by Sienna Grant
“I don’t tell you what to do with your life, do I?” When he ignores her, she makes one last ditch attempt to make him see her way… “I’ve been in love with Stefano since I was fifteen-years-old, Angelo.”
He narrows his eyes suspiciously, that made the point she was trying to make. I know he’s trying to gauge if she’s telling the truth. He still doesn’t say anything in reply though, she breathes a loud huff from the frustration I know she’s feeling.
Cradling her head in my hand, I put my lips to her head and whisper against her hair.
“Give me a minute, princess?”
She turns in my arms, nodding. I press my lips to her forehead and a smile lights up her face, then she walks away leaving me and Angelo alone.
As soon as Laura has disappeared from sight, I turn to my best friend.
“Look, the only reason I didn’t tell you earlier was out of the respect I have for you.” I tell him. “Now, you can either stand by and sulk, or you can give us your blessing. Either way, I don’t give a fuck anymore. You’re my best friend Ang, and always will be, but this thing with Laura it’s different - I tried to stay away, I honestly did. I’ve tried to brush it under the carpet, but fuck, as soon as she got hurt the first time - it made me realise just how much I loved her. I couldn’t… wouldn’t, stay away anymore. By keeping her at arm's length, it got her hurt, but not again. It’s not going to happen again.”
Angelo steps closer putting his face near mine, pointing his finger into my chest.
“You may be Stefano Di Marco, but she’s my little sister. If you do anything to hurt her, or if anything happens to her again because of you, I’ll put a fucking bullet in your head myself.”
I hide grin as Angelo stands up to me - I wouldn’t expect anything less from my right-hand man, but I keep my face straight, stern, so he remembers who he’s talking to.
“I hold my hand out to him, he looks at it like it’s a weapon, but takes it anyway and I pull him in towards me. I pat his back in a friendly manner and step away.
“It’s about fucking time you two sorted your shit out.” Roberto states as he passes by us. Angelo raises his finger to his back as he walks away from us, making me smirk.
“I always had a feeling there was something more between you two. Fuck me, why didn’t I see it?” Shaking his head, he walks the same way as Angelo leaving me with my thoughts.
I let him go, but I stay where I am, resting my head back against the wall. When they reopen, Laura is opposite me matching my stance. Fixing my heavy gaze on her as she speaks in a tentative voice.
“Is he still angry?”
I crook a finger and call her to me.
“He’ll get over it, eventually.”
She takes three small steps until she’s in front of me. Shifting the loose hairs from out of her eyes, I stroke the backs of my fingers down the side of her face. Capturing her chin and tipping her head back to look at me.
“Whether he’s still angry or not, I don’t care. I’ve wasted too much time giving a shit already, I don’t need to prove myself to anyone.”
Moulding my lips to hers, I kiss her until her body is melting against me. Settling her hands softly against my stomach, as my fingers thread into her hair, keeping her close. Her big doe eyes stare into mine, practically giving herself to me.
“You need to go downstairs before I can’t keep my hands to myself and I take you here, right against this wall.”
“Promises, promises, Mr Di Marco.” Fixing her gaze on mine, her eyelids drop to half mast, seductively.
Bending slightly at the knees so I’m at Laura’s height, I take her mouth again. While my hands glide down her body, cupping her arse cheeks in my hands and lift her up until we’re at the same level. She throws her arms around my neck and kisses me deeply, a longing kiss, causing my trousers to tighten from the hard on I’m currently sporting. She scrapes her fingernails lightly through the short hair at the back of my head, the sensations coursing through me.
“Are you making bets, Miss Giordano? Because you know I’ll win…” I state pulling away reluctantly, “If I don’t though, I’ll have big brother Angelo up here wanting to chop off my dick.
“I may have to place that bet.” She smirks, dropping her feet down, she guides them to the floor and stands before me.
“See you downstairs.”
She pushes up to her tiptoes, brushing her lips over mine in a small, tender filled kiss. She turns to walk away from me. My gaze dropping to the tight black jeans she’s wearing with a small, but sexy sway of her arse as she goes – and all for my benefit, of course. She slips her small hands into her back pocket, subtly looking back over her shoulder, with a sultry look clouding her gaze. With a small flick of her dark hair, she disappears down the hallway. Little minx.
With a small shake my head, I adjust myself in my trousers and wait a few minutes, before I head downstairs and join the others.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Laura
The minute Stefano walks into his kitchen, my gaze shifts to his. He winks, making me smile. Angelo watches us both closely, from me to Stefano and back again. His arms folded across his chest, looking at me sternly.
“Angelo please chill out. I can look after myself. You weren’t holed up in that dirty, cold room. I had to look after myself then…”
His hardened eyes begin to soften towards me.
“Trust me to look after myself now? I love him. I’ve loved him for a long time. I promise I won’t come between you two.”
“Is that what you think this is all about?”
“It isn’t?”
“No. For fucks sake Laura. He’s my age….”
“Angelo, you’re five years older, it’s nothing. Come back to the twenty-first century, please?”
Dropping my feet from my crossed leg position on the kitchen side, I jump down.
