by Red Phoenix
Brie moaned in pleasure and frustration, loving every second of it.
Chance Meeting
As Brie and Sir got off the plane, she spotted Titov. He was looking down at the baby, rolling the stroller back and forth as he babbled at Hope to keep her entertained.
Hope was the first to see them and let out a squeal of joy. When Titov looked up, his expression visibly relaxed.
“Did everything go well?” Sir asked him, as Brie took Hope out of the stroller to give her a tight squeeze.
“Well? Umm…yes,” he answered.
“What are you not telling us?” Brie teased, grinning at him as she bounced Hope in her arms.
Titov’s cheeks reddened and he looked away from her.
Goosebumps rose on Brie’s skin. She wondered if the slavers had somehow returned.
“What happened?” Sir asked in a somber voice.
Titov looked at their little girl, his face now lobster red. “There is no need for concern…” He looked so uncomfortable that Brie felt the urge to reach out and reassure him.
“You can tell us anything,” she declared.
“It…” he shifted on his feet. She could see he was growing more uneasy by the second.
“Go on,” Sir encouraged firmly.
“The tiny babe… I hate to voice it out loud for her sake.” He closed his eyes, unable to look them in the eyes. “She had a massive blowout, even though I had just changed her. It was everywhere—on me, her pretty dress, her blanket.” He looked at Brie in earnest. “Did I mention it was massive?”
With a herculean effort, Brie managed not to laugh. “That must have been traumatic for you.”
“It was! It truly was.” He gagged a little. “How could something so cute create such devastation?”
Sir chuckled, patting Titov on the shoulder.
“I hope you will forgive me, Sir Davis, but I threw everything out. I could not face…” His face lost all color and he visibly shuddered.
Although it was funny, Brie also felt sympathy for Titov. She found it adorable that he had wanted to protect Hope’s dignity by keeping the unfortunate incident to himself. “We appreciate everything you’ve done for her. Truly.”
“I will replace what was lost.”
“There’s no need,” Sir assured him.
“I insist. I was a coward—I freely admit it. I could have cleaned her things, but…” Titov shuddered again.
Titov gently patted the top of Hope’s head while looking at her affectionately. “At least the little lady cleans up nice.”
Their daughter gazed up at Titov, giving him a wide smile.
“Oh, my goodness!” Brie exclaimed. “Her bottom teeth are coming in.”
Hope looked absolutely adorable with those two tiny teeth peeking out. Brie immediately gave her a big kiss on the cheek. “You’re growing up too fast for me.”
Glancing at Sir, Brie exclaimed, “Isn’t she just the cutest?”
Sir took Hope from her and held his daughter up in the air, grinning as she squealed in joyful laughter. “She is the most beautiful angel on Earth.”
Brie’s heart melted when she saw the look in Sir’s eyes as he gazed up at his little girl. As much fun as the Isle had been, it felt good to be reunited with her.
“So, are you off to meet up with Rytsar after this?” Brie asked Titov.
“I was ordered to remain for several days to study Italian men and buy something romantic for my wife before I return to Russia.”
Sir shook his head in amusement. “Don’t tell me Durov is still pushing you to have more children?”
“Da, he is,” Titov answered, chuckling.
“Is that what you really want?” Brie asked him.
Titov met her gaze. “I do. I have a son I am proud of, but spending time with your daughter has softened my heart…”
His eyes suddenly flashed with pain. Brie was unsure if he was thinking of his sister Tatianna or the horrors he’d experienced that last mission with Rytsar.
“More than anything else in the world, I want to have a house brimming with happy children.”
Brie smiled at him tenderly. “Then I wish you many, many children.”
He nodded, blushing as he shifted uncomfortably on his feet.
Sir handed Hope back to Brie and pulled out his wallet. He tried to hand a wad of cash to Titov while thanking him for bringing Hope safely to Italy but Titov refused.
“It is I who owe you for her things.” He got out his own wallet and tried to give Sir some Russian bills.
Sir looked down at both of their hands full of money and laughed. “It seems we are at an impasse. I will not accept your money.”
“Nor I, yours.”
Sir nodded to Titov and conceded, slipping the cash back into his pocket.
Titov snorted, stuffed his money back into his wallet and then held his hand out to Sir. “Family.”
Sir shook his hand firmly. “Yes.”
Titov turned to address Hope, taking her tiny hand. “It has been a pleasure traveling with you, little lady. Minus the incident that we shall never speak of again.”
He looked at Brie with affection. “Safe travels, Mrs. Davis.”
As he walked away, Brie called out, “I believe in you.”
He glanced back at her, the blush having returned to his face, and gave her a half-hearted salute.
Brie grinned at Sir. “Titov is way too much fun.”
Brie was excited as they boarded the ferry to Portoferraio. They were only an hour away from seeing Nonno and Nonna again!
Sir’s grandparents were as dear to Brie as her own flesh and blood.
Despite the language difference, they had embraced her with open arms.
What they didn’t know was that over the last few months, she’d been studying Italian under Sir’s guidance. After her success with learning Russian under Rytsar’s concentrated instruction, Brie had approached Sir and confessed that she’d tried to learn Italian on her own during his stay at the hospital, but failed.
