CHAPTER THREE

It was a quick trip back to the mansion because Salvetti disregarded all traffic laws and speed limits. When Salvetti eventually dropped by, Travis was waiting for him outside the front door.

Found her? That's what he insisted on hearing, after all. Travis gave a disapproving shake of his head. So then, "why the hell are you here?"

Travis didn't bat an eye; his fortitude was impressive. He was completely loyal, but he was also within his rights to question Salvetto's directives if he saw fit. That's why, while Salvetti was away, Travis was entrusted with Lanaya's safety.

You have a greater understanding of her than I do. And Travis's response was.

The Italian sighs and Salvetti is no exception. Exactly, he was right. The truth was that he had a greater understanding of her.

Maybe I can tell you where she is. He said this as he made his way to the house's rear. A small space between the Peony and the roses in the backyard served as his secret hideout ever since he was a kid.

No one could see the hiding spot outside, and most people could pass by without noticing anything unusual.

When matters at home grew too difficult for young Salvetti, he would retreat there.

Lanaya sat in the secluded spot, knees to chest, and looked out over the garden. Salvetti saw in her eyes that what she was perceiving was not the garden.

Salvetti blew a breath, then unbuttoned his blazer and draped it over Lanaya's shoulders. She barely batted an eyelid. The corner of his mouth turned down.

Salvetti swept the leaves and sand from the space next to her, glanced around swiftly, and sat down, leaning his back against the wall behind him. He could smell jasmine and poppies as the wind blew through the trees.

Salvetti gazed upward at the brilliant blue sky devoid of any clouds. This year summer came early, although there was still a hint of spring chill. Salvetti scowled at the chattering birds in the bird bath and the trees. The level of happiness they displayed was abnormal.

Lanaya, standing next to him, covered her face with her hands as she sniffled. He didn't see she was crying until that point. Salvetti wanted to slap himself for failing to recognize her distress before, but it wasn't as if he'd know what to do even then. His mother was usually cheerful and lively, so consoling sobbing people wasn't one of his strong suits.

Seeing her take a few big breaths to compose herself, he watched as her muscles tensed up at the realization that she was wearing someone else's jacket. Lanaya gently, far too slowly, turned her head to look at him.

Her cheeks bore dry tear traces, and her eyes were red and swollen. It was likely that she had been biting and tearing at her lips with her teeth to stifle her sobs, which resulted in the bleeding and bruising you see now.

Lanaya stared at him with wide, terrified eyes and a parted mouth as if she were about to scream. She was about to retrain her face when she stopped herself in time. She continued to stare at him as though he were about to kill her, but this time with a hint of disdain.

She despised him, which Salvetti didn't appreciate, but at least it wasn't fear.

Additionally, love and hatred are complementary emotions.

Salvetti arched a sarcastic brow at her, ensuring that she would dislike him even more. He took pleasure in watching her gaze remained fixed on him for an extra fraction of a second before she turned away.

The bitter taste of disappointment filled his mouth. Salvetti turned around and scowled at a group of yellow daisies in the garden. In an instant, he felt compelled to light the entire bush ablaze.

However, if he did that, his mom would smack him upside the head.

Lanaya made a futile attempt to pull herself up, and he found himself reluctant to have her go. Even though they had been silent for the past few minutes, he still managed to have a pleasant chat with her.

"The words came out of his mouth, "I used to come here when I was a boy to get away from my responsibilities and be by myself. However, a girl of about 18 months of age never failed to track me down."

Lanaya didn't settle back down, but she didn't try to outrun him any longer.

That will feel like a win to him.

"Inconsolable, she would shuffle over here. She would have to go through some of those shrubs because she couldn't figure out the best route to get here. The baby arrived here with thorn scratches all over her body, torn clothes, and sand in her hair and eyes."

Remembering this tiny infant shaking her butt and shuffling to him made him smile. That happened in the distant past when it might as well have been another lifetime. Imagine a world where a little boy and a baby girl were inseparable, although she could not communicate verbally or physically.

