Arturo’s Temptation (Oaths and Betrayal #2)

Chapter 1

You never get over losing a loved one.

People said it gets easier, but the pain simply buries itself.

How do you even begin to explain such a loss to a five-year-old?

A five-year-old that only got to be held in his mother’s arms once?

“Auntie B, did you hear me?” My gorgeous, five-year-old nephew asked from the counter with widened eyes and an infectious smile as his fingers delved into a bowl of icing.

“Theo. That’s for the cakes. Whatever will Nana say?” I teased as he wrapped his sticky fingers around my neck.

“Please don’t tell,” he whispered before placing a kiss on my cheek. “You saw nothing.”

“If you say so,” I giggled as I helped him off the counter.

“I’m going to play with Red out by the lake,” he smiled as he stuck his finger in the bowl of icing once again, nearly toppling it onto the floor. Rolling my eyes in amusement, I picked up the bowl and popped up on top of the refrigerator.

A chuckle by the double doors leading out to the garden drew my eyes across the room to find Red.

“I can still reach that, you know?” Red teased.

“Keep your filthy paws off unless you want to lose them.” I winked with a sinister smile, one I was sure he taught me.

Red had been around since way before I was born, just as Gino, Emmet, and Nicolo had.

They were the closest men my father had to friends—especially Nicolo, his cousin.

It was Nicolo who discovered my mother’s whereabouts when she was taken all those years ago.

A traumatic experience for both of my parents; not that they talk about it much.

“Just like your pa. I swear neither of you guys like sharing,” he tutted as he lifted my giggling nephew over his shoulders and out the door.

Red’s words brought thoughts of my father to the forefront of my mind.

I hadn’t seen him today, which wasn’t unusual but we had planned to talk; or should I say he wanted to talk to me.

My best guess was that he was holed up in his office sorting out “business”.

Ugh, business. My twin brother, Luca, and I had always known our family was different, but unlike him, who wanted to learn the ins and outs from the second we became teenagers, I actively avoided it.

Like our younger brother, Andre, who was happier playing football with his friends, my interests were elsewhere.

Of course I knew how to protect myself. My father wouldn’t have allowed it any other way.

From the second we could all walk, he had us learning every type of defence fighting Red and the guys could teach us.

There were days I hated the constant training and running, but my father wasn’t one to be argued with.

Lorenzo Ricci was the current Don of the Sicilian mafia and notorious for being as tenacious as he is dangerous.

My mother, Anastacia Ricci, on the other hand was the only person living who could quell my father’s rage.

Not that anyone would have seen that being the case.

Their path to true love wasn’t exactly easy considering it started as an arranged marriage—one my mother never wanted—but of course, all that changed.

Sighing, I slapped the dishcloth in my hand onto the counter and made my way to my father’s office.

Despite our reputation, our home was warm, open, and welcoming.

Growing up my parents made it a home to all of our friends for as long as they ever needed.

My father had always been a minimalist despite my mother filling every nook and cranny with endless vases of flowers.

He often pretended to find this frustrating, but anyone with eyes could see my father would have allowed her to paint the walls luminous pink if that’s what made her happy.

He was smitten with her, just as she was with him.

As I looked through the slightly open door of my father’s office, I heard a hushed conversation between him and Luca.

Their words were hard to make out but it sounded as though they didn’t want any interruptions.

Rolling my eyes, I chose to ignore it and make my way back towards the stairs.

But before I could do more than a few steps I heard my father’s voice.

“Bella, can you come back here for a moment.”

Dammit.

I turned on my heel and took the few steps back towards his open door. As I entered, I was faced with Luca’s back which was ramrod straight. When I walked around him to the desk, I could see flickers of worry, fear, and regret swirling in Luca’s eyes.

What was going on?

My eyes flicked over to my father who was sitting back in his chair, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.

“Luca, you can go. We will talk more about this later, but I must know… are you sure?” My father’s solemn tone immediately had my back up. I searched Luca’s face, for a sign of what had happened but there was nothing. Nothing ever gave him away.

“I’m sure, Pa, it’s for the best.”

What was for the best?

“Bella, where’s Theo?” Luca asked as his hand slowly came down on my shoulder, giving it an awkward pat. I frowned at him. Something about the gesture was off, as if I was about to be given the worst news possible.

“He’s in the garden with Red.” I replied giving my twin a smile which wasn’t reciprocated. Dropping his hand from my shoulder, Luca quickly exited the room, leaving my father and I alone.

“How’s your morning been my little diamond?” My father beamed as he relaxed behind his desk, his fingers skated around the rim of his coffee cup.

“Cut the crap, Pa. What’s going on?” I folded my arms and raised one eyebrow. My father’s smile faded as I patiently waited for him to explain.

“What? I can't inquire about my daughter's mornings anymore?" He asked, leaning forward so his forearms rested flush on his desk.

“Of course, but you seem a little unsettled.” I replied as he smiled crookedly at me.

We could both read each other like a book.

Up until now, there had never been any secrets kept between us.

I may not ask questions about the business but I was under no illusions as to what kind of man my father was and what he was capable of.

“Papa, come on, I know you’re itching to say something. ”

“I hate that you can read me as well as you do, Bells.” His brows furrowed as he let out a deep sigh and I knew it was something that was a struggle to say.

“I don’t think you do, now spill.”

“It’s Luca.” He swallowed and rubbed the side of his jaw. His eyes closed on an exhale as he struggled to get his words out, something that was unusual for my father.

“What about Luca?” I asked, all of a sudden feeling dread in the pit of my stomach.

“He’s stepped aside.”

With those three words, my entire world had come to a halt.

It felt as though my heart stopped as I waited for my brain to process what my father had just said.

I had known my brother was struggling recently with dividing his time between working with my father and taking care of his son, Theo, but I had never contemplated him even thinking about stepping aside. There was nobody to take his place.

“I’m sorry… What do you mean he’s stepped aside?” With a plonk, I dropped into the plush chair opposite my father. A sea of mahogany between us.

“He wants to put his focus back on Theo, which I cannot argue with. Theo needs his father just as much as Luca needs him. Luca hasn’t had the time to grieve Peyton the way he should have. Don’t you agree?”

My father’s eyes swarmed with a storm of emotions.

I swallowed and looked down at my hands.

The death of my brother’s fiancée had hit our family hard, but it had devastated my twin.

He and Peyton had been high school sweethearts and no matter our family’s reputation Peyton adored Luca.

The moment they found out they were pregnant with Theo was life changing.

Well, that was until life had other plans for them, ones that didn’t involve a happily ever after.

“Bella, I said, don’t you agree?”

“Sorry, yes, I agree.” I shook my head, pulling my thoughts back to the here and now.

“Okay, so I guess you’ll have to speak with Andre.

He’ll have a lot of work to do to fill Luca’s shoes, but I’m confident he can do it.

” Not waiting for a response, I gave my father a nod before standing and heading for the door.

The moment my hand grasped the door handle my father spoke.

“It’s you, Bella.” His hushed words sliced into me, worse than any knife ever could.

I blinked and tried to halt the bile rushing up from the base of my stomach.

The doorframe swam as I felt the walls closing in on me.

My breath rushed into my lungs with quick little bursts as I realised my father was still speaking.

“I know this isn’t what you envisioned, but you will take your brother’s place. ”

Like hell I would.