Shadow Keeper (Shadow #3)

“Of course. Did you think Emilio would let me have five minutes without someone breathing down my neck? I do have that little job to do. I’m not letting Darby get away with his crap. He was warned. Vittorio and I are going to pay him a visit, so that means you, Taviano and Ricco have to be visible. We’ll all be at the club celebrating you finding Sasha. I’ve got all the details worked out. Cousins are coming to help celebrate. We’ll have video of Francesca and me there making out like we do. Darby will call the cops and look like a fool. Just make certain you’re seen at the club.”

“Sasha is working tomorrow night so it will work out nicely. If she’s at the club, then I’m at the club. Everyone can show up. I’ll alert club security, and we’ll need Enrica at the club so if Sasha or any of the women goes into the ladies’ room, they’ll still be guarded.”

“I’ll make certain Emilio knows to assign her the days Sasha is working.”

Giovanni once more turned to look at Sasha. She appeared as if she belonged with the other women. She had the same sweet innocence about her that all of them did. Emmanuelle glanced up at him and gave him a thumbs-up, her opinion of his choice. He put his hand over his heart and nodded. Sasha caught that gesture. He didn’t mind. He was determined to be as honest with her as possible.

“I hate to break up the party, ladies, but Sasha is going to need a few things for tonight and tomorrow.”

“Lucia and Amo are waiting in their store. They said to use the back entrance as they’re closed. Nicoletta will let you in,” Francesca said.

Nicoletta. The problem child. He glanced at Stefano.

Stefano sighed and nodded. “She’ll be joining us for self-defense training five days a week. Mariko has struck up a friendship with her and she’ll be her first instructor.”

“That’s a heavy schedule,” Giovanni objected. “She works two jobs and has to keep up with her schoolwork.”

“I spoke with Agnese Moretti and she’s caught up on her work and then some. There will be no problem with graduation,” Stefano assured. “Otherwise, I would have been sitting down with her until it was done.”

Giovanni nodded his head and held out his hand to Sasha. “Let’s get a move on so you can see your brother tonight. I know you don’t have much time off.”

“I can’t do that.” There was regret in her voice, but she took his hand. “I can’t possibly sleep in that apartment, so I need to find a place to stay and I need clothes and things like a hairbrush, hair products and a toothbrush.”

He closed his fingers around hers and tugged until she was under his shoulder. “We’re taking care of the clothes now, and I’m certain Emmanuelle won’t mind shopping for you so we can see your brother. Lucia and Amo have chosen a few things for you, so if you like them, we can get them immediately without taking much time.”

“We’ll help,” Francesca added. “We can get you the things you need while you go visit with your brother. No problem.”

“I can’t ask you to do that,” Sasha objected. “Sandlin … doesn’t remember me at all. I go visit him and he’s always sweet, but he has no idea I’m actually related. He doesn’t have a clue who I am. If I skip tonight, I don’t think he’ll care.”

“But you’ll care,” Giovanni said. She was trembling and her voice shook just the merest thread, but he heard it because he was so attuned to her. “Let them help you, honey. They’re right here and they can take the things to my house and have them waiting for you.” He nodded to the women of his family as he turned a protesting Sasha toward the door. “You can argue with me about staying with me after you get clothes from Lucia and when we’re in the car. Just hold your arguments. We’ll miss visiting hours if we don’t get a move on.”

He shepherded her right out the back door so they could go down the alley to the back entrance to Lucia’s Treasures. The police were still working on Sasha’s apartment, and he picked up the pace, not wanting her to think too much about a man invading her space and using her things.

“I’ll have a cleaning service take care of your place. They’ll sterilize everything. John Balboni owns the local hardware shop and he’ll install several dead bolts and better locks on the doors, including your bedroom door.”

“Giovanni, you can’t do that for me.”

“We own the building and it wasn’t safe,” he argued. “Right here.” He indicated the three stairs leading to the back entrance to the little boutique.

Nicoletta waited in the doorway. Her gaze shifted from him to Sasha and she kept her attention centered on her. Her smile was professional. “Hi, Sasha, I’m Nicoletta. I’m so sorry for what happened to you. Francesca called, and Lucia has pulled some clothes and lingerie she thought you’d be interested in. Giovanni told us your size.”

Giovanni narrowed his gaze at the teenager. She was eighteen now and looked more of a woman than the scared girl she’d been when she’d been rescued. He was certain she’d tacked the last on just to see him get in trouble, and of course Sasha rose to the bait.

“My size?”

“Your size was on the two garments on the bed,” he pointed out, although the truth was, just looking at her, he knew her size.

“That makes sense,” she said, mollified. She flashed a smile at Nicoletta. “It’s nice to meet you. Francesca was just telling me how proud of you she is.”

Nicoletta’s smile was instantly genuine. “She could be the nicest person on the planet, unless it’s Mariko or Emmanuelle. Well, after Lucia, of course.”

“They were telling me about Lucia. I’ve seen the Faustis in the deli, but haven’t really met them. Pietro talks about them all the time. He loves them. When they come in, I’m always busy so I haven’t had the chance to get to know them. Emmanuelle, in particular, is fond of Lucia.”

“Everyone is,” Nicoletta assured as they moved through the back room. “I already love her, and that’s saying a lot.”

The fragrance in the store was subtle, but with it came a sense of peace. That was also Lucia. Nicoletta stepped back to allow them into the shop. “Sasha, this is Lucia and Amo, my foster parents. This is Sasha. She’s with Giovanni.”

There was a small silence and then both Lucia and Amo broke into huge smiles. Both went straight to Sasha and kissed her on both cheeks.

“It is wonderful to meet you, Sasha,” Lucia said. “Even under these circumstances. We’ve waited a long time for Giovanni to find the right woman.”

Sasha frowned and started to shake her head. Before she could speak, Amo took both her hands and beamed at her. “At last. We’ve prayed for you to come along. Giovanni needs his woman. We pray and here you are. Please, look at what my Lucia and Nicoletta have chosen for you, but feel free to look around. Anything is yours if you want it.”

“Thank you.” Clearly, she didn’t know what to say or do because she moved back into Giovanni as if for protection. Going up on her toes she whispered for him alone, “I can’t possibly afford anything in here, nor do I want them to give me clothing for free.”

“I’ve already taken care of it,” Giovanni assured. “Before you throw something at my head, just accept it and we’ll battle it out in the car. We can’t stay longer than ten minutes. The Hendrick Center is across town and it takes a little while to get there, even driving fast.”

She gave him a dark scowl, which only made his cock ache. God, she was adorable. Everything about her appealed to him, even her fiercely independent nature. He was in for a fight with her, and he was looking forward to it. He grinned at her just to provoke her further.

Sasha turned away to look at the soft jeans Lucia had set aside. There were three pairs and several tees and tanks. Just going by the look on her face, Sasha loved them. She touched the exquisite underwear, a higher end stretch-lace panty and beautiful bras he couldn’t wait to take off her. “We’ll take them all,” he said to forestall any arguments. “She’ll need a sweater and something for bed.”

“No, Giovanni.” Sasha was firm on that. “I can’t possibly afford these and you know it.” She turned her head to look longingly at the jeans and tees. “Maybe one pair, just because, and the underwear.”

“All of it,” Giovanni said firmly. “Lucia, why don’t you argue with Sasha while Nicoletta wraps everything up for us, and Amo and I will take care of things.”