Beautiful Bounty(83)

Gio and Nikko untangled themselves immediately at the eldest Marino’s command. A moment of silence ensued until Andreas finally nodded at Ronnie, passed the threshold into the room, and only then did the sudden tension of the moment ease a bit. Andreas Marino was definitely a reckoning, and the undeniable patriarch of the family. Ronnie couldn’t help but notice all the boys jumped when he told them to, and she witnessed it first hand with his next statement.

“Come,” he ordered and turned. “Your breakfast is being sent to my rooms. I ordered more food.” One after the other, the boys followed him down the hall, which left Ronnie to shut the door and follow. They made two turns and stopped at the end of the last hall, where a set of double doors was open. Andreas had gotten himself a suite.





Ronnie entered Andreas’ suite last trailing behind the others. Nikko waited until she passed before closing the door behind her. Andreas stood, hands on lean hips, waiting in front of a massive cherry wood conference table until they all stood around it. He didn’t look pleased, and he was glaring at her.

He said nothing. His look said it all. He was pissed at her. Her stunt in leaving Florida.

“Andreas . . .,” Nikko started from somewhere behind her.

“Say nothing,” he stated menacingly between clenched teeth. “I heard your story last night. Now I want to hear hers.” He indicated Ronnie with his chiseled chin.

Gio and Blaze got closer to the eldest Marino flanking him on either side. His sentinels. The three stood waiting for her to speak. Her mouth suddenly went dry being put on the spot. She felt Nikko’s hands grasp her shoulders softly for support. She knew she needed to stand up to this man if she was going to pass muster with the head of this family. She was grateful for the show of support, but it was her mess, her bed, and she had to lie in it. She shrugged off his hands and squared her shoulders. She needed to show these men just what she was made of.

Nikko, behind her, felt nothing but pride for the woman he loved as she faced his brothers head on.

She wet her lips, and spoke firmly, with assurance. “I screwed up. I can admit that. I put my life in danger, I know that. I have heard it all from Nikko, believe me!” She rolled her eyes remembering the tongue lashing she got in the car, and the spanking later. “But I know I can get Gary to admit his part in this. I was close last night. If I can get another chance, I’m sure he will reveal something. I need to get him on tape.” She pulled the recording device she purchased from Radio Shack out of her pocket.

Andreas just shook his head and smiled ruefully. Amateur. He nodded his head at Gio who automatically turned and snapped open a case on a side table behind him. He began taking out much more sophisticated equipment.

“Fine. Your equipment is better.” Gio snickered and Andreas silenced him with a glance. She continued ignoring Gio’s inappropriate comment. “Anyway, he’s not very bright. Until Nikko showed up, I felt pretty confident I’d get him to talk, but now, I don’t know. He’s going to be suspicious. But, I’ve got to try. Before you take me back, I need to try one more time,” she rushed out. “I’ll do it your way. But, a trial is months away, and Gary will be in another country in just a few weeks. If I lose this chance, I lose my life. I am looking at years behind bars.”

Through her whole speech, Andreas watched her eyes. The girl was tough, and determined. He had gotten that same impression the moment he met her. Nikko definitely found himself a feisty one. There would be no controlling her. He quickly glanced at his other brothers. They were grim faced too. He needed to know just one thing if they were going to risk their license, their business, on her.

And when he spoke, it was like a punch to the gut for Ronnie. “Do you love my brother?” His eyes didn’t leave her face.

“I . . . I,” her pause got her glares from all three. Gio looked over her shoulder at Nikko questioningly.

“Of course, she loves me,” Nikko jumped in. He again reached for her and squeezed her shoulders taking a step closer to her. Her back was pressed against him.

Andreas made a face, his lips twisting into a curl. He grabbed the chair in front of him and pulled it out. “Sit,” he ordered.

Nikko gave her a reassuring push, and held a chair out for her. She sat, and he followed sitting beside her. He took her hand from her lap and held it. And then his other brothers eventually did the same each taking their seats on either side of the chair Andreas pulled out.

“Hmm. Okay.” He paused significantly before speaking again, but his expression showed his disappointment in his interrogation of her. “We’ll do it, but this is how it is going to go down. You’re going to call Gary and tell him you gave Nikko the slip late last night. You’re going to tell him that he’s going have to come get you because you don’t have transportation. You’re going to shack up in that abandoned warehouse we scoped out this morning.”