Chapter 18
Alessandro
22 Days Until The Wedding
D inner the other night changed Luci and my relationship. Originally, it was meant to be a way for Luci to see me as her future husband instead of her captor. Since then, Luci has let herself relax around me, showing me what an amazing woman she is. I don’t miss the times she remembers the predicament she’s in and hesitates, wondering if it’s okay to enjoy herself.
Geno gets into town later today, but before that, I have a few plans for Luci. I’m finishing up arrangements for her when I hear footsteps coming my way. The way she walks is as distinct as everything about her—soft and with a steady rhythm.
She knocks twice on the door, walking over to sit in the chair across from me. My heart skips at how she’s glowing. She’s wearing a basic white long-sleeve shirt with a short black skirt that curves around her luxurious hips. “You wanted to see me?”
“Yes, I did. Come here.” She stands, walking over to the other side of my desk. I pull her close to me. Her floral perfume wafts my way when she wraps her arms around my neck. “How did you sleep?”
She takes her nails through the back of my hair, gently scratching at my scalp. “Good, but you’re never there when I wake up.”
“I have work to do and it’s best to start my day early.” I take her left hand, laying a kiss on her ring. “Geno is coming into town later today and there’s a lot to get done. In the meantime, I have a surprise for you.”
Curiosity materializes on her face with the raise of her eyebrows. “El is coming over to have what she calls a girls’ day. She wouldn’t tell me what that entails, only to make sure there are plenty of mimosas and snacks. I got the bedroom you destroyed cleaned up for the two of you. While you’re doing that, I’ll make sure everything is ready for Geno and our lunch tomorrow.”
The mention of lunch with her family makes her bright expression flip, reminding her of why she’s here in the first place. “You know my family won’t react well to this. I know that’s your intention, but there’s no way there won’t be drama tomorrow, and it makes me nervous.”
I tilt her chin to face me as I kiss her. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll deal with it. In the meantime, enjoy today and put it out of your head. Si?” Luci nods her head, giving me a small smile, and my heart skips a beat. Fuck, she’s breathtaking. “El should be here soon. Go wait for her with Enzo and I will see you later.” Her orange blossom and jasmine scent lingers even after she leaves the room just in time to hear El’s signature voice enter the house.
El and Luci have turned her old bedroom into a place to have girls’ day. The live feed shows that it includes drinking, nails, and El getting overly curious about our sex life, while surprisingly avoiding questions about her own because ‘today isn’t about her.’
Suddenly, my phone rings, notifying me that Geno has landed. “Mio nipote, be ready for me in thirty minutes and make sure your men know. I’ll be extremely disappointed if we have a repeat of last time.” I’m reminded of when he was in town last and we needed to clean up a body. A new security member refused to let him on the property when he arrived and I wasn’t home. If he had let Domenico pick him up instead of insisting on driving himself, that wouldn’t have happened.
Thirty minutes later, Geno walks through the front door, talking business on the phone before he yells for me. “Alessandro! Where are you, boy?” He appears in the doorway of my office, smiling and sitting himself down across from me. “Being engaged agrees with you, or shall I say, having a woman in your bed agrees with you. How is Luciana? I remember Stella being a little too agreeable, suspiciously so, and with reason. The apple and the tree metaphor, you know?”
“Luci is fine. She’s upstairs with her stylist having a girls’ day before tomorrow.” A small smile crosses my face, thinking of how Luci looked through the camera with El.
Geno studies me, always knowing what I’m feeling even before I know. “You’re falling for her. Remember what’s at stake here, Alessandro. You can’t get soft.”
“I know what’s at stake. I’ve done exactly what you’ve asked of me and I will continue that tomorrow. Aldo is suspicious that Luci never mentioned a boy. I’m expecting a fight once they realize what’s happening, but everything is planned to keep her here. It won’t be a problem.”
Later, Geno, Marco, and I are sitting in the living room, drinks in hand when El and Luci come downstairs. El almost stumbles over herself when she notices Marco, purposefully avoiding eye contact with him before saying her goodbyes and leaves. I give Marco a suspicious glance as he gives me a subtle shake of his head. Before I can dig deeper into it, Geno interrupts my thoughts, introducing himself to Luci.
“Luciana, bella ragazza, it’s wonderful to meet you. I can tell you’re Stella’s granddaughter. I’m eager to see her tomorrow.” She’s uncomfortable as Geno stands to kiss both cheeks and I can sense that things are going to change and that fight is going to come back.
Geno’s right. I can’t go soft on her. I have to collect on this debt.