Chapter 12
TWELVE
Capri
As we walked through the terrace that led to the reception, I gazed out at the beautifully lit Manhattan skyline that would always remind me of Sebastian.
It was his tattoo that led me to him in the first place.
With him being so many miles away from me, it seemed like that view was all I had of him.
“Capri.” My dad tapped my shoulder. “What has you so lost in thought?”
I turned to face my parents who looked like the king and queen of the ball.
My mother in her most expensive dress, dripping in diamonds, and my father in his impeccable black tuxedo and shiny silver watch.
They were the envy of many of their friends.
Most of the couples they knew were getting divorces or taking on side-pieces, but my parents’ relationship stood the test of time.
My father wasn’t the easiest man to deal with.
He was demanding, controlling, and expected my mother to be by his side whenever he requested.
But he treated her well and gave her everything she could dream of.
I wasn’t sure they had a love story I wanted for myself, but I did admire their loyalty to one another.
“What?” I asked.
“What are you thinking about?” My father stared out at the beautiful summer sky. “It is a stunning view.”
“It looks like your tattoo.” I motioned toward his arm. “I never asked you what the inspiration for it was.”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Impulse, I suppose. I was young and stupid.”
“It’s a pretty elaborate piece of art to have done it on a whim.
” Why was I traveling down this particular road?
Because the detective in me wanted to figure out what had happened between Sebastian and my dad all those years ago.
Maybe if I knew their history, I could bridge the gap between them.
“I was wondering what motivated you to get it.”
“That’s a story for another day.” He smiled. “Tonight, we have guests to entertain.”
“Maria.” My mother called to my godmother and Sebastian’s ex. “I’m going to say hello to her.” She kissed my father’s cheek. “I’ll see you inside.”
“I’ll go with you,” I said.
“No.” My father hooked his arm in mine. “You’ll stay with me.”
“Why?”
“I’ll see you two later.” My mom scurried off to meet her best friend, leaving me to fend for myself.
“Because you have been avoiding me since you returned from Greece.”
“No.” I shook my head, worried that he knew about Sebastian. How could he? “I haven’t. You’ve been busy, and I’ve been adjusting to the time change.”
“Your mother tells me you met someone.” He raised a brow. “That’s why you didn’t want to come home.”
“It isn’t that I didn’t want to, it was just…” Maybe I should tell him the truth, endure that wrath, and then figure out where Sebastian and I stood.
“You look beautiful tonight.” He tilted my chin. “All grown up.”
“Thank you.”
“So, tell me,” he said, “what kind of man buys my twenty-year-old daughter a dress and shoes that are worth ten grand?”
“Um, I’m sure it wasn’t that much.” I rocked back on my heels, trying not to give anything away.
“Sweetheart, I’m married to your mother. I know how much these things cost.” He straightened his cufflinks. “I’m concerned about what you had to do to get such elaborate gifts.”
“Dad!” I didn’t know if I was embarrassed or disgusted that he thought I would have sex with someone so they would buy me designer clothes. “Seriously? I can buy my own clothes. I don’t have to…” This is awkward.
“We can finish this conversation later,” he said. “Right now, there are people I would like you to meet.”
“Who?” I asked as two suave men approached us.
The older man looked to be around my dad’s age and a younger one who looked closer to my age. Maybe a few years older. I probably owed these men some gratitude since they got me out of an extremely screwed-up conversation.
“Leonardo,” the older man said. “Thank you so much for hosting such a beautiful affair on our behalf.”
As the two men exchanged pleasantries, I caught the younger one staring at me. I swiped my hair over my shoulder and looked down at my feet because I didn’t like the attention. Those weren’t Sebastian’s eyes fixated on me.
“Capri.” My dad nudged me forward. “This is Benny Lazaro and his son Christopher.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Lazaro.” When I went to shake his hand, he took my wrist and kissed the top of my hand. “Please, call me Benny. I plan to get to know you and your family very well. I have a feeling we’re going to become like family too.”
“Okay, Benny.” I smiled as I turned my attention to Christopher. “It’s good to meet you.”
“Capri,” Christopher said. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
I’ve heard nothing about you. “Oh.” I glanced at my dad. “Talking about me?”
“Bragging about you.” My dad placed his hand on the small of my back. “Why don’t you and Christopher get to know one another a bit while Benny and I get a drink.”
“We’re not talking business tonight, are we?” Benny asked as they walked toward the glass doors that led to the bar area.
“It’s a beautiful night.” I went to the stone half-wall at the edge of the terrace and looked out at the city. “Not too hot, especially for this time of the year.”
“I’m new to your city,” Christopher said.
“Are you staying long?”
“For now.” He nodded. “I recently moved here.”
“That’s great.” I rested my arm on the ledge.
“There are plenty of cool things to do in the city. Lots of fantastic restaurants and bars, Broadway shows, and clubs. Total tourist traps too.” I motioned out at the city below us.
“As you can see from all those people down there, we really are the city that never sleeps.”
“I’d love it if we could get together and you can show me around. I don’t know many people here. A few friends from law school, but other than that, I’m a stranger here.”
“Not for long,” I said. “I have several friends who I’m sure would love to meet you too. We can do a group thing or something.”
“I’m really not into large crowds.” He set his hand on the ledge, close to my arm. “I was thinking you and I could grab drinks and dinner. Get to know one another.”
