Chapter 35 Massimo
MASSIMO
It was late when we touched down in Sicily last night, so we ended up falling asleep when we got to our villa.
A squeal wakes me, causing me to shoot up in my bed.
“What’s going on?” I gasp, grabbing my gun from my nightstand.
Liana’s sitting up in bed next to me, hair damp as if she’s already taken a shower, typing something on her phone at an alarmingly quick pace.
“The dresses are done!” she exclaims.
“The … the dresses are done?” I let out a relieved sigh, knowing we’re not being fucking attacked, but shit, did she really have to scream like that?
“Yes! This very exciting news, Massi. They’re ahead of schedule, which I was hoping would happen if I came early, but still, there was no guarantee they’d get them done this quickly.”
She puts her phone down on the comforter, eyeing the gun in my hand, and raises a brow at me. “What exactly are you planning on doing with that?”
“Well, I was about to kill whoever the fuck had broken into our villa.”
Liana’s mouth tugs up into a smile. “Aww, did I scare you there for a second?” Leaning over, she gives me the sweetest fucking kiss on my lips, then says, “You know, it’s kind of hot how quick you reacted there.”
“Oh, yeah?” I say, wrapping my hand around the back of her neck. “Why don’t you show me how hot, huh?”
I kiss her, tugging her to me until she’s straddling my lap. I subtly place the gun back in the drawer, then wrap my hand around her waist.
Before it can get too far, Liana pulls away, placing her hands on my chest. “As much as I would love to do that, I have to get to Balistreri’s now. The head of the production team wants to meet with me immediately to go over the designs so they can work on the adjustments right away if need be.”
I let out a strained groan when she pushes herself off me and rolls off the bed. “I know, I’m sorry. I just really need to head over there so we can get these dresses finalized. We’re already so behind and we have our big event coming up.”
She leans over and gives me another kiss. “But I promise to make it up to you later.”
“How’re you getting there? Let me call a driver and I’ll go with you.”
“You don’t have to do that. Balistreri’s is sending a car for me now. I know you mentioned your dad wants you to meet with some contacts here, so why don’t you do that, and I’ll get this situated and then tonight …” She gives me another sweet kiss. “Tonight, I’m all yours.”
As much as I hate the idea of leaving her, I do need to meet up with my dad at some point.
“This isn’t exactly what I had in mind today,” I say.
“Oh yeah? And what did you have in mind?”
“I don’t know,” I say with a loose shrug. “Explore. Do cute couple-y, touristy shit.”
“Cute couple-y, touristy shit?” she says, quirking a brow at me.
“Yeah.” I brush her hair behind her shoulder. “And show this body what it’s like to be worshipped all fucking day.”
Goosebumps erupt on her skin, and a flush brightens her cheeks.
“But since you’d rather go to work without me …” I interlace my fingers and place them behind my head. Her eyes widen.
I’m not above using anything to convince Liana to spend the day with me. If that means flexing like a douchebag, then so be it.
She licks her lips, rolling her bottom one into her mouth, then makes eye contact with me again. Just when I think I’ve got her, she shakes her head as if she’s shaking herself out of a trance and says, “Ugh, you know I can’t. They’re going to be here soon, and I have to go.”
I let out a sigh. “Fine, but you owe me later, don’t forget that.”
“You better hold me to it,” she says with a wink, then makes her way to the en suite.
“I’m sending Gui with you, though.”
“I’ll be fine, Massi,” she calls out from over her shoulder.
“Nope. If I’m not going to be there, then Gui is the only other option. I don’t want you going by yourself.”
“Do you really think I have anything to worry about going to Balistreri’s?”
“I don’t know, but when it comes to you, I’ll never take that chance.” I walk over to the door of the en suite and place my hands on the frame. “Gui will go and stay with you the entire time. Please don’t argue with me.”
“Fine, he can come, but I need to know. Is there a reason for me to be concerned for my safety here in Sicily? Is there any bad blood between you and another family here?”
“No, we actually have great ties here, which is why my dad wants me to meet with some of his contacts. There are some very important allies here.”
She lets out a relieved sigh as she rummages through her makeup bag. “Okay, good. Then I won’t be looking over my shoulder every second.”
