Chapter 11 Ayanna #2
Teo didn’t miss a thing. He reached out, gripping my chin gently but firmly, tilting my face toward his. His thumb brushed against my jawline as he leaned in, pecking my lips. “Any more questions, Amore?”
I blinked, momentarily lost for words. For a moment, I forgot about the now: the wedding, the family expectations, the dangers that lay beyond the Donatelli gates. It was all background noise at this point. How could I not when he looked at me like this... like I was his beginning, middle, and end?
When I didn’t answer right away, his smirk deepened. “Good. Now let’s talk about the real reason we’re out here.”
The back of his palm settled lightly on my leg, his thumb tracing a slow, languid pattern near my knee.
His touch had me considering the ways I’d allow him to loosen me up.
The more he caressed my leg the more it heated my skin.
Desperately, I wanted to part my legs, and allow him to explore the depths of me, right here on this bench.
However, instead of focusing on how comfortable this felt, or even on how I wished he moved his hand just a bit higher, I chose to concentrate on the space we found ourselves in.
This was us—familiar, yet different. It felt the same, looked the same in some ways, but everything about us had changed. Before he spoke, he gripped my hand and pulled it to his lips, lightly kissing my ring finger.
“This is missing something.” He straightened my fingers out and held them at a distance for further evaluation. “We will change that. Right now.”
Before I could utter another word, Teo reached into his pocket and produced a ring, all diamonds, wrapped in gold.
It was stunning. But I hadn’t expected anything less. Anything he’d ever owned was always a reflection of his impeccable taste. The ring sparkled brilliantly, catching the evening sun at just the right angle.
“This was my mother’s, and before that... my Nonna.” He took hold of my fingers, easing the delicate metal into place with care. “Now it’s yours,” he said softly, his eyes locked on mine. “And when the time comes, we’ll pass it down to our child.” The words were said with promise.
The way he looked at me with such intensity and conviction, it made my heart race, and my palms sweat. I could hardly breathe as the weight of what he was offering settled over me. This wasn’t just a ring; it was a legacy.
Our legacy.
The thought of being bound to him, emotionally, physically, sexually — filled me with both excitement and trepidation.
Glancing down at the ring, I admired how perfect it was.
When he lifted my hand back to his lips, and they brushed gently against my knuckles, I knew this was the moment I really became his.
Not the wedding, or the vows, or the promises that would be made before all the families. It was this small intimate moment between me, him, and God. These were the things that made me want to surrender completely to him.
We stayed on the bench until the sun fully disappeared into the night before he asked, “Ready?”
“Yeah.” I stood, raising my hands above my head to stretch. “I can’t lie, this was nice.” I told him softly, appreciating the cool night, the time spent with him, and even the talk clarifying some of my lingering questions.
“I figured you would enjoy it, just like old times.”
He grabbed my hand so we could walk back toward the estate. The path was dimly lit by lanterns, and the only sounds were those of our quiet murmurs.
“You know your sister wants to drag me to some club next weekend,” I said, breaking the silence with a teasing tone, knowing how overprotective he is. “You’re not gonna be super overbearing, are you?”
“I’m not making any promises.”
“Teo.”
He chuckled, his deep voice rumbling softly. “I’ll stay out of y’all’s way, Amore.” He told me as the sound of his buzzing phone interrupted our conversation.
He glanced at the screen before ignoring the call and sliding it back into his pocket.
I didn’t want to jump to any conclusions, but I was perplexed.
We just had this honest conversation about exclusivity, but I’d already seen more than I bargained for when he showed me his messages a week ago.
Isabella wasn’t the only woman’s name I’d noticed in his phone.
There were others. Women I didn’t know. Conversations I couldn’t unsee.
It’s how I knew he was being truthful when I asked about the last time he had sex.
But I was still human. Still couldn’t help but feel a twinge of insecurity the more I bought into this marriage.
“I see you overthinking over there. That’s just Stephanie, the family’s attorney and fixer.”
“Oh. So, what does she fix exactly?”
“Whatever needs fixing,” he replied coolly. “She was the one who made sure your wedding boutique stayed out of the news. She doesn’t call unless it’s important. I’ll get back to her later.”
I nodded, vaguely remembering her name coming up the day my store was vandalized. That day was still a blur. I barely remember leaving the shooting range, going to the hospital to check on my staff, and then jetting off to New York.
“She’s probably calling about our meeting in a few days. You’ll get to meet her then.” He smiled, while squeezing my hand.
“A meeting? For what?”
“More legal shit. Making sure you have access to everything that’s mine, finalizing the deed to your new storefront in Manhattan. Nothing to worry about,” he reassured me with a gentle squeeze of my hand. “It’s all just part of the process, making sure everything is secure for you.”
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. The reassurance helped, even if the idea of meetings and paperwork made my head hurt.
One step at a time... right?
