45. Niccolò
45
NICCOLò
T he look on Isabella’s face while she came undone in her bathtub the other night is all I’ve had on my mind. With her being busy at the boutique and me being busy with my dad, our schedules still haven’t allowed us to see each other again, and I’ve reached my limit. I need to fucking see her.
Me: You know it’s been over a week since I’ve seen you, right?”
Isabella: A week and five days. Technically.
I chuckle, a smile forming on my lips. I love that she’s been keeping track just as much as I have.
Me: I need to see you.
Isabella: I need to see you too.
Me: How badly?
Isabella: Badly… My fingers are great, but your mouth is much better.
Fuck me.
Me: It’s been too damn long since I’ve had your lips around my cock.
Isabella: Then maybe we should fix that.
“We absolutely fucking should,” I mutter as I walk up to the door to my dad’s office and knock on it before stepping through.
“Do you have an update for me?” he snaps before I’m able to make it three feet into his office, causing me to bite my tongue before I snap right the fuck back at him.
“An update on what exactly?” I ask, playing dumb.
He shoots his gaze up to mine from his computer screen and tears off his reading glasses. “You’ve had one job to focus on for nearly two months now. What else would I be asking you for an update on?”
His bad fucking attitude sinks under my skin and makes me want to treat him the same shitty ass way he treats me, but I clench my jaw and grind my teeth until I’ve rooted myself. The last thing I need is for him to become suspicious of my character when I’m so damn close to getting everything I want.
“Yes, of course… Isabella,” I say. “We’ve been talking… a lot. She’s been opening up to me about her family and the dreams she has for her future.”
My dad lets out a disgusted scoff. “Dreams she has for her future? She’s a fucking Mafia princess. Her dreams belong in the kitchen with an heir in her stomach.”
The demeaning laugh that falls from his lips sends a tidal wave of anger through me and sparks my innate response to defend Isabella, but I quickly remember my place and my goals, so I keep quiet.
“She is a Mafia princess, but that’s not the point,” I say coolly.
My dad tilts his head at me as if he’s studying me. “And what is the point, Niccolò?” he asks with a steady breath.
He’s acting calm and rational, but I know better. There’s only one right answer to this question, and if I give him the wrong one, it’ll be all downhill from here. My plan will have been for no reason and he’ll handle this situation the way he sees fit.
“She’s opening up to me, which means she’s getting comfortable with me.”
My dad sits back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest, and nods for me to sit. “Go on,” he says.
“She trusts me. The way I’m going to win Isabella over is to see her the way no one else does. She knows what her role is in this world, but if she’s given the smallest piece of hope that she can do more with her life than just be what she was bred to be, then that’ll push her toward me even more.”
My dad sits across from me with a blank expression on his face.
“And that’s what we want. We want her to sing my praises to that brother of hers.”
My dad lets out a scoff. “That DiMaggio is such a damn fool. How could anyone allow a female to hold such power over themselves. It’s clear she has him wrapped around that little finger of hers. Fucking pathetic.”
“His weakness will prove to be our strength. Isabella is already falling for me. I just need a bit more time to drive the nail into the coffin. She might have her brother wrapped around her finger, but when I’m through with her, she’ll be wrapped around mine.”
My dad gives me a few slow nods before saying, “Good. This is just the update I needed at this time.”
At this time.
“Why, what’s up?” I ask.
Leaning forward so his arms now rest on the table, he says, “I’m heading to Miami tomorrow to meet with Manuel Velasco.”
Just the news I’ve been hoping for.
“This update should hold him over until you seal the damn deal. Just keep doing what you’re doing. It sounds like it’s working the way we need it to, but try and speed it up a bit. The sooner we get this done, the better.”
“Got it. When do you leave?”
“Tonight. I’ll be taking the jet down there.”
“Anything you need from me?”
“Not right now. Just keep working on that girl. If you have a new update that could help settle the waters with the Velascos, let me know immediately.”
“Will do. Anything else?”
“No, you can leave,” he says, putting his glasses back on and diverting his attention back to his computer screen.
With that, I leave his office and can’t help the smile that pulls at the corners of my lips as I close his door, knowing I’m about to have the best days I’ve had since being back in the city. Because with my dad out of town, I’ll finally be able to finish what I started.