Chapter 2
Isabella
I can still feel the heat of Tony's body as we leave the gym, my skin tingling where he pinned me to the mat. The infamous Lord of Little Italy, they call him. The most dangerous man in the neighborhood. I've heard the stories - how he once took down an entire rival operation single-handedly, how even the cops give him a wide berth. But right now, watching him scowl at a teenager who dared to skateboard too close to us, he reminds me more of a grumpy bear.
My heart's still racing from our sparring match, and not just from the physical exertion. The way he moved, all controlled power and precise skill, was something else. And when he had me pinned... God, I should not be thinking about how good his weight felt on top of me, or how his eyes darkened when I squirmed beneath him.
"This coffee shop better be worth it, princess," he growls, dodging a young mother with a stroller. His face softens for a split second when the baby waves at him, then immediately hardens again when he catches me watching. The contradiction makes my stomach flip - this dangerous man with hidden soft spots.
"Aw, look at that. The big bad wolf has a soft spot for babies," I tease, trying to mask how charmed I am by this glimpse of his gentler side.
"I do not." He shoves his hands in his pockets, looking positively murderous when someone asks to take a selfie with the 'famous Tony Rivera.' I wave them away before he can traumatize them, but not before noticing how his fitted suit stretches across his shoulders. The man knows how to dress, I'll give him that.
"You know, your face might stick like that if you keep frowning."
"I'm not frowning. This is my normal face."
"Sure it is, sunshine." The nickname slips out before I can stop it, but the way his eye twitches in response is too delicious to regret.
We reach Giuseppe's, my favorite hole-in-the-wall coffee shop. The bell chimes as we enter, and the rich aroma of fresh-ground beans fills the air. Old Giuseppe himself is behind the counter, and his eyes widen when he sees who I've brought with me. I've been coming here since I was a kid, but I've never brought anyone from the family business before.
"Signorina Isabella!" Giuseppe calls out warmly, then his voice drops about ten degrees. "Mr. Rivera."
I hide my smile as Tony grunts in response. The man has a reputation for making grown men quake in their boots, but something about his grumpiness just makes me want to poke the bear.
"The usual for me, Giuseppe," I say, "and whatever Mr. Sunshine here wants."
Tony shoots me a look that would make lesser women tremble. I just wink at him, enjoying the way his jaw clenches. Has anyone ever dared to tease him like this? Something tells me no.
"Black coffee," he barks at Giuseppe. "None of that fancy crap."
"Would it kill you to say please?" I ask as we settle into my usual corner table. I watch him move, all predatory grace even in something as simple as sitting down. It's distracting.
"Yes." But there's a hint of amusement in his eyes now. "And what's with the Mr. Sunshine business?"
"Well, you're just so bright and cheerful, it seemed fitting." I lean forward, resting my chin on my hand. "I bet you're the life of every party."
A laugh escapes him before he can stop it, and oh my God, it transforms his entire face. The perpetual scowl disappears, his dark eyes crinkle at the corners, and suddenly I'm looking at a man who could charm the wings off an angel. My breath catches in my throat. He should come with a warning label: Caution - Devastatingly Handsome When Smiling.
Then, just as quickly, the scowl returns, but I've seen behind the mask now. I want to see it again.
"Don't get cute with me, princess."
"Too late. I was born cute." I bat my eyelashes exaggeratedly, delighting in the way he tries not to smile.
Giuseppe brings our coffee, practically throwing Tony's at him before setting mine down with careful precision. I notice Tony leaves him a hundred-dollar tip anyway, tucked under the saucer when he thinks I'm not looking. Another contradiction - the supposed heartless gangster, leaving generous tips and smiling at babies.
"So," I say, taking a sip of my perfectly made vanilla latte, "do you practice that scowl in the mirror every morning, or does it come naturally?"
"Do you practice being a pain in my ass, or does that come naturally?"
"Oh, that's all natural talent, baby." The endearment slips out playfully, but something shifts in the air between us. His eyes darken slightly, and I feel heat crawl up my neck.
