Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Valentina
“ S ignorina,” Roberto said quietly after he pulled me aside. “I don’t like this.”
I looked around to see what was wrong. At the moment young men crowded the bar to order beers and well drinks, and my book club ladies were under control. For the first time in a few days, the trattoria had money coming in. “What is it? What’s the problem?”
“We are understaffed and I’m not sure letting in all these young men was wise. With everyone drinking and no food being served . . . ”
He trailed off, but I understood. And I didn’t mind. It was nice to have someone looking out for me and my friends. “It’s okay. We can order cars for anyone who seems intoxicated.”
Roberto’s face made it clear I had misunderstood. “These men are hanging around and waiting, and I am concerned about the reason for it.”
Ah. Now I got it. “Well, book club night has become a little bit of a pick-up spot in Paesano. There aren’t many in this town, so everyone has learned to make the most of it. ”
“Mamma mia.” He dragged a hand down his face and muttered to himself in Italian.
“What did you say?” I asked.
“I wish I had hired more staff to help. I don’t like feeling responsible for you and your friends.”
“You’re not responsible. And I’ve known these guys my entire life. They’re harmless. Everyone will behave themselves.”
“Still.” He frowned in the direction of the crowded bar. “I would feel better if we asked the gentlemen to leave.”
“No, you can’t! We need the bar revenue. And if the guys leave, my friends will want to leave, too.”
“Valentina,” he said along with a heavy sigh. “This is asking for trouble.”
“It’ll be fine. We’ll order cars for everyone at the end of the night so no one drives home. Please, Roberto. This is the first book club where I’ve been able to sit and hang out. Normally, I’m running around during dinner service. Let me enjoy just one.”
He threw up his hands and returned to the bar, where he was helping our one bartender serve drinks. Yes, we probably should’ve hired more staff, but I wanted to keep the overhead low tonight. Our finances needed all the help they could get.
When I returned to the table, Sam leaned over. “What is Mr. Fancy Pants upset about?”
“He doesn’t like all the guys hanging out in the bar, drinking and waiting for book club to end.”
“Did you explain how it’s the only time some of us get laid in this town?”
“In a roundabout way, yes. Don’t worry, I didn’t take away your dick parade.”
She snickered and sipped more wine. “If only. Can you imagine? Wrapped with little streamers and balloons?”
“Yes, I can only imagine,” I grumbled. Most women my age had loads of sexual experience, but I felt like I was miles behind everyone else .
“Oh, Val. I’m sorry. I forgot.” She bumped my shoulder. “Look at them over there. It’s easy. Just pick one and start talking to him. The rest will take care of itself.”
Maggie, who sat on my other side, turned at Sam’s advice. “Are we trying to get Val some action tonight?”
“Yes,” Sam said at the same time I said, “No.”
“It’s a waste of time, Sam,” Maggie said. “These guys aren’t old enough or Italian enough.”
“Oh, fuck off,” I said and tried to hide my smile behind another sip of wine.
“Why are you grinning ?” Sam asked. “What happened?”
I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I’d been dying to tell them. “I took dinner up to the Portofino mansion,” I whispered.
“No, you did not!” Sam exclaimed, while Maggie said, “Holy shit!”
This got the attention of the entire table. I didn’t want to share this story wide, so I led the conversation in a different direction. When everyone ignored us again, I said, “I took Luca chicken parm. And it was your idea,” I said accusingly to Sam.
Maggie held out her fist to Sam and the two fist-bumped. “So then what happened?”
“Did he profess his love after he tasted it?” Sam asked. “Because I swear I would marry that dish if it were socially acceptable.”
“No, he did not. I don’t think he even liked it.”
Maggie’s mouth fell open. “Bullshit. I don’t believe it. Everyone loves that chicken parm.”
I went to drink more wine, then realized my glass was empty. Was this my second or third glass? I couldn’t be sure, so I refilled it with some Fiorentino rosé. “Well, he didn’t. He shared a few bites of it with me.”
Sam clasped her hands together and put them under her chin. “Like Lady and the Tramp style?”
“What? ”
“You know, with the spaghetti. Come on, everyone has seen that movie.”
“Yeah, when they were five ,” Maggie said. “Let’s get back to this intimate dinner.” She ignored the roll of my eyes and kept going. “What happened next?”
“Nothing. I made up an excuse and left.”
Silence followed my statement and they both stared at me in disbelief. “You left,” Maggie repeated. “As in, like, left.”
