AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her hands flew to her mouth, tears springing from her eyes. Turning to Max, she said in a breathy voice, “She named him Sebastian? … And Izzy?”
Max’s face fell, shaking his head. That’s when she threw her arms around Sebastian and cried. “Mio nipote.” (My grandson)
Instinct prompted Bash to gently hold her while she fell apart. Even though she was a stranger to him, he felt her warmth seep all the way through his bones. Swallowing hard, he struggled to stop the flow of his own tears burning behind his eyes.
Gia looked up at him and smiled sweetly. “My papa was named Sebastian. Isabelle really did love us. I knew she did. You are such a handsome man. So much like Maximillian and his Papa. I would have recognized you if I had passed you on the street.”
Max walked up behind his mother and gently pulled her away. “Mamma, you’re going to scare him. He just discovered he has a father. Let’s let him get used to the idea of a Nonna before you maul him to death.”
Gia nodded and pulled a laced handkerchief out of the pocket of her sweater. She wiped her eyes, then smoothed non-existent wrinkles from her skirt. When her eyes found Morgan, she grinned. “And you must be the extremely brave young woman who has brought my son and grandson safely to me.”
Morgan wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’m not sure how safely I got them here, but at least everyone’s in one piece,” she said in her charming Southern accent. “Y’all sure have a beautiful home, Miss. Gia.”
“Thank you, dear. I love that adorable accent of yours.” Gia took Morgan’s arm and intertwined it with hers. “Why don’t we sit on the sunporch and have some tea. You can tell me all about yourself and give me the inside scoop on my grandson. Are you two a couple?”
“Mamma!” Max scolded, before a shocked Morgan could speak.
Morgan cleared her throat, obviously grateful for the intervention, and asked, “Y’all have any sweet tea?”
Gia padded her hand. “I’m sure you can teach me how to make it, dear.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Sebastian had a feeling his life was about to change forever.
Chapter Forty
The late afternoon sun cast an eerie golden glow across the room in the five-star hotel where Enzo Fontana was staying in Portland, Maine. He leaned against the bar, feeling pure aggravation. He watched Asa Kline take in the luxurious accommodations with appreciation. The man turned out to be everything Enzo had feared—a con artist and an absolute waste of time and space. Faded, grease-stained jeans, beat-to-hell black boots, an old flannel shirt, and a worn black leather jacket. The scruffy, unkept beard, unwashed dark red hair, and bags under his eyes only reinforced everything Enzo had already figured out. Asa Kline was a desperate man, which meant he would say or do anything to get what he wanted.
Kline had blatantly lied to Enzo’s men about the information he had to offer about the location of his daughter, who was traveling with Max and his newly found son. Bluffed his way into the search so he could utilize Enzo’s resources for his own gain. You will find out the hard way, Mr. Kline, I don’t like being made a fool.
When Enzo realized he had been deceived by a man who had spent the past 25 years in prison, his first impulse was to kill him and his biker buddies. Then, something occurred to him. Why would four bikers from a club in California ride all the way across the country in search of a woman? There had to be more to the story, and before he put the man in the ground, he was going to find out what it was. He wasn’t a man to let an opportunity slip through his fingers.
“Nice place,” Kline said. “I guess you’re Enzo Fontana. The boss man.”
Enzo cringed at the cocky grin on the man’s face. “Have a seat, Mr. Kline. We have some things to discuss.” He motioned to a brown leather chair next to the sofa. Asa took a seat, then looked up in surprise when the two suited men who had escorted him into the room stood sentry on either side of him.
“I thought this was supposed to be a friendly discussion,” Kline said, casually leaning forward, his hand slowly inching toward his boot.
With lightning speed, one of the men grabbed Kline’s arms and pulled them behind his back while the other guard retrieved a small derringer from his boot.
“You said you didn’t have any weapons!” the guard with his gun bit out, smacking Kline in the head with it.
Kline groaned and rubbed his temple.
Enzo’s face hardened. “And you took his word for it?”
“No, sir. I searched him, but I didn’t see how a gun could fit in his boot,” the guard said defensively.
“You let anything like that happen again, and that will be the last mistake you make,” Enzo growled between clenched teeth.
“Yes, Sir,” the guards said in unison.
Kline’s head lobed around a few times, but he was still conscious. Enzo grabbed a glass of water from the bar and threw it in his face. He sat up straight, wide-eyed.
“Now, Mr. Kline. You are going to tell me what is so important about finding your daughter, who my informant assured me you have never met. What would motivate you to drive across the country and worm your way into my organization under false pretenses? And don’t give me any bullshit about Daddy just wanting to make amends.”
Asa peered up with defiance on his face. “It’s club business. I’m sure you can appreciate my loyalty to the Dragon Fire.”