Lanaya took a deep breath and looked away anxiously before turning her head to look at him. Her eyes were piercingly bright, and she still looked scared, but this time curiosity won out.

Then, "Wh-what happened?" The question she asked was like a sigh of relief.

The instant the child saw me, her face would light up like a Christmas tree, and she would forget all her tears.

Once she started crying, no one could stop her, but as soon as she saw him, her tears would turn into a wide grin. Her parents often joked that they had "adopted" her person, the man.

Salvetti said, pointing to where Lanaya was seated, "She would sit just there and try to 'speak' to me using twigs and rocks and sometimes motioning wildly with her tattered blankie, sometimes about injustices of something or other."

"Injustices?" Asked Lanaya. He stared into her vividly reflecting mint green eyes.

"The word "infinite" was a favorite of hers to utter. The answer to the puzzle did not come to me immediately." With a chuckle, Salvetti left.

Although Lanaya didn't grin, he could tell she was trying to smile because her lips tilted upwards. Salvetti felt a bond forming between them. An odd, tattered link. Spending time with her was important to him, but all he knew how to do correctly is be a jerk.

Attempting to speak, her lips parted, but a frown soon formed on her face.

Lanaya, her eyes downcast, patted his jacket, which was still perched on her shoulders, and then handed him his phone.

As if her hand had been burned, Lanaya withdrew it as he took it.

Damn.

Travis had texted to see whether they were fine. The Italian sighs and Salvetti is no exception.

Lanaya got to her feet. Perhaps we should return at this point? What she said was more of a question than an observation. With a swift shrug, she returned his jacket to him. He, too, got to his feet, but he didn't bother zipping up his jacket.

He swung it over his shoulder and gestured to Lanaya by extending the crook of his arm.

She looked at his elbow for a few seconds in bewilderment before she realized what he was trying to tell her.

Funny, almost. Her face seemed serious, and her breathing quickened.

Salvetti gave her the cold shoulder but released the elbow, then he turned and walked out the house's front door, with Lanaya close behind. When he considered turning around to insist that she walk by him, he realized that pushing too hard would cause him to lose her.

She remained silent on the journey back into the house and only stopped to stand next to Salvetti when they spotted Travis resting on the final polished step leading up to the front door. Behind Travis, on the steps, followed a frantic-looking Brian and Carter, who appeared to be in an argument. They stopped fighting when they saw Lanaya and Salvetti together.

Interesting.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Lanaya swiftly duck her head and lean inward. Travis and Carter's menacing stare toward Brian. In addition, Brian's irises shrank as he caught sight of Lanaya.

In a split second, it took them to enter the house; Salvetti took everything in, processed it, and then shook his head at Travis to signal a negative. In a subtle gesture to Brian, Travis looked to the left, and Salvetti nodded, certain that both Travis and Carter would act appropriately. A little later, he faced Lanaya and reached around to touch her behind.

Her eyes widened in terror, and her mouth gaped in a silent scream as she took a deep, painful breath. Her muscles clenched, and she felt a shiver run down her spine.

The speaker said, "Chain your worries away, Lanaya." Salvetti kept making eye contact as he gave the order. For a moment, he couldn't tell if she would scream or pass out. Lanaya was powerful; she wouldn't give in to temptation like that.

A split second later, her eyes rolled back into her head, and her teeth rattled together, proving him wrong. Lanaya's body shook so badly that she fell to the ground. Her head would have hit the floor if Salvetti hadn't been quick enough to catch her.

When her shivers became twitches, Salvetti wrapped an arm over her thighs and hoisted her into his arms. Travis nodded to Carter, and the two of them moved out of the way so Salvetti could enter the bedroom where she had slept the night before. Carter had to practically drag Brian out of the way.

He planned to deal with Brian down the road.

But now, he was responsible for the stunning creature in his arms.