Chapter 67: Chapter 67

◇ KEL ◇

The remote island of San Pietro surpassed my imagination.

Situated along the northeastern coast and facing the Italian peninsula, the island boasted deep cerulean waters and white sand beachfronts that rivaled the tropics' best.

In the distance, private yachts passed by as we stepped off the private jet.  Enzo guided me out of the plane after Leandro walked down the carpeted stairs.

"Fresh air at last." Leandro turned to look at me. The corners of his beard moved while he grinned at me and Enzo.

Enzo didn't say anything and kept his arm around my waist. He had been drinking the entire flight but he didn't smell drunk. However, his droopy eyelids and slumped posture told me enough about his blood alcohol level.  He'd probably gulped down the rest of the wine while I was using the lavatory.

"Now that's the sunset I've been waiting for." Leandro put on his sunglasses to stare at the orange-tinted horizon and the thick clouds steering away from the dimming sun.

The lush greens, the bright blue ocean, and the powdery white sand stayed visible even from this part of the landing strip.  If this was another one of the Tomassinis' private properties, I wouldn't be surprised.  "It's really beautiful. Breathtaking."

"I know. You'll love it here." Leandro glanced at me again and ignored his brother's bored frown.

I looked around us, appreciating the view.  I had been burying my face in my medical books that I just realized now how much I missed modeling because I got to travel while on the job.

"I'll drive you to the airport first thing," Enzo muttered to my ear once the noisy jet engines slowed to a halt. After walking past Leandro, we stepped into a black sedan parked right outside the landing strip.  The vehicle had been waiting for us.

"It's fine," I replied halfheartedly while I felt Enzo's arm on my shoulders. "You're exhausted. And you need a real bed."

◇◇◇

"The renovation's done. Excited for you to see the improvements we've made."  Leandro's girlfriend, Alodia, led me and Enzo into the mansion's kitchen.  Alodia had already toured us around the rest of the house. She seemed genuinely appreciative of having unexpected guests tonight.

I smiled at her and thanked her for giving us a tour around.

Our private dinner was served in the patio of the rest house, situated in the heart of San Pietro. On a high-fenced mountain slope, at that.

The two-floor house (with five bedrooms, six bathrooms, an indoor gym, and an infinity pool) screamed months of hard work and millions of euros.  Lorenzio and Leandro Tomassini were just used to the finer things in life.

After our three-course meal, Enzo dragged me into the living room.

"What're we doing?" I asked while trying not to mind his slightly wobbly steps.

"We'll watch a movie." He burped.

"Okay..." I muttered as we stood close to the couch.  "What movie?"

"I don't know. You pick," he suggested.  It was obvious the wine had caught up.  "Figlio di pu—"  He held his head and winced.  "Cazzo!"

"Go to bed. You're tripping over yourself."  I watched him almost stumble onto the long couch.  "Can't say it's all jet lag, though."

"I like your dress." Enzo grinned and stared at my plain dress.  His smooth cheeks were rosy pink, and his legs and arms splayed along the plush sofa.

"I like your drunk face," I retorted while trying not to laugh.

He held my wrist and pulled me to him so I would sit on his lap.  "You look pretty," he said before he frowned at his own words, barely able to keep his eyes open.  "Then again you always look pretty."

"That's just the alcohol swimming in your bloodstream."  I sighed and got up, flumping on the other couch.  His slurred words already matched his flushed skin that I doubted he'd make it to the guest room without my help.

"Leave him there. He'll be snoring in a minute."

"Fanculo," was Enzo's mumbled reaction to the other voice.  His long lashes and heavy eyelids were already covering his droopy eyes, while his arms and legs were stretched out on the long sofa.

I almost laughed at his swearing and sat up straight at Leandro's deep voice, recognizing it instantly.

Leandro approached the living room with a glass of red wine, his younger girlfriend nowhere in sight.  "Wine?"  He was looking straight at me.

"No thanks."  I grinned faintly and stayed put on the smaller couch.  Actually I was trying not to panic about having to converse with the big boss alone.  "Alodia's already asleep?"

"The long trip exhausted her."

"I figured." I glanced away from his attentive stare.  "She's beautiful," I then commented.  "And real nice."

Alodia had been a welcoming hostess all evening, too.  His 20-something Chinese-Korean girlfriend looked like he picked her out from a catwalk, although Alodia was a little shorter. Most likely 5'5".

"It's nothing serious. But we both like the beach, so, one thing in common." Leandro smiled and stood behind his unconscious brother.  Leandro spent a moment just sipping his wine while eyeing me as if he found me interesting to look at.

The second his smile disappeared, his aura instantly switched to totally intimidating. His straight face and rigid posture just gave off an I'll-kill-you-with-my-bare-hands-if-you-get-in-my-way kind of vibe.

My gut feeling could be wrong, but...I couldn't imagine being friends with a guy like him. Stern, intimidating, demanding—the epitome of a boss.    Enzo's polar opposite, frankly.

