Brunetti's Secret Son

by Maya Blake

  ‘I don’t know what to say...’

  He waited.

  ‘Before I agree, I need your assurance that you’ll resolve this as quickly as possible.’

  His nostrils flared, but he nodded. ‘Sì.’

  ‘That you’ll tell me if anything changes where protecting Lucca is concerned.’

  ‘You have my word.’

  She sucked in a breath, but the enormity of what she was contemplating weighed on her with crushing force. ‘Okay...then I’ll marry you.’

  A golden light flared in his eyes, and he nodded once. ‘I’ll take care of the details. You don’t need to worry about anything.’

  With that, he strode to where he’d draped his coat over the sofa and shrugged into it. Surprise scythed through her.

  ‘You’re leaving?’

  ‘I have a few phone calls to make. I’ll be back in the morning.’

  Maisie was still reeling from his words and from what she’d committed herself to hours later when she realised that sleep would remain elusive.

  She was still awake at 6:00 a.m. when firm knuckles hammered on her door.

  * * *

  ‘Is there a particular reason you feel inclined to break down my door at the crack of dawn?’

  Romeo raised an eyebrow at the scowl that greeted him from beneath the cloud of auburn hair.

  ‘I would’ve called, but I didn’t want the phone to wake Lucca.’ He also hadn’t wanted to give her a chance to back out of what he’d convinced her to agree to yesterday.

  Nothing would get in the way of him claiming his son. Attempting to give the child who was a part of himself the one thing that was denied him—a chance to choose his own path, free from the stain of illegitimacy.

  Romeo might not know or even believe in love. But he could grant Gianlucca the acceptance and security that was never given him.

  And Maisie O’Connell wouldn’t stand in his way.

  But she could, and continued to, glare at him. ‘I suppose I should thank you for that consideration.’

  ‘You’re not a morning person, I see.’

  ‘Great observation.’ She eyed the coffee and croissants in his hand before slicing him with those bright blue eyes again. ‘Is one of those for me?’ she asked in a gruff, sleep-husky voice.

  It was then he noticed the shadows under her eyes. Perhaps he should’ve waited a little while longer before arriving. But he’d grown tired of pacing his hotel suite. And he hadn’t been certain that her yes had been from a place of belief that they were doing the right thing. The more he’d paced, the more he’d been sure she would change her mind given any more thinking room.

  Romeo intended to give her none.

  It had become clear very early on that her devotion to Lucca was absolute. It had been the only thing that had made him leave last night.

  That and the need to push his investigators harder to find something concrete he could use against Lorenzo.

  ‘Is that a no?’

  He focused to see Maisie sliding a hairband from her wrist. She caught it in her teeth, then gathered her heavy silky hair into a bunch at the back of her head. The action drew up her nightshirt, showing off her shapely thighs and legs. Heat trickled through him as his gaze trailed up to linger on her heavy, pert breasts, thrown into relief by the act of securing her hair.

  She seemed to notice the thick layer of awareness that had fired up, and her eyes darkened a touch.

  Reining in his libido and burying the recollection of how those breasts had felt in his hands last night, he held out the coffee. There would be no repeat of last night’s lust-fuelled encounter. Romeo had no intention of letting sex clutter up his plans.

  He of all people knew one moment of madness could destroy a life. It was the reason he existed. It was the reason his mother had spent years blaming him for destroying her life.

  It’s the reason your son’s here.

  He accepted that sound analysis, just as he’d accepted that now he knew of Lucca’s existence, he would safeguard his upbringing with everything he possessed. He’d witnessed too many people fall through the cracks to leave his son’s fate to miracles and chance.

  His own existence had been proof that miracles didn’t exist.

  ‘Thank you,’ Maisie murmured huskily, taking the proffered beverage before stepping back to let him in. He handed her the pastry and followed her into the kitchen. She placed the croissants on a plate but didn’t make a move to touch them. ‘It’s a little too early for me.’

  Again he experienced a tiny bout of guilt, then told himself there would be plenty of time for her to rest once he got them away from here.

