by Ella Jade
“Occasionally.”
“Oh.”
“Unless, you’d like me here more often.”
“Whatever Vincenzo wants.” I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself but all I could think about was kissing him. The two times we were together may not have gone that great but there was no denying our physical chemistry.
“What do you want?” Stepping closer, he invaded my personal space but that didn’t seem to bother me.
“I don’t...” My throat dried up and my fingertips tingled. “Umm...”
“Stop harassing my assistant.” Vincenzo came out of his office.
I didn’t know if I was relieved or disappointed that Vince had interrupted us. What did I want?
“I’m doing no such thing,” Santino said. “I was on an errand for Dad and I thought I’d stop by.”
“I’m on my way out,” Vince told him. “I have to pick up Nadia and then we’re off to the fertility specialist.”
I tried to busy myself at my desk because I wasn’t sure how much Vince wanted me to respond. He was a private person but he had alluded to the fact that he and Nadia were having trouble conceiving. As his assistant, I was aware of his appointments but I still didn’t want to pry.
“Let me know how it goes.” Santino hugged his brother. “You and Nadia are going to get your miracle. I know you are.”
“Thanks.” He patted Santino’s back. “Don’t harass Luca.”
“I won’t.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” Vincenzo smiled at me. “Text me if you need me.”
“Everything will be fine here.” I assured him. “Don’t worry.”
“Thank you.” He pushed the button for the elevator. “Santino, I’ll stop by your house tonight.”
“I’ll be there.” He waved as Vincenzo got into the elevator. Once he was gone, Santino said, “My heart hurts for my brother.”
“I assume he and Nadia are having problems getting pregnant?”
“They’ve been trying for a while. They finally got an appointment with the top specialist in Manhattan.” He shook his head. “My family has all the money in the world and my brother and his wife can’t have a baby.”
“Money can’t buy everything.”
“Not in their case but I have faith that it’ll happen for them.” He gazed out the window. “Vincenzo will do anything for Nadia.”
“I know that’s true. They’re so in love. I’ll keep them in my thoughts.”
“I should let you get back to work but I wanted to see if you were available this weekend. We could try a date again?”
I still hadn’t made up my mind about him. I wondered what was under that dangerously charming exterior.
“Friday?”
“I can’t. I have plans.” That wasn’t a lie.
“Cancel them.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s a charity benefit that a friend of mine is organizing and I promised him I’d be there.”
“Him?” The veins in his neck were more prominent than a few seconds ago.
“David Sewell,” I said. “Have you heard of him?”
“No.”
“He has a small film company that mainly produces documentaries. One of the documentaries he’s involved with helped raise money for children who aged out of the foster system. Those who never got adopted.”
“That is very sad. I can’t imagine not having a family.”
“David is having a fundraiser and I’m going with some friends I graduated with.” I wanted to ask him to come with me but I wasn’t sure this was the right event to make our relationship known. If we even had a relationship. “Maybe we could get together another time?”
“Maybe.”
“You’re not going to persist?” Why did that upset me? “Try to convince me that I need to be with you on Friday night?”
“Is that what you want me to do?”
“I’m not really sure what I want you to do.” I joined him by the window because the eight feet between us seemed incredibly far apart. “I don’t know you but I want to. You intrigue me but I’m not sure who you are.”
“Why are you apprehensive?”
“You come from an interesting family.”
“To say the least.”
“I’m hesitant because...” Why was I doing this? He was going to think I was a raving lunatic. Most women would jump at the chance to be with him but something held me back. I’d seen enough carnage in my own neighborhood to know how his family dealt with situations. People around his kind got hurt or worse.
“Do I intimidate you?”
“You don’t but your lifestyle might.”
“My lifestyle?” He thought for a moment, appearing shocked that I would bring that up. “This isn’t about those movies your mother watches, is it?”
“It’s not just the movies. I’ve read about your family. There’s even a documentary about you.”
“That’s about our winery.” His tone was dismissive. “A totally legitimate business, I might add.”
“It gave a clear enough picture about who your family is. They alluded to what you do to be so lucrative.”
“You can’t believe everything you read or watch.” He turned me to face him. “I can’t help the family I was born into but I can promise you, I would protect them with my dying breath. I can’t change who I am.”
“You shouldn’t.”
“When you make up your mind and decide if you want to get to know me you know where to find me.”
“I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“Offend me?” He trailed his finger along my cheek and over my jaw. “I’m used to people judging me because of my last name.”
He inched closer to me as he moved his finger down my neck. My breath caught in my throat when he held my stare with a fierce intensity. Instinct told me to look away from his dark gaze but I couldn’t. I didn’t want to. I wanted to see him for who he was. Not what I had conjured up in my mind.
“I thought since you worked with my brother, you’d be different.” My legs buckled when he pressed his palm to my chest, accelerating my heart rate. “I hate being wrong.”
