“I agree.”

  Brie suddenly felt a check in her spirit. Looking at him with sympathy, she confessed, “I know I treat all this like a research project when it is extremely personal to you.”

  He smiled. “I actually prefer it, babygirl. It helps me to process everything when I can take my personal emotions out of the equation.”

  She grabbed his hand. “If I ever say anything that offends you, please let me know. It’s the last thing I want to do.”

  He gazed into her eyes. “I know your heart.”

  She hugged him, grateful that he knew her so well.

  When they arrived at the study, Brie spied the breakfast tray. “I like that Gino understands there’s no time to waste.”

  “As do I,” Sir said, heading to the boxes. He opened each box, choosing to begin with the albums and musical sheets. Brie suspected he was on a mission to find the song that used those five notes since all of his searches on the internet had yielded nothing.

  As for Brie, she enjoyed watching Alonzo grow as a musician in the videos. Although he was confident in his talent from the beginning, she could see that over time, he’d learned to connect with his fans on a personal level while on the stage. Another benefit of watching them was that the sound of his violin filled the room as they worked, bringing with it the passion and love that infused all of Alonzo’s music.

  Brie glanced at her son Anthony, grateful that he would grow up immersed in his grandfather’s music. She then looked at Sir and noticed his face was more relaxed—not lined with pain the way it had been yesterday.

  That was the beauty of Alonzo’s violin. Even though he was gone, he still had the power to bring peace to the world.

  That afternoon, Sir received an unexpected call. He quickly stepped out of the room to keep from distracting her while he answered it. When he returned a few minutes later he looked annoyed.

  “My client in Marghera needs me to arrive a day earlier than planned.”

  “Where is Marghera?”

  He gave her a mischievous grin. “I had plans to mix a bit of business with pleasure while we were in Italy. Marghera happens to be next to Venezia. I made special arrangements with Dante before we left for Russia.”

  “Venice?” Brie smiled, now understanding why Sir had brought the mask with him on this short excursion.

  “Do you have to leave now?” Brie asked in concern.

  “Unfortunately, it’s urgent.”

  She frowned. “What about tonight with Alonzo’s friends?”

  He put his arms around her. “I hate that you have to meet them alone, but I need you to glean as much as you can from them. You are not just doing it for your documentary, but for me as well.”

  She looked up at him with compassion. “I understand.”

  Cradling her face in his hand, he told her, “You are my one constant—my north star.”

  Touched by his declaration, Brie wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight. While they stayed in that embrace, she poured every ounce of her love into him.

  When Sir finally broke away, he was all business. “I’ll speak with Gino and explain the situation. The only thing I want you to concentrate on is your research. I have no idea when we will have the chance to return.”

  She sighed, knowing this might be her only chance for a very long time.

  “As far as Nonna is concerned,” he continued, “I came across something today I need to investigate further. I’m hoping it will provide us with the answers we are looking for.”

  “I hope so too, Sir.”

  Brie remained in the study the entire day, working tirelessly to document as much as she could with the short amount of time she had left. She was grateful that Anthony was in the room with her because nursing him provided her with much-needed breaks throughout the day.

  She was so focused on her work that it came as an unwelcome surprise when she heard a knock on the door. Glancing at her phone, she whimpered when she realized how much time had passed.

  Looking sadly at the piles she still had left to go through, Brie dutifully picked up Anthony. Heading toward the door, she mentally prepared herself for the evening ahead, reminding herself how important it was to Sir.

  It was a pleasant shock when she found Gino standing in the hallway to greet her. He was dressed in a fine suit, looking exceedingly professional.

  “I trust your research has gone well today?”

  She smiled, then glanced back at the room. “It seems there’s never enough time.”

  “Don’t concern yourself. It isn’t going anywhere,” he assured her.

  “Do I have enough time to freshen up?”

  “Of course, bella donna. As the guest of honor, you are allowed to be late.”

  She giggled. As a sub, being late was never an option. “It won’t take me long, I promise.”

  Brie hurried to her room, happy she had thought to include a simple black dress when she packed. Although it couldn’t match the formal look of Gino’s attire, it fit the Italian aesthetic of understated elegance.

  Brushing out her long hair, she applied a minimal amount of makeup, making sure to emphasize her eyes and lips just as she had been taught at the Training Center. After a spritz of perfume, she felt prepared to meet Alonzo’s friends.

  After quickly changing Anthony into fresh clothes, Brie headed to the door.

  Gino’s eyes shone with approval as he held out his arm to her. “Bellissima.”

  His simple compliment filled Brie with confidence as she took his arm and walked with him down the hallway. Gino had mentioned inviting a few friends, so she was surprised to find a room full of people waiting for her.

  As soon as she entered, the guests quieted. Brie scanned the room and quickly realized there were no women, only men. She turned to Gino, looking at him questioningly.

  Before she could say anything, Gino addressed the crowd. “It is my pleasure to present to you Alonzo’s grandson.”

  The entire room broke out in enthusiastic applause. One by one, each man walked up to Brie and handed her a gift for the baby, while Gino made formal introductions.

