Her Dark Dragon (3 page)

The truck door squeaked as she opened it, and she made a mental note to oil it. She jumped down, not caring about the dust she unsettled, boots and jeans her formal uniform now that she was back on the land. Grabbing her oilskin from the front seat along with the wrapped package beside it, she headed around the back. She hoped that the huge swimming pool surrounded by tables, chairs, large plants, and flowers were still there. The patio had been a favorite spot of hers. She and Nico's Aunt Maria had spent many an afternoon picking weeds while the older woman taught her what the herbs were and how to use them. She spotted Aunt Maria in the same garden, a pail of weeds on one side of her, a basket of fresh-picked dill and basil on the other.

"Aunt Maria!" she said, kneeling next to the older woman before she could get up, their arms reaching to hug one another.

* * * *

Nico watched from his office window, the scene so familiar yet so far gone. He'd probably never see it again, after he dropped the bomb in her lap. He watched them converse, both using their hands to gesture animatedly. The sounds of their conversation, more than the subjects, wafted past him. Danni continued to pick the dead stalks while his aunt opened her present. He had no idea what it would be, only that it would be something thoughtful and wonderful. The wrapping was balled up, and he craned his neck to see what Tia Maria took from the box.

She grabbed Danni's face with both her hands and kissed each cheek before lifting her prize. Maria had lapsed into Italian, and Danni spoke half English, half Italian with her, each carefree. Sunlight glinted off the shiny surface, and he knew it would be an oyster plate, the mother-of-pearl making rainbows across the patio.

His aunt was a realist. She never took anything for granted, had taught him to save for the unexpected. She was careful with money and only indulged herself one special delight. She collected oyster plates. Danni remembered this and brought one to add to her collection. Hell, even he didn't remember when it came time for Maria's birthday or Christmas gifts. How stupid of him. All these years, the kitchen walls have proudly displayed her collection, and he'd never added to it.

It was just one more reason Danni would suit as his wife. He groaned at the word, knowing Danni's reaction would be stronger. Very much out of character, he strode to the corner bar, poured himself a shot of bourbon, downed it in one pull, and savored the fire burning all the way down his throat. Dutch courage, his mother would have said. His father would have finished the bottle by this time of day. None of it mattered, only he was about to change Danni's life and his, in ways she may not be so willing to go along with. Nico hoped with time she'd understand the circumstances and realize their union would be a good thing for both labels. He knew it would be a sticking point, but it would be inefficient to continue to have two labels. They'd merge Cirillo wine with Severino and start fresh. That was after she came to terms with everything he was about to tell her.

* * * *

She knocked once, pushing open the study door, finding him staring out the window to the patio with his back to her. She paused, taking a quick inventory of him. Tall and lean with long, muscular thighs and a tight butt. She knew his slim waist widened into strong tight shoulders. Strange feelings of foreboding in the air made her hesitate. She'd never been uncomfortable in Nico's study, but today was different. A strange heat filled her, searching for its target and landed, making her lips moist and full, while a dull ache pulsed with her heartbeat. Of course, she knew it was just hormones and chemical reactions producing her lust, but Niccolo Severino still made her think about sex in a carnal direction no other man had produced. She'd wanted him all of her life, and now, old enough to have him, she knew it wouldn't happen. The way his brow was knit and his eyes fixed, Danni knew that whatever their discussion was about, it wasn't going to be productive to her sex life.

Letting out a sigh, she moved forward and dropped into one of the leather wingback chairs across from his desk while tossing her hat on another. Only then did he turn, making an almost dismissive nod toward the folder on his desk, the only folder on the glossy surface.

"Well, good afternoon to you too!" Danni let out a breath and studied him. "I was summoned and I've arrived. What's up, Nico?" She shifted to tuck one leg up under her on the chair and resettled in a half stretch against the opposite armrest.

The cotton of her T-shirt stretched across her breasts. She realized her nipples were hardened and prominently displayed. It gave her a sensual thrill knowing Nico saw.

