3. The Cousin Crew
CHAPTER 3
THE COUSIN CREW
S erena
“Eek! I’m so glad you’re here, Bella!” I launch myself at my cousin, barreling through the entryway of my apartment.
Her bodyguard, Raf, glares down at me as if I might accidentally crush his precious client by squeezing her too tight. Okay, he’s not just her bodyguard, but I refuse to believe my baby cousin is actually in a committed relationship.
“Me too!” she squeals right back as we spin in a circle like we did when we were kids excited about our parents taking us to the movies or the zoo at Central Park.
Once we’re both dizzy, I finally release her and tug her into my apartment. Raf grabs their luggage and trails behind, something like annoyance carved into his ruthlessly handsome face. I still can’t believe I was the one who’d insisted she pick the hot bodyguard all those months ago. Really, Raf should be kissing my feet right now for getting them together in the first place.
“Where should I put the luggage?” Her grumpy guard scans the apartment, eyes narrowed, as if a sniper could jump out from behind one of the velvet curtains at any moment.
“ Your room is the second one on the right down the hall.” I reach for my cousin and tuck her into my side. “But Bella here will be sleeping with me in my room.”
“I don’t think so,” he growls, dropping the luggage and stalking closer.
“Don’t you dare growl at me, Raffaele Ferrara.” I jab my finger into his ridiculously hard chest. “You get her every day in Rome. I only have my favorite cousin and best friend for two measly days. Who knows when they’ll let her have another weekend off from that hospital.”
“Sere is right, amore . It’s only two nights.” Bella rewards him with a sappy smile, and to my shock, the big beast actually backs down. “I promise I’ll make it up to you when we get home.”
“I’m going to hold you to that, principessa .” A silly grin curls the corners of his lips, but he still releases a huff of irritation as he picks up the suitcases and trudges down the hallway to the guest room.
“Impressive, Bella,” I whisper as soon as he turns into the bedroom. “You’ve really got that man pussy-whipped, don’t you?”
“Oh, stop.” She laughs, but I can’t help noticing the way her eyes sparkle in Raf’s presence, the bright blue, a mirror of my own, sparkling in intensity. I’ve never seen her so happy.
“So everything’s okay now after the kidnapping and all?”
She nods slowly, her dark hair falling across her shoulders in gentle waves. “It’s been quiet for the past few weeks, but Raf still hasn’t heard a word from his brother, Antonio.”
My thoughts swirl back to my visit to Rome a few weeks ago. We ran into Raf’s brothers coming out of a nightclub. Before then, we had no idea who they were, or what they were involved in. Much like Raffaele, the elder Ferrara brothers were gorgeous, especially Antonio. Of course after what happened in Rome, I’d been sworn away from the entire family.
A pair of piercing, velvety irises flicker across my mind. The heat that came from that man’s gaze should have been illegal. Even now, after all these weeks, Antonio Ferrara haunts me. Figures, I’d be attracted to a monster.
Forcing the inappropriate memories to the far corners of my mind, I refocus on the present. “Does Raf think Antonio could be a threat?”
Bella shakes her head. “He’s not sure. Antonio is the only family he has left, and I don’t think he wants to believe he’d come after me for revenge, but who knows? Raf’s always on high alert.”
Approaching footsteps turn my attention to her faithful bodyguard, and I’m not the only one who notices his return. Isabella moves toward him like a magnet, pulled into his orbit without the faintest persuading. She wraps her arm around his waist and curls into his side like the curves of her body naturally fit against the hard planes of his.
“So what’s the plan for tonight?” Raf turns his dark gaze on me. “I’ll need to have all locations vetted prior to our arrival. My security team is ready to go so just give me the names.” He sweeps a lock of Bella’s hair behind her ear, the move so sweet for the big hulking guard, my head snaps back in shock. “I’ve been asking Isa for the information since we found out we were coming last week, but she insists I’m being overly paranoid.”
“You are,” I retort. “Your precious Isa is more than safe here in Milano.”
Raf lets out a grunt, tightening his hold around Bella. “I’ll be the one to determine that.”
“Anyway,” Bella interrupts, prying herself free from his possessive hold, “I can’t wait to see Milano, the shopping, the food, I want it all!”
“Now that’s what I’m talking about.” I throw her overbearing guard a smirk. “Matteo and the twins should be arriving in the next hour or so, then we’ll go to dinner at DG Martini, followed by a pop-up night club in Parco Sempione. There’s a hot new DJ performing that I’ve been dying to see.”
“In the middle of a park?” Raf snaps. “It’s going to be very difficult to maintain the perimeter in that enormous area.”
