Chapter 23
The moment we arrived at the venue, it was easy to see it was buzzing.
Flash cars lined the gravel driveway, showcasing the sheer number of alliances who had made it out tonight for Isabella’s debut.
No doubt the moment Lorenzo made the announcement, fathers would flock to him, proposing marriage for their sons to strengthen whatever alliance they already had with Lorenzo.
My hand tightened on the wheel. How was I supposed to stand by and watch countless men try to claim what was mine without killing them all?
With great difficulty, that was how.
I glanced at the member of my team sat in the passenger’s seat and gave him a nod.
He exited first and held the door open for Lorenzo and Ana.
Knowing Bella was in heels, I stepped out and held the door open for her.
Begrudgingly, I held out a hand for her to take but in true Bella fashion she ignored it and hopped down with a hand wrapped around her dress.
“Charlie this is Alpha, Phoenix has arrived,” I said into my earpiece.
“Roger that, Alpha. You are clear to enter,” came Donnie’s voice. He’d worked hard. Perhaps there was hope for this bunch of wankers yet. As I walked behind the Lorenzo, Ana fell back.
“Fancy escorting the lady of the house?” she asked, giving me a teasing smile. I nodded and took her arm in mine. Ahead of me Isabella took her father’s arm and together the four of us walked in.
Inside, Red was the first to greet us. He took up the front, while my team followed behind. My eyes flickered around taking in all the exits I’d seen on the blueprints Lorenzo had shown me. When we entered the main room, I suddenly felt like a fish in a tank. Hundreds of eyes suddenly fell on us.
“Hey, kid, you good?” Red asked as he handed me a scotch. I was so lost in my own damn head I hadn’t even noticed I’d drifted to the side of the dance floor, leaving Bella with her parents.
“Yeah, fine,” I scoffed, downing the drink in one.
“Well, shit, looks like you needed that,” he laughed, but there was caution behind his eyes.
“Relax, Red, that’s my one and only drink tonight. I’m just here to make sure Isabella gets home safely along with the Boss.”
“Arturo…” Woah! What happened to kid? “It’s all good. I know you’ve got everyone covered tonight. You trained the men well for this evening.”
“Holy shit. That you givin’ me a compliment?” I gave him a look of mock surprise. Red rolled his eyes and clasped a hand to my shoulder.
“All I’m saying is you deserve to have a little fun too.” He grabbed us both another drink, sliding it over to me. “You know for a guy who’s all wise cracks, you sure are one serious dude.”
“I appreciate the sentiment,” I replied, shoving the tumbler back toward him. “But Lorenzo entrusted Isabella’s safety to me. Now, what good would I be if I was ‘ere getting pissed with you, you sad git?” Red let out a chuckle before downing his two fingers of scotch.
My eyes scanned the room with ease as I made sure each one of the guys were in the position they were told to be in. To my satisfaction they had all taken their orders well, including Mik.
Nice to see that prick had learned his lesson.
I stood close to the stage with Red and Gino as Lorenzo escorted Isabella up the steps. I knew he was on his way to make his announcement before swanning her around the room showing her off to every fucker here.
“Thank you all for coming here this evening, I’m sure you’re all wondering why we’re here—aside from the free booze of course.
” Polite chuckles and amusement broke out amongst the audience making Lorenzo smile.
I chanced a glance at Isabella and was relieved to see her gazing up at him with open respect and adoration.
Good, she wasn’t looking down at the vultures waiting to descend open her like the hungry animals they were.
“My wife, Anastacia, once told me there was more to life than business, and she was right. I’ve found myself thinking a lot about the future recently and have made some changes to my original decision.
” Lorenzo’s eyes crinkled as he glanced down at Isabella.
Her cheeks flushed a little at the gentle nod he gave her.
Lorenzo cleared his throat. “As you know, the cunning yet brilliant woman standing beside me is my daughter, Isabella. From the moment she could walk and talk I knew I’d found someone who not only could beat me at poker, but would also be the perfect fit for my legacy to continue on the Ricci name.
” The chuckles at his poker reference quieted as people began to catch on to his meaning.
“You may have assumed Luca was my successor, but things and times change, and it gives me great pleasure to announce that, when I finally step down, Isabella will be the one taking my place.”
A strange noise—almost like a hiss or a gasp—in the audience spiked my senses. I quickly darted my eyes through the various expensively-dressed folks, trying to see what had caught my attention. There was surprise in many eyes but nothing that sparked suspicion.
