The smile beaming at him when the door was answered made it all worth while. Jack felt his worries melt away as a pair of warm arms pulled him into the gloomy hallway. Her hot mouth had found his before the door had closed behind them. In the dark world behind his lashes there was nothing but her taste and smell and the feel of her body against his. He would have liked to stay like this forever.

"Ciao," she finally said breathlessly against his lips, a smile colouring her voice.

"Ciao," he echoed, unable to remove the grin glued to his own face, even as he let her go and allowed her to drag him into the sitting room.

"I had not expected you until tonight," Concetta said while she peeled him out of his coat and ushered him onto the sofa.

"Would you like me to leave?" Jack asked.

"No." She grinned broadly, slipping down beside him. Outside the rain picked up again, drumming a steady rhythm against the glass. Jack didn't mind. Concetta's fingertips left a burning trail on the fabric of his pants as she carelessly touched his thigh on the search for his fingers.

"I have missed you," she whispered, like sharing a sweet secret.

She wrapped their hands together and pulled his to her lips. Jack glanced at her profile, took in her gorgeous features and felt his heart again fill with a now familiar joy. There was something breathtakingly beautiful to simply sitting with a woman who played no games, who did not lure him nor push him away, but simply wore her heart on her sleeve. A heart that was his.

She felt his eyes on herself and looked at him questioningly.

"Are you alright?" she asked. "You are very quiet today."

Jack gulped. He had feared that he couldn't hide this from her.

"Do you... Miss Fisher believes that there might be some danger looming from your family," he finally said.

A shadow slipped over Concetta's features.

"Does she? Your friend is very concerned about you, is she not?"

The glimpse of jealousy he caught surprised him. So far the two women had been very civilized towards each other - at least if you ignored Phryne accusing Concetta of being in bed with the Camorra.

"She appears more concerned about you than myself," he explained truthfully, if not quite honestly.

The dark shadows disappeared as quickly as they had come.

"Please thank your friend, but ask her not to worry. Pappa is a complicated man, but he will not allow harm to come to us."

A small sound at the front door distracted Jack from his answer. His hand automatically slipped to where his weapon should be, but found only emptiness. He had not felt he needed his pistol today. Concetta watched him with some confusion.

"Ciao, Vincenzo," she called into the hall and Jack released the breath he'd been holding. With a pointed look, Concetta stood to greet her brother. Vincenzo Strano's drenched figure appeared moments later in the sitting room.

"Ahh, Gianni, I do not believe you are to be with my sister without chaperone," he grinned, shaking the other man's hand. "It is scandalous."

Jack grinned.

"Gianni is too worried today to attempt anything scandalous," Concetta said with a smile.

The Inspector suddenly felt embarrassed. He witnessed the siblings exchange some quick words in Italian. Vincenzo squinted at him in wonder for a brief moment, then aimed another question at his sister, which she answered calmly.

"Your Miss Fisher is out again to stir up trouble?" he finally asked Jack.

"Miss Fisher does not stir up trouble without reason," the Inspector heard himself say to his surprise. "If she says there is danger looming, one does well to believe her."

He hadn't, he suddenly realised. He'd been blinded by his wish to escape from her proximity and the luring doubts that always came with it. He glanced at his fiancee. No, there was no way she was involved in any plots against him. But maybe Phryne had gotten the wrong end of the stick. Maybe it was Concetta who was in danger. He needed to see Miss Fisher and hear the whole story.

He was about to rise and excuse himself when he realised that Concetta had bustled away towards the kitchen. Moments later his arm was caught by Vincenzo and his voice dropped to a whisper, he asked: "What do you know about their plans?"

"Not enough," Jack said, confused by the sudden turn of events. This seemed to somewhat calm Vincenzo and he let go of him.

"Do you believe she's in danger?" the Inspector asked quietly.

"Who knows? The Camorra are.. how do you say... unpredictable."

There was silence for a long moment in which the rain drummed heavily.

"Concetta believes she is safe, but I am not so sure," he finally said quietly. "Once you are married. Have you thought about leaving Melbourne? Live somewhere quietly?"

Jack sucked a shocked breath through his teeth. Leave Melbourne? He couldn't imagine where he would go. What he would do with his life.

"I'm a police officer," he protested. Vincenzo smiled mildly.

"That will not stop them if they decide you are in the way."

He patted the Inspector's shoulder in what was attempting to be a calming fashion.

"I do not say that they will. But promise me you will think about it."

Jack swallowed hard, but nodded.

"I will."

Vincenzo appeared satisfied and excused himself to finally change out of his wet clothes before the Inspector had had a chance to catch his breath.