“I maybe your little sister, but at some point, you need to trust me to make my own decisions. If you don’t like it, then you just need to get over it. I really don’t give a shit anymore.”
Conversation in the kitchen has halted, I didn’t realise I was so loud. Still, I’m not apologising for my outburst. Stefano is talking to Logan, but still has a close eye on us.
“Laura?” Angelo calls out agitated. I don’t hang around though, instead I storm away from him. My shoulder brushing past Stefano, as I charge past and seek refuge in the empty living room. With my body tense, full of frustration and temper, I slump down onto the couch. My foot tapping on the floor, a pure sign of agitation. I get that from mum. I hear movement at the door, but I don’t look, I can’t put up with Angelo’s selfish tantrums anymore. I’ve had enough.
That magnetic pull I always feel when Stefano is around doesn’t fail me as I feel Stefano’s eyes on me. I hear the doors closing, so I look up and see him coming towards me, making me sit up straighter. He uses the coffee table as a seat and puts himself in front of me.
“I don’t think that’s for sitting on Mr Di Marco.”
Clasping both of my hands, he tugs me forward until I’m sitting on the edge of the couch. He sweeps the hair from out of my eyes with a sympathetic expression.
“Just give him time….” he sighs.
“Screw him, I don’t care anymore, Stef.”
“Yes, you do. Otherwise you wouldn’t be so angry.”
“No. I don’t. When he realises that I’m an adult and not a child anymore, then he can come to me and apologise. Until then, screw him. He might be my brother, but I’m fucking sick of his constant over protectiveness.”
“Laura... it’s just natural…”
“Maybe so, but I’m sick of him. I could understand if I was going out partying all the time. Constantly pissed and having one-night stands with strangers…”
Stef’s eyes narrow, a certain sign of displeasure on his side.
“But I’m not, I’m with you, and it’s all because he can’t come to terms with us.”
Threading his hand
s into my hair he pulls me forwards, connecting us and halting my rant.
I suddenly forget my train of thought, as Stefano kisses me. My eyes staying closed for a moment longer, enjoying the feel of him on my lips, until he pulls away sooner than I wanted.
“Please, for me, just give him time.”
Nodding in an reluctant agreement, he kisses me again.
“I have to get this sorted out; I’ll try not to be too long.” He tells me as he’s pulling away.
He leaves through the double doors and closes them again after him. Pulling out my phone, I look for Jennah’s number. I need some light, laughter right now. Stefano is talking business and I know it’s about the bastards that kidnapped me, so I leave him to it.
I pull up her name and type out a text…
Hey. You up too much? Fancy coming over to Stefano’s house for some wine? My brother is pissing me off and Stefano is busy.
Yeah, I’ll be over in about ten minutes.
She replies straight away. Smiling, I get up and head back for the kitchen. Stefano watches my every move as I go straight for the wine cooler, pull out a bottle of rosé and two wine glasses.
Stopping me at the doorway, Stefano grips my elbow and softly turns me around to face him.
“You alright now, baby?”
“I’m good.” I answer in a softer tone and smile sweetly; I don’t want him to worry about me. Not while he’s trying to sort out business anyway.
“I’ve asked Jennah to come over, we’re going to watch a DVD, while you’re dealing with business.”
With a happy sigh, he cups my face in his large palms and leans in towards me kissing my forehead softly.
“I won’t be too long. We have a bet remember?” Stefano reminds me with a smirk.
“I know we do, Di Marco, and I’m holding you to it.”
With another quick kiss, he lets me go. I ignore the evils I get from my brother from across the room with a smirk. Taking my wine and the glasses into the living room, I place them down on the table. I hear Stef order Roberto to grab some ice and he follows me in with a bucket. Picking up the bottle, he drops it inside letting it chill my wine. Smiling at Stefano from across the room, he winks at me and shuts the door.
The butterflies in my stomach are already fluttering around, but every time he smiles at me, I think they do somersaults. It makes me want to jump him, right here and now.
The door to the living room opens again ten minutes later. Jennah comes in as large as life and loud as normal.
“I see your hot as fuck brother is here, in fact there’s a house full of them. How does a girl keep her hands to herself?”
“Would you like to say it any louder? Only I don’t think they heard you down the lane.”
“I probably could, shall we try?” She giggles, but as much as I need her ‘don't give a shit attitude’ and her humour tonight - I’m just not in the mood.
“Don’t. I’m not talking to my brother right now. He seriously needs to lighten up. In fact, go for it... it might help and then he’ll forget about me being with Stef.”
Roberto nods at me from the door smirking as he closes it, making me smile back at him and I pour us some wine.
“What up then?” She asks as she sits next to me on the couch.
“Nothing, the guys are having a meeting and I’m on my own. I thought you could come over and watch a DVD with me?”
“Yeah of course.” She picks up her glass and takes a big gulp of her wine… “Or better still give me the juicy gossip on what’s going on with you and sexy club boss.”
“You’re such a nosey bitch.”
“It’s why you love me.” Jennah grins widely.
We both take a sip of wine and get comfy on the couch. She begins to tell me about what’s been going on with her. She seems to be having some problems at home again, but doesn’t really speculate. Jennah’s not her normal self. The loud and bubbly person that came in here earlier on, wasn’t her. It was the disguise I’ve seen her use once too often.