  Each of them congratulated her on the birth of a healthy son and shared how they knew Alonzo. It immediately became clear that these were not Alonzo’s personal friends but professional acquaintances.

  Although Brie spent a pleasant evening listening to their personal stories about Alonzo’s many performances all over the world, she failed to learn anything of relevance that she hadn’t already learned from watching the videotapes herself.

  She would have considered the evening a loss except for the conversation she had with Gino after the guests had all left. He’d invited her to sit by the fire and take a moment to reflect on the evening before she jumped back into her research.

  “Thank you for your graciousness tonight, Brianna. You and your son have lifted the spirits of countless people.”

  Brie smiled as she stared at the fire, her spirit soothed by its dancing flames. “It was a pleasure to meet people who knew Alonzo personally.”

  “I don’t mean to pry, Brianna, but several people asked if you will be having Anthony christened while you are here. They hoped they might be allowed to attend if that is the case.”

  Brie frowned and let out a troubled sigh.

  “Did my question upset you?”

  “No, Gino,” she assured him. “We’ve been considering it, but Anthony’s godfather can’t attend.” She turned to him, admitting, “It leaves us at a loss as to what to do.”

  “If that is the only thing stopping you, I would be honored to act as his proxy.”

  She looked at him in disbelief. “I didn’t realize that was even an option.”

  “Of course,” he chuckled lightly. “In today’s modern world, it happens more often than you think.”

  Brie felt a surge of relief. “I’ll speak to Thane about it.”

  “Please do. I would be happy to make the arrangements as well, if he would like. With my connections, I have some pull and can make that happen despite the short notice.”

  She felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders knowing they now had a viable option if Sir wanted to honor Nonna’s wishes.

  Brie stared at the fire in silence, wanting to return to her research without appearing rude.

  “Would you like to return to the study?” Gino asked.

  She laughed. “Actually, I would.”

  Gesturing to the door, he told her, “Feel free to leave.”

  “You won’t be offended?”

  He raised an eyebrow. “I am a man who appreciates diligence.”

  Brie immediately stood up, cradling Anthony against her shoulder. “Thank you, Gino. For everything.”

  He nodded. “Don’t forget these.” He pointed to the stack of envelopes containing gifts for the baby.

  Brie smiled back at him as she was leaving. Returning to the study, Brie felt a sense of renewed hope as she stared at the pile of envelopes on the table. They represented the love people felt not only for the baby but for Alonzo himself.

  Although Brie had initially considered the evening a waste of her time, she realized now that those connections would become important to her in the future when she released the documentary about Alonzo’s life.

  Her thoughts were interrupted when her phone alerted her to a text. Brie smiled when she saw it was from Sir, but then her heart skipped a beat when she read it.

  Call me. I have important news to share about Nonna.

  Verity

  Brie was on pins and needles as she dialed the phone to call Sir, wondering what he had discovered.

  “Hey, babygirl. I found out some disturbing news about Nonna.”

  Brie felt her stomach twist into a knot. “What is it Sir?” she asked, her hand shaking as she held onto the phone.

  “You have to understand that my grandparents have never left the island, so there are municipal records dating back to when they first got married. Through Portoferraio’s online records, I came across certificates that document a history of miscarriages. My grandmother suffered two miscarriages before my father was born, and then suffered four more after his birth.”

  “Poor Nonna.”

  “That’s not the worst of it. She lost her last child during birth. That death was the reason Alonzo quit the tour and returned home.”

  Brie broke down crying, remembering how close they had been to losing Hope and Anthony during childbirth. She could only imagine the devastation Nonna must have felt. “Oh, Sir…”

  “The pain she must have endured when their only child committed suicide years later…” Sir said, his voice breaking with sorrow.

  Brie sank to the floor, clutching the phone, her heart breaking for Nonna. “The unbearable loss she must feel.”

  “I understand why my grandfather is so protective of her,” Sir stated gruffly.

  “He lost them, too,” Brie whimpered.

  “They have both suffered immense loss, but I suspect Nonna has always blamed herself.”

  It crushed Brie to think Nonna had spent her life grieving those tragedies in silence and shame. “My heart breaks for Nonna.”

  “I am not a man moved to tears, but I have shed many for her today.”

  Wiping away her own tears, Brie asked, “What can we do for her?”

  “I have given it some thought. When we return, I’m going to share what I’ve learned, and you and I will give her whatever support she needs.”

  “What about the christening, Sir?”

  “I am still undecided. What are your thoughts?”

  “Tonight, several of Alonzo’s friends asked if the baby was going to be christened before we leave Italy. Gino mentioned that he would be willing to stand in as Rytsar’s proxy.”

  “Proxy…I hadn’t considered that,” Sir muttered. “However, christenings are scheduled months before a child’s birth. It may not be an option even if we decided to move forward with it.”

  “Sir, he also offered to set up the arrangements and mentioned he has some pull.”

  “I bet he does,” he snorted. “Well, at least that gives us options. We’ll talk more about it tomorrow night.”

