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problem? I m not naked, I said when I couldn t take it anymore.
Marianna laughed. The boy is worried Luca finds out he ogled his girl.
I shook my head, annoyed. If Romero insisted on being a coward, he d have to eat with closed eyes.
I wasn t putting a bathrobe on because I needed a bodyguard in my own home.
***
I was already dozing off when Luca came home that night. While he d spent his day outside doing
God knows what I was a prisoner in this stupid penthouse. The only people who kept me company were
Marianna and Romero, but she d left after preparing dinner and Romero wasn t exactly the most
communicative company. I watched as Luca emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered. He barely
acknowledged me. Did he think I cared? When he lied down beside me and extinguished the lights, I said
into the darkness. Can I walk through the city tomorrow?
As long as you take Romero with you, was his short reply.
I swallowed my hurt and frustration. When he d taken me to his favorite restaurant I d thought he d
try to make this marriage work but it had only been a ploy to get me into bed. And now he punished me
with the silent treatment.
But I didn t need him, never would. I drifted off to the sound of his rhythmic breathing.
I awoke in the middle of the night from a nightmare. Luca s arm was wrapped around me, my body
spooned by his. I could have pulled away, but his closeness felt too good. A part of me still wanted this
marriage to work.
***
I missed Gianna and Lily so much, it was almost a physical thing.
Romero tried to be invisible but he was always there. Do you want to go shopping?
I almost laughed. Did he think shopping made everything better? Maybe that worked for some
people, but definitely not for me. No, but I d like to grab something to eat. Gianna sent me an email with
a few restaurants she wants to try when she visits. I d like to go to one of them today.
Romero looked uncertain for an instant, and I exploded. I asked Luca for permission a couple of
nights ago, so you don t have to worry. I m allowed to leave this prison.
He frowned. I know. He told me.
This was ridiculous. I left him standing in the middle of the living area and hurried up the stairs to
the bedroom. I quickly changed into a nice summer dress and sandals, grabbed my bag and sunglasses
before heading back down. Romero hadn t moved from his spot. Why couldn t he pretend he was
something other than my bodyguard?
Let s go, I ordered. If he wanted to act like my bodyguard, I d treat him that way. Romero pulled
a jacket over his shirt to hide his holster, then pushed the elevator button. We didn t talk during the ride
down. This was actually the first time I saw the lobby of the apartment building. It was sleek, black
marble, modern art, white high gloss counter behind which a middle-aged receptionist in a black suit sat.
He inclined his head toward Romero before his eyes zoomed in on me with obvious curiosity. Good day,
Mrs. Vitiello, he said in an overly polite voice. I almost stumbled at hearing him call me that. It was easy
to forget I wasn t a Scuderi anymore. After all, my husband was never present.
I nodded in acknowledgement, then quickly rushed outside. Heat blasted against my body as I left
the air-conditioned building. Summer in the city, nothing to be excited about. The smell of exhaust and
garbage seemed to carry through the streets like fog. Romero was a step behind me and I wondered how
he could bear the heat in his dress-up.
I think we need to take a taxi, I said, as I stepped toward the curb. Romero shook his head but I d
already raised my arm and a taxi swerved to the side and stopped beside me.
***
Romero hung a few steps back, his alert gaze on my back. It was driving me crazy. People were
giving us strange looks. Can you please walk beside me? I asked as we walked down Greenwich Street
where the restaurant was. I don t want people to think you re guarding me. He was probably still pissed
that I d made him take a taxi, instead of the black BMW that screamed mafia from afar.
I m guarding you.
I stopped until he fell into step beside me. The outside of the restaurant was surrounded by wild
flowers growing in terracotta pots and the inside reminded me of British pubs I d read about. It seemed as
if every single of the waiters was tattooed, and the tables were set so closely together you could have
eaten from your neighbor s plate. I could see why Gianna would love it.
Romero s lips twisted in obvious disapproval. It was probably a bodyguard s nightmare. Do you
have a reservation? A tall woman with a septum piercing asked.
No. Romero narrowed his eyes as if he couldn t believe someone was actually asking something
like that. I loved it. Here I wasn t Aria, wife of Luca Vitiello. But it s just the two of us. And we won t
take long, I said politely.
The woman looked between Romero and me, then smiled. You have 1 hour. You are a cute
couple.
She turned to lead us toward our table, which was why she didn t see Romero s expression. Why
didn t you correct her? he asked quietly.
Why should I?
Because we aren t a couple. You are Luca s.
I am. And I m not.
Romero didn t argue again, but I could tell it made him uncomfortable to act like we were anything
but bodyguard and his boss s wife. I ate a salad with the most delicious dressing and enjoyed watching
the people around us, while Romero ate a burger and monitored our surroundings. I couldn t wait to take
Gianna here. Sadness filled me at the thought. I had never been so lonely in my life. Only two days into
my new life and I really didn t know how to survive the many thousand days that would follow. So Luca
will be home late again tonight?
I suppose, Romero said evasively.
After we d eaten, I forced Romero to stroll through the neighborhood of the restaurant for a bit
longer, but eventually I got frustrated with his stiff posture and obvious discomfort, and agreed to return to
the apartment.
***
When the taxi pulled up in front of the apartment building, Romero paid the driver and I slipped out
of the car. As I approached the glass front, I noticed one of Luca s cousins sitting inside the lobby. What
was she doing here? We hadn t talked more than a few sentences at the wedding and I hadn t gotten the
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