“I know.” I dropped my face in my hands. “I’m hopeless. But I didn’t know what to do. I told him his watch was sexy. It was so embarrassing.”
“Did he try anything or give you any hints that he’s interested?”
Sam picked up a napkin and threw it at Maggie. “Of course he’s interested! He’s Investor Daddy.”
Maggie batted the napkin away. “I know, but I would think a guy that old at least has some game. I can’t believe he let you leave, Val.”
This conversation was making my head spin. “Do not call him Investor Daddy. It’s bad enough I call him that in my head.”
“I need to get a look at this man,” Sam said. “Maybe I should drop off some pastries from the café one morning.”
“Good luck.” I set my wine glass on the table. “His security probably won’t let you in.”
“Security?”
“The estate is crawling with young guys who look like serious badasses. I had to show ID before they’d let me in.”
“Damn, I want to be that rich,” Maggie said.
“Me too,” Sam echoed. “But a rich Italian man, living on that particular estate with a bunch of security? The Portifinos were connected. So what does Luca do for a living?”
The three of us stared at each other. “No, it couldn’t be,” I said. “You’ve been listening to your grandmother too much.”
But the seeds of doubt were planted and started to thrive. Luca did carry a lot of cash. And there was Roberto and Giovanni’s sudden appearance in Paesano. All the men in Luca’s orbit seemed to defer to him as if he were the . . . .
“It doesn’t matter,” I told both of them. “I’m not going to see him again.”
“Sure you won’t,” Maggie said dismissively. “How was the tension? Thick with sexual chemistry?”
“So fucking thick.” They both clapped their hands and gave little squeals of delight. I could feel my skin heating, a blush working its way to my toes, so I rushed to say, “Stop. I just told you I’m not going to see him again.”
Maggie topped off my wine. “Listen, whether he’s connected or not doesn’t matter. He’s not husband material. Just have some casual fun for once in your life with someone you won’t see at the grocery store for the next forty years.” Maggie had dated a lot of guys in Paesano. She said she couldn’t go anywhere here without running into at least two of her exes.
Sam nodded. “Yes, good point. And I bet he’s very experienced. We need to find a way to manifest this for you. You deserve a temporary fuck buddy, Val.”
“You’re both insane. And I don’t want to think about that tonight.” I lifted my glass again. “Tonight I just want to drink and hang out with all of you.”
“Okay, but don’t think we’re dropping this.” Maggie lifted her glass in a toast. “To manifesting!”
We all touched glasses, with Sam giving Maggie a wink. “To manifesting!”
Luca
The computer screen blurred, so I took off my glasses and rubbed my eyes. Though I was tired, I couldn’t relax. An hour had passed since my visit to the mayor, but I was still pissed. I kept picturing Val forced to fuck that piece of shit . . . and I wanted to hit something.
I’d tried to take my mind off everything by staying busy. I showered, then concentrated on work, moving money and reviewing financial reports. I even checked in with some of our distributors in the Netherlands.
But I couldn’t concentrate, I was so wired. Maybe some food would help.
In the kitchen Aldo was sitting at the island, laughing at something on his phone. He didn’t look up as I went to the refrigerator.
“Let me guess? Hamster videos.” Aldo was obsessed with watching animal videos, usually hamsters.
“They are adorable. Per favore, can we get one?”
I shook my head as I searched for something to eat. I’d once watched Aldo pop a man’s eyeballs from his skull, and he could dismember a body faster than anyone else on my payroll. And he wanted a tiny little ball of fur?
“Pronto,” I heard him say, answering his phone.
I took the mortadella and cheese from the fridge. I missed my housekeeper in Catanzaro. She made the best sandwiches. Living with a bunch of guards and fending for our own meals was starting to wear on me.
“No shit?” Aldo said, snickering. “How many? Yeah, I’ll tell him. A presto.”
“What is it?” I asked, slicing open ciabatta for a sandwich.
“She say anything to you about her book club?”
I was too tired and irritated to play guessing games. “Spit it out, stronzo.”
“Tonight is book club night at the restaurant. A bunch of hot girls get together and drink wine.”
“And?”
“And all the single guys in town know to hang out in the bar on book club nights. ”
I froze, a piece of mortadella dangling in my fingers. “I thought the restaurant was closed.”
“Restaurant, yes. Bar, no. Valentina insisted on opening it tonight, so they could recoup some of the lost revenue. It’s one of her biggest money-making nights of the month, she told Roberto.”