"You're not what I expected," he admits after a moment, his voice rougher than before.
"Let me guess – you thought I'd be some pampered mafia princess who needs her hand held?" I've heard it all before. Dominic's little sister, the protected princess, the liability.
"Something like that." He leans back, studying me over his coffee cup, and I feel the weight of his gaze like a physical touch. "Instead, I get a martial arts expert with a smart mouth who's not afraid of the big bad wolf."
"Disappointed?" I aim for teasing, but my voice comes out breathier than intended.
"Intrigued."
The way he says it, low and rough, sends shivers down my spine. There's heat in his eyes now, barely banked, and I realize I'm playing with fire. Tony Rivera isn't just dangerous because of his position or his skills - he's dangerous because he makes me want things I shouldn't.
I want to see him smile again. Want to know what other sounds I can draw from him besides that reluctant laugh. Want to feel his hands on me again, this time without the pretense of sparring.
Before I can respond, the bell chimes again, and the temperature in the room seems to drop ten degrees. Reality crashes back in as two men from the Vitale family swagger through the door like they own the place. Salvatore and Marco.
I feel Tony tense beside me, his hand probably itching for the gun I know he usually carries. His entire demeanor changes, the playful tension between us morphing into something deadlier. It shouldn't be attractive, how quickly he shifts into predator mode, but God help me, it is.
My hand instinctively moves to my thigh where my knife is strapped, but Tony's already shifting, positioning himself between me and them. It's a smooth movement, almost casual, but I recognize the coiled tension in his shoulders. He's ready for anything.
"Well, well," Salvatore says, his voice dripping with fake friendliness. "If it isn't the Lord of Little Italy himself. And who's this lovely lady?"
I note how his eyes linger too long on my body, the way his lips curl into something meant to be charming but comes off as slimy. Next to me, Tony's energy changes – the grumpy bear is gone, replaced by something far more lethal.
"None of your fucking business, Sal," Tony's voice is quiet, dangerous. "What do you want?"
Marco steps forward, and I catch the slight bulge of a shoulder holster under his cheap suit. Amateur. If you're going to carry, at least learn to conceal it properly.
"Just saying hello to our neighbors." Marco's smile turns predatory as he looks at me again. "Heard Dominic Esposito was out of town. Thought we'd check in, make sure everything's... running smoothly."
I feel Tony's leg press against mine under the table – a warning, maybe, or reassurance. Either way, it grounds me. I paste on my sweetest smile, the one that makes my brother nervous because it usually means someone's about to bleed.
"That's very thoughtful of you." I lean forward slightly, watching their eyes track the movement. Men are so predictable. "Please, give our regards to Carmine. Tell him not to worry about the Esposito family. We're doing just fine."
I see the moment my words register – the slight widening of their eyes when they realize who I am. Salvatore's face darkens at the mention of his boss.
"We'll be sure to pass along the message." His tone has lost its fake friendliness. "Enjoy your coffee."
They leave, but the peaceful atmosphere of earlier is shattered. I turn to Tony, expecting to see anger or worry. Instead, I find him watching me with something like admiration.
"You've got balls, princess," he says softly, his eyes never leaving mine.
"Good thing, since apparently everyone thinks I need them to run this business." I take another sip of my coffee, but my hand is shaking slightly. Not from fear – from anger. "We need to send a message. They can't think we're weak just because Dominic's away."
Tony leans in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper that sends shivers down my spine. "What kind of message did you have in mind?"
I meet his gaze steadily. "The kind that reminds everyone that the Esposito family isn't just Dominic."
A slow, dangerous smile spreads across his face – nothing like the reluctant ones I'd teased out of him earlier. This is the smile that earned him his reputation, and it's absolutely thrilling.
"Isabella..." He pauses, and my name on his lips sounds like a warning and a prayer. "This could get messy. Are you sure you're ready for that?"
I lean in until there's barely any space between us, close enough to smell his cologne mixed with coffee and something uniquely him. "I was born ready, Tony. The question is, are you ready to follow my lead?"