I said a silent prayer that she wouldn’t fight me and refuse to come with me. “Yes, I understand.”
Max came around the desk and leaned against the edge. “Before we end this conversation, there is one more thing I need to add.”
I stood, sensing a warning of some sort. “Yeah, I’m listening.”
“Mia is and always will be my little sister. I want you to be very careful with her.”
I nodded. “Look, I know how close the Brunetti family is and how close Mia is with Jada and Milan, but this is between me and her. No disrespect to you, Max, but I don’t want those two interfering, especially Milan.”
Max crossed his arms over his chest. “I know, and it’s time I realise Mia is all grown up now and she can take care of herself. But that doesn’t mean I won’t kick your arse if you upset her or hurt her in any way. Remember that while you’re trying to cajole her into coming with you.”
“You’ve already condemned me before you’ve even given me a chance.” I laughed. “Perhaps you’d better hold off loading your ammunition until we return? I wouldn’t want you to waste any of your energy.”
Max shook his head. “It’s not going to be easy, convincing my sister to come with you. She is a hard-headed Sicilian when you try to tell her to do something she doesn’t want. You will need a bit of luck.”
“We’ll see. That’s my problem, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it sure is. And don’t say I didn’t warn you. Mia may come across as Little Miss Innocent, but she can be a hothead.”
“Really? Gee, I wonder who she took after in that department?” I joked.
As I headed out of his office, Max called out my name. I stopped as I reached the door and turned to face him.
“Yeah, now what?”
“If I so much as hear you have tried any of those bondage things on my sister, I'll fucking kill you.”
I laughed and slammed the door shut.
Max knew me too well.
Chapter Seven
MIA
I sauntered back into my office, feeling better than I had in weeks. I had taken well over an hour and had lunch with Brandon. He was so sweet and we had been out together a couple of times in the last two weeks, but I made sure I told him they weren’t ‘dates’ and we were only friends. He understood, thank God.
Having a long lunch was wonderful; I took my time sipping my latté and devouring a warm chicken salad. When I got back, I headed to the gym on the top floor so I could get in a workout. I normally did that during my lunch break anyway but right then, it didn’t quite take away all my frustrations. It did help a little, though.
As I made my way back to my office, I spotted Winter placing some forms on my desk. I smiled at her. I really liked Winter; she was really sweet and always listened to what I had to say. She was also absolutely stunning, with natural wine-coloured hair and an amazing figure. Every time we worked out in the gym together, she never even looked puffed out. Marco had tried numerous times to ask her out but she always refused him. She was very secretive and I knew she was hiding something, but I wasn’t exactly sure what it was. All I knew was that she was a friend of Zane’s and he had asked Max if there were any positions available as she was moving into the area.
“You have a good lunch?” Winter asked.
“Oh, yes, it was the best. I wish I could do that every day. But back to reality now, I suppose,” I said on a long sigh.
“What about you, did you have lunch?” I asked her, knowing very well she probably skipped it altogether. That’s probably how she kept so trim. I could never skip meals; I loved my food too much!
“I had my usual protein shake and salad. I can’t leave the desk; I just have so much work to do,” she explained.
“No way! Tomorrow, we are going out for lunch together. You can keep that protein shake as a snack. You need to eat, Winter!” I called out to her as I headed over to my desk, smirking.
I tried to concentrate on the forms in front of me for the next hour, but it wasn’t any use. All I saw was Zane’s grin as I’d walked out of Max’s office. I admit I felt a touch juvenile to take my problems to my brother. I knew how Max would have reacted; he had always been way too protective of me. I knew I could have gone into Zane’s office to confront him, make him tell me what the both of them had said after I’d left. Did my brother fire him? Did they have a fight? Shit, what if both of those things happened?
“Stop frowning; you’ll get premature wrinkles.” I looked up from my MacBook to find Zane grinning down at me, his hands in his pockets. God, the man was delicious. His short, dark hair and chiselled cheekbones always made me think of one of those actors in an action movie. Vin Diesel was coming to mind as I glanced over his hard, muscular frame.