"Danni, circumstances have changed while you were away at school these past years. A lot of these changes might be hard to accept. Just know this before we start…" He hesitated and turned back to the window. "I do love you, Danni, always have in one form or another, and I think if you let yourself, you'd realize you cared about me too."

"Of course, Nico. I've been smitten with you since I could understand the feelings you mixed inside me." She shifted only slightly, more curious than before, laughing lightly and adding, "Are you finally going to do me? Have you decided I'm old enough? Is it time to add another nod to your list, or are you in a dry spell?" Danni was laughing at the absurdity of becoming his mistress. While she'd always wanted to sleep with him, she knew it would come with commitments, none of which she needed right now. The farm had to come first. "Sorry, friend, timing's bad. I need to concentrate on the ranch now. Maybe after the spring pruning I could work you in, but not now." Danni waited for him to return some quick barb, but instead he was quite serious.

"Danni, will you marry me?"

"What?" She'd said the word aloud before she could take it back. "Nico, I do love you, but marriage…the idea is absurd."

"Yes, it is. But just remember I asked, Danielle. And that I do love you in my own way. It may be our only hope one day of remaining friends."

"Nico, I don't understand. Where is this coming from? You say things have changed. Tell me about the changes. Marriage is not something I take lightly, especially to you." Danni realized she meant what she said. "You deserve better."

"Let's hope you still feel that way when you leave here." Again, he nodded toward the desk, and she finally unlaced her legs, reached forward, and pulled the ominous folder toward her. Lust was lost to reality. Danni took a quick breath and opened it. Then she stopped breathing.

Inside was a full-color, eight-by-ten-inch picture of one of her great-great-grandfather's netsuke collection. It was the collateral for the original farm purchase. Through the years, its value had increased, as had the land and the product they produced. The Cirillo winery had been established on the value of statues. So small, she knew, yet so rare. Even back then, Matteo Cirillo understood value didn't always mean large. Through the years, each generation had taken great pride in respecting the collection and protecting it. Never once had any been sold or traded for cash or land. Intact, the collection was part of the heritage she took for granted.

Nico having the photo made her uneasy. She glanced toward him, her cheeks heating pink as she imagined herself dropped on her knees in front of him, worshiping his cock as the statue depicted. Danni knew he was watching her. While the collection was stunning in workmanship, it did embarrass her at times. Now the erotic carving made her think in different directions.

"Read the documents, Danni." His tone was more of an order than a request, so she shook herself of the image and lifted the photo. Attached was a copy of the official appraisal, behind it a notarized affidavit, signed by her stepfather, Robert Hanson, for the transfer of ownership for the stated amount of cash. Danni didn't stop the gasp that moved through her. Instead, she straightened, pulled the folder closer, and started again. The photo, the appraisal, and the affidavit all looked real.

Underneath were seven more, exactly as the others, all for a netsuke and cash amount it was purchased for. With a quick edge, she counted again, eight statues for close to two million dollars. She knew in all there were sixteen of the erotic ivory carvings and wondered where the other half were right now and who owned them.

Danni realized Nico watched several emotions cross her face as she accepted what she held. Half her family's original fortune had been sold away by Robert. He would see confusion, resentment, and finally hate when she put it all together. She was looking at the dates now, all spread over the last three years. The last pages had no photo or appraisal. Instead, it was a private note between Nico and Robert for one million in cash against the land. She stood so quickly that the chair upended behind her, and she didn't right it. She slowly gathered the pages before her and neatly put them back in the folder. It was then she finally spoke, carefully controlling her voice.

"Why didn't you tell me from the start? Why let it go so long? And why you?" She felt only pure hate for all mankind at the moment, knowing it was wrong, but it was what she felt. "You always wanted the land, didn't you? Always wanted to expand Severino and we stood in your way. How did you get to him? Was just the offer of cash enough to entice Robert?"

