Chapter 19 Benjamin
Benjamin
I was right. Cielo turning up out of the blue with a bag full of scrumptious food has made the night perfect—also, confounding. I just can’t get a handle on him and it’s messing with my head.
My mum’s warning is rattling around my noggin, telling me to eat my food and go to bed.
He’s a criminal no matter how I cut it. Nothing he does or says changes that, and yet, I’ve not followed anyone’s advice and eaten and gone to bed.
Instead, I’ve opened my trap and blurted out my innermost thoughts.
“What do you want to know?” he says.
Um, everything? But I don’t want to come across as too eager.
I set my own cutlery down. “Lorenzo raised you, I guess?”
“He did. My parents were killed by a rival family and he took me in.”
I knew it was something along those lines.
“And so, what? He trained you to be…this?” I don’t know how to describe him. “Evil mobster” doesn’t sound right, but I know he’s far from innocent.
He taps the end of a finger to his chin. “Okay, Benjamin, I’ll tell you my sad little story and you can decide if I’m worth your time.”
Oh, that was ice cold.
Shaking my head, I reach over and lay my hand over his. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean… You are worth my time, Cielo.” And he is. I know it.
“This is the only world I’ve ever known, Benjamin.
Believe it or not, Lorenzo did everything in his power to change how the family did business, but we are rooted in decades worth of tradition and it takes time.
You may not agree with this,” he says, brandishing his arms wide, “but do not be foolish enough to think we are the only bad guys. It’s not so black and white.
Do you know how many law enforcement officials, politicians, and heads of state are involved in our line of work?
They just don’t openly call themselves mobsters.
We live in a world of dog-eat-dog. Maybe you should open your eyes and see the grey areas before you so easily judge me or Lorenzo—but I digress, Lorenzo loved me and cared for me, not with the sole purpose of raising me to be a criminal, as you so love to phrase it.
He was the parent I needed, in the only way he knew how.
I’m naturally gifted with numbers, so it was natural for me to fall into the business side of things as I got older.
I wanted, and want, to make sure the family is secure. I owe the Fusaro name everything.”
Fiddling with my knife, I look at him with a new purpose.
He’s right. I’ve judged him harshly. And rightly so in the beginning, but now, I’m seeing a different side of his life.
Since being here, I haven’t once seen or heard anything that is tantamount to brutal behaviour, which I absolutely thought would be the case.
In Criminal Casanova, the family are out busting knees and cracking heads every night. The only thing happening here is a lot of hard work, mainly from the field pickers, and Cielo in his office.
“I know it… I don’t… Okay, yes, I’ve judged you, but when we first met, I think you’ll agree it wasn’t the best first impression.”
He grins. “I’ll give you that. I came in far too strong.
And I won’t lie. There have been times I’ve had to be the man you met that day.
But not everyone is as innocent as you, Benjamin.
The world is cruel. I’ve had to play the bastard to keep myself safe.
Also,” he shrugs, “I do like the rush. Being that powerful is an addiction. No point denying it.”
I need to choose my words carefully because I don’t want him to clam up. “But you’ve…you’ve hurt people before?”
He nods. “Yes. But I can promise you this: None of them were innocent. Some were cruel and I’ll admit I enjoyed it at times.
Those reasons may not excuse it in your eyes, but as I said, things are never black and white.
Spilling blood meant I’d earned my way to where I am now.
Growing up, reaching the head of the family was my only goal. I didn’t have anything else.”
“Okay. Do you…do you sell drugs?”
“No, never.” He sighed. “Okay, I’m going to tell you something that could potentially get me killed.”
“No!”
He holds up his hands. “You need to understand how this works, Benjamin, if you want your questions answered.” He waits until I gesture for him to continue.
“There are several families that make up the Mafiosi. Each family has a different stream of income. Drugs, guns, protection, and theft. The Fusaro family had their finger in the drug business at one point, but Lorenzo’s father stopped it after a while.
It’s too volatile and messy. A pact was made between the families.
It ensured there would be no turf wars or encroachment on each other’s businesses.
A refined way to live The Life, one far different from the Mafiosi of old. ”
Blimey, I feel like I should be taking notes.
“When I began to run the businesses here, I chose to focus on our legitimate sources of income. Times are changing and it won’t be long before the law catches up to families like ours, no matter how many people we pay off.
Because, Benjamin, there will always be a bigger fish out there, and they will come for us when it’s advantageous for them.
So I’ve built up a Fusaro empire that is beyond reproach.
That being said, we still have one line of income that is less than legal. ”
“What is it?” Do I want to know? Does it make me an accessory?
“Art theft and forgery. We steal from the wealthy, only to sell it back to them.”
Huh, okay, as far as crimes go, it’s not so bad.
You’re making excuses because you like Cielo!
Looking into his eyes, I can’t lie to myself; I do like him. He’s gorgeous and mysterious. Not so much now, but he’ll always hold that air of forbidden fruit that tempts me so.
“That was a lot. Sorry, I don’t know what to say now.”
He starts eating and I see his walls rise again. “Nothing for you to say. I just hope I’ve shone a light on things you were finding difficult to understand.”
