It's amazing how a simple brief phone call can pick up the spirits of the most dejected hamster, the most stressed goldfish, and the most neurotic cat.

Noel Edmonds

Haven Pierce's POV

"Hello, Noah...?"

"Hey, stranger," My guy best friend said on the other line with a jolly tone. "What happened to you? Where are you? I thought we already made plans about spending our summer together in my parent's hometown and taking a summer job at my uncle's local business while waiting for the acceptance of our internship?"

I couldn't help but grimace while listening to him recalling our supposed summer plans when I ditched him last minute without as much as saying goodbye to him. Now I feel guilty that I left him hanging without a proper explanation. I glanced briefly in the direction of the Sicilian don and his cousin and also his right-hand man who was looking at me with undisguised interest while I was having this phone call. Suddenly, I fell unconscious with their stare and I had to move a little farther in case they could hear me. "The thing is, my legal guardian showed up at the university yesterday and he took me to his hometown so I could spend the summer here."

"Legal guardian? I didn't know that you have one."

"Me, either," I answered ruefully. "I was not aware of his existence until he introduced himself claiming that my father named him as my legal guardian until I was twenty-five years old."

"And you believed him easily?"

I exhaled a heavy breath while glancing at the picturesque surroundings that spread before me. "At first, I didn't believe him but he has proof that he was, indeed, my legal guardian and it was stated on my father's last will."

I heard Noah whistling softly on the other line. "Well, that's tough. How is it? Is he nice to you?"

I glanced briefly at the table where the two men were sitting. "Yeah, he's a good person..." Well, sort of, depending on how you define a good person. I couldn't say that out loud and might alarm Noah. I thought it might be better if he was just left in the dark about the true nature of my guardian's work.

"That's good to hear." He didn't sound so convinced not that I could blame him. "So where are you right now? Let's FaceTime I want to see you."

I bit my bottom lip, as horror-struck through me, "I can't have FaceTime with you right now. I am in Sicily and the internet connection is bad." I lied smoothly while adding silently. In a notorious mafia's den, in the care of a powerful Sicilian don, to be precise.

"Sicily?!" I could almost imagine the shock on Noah's face at the moment. I also never in my wildest dreams that I could be in this scenic place that you could only see on postcards. "You're telling me that you are in Europe right now and the internet is bad?"

"Yes."

He cursed on the other line while probably trying to process the information that I was not in the US right now. "Shit. I will have a tough time visiting you there. I thought you were just somewhere on the west coast."

My eyes widened considerably while nervously glancing at the men on the table under the shade of a lemon tree. They were patiently waiting for me to finish my phone call and we could resume eating. Why don't just eat without me? They don't need to wait for me. "You want to visit me here?"

"Yes," he answered sheepishly over the phone. "I couldn't possibly let our summer vacation pass without seeing you or spending some time together before our internship next semester."

I smiled hesitantly to myself while looking at my vast surroundings. My heart warmed that he wanted to visit me here but how could I discourage him that it was not a good idea to visit me here and be on the radar of the crime family who currently taking care of me? Especially, the boss, I knew without a doubt that he would not hesitate to bully Noah or probably scare him while he was here.

"Haven? Are you still there?"

"Yeah," I forced myself to focus on the present time. "I'm still here."

"You seem in deep thoughts," he remarked on the other line. "As I said, I will visit you one of these days so we can explore the medieval towns in that part of Italy. I always want to have trips abroad with you this might be the time for that."

"What?!" I could almost feel the blood draining on my face that would be a complete disaster! This conversation is getting out of hand. I need to do something.

"Don't worry," he said on the other line, probably feeling my hesitation. "I will be courteous and ask for the permission of your guardian."

I groaned silently. That's precisely the point why I was reluctant about this whole visiting trip he was planning. If my guardian was just a normal person I would not have a second thought about it but my guardian was far from normal. He's probably the most dangerous man in Sicily and I am not even overreacting.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Noah." I supplied casually, pacing back and forth.

"What makes you say that?"

I sink my teeth into my bottom lip while trying to find a good explanation for why he couldn't meet my guardian. "The truth is..." I glanced at the man in question briefly my eyes widened when I caught his piercing gaze on me. I could feel my heart jump on my chest when my eyes collided with those dark ones. I immediately broke eye contact. "...my guardian is a very strict man. He might get the wrong idea about our friendship."

Noah was silent for a moment I thought that he already hung up his phone and then I heard him take a deep breath. "You don't have to worry. I have a clear intention towards you I am sure your guardian will understand."

"I don't think—"

"Just give a few days or weeks probably. I will convince my parents to let me travel to Sicily so I can be with you at the start of summer. Who knows this might be the summer adventure we always dream of."

I ran my fingers through my hair. He was not listening to me. I forced myself to smile maybe it's not a bad idea that a friend of mine who I trust dearly would be here with me while I need to stay here for the duration of my summer vacation. "All right, fine, I am looking forward to spending summer with you here."

"Yes!" He roared on the other line. "Got to go, Haven. I need to start packing my things for my trip. I will call you later."

