Chapter 32
EMILIO
Was it crossing the line? Sure. But this is who I am.
If you think you can mess with me, then you have another thing coming for you.
My blood boiled when I saw the video. What was Bethany thinking?
Despite the distasteful act, the real issue is why the hell it bothered me so much.
Never in all these years did I inappropriately look at Bethany—after all, I met her when she was just ten years old. When did it all change?
“Was she here the whole time?” Rachel asked, embarrassed as she wiped my cum off her chest with the cover on the bed.
“She walked in and then ran out,” I lied.
Using Rachel to teach Bethany a lesson was a low blow, I know.
I wanted Bethany to feel the pang of pain and then some after I watched only a few seconds of the video.
I could almost forgive her for filming that video on my phone.
I knew why she did it. When she appeared at my place last night, right when Grace left, the heartbreak was written all over her face.
She cried most of the time after putting her into my bed; I only knew that because I sat listening at the door on the other side the entire night.
Part of me wanted to console her and tell her it wasn’t what it looked like.
Grace didn’t come over to hook up; she was getting something done for me.
But it was better that Bethany had a taste of reality. I knew she was catching feelings. Things were getting too serious, and she needed to understand that I couldn’t offer more than what this was. And our fling couldn’t be anything more than just that.
“Luca!” the sound of Bethany’s voice filled the foyer. “I’m back!”
She returned as a new college graduate. Being gone for four years didn’t seem like much, but when she came into view, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
She walked wearing a short yellow summer dress and wedges, her hair freshly done and looking completely different from the last time I saw her.
Then she was a child, and now before me stood a beautiful woman.
“He will be back soon,” I said. “Congratulations on graduating.”
“Thanks, Emilio,” she smiled. “I’ll go hang out with Antonio until he gets back.”
Watching her walk away, I had to shake the naughty images in my mind. Then I notice Alfie standing beside me.
“Stop drooling!” I smack Alfie behind the head.
“Who is that?” he asked, staring.
“Bethany. The youngest DeCarlo,” I replied. “Do I need to say she’s off limits, or do you want to learn the hard way?”
“She’s hot.” Alfie flinched when I raised my hand to him, “But I won’t touch! Promise.”
“Good.”
As the last firework was shot, we joined everyone back on the boat’s deck.
Everyone was enjoying the show. Scanning the deck, I noticed Bethany and that preppy douche off to the side talking.
She was flirting with him, and he was loving it.
I found myself in front of them, and with a smile, I pushed the jerkoff over the railing and watched him fall into the water.
“Emilio!” Bethany shouted in disbelief.
“You think I was joking, sweetheart?”
I could tell she was pissed, but the sound of the jerkoff splashing into the water and Bethany’s reaction caused others to approach us.
“What’s going on?” Luca questioned.
“He just tossed Hamilton overboard!”
Everyone looks into the water to see the jerkoff whaling his arms and legs to stay afloat. Alfie throws him a life vest.
“What did he do?” Luca asked me.
I look to Bethany who was even more pissed off. She hated how her brother would disregard her.
“He made some wise-ass remark,” I replied.
He turns to Bethany, “I guess he needs to get accustomed to how we do things around here.”
I loved when she rolled her eyes. Watching the emerald-colored eyes disappear and trace back again did something to me.
Turning to me, Luca nodded for me to follow. As we walked to the other side of the secluded boat, Luca leaned on the railing, looking out into the water. For some reason, the river gave him a sense of peace and clarity.
“This can be good,” Luca said. “Bethany and the Branton kid.”
“The kid’s an idiot,” I replied. “Casper was better.”
Luca laughed, “You’re the one who found out he was sexualizing her around Chicago, but now he’s better than this kid?”
“I also told you Gabe Appollo was a bad trade. You still don’t trust my gut?”
“Gabe was different. I had to. And I know you're upset about not being in the know, but trust me, it’s better that way.”
I didn’t argue or hold a grudge anymore over it.
That night at the club, when he agreed to the terms of the Appollo brothers without my two cents, he insulted me.
Maybe that’s why I gave in to Bethany’s advances.
The morning Bethany was told who Alfie was, I just happened to be sneaking out at the exact same time and overheard it.
I understood why Luca felt the need to keep it a secret but to know he didn’t trust me with it pinched a nerve.
In private, Luca didn’t mind being more casual when we spoke to each other.
Part of him wants to think we can be friends.
After all, men like him don’t have any. They can’t.
Part of me believes we are friends even though being his Consigliere will always come first. I respected Luca for several reasons.
He clawed his way to the top without caring about anything or anyone.
But he wasn’t able to get there without me.
We were a team, and we held respect for each other and a lasting loyalty.
Because of that, it killed me that I wanted Bethany, knowing each time I thought of her naked was an insult to Luca as a friend and as my boss.
“You never told me who pulled the trigger on him.”
I smirk, “And you never will.”
Luca didn’t know it was Giovanni Pancelli, from the Cassariano Family, who did it for several reasons.
In this lifestyle, if someone gets in trouble with law enforcement and is put on the stand during trial, the less you know, the better.
You can’t lie if you don’t know the truth.
Luca would be livid if he found out who did the deed, but I knew he’d never push to find out.
Giovanni owed me for convincing Luca to keep Aria in Chicago.
I used that favor to save Bethany from the disastrous choice of a wedding.
There was no regret in helping Bethany but it wasn’t like me to use a favor like that to help someone else.
“Have you heard from the blonde?” Luca asked. “How is Aria taking the raid?”
I furrowed my brows, “As any female would, but she’s hanging in there.”
“She is coming back?”
“I don’t think she should. You know she will be watched like a hawk. We don’t need law enforcement on us.”
We were secure in our city and had a few federal connections, but not enough to make me feel good about housing a Cassariano under watch.
“I don’t care,” Luca replied, “Get her here and find a way to keep her here.”
I huffed, “Give it to me straight, Luca. You have feelings for her?”
He didn’t have to say a word; I read it in his eyes when he turned to look at me. I simply nodded in acknowledgment. Great. Now I have something else to worry about.
How the hell is a Cassariano and a DeCarlo going to make it work?