Hmm, weird. I was never usually wrong.
Frustrated, I kept my eyes scanning the alliances in the room trying to gauge their reaction. Someone clearly hadn’t expected this move, and I wanted to know who.
“So if you would all join in raising a glass to my daughter, Isabella, the future of the Ricci family. I know she’ll make me proud.
” I gazed back towards the stage to see Lorenzo looking down at Bella with pride.
“Isabella will continue to run things the same way I always have. All I ask is for you to regard her with the same respect you do me.” Lorenzo finished, holding up his champagne flute as the alliances thankfully followed suit.
“Think they took it well, kid?” Red whispered.
“I know what’ll happen if they don’t,” I winked.
I’d end any fucker that dared disrespect her.
“I knew I liked you,” Gino smiled as he sipped his scotch.
After watching Lorenzo work the room with Bella for what felt like a fucking eternity, they finally stopped at an older, greying geezer and a young lad who looked familiar.
Where the fuck had I seen him before?
He was eyeing Isabella like he could fucking eat her, which made me want to knock his teeth in, gouge his eyes out, and then skin him alive. Almost as though she’d heard the torrent of my angry thoughts, she glanced over.
Wait a minute…
That was that fuckin’ bellend from the football game.
Wanker.
I clenched my fist, which earned me a gentle shove from Red.
“What’s going on, kid?” He asked, hoping to gain my attention.
But when Isabella was in the room, I had eyes for nobody but her.
“Kid?”
“I’m goin’ to do a perimeter sweep,” I managed to spit out, as my thumb twirled my ring. Before I could take a step, Red grabbed my shoulder.
“You look like you want to kill the guy? What gives?”
“He’s that prick from the football game. The one who practically had his hands all over her,” I seethed. If I was trying to be subtle, I was doing an incredibly shit job.
“Yeah, but she’s a big girl. She can handle herself.
” At my death glare he raised his hands and tried a calming voice.
“Hey. I get it. I do. We all get protective of Bella sometimes, it’s normal when you spend so much time with her.
And look, you’re probably right, he probably is a prick, but we have to let her make her own mistakes sometimes. ”
Was he insane?
“That’s not a mistake, it’s a fuckin’ train wreck waitin’ to happen,” I scoffed, just as Lorenzo looked at the pair of us.
Oh for fuck’s sake.
Right on cue, Lorenzo waved both of us over to where he and Bella stood.
Brilliant, just brilliant.
“George, Henry, you already know, Red, my head of security, but allow me to introduce my daughter's bodyguard, Arturo.” A flash of recognition passed through the blonde twat as he held out a sweaty palm for me to take. Reluctantly, I shook his hand so as not to arouse suspicion while the older guy, clearly the brat’s father, eyed me curiously—my tattoos in particular.
“Arturo, this is George and Henry Duval.”
“We’ve already met actually. At the football game, wasn’t it?” He smirked.
Smart arse fucker.
“Have we?” I tightened my hand around his much smaller one, making him wither slightly.
“To be honest, I’d almost forgotten about that.
Must not have been that memorable.” I joked, letting go of his hand while he tried his best to laugh the situation off.
Beside me, Bella took a sip of her champagne.
The telltale shifting from foot to foot told she was dying to kick those Louboutin heels off.
Her discomfort was as clear as day to me but she was doing a spectacular job of hiding it.
Good girl.
To my annoyance, blondie turned his attention from me back to Isabella. “Oh, I hadn’t forgotten. Your brother plays quite well, Ms. Ricci.”
“Does he?” She enquired politely. With a flick of her hair, she gave him a demure smile. “I’ll be completely honest, I know nothing about football. But don’t tell my brother.” She mock whispered. George and blondie both laughed good naturedly. “Oh and call me Isabella.”
“Your secret is safe with me, Isabella,” he grinned back at her. The bastard was actually flirting with her.
I wished someone would just shoot me.
“So, Lorenzo, when is this lovely daughter of yours going to announce her engagement, hmm?” Isabella’s eyes widened. It took everything in me not to laugh. She looked horrified.
“George, that’s not how my family do things any more. You know, kids these days. They all want love, romance and everything in between,” Lorenzo said with a polite grin. He liked the line of questioning even less than I did.
“I see. But of course your daughter will need a strong man by her side when she takes your place, yes?” George piped up.