“I wasn’t asking you, Luca.” I winced. I knew he kept calling me Luca to prove a point.
To his credit, Geno didn’t back down. He walked over to Dad with his hand stretched out. “I’m Geno Rivera,” he answered. “I’m a friend of Ria’s.”
Dad took his hand, shook the hell out of it, and stepped back. “A friend?”
“Dad, we met a couple of months ago at The Emerald, and-”
“A couple of months ago?” he asked, interrupting me, and it took everything I had not to whither underneath his scrutiny. Two months was nowhere near enough time to know someone enough to invite them over. I knew this.
“Dad-”
He turned back towards Geno. “Look, I’m sure you’re a great guy,” he said flippantly. “But I need to have a talk with my daughter.”
Geno threw his hands up in surrender. “Say no more,” he replied. “I understand.”
Dad pulled out his phone, and ten seconds later, Mica was walking through the door and escorting Geno out of my apartment. Geno said he’d call me later, but it sounded uncomfortable and strained.
As soon as the door shut, I turned on my dad. “Seriously?!”
His brows shot up. “Are you kidding me, right now?” he snapped back. “Who is this guy, Ria? Why would you invite someone you barely know to your goddamn apartment?”
“I like him, Dad,” I told him. “He’s really nice, and…and he seems like he’d be okay with this life.”
Dad’s head reared back, and, for a split-second, he looked panicked. “You like him?”
“Why’s that so shocking?” I asked. “You’re acting like I’ve never like a guy before.”
“Ria, you’re young and you’re beautiful,” he said. “I’ve never had an issue with you dating because I knew you would one day. But dating and inviting a guy here are two different things.”
My shoulders fell, and all the tension left my body. My dad might be…a bit much, but I knew he loved me and wanted me happy. “Dad, sooner or later, someone’s going to have to make the cut,” I told him. “I want a husband and children, eventually. I can’t get that with just casual dating.”
His head dropped back, and he looked like he was praying to my ceiling.
“Dad...” He looked back down at me. His eyes were serious and full of something I couldn’t name. It worried me a bit.
Finally, he said, “Ria, do me a favor.” He didn’t wait for me to agree. He knew I would. If my dad asked something of me, it was always for a good reason. And, at least, he wasn’t call me Luca anymore. “Don’t invite that boy over here again.”
“But Dad-”
“Here me out,” he said. “I just…he can’t come back here, Ria. Not right now.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. “Why? What aren’t you telling me?”
“I’m just reminding you that you know better, Ria,” he replied. “You know better.”
I knew there was more than what he was saying, but he was also right. I did know better. “What if Uncle Sal does a full background?”
He smirked, his arrogance showing. “He’s already doing that.”
I rolled my eyes. “And if it comes back clean?”
“We’ll discuss it then,” he said, and I knew that was the end of it. My father might dote on me, but he didn’t play around with my safety. And that was the only thing that was going to save whichever lobby guard snitched on me.
Chapter 6
Francisco~
Nothing was working.
I’ve been pushing myself in my home gym for two hours, and I was still feeling ill-at-ease. I felt like my insides were trying to rip through my skin, and I’ve never felt this way before. However, I knew the cause of my unrest.
Saveria.
Since I was twelve-years-old and I got my first stiff dick, I’ve known that she was meant for me. When I started becoming interested in girls, Dad had pulled me aside and told me I had permission to pursue females and find pleasure in their company, but I was committed to Luca (as he always calls her). He also hammered home that I had better be extremely careful about what I did because if an unexpected pregnancy became the result of all my fucking around, he’d give Saveria to Sal Jr.
That threat has stayed with me every day since.
Saveria and I have always been close. We were the same age and grew up in each other’s pockets. It wasn’t hard to fall in love with her. She was easy to love. Even if her looks were what they were, Saveria was…amazing. She inherited all the grace of our mothers and all the strength of our fathers. Saveria was a born leader, and she truly was regal.
The decree that I allow her time to grow and become her own woman had become harder, and harder to honor as we’d gotten older. The more beautiful she became, the harder it was to control my dick. And the more independent she became, the harder it was to control my inner caveman.
The first time I heard she’d gone out on a date, I had to be restrained by my father, Uncle Phoenix, and Uncle Ciro. Aunt Frankie had to jump in when it became clear that they had needed more firepower. Aunt Frankie had ripped me a new one when she announced she knew I wasn’t a virgin, and she wasn’t about to let her daughter marry a chauvinistic hypocrite.
That had shut me up.
But then, only the threat of keeping Saveria from me could.
It took them five hours to convince me to see it from a grownup point of view, and not that of a hotheaded teenager.
Because it was an arrangement, they had wanted us to both experience enough life to not end up resenting each other later in life. Basically, they wanted us to have time to sow our wild oats before committing to a lifetime together. Because that’s what it would be.
A lifetime.
And like a true insecure male, I only fucked around whenever Saveria went out on a date or had a new boyfriend. It didn’t matter that they were never serious. Another man was kissing and touching the girl who was meant for me, and me alone. Maturity had dulled the sting, but not by much.
