Brunetti's Secret Son. Maya Blake

she’d loftily imagined dictating visitation terms and having them readily agreed to, and then going about raising her son with minimal interference.

      But looking at Romeo as he gazed down at his son with an intense proprietary light in his eyes, Maisie realised she really had no clue what the future held. Her breath shuddered out as Romeo’s words once again flashed through her brain.

       There’s nothing more to discuss. If he’s mine, truly mine, then I intend to claim him.

      She slowly rose and looked over her shoulder. Sure enough, the two black-clad bodyguards prowled a short distance away. About to turn away, Maisie froze as she spotted two more by the south gate. Two more guarded the west side of the park.

      Heart in her throat, she approached the duck pond, where Romeo was throwing a piece of bread under her son’s strict instruction.

      His head swung towards her and his expression altered at whatever he read on her face. ‘Something wrong?’

      ‘I think I should be asking you that,’ she hissed so Gianlucca wouldn’t overhear, but she placed a protective hand on his tiny shoulder, ready to lay down her life for him if she needed to. ‘Do you want to tell me why you have six bodyguards watching this park?’ Her voice vibrated with the sudden fear and anger she couldn’t disguise.

      His face hardened and the arm he’d raised to throw another bite into the pond slowly lowered to his side. ‘I think it’s time to continue this conversation elsewhere.’