Shadow Keeper (Shadow #3)

She shook her head. “There weren’t any. As far as I know, my father was an only child, as was his father before him. Same with my mother.”

“Don’t worry too much about that picture of you in the tabloids,” Stefano said. “We’ll get to the bottom of it and find out who sold it.”

“I don’t really think it matters, do you?” she asked. “It’s out there. There’s no getting it back. Everyone’s got a good look at what’s under my blouse.”

“You’re beautiful,” Giovanni said. “So, fuck them.”

She flashed him an appreciative smile. It was brief and faded fast. “I guess Darby got his way in the long run.” She shrugged. “When I go to work tonight, is West going to be upset with me and relegate me to the bottom tier? He told me the other night if I took the top and did well, he’d keep me there. Nancy wants to drop to part-time. If I can get the top tier, I can make enough money to pay for Sandlin’s therapy in that place without working at the deli. I love the job there, because I’m beginning to know the neighborhood people, but I don’t get to see Sandlin as often as he needs me to.”

Giovanni exchanged another long look with his brother. Neither thought it was safe for Sasha to work at either job. The news of their engagement was out and that set her up as a target for any kidnapper bent on making money, not to mention the paparazzi. There was no way to tell someone until they experienced the crazy way they had to live in order to guard their privacy.

“Sasha”—Giovanni kept his voice as gentle as possible—“right now, it will be very difficult for you to work without constant harassment.”

“I can live with harassment, but Sandlin can’t live outside that facility.” She didn’t look at him but continued to eat.

“It isn’t safe,” Stefano said. When she continued to chew in silence, he sighed. “Look at me, Sasha.” It didn’t matter that his tone was pitched low, it was a clear order and no one disobeyed Stefano. When her eyes met his, he continued, “We’ll cover the cost of your brother’s facility because this wasn’t your fault. Our security didn’t get to you in time to stop what Darby did. We’re responsible for not collecting all the cameras. Aaron Anderson is a friend of ours. We made the mistake of not looking at those at his table when we should have. Stop shaking your head and listen to me.”

“I’m not allowing someone else to pay for my brother’s care.”

Giovanni could hear the stubbornness in her voice. Her sapphire eyes practically flashed with fire. He leaned into her, unable to keep the grin off his face. “Obstinate little woman. Are you insane? Stop thinking with your heart, baby. Of course, you want to take care of him yourself. I completely understand that, but—”

“You can argue all you want to, Giovanni,” Sasha said, “but it won’t do you any good. If I don’t show up for work, people will think that stupid picture sent me running and hiding. Most everyone else will think I’m with you because of your money. I happen to know, because I was told, that some of the waitresses are out to snag one of you. Can you imagine what they’re going to think—”

“Do you think I give a damn what they think?” Giovanni snapped. “The point is to make certain you’re safe. People are going to run their mouths no matter what.”

She smirked and picked up her coffee cup. “Exactly.”

“I can see I might want to strangle you a few dozen times a day.”

“Probably. I know I’m going to feel that way about you.” She sounded complacent. “What exactly are we going to do about this engagement? I know you had to tell them you were family at the Center in order to get Sandlin some help, but now it’s plastered all over the world in every news outlet.”

“We’ll have to put the engagement ring on your finger,” Giovanni said. He hadn’t won the battle about her job, and he clearly wasn’t going to, but he gave her his don’t-mess-with-me-on-this-one voice. She took the hint, glanced around the table, shrugged and subsided.

He didn’t know if she figured she would argue with him later when they were alone, or if she could tell by his face it wasn’t up for discussion—and it wasn’t. He wanted to make that very clear. He believed in marriage. Having babies. Sandlin was his family as well as hers. That meant he was just as responsible. They’d have that discussion again. So yeah, he’d concede on the work argument and put about a hundred bodyguards on her—he’d be there as well. That way, she could win that battle and give him the important one, because, first things first. Get the ring on her finger and her promise. They’d work out the rest of it later.

“You’re on the schedule tonight?” Francesca asked.

Sasha nodded. “Luckily my other uniform is in my locker at work. I know I have to go back to my apartment, sooner or later, but not yet.” She gave a little shudder. “Knowing that man was in there, touching my things, using my toothbrush and shower, the things he did in my bedroom, I don’t particularly want to be there anymore.”

“Fortunately, we’ve already worked that out,” Giovanni stated.

She looked at him with her eyebrow raised, but she didn’t protest.





CHAPTER TEN


Stefano walked into the club, Francesca on his arm. Taviano and Vittorio followed close behind, Emme in between her two brothers. Ricco and Mariko followed them with Emilio and Enzo bringing up the rear. Their New York cousins were in town and were already at the club, waiting with Giovanni at their reserved table. A celebration was in order, although Giovanni’s fiancée had insisted she was working. Even so, the family came out to celebrate, the way they did most things—together.

Flashes went off all around them. Of course, the paparazzi were there—with the exception of Sid Larsen and Chesney Reynolds. They had been relegated to staying outside the club and hoping for a good shot of the newly engaged couple. The family made it very clear that photographers who cooperated with Ferraro policy were welcome. In fact, Giovanni had promised them a shot of the ring, a photograph that would be worth a tremendous amount.

The family made their way up to their table where Giovanni waited with all three cousins. Salvatore, Lucca and Geno laughed with Giovanni, clearly giving him a very bad time. Giovanni glanced up as they approached the table and he stood, as did his cousins. Francesca smiled at him as he leaned over to kiss her cheek and then Mariko’s. Mariko was new to the family and she wasn’t used to their affectionate way with one another, but she smiled and returned the kiss to his cheek.

He caught Emme around the waist and hugged her. “I got the ring on her finger, Emme, but it wasn’t easy.”

“How’d you manage? Stefano said she was giving you trouble.”

He grinned, elated now that he knew his ring was on Sasha’s finger. He wished it was a size too small so she couldn’t get it off even if she wanted to—which he was sure she did. “I wrestled her to the floor, sat on her and put it on her finger. It was the only way.”

He knew they thought he was joking, but he’d done exactly that. He’d taken her to his home, seduced her, managing to get her naked in under seven minutes, and then, when she was too sated and drowsy after their lovemaking, he slid the ring on her finger. It was a special ring, made by his famous cousin, Damian Ferraro. Out of New York, Damian made custom jewelry for those who could afford his special talents. For the shadow riders, he used a special alloy that could move through the shadows with them.