When I had taken her at the funhouse and discovered she had still been a virgin, the caveman had come out, and it had been him fucking her into oblivion against the wall that night. Being forced to stand by and watch her date random motherfuckers, but knowing she’d never given it up had convinced me that she really had been meant for me.
For the girl to let me take her virginity, up against a wall, after killing a man, who else could she be meant for, but me?
My only regret was letting our parents convince me to wait all these years later to make her officially mine. After being inside Saveria that night, there had no longer any satisfaction in any sexual encounters after that. They’d all become biological releases, and it just hadn't been the same as being inside Luca Saveria Fiore.
I dropped the weights and sat up, my chest heaving, my body sweaty. I grabbed my water and drank, debating the best way to break the news to her. She was going to be pissed, no doubt, but I refused to settle for less than what my parents had. What all our parents had.
I knew Saveria, and I knew she was going to feel cornered. Not only was she going to have to marry me, she’d have to move in with me. My building had the same setup as Kratos, only not as many stories. My building had only four stories, with my penthouse taking up the entire top floor. The remaining three floors were made up of two apartments, the third-floor housing Cira and her guard, the second-floor housing Camilla and her guard, and the first-floor housing Vincent and his guard.
There were four Benetti buildings that housed our generation, but none of the girls occupied the first floor. You’d have to get through our men to get to our women.
My head turned at the sound of footsteps entering the gym. While, Uncle Phoenix and Uncle Ciro had access to my penthouse, only one man walked in without knocking. Sure, Mom, Aunt Frankie, and Aunt Remy had access, too, but they never showed up unannounced. They tried really hard to treat me like a grown man. It wasn’t a good look for the Benetti heir to be smother-mothered.
“We need to talk,” Dad said, not bothering with pleasantries.
My brows shot up, but then I nodded towards the butterfly weight set for him to take a seat. “What’s up?”
Dad leaned forward, placed his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands together, and I knew that pose. I’ve seen it a million times. It was his shit-is-serious pose. If he was here to tell me I had to wait some more before claiming Saveria, I was going to lose my shit.
“I’m going to need you to remain calm-”
I stood up. “What?” I demanded.
Dad let out a slow breath but stood as well. “Phoenix just came from Luca’s apartment where she’d been…entertaining a friend,” he said, and my entire body locked the fuck up.
I felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest. I felt like my muscles were too tight for my body. “She had a guy are her place?”
It was unheard of. We all knew the rules. You didn’t just invite anyone to your place. Not only did you endanger yourself with allowing someone that kind of access, but you endangered everyone else in that building. If Saveria had a guy in her apartment, that meant she really liked him.
“Yes.”
The water bottle went flying across the room.
“Are you fucking kidding me?!” I raged. I started pacing, my heart racing at the implications of what he just told him.
“Franc-”
“No, Dad,” I snapped, one of the very few times in my life when I’ve treated him like my father only and not Luca Benetti. “First, I have to tell her she’s been betrothed to me since we were fucking kids, and now I have to tell her just as she’s seriously interested in someone else?” I shook my head, and my laugh was dark and hollow. “You guys fucked me, Dad. Well and truly fucked me.” Then I realized they hadn’t. “No. That’s not true,” I amended, shaking my head. “I fucked myself when I listened to you guys. I knew better, Dad. I knew fucking better than to wait, and I let you guys decide for me anyway.”
“Francisco, I know this feels…challenging, but-”
I stopped in front of him. “Challenging?!” I thundered. “Saveria is going to hate me, Dad!” My rage must be taking over common sense for me to be yelling at my father this way, but everything I thought Saveria and I would have was being threatened right now. “She’s going to fucking hate me, Dad. Do you understand that? The girl I’m supposed to marry and the only girl I have ever fucking loved is going to hate me. What in the hell am I supposed to do with that?”
“Luca will be upset, undoubtedly, but once she calms down-”
I scoffed.
Oh, the fucking irony.
“Calms down, Dad?” I huffed out humorlessly. “Saveria is not Mom, Aunt Frankie, or Aunt Robbie. She’s not some girl who’s going to rant and rave and then be fucking placated by her love for me.” It was getting hard to breathe with reality’s foot firmly planted on my chest. “You’ve been grooming that girl to lead with me over the entire Benetti Family since the day she was fucking born,” I reminded him. “If she’d been born a Benetti, she would have become the Underboss and you well know it. Where Cira would never stand a chance, I know what Saveria is capable of, and I know if anyone has what it takes to take this family to the next level, it’s her. And you think someone that…willful, that intelligent, that strong is going to calm down?” I shook my head. “She’s going to hate me for taking away her choices, and you know it.”
My dad pierced me with his black eyes. “Are you backing out?”
I snarled but stepped back. I was crossing lines and I didn’t want to cross another one by coming to blows with my father. “Never,” I bit out. “Saveria is mine. I won’t let her go, even if she does end up hating me.” Dad gave me a sharp nod. I knew it was the answer he wanted. “But you guys have sentenced us to a miserable marriage with your faulty guidance.”
“Now, Fran-”
“No, Dad, don’t try to defend this away,” I said, cutting him off. “You guys might not have spoiled Saveria, but you guys rearranged whatever you could to make sure she was happy. By giving her all that unnecessary freedom, she’s going to spend the rest of her life miserable, making me miserable as well.”
