*Sophie’s POV*‘What do you wear when you're going on a date with the son of your rich boss?’ I thought as I pulled everything I'd packed out of the closet. "Luca!" I yelled, "It's an emergency. I need your help."He opened the door, and his eyes widened as he took in the scene before him: me, dripping wet with my hair plastered to my forehead and a pile of clothes lying haphazardly around me. His lips twitched once, then split into a wide grin as he burst into laughter."You're a mess. All that intelligence and talent in your body, and you can't dress yourself," he joked. "What's the problem?"I rolled my eyes and threw a shoe at him. "Well, I don't know what I'm supposed to wear to dinner with Jacopo. He's intimidating, Luca. Help me.""Fine, fine, just don't assault me anymore. How much time do we have to work with?"I checked the time on my phone. "We have two hours before he'll be here to pick me up."He clapped his hands together and smiled at me with a mischievous look
*Jacopo’s POV*Her face colored beautifully, and she looked at me with a smirk and hooded eyes, "You're incorrigible." I boisterously chuckled, "If only you knew, bella. Let's dig in before it cools down. Enzo is the best chef I've ever known. He could work in Paris in the most prestigious of restaurants, yet he chooses to stay here. Do you know why?" She moaned slightly as she took a bite, "Why is that?" I watched her eat and found myself becoming aroused. She was so expressive and vocal. It made me wonder if she was like that in all facets of pleasure."Love. This is where he met his wife. He worked here when his father owned the business, and he refused to leave when he got older. The memories of them falling in love kept him here. Beautiful, yes?"She nodded, "Very beautiful." Her voice was soft, and I could tell by the way she hid her eyes from me, that she felt the story touched her in a way, just as it touched me.I leaned in slightly, "Do you believe in love, Sophia
*Sophia’s POV*"Wake up, bella," a deep voice pulled me from a wonderful dream. I stretched out my body, feeling the coolness of the satin sheets against my skin. I cocooned myself in them, burying my head and letting the soft fabric engulf me."No, no, no," the voice whispered, "You have to get up. My father will kill me if I keep you from working."Jacopo. My eyes flew open, and I woke with a start. The blanket slipped off my body, leaving me exposed to the cool morning air. My bare skin erupted in bumps as I shivered from the chill, my nipples tightening into tight buds."There she is," he mumbled as he nuzzled his face into my chest, "I'd love nothing more than to gorge myself on your curves all morning. Alas, Luca and the men will be waiting for us. Get dressed, I had Luca drop off work clothes for you this morning."He nodded his head toward the dresser, and I saw clean clothes and my work boots folded neatly. I silently thanked Luca for making sure I didn't have to do the
*Sophia’s POV*"Come on, Soph. We're going to be late. You were already late yesterday after your soiree with the boss man. Can't afford to do it again," Luca admonished me.After Mr. Rossi took the sketches yesterday, I had researched late into the night to see if I could find a record of them anywhere. Michelangelo's work was reasonably well documented for as long ago as he was alive, and I found mention of them in some articles from over fifty years ago. They were found in Italy when a building was set for demolition. On a whim, the man who bought the property had gone in and searched the rooms first. There was a box that was under a floorboard, and the sketches were hidden inside. After that, there's no mention of where they sold to or who had them. So how did they end up in the painting Mr. Rossi bought for his late wife?Because of the late night, Luca and I were running late getting to the villa. And in true Luca style, he was giving me shit. "Look, we're the bosses. And
*Sophia’s POV*"That's the last of it," I commented, "Thanks for your help." Jacopo's nostrils flared as he exhaled a deep, agitated breath. He avoided eye contact and his posture stiffened, arms crossed tightly over his chest. The air in the room shifted with tension, thick and suffocating. His mood had been foul ever since he'd told his father he'd be staying in the main house. "Jacopo, you know you don't have to stay here. Luca and I will be fine alone. I don't want you to be miserable when your father is more than capable of babysitting us."Somehow, his face became even angrier, "It's not my fucking father's job to protect you, bella. It's mine. I'll make sure nothing happens to you, do you understand?"He stepped closer, his chest rising and falling in heavy breaths. His eyes were like dark, churning oceans, emanating a mix of anger and rage that made my heart race. I dug my nails into my palms, reminding myself that the intent behind them was not directed at me.Just as
*Jacopo’s POV*"Elena, we need to go speak with our father. He's asked for both of us. Sophia, make yourself comfortable and acquaint Luca with the layout of the house when he gets back from his ride to town," I said.I could tell she wanted to talk to me alone, but she nodded her understanding and that made me feel happy.Elena stood and hooked her arm in mine, and we began walking to Alessandro Rossi's home office. A dark, unsettling feeling had lodged in my stomach from the moment I told my father I'd be staying in the mansion as long as Sophia was. I hadn't slept in the building in a long time, and I knew I wouldn't be able to relax."So all we had to do to get you to come back was hire a sexy art lady?" Elena asked."I'm not back permanently. I told you. I just want to keep an eye on Sophia. As soon as her work is done, I'm gone again," I replied."We miss you around here. I know Dad doesn't say it, but a piece of him left the day you turned away from the famiglia," she whis
*Sophia’s POV*The house was abuzz with energy. Mr. Rossi's men hurried up and down the hallway, casting concerned glances over their shoulders as they passed. The sound of raised voices echoed off the walls, and I saw a few shadows flit past the kitchen entrance. Deciding it was best not to get in the way, I quickly bypassed the dining room and made my way back upstairs.I settled myself on the guest bed, crossed my legs, and opened my laptop. I scrolled through pages of articles about Michelangelo's sketches until my eyes stung and my back ached from hunching over the computer.Luca had been busy with keeping the villa project going, and I heard he'd assisted with checking the servant's building for listening devices. I don't know if he realized the Rossi's were mafia yet, but I was looking forward to talking to him tonight.A quiet knock on the door jostled me from an article I was reading, and I called out, "Come in," fully expecting it to be Luca.But it wasn't Luca. Instead,
*Sophia’s POV*I watched as one of the workers placed the last of the bricks for the new fireplace into a wheelbarrow. "No, that has to be done today," I called out. "If it's not done, we'll get behind schedule." He nodded and replaced the masonry tools onto his tool belt, which hung from his hips. His hard hat bobbed up and down as he walked back into the villa.Luca exited the front door of the villa and approached me, "There's something weird going on with the fireplace. Inside, there's a strange rope. It looks like it operates a mechanism or something."I scrunched my face, not understanding, "What are you talking about?"Luca gestured for me to follow him inside the villa, and I complied. Inside the fireplace, I saw the rope and a small hole in the wall behind it."Don't open it," I warned, knowing there was most likely something nefarious behind the wall, "Go out and tell the men to take a break. I'm going to call Jacopo."As Luca left the room, I approached the stone wall,