I fucking bet. Hot girls. Wine. Single guys.
No doubt the men were hoping to take one of the drunk women home. I pictured Valentina, helpless, trapped in a car with some man who didn’t care if she were willing or not. My gut cramped and a red mist coated my brain like a thick layer of paint.
“Cazzo!” I dropped the meat on the counter. “I need to get over there.”
“Do you want to change first?” Aldo asked, getting off his stool.
I wore a t-shirt and jeans, not my usual public attire. This was what I wore around the house. “There’s no time. Andiamo .”
Aldo grabbed the keys from a bowl near the garage door. Soon we were speeding toward town in one of the two cars I’d rented. During the ride, I called Roberto and told him under no circumstances was Valentina allowed to leave before I arrived. There was a lot of noise in the background, but he said he understood.
The drive seemed to take forever. The restaurant’s parking lot was full of pickup trucks and SUVs, but we didn’t bother looking for a space. Aldo parked in the fire lane right in front of the restaurant.
I got out and strode toward the door. Voices carried out onto the sidewalk, mostly feminine laughter. A siren’s song for every horny college-aged boy in town.
What in the hell was she thinking? Throwing open the door, I went in. My gaze surveyed the place in one sweep. At a large round table sat ten beautiful young women, all dressed up, laughing and drinking. The bar was crammed with over a dozen men of all ages, beer bottles in hand, lurking and talking quietly. A sporting event was on the screens, but the men were more interested in the table of women .
I found her and my heart stopped. Che figa che lei mamma mia . So fucking hot.
Her dark hair was slicked back and pulled back into a high ponytail, accenting her face. The dramatic makeup she wore made her look older, more sophisticated, and her lips were painted a bright red. My dick twitched as I thought about those red lips nibbling on the head of my cock.
Why such effort? Was she hoping to take a man home?
It didn’t matter. I wasn’t letting anyone take advantage of her, not while I could prevent it.
I walked over to the bar. There was no use making a scene and disrupting the girls’ fun, which would piss Valentina off. I would handle this quietly.
I went to the cluster of young men at the end of the bar. Three of the four wore baseball caps turned backwards. Several curious gazes met mine. I spoke softly, so they had to lean in to hear. “Get the fuck out. The bar is now closed.”
They didn’t speak for a long second, each sizing me up. Then one grew brave enough to say, “We’re not leaving, bro. It’s book club night.”
I put my hand on his shoulder and squeezed. Hard. When he winced and tried to pull away, I only gripped harder, forcing my thumb behind his collar bone. “You are leaving now and you are taking your friends with you. Because if you don’t, I’m going to knock out every single one of your teeth. Bro .”
“Jesus, okay. Let me fucking go!”
I released him and gestured to the door. “Leave. Now.”
“I’m not paying my tab, asshole,” one of them grumbled as he put his beer bottle on the bar.
Did he think I cared? “Get the fuck out.”
The group shuffled out the front door. I continued working my way down the bar, through the other clusters of men, telling each the same thing. Nothing overly dramatic or violent, but I made it clear that leaving was in their best interest. They complained, clearly disappointed to miss out on drunk pussy, but the groups steadily trickled outside.
Only one man gave me resistance. So I bent his pinky finger back until it almost broke—and he quickly left.
“Hey, what the fuck?” The bartender watched the last group of customers disappear. “They still owe money on their tabs.”
“How much?”
“A grand, at least. And you let them leave without paying!”
I withdrew a money clip from my pocket and peeled off two thousand dollars. “There. Now, get out. You’re done for the night.”
“But I’m supposed to?—”
I put my hands on the bar, leaned over, and gave him a look that had caused grown men to piss themselves. “Fuck off before I remember that you were helping these assholes prey on drunk women. Because if I remember, I might be tempted to slam your face into the mirror behind you. Capisce?”
Paling, he untied his apron, took the money and disappeared into the kitchen.
I exhaled, turned, and leaned my back against the bar. The room had gone deathly silent. All the book club ladies were staring at me with their mouths agape, including Valentina.
“Holy . . . shit,” one of the women said under her breath.
I tilted my head in greeting. “Buona sera, signorine.”
“Luca.” Valentina stood and I got a full view of her. She wore a tight sweater that showed off her tits and black pants that hugged her hips. I was momentarily distracted until she tried to take a step forward and stumbled.
