“Didn’t your mother tell you about it? Some interior design magazine did this thing about the top realty companies across the United States, and Ms. Patti’s was one of the featured offices. I did my best to not be in when the photographer was there, but somehow I ended up in one of the pictures, which naturally was the one used. It’s only a profile shot, but I’m there. It’s the only thing I can think, because I’ve been super careful to stay out of the public eye for almost a year.”
“You’re probably right. I’ll have Williamson check out the magazine. I can’t picture Big Jim Berkley reading interior design magazines, though.”
“Yeah, I don’t think he’s the type to read them, but maybe one of the women who follow him does.”
“Good point.”
Serena squeezed his hand tight, and he felt the slight tremble in hers. “Antonio, I’m scared.”
“You know I’ll never let anybody or anything hurt you ever again, right?”
She gave a shaky laugh. “I hate to burst your bubble, Captain Caveman, but you can’t be with me all the time.”
“Watch me.”
“Be realistic. The best thing for everyone is to turn myself over to the FBI. Go into seclusion until I have to testify. Again.” Pulling her hand free, she stood and walked over to stand at the entrance of the gazebo. Silhouetted against the backdrop of all Mother Nature’s bounty, the tall pines, the delicate roses and climbing ivy, she appeared like an earth goddess, fragile yet with an inner strength which refused to be quenched by life’s turbulent chaos.
“Serena, stay here. You’ll be surrounded by people you know. People who care about you. Whenever I’m not here, somebody will be. There are enough Boudreaus around at any given time, you’ll never be alone. Plus, I bet Momma would love to have another woman around the place. She’s always complaining there’s too much testosterone smothering her. I guarantee she’ll spoil you.”
“I want to, but I can’t put your family in danger.” He could almost hear the unspoken “or you.”
He stood and walked to stand beside her, needing to be closer. Everything in him screamed to hold her in his arms, protect her from anybody or anything trying to harm her, but he resisted the impulse. He knew she was off balance by the day’s events and here he was, springing the news that her cover had been blown. He spoke softly, keeping his tone gentle. “Before you argue any further, let me tell you what I’ve done. I’ve set it up some safeguards so there’s always somebody here when I’m not around. All my brothers, Dad, off-duty officers from the sheriff’s department. If I need to, I’ll have the FBI send a couple of people to assist, but rest assured you are not going to be alone. Big Jim’s people aren’t getting anywhere near you.”
“Antonio, you can’t—”
“Serena, even if this wasn’t my job, I would move heaven and earth to keep you safe. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”
Her eyes searched his face, surprise and hope in her gaze. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything, except you’ll be careful, and you won’t leave the Big House without me or somebody with you. Promise me.”
After a short pause, she nodded. “Okay. Thank you.”
He clasped both of her hands between his, and ran his thumb across her knuckles, the gesture soft and gentle, before he led her back to the bench. “Can I tell you something? It might help explain why I’m being a smidge overprotective.”
“Of course.”
“You know I’m adopted. Douglas and Ms. Patti are the best parents anybody could ask for. Loving, kind, they gave out hugs when they were needed, and discipline when I screwed up.”
“Everybody talks about the Boudreaus in Shiloh Springs. I can’t remember anybody ever saying a bad word about Douglas or Ms. Patti. When I first moved here, I almost thought they walked on water, the way people described them. Too good to be true. There had to be a catch somewhere. Only there isn’t one. With them, everything I heard is true. What they portray to the community is exactly who they are out of the public eye when nobody is watching. I love that about them.”
“They epitomize the best of humanity. When I came to stay with them, Rafe and Brody already lived here. Things were…” he paused, choosing his words carefully, “rocky in the beginning. Being from New York, I wasn’t the easiest kid to get along with. Add in the hormones of puberty, a chip on my shoulder the size of a boulder, and a ‘don’t mess with me’ attitude, I wasn’t the perfect candidate when Dad and Momma took me in.”
Serena scooted a little on the bench, until her thigh pressed against his, and leaned her head against his shoulder. “It’s hard to imagine you as a kid. I bet you were a handful. How’d you end up in Texas?”
“That’s a long story, and I’ll tell you everything another time, but the short version is my mother fell in love with somebody her family didn’t approve of, sort of a Romeo and Juliet affair. Only instead of the Montagues and the Capulets, we’re talking the two biggest crime families in New York and New Jersey.”
Her hands twisted in his grip until she now held his, and she squeezed them reassuringly, silently urging him to go on.
“You can imagine how that went over between the two groups. My mom was told in no uncertain terms she couldn’t see my father anymore. My dad’s family gave him the same ultimatum. The infighting got worse, until my mom dropped the bombshell she was pregnant.”
“Oh, boy.”
“Yeah, it wasn’t a match made in heaven. My parents didn’t care, they were stupid kids in love, and thought the whole world revolved around them. They were too young and too naïve to realize things didn’t always work out the way you plan. My mother’s father was a consigliere, or
