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allowed her to turn.
    “Pa, I was just coming-”
    Her father slashed a hand in the air, hurrying towards her, Saltano and Andrew right behind.
    “You come in my home and assault my daughter?” her father roared.
    Aiva was shocked. “Pa! It’s okay. He didn’t force himself on me.”
    “You’re a good girl of good family, it doesn’t matter whether he asked you!”
    “Defend yourself, Sudano,” Andrew said, lining up with Saltano behind their father.
    Aiva’s knees trembled. Had they all gone mad? “Father-”
    “Saltano, take your sister.”
    Leon growled, hands wrapping around her forearms. “No.”
    The menace in his tone touched a note of fear deep inside her- a feminine fear. A woman knowing that a man was ready to kill for her. 
    But then he took a deep breath, releasing her.
    “My apologies,” Leon said. “Aiva, go to your brothers.”
    He spoke as if he had a right to order her around. She turned and glared at him, opening her mouth to tear a strip out of his hide when he looked at her. And Aiva understood, then, why he was who he was. Why the men feared him.
    Well, except for her father and brothers.
    By now the whole family had spilled out into the backyard, drawn by the unnecessary ruckus. Great. Aiva closed her eyes.
    “I apologize for offending you, Mr. Losito,” Sudano said quietly, hands at his sides. Andrew grabbed her arm and dragged her away from him, shoving her behind their father. “I’ve disrespected your home- but it wasn’t intentional.”
    “So you had no intentions to come here and take advantage of my daughter under the dark of night- with her family in the house? Are you laughing at us?”
    “No.” Leon lowered his head, a gesture of penitence. “I came to ask your permission to court her, for marriage. I... wanted to ask her first, though.” He smiled, a little ruefully. “I thought it would win me some points. Her beauty... went to my head.”
    Aiva stood, stunned, gaping at Leon, unsure she’d heard his words correctly. But when her father’s bristling shoulders relaxed and he hooked thumbs into the waistband of his pants, Aiva knew she had heard correctly.
    “Well. I’m a man. I can understand... a nice night, a lovely girl. But it had better not happen again. My wife and I raised a respectable young woman.” Father paused. “Courtship, eh?”
    “Yes.” Leon’s expression was grave. “It’s high time I took a wife.” He glanced at Aiva. “She...suits me.”
    “Huh. Well, come on boy, come into the house. We’ll talk about it.”
    Leon nodded, walking forward, Saltano sandwiching Aiva in between himself and Andrew so Leon couldn’t do more than glance at her, ruefully. Dark hair falling over his eyes as if he were a naughty boy.
    Aiva didn’t buy that shit for one minute.
 

 
     
     
    Chapter
    4
     
     
     
     
     
    Aiva didn’t have to call b.s.- Daniel did it for her, taking her father aside as soon as they’d entered the house.
    “You believe this crap?” Danny hissed. “He doesn’t want her- he wants control over the business.”
    Pa stiffened. “You don’t use that language with me, boy. And I’ve no cause to question the man’s word.”
    The man in question, having been ushered by her mother into the living room, glanced over as Aiva as Daniel and Pa entered. Danny glanced at Leon, eyes narrowed. Her father wasn’t the kind to talk behind a man’s back, though. He faced Leon squarely.
    “My nephew here says your intention to court my only daughter is a smokescreen to involve yourself financially in her shop.” Pa’s tone, and direct stare, challenged Leon.
    Leon said nothing for a moment, dark brow slowly rising. Then he laughed, startling them all.
    “Funny,” he chuckled. “I’ll let the insult go because of the entertainment value.” He shrugged, lip curling as he glanced at Daniel. “The shop is a testament to her intelligence and business sense- but what would I want with flowers?”
    Danny faced him squarely.