AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“But kites fly and they are toys,” she quipped back, and I smiled.
“She has you there,” I chuckled when Sani frowned deeply.
“Shhhhh! I can’t hear! Why is the music so loud?”
I sighed again. I wanted to say that your brother is a selfish A-hole who thinks it's a good idea to conduct business meetings in his on-site club with two young children in the house, but instead I settled with, “I don’t know Sani.”
“When will it stop?” Raya looked up at me with a worried expression. She hadn’t left my side since the music started and it was clearly the first time something like this had happened to them in the house. I could actually feel the small vibrations through Sani’s bed from the club that was directly below us. I mean who has a club in their house anyhow? I understand having a bar or a small scotch room or something, but a freaking club?
We gave up on the film halfway through and instead we put on our own Disney soundtrack and danced around the room together. It definitely took their minds off what was going on downstairs and I hoped it would wear them out enough that they would fall asleep quickly.
After getting them ready for bed (Sani only agreed if I put my pyjamas on too), I tried reading them a story which just made me have to shout over the music that was filtering up to our floor. Had it got louder? It seemed so. I glanced over at the clock beside us. 9.00pm. These kids should have been asleep over an hour ago, but how on Earth were they meant to sleep through this?
“Hey Sani, why don’t we all sleep over in Raya’s room tonight?” I suggested so I could keep an eye on them both.
He shook his head decisively. “I have to sleep in my bed. It’s magic.”
I sighed, looking down at Raya. “Do you want to sleep in Sani’s magic bed tonight, Raya?”
She nodded enthusiastically and I smiled. That was not ideal for me. Cecilia had ordered a single bed to be put in Raya’s room for me to sleep in, but it looked like I would be sleeping on the floor if we all stayed in Sani’s room.
Tucking them both up in Sani’s bed, they nestled into each other, and I smiled at their adorableness.
“Will you stay with us until we fall asleep?” Sani asked.
“I am staying all night, Sani. So, close your eyes and try to sleep.”
He did as I said but anger rose in me with every vibration on the floor and I could hear the drunken laughter of a few people outside on the lawn smoking. Maybe twenty minutes had passed and I could tell neither of them were asleep yet.
“I can't sleep!” Sani shouted in frustration.
“Me too!” Raya joined in. I huffed loudly and stood up from the floor.
“Right. You two stay here and do not leave this room. Marco is just outside your door if you need him. I will be back as soon as possible, okay?”
“Where are you going?” Raya’s small voice asked from the bed.
“To tell your brother to turn the music down. I will be right back.”
Opening the door, I was met by a surprised Marco, whose eyes fluttered down my body in my shorts and camisole set. Grabbing a little robe from my bag, I pulled it over my shoulders and wrapped my arms around my body. “Marco, when is this ‘meeting’ supposed to end?”
“I do not know, Signorina Jones.”
“Olivia. Please. OK well, can you stay with the children while I go and find out?”
His eyes widened slightly and it was almost comical the look of worry on such a brute. “I really don’t think that is a good idea, Olivia. The boss will be very upset if you leave the children unattended.”
“They are not unattended. They are with you,” I started to walk away from him and when I glanced back over my shoulder, I could see the turmoil on his face but he stayed rooted to the spot. His job was to protect those kids, so there was not much choice in the matter.
I knew I looked a mess with no make-up, my hair piled high on my head, my fluffy sliders and mismatched cotton pyjamas but I was so annoyed that right now I didn’t give a shit. My job was to look after those children and make sure their needs were met. They needed to sleep. And so, I was going to make sure they got it.
A few of the bodyguards placed strategically around the house eyed me suspiciously as I approached the doors of the club on the ground floor. Two bulky men blocked my way in, their broad shoulders connecting and stances firm. They looked above my head as if I wasn’t even there.
“Excuse me. But I need to see Mr Buccini. It is a matter of urgency,” I made my voice serious and one of them glanced down at me, taking in my outfit and a little smile played at the corners of his lips. Neither of them moved or spoke. “Fine!” I shouted, fighting the urge to stamp my feet. “I shall find another way in.”
Storming off down the corridor, I paused when I heard raised voices coming from a room where the door was half open. A woman’s voice was shouting in Italian. I had no idea what she was saying but I could feel her fury through her tone.
Then a very deep voice grumbled something back in Italian and I heard a loud slap across skin. I gasped as a loud bang sounded behind the door and then glass shattered. Without thinking and needing to know if the woman was safe, I pushed the door open and my eyes bulged.
