around. That almost certainly meant he was fucking up their business. He probably saw it as a temporary wrinkle, but more powerful men like Elio would be losing money while he went on his little crusade to toughen up the mobsters in Boston.
Sweat beaded on Mario’s brow, and he swallowed hard. I allowed him a minute to consider my request. If Elio was taking a financial hit, Mario would be aware. He’d be feeling the pressure to increase his own profits to compensate and avoid Elio’s wrath. I was taking a gamble on that, but I understood enough about this criminal underworld to predict how the conflict would shake out.
My gamble paid off.
“I’ll have to talk to Mr. Amato,” Mario said, his voice hitching slightly on his boss’s name.
“Excellent,” I declared, but I didn’t allow any pleasure to enter my blank expression. I remained coldly professional. “I’ll be staying in Sorrento starting tonight. Contact me with a time and place.” I passed him a slip of paper with my number on it. “I can’t make travel arrangements to San Luca,” I added, my voice heavy with significance. “I hope Mr. Amato will be able to come to me. Maybe Sant’Agnello?” The tiny town was only a few minutes away from Sorrento, but significantly less crowded with tourists. I could separate this business from Ashlyn and Joseph without putting too much distance between us.
If Elio accepted my terms.
Mario mopped his brow. “I’ll ask Mr. Amato.”
I nodded my thanks. “You have my number.”
“Yes. Yes,” he repeated, stilted and scared. “I’ll contact you as soon as I get word from Mr. Amato.”
“Thank you.” I extended my hand, and Mario shook it. Another good sign. Ciro must be making enough waves to piss off Elio, if his Italian associates were stressed by the mere mention of Ciro’s name.
I turned my back to him and strode toward the door, demonstrating my complete confidence that he wouldn’t attack me from behind.
I have nothing to hide. I’m not a threat. But don’t fuck with me.
The young chef stepped aside, allowing me leave.
Once I was outside, I waited until I was several blocks away to heave a sigh of relief. Nothing was set in stone yet, but that had gone better than I could’ve hoped. With any luck, Mario would make contact within a day or so. Then, I could start making plans with Elio to eliminate his brother. Ciro would never threaten my family again.
Chapter Eleven
Ashlyn
“Oh, Marco! This is so beautiful. Thank you, thank you!” Giddy excitement fizzed through my body. I could hardly believe Marco had found such a breathtaking place for us to stay. This hotel must’ve cost a fortune. Not to mention the last-minute, first class plane tickets.
I threw my arms around him, squeezing tight. “You spoil me too much,” I murmured.
He and Joseph were dressed in smart casual attire, formal enough to match the ruby red, form-fitting cocktail dress that I’d selected for dinner. Marco’s shirt was unbuttoned just enough to give me a tantalizing glimpse of his powerful chest, and Joseph looked impossibly gorgeous in a perfectly tailored blazer.
Marco brushed a kiss over my hair. “I spoil you just enough, princess.”
He gently grasped my shoulders and turned me around so that my back pressed against his chest. The view was awe-inspiring, almost too gorgeous to be real. We stood on a vast terrace that extended from the back of the Excelsior Vittoria hotel all the way to the edge of the craggy cliff that dropped down into the Mediterranean. The sea stretched out before us: clear aqua below shifting to darker shades of cerulean, then sapphire, then indigo as it reached the soft pink glow of the sunset on the horizon. Mount Vesuvius was a navy blue peak across the water, elegant and soft at this distance; a sleeping giant of a volcano that’d left an indelible mark on history.
I could hardly wait to visit in a couple days and explore the ruins of Pompeii at the foot of the mountain. Tomorrow, Marco planned to take us on a boat tour around Capri. This entire trip was like a wonderful dream. The threat of Ciro and my fear for my family seemed so far away now, unable to touch us in this beautiful place. Eventually, we would have to return to Boston and deal with our problems. But for now, I was more than happy to lose myself in this fantastical setting with the men I loved.
The first delicate notes of a