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None of it made any bloody sense

If he wanted me, he’d try to make that clear

If he didn’t want me and wanted Italy, he would have tried to provokeeither of those He was si For a rand didn’t add up This hy I knew so

“Ma’am, we’re here,” the driver inforht, the nalass The valet opened my door quickly for me to step out

“Welco lasses

This is going to be fun, I thought sarcastically, walking through the wooden doors as they opened for me Once inside, as always, it felt as if I’d been transported to Verona, one of my mother’s favorite cites in Italy The walls that led to the dining hall were made of brick that had been iht, it looked as if you alking into the light at the end of life I could hear their soft voices as they laughed and giggled, which died dohen I reached the light at the end As always, I found lass doht blue sky Centered in theroom was a saltwater Ro water fro was meant to look like my mother…but I couldn’t see it All around the restaurant were perfectly tried bushes

Inhaling, I s, ladies”

“Good , Donatella,” they all said it, which was kind of funny They sounded like school children and I was their teacher… No, not funny—pitiful for them They were all much older, muchthe governor’s wife and another the mayor’s, and yet even they had to co

“You look beautiful, as always” The governor’s wife came up to me first, as usual Her brown hair cropped short at her shoulders She came up first as a way to define the order of importance to the other ladies and I didn’t stop her

“Thank you, Brigitte…” I reached out to take her hand when she offered it, but she paused… No, not just her, but all of them looked around me

Turning around, I watched as Ivy caht pale pink dress and a white jacket that hung on her shoulders Her golden blonde hair over one of her shoulders in soft waves, she tucked her beige clutch under her ar at the ladies assembled

“Morning ladies,” she said and even though no one replied, she confidently made her way towards me

“Dona, you left withoutlate but honestly… I’ on to my arm I stared at her, unsure of what to stay No…that was a lie I wanted to tell her to let fucking go of me before I kicked her to moon “Can you do me a favor?” she had the nerve to ask

“Can you tell theuards behind her… One of the Greyson himself He nodded to me but then focused on Ivy She whispered, “Ethan is strict about uards so obviously I don’t need one either”

No She needed them