Chapter 36 Liana
LIANA
“So, you have a bunch of wedding dresses that are supposed to be in this season’s collection, but your previous manufacturer sucked ass and now you’re scrambling to get the remaining dresses ready in time for some big bridal event you’re having?
” Gui asks, sitting next to me in the back of the car on our way to Balistreri’s.
“Yes,” I sigh out. “It’s been a whole thing.
Extremely frustrating and overwhelmingly stressful, but I have a good feeling about this manufacturer.
Even if there are some changes they need to make to the dresses, they said they’ll work on them right away.
I’m already very impressed with their service.
It’s exactly the kind of manufacturer I want to partner with. ”
“Wow, who would’ve thought dresses could be such a demanding job.”
I laugh. “Oh, that’s probably not even the worst of it.”
Gui lifts a brow. “Do tell,” he says, wearing a smirk similar to his brother’s.
Is it pathetic that I can easily be reminded of Massi when not long ago I hated him?
Thought I hated him? I don’t know. But now it’s like I can’t get him off my mind.
The table turned real quick for me, and I can’t say I’m unhappy about it.
Once I accepted what Massi and I are, it’s like everything fell into place.
“I love my job, but sometimes, we get clients that are a bit … stressed out, and they end up taking their frustrations out on the ones who are trying to help them. Meanwhile, to ensure their experience is kept positive, we have to bite our tongues. However, this is few and far between. Now, when it comes to helping a bride find her dream dress for one of the biggest days of her life? That …” I go silent as I think about this job and what it truly means to me.
“That is something that makes the stress, the headaches, the frustration all worth it.”
Gui and I are silent for a moment, nothing but the sounds of the road passing by as we make our way to the manufacturer’s until he finally says, “Hmm, it still sounds terrible to me.”
I glance over at him, taking in the playful glint in his eyes and the grin tugging at his mouth, and let out a small laugh.
“Alright, so let’s go over what to expect with me as your ever so faithful guard,” he says, and I can’t help but let out a humorous scoff.
“Ever so faithful guard?”
“Hey, I’m kind of the best. Why do you think Massi had me come instead of Gio?”
“I’ve actually been trying to figure that out too,” I state, which causes him to laugh.
“Okay, no, but seriously, let’s go over a couple things quickly. I’m sure you’ve had guards before?”
“I have, but thankfully, not so much lately.”
“Great, so you know I’m going to stick to you like fucking gum to your shoe, then, right?”
I wince. “Do you think that’s really necessary? We’re going to be talking about clothes the entire time. I can’t imagine that’ll be very thrilling for you.”
Gui shakes his head. “Oh no, don’t you even think about trying to brush me off like that. I’m sticking to you the entire time. You have to pee? Guess who’ll be right there with you?”
I snap my gaze to his. “Ew.”
He rolls his eyes. “Okay, I didn’t mean literally.”
“Mm-hm.”
“I just meant, I’ll be standing right outside the bathroom like the respectful fucking guy I am while you take care of your lady business.”
I give him a few small nods, a smirk pulling up at my lips. “Yeah, I’m sure that’s what you meant,” I say, which has him rolling his eyes once more.
“Okay, so now that we got that out of the way, if I detect anything weird is going on while we’re there and tell you we need to leave, you cannot argue with me.”
My brow furrows as I take in what he’s saying. “Gui, you and your brother are starting to make me feel nervous. He told me there aren’t any issues between your family and the families here. Is that true?”
“Yes, of course,” he rushes out, but I don’t believe him.
“I promise, Liana. We don’t have any issues here in Sicily, but my brother and I don’t have any acquaintances either.
Our dad does, and soon, Massi will too, but as of right now, we’re basically lone wolves in this territory.
I’m just going over everything as a precaution. We can never be too safe.”
“Are you sure, Gui? Because you can tell me. If there’s something I should be looking out for, just let me know. I could help.”
Not only that, I want to know if my life is possibly in danger.
Gui takes my hand in his and looks deep into my eyes.
“I promise, Liana. Maybe I should’ve led with that instead of getting straight to business, but there is nothing to be worried about here.
I just have to go into everything as if there could be something.
It’s when you least expect it when things go south, and I can’t have that happening to you. ”
I narrow my gaze on him, still unsure if I should believe him or not. He must sense that because he holds up three fingers and says, “Scouts honor. There are no issues here.”
I try to keep a straight face, but he’s making it incredibly difficult for me. “Scouts honor?” I laugh out. “I’m sorry but come on.”
He gives me a loose shrug. “Hey, I still mean it. Everything will be fine, but I need to make sure you understand the importance if anything bad were to happen and what we need to do.”
I give him a nod. “Okay. I promise, I understand. If you come up to me at any time saying we need to leave …” I do the universal sign for zipping my lips, then say, “No questions asked.”
“Good. And the last thing is, I will make sure to stay out of your way. I’m not there to make you feel like you’re being watched like a hawk.”
“It’s alright, Gui. I got used to it, especially when Giuseppe Silvestri was still alive.”
“Yeah, but my goal is to make you feel like I’m not there. No matter what life you grew up living, no one wants to feel like someone’s up their ass all the time.”
I let out another laugh. “You’re something else, Gui.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” he says with a wink.
“You should. You definitely should.”
He glances ahead to where our driver is coming up to a massive concrete building.
“Looks like we’re here,” he says.
“Looks like it,” I mutter, gazing out the window.
When we come to a stop, Gui says, “Alright, you ready?”
I glance back at him with a smile on my face. “I am.”