“Thanks. You didn’t owe me that. But I appreciate it, and it helps me see these different sides to you more clearly.”
We fall silent and finish our meal. I’m not sure what I want to happen next. I don’t want the evening to end, but what am I hoping to get out of it if it continues?
Cielo clears the dishes and wipes the counter. He’s totally at home and happy here. It was the reason I asked him who he is. The second he took his hair down, it was like this other persona slotted into place and he became a man at home, enjoying a meal. It was all so normal.
It’s this side of him that has my heart racing as he moves around the kitchen.
Sure, the bad boy vibe is hot, but that kind of thrill only leads to getting burned.
This Cielo is so much more appealing. He’s softer, and he’s beautiful.
His eyes take on a glow that is so often missing when he’s in boss mode.
Maybe that’s what leads me to reach out and take him by the wrist as he goes to walk past me.
His skin is soft against my fingertips. I watch in trepidation as he stops and turns his head to me.
I haven’t got the answer to his earlier question.
I don’t know what I want, but my mouth opens before my brain engages.
“I don’t think you’re a baddie, Cielo.”
“No? So who do you think I am?” His voice wavers and I see how vulnerable I’m making him feel.
“I think you’re beautiful.” I could have said a thousand different things, but those words are what came out. And I don’t want to take them back.
He turns his body to me. Now I feel vulnerable.
For all I know, he’s about to laugh in my face.
I’ve seen a softer side, but I know the ice is never far away.
He probably thinks I’m pathetic, getting mushy over the man that took me, and he’s probably right, but try telling that to the chemical reaction happening inside my body right now.
Cielo doesn’t laugh. He takes a step towards me until his body is crammed between my legs. His palms reach my face and I’m speechless. Any bravery I had has melted quicker than the cream in Mamma Picollo’s cannoli.
Our eyes lock, and I couldn’t look away now, even if I wanted to. I don’t. Is he asking for permission? Without thinking, I nod, and his lips descend. But before I feel his mouth on mine, he whispers, “You’re beautiful too…out of wool.”
And then Cielo Mannucci, crime boss extraordinaire, is kissing me like the world is about to end.
I’ll admit my kissing experience isn’t profound.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had some nice make-out sessions before.
Not many, though, and nowhere near as explosive, fulfilling, and lust-inducing as this one.
I’m shrouded in his scent and warmth. My hands travel to his hair because, apparently, I am all in.
And his platinum locks have called to me from the very first time I saw him.
Scraping my fingers across his scalp, something primal takes over.
I gather his tresses and pull, making him moan.
This isn’t me. I’m fiery in temper but never with a man.
I’m the “soft touches” kind of guy; the one who likes sweet and slow.
Whoever the hell I am at this moment doesn’t want any of that.
No. I want his passion, and I want to show him mine.
A flick of his tongue across my lower lip has me opening my mouth to let him in.
He delves in and immediately owns me. His hands snake around me and grab my hips, pulling me closer until my crotch is firmly against his.
I naturally start grinding because I just can’t help myself.
That is, until the bubble is shattered. We both hear Lorenzo’s voice filter down the hallway, heading in our direction.
Cielo wrenches himself from me, looking half-crazed. I try to say something, but my throat closes up and he shakes his head. We set about straightening our clothes just in time. Lorenzo rounds the kitchen doorway with my parents in tow.
I see the flicker of recognition on my parents’ faces. They know exactly what was happening seconds before they entered, and I can’t stop my face from flaming. Lorenzo seems utterly oblivious, which I’m grateful for.
“Benjamin, Cielo, it’s good to see you both,” he says affably.
“Lorenzo, Phillipa, Mary. I hope you’ve had a good day,” Cielo replies, calm as a sodding cucumber. My heart is doing the Cha-Cha Slide, and I can hear blood pulsing through my ears.
“Very nice, thank you,” Mama says. Mum is staying silent. Shit.
“We were just coming to grab a snack,” Lorenzo prattles on. “Is that Mamma Picollo’s?” he asks. Cielo nods. “Oh, it’s been far too long.”
“Feel free,” he replies. Lorenzo doesn’t wait to dig in. “If you’ll excuse me.” He gives me a quick, side-eyed glance and then leaves.
“Phillipa, Mary, you absolutely need to taste this. Mamma Picollo is an institution around here.”
I need the awkward stand-off to end right now. “You should, it’s fantastic. Anyway, I’m off to bed.”
“Benjamin,” Mum begins, but I’m not doing this now. I’ve got to process that life-shattering kiss Cielo just planted on me. My mum’s shock will have to wait.
“Tomorrow,” I say with conviction. “Good night, Lorenzo. Maybe…um, maybe we could talk in the afternoon?”
Lorenzo stops chewing, and his eyes bulge. It’s kind of funny. He rushes to chew and swallow, but he’s already nodding his head.
“I’d love to. I’ll be in the restaurant all afternoon.”
I give him a smile and half a wave. “Okay, then. Night.”
Glad to be out of there, I take the stairs two at a time and then freeze. Cielo is just down the hall from me. Is he thinking about that kiss? Did it affect him as much as it did me? Am I brave enough, or stupid enough, to go and find out?