“Whoa,” she chuckled, putting her hand on the table to steady herself.
In a flash I was by her side, taking her elbow and helping her back into her chair. “Valentina, sit down.”
“Did he just call Val Valentina?” one of the women loudly whispered to another.
“My god, that accent. ”
“Uh, Val, shouldn’t you introduce us?”
I ignored all the voices and concentrated on Valentina. There were a dozen bottles of wine on the table, but no food. Or books. “Here, drink this.” I handed her a glass of water. “No more wine.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, Luca .”
Dio, that attitude. It made me want to fuck her and spank her and bend her to my will.
“Val, this isn’t . . .” Two of the young women exchanged worried glances. “Is this your father?”
“No!” Val sounded horrified. “God, no. This is Mr. DiMarco.”
“Ooooh, now I get it,” said a woman, who looked at Valentina and mouthed, Investor Daddy .
Madre di dio. I dragged a hand over my jaw and willed my body to calm down. My dick would be half-hard if I let this continue. “Get your things,” I told Val. “I’m taking you home.”
“No, I have to stay and lock up.” She was weaving in her chair. “Shit, the room is spinning.”
I didn’t hesitate. I needed to get her out of here and help sober her up. Bending, I slipped my arm under her knees and put the other behind her back. I lifted her easily and she threw her arms around my neck.
“Oh, my god,” one of the women said, but I was focused on Valentina.
“Luca, what are you doing? Put me down.” She contrasted this order by resting her head in the crook of my neck. “Mmmm, you smell so good.”
Some of the women laughed—and I’d heard enough. We didn’t need an audience any longer.
Roberto was hurrying across the dining room. We began a rapid exchange of Italian, with me telling him to hire cars to see the other women home. He apologized for calling me, but I reassured him it had been the right thing to do. I promised to talk to him tomorrow.
While this was going on, Valentina passed out in my arms.
I carried her outside and went to my car. Aldo opened the door for me and I placed Valentina in the back. When I straightened, Aldo closed the door and gestured toward the parking lot. “We have a problem.”
I looked over. Pinky and Collarbone were standing beside a shit truck, the only two remaining schoolboys after I dismissed the class. Pinky was slowly slapping a stick into his palm, in a futile attempt to look menacing. A stick . I nearly laughed.
“Want me to send them home?” asked Aldo.
I looked at Valentina once more to be sure she was okay. She was still asleep, somehow as sexy as ever, even after too much wine. “No, I’ll handle this myself. I’m in the mood.”
“Are you sure that’s wise? It might not be a good idea to attract too much attention—especially in front of her restaurant.”
“Stay here,” I said, ignoring Aldo’s warning. I walked over to my two new friends but said nothing.
“Who do you think you are, asshole?” said Collarbone. “You come into our town and cockblock us? Then threaten us like you’re some bullshit dago mobster? You’re about to learn how we deal with outsiders here.”
I couldn’t help but smile. I was going to enjoy this. “What makes you think it’s bullshit?”
Collarbone smirked and looked at Pinky. “Bro, can you believe this asshole?”
Before he could even look again in my direction, I punched him in the face with everything I had. It felt good. Collarbone’s head rocked back and struck his truck with as much force as my fist applied to his face, and he crumpled into a heap on the pavement.
I knelt over him as he struggled to breathe and asked him one question. “Dago?”
Looking at me through his rapidly swelling eye, he appeared confused. No doubt because my question may not have been specific enough for him to understand.
I grabbed him by the hair and pulled him closer to me, so I was sure he could see me. I spoke to him quietly, but did nothing to hide the fury that I felt. “You think you are powerful, coglione ? You don’t know the first thing about real power.”
I hit him in his other eye because I like symmetry, and then a few more times simply because it pleased me. I needed the exercise. His nose snapped and his skin split open with the force of my punches. I finally stopped when I realized that I might get blood on my clothes.
I glanced over at Pinky who was wide-eyed and pale and holding his arms up in a show of surrender, yet he still had that ridiculous stick in his hand. Following my gaze, he seemed surprised to see the stick and dropped it as if it was on fire.
“Take this piece of shit home,” I said, “and don’t come back. And if you mention this to anyone, I’m finishing what I started. With both of you.”
Returning to the car, I found Valentina sleeping peacefully and my anger drained away. As I got into the back seat and laid her head in my lap, Aldo got in behind the wheel. “Where to?”
“Let’s take her to the house.”