28. Lucia
Chapter twenty-eight
Lucia
“ S ignora, Signore Barbieri is here to see you. He is waiting in the living room,” my father’s assistant announces, and I jump up from the lounger I’ve been lying in on the terrace.
My brother chuckles from the chair beside me. “That’s the first time I’ve seen you smile properly in days,” he jokes. I scowl back at him.
Dante and my mother have stayed the week in Capri.
My father having decided that if my safety was at risk, it was best for all of the family to remain together with security.
Papa is never going to stop being the head of the family, and I’m more accepting of that after our conversation in his office.
It doesn’t mean I can’t wait to leave with Antonio, though.
“And that’s the first time today that I’ve seen you look up from your cell to notice,” I tease back. To be fair, it is early, and he only just joined me on the terrace a little while ago.
My sandals click on the tiles as I hustle after the assistant. Slowing my pace as I near the doorway. Antonio and I need to talk before I crawl all over him, begging for his kisses.
He stands in the middle of the room with his eyes tracking every step as I approach.
Stopping just out of arm’s reach, I drink in the sight of him.
In my head, I catalog each of his injuries and search for evidence of them before moving on.
The faint bruises on his jaw are barely noticeable beneath the heavier-than-usual growth, the one around his eye more obvious but faded to a yellowish-brown.
Otherwise, there are no discernible changes to him.
He’s still as hot and sexy as he’s always been.
“You’re looking better than you did the last time I saw you.”
“I should hope so.” He inches a step closer. “And you look as gorgeous as ever. Still no bump, though.” My black halter-neck top and matching leggings still hug my figure exactly the same as they’ve always done.
“It’s only been a week.” I smooth my hand over my flat tummy.
“I’m impatient,” he says, flashing his cheekiest grin as he takes another step forward.
He deserves the eye roll I give him.
“You said you wanted to talk.”
“I do. There’s a lot I need to say.” He moves the final step and places his hands at my waist. “But none of that’s as important as me telling you that I love you. I’ve missed you so much that I can’t bear another night without you.”
“That’s a good start.” I place my hands on his forearms, then run them along the corded muscles from his wrist to his elbow. I love his arms, especially when he wraps them around me.
“Next thing I wanted to say was that I’m sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t speak to you first before your father turned up. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you myself, and I’m sorry I put you in danger.”
I reach up to place my fingers on his lips. “Most of that wasn’t your fault. Yes, you should have spoken to me about my safety before you made arrangements with my father. But as I told you on the phone, it hasn’t been too bad with Dante and Mamma here too.”
We’ve spoken or texted every day, so he knows I’ve enjoyed spending time with my brother. He’s also apologized to me on our calls, though I do like that he did it again in person.
“Your text this morning said you had news?”
He looks over my shoulder as one of my father’s staff passes through the hall. “Let’s not talk about that here.”
My gaze narrows as I search his stormy blue-gray eyes for what he’s not telling me. Maybe he discovered who was stealing from his company and threatening us.
“Is it over?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Sadly, no. But soon, I hope, sweetheart.”
His cell buzzes, and he pulls it from his back pocket to read the message. A wide grin slides across his mouth. “That was Will, one of the guys in our security team. He and Parker have just checked the villa, and it’s safe. Are you ready to come home with me?”
“Sì, but my father wants to speak to you first.”
One brow rises high on his forehead. I told Ant about my conversation with my father and his misunderstanding about what really happened when we were teenagers.
Ant’s silence over the phone spoke louder than his only comment, it all makes sense now . Maybe that’s something else we’ll talk about later; though, like him, I’m surprised Papa has asked to see him today.
He groans low. “Let’s get this done, then, so I can take my wife home and show her just how much I missed her.”
“You missed me? Good. That will teach you for sending me away in the first place.” I soften the words with a smile and close the final gap between our bodies by sliding my hands over his shoulders to link at the back of his neck.
And with that, Antonio steals my next breath in a deep, passionate kiss.
***
Rap, rap, rap. Knocking on my father’s office door is nothing like how it felt a week ago.
A lot has changed since then. Most significantly is my husband beside me with his large hand engulfing my free one, our fingers interlocked.
There’s nothing my father or anyone else can do to tear us apart.
