something now, there wouldn’t be enough time to relocate everyone.”
“Who is this idiot who’s going to demolish the street haven?” Anna suspected she already knew the answer.
“The father of the girl you saved,” hissed Rafael. “Mancini is the bastard who’s going to demolish Streetwise.”
Anna sat in stunned silenc e as they sped across the white- crested bay. The island of Capri faded into the distance as the sleek motor yacht ate up the miles. Conversely, the Napoli shoreline grew bigger and bigger as they approached. The harbour area was scattered with industrial buildings and warehouses, while higher on the hill the landscape changed to closely-packed flats and houses. It was not a pretty city.
Eventually she said, “You said up until now. What did you mean by that?”
Rafael turned to face her. There was a glimmer in his eyes that was disturbing. “You, my little English rose, are in the prime position to help me save Streetwise.”
“Me? I’m not sure how I can help?” Anna got an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.
“You saved Mancini’s child.”
“Yes.”
“He’s indebted to you.”
“Yes...” She didn’t like where this was headed.
“He’ll want to pay you back. Italians are like that. His debt of gratitude is such that he’ll ask you what he can do for you in return.”
“I’m not sure what you’re getting at.”
“Come on, Anna. I need your help here. I’m not asking you to do anything underhanded. Mancini will want to repay his debt to you. What could be more important than asking for Streetwise to be left standing, at least until I can secure another place and get it ready for the kids? It doesn’t have to be indefinitely. If that bastard can put his development on hold for two months, it would give me enough time to find a decent alternative, deck it out and relocate the kids so no one has to be out on the street.”
“I don’t know, Rafael. I mean , what if he doesn’t ask me anything. Perhaps dinner is his repayment. You can’t be sure he’s going to offer anything more.”
“No, that’s true, but if he does, will you at least consider what I’ve asked?”
“I can’t promise anything.” At the look on his face she added, “I’m sorry. I just don’t know how the evening is going to turn out, that’s all. I don’t want to make any promises I can’t keep. ”
“Okay, well perhaps once you’ve seen the place you’ll change your mind.”
Rafael expertly steered the motor boat into Naples harbour. He didn’t want to get his hopes up, but if Anna could work her special brand of magic on Mancini, he would be granted a respite for the shelter. After all, who would be able to resist someone with Anna’s looks and grace? Mancini was bound to be as taken with her as any red-blooded male.
Just look at her. The woman was a goddess. Her ethereal beauty outshone even the models he knew. Those sexy, oval eyes and high cheekbones were made to be admired, and her body, well that was made for something else, but Rafael didn’t want to dwell too long on that, else he was liable to be uncomfortable for the rest of the day.
They jumped into a taxi at the harbour and Rafael barked out an address.
“This isn’t in the best area of town, by the way,” he informed Anna, as they sped away, horn blasting continuously. “Just keep an open mind.”
They pulled to a stop so suddenly that Anna nearly got whiplash. “Good heavens, does everyone drive like a maniac around here?” she asked.
“It is the Italian way,” shrugged Rafael obviously used to it. “Come, follow me.” And he led her down the street and around a corner into a shabby, downtrodden area with litter in the gutters and paint peeling off most of the buildings.
Anna grimaced. “Is this where you grew up?”
Rafael arched an eyebrow. “Yes, this was my turf. Nice, isn’t it?”
Anna didn’t reply. It was dreadful to think of Rafael as a little boy, without parents,
“Who is this idiot who’s going to demolish the street haven?” Anna suspected she already knew the answer.
“The father of the girl you saved,” hissed Rafael. “Mancini is the bastard who’s going to demolish Streetwise.”
Anna sat in stunned silenc e as they sped across the white- crested bay. The island of Capri faded into the distance as the sleek motor yacht ate up the miles. Conversely, the Napoli shoreline grew bigger and bigger as they approached. The harbour area was scattered with industrial buildings and warehouses, while higher on the hill the landscape changed to closely-packed flats and houses. It was not a pretty city.
Eventually she said, “You said up until now. What did you mean by that?”
Rafael turned to face her. There was a glimmer in his eyes that was disturbing. “You, my little English rose, are in the prime position to help me save Streetwise.”
“Me? I’m not sure how I can help?” Anna got an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.
“You saved Mancini’s child.”
“Yes.”
“He’s indebted to you.”
“Yes...” She didn’t like where this was headed.
“He’ll want to pay you back. Italians are like that. His debt of gratitude is such that he’ll ask you what he can do for you in return.”
“I’m not sure what you’re getting at.”
“Come on, Anna. I need your help here. I’m not asking you to do anything underhanded. Mancini will want to repay his debt to you. What could be more important than asking for Streetwise to be left standing, at least until I can secure another place and get it ready for the kids? It doesn’t have to be indefinitely. If that bastard can put his development on hold for two months, it would give me enough time to find a decent alternative, deck it out and relocate the kids so no one has to be out on the street.”
“I don’t know, Rafael. I mean , what if he doesn’t ask me anything. Perhaps dinner is his repayment. You can’t be sure he’s going to offer anything more.”
“No, that’s true, but if he does, will you at least consider what I’ve asked?”
“I can’t promise anything.” At the look on his face she added, “I’m sorry. I just don’t know how the evening is going to turn out, that’s all. I don’t want to make any promises I can’t keep. ”
“Okay, well perhaps once you’ve seen the place you’ll change your mind.”
Rafael expertly steered the motor boat into Naples harbour. He didn’t want to get his hopes up, but if Anna could work her special brand of magic on Mancini, he would be granted a respite for the shelter. After all, who would be able to resist someone with Anna’s looks and grace? Mancini was bound to be as taken with her as any red-blooded male.
Just look at her. The woman was a goddess. Her ethereal beauty outshone even the models he knew. Those sexy, oval eyes and high cheekbones were made to be admired, and her body, well that was made for something else, but Rafael didn’t want to dwell too long on that, else he was liable to be uncomfortable for the rest of the day.
They jumped into a taxi at the harbour and Rafael barked out an address.
“This isn’t in the best area of town, by the way,” he informed Anna, as they sped away, horn blasting continuously. “Just keep an open mind.”
They pulled to a stop so suddenly that Anna nearly got whiplash. “Good heavens, does everyone drive like a maniac around here?” she asked.
“It is the Italian way,” shrugged Rafael obviously used to it. “Come, follow me.” And he led her down the street and around a corner into a shabby, downtrodden area with litter in the gutters and paint peeling off most of the buildings.
Anna grimaced. “Is this where you grew up?”
Rafael arched an eyebrow. “Yes, this was my turf. Nice, isn’t it?”
Anna didn’t reply. It was dreadful to think of Rafael as a little boy, without parents,
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