Sir was deeply touched by her desire to learn it and made it his mission to instruct her in the rudiments of Italian. What he didn’t know was that Brie found listening to him speaking in Italian incredibly sexy. There were many times when she pretended not to understand just so he would repeat himself.
The best part—after each lesson—was that Sir would reward her with a session in their secret room. Learning a new language had never been so fun!
Naturally, Sir was an exceptional teacher. For the first time, Brie would be able to speak to Nonna in her native language.
She was excited just thinking about it…
Unfortunately, the weather in January was chilly so they remained in the crowded cabin of the ferry rather than standing out on the deck to admire the ocean.
Sir went to get Brie a drink of water. As he was returning to their seats, Brie noticed a man reached out to stop him.
He was a strikingly handsome older gentleman with salt-and-pepper hair and classic Italian features. While the two talked, Brie noticed many of the ladies staring at them as they primped themselves. She assumed they were hoping to catch Sir’s attention.
Brie didn’t think anything of it. She knew that the people on the island of Elba held Alonzo Davis in high regard, and that naturally translated to his son.
When Sir escorted the man to her, Brie stood up with Hope in her arms, to greet him.
Sir looked at the gentleman in admiration as he introduced the man. “Brianna, this is Gino Mancini.”
Brie smiled graciously at the man and felt a momentary chill of excitement when their eyes met. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Signore Mancini.”
The man held out his hand to take hers. “The pleasure is mine, Brianna Davis.”
She felt a sense of nervous exhilaration as he brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it.
Sir explained, “Gino Mancini was my father’s sponsor and good friend.”
Brie’s smile widened. “It�
�s an honor to meet a friend of Alonzo’s.”
“He was much more than a friend to me,” Gino said in a solemn voice as he let go of her hand. The man exuded confidence and poise on a level Brie had not experienced before.
“I cannot believe our stroke of luck meeting you here on this ferry,” Sir chuckled. “I haven’t seen you since…”
“You were twelve,” Gino finished.
Sir shook his head, staring at him in amazement. “So much has happened since then.”
Gino’s voice was heavy with sorrow. “Yes, Thane. Much has changed.” Brie was overcome with sympathy, imagining how devastating Alonzo’s suicide must have been for the man.
Turning to Brie, Gino said, “You have a beautiful daughter, Brianna.”
Her attention turned to Hope, who was staring at the man with wide eyes.
“She seems quite taken by you,” Sir stated, smiling at his little girl.
Gino chuckled, declaring nonchalantly, “I have that effect on people.”
The two men began conversing in Italian and Gino peppered Sir with a plethora of questions. He seemed to want to catch up on Sir’s life since they last met.
Brie found it amusing that Hope couldn’t take her eyes off the man—nor, it seemed, could most of the women on the ferry.
When Sir mentioned that Brie was a filmmaker and planned to do a documentary on his father, Gino turned to her with interest. He asked in English, “You’re making a film about Alonzo?”
She smiled modestly. “Yes. I hope to not only introduce more people to his music but also share details about the man behind the violin.”
Gino raised an eyebrow. “If that is the case, I may have something of interest to you.”
Brie looked at him in surprise. “Really? What is it?”
“It’s not just one item, Brianna. I have boxes of materials. As his sponsor, Alonzo shared everything with me.”
Brie couldn’t begin to imagine the treasures he must own. “Oh, how I would love to have a peek inside those boxes.”
He nodded. “I’ll even let you look through the letters.”
Brie’s heart skipped a beat. “Letters?” Something so personal would give the film depth and would help her to understand Alonzo on a much deeper level.
She felt the tingles of destiny, certain that they were fated to meet for this very purpose. “I would give anything to read them, Signore Mancini.”
He laughed smoothly. “I’d be happy to let you read them.”
“Would it be possible to have the letters shipped to Elba during our visit?”
He suddenly frowned. “No!”
His reaction startled Brie and she immediately apologized. “I meant no offense.”
Gino’s expression softened as he explained, “I cannot part with the letters. If you wish to read them, you must come to my home.”
She nodded.
“I am a possessive man when it comes to people I love, Brianna Davis,” he stated firmly.
His explanation helped Brie to better understand why he was so protective of them.
Sir said with deep respect, “I’m grateful my father had such a loyal friend.”
“I have never forgotten him.”
Sir smiled, clearly touched by Gino’s words. “Although I’m not a religious man, I count it a blessing that we ran into each other today.”
Gino said with fervor, “Now that we have crossed paths, I am determined not to lose touch with you again.”
Sir held out his hand to him. “I’m grateful to hear it.”
Gino’s gaze was intense when he grasped Sir’s hand and shook it hard. “I hope to repay your father through you.”
“Repayment isn’t necessary,” Sir assured him.
“No, Thane. I owe your father.”
Glancing at Brie, he added, “My home will always be open to you, Brianna.”
He took his leave, returning to the other side of the ferry. Brie noticed that all the women watched him walk past. Gino Mancini was the type of man who seemed to draw people’s attention.
Sir put his arm around Brie. “What a fortunate coincidence.”
Brie agreed, understanding how vital it was for Sir to connect with someone so close to his father.