Not that I think that’s my father’s intention today.
He’s been different this week, with me, Dante, and Mamma. Like the threat of losing any of us has made him realize what’s truly important. It’s not the money, big houses, fancy cars, or glitzy events for you to show the world your success. It’s family.
Antonio and his brothers taught me that the first summer we met. It’s a shame it’s taken my father until this late in life to learn the same lesson.
“Entra,” Papa commands from the other side of the door, and I turn the handle to lead us in. My cheeks still glowing from the steamy kiss I shared with my husband.
The scrape of my father’s chair against the parquet flooring sounds, and he’s on his feet, stepping around his desk and walking toward us.
My grip tightens in Ant’s. I’m not scared of Papa, more shocked that he’s standing in front of us with his hand held out in greeting to Antonio.
Even before Ant has had a chance to lift his.
They shake, and Papa gestures us to move to the sofa. “Sit.”
Again, I’m having to pick my jaw up so I’m not gawking at my father like he’s a stranger.
“I’m glad we’ve got this chance to speak.” His almost-black eyes drill into each of us in turn. So maybe not everything is different.
“Yes, sir. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for keeping my wife safe while I was recovering.”
My father’s heavy brows draw down into a frown. “She’s my daughter. Of course I should protect her,” he growls.
“Papa, I’m …”
My father’s gaze falls on me first, then turns to Ant. “But I understand. She’s your wife now and therefore your responsibility to keep her safe.”
I cringe at how sexist his words sound, but then, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and my father’s long-held belief in the patriarchy isn’t going to change in a week.
I cover Antonio’s hand on the sofa between us and give it a light squeeze. He’s well-versed in dealing with a domineering father, and I know he’s got this. The touch is more to settle me than him.
“Genero, I owe you an apology for believing you were not the right man for my daughter, as her friend then or husband now. I was wrong to blame you for the mistakes of your cousin. I believed Bruno when I shouldn’t have.”
A gasp slips from my lips. My father has just called Antonio his son-in-law and admitted he was wrong. Two things I never thought I’d hear him utter.
“Unfortunately, we’ve all made mistakes with Bruno. If I can speak frankly to you, sir, I’d like to explain some of what we’ve discovered?”
My father nods, his face stern as he focuses all his attention on my husband.
“For a few months now, Giovanni and I have been investigating anomalies in the financial reports for the Barbieri Foods subsidiary. Money has been transferred out of the company accounts, and large amounts of our product have gone missing from the Port of Naples.” Ant turns to me before continuing.
“We’ve recently learned that Bruno was the man behind this. ”
“What?” I wheeze the word out, not meaning to interrupt.
Antonio turns his hand over and links his fingers through mine.
I knew Bruno was capable of sexual assault and was overall a nasty, horrible human being.
Now I can add the labels of thief and family traitor.
A shudder runs through my body, and Ant moves closer on the sofa to press against my side.
His body heat and scent surrounding me like a soft, warm blanket.
“Sadly, it’s true. Bruno owes some very dangerous people a lot of money, and he’s been systematically using the company to pay off those debts.
When he learned Gio and I were close to discovering who was behind the missing money, he decided to threaten us.
He was the one who sent those men to assault me. ”
“Does your father know?” Papa asks, his tone flat and heavy.
“Gio and my brother Nico were going to see him when I left Florence. They’ve also spoken to the carabinieri, who are currently looking for Bruno.”
“Then Lucia is still not safe.” My father’s voice rises.
“No, sir, but I have my own security at my villa. I love your daughter, and I would never let anything happen to her.” Ant releases my hand and wraps his arm around my shoulders, holding me even closer, and I melt into the embrace, placing a hand in the center of his chest. Not even a little bit embarrassed at the show of affection in front of my father, who hates any demonstration of emotion.
Papa stands and walks over to his desk. It’s time for us to leave too.
But before we do, he has one last thing to say. “If you or your brother need any assistance, let me know. Otherwise, keep my daughter safe.” Then he shakes Ant’s hand and kisses me on both cheeks. His expression softer than I think I’ve ever seen on him.
The click of the door closing as we leave him alone in his office doesn’t have the same finality as it has in the past.
***