Chapter 22
TWENTY-TWO
Lissia
The humidity wasn’t the only thing looming in the Florida air. Ever since Lorenzo’s visit this morning, I sensed a change. Marchello did his best to hide the shift, but I was too familiar with his moods and demeanor.
Something weighed on his mind, but he wasn’t ready to reveal the burden. I could push him to tell me, but from past experiences, that would only start a fight. And since I didn’t want to argue, I went with the flow.
Every step he took felt heavier, and his silence grew louder. My father used to pace the same way, his shoulders weighted with things he’d never share. I hated that I could see the same gloom creeping into Marchello, but I didn’t know how to draw him back into the light.
When he needed me, he would tell me. Until then, I would do whatever I could to make him happy. Keeping myself out of trouble seemed like the best way to do that.
After dinner, the two of us strolled out to the lobby of the main hotel to admire the grand Christmas tree. We walked under an archway, and I pointed up at a green plant.
“Oh! Mistletoe,” I said. “You know what that means you have to do.”
“What I want to do, I can’t do in public.” He shrugged. “Although, I have been arrested for far worse.”
“I’ll settle for a kiss.” I draped my arms around his neck. “You can do the other stuff later.”
“I’m planning on it.”
He pressed his lips to mine, tilting his head to the side and slowly pushing his tongue inside my mouth. The butterflies in my stomach broke free and fluttered in a fierce circle as he kissed me soft and deep.
I stumbled against him as he released me from his hold. He tapped my nose and winked, making my limbs weak and my head giddy with anticipation over what we were going to do when we got back to the villa.
“Let’s go.” He took my hand and led me through the lobby and toward the massive tree with thousands of white lights.
“That must be like fifty feet tall.” I admired the stunning tree adorned with silver and blue balls with some white sparkling ones mixed in throughout. “It’s almost as spectacular as the one in Rockefeller Center.”
“You haven’t even seen that one this year.”
“I’ve seen it every other year. My father and?—”
No! I didn’t want any memories of my dad creeping in and ruining my holiday season.
“You don’t have to hide your feelings from me.” Marchello rested his hand on the side of my face. “You don’t have to shield anything from me.”
“I’m not.”
“Okay.” His quiet voice wasn’t so demanding. He had a way of being there for me but not forcing me to say more than I wanted. The strong, silent type came in handy for my grieving process.
“Ricardo and I are going shopping and to see the tree when we get back.”
“Maybe I’ll join you.” He held my hand. “I used to go with my parents too.”
“I’d love it if you would come with us.”
“Ricardo might not.”
“He would if you were nicer to him. Ricardo respects you. He tells me all the time how much you remind him of your father.” I led Marchello around to the back of the tree where an impressive waterfall flushed down from the second floor and into a fountain in the lobby. The water reflected red and green lights as it flowed into the pool at the bottom.
“My father wouldn’t have unleashed on him the way I did.”
“Your father didn’t have me to make him deranged.”
“True.” He nodded. “I’ll try to do better when it comes to your friend.”
“Thank you.” I stretched up on my toes, kissed his jaw, and ran my cheek against his beard. “That means so much to me.”
“I would do anything for you.”
“I love my new tattoo.” I pressed my fingers over the clear bandage on my collarbone. “I can’t wait until it heals so I can show it off.”
“You didn’t even flinch.” He smirked. “Such a tough girl.”
“I’m your girl.”
He gazed across the lobby as Lorenzo and a few men dressed in designer suits, fancy shoes, and gold jewelry stopped by the private lounge where we had drinks earlier.
“Are they here for you?” I asked.
“I have to take a brief meeting with them to see if it would be beneficial for us to move forward in a business arrangement.”
“They’ve been watching us all night.” I studied the men, recalling how their subtle presence had garnered interest in the other VIP diners.
“You’re observant.” He squeezed my hand. “I’m proud of you for noticing.”
“I’m learning.”
These men were the reason Marchello had been on alert throughout dinner. He kept tabs on them the same way they had on us. Both parties were assessing if they were friends or foes.
“What is Lucas doing here?” I asked when the family advisor stepped out of the elevators.
“I requested his presence.” He waved Lucas over. “I want him here if we need to negotiate.”
“What about Milo?”
“He has business in Manhattan.”
“What kind of business?”
“The kind you don’t need to know about.” He placed his hand on the small of my back as Lucas approached us. “I’m happy you made it.”
