They arrived at Hollowford late in the evening. Bianca had been on edge all day, waiting to meet her sister.
And of course, her Masters…
She blushed as her mind wandered over the different things they would do to her; with her full consent, of course, for both O’Grady and St Just had never ill-used her. They cared for her feelings, as was obvious with how they had stepped forward to rescue Anna. Serena Kingston, who had proved to be surprisingly friendly, for all her tough exterior, had described how the siblings had taken Cahill off guard.
Bianca had felt her heart pounding as she listened.
Earlier, Proserpina had wisely declared that Anna could stay the night here, at the mansion, before returning to the hospital the next morning.
“Hospitals have visiting hours,” she pointed out gently and Binaca sighed. True. Her stepmother needed to rest, as her Italian beau had pointed out in the afternoon, a little reproachfully. For Heather had been so relived, she had wept a lot, till the nurse had been forced to sedate her.
The Mafia Don’s wife had gone on, as she added the finishing touches for what looked to be a feast, “And your…ummm…boyfriends…”
She carefully avoided Bianca’s flushed face as she said,
“They can stay here too. In the rooms beside yours. Anna can share your room.’
She turned and dimpled and Bianca looked away at the look of mischief in the lovely woman’s eyes.
Beth had opted to remain at the hospital, she had insisted on staying there. Bianca had spent the whole day with them but now, she was back in the Delano mansion.
Now Bianca watched, with bated breath, as the large sedan carrying her lovers and Anna rounded the bend and came into view. She had been watching from the terrace on the second floor, and she had spotted the cars the moment they turned onto the driveway.
Running down, too charged to take the elevator she was at the door when Liam O’Grady stepped out, his handsome face wreathed in smiles.
Anna stumbled out and the sisters were in each other’s arms, sobbing loudly as St Just emerged with a grin, pushing his blonde hair, which flopped over his forehead.
“Ah, lass.” Said O’Grady tenderly and pulled the two young women into his arms as he kissed Bianca’s head.
But Bianca only sobbed louder , unable to hide her relief.
“Sweet Jaysus, she’s back, woman!” he went on, pretending to be exasperated but Bianca saw the tenderness in his eyes.
“He shot the man, he shot that pimp!” breathed Anna, eyes wide and worshipful as she looked into his twinkling eyes.
O’Grady threw his head back and roared with laughter.
Just then, Louis and his lookalike twin, Dom, appeared at the door.
“You going to stand there all night?” asked Louis drily and added,
“Pappa wants to meet you. He’s waiting in his study.”
The two brothers exchanged looks, all gaiety erased form their countenances.
The mere mention of he Mafia Don could do that, thought Bianca , hiding a smile.
St Just came to her and she hugged him, breathing in his cologne and he chucked her chin as he said,
“Wait for us, pet.” In a low voice.
Anna’s ears had pricked up but she could not ask anything more for they were hustled indoors.
Lucien Delano studied the young men silently as they trooped into his study and stood, their hands hanging limply by their sides, unable to meet his eyes.
Schwartz grinned. The Boss had that effect on people.
Piers, who looked pale and tired but still breathtakingly handsome, had also joined them. Claude walked in as well, looking serious for a change and Philippe followed, big and hulking as ever.
‘You got what you wanted, eh?” said the Don, his voice bearing the slightest trace of amusement.
Liam O’Grady looked up, his face showing his heartfelt gratitude.
‘If you hadn’t helped us, Boss,…” he began but the Boss cut him short with an impatient wave of his large hand.
“Bah, I never tolerate pimps and drug dealers, boy,” he snapped and O’Grady subsided.
The Mafia Don looked across at Schwartz as he went on, sharing a look with his Underboss and best friend,
“In my day, we sued to string them up and then kill them,” he stated flatly.
They sat for a while, talking, though Bianca’s Masters were silent, in awe and respectful. Glasses clinked and the talk turned to the role played by Alexander Van Dyke in the operation.
During a silence, the Mafia Don observed his guests, his eyes hooded. A light knock on the door alerted them before Proserpina entered.
“Our guests must be hungry, Lucien,” she said softly as he approached her husband, her full hips swaying the silk of her skirt rustling as she moved in that unconsciously seductive way of hers. She lightly touched Schwartz’s shoulder, sending a fond smile to him as she walked.
She had the ability to make conversation come to a standstill just by gliding in, making the mouths of the men in the room, dry with desire.
. O’Grady watched the play of emotions on the face of the older man. His eyes were hungry, keenly lascivious, as they slid over the full figure of his wife.
“Damn, but he must be at least twenty years older than the sensual apparition of his wife, thought the Irishman, suddenly becoming aware that his mouth had been hanging open.
The Don unexpectedly looked straight at O’Grady who felt his ears burn. He had been gawking at Proserpina Delano, like a boy salivating over his secret crush.
“Dinner?” inquired Proserpina innocently and the Don tugged her onto his lap before everyone.
A hand moved to her waist and she seemed to melt into his embrace as he pulled her head down for a long thorough, passionate kiss.
No one seemed surprised by the reaction of the couple. It was probably the normal for the Delano kids, thought St Just. But just watching them did things to the Irishman and his sibling.
The Delano brothers continued to talk in low murmurs.
St Just swallowed. If this was not a room full of people, he had the feeling that the Don would have been *cking his pretty wife, right here, on the carpet or the table.
He had heard of the man’s former sexual escapades, and his insatiable drive to mate. Possibly, now his salaciousness was centred around this little woman, with her Siren-like figure, who had borne him ten children and still seemed to have him wrapped around her little finger…
Dinner was a lavish affair and the Mafia men had the chance to meet he entire Delano clan, daughters, wives, babies and all.
O’Grady was aware of Bianca across the table from him and he silently studied her, loving her mannerisms, her innocence. Anna kept her eyes glued to the food and seemed overwhelmed by the people around her . But halfway through the dinner, she began to nod off. Proserpina, who had been sitting beside her husband, jumped up , exclaiming, as she hurried over.
“Oh, poor child. She’s falling asleep!”
At once, Bianca and one of the nurses was hurrying to help Anna to her room,
O’Grady perked up. Now they would have a chance to get Bianca alone-well, alone with St Jut of course, but …
Feeling a pair of eyes boring down upon him, he guiltily lifted his head and met the cold eyes of Hila Zaid, who was the wife of Piers Delano.
Her intense stare made him squirm.
O’Grady swallowed hastily. He had a feeling she had read his mind…