"Why don't you check out the pool?" Leandro put on another faint grin. But his droning tone just didn't sound friendly enough to convince me he meant the invitation. "The water's heated."

With my face warming up and my palms turning slick from sweat, I pondered the suggestion. Indeed, I'd prefer swimming alone in the backyard pool rather than prolong this awkward chitchat with the aloof older brother.  "Thank you. Maybe later."

"How's Maximiliano doing?"

The question didn't feel like a cold slap on the face but it left a sour taste in my mouth. Did he also think Miles  and I  were a couple?  "Busy with his new line of work," I muttered with another forced smile.

"Of course. Only son. Only heir." Leandro sipped wine from his half-full glass, his attentive eyes as dark as his slicked back hair and thick beard.

Features-wise, his thick and dark brows, sharp jawline, and angular bone structure were similar to Enzo's, but,  Enzo looked way more approachable...especially when he smiled.

"Enzo mentioned you're studying medicine?"

"Yes."

"Why medicine?"

"My mom was in healthcare," I replied a bit more enthusiastically.

The boss seemed genuinely interested to get to know me better. "And then?"

"Then my family encouraged me to proceed to med school after my pre-med."

"Ah. Makes sense. Thank you for helping my brother, by the way."  Leandro took a sip of his wine again.  "He said you took good care of him back at the Falcos'."

"Just tried to help."

"Can I ask why you're with him? I know my brother's got a thing for your type, but..."  Leandro furrowed his brows and faked another chuckle.  "Now, I'm not saying I don't like you for my brother.  Don't get me wrong. Just awfully curious."

My type?  "We're just friends, Signore."  I put on another smile. Better if I seemed amused by his natural talent for giving shade, than look totally uncomfortable by our ongoing exchange. It would be rude of me to ignore his looming presence in the room.

With his blood-red shirt, perfectly pleated pants and charismatic Italian features, ignoring Leandro Tomassini was an impossible task.  "Really good friends, I gather." He feigned another grin and finally got up from the chair. "I'll leave you to it. See you in the morning."

"Thank you. Goodnight."

◇◇◇

Leandro wasn't lying.

The pool really was warm. The water comforted my taut muscles and soothed every inch of my skin.  Insomnia struck again, so, I thought a late night swim in solitude might just do the trick.

Depths not exceeding seven feet was my limit, though. For the meantime, I would stay glued to the poolside while trying my best to relax.

The whole ambience exceeded my expectations.  Strings of garden lights illuminated the path leading to the pool.  The simple elegance in the nature-inspired theme just complemented the rustic interior design.

I shut my eyes and leaned against the cool tiles below the surface, the back of my head touching the warm water.  The bodyguards sounded like they were having a party down on the shore, probably having drinks and enjoying a day off.  The quiet poolside and garden convinced me to wear nothing but a pair of tight underwear.

Enjoying the privacy I momentarily had sounded better than obsessing over Miles' odd obsession with my decision to stay friends with Enzo.

Enzo was out cold on the sofa when I last checked on him. I had draped a blanket over him before leaving him alone on the couch. I couldn't blame him;  we'd been traveling the past two days on little to no sleep.

Actually, it was my idea to leave Serbia the same day we arrived in Belgrade, the capital.  Enzo simply obliged.  No questions asked.  Almost like...he enjoyed being my new friend.  He was just easy to get along with, despite his social status.  I couldn't say the same about the older brother, though.

Leandro?  Definitely another story.  Enzo even mentioned something about his brother's paranoid thoughts recently.  Sounds like taking over their family business wasn't an easy feat for the eldest son.

From what I heard, Leandro didn't like new faces and meeting new people. Generally a distrustful person. Must be the pampered, oversolicitous upbringing.

What was his deal?  Why invite me to stay the night in his family's secret rest house?  Was he just being polite?  I could tell it was a secret, judging from the inconspicuous location of the property and the remarkable privacy of the place.  Its placement on a hilltop facing the white, sandy beach also left me in awe.

I held my breath and stayed submerged.  I stopped moving when my toes reached the bottom.  Almost six feet...still safe.  If I swam to the middle of the infinity pool, the depths might reach seven to ten feet.

Nah. Too risky.  An anxiety attack in the middle of this huge pool would literally suck the life out of me.  I stayed still and calm, enjoying every second of the privacy I had for now.

Until I heard splashes of water from a distance, immediately jolting my thoughts awake.  Someone dove into the water.  The poolside lights stayed dim, but they lit the water enough for me to see someone adeptly swimming towards me.  My back tensed up.

A guy.  Dark, jaw-length hair.  Black swimming trunks.  Muscular.  Fast.

Enzo?

No.  He's too wasted to be up this late.  I swam to the left side of the pool, my breaths growing loud and uneven.  Several awkward strokes later, my fingers reached the sharp edge.  I caught my breath and glanced behind.

Shit.

It's not Enzo.

◇