"Listen carefully, Danni. Yes, I loaned him the money, but it was me or he'd go elsewhere. Robert doesn't care about your family heritage, only the cash he could get. I knew he'd been gambling. The rumors were wild. All the construction to the house didn't come cheap. Neither did playing the role of the wealthy winemaker." He reined back his authoritative tone and she watched him intently. Danni was enraged, and rightfully so. He had experienced her temper on occasion, but usually directed at someone else. Now he'd take the brunt of her anger and resentment.

"Nico, how could he do this? He had no say over the vineyard. It was left in trust to me with my mother as…" And then she knew. Her mother had sold her out, literally. In a strange way, it didn't surprise her, yet it made her angry as hell.

"Talk to Sam Parkins, Danni. He'll tell you your mother gave full control of the yard to Robert just after you left for your first year at college."

"Why didn't anyone tell me? Technically, it was in trust for me. I should have been consulted."

"I thought so, but your mother and stepfather didn't. Look again, Danni. The cash loan was signed by them both. They knew from the time you went off to college they didn't want the land or the label. They depleted the investments as well as the cash. When they came to me, I figured why let an outsider get the land?" She understood he didn't regret his purchase, only the effect it was having on her mood. "Yes, I loaned them the money, all nice and legal. They never considered you running the label, Danni. Their goal was to wait until you turned twenty-five, and when you took over, you'd be forced to sell. And they are going to want cash then, too."

"But why send me away to school for all these years to get degrees, knowing they would take the land from me? It doesn't make sense." She shook her head, not wanting the pieces to fall into place. She glanced behind her and slowly righted the chair she'd toppled, sitting heavily on the solid leather seat, her hands curling around the armrests, her fingers biting into the surface.

"They only waited because of the way your father wrote your trust. They had no choice. Now they've maneuvered you into a situation where you'll be forced to sell." He hesitated, then added, "I don't know how many other loans there are against Cirillo, Danni, but if you marry me, and we combine the two farms…"

She stared blankly at him. "And what label survives?"

Her glare all but dared him to look away, but she deserved the truth.

"The Severino label survives, Danielle. You and I will farm both vineyards that will continue Severino." He stood tall and proud, the dark dragon persona slipping forward. She stood with a forced calm and walked to the doorway.

"Danni, I'm sorry to be the one to drop this on you, but I felt it was better to hear it from me now, then to wait until the official turnover with bankers and auditors as witnesses. Think it through, bella. You'll see marrying me isn't such a bad deal." He smiled, but she showed no emotion, numb to her core with this new information. She left him without a word, grabbing her hat and slowly walking across his back patio into the vineyard.

* * * *

"I have one question," she said, staring at her mother and stepfather over the supper table that evening. "When were you going to tell me?" Her mother looked to Robert, and he shielded his face with his bourbon glass. "You weren't, were you? You'd both let me continue on thinking I'd have control of the winery until the last moment. Did you think I wouldn't make a scene before the auditors?"

Robert spoke, clearing his throat to acquire an authoritative tone. "We felt it best to wait until the formal turnover. But since that hasn't happened, I guess your friend Niccolo Severino has told you about the loans. It should all be laid out now." He drank from the short crystal glass.

Danni struggled to hold onto her forced calm. She'd walked the yards while trying to fit all the pieces together. And all she came back to was greed and betrayal. Now watching Robert and her mother squirm was little reward for losing her home and land. While she wanted to do physical harm to both of them, she knew it would do no good. She'd use her brain to figure out how to get around them. They'd been playing her for seven years, and now, it was her time to step up.

"The Severinos hold title to half the vines from the first loan. That means you won't have enough product to continue the Cirillo label. The house with two acres of land was surveyed out last year. It will be sold separate, and we'll take the cash to start new somewhere else. The rest of the land has been sold in smaller lots to two other labels in the area. I assure you, Danielle, they'll make good use of the vines."