Free Charmed by Emily Jane Trent

was safe, at least for the moment. And his mother’s home was secure. He’d seen to that with the number of guards he’d posted, plus all the security cameras and the alarm system. At least for the night, Ella was safe.
    But having her in Rio presented a new problem for him. Keeping her out of harm’s way wouldn’t be that easy. It would have worked so much better if she’d stayed in Newport, off the radar. He had to admit he was relieved to see her. Living apart was torture. He’d missed her so much it felt like he was dying inside, the weeks they were separated.
    It would be worth it, though, if she were safe. That meant everything to him. He’d gladly endure the pain of separation if it meant the evil that pervaded his family would never touch her. Now, that option wasn’t available. Having her in his arms again, there was no way he could send her back. Leaving her once took every ounce of strength. Doing it again wouldn’t be possible.
    He’d just have to figure it out. The issue with his father would have to be resolved. Not that he hadn’t intended to do that already, hadn’t worked every day toward that end. Ella’s arrival in Rio gave him all the more reason to see it resolved fast, as if he hadn’t had enough reason already. Seeing the effect the situation had on his mother, and even his sister, ripped his heart apart. It had to end.
    One thing in his favor was that his father, Claudio, didn’t know about Ella—at least not yet. Adam decided he’d make the most of that advantage by keeping Ella out of sight. He’d keep the knowledge about his relationship with her hidden for as long as he could. Maybe it would be long enough. It had to be.
    *****
    Breakfast was a family affair. The kitchen was bustling with activity when Ella entered, freshly showered. She wore shorts and a T-shirt, expecting nice weather. A bit bleary-eyed, her hair still wet, she stepped into the warmth of the room. Serena, dressed in a floral dress and low-heeled shoes, was chatting away in Italian with Fiorella. Ella was taken with her classic look: dark eyes, thick dark hair contrasted with pale skin. Noticing Ella’s entry, she glanced over and smiled, but never stopped talking.
    The smell of baked bread and strong coffee wafted over to Ella and she said, “Yum, it smells great in here.”
    “Ella, good morning. Did you sleep well?” Fiorella asked. She wore trim white pants, a short lace top, and sandals, and even in the casual wear looked classy. Ella was impressed by her easy beauty.
    “I did, actually. That bed is very comfortable. And fortunately your brother doesn’t snore, so I was dead to the world.”
    “Hey,” Adam called, coming around the corner and entering the kitchen behind Ella. “I do not snore.”
    “I said does not snore, so don’t get offended,” she said, admiring Adam in baby-blue board shorts and a white cotton shirt. No matter what he wore, he was handsome and devastatingly sexy.
    Right behind him, another man about Adam’s age stepped in, and the women broke out in an effusive greeting. Fiorella ran up to hug him. “Adrian.” To Ella he looked like a movie star: dark wavy hair, thick sexy eyebrows, piercing gray eyes, and devastatingly handsome. Not quite as tall as Adam, he still towered over Fiorella, and he exuded charm; definitely an Italian heartthrob.
    “Ella, this is our dear friend, Adrian Tomoni,” Adam announced.
    Adrian stepped over and kissed Ella on both cheeks, making her blush. “Ciao, Ella,” he said with a wide grin, and of course he had perfect white teeth to match the rest of the picture.
    “Ciao,” Ella said, a bit flustered by the genuine show of affection.
    “Would you like something?” Fiorella asked him, and his reply was to hold his thumb and index finger in front of his lips about two inches apart. She nodded and grabbed a small espr esso cup and filled it for him.
    It occurred to Ella that the hand gestures she’d seen Adam use weren’t necessarily