Family

He nodded at his men and strode in. He sent Philippe a call,

'She wants me in the bar on the side. I am going in.'

Philippe grunted and swore. But Piers was already entering the shady-looking place.

He looked about, ignoring the interested looks coming his way.

No one could ignore his striking golden looks and his clear grey-blue eyes which lacked Lucien Delano's command but still looked impressive as he strode across to the table, she had told him about. He waited, staring out at the dismal rain, and the darkness, and only turned around when he felt someone slide into the seat in front of him. He spun around to meet Hila's bright black eyes and he felt the breath leave his body.

F*ck, but he wanted to lean across and grab her, kiss those lips, make her his forever.

She said in a cool voice,

'Whatever it is, the answer is NOT NOW.'

He opened his eyes and then scowled as he saw her mouth turn up at the corners. She was laughing at him.

The waitress sashayed up to them, looking interestedly at Piers, bending low to hand him a greasy, well-used menu, desperately trying to interest him in her deep cleavage but the young man ignored her. Hila smiled sweetly and said,

'My boyfriend will have a beer and so will I.'

With a pout, the woman moved away in a huff and Piers returned his gaze to Hila.

" What did you want to tell me?' he snapped gruffly, trying not to stare at her.

She smiled, a sadness drifting over her face for an instant. Then she spoke, her hands clasped in front of her in a businesslike manner.

'The Monk and his nephew are planning to take out your family, definitely your mother; on the occasion when the new Club is going to be inaugurated.'

Her words seemed to hit him like hammers. He stared at her,

Mumma?

She went on.

'Your mother. Because the Mafia Don loves her the most. She is his weakness.'

Her eyes never touched his face as she spoke, they kept moving, roving about, watching, alert.

He realized for the first time, that she was wearing a cap that hid her short black hair and a bomber jacket that made her seem larger than what she was.

A disguise. He thought. She is in danger, exposed here, but she came to warn me.

"What…,' he began but she was on her feet already, her eyes at the entrance.

'You have company, Piers Delano,' she said and he leaned forward to grab her hand,

'When will I see you again?' he asked, unable to keep the longing out of his voice, hating himself for it.

She freed herself, glancing at him as she said,

' I will be close to you, Piers.'

But her earnestness was real.

He looked around and saw Philippe bearing down on them, a look of urgency on his face.

"Wait…' he began but when he turned to speak to her, Hila had vanished.

Philippe was beside his table,

'Quick, man. We need to go,' he said and Piers stood up, beginning to walk away as the Capo went on, leading the way out,

'There has been an attack on one of our places; I need to go.'

Piers did not need to ask. It was the Monk's doing of course; they were using the opportunity to strike when Lucien Delano was away. He ground his teeth; well, if they think they are dealing with inefficient young men, they are going to have another think coming, he thought grimly as they went out.

*

From her spot outside the little bar, Hila watched the two men, so very different in appearance, as they strode out, surrounded by guards, and got into their vehicles. The Capo's Hummer was roaring away and she leaned against the wall, trying to control her hurt, her disappointment. Seeing him had been a bittersweet experience.

She knew that she loved him.

And she knew that it was a doomed love.

*Proserpina I looked up as Ria came into the room. She looked agitated and I dropped my reading glasses on the table and began to get up. She flung her arms about me, hugging me tightly. I held her, worried; what was wrong? Why was my tough-on-the-outside young daughter so scared, she was holding me as though she was about to drown.

'Pumpkin?' I whispered, stroking her head though she was taller than me,

'Pumpkin, what is it?'

"Oh Mumma…,' she said and stepped back. We sat down on the comfortable couch beside my table.

I had been working and had just completed a video call with my colleagues in India. Before that, I had been speaking to my second daughter, Tara. She seemed happy, excited even, though her eyes had filled at first when she saw me.

But I felt relieved, especially when I saw the message from Brian's assistant who had been given the task of mentoring her. The older woman was satisfied that Tara would be happy there and had assured me that Tara was settling down.

Sighing now, I held Ria's hands; they felt like ice.

'Mumma, Philippe just called,' she said. I raised my brows inquiringly.

'He told me that…oh Mumma, he said that that monster, that …Monk…he was planning to get at us…'

I opened my mouth to reply,

' Darling, you know your Pappa…'

But Ria cut me short.

'Mumma, no. Phil told me not to tell you but I could not…'

Her large blue-grey eyes were stormy with passion as she said,' They want to …harm YOU. You are Pappa's greatest weakness, after all…'

I sighed and lowered my head.

I had lived with terror, had been kidnapped, and almost sold into the sex trade by the brother of the monk, Lucien's greatest enemy.

But I had survived. Proudly, I raised my head.

'Pumpkin…' I began when Dom and Lou burst into the room.

'Mumma, Mumma…!" They were yelling in excitement but came to an abrupt halt as they saw their elder sister and her distressed face.

I nodded with a small smile.

'You can stop worrying," I said "Your Pappa is there for me.'

She shook her head, sobbing now as she threw her arms around me, sobbing wildly, hugging me as I tried to comfort her. My sons stood at the door, wearing similar bewildered expressions. They had obviously come to me about some other matter.

There was a commotion in the hall and then, Claude rushed in, looking as though he had rushed in from a woman's bed. I grimaced. My son was behaving like Lucien had been in his younger days, moving from one woman's bed to another.

"Mumma,' he shouted and came to my feet, kneeling beside me. Ria scowled and raised her tear-stained face.

'Go and take a BATH, you man-whore!' she hissed but the younger boys who were standing close, inched forward, ears pricked.

'What is a Man-ho?' asked Dom, eyes round as saucers.

'And what does it mean?' piped up Lou.

I sighed as Ria rounded on him,' Just forget you ever heard that, smarty pants,' she cried.

Claude was holding my hand as he spoke,' Mumma, Pappa has called to tell me that I should not let you out of my sight till he gets back.'

'How will YOU manage your…uh…nocturnal activities then?' asked Ria nastily.

Lou was leaning against me, his attention keenly focused on the conversation.

"What's that?' he asked and as his older brother rounded on him aggressively, he added hastily,

'What happened?'

Claude swiped at his face with his fist and Lou gave a yell of protest.

The nurse appeared at the door with Rudi in her arms, looking hassled.

Rudi flapped his arms wildly on seeing his siblings and Claude leaped up, seizing the baby and swirling him before Ria, who had jumped up, grabbed the chortling infant.

'Go and take a bath or something,' she cried crossly and he grinned and left the room.

Danger was something I had come to live with and I was reconciled to the idea of being in someone's crosshairs. The phone pinged and I glanced at the message. Lucien was cutting his trip short and returning home. I blushed like a new bride; the man had the power to make me weak at the knees with just a message heralding his arrival.

But I felt relieved. Just the knowledge that Lucien Delano was back in town would send all the mice scurrying back into their holes.

*