  Her gaze flicked to him, then darted away. But in that look Romeo caught the hesitation he’d been dreading. He gritted his teeth.

  He didn’t want to resort to plan B, but he would if necessary. ‘Second thoughts are natural. As long as you keep your eye on the big picture.’

  She bit her lip. ‘I can’t believe this is happening.’

  ‘It’s happening, gattina. We’ll tell Lucca when he wakes up. Is there anyone else you wish to inform? Your parents?’ He vaguely recalled her mentioning them in the intermittent burst of chatter that had preceded him inviting her to his suite that night in Palermo.

  Her expression shuttered and she took a large gulp of coffee. ‘My parents are no longer in the picture.’ A bleak note of hurt threaded her voice. ‘And even if they were, this wouldn’t be the ideal scenario to present to them, would it? Their only child marrying the father of her child because the Mafia were issuing threats?’ Her mouth twisted in mocking bitterness.

  His eyes narrowed at the odd note in her voice. ‘They wouldn’t want you to do what is necessary to safeguard their grandson?’

  Her gaze remained lowered and she crossed her arms around her middle in a gesture of self-preservation. ‘I wouldn’t know. Besides the odd birthday and Christmas card, I haven’t spoken to them in four years.’

  Four years. The same length of time as his son had been alive. Certain there was more to the story, he opened his mouth to ask. But her head snapped up and she flashed him a pursed-lip smile.

  ‘How much time do I have to get my things in order? I’ll need a few days at least to talk to... You’re shaking your head. Why?’ she enquired curtly.

  ‘We’re leaving this morning.’

  ‘That’s impossible. I have to pack and make sure I get the right person to look after the restaurant until...’ She stopped and frowned. ‘Will I be able to return any time soon?’ Wide blue eyes stared at him with a mixture of resignation and sadness.

  ‘Not for a while.’

  ‘How long is a while?’

  ‘A few weeks, a few months? It’s probably best that you forget about this place for the time being.’

  The sadness was replaced with a flash of anger. ‘That’s easy for you to say. You haven’t spent the better part of two years working night and day to get a business off the ground.’

  He allowed himself a small smile. ‘I know a little bit about the hard work it takes to establish a business.’

  She grimaced. ‘But you don’t know how it feels to do it on your own with no support from anyone else. The fear that comes from knowing that one failure could mean you have nothing to help you look after your child.’ She shook her head, as if realising how much she’d revealed.

  Romeo chose not to enlighten her about his personal relationship with fear and failure—of the rough, terrifying nights he’d spent on the streets when he was barely into his teens; of the desperate need for acceptance that had led him to contemplate, for a blessedly brief moment, whether he was truly his father’s son.

  He’d rejected and stumbled away from the gang initiation rites and earned himself a bullseye on his back for a while. But it hadn’
t stopped the fermenting thought that perhaps the life of a Mafioso was blueprinted in his blood.

  That was a part of him he intended would never see the light of day.

  But it was a thought he had never been able to shake off.

  He downed the espresso and watched her struggle to get her emotions under control. ‘Tell me what you need to do to expedite things.’ He had spent most of the night putting things in place to remove her and Lucca as quickly as possible, but he had the feeling telling her that right now wouldn’t go down well.

  ‘I have to speak to Bronagh about assuming a full-time managerial position for starters. Then make sure the staff are taken care of.’ She started to slide her hands through her hair, realised she’d caught it in a ponytail and switched to sliding the long tail through her fingers. ‘I can’t just up and leave.’

  The need to get her and Lucca away from here, as quickly as possible, smashed through the civilised barrier he’d placed on himself so far. ‘A Michelin-star chef will be here at nine to take over the day-to-day running of the restaurant. Once Lucca is awake, I have a team of movers waiting outside to pack your things. You can keep the apartment or I can arrange for it to be sold, that’s your choice. We’ll stop over in London, where we will be married at four this afternoon. After that we’ll fly straight from London to my island in Hawaii.’