“Santino, I—”
“Shh...” He pressed his finger to my lips. “You can read every article on the internet about my family and you still won’t have a clear picture of who we are.”
When he let go of me, a sensation of dread filled me. What if that was the last time he ever touched me? He headed for the elevator and pressed the button. I stood frozen because I wasn’t sure what to say.
When the doors opened, he stepped inside. I walked over to them before they could close.
“I’m the only person who can show you who I am.” As the doors began to close, he said, “The question is, do you really want to know?”
God help me but yes, I do...
SANTINO
Walking into the posh lobby of the Manhattan hotel, I realized this could be a mistake. Luca hadn’t invited me here tonight. When she said she had plans, she could have asked me to escort her but she didn’t. I showed up anyway, especially when I found out a few less than desirable people from her neighborhood would be here.
When I entered the ballroom where the event was taking place, several people stopped and stared at me. One or two whispered my name.
I know who I am.
I scanned the room looking for the one reason I put on this tux and came to this function. I found her in the corner surrounded by one of her ex-boyfriends, who had recently been released from prison, two men who worked for a rival family, and one I didn’t recognize but I’d find out who he was.
She wasn’t sure about me but she didn’t seem to have any reservations about these small-time thugs who could get her into trouble. Didn’t she realize they were more of a threat to her than I could ever be?
Making my way across the room, I tried to keep my anger in check. My family didn’t need me causing a scene, especially over a w
oman who might not even be into me. When she saw me coming, she smiled. Maybe she was into me.
I took in her beauty. Her toned, tanned body fit effortlessly into a skimpy red dress that left nothing to the imagination. Her silky, long hair cascaded down her back and curled at the ends. Her open-toed stilettos revealed her flashy red toenails. I was certain I wasn’t the only man in the room who had visions of fucking her hard in nothing but those shoes. Which was exactly why I had to get out of here.
“Hi.” Her focus quickly shifted from her admirers to me. “I didn’t think you’d be here tonight.”
“My interest was piqued.” I glanced at the three men who couldn’t stop gawking at me. “Gentlemen.”
“Mr. Marchelli.” The one I didn’t know extended his hand for me. “I didn’t realize you knew Luca. We went to high school together.”
“How nice.” I shook his hand. “And you are?”
“Jimmy Carvalli.”
“Carvalli? Is your father’s name Mark?”
“That’s my uncle.” He nodded. “Great guy.”
“Hmm...” Mark Carvalli ran errands for Franco but since his unfortunate demise, he’d been working for his brother Sergio.
“I’ve been trying to get an in with your family,” Jimmy said. “A driver, run errands, pick up things. You know, that sort of work.”
“At the winery?”
“Well, I guess I could start there but I had other ideas in mind.”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.” I turned to Luca. “Can I have a word with you?”
“Sure.” She nodded at the three men. “It was lovely catching up with all of you. Take care.”
They collectively said goodbye as we walked away. I could see the confusion on Jimmy’s face. Did he really think approaching me about my father’s business in a public setting would help him get a job? We were all about discretion. Approaching any of us in a public place to discuss business was unacceptable.
I led us to a less crowded area of the room tucked away in a corner by a large set of windows. People stared at us and a few were taking pictures and video. We’d be the talk of social media in about five minutes. The local rags would probably pick up the story and by tomorrow morning speculation of a Marchelli romance would be the topic of the day.
“Are you following me?” When she sipped her drink, it was difficult for me to focus on anything but her mouth. “You always seem to end up where I am.”
“A woman like you needs a man like me to protect her.”
“Please.” She rolled her eyes. “Take your antiquated ideas to someone else. There’s a room full of eager women who are dying for you to protect them.” She glanced around the crowded area. “Look at them all salivating at the thought of you. Your manicured hair, perfect suit, and charming smile.”
Jealous much?
“As I was saying.” I ignored her denial because she was already in so deep, I didn’t even think she knew it. I could see it in her expression. She liked this game as much as I did. “You need my safeguarding because you keep ending up in some questionable circles.”
“How do I know your circle isn’t questionable?”
“I can assure you, it’s a much better fit for you than these wannabe mobsters taking up space in this room.”
“Why do you think you know me so well, Santino Marchelli?” My name rolled off her tongue, and I wanted that tongue in my mouth, on my...
“When I look into your eyes, I don’t see fear or intimidation.”
“You shouldn’t.”
“I see a wild soul. A soul so wild, it matches mine.” I stepped closer, wanting her to feel my presence. She swallowed hard when I took her drink from her and finished it. “That’s why you need my protection.”
“If you’re referring to those guys, we all went to high school together. I haven’t seen them in years.”
“What about him?” I pointed to her ex-boyfriend.
“Brian?”
“You dated before he went to prison last year.”
“How did you... is that in your database too?”
“You’d be surprised how much is in that database.”