“Oh, no, you should be practicing that in general.” I give her a little smirk. “You can never be too safe.”
She rolls her eyes but doesn’t argue.
“How long do you think you’ll be at Balistreri’s?”
“I’m not sure,” she says, applying her makeup in the mirror. “They’re planning on giving me a tour, going over the designs, then I have the meeting with the head of production, so it could be an all-day thing. Why, what’s up?”
“Just figuring out my schedule for the day. I’m going to touch base with my parents soon, but I want to make sure I’m back when you get back.”
“I can keep you updated as the day progresses.”
“That works.”
I continue to watch while she gets ready. Her gaze finds mine in the mirror. “You need to stop looking at me like that,” she says.
“Like what?”
Liana pauses, putting her makeup brush down, then walks over to me. She wraps her hands around my neck, and I place mine around her waist. “Like you want to eat me up,” she says, then gives me a peck on the lips. “I’ll never get ready in time with you here.”
I slide my hands down to her perky ass that’s in nothing but a pair of skimpy underwear. It has my dick waking right the fuck up. “You know, I think we could fit something in before you have to leave.”
Liana giggles and gives me another kiss on the lips. “You and I both know that’s not true. I still have to get ready, and if we end up in bed right now, I know we’ll never get out.”
I let out a strained groan. “Fine, you’re right.”
She giggles again and gives me one last kiss before pulling out of my grasp and saying, “Now go. You’re awfully distracting, and at this rate, I’m never going to be ready in time for the driver.”
I laugh but do as I’m told and back out of the bathroom. Heading over to my nightstand, I grab my phone and send a text off to Gui, letting him know the plan for today, then I dial my dad’s number.
“Massimo, son, is everything all right?” I’m almost taken aback by the concern in his tone until I remember he doesn’t know I’m in Sicily and it’s the middle of the night in New York.
“Yes, everything’s fine. I didn’t mean to startle you, but I’m actually in Sicily right now.”
My dad starts coughing.
“Are you okay, Dad?”
My mom’s voice sounds in the background. “Darling, are you all right?”
“Yes—” He coughs again. “Yes, I’m quite alright.” Cough.
“Dad?”
“I’m here, son.” He coughs a few more times. “I’m sorry. Your mother and I are enjoying a nice cup of coffee, and it went down the wrong way. Did you say you’re in Sicily?”
“I did. I know you wanted me to enjoy my time with Liana, but she’s actually here as well. She has some work she has to do at her manufacturer’s, so I figured I’d call you and see about meeting with some of the families you had mentioned you wanted me to meet with.”
“Wow, this is quite the surprise.”
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
“Of course, son, of course.” He clears his throat. “So, what are your plans during your stay?”
“Liana is going to Balistreri’s today, so I was thinking of meeting up with you.”
“Yes … Yes, that sounds like a great plan. You can finally meet Ignazio Faraci. That’s who we’re staying with. He’s been a longtime family friend. Very important to know over here.”
“If you send me the address, I can call a driver and head over shortly.”
“I’ll send one of Ignazio’s men to pick you up. You know how things are. This fortress is locked down, so you wouldn’t be able to get a driver through anyhow.”
“Sounds good. I can be ready in about thirty minutes.”
“I’ll let Ignazio know.”
“When’s that masquerade ball you said he’s throwing?”
He clears his throat. “Uh, tomorrow.”
“You can count me, Liana, and Gui in.”
“Gui’s here too?”
“Yeah, we’ll all plan on attending if that’s okay? It’ll be good for us to meet the families since I’ve officially taken over.”
“Yes, of course. That’s a great plan, son. We’ll talk about the details later when you get here, okay?”
“That works.”
“What’s your address?”
I spew off the address of the villa.
“It looks like you’re not too far from us. I can have the driver there in an hour.”
“Sounds good, Dad. I’ll see you soon.”
“Wonderful,” he says cheerfully. “We’ll see you soon.”
Hanging up the phone, I set it on the nightstand, satisfied with how everything is falling into place. Tomorrow, I’ll be introduced to my family’s contacts in Sicily as Don of the Bonetti Family, all while having the woman of my dreams right next to me.
Just how it was always meant to be.