But he wasn’t alone.
“You invited him to stay in our home?” I hissed at Mark through clenched teeth.
The man sitting on the carpet in his designer slacks was none other than Julio Cerone, Italian crime lord, and altogether one of the most dangerous men on the planet.
And from the looks of things, my daughters loved him. Evie and Avery cooed and laughed up into his handsome face, taking to him like a fish to water.
Mark shrugged. “Of course, I did. When I heard he was attempting to book a room at the motel, well, it was the humane thing to do. Besides, I was talking to Elliot, and he recommended Julio to protect you and the girls. He spoke highly of the man and even went so far as to say that he would consider it a close personal favor if I would indulge Julio in his sojourn to the American countryside. I had no idea you would be opposed to it.”
My lips compressed into a firm line. “Opposed is too mild a term. Mark, he isn’t someone to mess around with.”
Mark playfully growled in my ear while grabbing my ass. “You won’t be messing around with him. So that’s not something you should worry about.”
“I just don’t understand,” I replied. “Why is he here? Elliot says that he knows this man. Isn’t that strange to you? Julio waltzed into Abberly’s a few hours ago and announced the everyone that he was an insurance salesman.”
Mark snorted. “Insurance? I suppose some people could call it that.”
Julio’s voice came from across the room, startling us both. Obviously, we hadn’t been nearly as quiet we should have been.
“I am sorry to interrupt, but I feel I must explain. I am afraid I had to say something when the good Sheriff wanted to know my employment, and insurance was the first thing that came to mind. Natalia was insistent on seeing me arrested, and as fun as that sounds, I don’t see that contributing positively to my happily-ever-after scenario. As for my connection with the Brands, that is not my story to tell. However, I can assure you that you are safest in my company.”
I turned to see that Julio was holding Evie like an airplane, and Evie giggled madly. I had to admit that the man was charming. It was difficult to connect what my idea of a hardened Mafia member should be like with the man in front of me. But in the same instance, it was obvious he held himself with a great deal of control, always aware of his surroundings.
“Alright then,” I said, “If you don’t sell insurance. What do you do?”
Julio smiled, his teeth white and glistening against his tan skin. “You don’t believe my wife?”
This man was infuriating, but a part of me was coming to like him—damn the man.
“Your wife, as you call her, said that you ran the Italian Mafia. That can’t be right, can it?” I wanted him to deny the accusation. To say that Natalie was just angry at his reappearance in her life.
“Natalia has always had a flair for the dramatic. To answer your question, at one point, I was considered a key player, but that was years ago. I haven’t been in the thick of things for a very long time. Do you honestly think Elliot and Mandy Brand would have sent me here if they thought I would bring you any harm?”
“Of course not,” Mark said.
But at the same time, I felt like my knees were giving out on me. “You don’t deny it?”
Julio’s bright smile flashed again. There was almost sympathy in their depths. “I won’t lie to you. I want to help you be free of those who will harm you. But my main objective is to win back the heart of my wife. I will do everything in my power to protect you and your family.”
Mark wrapped his arms around me. I sank back against the strength of his body and tried to think with a clear head.
Mark spoke softly in my year, “Mandy and Elliot trust Julio with their lives and that of their daughter. That’s good enough for us. And besides that, I asked Elliot for a favor months ago. Part of how we were able to uncover Forrest was through this man’s intervention.”
“You helped us find Forrest?”
Julio nodded. “He’s a nasty man with a terrible reputation. He wasn’t difficult to locate. I put a watch on him, and it wasn’t long before he began to