“Anyway, enough about me, how are you doing now?”
“I’m fine. Just like I keep telling everyone.”
“You went through a lot Laur, they’re just worried.”
“I know, but they’re suffocating me wifey.”
Jen gives me a sympathetic look and grabs both of our glasses, handing me mine.
“Drink up.”
We both knock back the remains in the glass and Jen refills our glasses and clinks with mine.
“Salut.” I say to my best friend.
“So, are you actually together now, like everyone knows?”
“Yep. Everyone knows. Angelo isn't happy with us and has made his point repeatedly, but Stefano seems to think he’ll come around. I don’t know what happened with those two, but something did.”
“You mean a fight?”
“I think so...”
“Fuck. Imagine how hot that would’ve been. I wished I’d seen it, I could got between them and helped.”
“You are one dirty bitch and may I remind you that’s my boyfriend you’re talking about.”
“Maybe so, but Angelo is as free as a bird.” Bouncing her eyebrows in a suggestive manner, makes me laugh.
“Pick a DVD.” I order with a shake of my head. She never fails to cheer me up.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Stefano
Looking down at my watch, I notice it’s gone midnight. I promised Laura I wouldn’t be too late tonight. I don’t like leaving her, I know she’s a little fragile right now. It’s not that surprising, considering what she went through.
The door to the living room opens and Jennah pops her head around the door.
“Hey. Laura’s gone to sleep, so I’m going to head off.”
Standing from the barstool I walk over to her.
“Can you let her know for me?”
“Yeah of course.”
I turn to the guys. “I want someone to follow her home. I don’t want her leaving here without an escort.” Roberto steps forward, but Angelo stops him.
“I’ll do it. I need some air anyway.” Giving Laura’s friend a tight smile, Angelo grabs his keys.
“I don’t need following, I’m fine.”
“Maybe so, but it’s late and if something happened after leaving my house, I wouldn’t forgive myself. Angelo will follow you home, no arguments.”
“Oh, if you insist.” Jennah dramatically sighs, “The inconvenience of it all…” She waves a hand around, “Having a sexy Italian man, escort me home... What the hell, you talked me into it.” She grins looking pleased with herself.
Jennah looks admiringly at Angelo.
“Come on trouble, let’s get you home.” Angelo smirks leaving with Laura’s best friend, as she waltzes from the room, shouting her goodbyes.
With a shake of my head and a grin, I watch them leave through the door. The other guys disperse, leaving me and Roberto.
“Is everything okay with Laura and Angelo now?” Roberto asks cautiously.
“Not quite, but it will be. I actually miss sibling arguments. I understand where they’re both coming from, but how do I say to Laura to let him have this. I’d be exactly the same if it was Chrissie…”
“Pfft... she’s lucky, you’d be much worse with Chrissie.” Roberto exclaims laughing.
“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll explain it to her - see if I can make her see it from his point of view.”
“You will. She worships the ground you walk on.”
“Yeah, but that’s not always a good thing.” Roberto eyes me as I go on. “I don’t want her to worship me. I saw enough of that growing up with my parents; I want her to see me as her equal.”
“You’re right, and she does see you as her equal. Your relationship with Laura is nothing like your parents, just so you know. You’re a different person to Lorenzo. You’re a better man.” He pats my shoulder. “Always remember that.”
I watch him walk away, wondering what that’s all
about. His parting statement about me being a better person, leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I shout goodnight to him as he leaves silently and go into the living room. I remove the two empty wine bottles and glasses from the room and leave them on the kitchen side, then head back to Laura.
I lift Laura up into my arms, groaning sleepily and snuggling her cheek into my chest. Then take her upstairs and lie her on the bed, stripping her down to her underwear. Pulling the bedclothes back from beneath her, I place the duvet over her and gently kissing her head.
“I love you.”
Going back down the stairs to get some water, I see Angelo walk through the door. Stopping he looks at me, I do the same by staring him down and standing my ground.
“My office.”
With a heavy huff, he follows me down the hallway, until I reach the hardwood, oak door and go inside.
I sit in my large chair, facing him.
“For what’s it’s worth, I understand where you’re coming from - if it was my sister, I’d probably be worse, but right now I have to support your sister - the woman I’m in love with.”
Angelo looks over at me with hard eyes, sighing.
“I understand that, honestly I do… and as much as I hate it, I can see how much you love each other. It’s just hard to come to terms with it, I suppose. Just so you know, I’m not going to stand in your way. I meant what I said earlier though, don’t hurt her.”
“I have no intentions of hurting her Ang. That woman is my life.”
“Good. I really didn’t want to choose between family and my best friend.”
“I would never ask that.” Standing from my chair, I hold out my hand to Angelo.
“Shall we call a truce? I could really do with my right-hand man on my side.”
Angelo claps his hand with mine, “Truce. I’ll smooth things over in the morning with Laura.”
“Please do, it’s upsetting her. I know she struggling with recent events, more than what she’s making out. She just thinks she has to be strong.”
“That’s my sister. Strong for everyone else, but herself.”
