Chapter 40 #2
Nodding to myself, I picked up my phone, dialling the one person I could call who would be able to help me fix this.
No matter what it took, I would do everything in my power to make sure Arturo got his dream, first, by handling his father’s bike despite every other fucker saying it was beyond repair.
I wandered out onto the balcony, pulling Arturo’s sweater around my shoulders as I waited for Emmet to pick up.
“Bells, you alright?” Emmet’s voice came through the earpiece, a slight worry to his tone.
“Yeah, yeah. Everything is absolutely fine. I need your help though.”
“Shoot… What do you need?” he asked.
“I need your help to fix Arturo’s bike,” I demanded in the nicest possible way.
“Come on, Bells. You know as well as I do that hunk of junk is toast.” There was an upset to his voice, as if it were his own bike.
“So everyone keeps telling me. Look, I don’t care what it costs, just find someone who can fix it.”
“Well, look who’s changed her tune. I thought you couldn’t stand the guy?”
“He’s… growing on me.” Ha, growing on me… That was a good one. If only they knew. “ And besides, the only reason his bike got fucked up in the first place is because he sacrificed it to protect me. I figured the least I can do is repay the guy.”
“Bullshit. You don’t owe the guy a goddamn thing. The dude was hired for a reason. He shouldn’t have taken you out on it in the first place.” Emmet reminded me. Not that anyone knew the real reason he saved me.
“Ugh, Emmet, will you do it or not?” I asked, hoping Arturo wouldn’t overhear me and burst through the balcony door, ruining the surprise.
“Course. He’s a good guy and it would be nice to see a smile on the miserable bastard’s face for once,” he laughed.
“Oh, and another thing… Not a word of this to Papa. He doesn’t need to know. He’ll ask more questions than you.”
“And you ain’t ready to answer those yet, are you, hmm?” I frowned. What the hell was that supposed to mean? Did Emmet suspect something?
“I don’t know what you’re on about. Now, have we got a deal?”
“ Bells! You know I hate lying to your Pa.” he groaned.
“ Please , Emmet,” I begged. “You’re my only hope…”
“Oh, all right. But you owe me, girl. And I won’t breathe a word… Scouts honour.” I could tell he was smiling. My father would probably hang him out to dry by his balls if he found out he was keeping my secret.
“Thank you! Keep me updated!” I hung up the phone before he could change his mind.
Turning, I gazed out at the bright lights and lively evening streets of New York.
The people below looked as small as ants and like always the skyline took my breath away, I’d never spent much time in the city since I had no need to.
I only came when I wanted to breathe and get some space.
But this weekend was completely different.
Despite a few mishaps, the getaway had been pretty perfect.
We may have had to lie about our whereabouts but I couldn’t bring myself to feel guilty about that.
Maybe I would have a few weeks back, but not this time, not anymore.
“ Hermosa , what you doin’ out here?” Arturo asked from the doorway. I had been so lost in the view and my thoughts that I’d not even noticed his footsteps.
“Just enjoying the view, and some fresh air.” I glanced over my shoulder, flashing him a smile. “I wish we didn’t have to go back to the house tomorrow.” I sighed.
“Me too, but I promise we can come here for a getaway anytime. Just let me know when and I’ll arrange everything.” I knew he would, he was a man of his word.
“Thank you.” I reached out for his hand, sighing at the feel of his warm palm against mine. I tried my best to stifle a yawn but of course, it didn’t go unnoticed.
“Come on, my love. Let’s go to bed,” he yanked me back through his penthouse apartment, not stopping until we reached the bedroom.
“I’m not tired.”
“Oh, princess… When are you goin’ to learn I always know when you’re lying?” he asked with a wink. Was there anything he no longer knew about me?
It was then I realised he was beginning to unravel everything.
“Welcome home, darling. How was the wedding?” my mother asked the second we stepped through the door.
“Better yet, how was training?” my father chimed in, sipping an espresso from the kitchen island.
“The wedding was beautiful, Lily looked so stunning in her gown. Her hairstylist did such a great job.” I smiled, accepting a hug from my mother.
