Scorching Love

The Espositos

Chapter 3

Third Person POV

Aman, Juliana, and her friends had a good night's sleep. The flight to Florence hadn't been long. But due to the pressure at work, the three women were chronically tired. And as soon as they had relaxed a bit, exhaustion caught up.

Nonetheless, Jade and Cassandra went to the luxurious bar at the rooftop of their hotel after dinner to enjoy the exclusive selection of cocktails and wines. Juliana couldn't leave her son alone. And even if she could, she just wasn't in the mood.

They decided to meet at 8:00 am at the reception hall to head together to the restaurant for breakfast.

When Juliana and her son arrived at the meeting point, they found Cassandra already waiting; she had always been an early bird.

Aman ran into his aunt's opened arms and kissed her affectionately. Jade was his godmother, and they shared a special bond, but the little boy was equally attached to Cassandra and Tamara. She hugged him tightly, whispering sweet nothings to which he answered with cute giggles.

Juliana was deeply touched by their display of affection. She was so grateful for the genuine love her three friends showered Aman with. Even if he wasn't blessed with a harmonious family, he had aunts who were ready to do anything to see him smile and a mother willing to sell her soul for his wellbeing.

They were waiting impatiently for Jade, who was taking her sweet time when their attention was caught by the cheerful shouts of a little boy who didn't seem to be older than five years. He was racing down the stairs and was being chased by two imposing men cladded in black suits, black sunglasses sitting on their noses.

"Padroncino, don't run down the stairs. You'll hurt yourself, and the Padroni will be very angry!" The one who seemed to be a little bit older said. (Little Master)

"Tommaso, aren't you my friend?" The little boy asked. The said Tommaso answered, looking conflicted, "Si Padroncino, I am. You know it."

"Well, you told me that friends don't snitch. So, YOU will not say anything to Zio Daniele and Zio Federico!" He replied a small smug smile on his face.

At that very moment, a booming voice resounded in the hall, and a defeaning silence filled the room. Juliana could hear the fast contractions of her heart pounding against her chest. Tommaso, who seemed to be the child's bodyguard, immediately tensed up mumbling unintelligible words.

"Alessandro, stop running if you know what is good for you. As for you, Tommaso, we are going to have a long chat afterwards!" The bodyguard answered briefly, "Yes, Padrone Daniele."

Juliana instinctively turned in the direction from which came the deep voice laced with authority and pure male energy. As soon as she led her eyes on its owner, she stood frozen, unable to even blink. She was utterly fascinated by the man's deep amber eyes. They seem to set everything in his field of vision ablaze.

Sensing her gaze on him, his initially tensed facial features relaxed in the blink of an eye, and he stared back at her with an impassive face.

The spell was broken, when out of the corner of her eye she saw the little boy stumble and tumble down the stairs headfirst. Her body reacted instinctively, and she ran towards him in order to catch him.

She succeeded in stopping his fall, but while trying to cushion the impact, she lost balance and hit her head violently against the railing of the stairs. Her vision blurred gradually. As darkness engulfed her, she heard her two friends and her son shouting indistinctly. "Aman ..." She uttered softly before losing consciousness.