but for all he knew she might have sisters too.
The worker pointed towards the long, low-slung villa.
He nodded. ‘Grazie.’ Every muscle tensed as he strode towards it. He had to make Marianna see sense. He had to convince her not to banish him from their child’s life.
Once he reached the shade of the veranda, Ryan saw that the large wooden front door stood open as if to welcome all comers. He stared down the cool shade of the hallway and crossed his fingers, and then reached up and pulled the bell.
A few moments later a tall lean figure appeared. He walked down the hallway with the easy saunter of someone who belonged there. ‘Can I help you?’
Ryan pulled himself up to his full height. ‘I’m here to see Marianna Amatucci.’
The suntanned face darkened, the relaxed easiness disappearing in an instant. ‘You’re the swine who got her pregnant!’
He’d already deduced from the hair—dark, and wavy like Marianna’s—that this must be one of her brothers. A protective brother too. More tension eased out of Ryan’s shoulders. Marianna should be surrounded by people who’d love and support her.
A moment later he swallowed. Protective was all well and good, but this guy was also angry and aggressive.
The two men sized each other up. The other man was a couple of inches taller than Ryan and he looked strong, but Ryan didn’t doubt his ability to hold his own against him if push came to shove.
Fighting would be far from sensible.
He knew that but, recalling the way Marianna had thrown the vase at him yesterday, her brother might have the same hot temper. It wouldn’t hurt to remain on his guard. He planted his hands on his hips and stood his ground.
‘So...you have nothing to say?’ the other man mocked.
‘I have plenty to say...to Marianna.’
The brother bared his teeth. ‘You don’t deny it, then?’
‘I deny nothing. All you need to know is that I’m here to see Marianna.’
‘Do you have an appointment?’
He debated the merits of lying, but decided against it. ‘No.’
‘What if she doesn’t want to see you?’
‘What if she does?’
‘I—’
‘And if she doesn’t want to see me, then I want to hear it from her.’ He shoved his shoulders back and glared. ‘I mean to see her, one way or another. Don’t you think it would be best for that to happen here under your roof?’
The other man stared at him hard. Ryan stared right back, refusing to let his gaze drop. The brother swore in Italian. Ryan was glad his own Italian wasn’t fluent enough for him to translate it. With a grim expression, he gestured for Ryan to follow him, leading him to a room at the back of the house that was full of rugs and sofas—a warm, charming, lived-in room. Light spilled in from three sets of French doors that stood open to a paved terrace sporting an assortment of cast-iron outdoor furniture and a riot of colour from potted plants.
Home. The word hit Ryan in the centre of his chest. This place was a home. He hadn’t had that sense from any place since the day his grandmother had died. His lungs started to cramp. He didn’t belong here.
Another man strode through one of the French doors. ‘Nico, I—’ He pulled up short when he saw Ryan.
Brilliant. Brother number two.
Brother number one—evidently called Nico—jerked a thumb at Ryan. ‘This is Paulo.’
He glanced from one to the other. Marianna had told them his name was Paulo?
The second brother started towards him, anger rolling off him in great waves. Brilliant. This one was even taller than the first. Ryan set himself. He could hold his own against one, but not the two of them. He readied himself for a blow—he refused to throw the first punch—but at the last moment Nico moved between them, his hand on his brother’s chest halting him.
Ryan let out a breath and then nodded. ‘No. This is good.’
‘Good?’ brother number two spat out, his face turning almost purple.
‘That Marianna has brothers who look out for her.’
The anger in the dark eyes that surveyed him turned from outright hostility to a simmering tension. ‘You made her cry, you...’ A rash of what Ryan guessed must be Italian insults followed. Brother number two flung out his arm, strode away, and then swung back to stab a finger at him. ‘She returned here yesterday, locked herself in her room and cried. That is your fault!’
Ryan’s shoulders slumped. He rubbed a hand across his chest. ‘Yesterday...it was...it didn’t go so well and she—’ He pushed his shoulders back. ‘I’m here to make it right.’
‘What do you mean to do?’ Nico asked. His voice had become measured but not for a second did Ryan mistake it for a softening.
‘I mean to do whatever Marianna wants me to do.’ Within reason, but he didn’t add that caveat out loud.
Brother number two thrust out his jaw. ‘But are you going to do what she needs you to do?’
He thrust his jaw out too. ‘I will not force her to do anything. I refuse to believe I know better than she does about what she needs. She’s a grown woman who knows her own mind.’
The brothers laughed—harsh, scornful laughter as if he had no idea what he was talking about.
Ryan’s every muscle tensed and he could feel his eyes narrow to slits as a dangerous and alien recklessness seized him. ‘Have the two of you been bullying her or pressuring her in any way?’
Had they been pressuring her to keep the baby due to some outdated form of conservatism? Or... Had they been pressuring her to give the baby up because of scandal and—?
‘And what if we have, Paulo?’ brother number two mocked. ‘What then?’
‘Then I will beat the crap out of you!’
It was stupid, reckless, juvenile, but he couldn’t help it. Marianna was pregnant! She needed calm and peace. She needed to take care of her health. She didn’t need to be worried into an early grave by two overprotective brothers.
The brothers stared at him. Neither smiled but their chins lowered. Nico pursed his lips. The other rolled his shoulders. Ryan stabbed a finger first at brother number one and then at brother number two. ‘Let me make one thing crystal clear. I am not abandoning my child. Marianna and I have a lot we need to sort out and we’re going to do it without interference from either one of you.’
* * *
Raised voices drifted out across the terrace as Marianna marched towards the villa. She rolled her eyes. What on earth were Angelo and Nico bickering about now? She stepped into the room...
And froze.
Ryan!
A shock of sweet delight pierced through the numbness she’d been carrying around with her all day, making her tingle all over.
No! She shook it off. She would not be delighted to see him. Of all the low-down—
His gaze speared to her and the insults lining up in her mind dissolved.
‘Hello, Marianna.’ His voice washed over her like warm, spiced mead and she couldn’t utter a single sound. She dragged her gaze away to glance at her brothers. Angelo raised a derisive eyebrow. ‘Look what the cat dragged in, Marianna.’ He folded his arms. ‘Paulo.’
Ryan ignored his mockery to stride across to her. He took her hand in his and lifted it to his lips. Her heart fluttered like a wild