  “Tomorrow?”

  “Yes. The issue up here, although unexpected, has been easily resolved and should be concluded by my meeting tomorrow afternoon. Which means you’ll be joining me in Venice in the evening.”

  Brie trembled, remembering how incredible her last time in Venice had been.

  In a more serious tone, he told her, “I would like to leave the following morning to return to my grandparents.”

  She glanced at the boxes and materials scattered throughout the room, resigned to the fact that she would not be able to finish her research. Although she’d hoped for more time, it would have to wait.

  Family was more important.

  Gino came to speak with Brie the next morning, informing her that Sir had requested his driver leave in the early afternoon for Venice and she should be ready to go by then.

  He smiled when he saw her distraught look. “It is as I said before, bella donna. The boxes will be waiting for you when you return.”

  “I just wish I knew when that would be,” she laughed, rocking Anthony in her arms.

  Gino told her with a smirk, “The future is hard to predict unless you happen to be God.”

  She smiled. By way of thanks, Brie held out the baby to him. “Would you like to hold him one more time, Gino?”

  “Certainly.” He took Anthony and held him as stiffly as he had the first time. Looking down at her tiny son, he declared, “Anthony Alonzo Davis, you will become a great man someday and fulfill your grandfather’s destiny.”

  Brie saw tears in his eyes when he handed Anthony back to her.

  “My offer stands concerning the christening,” he reminded her. “I simply need the day and time, and I will arrange it for you.”

  “Thane and I are still discussing it,” she explained.

  He nodded. “I am at your disposal if you need me.”

  “Thank you, Gino.”

  Brie felt a surge of nervous exhilaration when he took her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it gently. “A risentirci.”

  She nodded, blushing unexpectedly. Gino Mancini exuded confidence on a level that dwarfed most men, and she found it quite disconcerting.

  Hours later, Gino saw her off personally, instructing his driver to be careful on the road, “Their lives are priceless to me.”

  “Understood, Signore Mancini,” his driver replied. Looking back at Brie from the front seat, he nodded curtly.

  The man did not speak the entire drive, his attention focused solely on the road before him.

  She didn’t mind his silence. The beautiful Italian countryside with its large vineyards, old farmhouses, and the occasional castle was truly a feast for the eyes. The fact that she was headed to Venice to meet Sir, made the drive even more enjoyable.

  Brie immediately recognized the young man with wavy brown hair waiting for her at the train station. “Dante!”

  He flashed her a smile and walked over to them. Nodding to Gino’s driver, he said with a tone of authority, “She’s under my care now, Leone.”

  “Very well,” the man answered, handing Dante her luggage and baby carrier before getting into his vehicle without another word to Brie.

  “Follow me, Signora Davis,” Dante told her with a glint in his eye. “Your husband has planned an extravagant evening for you.”

  Once they were on the train that would take them on the short ride over the water to Venice, she gushed, “Dante, I know I’ve said it before, but the mask you made…it is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I still can’t believe you created it especially for me.”

  He smiled, and said with pride in his eyes, “My muses were truly inspired, signora.”

  Brie suddenly thought of the notes on the mask and asked him, “Those music notes…did those come from a song by chance?”

  He gave her an amused smile. “Your husband asked me the same question, so I’ll tell you what I told him. I believe they are on a music sheet in one of the boxes you and I were going through at my godfather’s, but I can’t be certain.”

  Brie sighed, knowing it must have been frustrating for Sir to hear that. “Wherever they came from, your mask is a true piece of art. It belongs in a museum, not on my face.”

  “I wholeheartedly disagree, Signora Davis. It was specifically made for your face, and it will be my honor tonight to see it properly displayed.”

  Brie felt the heat of a blush rise to her cheeks.

  Dante gazed at her son and grinned. “The last time we spoke, you only had a bambina.”

  Brie looked down at Anthony, laughing. “It turns out Mr. Davis and I are quite compatible.”

  He chuckled. “I can see that.”

  Curious, she asked him, “Do you know who will be watching my son this evening?”

  “My sister,” Dante answered proudly. “Giana has four children of her own, but they are mostly grown now, so she is looking forward to caring for a little one again.”

  It warmed Brie’s heart to know that Dante’s family would be caring for him. “Do you know how long the event tonight will be?”

  “That is up to the partners involved,” he answered with a glint in his eye.

  She smiled, remembering her honeymoon and the Venetian party where she met Dante. It had ended earlier than expected because Sir had been unable to control his passion for her.

  Brie would never forget how he released that passion in the most sinfully erotic way on the streets of Venice.

  Dante took Brie to a hotel overlooking the canals of Venice. When she entered the room, she found a gown laid out on the bed for her. “Your husband instructed me to tell you to dress and wait for your escort.”

  “You’re not my escort?” she asked in surprise.

  He smiled mischievously. “No, but I will be seeing you at the event.”

  After he was gone, Brie walked through the room, delighted by Sir’s choice of hotel. The room was decorated with the clean look of white furniture and marble, while colorful Venetian masks accented the walls—each one unique and timeless.

 

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