I couldn't help but laugh at his enthusiastic energy. "Take care. Bye."

"You too, take care of yourself while I am not there with you," Noah said solemnly. I could detect the seriousness in his tone it wasn't his usually playful manner when he was talking with me. I guess that he was really worried about me.

"Don't worry about me," I answered with a sweet smile very thankful to have a friend like him that I could always count on. "I can take good care of myself. I am a grown woman. I can save my ass if anything happens."

"I know." My best friend chuckled. "But always remember that I am always here for you."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know." I giggled in return. "As I am also here for you anytime. You are my best friend, after all."

We bid goodbye and then I went back to the table where the two men patiently waited for me. I was intensely aware of how the piercing black eyes of Santi Marchesi were looking at me sharply.

"Who is that?" He asked in a low and dangerous tone.

I frowned at him, my eyebrows drawn together while I reclaimed my seat next to his cousin, Nico. "I believe that's none of your business."

"Boyfriend?"

I rolled my eyes at him while throwing an annoyed glare. I don't understand his unusual interest in this matter. As far as I am concerned my personal life has nothing to do with him. "I told you before that I don't have a boyfriend. He's my best friend."

"He? Meaning a guy friend?" His tone was cold and hostile which I don't understand. Moments ago he seemed to be in a good mood now there was a dark aura that surrounded him. He's every inch of a dangerous crime boss just now.

"So what?" I replied indifferently, resuming eating my already cold pasta.

"Nico," he got the attention of his cousin who remained silent until now. "I want a thorough investigation about this guy friend of hers. I want to know everything about him."

I looked at him with horror while my lips parted slightly. I couldn't believe the audacity of this man! He was being too much! I will not let him do as he pleases. "You will not do such a thing to Noah! He's a good guy. Do not dare to invade his privacy I am warning you, Santino Marchesi."

"I just want to be sure, little one." He smiled coldly in my direction while his eyes held sinister glints in their depth. I could feel the shiver on my spine because of that smile. "If he has nothing to hide then you don't have anything to worry about."

"You don't have the right to do this! You are not my father, not even a relative. Do you hear me? Stop being an ass, will you?"

Nico whistled softly due to the heated argument I have with his boss and cousin but I don't particularly care at the moment. I think this man was becoming a tyrant when it comes to my personal life and I don't like it.

"From now on, I am your legal guardian, Haven. And whether you like it or not I have to make sure that everyone in your life has pure intention I don't want a bad fruit to get in the mix. I don't want you to come in any harm while you are in my care." He said in a monotone without a hint of emotion in his deep voice while his eyes were cold and distant.

I shook my head in disbelief. Why Santi Marchesi does seem to be obsessed with my safety? It was unlikely for a don to fuss over the welfare of his unwanted ward. He was just a business partner of my father and nothing more. I don't think I even laid eyes on him in the past so what's the reason behind all of this?

"It doesn't matter," I heard myself saying while looking at him with resolute eyes. "I forbid you to do a background check on my best friend. I'm warning you, Mr. Marchesi, you don't want to see a woman's wrath."

Instead of heeding my threat the crime boss merely chuckled darkly. "Tough girl, are you?"

I could feel my teeth start to grind because he was not taking me seriously, in fact, he was taunting me with the annoying smile on his face. "I'm serious," I replied haughtily, refusing to back out from the staring contest that we were having over the table.

Santi leisurely sipped his wine while his dark eyes were still fixed on me. "We'll see how tough you are, Signorina."

"What the hell does that mean?" My eyebrows drew together because he was not making sense to me.

There was a devilish smile playing on his lips while trying to cow me with his brooding gaze. I shivered involuntarily because of those strong stares but I wouldn't admit that to him. "It seems to me that you like to fight me with everything. Let's see how far you can put this futile competition with me, Haven. This is going to be an interesting summer for us."

"I don't want to play games with you."

"Oh, but I do." The devil replied with a smirk fixed on his lips. "And we'll start this game with your guy best friend."

I glared at him insolently as I gripped my fork firmly in my hand. I was mentally debating if it was worth it if I stab him with this fork. "Leave. Him. Alone." I said through gritted teeth.

Amusement lit his dark emotionless eyes. "Change my mind." He invited. He was toying with me like a lion and a lamb before killing his prey. "Invite him over. I want to meet this guy best friend of yours who could be a potential suitor in the future."

I rubbed my forehead warily because I could feel that I was about to have a headache because of him. "You are not listening to me! I told you countless times now that Noah is only a friend and nothing more. Romance is impossible for us. He's like a brother to me."

"I pity that guy," The Sicilian don informed his cousin with a mocking smile on his face. "What do you think?"

"I agree with you," Nico answered gravely.

I shook my head. It's useless arguing with these two men. I am just wasting my time here and I already lost my appetite because dealing with these cousins feels like I am about to lose a decade in my lifespan. So I just enjoy my already cold pasta and hope that their path and Noah wouldn't ever cross if I have my way.

Because these two cousins were behaving worse than my Dad when it came to my personal life.

Especially this devil Santi Marchesi who was making my heart upset with his stony gaze.