“Brian and I dated in high school and then last year before he went away, we met for coffee a few times. We were not dating.”
“He looks at you like he wants to date you.” When I glanced in Brian’s direction, he quickly looked away.
“I’m not interested in him.”
“Are you interested in me?” I wanted a straight answer.
“That’s a direct question, counselor.”
“I’m instructing you to answer it.”
“And if I don’t?”
“I’ll have to treat you as a hostile witness.”
“Try me.” She leaned into me, bringing her lips close to my ear. “I might like it.”
“Leave with me right now.” I would find out how far she wanted to take this.
“Where would we go?”
“My house,” My bedroom. “I don’t like the way we left things the other day.”
“I didn’t either,” she admitted. “I regretted not asking you to come here with me tonight. I wanted to but I wasn’t sure you’d want to come with me.”
“I’m here.”
“But now you want to leave?”
“With you.” I took her hand. “Don’t turn me down.”
“I haven’t even made a donation yet.” She looked around the room, probably noticing the attention we had created. “I can’t leave.”
“I’ve already made a sizable donation in your name.” I lifted her chin and gazed into her desire-filled eyes. “There’s nothing left for us to do here.”
“You just got here.”
“I came here for you.” I trailed my lips along her jaw, lowering her resolve with each breath. “Art is waiting for us.”
She turned her head to meet my lips, kissing me softly.
“Will you leave with me?”
She pressed her lips to mine and nodded her answer.
“You won’t regret this.”
SANTINO
Thirty minutes later, we were back at my house. I was surprised how easily she agreed to come with me. She lingered in the foyer, allowing me to take her coat as she gazed around. She glanced up at the high ceilings, taking in the large chandelier that provided a grand view from the outside.
“Your house is spectacular.”
“Thank you but I can’t take any credit. Gianni and Dominick designed the whole thing. Angelique and Nadia decorated it.” I hung her coat in the foyer closet. “All I had to do was move in.”
“I remember you and Vincenzo having a conversation once about how you both loved your high rises in the city and didn’t see yourselves moving here.”
“When I was younger, I thought that but now all of my brothers are back. Three of them are married. My parents and grandmother are here and my nieces.”
“Three now, right?”
“Yes, Gia is Dominick’s daughter and Gianni and Angelique welcomed Sophia and Sadie a few months ago.”
“How sweet.”
“It seemed natural for me to come home too. I like being here. It’s private enough for me to have my own life but I’m close to my family.”
“It’s like having your own private neighborhood.”
“That’s what my father envisioned when he bought the land years ago. He wanted us all here so he could keep us together and safe.”
“You’re all so close. I’m an only child. I have a lot of aunts and uncles and cousins but no siblings. I’ve always been envious of big families.”
“They have advantages.” I liked living here more than I thought I would. It was nice to have someone to talk to and my grandmother was always cooking something, so I never went hungry. “Can I get you anything?”
“Maybe a tour of this spectacular house.”
“Where would you like to start?” I ran the back of my hand along her throat. “Are you still feeling hostile?”
“You make me feel a lot of things I didn’t expect.”
“Such as?” I lowered my hand, caressing the tops of her breasts. Her dress had a plunging neckline that offered me easy access.
“I think you know or you wouldn’t have asked me here.” She stepped closer to me, trailing her lips across my jaw. “Why don’t we start with a tour of your bedroom?”
“First you need to tell me why you were so apprehensive the other day.” I twisted my fingers through her hair. “Why did you let me walk out of Vincenzo office?”
“Does that really matter?” She slipped my tuxedo jacket from my shoulders, causing it to hit the floor. “I’m here now.” Next, she moved to my bowtie, effortlessly undoing it. “Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“I want many things when it comes to you.” I took her hand and guided her up one side of the double staircase that led to the upstairs landing. I stopped under the archway that would bring us to my bedroom. “But before we start something that we can’t stop, I have to know you’re sure you want something between us.”
“You’re the one who has to be sure.” She looked down. “I’m apprehensive because I don’t want another dead-end relationship.”
“What makes you think I’m a dead end?”
“It’s the idea of you. I seem to fall for men like you. I keep thinking the next one will be different.”
“You don’t think I’m different?”
“I don’t know enough about you,” she admitted. “You skipped out on our first date and I have no idea why I’m here but you can’t seem to stay away from me.”
“Can we forget about that first date?” I regretted leaving her at the winery but I had waited years for my father to need me. The timing was unfortunate but I could make it up to her if she gave me another chance. “I’ll prove to you that I’m different.” I opened the door to my bedroom. “Take a chance.”
“You don’t have to prove anything beyond tonight.” She stepped into my room, taking in the king-sized four poster bed. “I don’t want any promises you can’t keep.”
Was she trying to protect herself? Did she think if she didn’t let herself feel with me, she could leave here tonight and forget what we were about to do?
