Antonietta leaned her head against his chest. “I feel as if my entire life has been turned upside down. Franco, did you see Tasha’s face? You’ve known Christopher since he was a child. Did you know he was capable of such a thing?”
Franco shook his head. “I plan on calling on him tomorrow.”
“There is no need, Franco.” Byron spoke low, but his voice carried power. “I will have a talk with Christopher Demonesini about how one treats a woman. You have too much to risk, while I do not have a reputation to protect.”
“Neither one of you needs to be talking to Christopher about anything,” Antonietta said firmly. “I think the captain should have a talk with him.”
The two men looked at one another over the top of her head. Byron took her arm and strolled casually from the music room, Franco pacing beside them, just as a maid came rushing in to clean up the glass. “You know as well as I do that he has too much money for anything to happen to him, even if it was Tasha he struck,” Byron said.
“Then we ruin him socially and financially,” Antonietta said seriously. “Their business is already in trouble. It wouldn’t take that much to tip them over the edge. No one hurts my family.”
“That is a true Scarletti speaking, Byron,” Franco said. “Let that be a warning to you. We seek revenge.”
“Retribution,” Antonietta corrected. “Justice. It isn’t quite the same thing as revenge. Ask
Nonno
. I’m certain he’ll agree.” I mean it, Byron, I feel strongly about this. How dare that horrible man hit and kick my cousin and think his life can continue without a single consequence.
I said nothing,
bella
. I just want you to know what I’m capable of. Perhaps you won’t find me so appealing.
She sounded very much as if she were issuing a challenge.
Byron leaned down to brush the corner of her mouth with his.
On the contrary, I think you will fit right in with my people.
There was a trace of amusement in his voice.
Franco cleared his throat. “Surprisingly, little cousin, I agree with you about retribution, too. I’m off to the kitchen to tackle Alfredo. I’ll wait for the captain to show so I can talk to him without causing a scene.”
“
Grazie
, Franco, I really appreciate your help.” Antonietta reached her hand out, and her cousin caught it in a show of solidarity.
“Go enjoy yourself. Byron, see that she does.”
“It will be my pleasure.” Byron tucked Antonietta’s fingers into the crook of his arm and walked her through the open rooms of the palazzo. “I am really very sorry about the tablecloth. When a loved one dies, we cling to the things they treasured.”
“I know it’s silly to feel so upset over it, with poor Enrico dead in our home.” Antonietta sighed. “I feel ridiculous to even think of the tablecloth.”
“I have a medallion I made for my mother. I was a boy, and I certainly would not consider it good work at all, but she treasured it. She wore it always. Even later when my skills improved, and I gave her other, much more valuable pieces, she still wore the medallion.” Byron could hear his sister laughing, her voice low as she spoke with Don Giovanni. It gave him a wrenching sense of homesickness.
“Byron?” Antonietta halted abruptly, just outside the door to the conservatory. “I know I don’t tell you how I feel about you, mostly because I can’t put it into words, but you’re very important to me.” She shook her head. “That’s not what I wanted to say.”
She looked so close to tears, he gathered her close. “I know how you feel about me,
cara
. I feel what you feel, remember? We are connected. You do not have to say words to me. They will come in time.”
“I just wanted you to know.”
Byron caught her chin and tilted her face up to his. “I know.” His mouth found her temple, drifted, feather light, from the side of her cheek to the corner of her mouth. He drew her closer, his arms tightening possessively, tongue teasing the seam of her lips until she opened for him. He gave her no chance to pull away, no chance for a chaste kiss. He took control with ravenous hunger. He wanted her with every fiber of his being, and he poured the intensity of his need into his kiss. He wanted her to feel loved, to feel beautiful and confident. To be confident of him and the way he felt about her.
Fire burned instantly between them. His body reacted, thickening, hardening. He ached to bury himself deep inside of her. Deep within, the ever-present beast lifted its head and roared for its mate. Demanded his rights. Byron’s hands slid down her back, shaped her waist, memorized the curve of her hips and found her buttocks. She was wearing one of her sexy little thongs. There wasn’t a single line under the silken material of her skirt.
Byron deepened the kiss, forgetting everything but the sheer, hot passion of her mouth. Of her body. He urged her more closely into him, imprinting the hard length of his need into her soft flesh. He held her there, took pleasure in the way her hips moved urgently against him, seeking relief. He couldn’t stop kissing her, his mouth hard and hot and persuasive. Do you want to run away with me? Right now?
A low whistle cut through the erotic images in Byron’s mind. Merged as deep as they were, Antonietta heard it, too.
Holy Smoke. Uncle Byron! Hey, Dad, check this out. He’s going at it hot and heavy out there. I never thought he had it in him. I think they’re going to melt right into the floor.
Antonietta pulled away with a small gasp of alarm. “Who is that, Byron, and why can I hear him?”
He stroked a small caress over her head. “That would be my nephew, the one with no manners. Are you absolutely certain you want to meet him? I can send him away,” he said hopefully. “It would save me the mortification I am certain to undergo should you insist on following through with this.”
“How is it I heard him in my head? He’s in the conservatory, yet I heard him in the same way I heard you. I don’t generally hear everyone speaking in my head.” The idea clearly bothered her.
“Not in the same way. Our people are strong telepaths, lifemates have their own wavelength, a private path, if you will. Our minds were merged together, and my nephew spoke on the general path my people all use. You heard him through me, just as you used my eyes to see.”
“That’s incredible. My family are telepaths but not to such a powerful extent. Let’s go in, I don’t want to seem rude, now that your nephew has announced us.”
“That boy needs to learn manners.” Disengaging his mind from Antonietta’s, he sent a private reprimand to his sister.
Eleanor, Josef is too old to act like such a child. I want a word with him later. He is just excited, Byron. He has not seen you in years. Eleanor, he spoke so a human could hear him. He endangered our people by such an act. That cannot be tolerated, and you know it.
“You’re muttering under your breath,” Antonietta said. Her fingertips touched his lips. “And you’re frowning.”
“After meeting my nephew, you will be frowning, too,” he predicted. With a sigh of resignation, he pushed open the door to the conservatory. His fingers twined with hers, clung, and held on.
“You’re turning into a big baby,” she said.
“Here she is, my granddaughter, Antonietta.” Don Giovanni rose quickly. “Antonietta, our guests have arrived. Byron, how good to see you. Your sister is lovely.”
“
Grazie
, Don Giovanni,” Eleanor said. She hugged her brother and touched Antoinette’s hand. “You have no idea how much it means to me to finally meet you.”
“My sister Eleanor, her husband Vlad, and my nephew, Josef.” Byron introduced. “This is Antonietta Scarletti.” Byron’s tension communicated itself to Antonietta. She tightened her grip on his fingers.