“Relax, amore .” Isabella squeezes his hand and flashes another nauseatingly sweet smile. “Andrew will be in charge of the team tonight. You’re off duty, remember?”
His eyes lock on hers, and this weirdly intense moment passes between them. Like I’m tempted to leave them alone before they jump each other. “I’m never off duty when it comes to protecting you.”
“I know… but please try for tonight, okay? I just want my boyfriend, not my bodyguard. We’re supposed to be on vacation.”
“Fine, I’ll try,” he grumbles.
I flutter over to the two lovebirds and pat the big brute on the back. “It’s going to be perfect, you’ll see.”
I can’t help the stupid grin that stretches across my face as I watch Alessandro and Alessia bickering over the merits of a vodka or gin martini while Matteo and Bella gush over the zebra print couches and crimson damask wallpapering the elegant lounge. All of us together again feels so normal, as if not a minute has passed since we’ve seen each other. Raf sits stiffly beside Bella, his eyes searching every velvet curtained corner of the restaurant for threats.
Ignoring him, I refocus on the conversation. “Vodka all the way.” I pick up my dirty martini and clink the glass against Alessia’s. “I don’t care if it isn’t the original.”
“You’re both barbarians,” Alessandro grumbles. My cousin owns The Velvet Vault in Manhattan, one of the hottest new clubs in the Meatpacking District. He thinks he’s the end all, be all of cocktails now.
“So should we move to the dining room?” I tick my head toward the archway that leads to the elaborate interior with sleek black contemporary furnishings and opulent gilded touches.
“One more drink,” Bella replies. “I have a feeling once dinner arrives, I’ll find myself in a food coma before long.”
“She’s not wrong.” Raf glances down at her adoringly. “This girl loves her pasta.”
“Oh, Dio , Bella, I almost forgot to tell you. They have the most amazing Nutella calzone!”
My cousin licks her lips, excitement lighting up her lively blue eyes. She picks up her champagne flute and downs it in one huge gulp. “On second thought, let’s get this dinner going.”
Matteo laughs, bringing his cocktail to his lips. “Slow down, Bells. We’ve got a long night ahead of us.”
“Don’t make it sound like I’m forcing you to go out and have fun, Matty.”
“Not at all, Sere. I’m thrilled to have my wingwomen back.” He casts a glance at Bella who’s wedged beside Raf, hands intertwined, and frowns. “Well, at least I have you.”
“Hey!” Isabella swats at his arm, her lips twisting into a pout. “I can still be your wingwoman. Just because Raf’s here doesn’t mean I can’t have fun.”
“Right…”
“Oh, I can be fun.” The big bodyguard rises and pulls Bella up with him. “Come on, amore , let’s dance.”
“There’s no dancefloor,” she squeals as he tugs her into his arms and begins to sway to a slow beat which is in sharp contrast to the pulsing rhythm of the background music.
I scoot closer to Matteo, rolling my eyes. “Drink with me, Matty. I’m going to need to be good and drunk to survive the night with those two.”
He chuckles, revealing the dimple that has all the girls back in Manhattan dropping their panties for. “You should be happy for Bells.”
“I am.”
“You don’t look it.”
“Why can’t I be happy and still cautiously suspicious?” I watch Raf and Bella, giggling and whispering as they dance. “I just don’t want her falling for the first guy she fucked. And what do we really know about him anyway?”
“You know Uncle Luca had her guard meticulously vetted before he hired him.”
“And still he missed all that shit about the Ferrara family.”
Matteo shrugs. “I guess even the great Luca Valentino isn’t completely infallible.”
“Right. How are your parents by the way? Your five hundred siblings?”
With a grin, he takes another sip before answering. “They’re fine overall. Papà and Uncle Marco have been on Alessandro and me about taking over the Geminis. Technically as eldest, it should fall on Ale, but he loves the club and wants nothing to do with Gemini Corp.”
“And you?”
His shoulders lift again, accentuating the tight fit of his jacket. Damn, Matteo has been working out. And it looks good on him. Too bad we’re related. “I don’t know. I’ve gone into the office a few days a week over the summer since you and Bells abandoned me for Italy. I’ve been working with Sam in the cyber security department. That part I like, but CEO? I’m not sure about that.”
“Once a hacker, always a hacker.”
“Exactly.” He shoots me a grin over the rim of his glass.
A waiter appears dressed in a leopard floral print shirt I recognize from the latest collection at D&G. “Excuse me, your table is ready.”
“Yes!” Bella pulls free of her guard and bounces on her stilettos. “Let’s eat!”