“I’ll always be here when you need me.” Lucas smiled at me. “I hope you’re having a nice trip.”
“We are.” I hugged him. “It’s good to see you.”
“Lucas and I have to take this meeting,” Marchello said. “I can have Dom take you back to the villa or you can wait here for me.”
“I’ll wait.” I didn’t want to be far from Marchello in case he needed me.
“If you wait here, can you stay out of trouble?” he asked.
“I’m going to sit right by the tree and take selfies of my new tattoo, even if there is a bandage on it.” I kissed his cheek. “I won’t cause any trouble. I promise.”
“I…believe you.” He rubbed his jaw.
“That’s progress for both of us.”
Lucas shook his head, doing little to hide the uneasiness on his face. But I meant what I said. I had no desire to do anything stupid.
“I’ll be back soon.” Marchello leaned into my ear. “When I’m done, I’m going to take you back to the villa and do what I didn’t get to do earlier today.”
“What would that be?” I whispered as I straightened his tie.
“Fuck you on every surface.”
“Don’t take too long.” I bit the corner of my lip as Lucas walked away. “I’m ready to be fucked all night long.”
“Sit.” He pointed to a black leather loveseat next to the waterfall. “Don’t move until I get back.”
“I won’t.” I took my phone from my bag as Dom hurried over.
“They’re ready for you, Marchello,” Dom said. “I’ve got Lissia.”
“She’s promised to behave.” Marchello winked at me. “If she doesn’t, let me know.”
“Would you go, so you can get back.” I pointed to the group of men waiting for him. “I’ll be here when you’re finished.”
He strode off to do gangster stuff, not a hair out of place or a crease where it didn’t belong in his finest black suit. His woodsy scent lingered on my skin, flooding me with comfort and security. It didn’t hurt that my very large and muscular bodyguard stood three feet away from me either.
“He’s going to be okay.” Dom nodded toward Marchello. “He’s becoming more like Nico every day.”
“Nico would be proud.”
“How are you coping after the explosion?”
“I wish it didn’t happen, but I’m glad nothing happened to either of us.” I crossed my legs. “Thanks for taking such good care of me. I know it’s your job, but I still appreciate it.”
“It’s become more than a job.” He smiled. “When I was assigned to you, I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but now I know it was meant to be.”
“Dom!” I grinned. “You like me.”
“Very much.”
“I like you too.” I set my phone in my lap. “I’ve had several guards over the years, but not many of them liked me. My last guard at my father’s house, Michael, tolerated me and did what I said, but most of them ignored me.”
“I have a feeling you’ve matured these last few months.”
“I’m trying.”
Being with Marchello gave me a sense of purpose. He indulged in my spoiled behavior, but he also grounded me and helped me understand what it meant to be in a mafia family. Knowing he would never hurt me or sell me off the way my father had made it easy to trust him.
He could be possessive and impossible sometimes—well, most of the time—but we belonged to one another. There wasn’t anything we couldn’t accomplish when we were together. Our bond grew stronger as each day passed.
He was learning to lean on me as much as I depended on him. When we said our vows, we entered into a partnership that could never be broken.
While I loved the bustling frenzy of New York City, there was something to be said for the calmness of Lorenzo’s hotel. Miami was a wild city with the clubs and the music, but Lorenzo managed to create serenity in a secluded territory that removed his guests from the outside world.
Dom gazed outside, checking the perimeter, and occasionally communicated with the other guards in his earpiece as I scrolled on my phone. The rhythmic rush of the water spilling into the fountain settled into the background, along with the soft conversations of the hotel guests who had taken various seats around the tree.
“I’m going to circle the lobby,” Dom said.
“I’ll stay here.” I rested my head against the soft leather of the loveseat, breathing in the earthy, rich aroma. The scent reminded me of Nico’s study—the very room where I became an Accetti.
“I’ll be able to see you.”
“I don’t doubt it.” I laughed. “Aren’t all the dangerous men in that room with my husband?”
“You can’t be too careful.”
“I guess not.” I scrolled on my phone, checking out the holiday-themed pages with all the gorgeous trees and decorations.
A few minutes later, I glanced up as Dom blocked a man from my path. I had seen the attractive guy with the olive-colored skin and tattoos on his hand staring at me earlier in the evening. He had been sitting with the group that Marchello was meeting with.
I didn’t think much of it then and didn’t mention it to Marchello because he was already so keyed up over his meeting.
