56. Hmmmm

"Who called you just now?" I asked once Giovanni had ended the call, trying to ignore the sense of dread coiling in the pit of my stomach.

He paused, that ruggedly handsome face an inscrutable mask. "Someone from work."

My eyes narrowed infinitesimally. "Your...other work?" I say referring to maybe his "illegal" mafia work. I don't know, he could be cutting and boiling people's body parts for all I knew.

The weighted silence that stretched between us spoke volumes. Giovanni held my gaze for a moment before giving the barest shake of his head, declining to offer any further explanation.

Tendrils of unease snaked through me as I studied the harsh angles of his chiseled visage. "I want to know more about it," I pressed. "About your family." I say hoping he wouldn't brush me off. I was probably testing but at this point I just had to know.

A muscle feathered along his jaw as he struggled for composure. "It's better if you stay out of it, principessa." His deep timbre caressed the endear