She'd made the monstrous penthouse at the top of the Ferraro Hotel a home. How she'd transformed it, he had no idea, but it felt welcoming where before it had been cold. She was everything, in Ricco's opinion, his brother needed. Soft when she needed to be, and tough as nails when Stefano got out of hand – which was often.
He sent his brother a quick look. Stefano, as always, was still. He simply waited for the explanation of why Ricco had called an emergency meeting. He sat on the leather couch, a drink in his hand, regarding Ricco thoughtfully. It was impossible to think one could put anything over on Stefano, nor did Ricco want to try. This was too important. On the other hand, Stefano hadn't been blowing smoke when he'd informed Ricco he would do anything to save him.
"What's up, bro?" Giovanni asked, throwing himself into one of the wide, very comfortable armchairs. He was the last to arrive. "I had to cancel a date tonight. This had better be good." He grinned at Ricco, but his eyes were worried.
Ricco looked around the room at his family. They were all worried. The only one who didn't really show it was Stefano, and he was the most worried of all of them. He hadn't taken his eyes from his brother, not from the moment Ricco had entered the penthouse.
He took a breath and turned to face them. Emmanuelle and Francesca would be his allies no matter what. Possibly Taviano. Stefano would be a fight. The others, he wasn't certain. This was the most important battle of his life and he had to win. If he lost … he was lost. That was what he had to convince Stefano of. If Stefano sided with him, they all would, and they'd help him. God knew, after all the wild things he'd done privately and publicly, he would need the help.
He stalked across the room to the bar and poured himself a Scotch on the rocks. Tossing it back without tasting it, he turned and faced his family. "I found her." He announced it quietly. He didn't raise his voice because he never had need to, but there was a part of him that was filled with exhilaration, so much so he could barely contain it.
Stefano put his drink down and leaned forward, his eyes never leaving Ricco's face. Never blinking. Emmanuelle and Francesca exchanged a long look and then both broke out into smiles. Giovanni, Vittorio and Taviano all stared at him without comprehension.
"Found who, bro?" Giovanni asked.
"Her. The one. She just walked in at the last minute. Emilio and I were giving up. I wanted to throw all the applications into the fire and then she walked in. She's a shadow rider. Her shadow reached out and connected with the shadows in the room and then hit mine. It was a little like being drunk only way, way better." He wasn't about to tell them the connection had been so strong that she'd given him a permanent hard-on, but he was certain Stefano knew all about that. He'd found Francesca.
"Just because she's capable of being a rider doesn't mean she's your woman," Vittorio cautioned. "There's more to it than that."
Ricco nodded and pressed his hand to his chest. "She walked in and asked if she was too late, and I felt that note press into my chest and unlock something chained up in me. I don't even know how to describe it, but from the moment I saw her, and heard her, I knew. I feel different. For a long time now I haven't felt anything for a woman, not even desire."
There was embarrassment and shame in confessing that to his brothers. They thought he was the stud of the century. Vittorio gave a small snort of derision and Giovanni coughed, nearly spraying his drink everywhere.
"No, it's the truth. Nothing and no one excited me anymore. All the games, they didn't work." He didn't dare look at Stefano. He was too silent. Too observant.
"How about the Lacey twins?" Taviano asked.
He shook his head. "Nothing. Then she walked in and I haven't been able to get a moment's peace. It's not going to be easy living with her in my house and trying to seduce her slowly."
Vittorio laughed. "That shouldn't be a problem for you, Ricco. I'll take bets you get it done in less than a week."
They all laughed. Happy for him. All but Stefano. He kept watching him. Waiting. Ricco had to convince him that this was the real thing and that he needed it more than he needed safety. More than anything else. He wouldn't survive without it – without her.
He put the glass down on the sideboard and looked directly at his older brother. "You were right, Stefano. I might not have caused that accident, but once the casing cracked I didn't do a thing to try to prevent myself from going into that wall. I'm tired. So damn tired. I didn't feel there was anything or any way out for me. The work kept me going, but I don't sleep and that was beginning to affect the job."