Shadow Reaper (Shadow #2)(133)

Emmanuelle rolled her eyes and took another bite of garlic bread. "Taviano, what do you think about training Nicoletta?"



"I think it's a good idea. I agree that it might make her less likely to run and we can all get some sleep. We do need bodyguards assigned to her on an everyday basis."



"She's not going to like that," Emmanuelle said with a little sniff of disdain. "Especially if Emilio trained them and they're under his jurisdiction."



Stefano set his wineglass back on the table. "Nicoletta is family whether she likes it or not. We took her in when we made the decision to get her out of that situation. She'll have bodyguards whether she likes it or not, and because she's family, that means they'll be trained by and work under Emilio." It was a decree, nothing less.



Mariko found it fascinating to watch the interplay within the family. They all got a vote, but Stefano had the last word and everyone accepted it as such. No one ever appeared to really argue with him. Maybe Francesca, but it seemed she didn't have to argue much. Stefano clearly gave her anything she wanted. 



Mariko glanced up at Ricco and found herself blushing. He was looking down at her with a look on his face that took her breath and made her heart flutter. No one looked at her like that. It was the same look Stefano got on his face when he looked at Francesca. Adoring. Loving. She felt the burn of tears. She didn't have a clue what to do when Ricco looked at her that way. Everything he was offering to her was new. Sometimes she felt like she was in the garden maze, trying to find her way.



He leaned down and pressed his lips against her ear. "I think it's a Shibari night. A special one. You. Me. The ropes. A very erotic pose. I've been sitting here looking at you and I can already see the exact image I want."



She shivered. Her sex clenched. She was aware of her body beneath the modest clothes she wore. The lacy demi bra and sexy little panties that left her buttocks bare, but had a small bow right at the base of her spine with three strands of cord wrapping around to the front. Ricco liked lingerie. Once, in the ropes, he'd whispered that he liked knowing she wore it just for him. That no one else could see what she gave him.



"We have Nicoletta covered," Stefano continued. "She's got Enrica right now, but when this is over, I'll put the two new men on her. They're good. Emilio has them well trained and both were Special Forces before they came home. I like them."



"Too fucking young," Taviano objected simultaneously with Vittorio.



Mariko had to hide her smile again. It was funny how the brothers all talked alike. Thought alike. Had similar expressions. Voted alike. She smiled up at Ricco, blushing, the color moving up her body like the touch of his hands. She wanted the ropes around her. She wanted to see desire building in Ricco's eyes. The lines of lust carved deep into his face. Mostly she wanted that feeling of belonging. Of being so seductive he couldn't resist her.



"Taviano, I know damn well you didn't just stop at the cameras," Stefano said, sitting back in his chair, reaching for his wineglass. "What else did you learn?"



"The software he's using is very advanced. Very. I traced that directly to Forward Technologies."



Mariko gasped and sat up straight. "That's the same company that supposedly sent my brother the ticket to come to the United States. They booked the hotel room for him using a company card, but the card was later reported as stolen."



"To find out the owner of the software company took a bit of doing. Vinci got involved as well as Rigina and Rosina. After we peeled off all kinds of layers, it seems the Yamamotos own the software company, along with the company that produced the faulty casing on the race car. The Yamamotos also own a leading security company complete with the exact same cameras used to keep track of all of us." Taviano picked up his glass of wine, smiled at his siblings and took a drink.



"Nao Yamamoto," Stefano said. "Why wait so long?"



"He didn't make his move until after his father died. He wouldn't have wanted to shame them further," Mariko said. "I suspected Nao and actually watched him for several days before I came here. There was nothing out of the ordinary happening with him. He has a caretaker who is with him at all times, but he went to work and then went home. I checked his home and his offices. Ryuu isn't being held there."



"If he had these companies hidden, he probably has more," Stefano said. "Our family certainly does. I'll get Vinci and the others on it. We're all looking, Mariko. Everyone is."