Chapter 70: Someone Is Following Me

Finalmente, she thought with satisfaction. Finally, that stubborn grandson of hers had claimed his woman properly.

She turned as they entered the kitchen, and had to suppress a smile.

They looked... different.

Eve’s face was flushed, her eyes bright, her hair still damp from the shower. She moved with a slight careful grace that spoke of pleasant soreness.

And Dimitri.....Madonna, the boy looked ten years younger. Relaxed. Happy. The constant tension he carried in his shoulders had eased.

"Buongiorno," Nonna said, setting two espresso cups on the counter. "You both look well-rested."

Dimitri’s lips twitched. "Good morning, Nonna."

Eve ducked her head, blushing, and Nonna’s smile widened.

"Sit, sit. I made breakfast." She gestured to the table where she’d laid out pastries, fruit, cheese. "You need to eat. Both of you."

They sat, and Nonna watched with satisfaction as Dimitri immediately served Eve first, selecting the best pastries, the ripest fruit, pouring her juice.

Taking care of her.

Good.

"So," Nonna said casually, sitting down with her own espresso. "I assume last night went well?"

Eve nearly choked on her coffee.

Dimitri just looked at his grandmother with amusement. "You’re not subtle, Nonna."

"I’m seventy years old. I don’t have time for subtle." She bit into a cornetto. "Besides, the walls in this penthouse are thick, but not soundproof."

Eve turned bright red.

"Nonna," Dimitri warned, but he was smiling.

"What? I’m happy for you both." She reached across the table, patted Eve’s hand. "You’re good for him, cara. I haven’t seen him this relaxed since... well. Ever, actually."

"Thank you," Eve said quietly. "For accepting me. For welcoming me. It means everything."

"Prego." Nonna squeezed her hand. "You are family now. Not because of obsession, but because you chose him. Knowing everything. That takes courage."

"Or insanity," Eve said with a small smile.

"Sometimes they’re the same thing." Nonna laughed. "Now eat. You’re going to need your strength."

"Why?" Dimitri asked, immediately alert.

"Because Isabella is still in the city. Enzo is still in the city. Antonio is pulling strings from Italy." Nonna’s expression turned serious. "And now that you’ve fully claimed Eve, they’re all going to escalate. You know this."

"I know." Dimitri’s hand found Eve’s under the table, laced their fingers together. "We’re ready."

"Are you?" Nonna looked at Eve. "Child, they will come for you. Not with violence, not yet but with words. Doubt. They’ll try to make you feel like you don’t belong. Like you’re not good enough. Like you’re just a temporary distraction."

"Let them try," Eve said, her voice steady. "I know who I am. I know what Dimitri and I have. And I’m not going anywhere."

"Brava." Nonna smiled approvingly. "That’s what I wanted to hear." She stood, collecting the empty dishes. "Now, both of you should go to work. And pretend to be normal for a few hours. Then come home and lock the bedroom door again."

"Nonna!" But Dimitri was laughing.

"What? I’m old, not dead. I remember what it’s like to be young and in love." She shooed them toward the door. "Go. And Dimitri...remember. Your father called this morning. Early. Before you were awake."

Dimitri’s expression shuttered. "What did he want?"

"To speak with you. I told him you were busy. He said he’d call back." Nonna’s eyes were serious. "He knows about your visit to Isabella, nipote mio. I don’t know how, but he knows."

Dimitri’s jaw clenched. "Of course he does."

"He’s watching," Nonna warned. "He has people everywhere. Be careful."

"Always." Dimitri kissed her cheek. "Thank you, Nonna."

"Go. Work. I’ll make dinner. Something special to celebrate." She winked at Eve. "And maybe I’ll take a walk this evening. Give you two some privacy."

Eve hugged her impulsively. "I love you, Nonna."

Sophia’s eyes went soft. "I love you too, cara mia. Now go. Before you’re both late."

***

POV: DIMITRI

The meeting at eleven was with three of his captains....territory disputes, shipment schedules, the usual business that kept his empire running smoothly.

But Dimitri couldn’t focus.

His mind kept drifting back to this morning. To Eve pressed against the shower wall. To the sounds she made when he was inside her. To the way she’d looked at him over breakfast, like he hung the moon.

"Boss?" Marco’s voice cut through his thoughts. "The Rossi family shipment?"

Dimitri refocused. "Right. The shipment. Tell them we’ll take sixty percent, not fifty. If they don’t like it, they can find another distributor."

His phone buzzed. A text from Eve.

Missing you already. Is that pathetic?

He smiled, typed back: Not pathetic. I’ve been hard since you left.

Dimitri! I’m in a meeting!

Then you better think unsexy thoughts. Because tonight, I’m bending you over my desk.

...I hate you.

No you don’t.

No, I don’t. But now I can’t concentrate and it’s your fault.

Good. Suffer like I’m suffering.

He set the phone down, still smiling, and looked up to find all three captains staring at him.

"Something wrong?" he asked.

"No, boss," one of them Matteo said carefully. "It’s just... we’ve never seen you smile at your phone before."

"Yeah," another Luca added. "Usually when you’re on your phone in meetings, someone’s about to die."

Dimitri’s expression hardened back to normal. "Focus on business. The Rossi shipment. Sixty percent. Make it happen."

"Yes, boss."

The meeting continued, but Dimitri was aware of the looks his men were exchanging.

They’d noticed the change in him.

Good.

Let everyone know. Let word spread through the organization that Dimitri Valentino had found something, someone worth protecting. Worth killing for. Worth building a future with.

His phone buzzed again. Another text from Eve.

Marco just told me someone’s been following us. Different car than before. He’s handling it but wanted you to know.

Dimitri’s blood went cold.

He immediately called Marco.

"Tell me."

"Black sedan. Two occupants. Been tailing us since we left the penthouse. Not subtle about it either, they want us to know they’re there." Marco’s voice was calm, professional. "Could be Antonio’s people. Could be Isabella’s. Could be the third party."

"License plate?"

"Running it now. Should have results in ten minutes."

"Take her to the office. Secure the building. I’m coming to you."