Oddly, the lazy circles he traced over my knuckles were comforting, as we approached his parent’s estate. The warm glow from the lanterns lit our path, and for a moment, everything felt peaceful. Simple. Like we were just two people walking home together.
That peace shattered the second we reached the entrance and a sultry voice I couldn’t place bounced off the walls. She seemed familiar with the family and their staff, as she spoke to someone in Italian. When we rounded the corner, I saw her standing by the grand staircase, her presence striking.
She stood with confidence. The oversized pinstripe blazer she wore as a dress hung loosely from her frame. Black suede tube-high boots adorned her feet, and a burnt orange Birkin sat between her elbow.
She looked like money.
“Damn, there you are. I’ve been calling you for the past week,” the pretty woman called out with a hint of impatience in her voice.
Then she said something to him in Italian making Teo frown, which he responded with an immediate retort in the same language.
Their exchange was rapid and intense, a private conversation that was quickly escalating.
I couldn’t catch a single piece of it, and that was the point, as the woman’s eyes slid over to me.
I could see the minute he picked up on her bullshit.
Just as her lips curled around another line meant for him alone, he snapped, “Fucking speak in English, Isa.”
Oh, this is two a.m. Isa... that tracks.
“We have an emergency, Teo. And this can’t wait.” Her eyes cut over to me again. “Can we speak privately?” Her smile remained polite, but the subtle tension in her expression betrayed her displeasure at my presence.
“No,” Teo replied almost immediately.
Her lips arched into a faint smile, but the flicker of annoyance was unmistakable.
She stepped closer, her voice dropping slightly.
“Fine. My father wants a meeting with the faction leaders,” she began smoothly.
Her tone was practiced but edged with frustration.
“There’s unrest, Teo. The other families in our boroughs—Ricci, Bellini, Morello—they don’t approve of this union.
And now their dissatisfaction is spilling into our territories.
Into the spots my father actually let me run. ”
She paused, letting her words hang in the air.
“They see you, the Donatelli family, and the Reeds as a threat. It’s an insult to their traditions.
The faction? They hate that it even exists.
You knew this. And now? They hate this union even more.
You haven’t given us — the Vitales — time to prepare for this union and set protection in our fronts to prepare for a war against the New York families should they act against the faction.
” She turned her back toward me and lowered her voice.
“You said it would be one more year… not one month.” She hissed.
Teo’s expression hardened, and confusion flickered across his face before it darkened.
“Isa, when did I tell you some shit like that? This has always been the plan. Stop acting like this is news to you. The traditions of the other families aren’t my problem or that of the faction.
I will meet with the leaders after the wedding. ”
The woman I now knew as Isabella began pacing the floor.
Her frustration was palpable, and I couldn’t be sure who she was angrier with — Teo or herself.
“You’re going to this meeting, Teo. My father will take your absence as a direct insult.
You can’t just dismiss us. We are just as important to the faction as the Donatellis.
If this situation isn’t handled it will spill into your boroughs.
And Orlando and his bullshit down south will be the least of your fuckin’ worries. ”
Teo’s jaw tightened, and I could see the transformation from the gentle man from five minutes ago turning into the straight-up savage I also knew him to be.
His voice was cold when he said, “You and your father will not summon me like I’m a boy.
There are protocols, Isabella. If Gianni really wants a meeting, he knows how to reach me properly. This? This isn’t how shit gets done.”
Her lips arched into a faint smile, like she knew how to push his buttons and enjoyed every second of it. But I could also see the flicker of annoyance she was trying to suppress. “You weren’t responding to phone calls, and this is serious.”
“I don’t give a fuck how serious you think it is,” he interrupted. “You don’t show up at my parents’ home trying to lil’ boy me. Or disrespect my family and my future wife.”
Her expression tightened, her voice clipped as she shot back, “Don’t go creating enemies before you even take over, Teo.”
His eyes narrowed dangerously. “Is that a threat?” he snapped. “Isabella, you know me well enough to understand — I don’t like threats.”
“Not a threat, mio amato. Just a friend giving advice and relaying things I’ve heard. You do with that what you will.” She took a step back, creating space. “Oh, and congratulations on the engagement, Teo,” she added with a sly grin.
“Isabella.” My sister’s sharp voice cut through the foyer as she descended the stairs. Her eyes bounced between Teo’s furious gaze and Isabella’s now innocent demeanor before Sophia’s eyes turned to slits. “I thought I told you to wait for me in the car.”
“Oh, girl, you know I couldn’t sit out there and not come speak to your mother.
That would be rude.” Her airy tone was followed by a light giggle.
“But I ran into your brother first and his soon-to-be wife. It seems I’ve overstayed my welcome.
” She cast one last look at Teo before gazing back at Sophia. “I’ll be outside when you’re ready.”
I didn’t know what the fuck just happened, but I understood that this woman was going to be a problem. And not just for me, but for this family.