Page 45 of The Guardian

“And you knew who she was?” Henry asked while looking intrigued.

Michael shook his head and set his cup down. “Hell no. She called herself Sia. Who she was or who I was, never came up really. We just clicked and wow…Then I got called away of course. The job, ya know? But I knew where she lived so I wasn’t worried. Then she was never at that condo again whenever I checked for the next two months or so. I lost her and I really felt that. Then lo and behold, we finally got a warrant to…” He paused and laughed as he waved his hand. “…Search the Mancini house and property.”

“Oh, wow,” I said.

Nodding, he scoffed. “My Sia was Alessia Mancini. I felt like I’d gotten hit by a train.”

“Sounds like a trainwreck,” Henry agreed.

Michael smirked. “Oh, no, the train wreck happened when we reached her place with another search warrant. And I found evidence alright. A positive pregnancy test.”

“Oh, mate!” Henry laughed.

“Yeah, so…I chose her and the baby and left the job behind.”

“That is sooo romanzesco!” I exclaimed.

The three men looked at me.

I laughed as I shrugged my shoulders. “Bene, it is very romantic.”

“I would have wanted to be a fly on the wall when you and her father had that first talk,” Rain finally spoke.

“Yes, me too!” Henry exclaimed. “Like he could have had you shot! Getting his daughter pregnant then being a cop that was here with a warrant? Holy shit.”

“Brave man,” Rain commented.

“Or stupid,” Henry teased.

Michael gave him a huge grin. “Best thing that ever happened to me.”

Henry took my hand under the table.

I glanced over at him.

He smiled at me and turned to nod at his brother. “Now that, I can understand.”

Chapter Fifteen: The League

Henry

“So what have you been doing with your life, bro?” Michael asked me.

I paused, then gave him my standard response, “Security.”

“Yes, I know, but come-on. You can’t just give me that vague-ass answer, Henry. I'm curious about the past few years. Have you been doing security gigs? Like at events or what?”

“I do private jobs, not public. I cannot stand Hollywood people or the like. I choose carefully and turn down many. I made enough in the last few years that I really do not need to work.

“But you have to work, right?” His brother smiled at him. “Same with me. I need something to keep me in the game. Funny thing is that we both are in security.”

“Not the same kind,” I replied. “I travel to foreign areas. You stay here in the Crescent, right?”

“I am running a private security firm. I have five teams now. There are many dignitaries and others who come to events here. There are also businesses here that hire us.”

Henry raised his hands up at him in defense of what he meant. “I didn’t mean it like that, Mikey. As if yours is not legit or good enough. I think you are living the dream here. I am happy about the life you have now. Truth be told, I was worried about you being a cop. That job could get you killed. I’d rather you run the business you have and keep your ass alive. Your kid and wife need you.”

Maya patted my thigh.