Maybe he was part of their security team.
When Dom took a more protective stance, I became intrigued. The man motioned toward me and raised his voice so I could hear him.
“I just want to introduce myself to Mrs. Accetti,” he said. “I won’t take up too much of her time.”
“It’s okay, Dom.” I joined my guard and the stranger who knew my name. “You’re here with the men my husband is meeting with.”
“I am.”
“And you are?” I asked.
“Diego Medina.” He extended his hand. “You’re Lissia Accetti.”
“You say that like I’m some sort of celebrity.”
When I shook Diego’s hand, Dom’s jaw tightened, but what could happen with him standing so close our arms touched?
“You’re mafia royalty in New York City,” he said. “Gian Gallanti’s daughter married Nico Accetti’s son. That’s pretty big news to those of us who follow what’s going on in the American mob.”
“Why are you so familiar with the New York crime syndicate?”
“It’s my business.”
“Let me guess, business you don’t talk about?” I rolled my eyes. “You’re all so mysterious.”
“I can’t reveal all of my secrets tonight.”
“Why aren’t you in the meeting with your associates?”
“Did I say they were my associates?”
“Then why are you here with them?” I asked.
“Lissia,” Dom said. “Let me take you back to the villa.”
“I told Marchello I would wait here.” I took a seat on the half-wall in front of the fountain.
Dom was doing his job, but my instincts were telling me to stay here and wait for Marchello like we agreed on.
“Besides,” I said. “I have a feeling my new friend would like to meet my husband.”
“What makes you think I’m here for your husband?” Diego moved to sit next to me, but before he could get too cozy, Dom edged Diego out and situated himself between us.
“Comfortable?” I nudged Dom’s arm.
“It’s what Marchello would want.” Dom took out his phone. “But please, by all means, continue your conversation with your new friend.”
“Okay.” I leaned forward so that I could see Diego over Dom. “He’s just doing his job.”
“I understand completely.” Diego smirked. “I’ve heard you’re quite the handful.”
“Where would you hear something like that?” I asked.
“You’d be surprised at the places where your name comes up.” He glanced at Dom, then back at me. “You have quite the reputation.”
“That’s funny, because I’ve never heard of you.” I motioned toward him. “I must be a lot more popular than you.”
I gazed around the lobby, trying to determine if there was anything or anyone out of place. I couldn’t tell, but Dom didn’t appear alarmed, so I continued the weird conversation with this cryptic man.
“I guess you could say that.” He crossed his long legs at his ankles. “No one has ever tried to blow up my car before.”
“What?” I whispered.
“I’m going to give you one shot to get up and walk out of here on your own.” Dom stood. “I’d take that shot before you’re not able to walk at all.”
Three men joined us, boxing Dom and me into the small space under the stairs. It seemed a little too claustrophobic.
“Call them off.” I got up and stared at Diego as Dom backed the men away from me. “Or I will barge into my husband’s meeting and tell him you threatened me.”
Adrenaline coursed through my veins with each word that escaped my mouth. I had no idea who I was dealing with, but he was not an ally. That much was apparent.
“It’s okay.” Diego nodded at the men, causing them back up a few inches.
“You should leave,” Dom said. “I don’t want any issues in the middle of this lobby.”
“I did not threaten you,” Diego said to me. “The alleged car bombing is common knowledge. It happened a few feet from your guard in your father’s driveway, didn’t it? Since the two of you are still breathing, I’d say it was some sort of message.”
“Why do I think you know who sent that message?” I glared at him, despite fighting off the weakness in my legs and the rapid acceleration of my heartbeat. Fear and anger could be a deadly combination. I just had to show more anger than fear.
“I like you.” Diego laughed. “You’re entertaining and even more of a troublemaker than that contract stated.”
“What contract?” I swallowed the strange feeling that this man was more dangerous than I had anticipated.
“The one that held so many promises for us. It’s really a shame.” His gaze traveled up and down my body, and a wave of anxiety crashed into me.
He stepped closer to me.
I straightened my posture and glared into his icy gray eyes. I remained calm and in control. I wouldn’t allow him to bait me or let my ridiculous impulses take over.
“Back off.” Dom pushed Diego away.
“Dom.” I still held Diego’s gaze. “I want to leave.”
“Such a fire in your eyes. Like a wild horse waiting to be broken.” Diego’s maniacal laugh echoed through the lobby. “Three million dollars would have been one hell of a bargain for you.”