“I don’t…” How could I do this politely without explaining that I had to go back to Greece in a few days? If I didn’t, my extremely sexy hit man boyfriend would kidnap me.
“I just figured since our families were getting into business together, we could hang out. I’ll be working closely with your dad, so I’ll be around all summer.”
“Then I’m sure our paths will cross at some point.” I moved my arm away so his encroaching fingers were no longer invading my space. “Do you want to get a drink now?”
“You’re not twenty-one,” he pointed out with a teasing smile. It might have been cute if I didn’t already have someone else’s smile engraved in my mind.
“How did you know that?”
“I told you, I’ve heard so much about you, and I know your birthday is in a few days. “But your father didn’t tell me you would be the most beautiful woman here tonight. I consider myself extremely lucky to have the company of such a stunning woman.”
“My father didn’t tell me anything about you.”
I wished my father hadn’t tried to fix me up with a business associate without clearing it with me first. Christopher seemed nice enough, and maybe under different circumstances, I would have given him a chance, or at least gone on a date with him.
But now that I had met Sebastian, there was no way I’d be interested in seeing anyone else.
“What would you like to know about me?” he asked. “I’m an open book.”
“I’m not sure she’d be interested in anything you have to say,” a deep, familiar voice said from behind us.
It can’t be.
The warm summer breeze swept over me as I faced the voice, bringing with it a comforting, woodsy scent. Pine, cedar…
“Sebastian!” I squeaked out. “You’re here.”
I had seen this man wear a suit, but now that he stood in front of me in a black tux and matching shirt with no tie and the first two buttons undone… Well, excuse me while I try not to rip his clothes off.
“Where else would I be?” When he smiled, a swarm of butterflies invaded my stomach.
He leaned in and kissed my cheek, lingering against my face long enough to heat my flesh in all the right places. Focusing his attention on Christopher, he wrapped his arm around my waist and brought me close to him. Staking a claim. I’m cool with that. But my father won’t be.
“Who is your friend?” Sebastian asked.
“Oh, this is Christopher Lazaro,” I said. “He’s an associate of my father’s.”
My dad was going to go crazy when he found out Sebastian crashed the party. I had to get us out of here before that happened.
“Christopher this is, ah…” I gazed up at Sebastian because I wasn’t sure how to introduce him? Sebastian, Hades, or an alias he might be using.
“Hades.” He extended his hand. “I’m a long-time family friend.”
He predates me.
“It’s good to meet you, Hades,” Christopher said. “Capri and I were about to get a drink, so if you’ll excuse us.”
Sebastian tightened his hold on me but his jaw was clenched even tighter.
Oh no! I know who is going to win this pissing contest.
“Actually, I need to speak with Capri, so if you’ll excuse us.” Sebastian looked at me. “Shall we?”
“Sure,” I said. “It was nice meeting you, Christopher.”
Before Christopher had time to respond, Sebastian whisked me away to another section of the terrace where we were shielded by a staircase covered in shadows.
“I can’t leave you alone for a minute, can I?” He took my hand and stepped back, taking me in.
“What are you doing here?”
“Learning that I can’t leave you alone or another shark will circle.” He shook his head as he drew his gaze down my body. I do look pretty hot in the dress so… “I can’t say that I blame Christopher, but I’ll always be the bigger shark.”
“Are you insane?” I threw my arms around his neck. “You can’t be here.”
“I can be here, and I wouldn’t have said I was insane until you walked into my life.” When he grinned, my heart flipped. “I couldn’t miss the opportunity to see you in that dress. You’re as stunning as I imagined you would be in it.”
“You came all this way to see me in a dress?”
“Not exactly.” He draped his arms around my hips. “I came all this way for a kiss.”
He lowered his lips and gently pressed them to mine. It had only been a few days, but now that he was here, it felt like we had been apart for a lifetime. I missed him. I missed us.
“Wait!” I pushed against his chest. “You can’t be seen here. It’s dangerous.”
“For who?”
“You.” I glanced around, making sure no one watched us. “The whole thing with Father Santiago and your feud with my father. Why would you risk being here?”
“I have my reasons.” He gripped my chin between his fingers. “You’re worth the risk.”
“I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“I can handle it.”
He kissed me with a forceful hunger that mirrored my own.
I surrendered to him, allowing him to consume me.
The deeper the kiss, the more I lost myself in him.
Nothing about us made sense, but somehow everything about us was as clear as the crystal blue water in the ocean on his island when we were together.
When he broke the kiss, I had to hold onto him to steady myself. “Sebastian, I—”
“Get your fucking hands off her!” my father yelled as he came toward us.
“No,” I whispered.
“I’ll be fine.” Sebastian released me and stepped in front of me, shielding me from my father. I had never seen such rage in my dad’s expression. It startled me.
“Get away from her.” My dad got in Sebastian’s face. “Is this the man you met in Greece?” He glared at me. “The one you didn’t want to come home for?”
“Hello, Leo,” Sebastian said. “It’s been a long time.”
“I don’t know how the fuck you pulled this off, but I will not let you use her to get to me.” My dad reached for me, but Sebastian caught his arm and pushed him away before he could touch me.
“He didn’t pull anything off.” I stood next to Sebastian. “He hasn’t done anything wrong. This was all me.”
“Capri,” my father said. “You have no idea who this man is.”
“I know exactly who he is and who he was to you.”