He didn’t argue with any of it, but I suspected it was because he knew I wasn’t in a place to listen. Instead, he said, “You need to tell her first thing tomorrow.”
My entire body was vibrating with unspent anger. “And the guy?” I did my best to focus on what I could control. Saveria’s emotions couldn’t be controlled. Hell, no woman’s emotions could be controlled.
“Phoenix already sent Sal his information for a complete background check.”
Now I was getting pissed for another reason. “How in the fuck did he make it into her apartment without a background?”
“Mica did a preliminary, then another one the first time he’d visited.”
My blood felt like it was frozen inside my body. “He’s been over more than once?” I asked, my voice low and controlled.
Dad nodded. “Once before tonight,” he confirmed.
It took everything I had not to storm over to her building and lose my shit on her, but I knew I wasn’t in the right head space to go over there.
We’d kill each other.
I looked at my dad. “I’ll go over first thing tomorrow.” He nodded. “And when she storms the castle, remember your promise.”
“Of course,” he replied coolly.
Fuck.
Chapter 7
Saveria~
Last night sucked.
After my dad left, I put the pizza away, and walked down to Mattia’s apartment. I told her everything and guilt was heavy when I came back to my apartment. Not sure if it was because she was the oldest girl, but her lecture-game was spot on.
She ignored my defense and pointed out that I knew better. I knew better than to bring someone I hardly knew to a Benetti building. Mattia told me that, while I might not be spoiled like Cira, I had been being selfish with the stunt I pulled. I tossed and turned all night, knowing I owed Dad and everyone else an apology.
It felt worse when I acknowledged that I hadn’t even broken the rules for someone I really liked. Yeah, Geno was a great guy, and I was hoping we could develop into something more, but it was mostly because he seemed compatible. Not because I had this burning desire to tear his clothes off whenever I saw him. Geno’s attraction stemmed from finally being ready to come home to someone at the end of the day. I wanted that, and I was hoping Geno would be a good candidate.
Did I wish I could have a love like my parents? Sure. Who didn’t? But my parents have been in love with each other since they were in daycare, for Christ’s sake. That’s not shit you found just around any corner. Even with as much as Uncle Ciro loved Aunt Robbie, and Uncle Luca loved Aunt Remy, no one could deny that my parents’ love story was, hands-down, the thing of fairy tales.
After I ate breakfast, I jumped in the shower, knowing I was going to have to go apologize to Dad. It sucked, but, if there was anything Uncle Luca has taught me, it’s that you apologize and admit your transgressions face-to-face. Only a coward apologized behind the phone. If you wronged someone enough that they deserved your apology, then they deserved it in person.
I’d just finished blow-drying my hair when there was a knock on my front door. Thinking it was Mattia here to make sure I was going to grovel properly, I went to answer the door in just the oversized t-shirt I had thrown on while I did my hair and makeup. When I checked the peephole, though, it wasn’t Mattia.
It was Francisco.
“Open up, Fiore,” he said.
I knew I should probably go throw on some pants, but it was Francisco. My attire wouldn’t faze him at all. I swung the door open, and my eyes narrowed. “What are you doing here, Benetti?”
His eyes ran down the length of my body, and I had to keep from shivering. When his black gaze traveled back up to my face, he asked, “Do you always answer the door like that?”
I cocked my head. “
I was getting ready,” I replied tartly. “I’m on my way to Dad’s.” He jerked his head for me to get out of the way. I did and shut the door once he was inside.
“What are you doing here?” I asked again once he turned around to face me again.
“Geno Rivera,” he said, and the air left my lungs.
Goddamn it, Dad!
I slapped my hands on my hips. “Are you serious?” I cried. “Did my dad really send you over here to lecture me?” I didn’t give him time to answer. “Well, save your breath. Mattia already gave me the what for, and I was on my way over to apologize to everyone for…my lack of judgment where our safety is concerned.”
“I’m not here to lecture you about unwelcomed guests,” he replied.
Okay.
Now, I was confused.
“Then what about him?”
“Who is he?”
I rolled my eyes, dropped my defensive stance, and walked over to lean against the back of the couch. “I met him a couple of months ago at The Emerald.” I shrugged a shoulder. “He’s cool.”
Francisco arched a brow. “Cool enough to invite him over, apparently,” he remarked.
“I said I was going to apologize,” I repeated through clenched teeth.
Francisco stepped towards me, and he didn’t stop until our toes were almost touching. My body shivered and it wasn’t a good kind of shiver. Francisco was setting off violent vibes and that wasn’t a good thing. He was very much like his father in the fact that he exercised control over his emotions remarkably. If he was upset, it was probably because he’d been ordered to kill a man whose only mistake was befriending me, not knowing any better.
“Bene-”
“You’re not allowed to see him anymore, Fiore,” he said, surprising me.
“What?” I mean, I knew he wouldn’t be able to come over anymore, but to stop seeing him altogether? “Why?”
The Vatican: (Standalone) (The Holy Trinity Series Book 5) Page 4