“Training, Bella?”
“Pa, can you wait two seconds before you descend on me like a fricking vulture?” I managed, trying to keep my cool.
“Trainin’ went well, Lorenzo. Isabella’s a natural at attuning to new environments, that and she really does do as she’s told. She’s a real good girl.” I knew exactly what Arturo meant, luckily for me though, my father didn’t.
“Good!” Yup, totally oblivious to the innuendo in Arturo’s words. “I’m glad my daughter was able to put any negative feelings for you aside. You’ve both had me worried she’d continue to dig her heels in rather than focus on the work?—”
“Pa, can we have a word in private please?” I asked, already stomping in the direction of his office.
“Well, it seems like my daughter would like a meeting. Excuse me.” I heard him say before kissing my mother and following me.
“Hey, Bells, nice to have you home.” Luca smiled, coming down the stairs.
I ignored him completely. I knew it was childish, but my heart was still hurt by the things he’d said. Not to mention it was the first attempt he’d made to speak to me after acting like a complete douche. Even after the bike accident, he didn’t say one word or once try to come and check on me.
As I shoved the door open, memories of the last time I was in this room flooded back to me. I squeezed my eyes shut as visions of Arturo shoving me over the desk and pounding into me filled my thoughts. Cursing I gently slapped my flushed cheeks in a desperate attempt to make them behave.
Shit.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of this meeting, Bells?” my father asked, lowering himself into his chair and leaning back completely at ease.
“Look, I get that you want to know all about training and how everything’s going, but seriously Papa, would it hurt to ask if I had a nice time or how I actually am?”
“Diamond, I just want to be sure you will be ready. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to allow that to cloud my mind.” He stood, taking my hand and bringing the back of it to his lips.
“I get that, I do, but I’m still your daughter and that should come before everything else.
” I sighed and pulled my hand away, collapsing into the chair opposite him.
“I mean come on, Pa, did you even speak to Luca about the shitty things he yelled at me, or was that swept under the carpet to protect his feelings too?”
“Bella, you know your brother, he—” he paused for a second to glance at his vibrating phone. “Excuse me, Bells, two minutes.”
“Ugh, fine.” I snapped, letting out an exasperated sigh.
“Riley, are we all set for tonight?” Riley was one of the guys down at the docks. I’d never met him but I knew of him.
I watched on as my father continued to nod his head a couple of times, muttering a few words here and there. “Thanks, Riley, see you soon.” Hanging up, he looked back at me, his finger tapping against his lips.
“Everything okay?” I asked, wanting to break the continuing silence.
“No, it isn’t. Someone’s been intercepting our shipments and skimming off the top.
” My eyes widened, taking in my father’s furious expression.
“We can’t tolerate an oversight like this, Bells.
The culprit’s been found and they’ve got to be punished.
On that note, you’ll be coming along tonight.
It’s about time you saw first hand what we Riccis do to those who betray us and try to fuck us over.
” He sounded so calm and composed. But then again, that came easy for him. He did it on the daily.
“But, Pa?—”
“Be ready to leave by eight. I’ll see you later.” he ordered, effectively dismissing me, despite me being the one to insist we talk.
“Fine. That all?” I huffed, getting more and more wound up with him talking business the second I got home.
“No, go talk to your brother… It’s not becoming of you to ignore him.” Was he serious?!
“No.” My father’s eyebrows furrowed as he caught my gaze.
“With all due respect, Pa, you’d do well to keep your nose out of my business with Luca.
He hurt me… deeply, and right this second I’m not ready for the hills to be alive with the sound of fucking music.
Understand?” My heart raced as the levity of my words sank in.
I had never spoken to my father in such a way before.
I barely even ever spoke back. But I was done playing nice all the time.
And if I was taking over the business, he had better get used to it.
“Watch… your… tone,” he rasped, a vein popping at the side of his head.
“Or what? You’ll ground me?” I scoffed. When he didn’t so much as blink I raised one eyebrow and stood from the chair. “Thought not, see you at eight.” With that I opened the door and left, leaving it ajar.