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Paige stepped between them "Darcy, allow me to present Mr and Mrs Lorenzo Marcelli They own the winery and all the property here" Paige pointed to the slightly younger couple "This is their son, Marco, and his wife, Colleen And Lieutenant Coe hesitated "He’s a former SEAL and our naval liaison with the fa kidnapped and taken out to sea?" Darcy asked "That’s co Be sure someone stocks me up with Dramamine Any other surprises?"

"That’s not why I’m here--" the lieutenant commander said, but he was interrupted when Mrs Marcelli senior stepped forward

"I’m Tessa," she said with a srabbed Darcy’s upper arms as she studied her "You’re much prettier in person than in the pictures You should sood to have you here"

Then, before Darcy could react to the comment or the advice, the small, elderly woman reached up and pinched her cheek The squeeze sent pain shooting through her entire face and made her eyes water

"Ma his aruest off" He se said ere to call you by your first naht up in the pain in her cheek That little old lady could tith that grip

Darcy shook hands with Marco, his wife, and most of the Secret Service team Last up was Joe Larson

He was tall--, pound for pound, as Alex, but still a lot of ive any member of her teaood, she thought He’d probably killed bad guys before She would have to remember to stick close to him

"Lieutenant Commander," she said as she stared into eyes as dark as a store said

The elder Marcelli led the way, followed by his wife Darcy motioned for Marco and Colleen to follow

Darcy paused at the botto here?"

"Yes," Paige told her "You’ll be in the uesthouse"

Darcy couldn’t believe it "Here? Have you looked around? Open fields How are you going to keep me safe? There have to be a thousand places for people to hide"

"They’re not open fields, they’re vineyards," Alex said

She glared at hi a crossword puzzle later You can stop by and help"

Paige touched her arood location for you There’s plenty of protection, but you won’t feel trapped or isolated Plus the family is pretty cool"

She wasn’t interested in the fa afraid

"I don’t like it," she said

"Tough Until I hear otherwise fro," Alex said sharply

"Alex, no" Paige turned to Darcy "Let’s give it a couple of days I think you’ll like it here"

Darcy ignored her "You’re the agent in charge?" she asked Alex

"Yes"

"Then you better do your job Because I will take this up with my father"

A bluff, but Alex didn’t know that

Alex shook his head "Take care of her," he told Paige, then stalked away

Paige looked at Darcy "You’re in a rimaced "I know I’m sorry I’m tired, I’m scared My teaain"

"Alex is the best," Paige told her "We’re all here to keep you safe"

"The words sound good, but I’m not much of a believer"

The back door opened, and Joe Larson stuck out his head "You two co to Darcy that there are even more Marcellis in her future"

"How many more?" Darcy asked

"Dozens," Joe said as he stepped out onto the porch "Four sisters, three spouses, three and a half kids More grandparents, too Or at least one aret O’Shea, better known as Grammy M"

Darcy didn’t knohat to do with all that information There was no way she could keep that ht

"Have they all been checked out?" she asked Paige

The Secret Service agent smiled "Yes, and they’re all cleared I’ve aret O’Shea" She pulled a sh the pages "She’s living just south of Santa Barbara with Gabriel Reese He’s the grandfather of one of the Marcelli granddaughters’ husbands"

Darcy blinked "I’ll never keep this straight"