Ashton's POV

"Are you Ashton?" a deep voice asked while I sipped on my coffee

Looking up I see a muscular Italian man. He had intricate tribal tattoos up and down his arms that accentuated the definition of his biceps as they bulged from his tight muscle shirt. He wore simple cargo pants and seemed to carry himself with stealth as he towered above my sitting body. His black hair and piercing pale blue eyes just added to his intimidating looks.

Shivering, I answered him. "Yes. Are you Marco?"

"That I am." he stated taking a seat across from me with ease.

"So Ethan sent you?" he asked with an expression void of all emotion. So business-like.

"Yes, and no." I drew out as I looked down at my coffee. "He asked me to talk to you. But it is for both him and me."

"Well?" he asked, looking at me impatiently. "What is it?"

Grabbing the note addressed to Silver I slid it across the table. Marco grabbed it and our fingers brushed. Shocked, I jerk my hand back trying to appear nonchalant. "My sister. Some guy has started to send her weird messages and letters. He has threatened not only her life, but Ethan's and my nephews."

Marco quietly read over the letter with furrowed brows. "How long has this been going on?"

"A few days I believe." I state, unsure because Silver never officially told me that.

"Has Ethan contacted Giusto?" he demanded, carefully setting the paper down and reaching into a pocket of his cargo pants.

"If he is the private investigator, then yes."

"Good." he replied curtly with a nod of his head. Pulling out his phone he took a picture of the letter. "I'm going to send this to him just in case he needs it."

"That's a good idea." I smile impressed. I thought he was supposed to be a bodyguard? Aren't they mostly muscle and no brain?

Stereotypes sure can't fit this dude in any of their categories.

"Thank you. Now," he set his phone onto the table and looked me in the eyes. "Let's discuss the security details. Being as that is the reason I am here."

"Right." How could I have forgotten?

As we talked about how we were going to prevent any harm from coming to my family I lost track of time. By the time we were done it was dark outside. Leaving the cafe I didn't bother returning to tell Ethan and Silver what had happened. I'll just tell them in the morning.

Walking to my car I get in and start the engine. But as I tried to back out of the parking lot I heard a metallic scraping noise and felt my tire thud on the ground. Getting out I use my phone as a flashlight. As the beam of light hit my back tire I let out a string of curses.

Son of a witch's tit. My tire was completely destroyed. I would understand if some teenager were to slash it for fun but this? This was just overkill. The tread on the tire had multiple slash marks and a good chunk of it was gaping away from the rim.

Now how was I supposed to get home?

"Need a ride?" a voice called from the street across from where my car sat, now completely usually.

Glancing over I see Marco in a black pickup truck. It was too dark to say what the exact model was but it looked like a Dodge from where I stood.

"Uh. Yea." I answer back sheepishly looking down at my feet.

Why was I acting so shy around this guy?

Maybe it was because he could easily snap my neck with a single flex of his arm.

Yeah. That's what it was.

"Well hop on in." he laughed as he watched my darkened form trudge along the road to where his truck sat in the street.

"Thank you." I mumbled as I had finally made my way into his passenger seat.

"Don't sweat it." he grinned boyishly, glancing at me as he started to drive.