nodded with a subtle, polite bow and showed herself out. With that, I whistled to call in one of the men outside. “See to it that the girl is settled into a room.”

“One of the guest rooms?” he asked.

“No, but not the basement either. One of the smaller rooms in the west wing. And put several men on watch both in and outside her room. I want you to keep a close eye on her.”

I wouldn’t have a pregnant woman in the dripping stone walls of the basement where we usually took men for interrogations or to scare them into doing what we wanted. But I wasn’t about to have her be treated like a queen either. The row of rooms in that part of the manor was suitable but scarce - usually reserved for house staff.

The door kept ajar as he went to go see about the arrangements. I watched as they carted Alicia off. She was struggling with them as much as she had me, but