  She’d stilled as he spoke, her eyes growing wider with each plan he laid out. ‘But...we can’t get married that quickly,’ she blurted. ‘We need a special licence and that takes—’

  ‘It’s taken care of.’

  She shook her head. ‘This is going too fast, Romeo.’

  He folded his arms. ‘The sooner this layer of protection is in place, the sooner I can concentrate on dealing with Lorenzo.’

  Apprehension crept into her eyes and he cursed under his breath.

  She abandoned her coffee and folded her arms. Romeo willed his gaze to remain above her neckline, not to watch the tail of hair trail across her breasts with each breath she took. ‘Do we at least have time to discuss what sort of marriage we’re going to have?’

  He tensed. ‘Excuse me?’

  ‘Well, this isn’t going to be a traditional marriage, is it? As you said, we’re only doing this to ensure Lucca’s safety, so I presume the physical side of things won’t be part of the marriage.’

  Despite having told himself precisely the same thing after his control slipped last night, something moved through his belly that felt very much like rejection. He gritted his teeth.

  ‘If that is what you wish, then it will be so.’

  Her lashes swept down. ‘Yes, that’s what I want. I think you’ll agree, sex tends to cause unnecessary confusion.’ A flush crept up her neck and Romeo was struck by how innocent she looked.

  ‘Sì, Lucca is the most important thing in all this.’ Why did the words feel so hard to get out?

  She gave a brisk nod. ‘I’ll go and get changed. He’ll be waking up any minute now.’ She started to walk towards the door, then stopped and turned with a grace that hinted at balletic training.

  Romeo frowned. He knew next to nothing about the mother of his child. All he had were the basic facts produced by his private investigators. He’d been so focused on his son that he’d only requested information from Maisie’s pregnancy to date.

  He hadn’t really paid attention to their random conversations five years ago. He’d gone seeking oblivion of the carnal nature and had fallen head first into a maelstrom of emotions he still had a hard time reliving. He’d tried afterwards to explain it away as his grief talking, but that hadn’t quite rung true.

  The idea that he’d been burying a lonely yearning that had chosen his mother’s death to emerge had shaken him to the core.

  It wasn’t a place he wanted to visit ever again.

  He mentally shrugged. He didn’t need to know any more about Maisie, other than that she would continue to remain devoted and invested in keeping their son safe.

  ‘I’d like to keep Bronagh as assistant manager. She’s been a huge support and I don’t want this new manager tossing her out after I’m gone, okay?’

  ‘If that’s what you need to put your mind at rest, then it will be done.’

  She opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say more, but nodded and left.

  His phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out before it started to ring. Anger throbbed to life when he saw the familiar area code. Strolling out of the kitchen, he answered it.

  ‘You may be used to not taking no for an answer, but if you want to have any dealings with me, you’ll listen when I say I’ll be in touch when I’m good and ready.’

  ‘You have the benefit of youth on your side, Brunetti, but I’m reduced to counting the minutes.’

  ‘Perhaps you should remember that before you test me any further,’ he grated out.

  Lorenzo gave a barking laugh. ‘You think I don’t know what you’re up to? You may secure your figlio a layer of protection, but your legacy will still need to be claimed.’

  Romeo’s rage built. ‘My legacy doesn’t involve indulging a handful of geriatric old men, desperate to hang on to the old ways. I’m better at this game than you give me credit for. Being forced to live in the gutter has a way of bringing out a man’s survival instincts.’

  For the first time, Lorenzo seemed to falter. ‘Brunetti...’

  ‘Do not call me again. I’ll be in touch when I’m ready.’ He hung up and turned at the sound of his son’s laughter.

  The sound moved through him, and he froze in place for a second.

  Gianlucca was his legacy. One he intended to guard with his life, if necessary.

  He swallowed and got himself under control just as his son burst excitedly into the living room.

  ‘Mummy says we’re going on a plane today!’

  ‘Yes, you’re coming to live with me for a little while.’

  ‘Do you have a big house?’