As for her, she was still trying to wrap her head around the fact that Gino Mancini owned a wealth of materials directly connected to Alonzo—it was a filmmaker’s dream come true.
“This has been a wonderful day and it’s about to get even better,” she said excitedly, looking out the window as the ferry drew closer to the island.
Sir squeezed her.
“I can’t wait to see the look on Nonna’s face when we surprise her!”
Nonna
As they walked up the steep hill to the familiar red door, Sir smiled at Brie. “Damn, it’s good to be back here.”
He knocked loudly on the door as Brie tweaked Hope’s nose and told her, “Won’t your great-grandmother be surprised to see how much you’ve grown?”
Hope held out her hand, wanting to touch the vivid red door. Brie obliged her as they waited. After several minutes, she asked Sir, “Nonno is expecting us, isn’t he?”
“Patience,” he chided warmly. “I’m certain it simply takes longer for them to get down the stairs than it used to.” He wrapped his arm around her as he nodded to a neighbor waving at them from a window above.
Finally, the door opened. Instead of Nonna greeting them, it was Nonno himself who answered the door.
“Come,” he said gravely.
“What’s wrong?” Sir asked with concern.
“Not here, Nipotino,” he stated, ushering them inside.
Once the door closed, Nonno told them, “She doesn’t want visitors today.”
Brie was stricken. “Why?”
Nonno stroked the top of Hope’s head, looking at the baby tenderly. “I’m certain this little angel will cheer her up.”
Sir put his hand on his grandfather’s shoulder. “What are you not telling us, Nonno?”
“See for yourself,” he answered, starting up the stairs.
Before, their home had always been full of love and life, but now it felt silent and dead like a grave.
Brie commanded herself to be brave as she walked up the steps ahead of Sir, clutching Hope to her chest.
As she walked up into the room, Sir came to stand beside her.
Nonna was hunched over in a chair as she faced the balcony. She was rocking herself as she stared forward, muttering quietly. She didn’t even look like the same woman. She seemed so small and frail now.
“You have special visitors,” Nonno announced.
Nonna did not turn her head in acknowledgment. She only continued the rocking motion as she stared into nothingness.
The worried look that Nonno gave Thane pulled at Brie’s heart.
“Nonna,” Sir called out, his voice bursting with his love for her. “Brie and I have brought Hope to see you.”
She stopped rocking, her breath catching for a moment.
When Sir started toward her, she turned her head away from him. “Leave me, Nipotino.”
Instead of honoring her wishes, he knelt down beside her. Gathering her small frame in his strong arms, he vowed. “Never.”
Still resisting his embrace, Nonna closed her eyes as tears started rolling down her cheeks. “I don’t want you to see me like this,” she whimpered.
“Ti amo,” he murmured tenderly.
Hope reached out to her daddy, making a sad little noise.
Nonna instinctively turned toward her voice but she stared ahead blankly. Brie felt chills when she suddenly realized Nonna was blind.
Brie forced herself to keep up a brave face. Moving closer to her, Brie took Hope’s hand and placed it against Nonna’s sunken cheek.
“It’s Hope.”
The instant Nonna felt the warmth of Hope’s small hand, a smile spread across her face. “Hope…” she whispered.
Her eyes searched desperately through the darknes
s for her great-granddaughter. But she couldn’t see her and Nonna let out a sobbing gasp.
Hope, confused by her tears, cried out and reached up for her daddy. Sir took Hope from Brie and knelt beside the chair, describing Hope to Nonna in his soothing voice.
“Hope’s cheeks are chubbier than they were last time, and she has little brown curls on top of her head now. Go ahead—touch them.”
Sir guided her hand to Hope’s head. Nonna smiled as she touched her hair. “I remember when Alonzo’s hair was this soft.”
Brie looked at Nonna with a new understanding, her heart breaking. Being a mother herself now, she could only imagine how much Nonna had suffered after Alonzo died.
How terribly bittersweet it must be for her to be reminded of a joyous memory of his childhood when he had died so tragically.
Holding Hope’s head gently in her frail, shaking hands, Nonna leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “My beautiful bambina.”
“Sì,” Nonno agreed. “Our great-granddaughter reminds me of you.”
Instead of reacting to his loving declaration, Nonna let out a discouraged sigh. “It is best that you all go now.”
Sir chuckled lightly, “We’ve only just gotten here, Nonna.”
Nonna reached out a tentative hand to touch his face. “I live in a world of darkness now. I do not want this to be the way you remember me.”
“But—” Sir protested.
“Leave,” she said with such a cold finality that it shot an arrow into Brie’s heart.
Hope started to cry so Sir stood up, shooting a concerned look at his grandfather.
Turning her head from them, Nonna began rocking again.
The sorrowful expression on Nonno’s face was heartbreaking. “We will talk outside,” he stated.
Brie began following the men down the narrow flight of stairs, but stopped midway and ran back up to Nonna. Speaking in Italian, she begged her, “Do not give up hope, Nonna. The sun will shine again.” She kissed the woman’s wrinkled cheek.
Nonna stopped rocking and turned her head in Brie’s direction, but she did not respond or even smile.
