Chapter 34
Thirty-Four
NICO
The moment of reckoning arrives. As I stand holding Regina’s hand, the helicopters swirl overhead announcing our guest’s arrival.
The Bendettis always did like to make a statement, and they travel with an impressive entourage.
There are only two people I should be concerned about, though.
The man himself and his vicious daughter Desiree.
Never was a name more unsuited because she is a woman who holds no power of attraction.
She believes she is beautiful—she is not.
Her cold, angry eyes and thin, cruel mouth deflect any notion of beauty as the evil shines out from within.
Vito is cruel, conniving and unfit. Fine living and no exercise does that to a man.
My father has always maintained his physique and encouraged his family to do the same.
As the helicopters touch down, we are waiting at the entrance where our guests will arrive, escorted by our guards.
My brothers are bored, my mother resigned and the only person here who is happy about the invasion is my father who relishes time with his friend, so they can bemoan the fact the old ways are not as effective anymore over several glasses of bourbon and an entire cabinet of cigars.
It was up to me to entertain his daughter, but I’m hoping Simeon will endure that particular challenge.
Mom will have her hands full with Katrina, Vito’s latest girlfriend, of whom there have been many.
He likes them young, blonde and enhanced, and Katrina is no different.
She is his puppet, just how he likes them, and as soon as he gets bored with his latest obsession, he moves on to the next.
Regina is silent as we watch our guests alight from the helicopters. Desiree and Katrina wrapped in fur from Russia, large dark sunglasses covering their eyes as they head toward the house apart because it’s common knowledge that Desiree can’t stand Vito’s girlfriends.
My father steps forward with my mother to greet them as they enter the house, and hugs his friend while Mom smiles politely at our female guests.
As Desiree removes her shades, her eagle eyes connect with mine, and I sigh inside.
She doesn’t take long to register Regina’s hand in mine, and her eyes narrow to slits as she frowns.
Regina grasps my hand tightly, and I bend my lips to her ear and whisper, “Breathe, baby girl. They are not in your league, so remember that.”
She smiles up at me, but I detect the worry in her eyes, and more to prove a point than anything, I kiss her softly on the lips.
When my gaze directs to our guests, the tight fury in Desiree’s expression gives me a moment’s pleasure.
I never warmed to that woman, despite the many occasions we were paired up at family gatherings. She always made it obvious that she considered me hers, and this will be like a slap in the face.
My father says loudly, “Come, Vito, we have much to catch up on.”
Vito’s smile is as wide as this island as he nods to us all in turn and completely ignores Regina.
Women have no respect in his world; they never have.
Even Desiree is a nuisance waiting to be offloaded to another man, and his sigh of resignation as he passes us tells me he’s probably already calculating the next in line for his daughter.
He won’t care who she marries, just that she does and leaves his care, allowing him to carry on with his spurious life.
He is of the old school. Men who believe it is their right to control women, their employees, and anyone who scurries into their path. He has no regard for emotion, feelings, or other people’s lives and, like my father when he speaks, he expects to be listened to.
They head off to my father’s den, where I’m assured they will remain for the next couple of hours at least.
Mom is chatting to Katrina and I must admire her social skills because conversation with a Barbie doll must be as dull as a foggy day in Manhattan.
I notice Simeon making a swift exit, and my heart sinks.
Desiree stops before us and smiles at me, her eyes flashing as she whispers huskily, “It’s good to see you, Nico.”
She completely ignores Regina, who is having none of that.
“Hi, I’m Regina. Welcome, you must be tired after your trip. Can I offer you a coffee, tea, or something stronger?”
Desiree sneers. “Who are you, the maid?”
Regina stiffens beside me, and I lift her hand where the diamond rests heavy on her finger and say with satisfaction, “No, allow me to introduce you to my fiancée, soon to be my wife.”
Desiree’s lip curls as she stares with contempt at the ring, and her voice is low as she snarls, “Does my father know?”
“He soon will.”
I kiss Regina’s hand and then face Desiree with a hard glare. “So, you will respect my future wife and accept that she is only being polite. A lesson in manners is obviously something you could use, so perhaps you should thank her for her offer rather than dismissing it out of hand.”
I note my brother Julius smirking as he leans against the door and luckily saves the day as he shifts off and approaches us.
“Desiree.” His husky voice cuts through the tension as she turns and faces him.
“Come, I will show you to your suite of rooms.”
I thank God for my brother, who is stepping up for once. If anything, that surprises me because Julius isn’t usually so caring, and as he passes, he whispers, “You owe me one.”
They leave, and Regina whispers, “I can see how much you need my help now. What a nightmare, I feel sorry for you.”
“I don’t.”
I face her with a smile. “I have you, which makes me the luckiest man here. Thank God for chance encounters and quick thinking.”
“Thank God.”
She smiles sweetly, and for some reason I forget to breathe. Regina really is the most beautiful soul I have ever met. It’s an undeniable attraction for a man who buys everything he wants, but you can’t buy this.
Not a woman like Regina and if I am to keep her, I must use all of my cunning. She will only agree to my demands if I put her happiness first and for a man who detests failure, it’s up to me to give her every reason to stay.