  The corner of Romeo’s mouth lifted. ‘It’s big enough for my needs, yes.’

  Lucca’s head tilted pensively. ‘Does it have a duck pond?’

  ‘Not yet,’ he replied, then gave in to the compulsion to offer more; to make a little boy happy. ‘But I will build one for you.’

  His eyes rounded. ‘My very own duck pond?’ he whispered in awe.

  A peculiar stone lodged in Romeo’s throat, making it difficult to swallow. ‘Sì...yes. Your very own.’

  A giant smile broke over his son’s face. ‘Wow! Can I also have a bouncy castle?’

  Romeo opened his mouth, but Maisie shook her head. ‘We’ll discuss it later.’

  Lucca continued to beam. ‘It’s going to be the best adventure ever!’

  Unable to speak on account of all the tectonic plates of his reality shifting inside him, Romeo could only nod.

  CHAPTER SIX

  MAISIE FOUND OUT just how much of an adventure when she was ushered into an exclusive Mayfair boutique five hours later with a team of stylists. As per Romeo’s imperious request, the shop had been shut so the attendants could focus solely on her. He sat in the large reception room, flipping through a document while keeping an eye on Lucca, who was getting his own special outfit for the wedding.

  Wedding...

  She was getting married. To the father of her child. The man she’d thought she’d never set eyes on again after waking up alone in a hotel room in Palermo. The dizzying turn of events threatened to flatten her. But as she’d taken to reminding herself in case any fanciful thoughts took over, all this was happening for the sake of her son.

  This was a wedding in name only; it would be a marriage in name only. And once this whole business with Romeo’s dark past was over with, she would resume her life.

  All the same, she couldn’t stop a bewildering s
hiver as the wedding dress she’d chosen was slipped over her head.

  Made entirely of cream silk, the calf-length dress had the scoop-neck design both in the front and back, and lace sleeves covering her to the elbow. The material hugged her from bodice to thigh, with a slit at the back for ease of movement. It was simple, elegant and businesslike enough to not portray any of those fanciful thoughts that fleeted through her mind every time she so much as dropped her guard. Dress on, she slipped her feet into matching cream heels and moved to where a hair and make-up expert had been set up.

  Maisie had lost the ability to keep up with how fast Romeo had moved once things were set in motion. There’d been no time to get sentimental once she’d summoned the staff, especially with Romeo’s overwhelming presence at her side reassuring them that nothing would change in the running of the restaurant.

  Her staff knew and respected Bronagh. It was that alone that had made temporarily stepping away from the place she’d poured her heart and muscle into bearable.

  And then Romeo had floored her by inviting Bronagh to London to act as witness at their wedding.

  The surprises had kept coming, with her first, brief trip in a private jet, hammering home to her just how powerful and influential the man she would be marrying shortly really was.

  ‘There, I think you’re set.’

  Maisie refocused and examined the chic pinned-up hairstyle and subtle, immaculate make-up, and forced a smile. As much as she’d told herself this marriage wasn’t real, she couldn’t halt the horde of butterflies beating frantically in her belly. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘And I hope you don’t mind, but we sent out for a bouquet. It seems a little wrong that a bride should get married without one, you know?’ The owner of the boutique, an elegant, fortyish woman, said. ‘Especially when you’re marrying Romeo Brunetti.’ The clear envy in her eyes and the awe in her voice echoed through Maisie.

  She was saved from answering when the door opened and Bronagh entered holding a stunning cream-and-lilac rose arrangement bound with crystal-studded ribbon. ‘I’d say this bouquet is the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen, but I think you take the prize for that, Maisie,’ she said, her soft brown eyes widening as Maisie rose and she looked her over. ‘You’re going to knock that man of yours dead.’ There was a faintly querying note in her voice, but the reason Maisie had become fast friends with Bronagh Davis was because she’d offered friendship without prying just when Maisie had needed that. And although the other woman had probably guessed that Romeo was Lucca’s father—the similarities between them seemed to grow with each passing second—she hadn’t questioned Maisie.