Chapter 33 Charlie
Charlie
“What the hell just happened?” I glare at the brothers, still stunned after Luciano’s storming exit. It was like a switch flipped inside him.
“No clue,” Mattia mumbles from his spot on the floor, not looking up.
“So, what now?” I plead, desperate for some guidance, wanting to get in Luciano’s good books.
"Do what he says. Plan the takeover, Charlie," Stefano snaps, already heading out the door.
I mutter under my breath, “And they say girls are moody,” earning a chuckle from Mattia and a smirk from Carlo—my two favorite brothers. Turning back to them, I say, “Looks like I’m riding with you guys back to the house.”
Mattia shoots me a glance, nodding toward the tarp-covered body. “We’re kind of in the middle of something.”
“And?”
“Just shove him in the boot or whatever you do, then drop me back first,” Carlo grumbles.
“Fine.”
“Shotgun,” I call, pointing at Mattia.
He groans. “I hate sitting in the back.”
“Grow up, you two,” Carlo grunts.
“But you love us like this,” I tease, patting Carlo’s shoulder. He shrugs me off, grabbing his end of the bundle.
“Lift,” he tells Mattia.
“Won’t someone see you?” I ask.
Mattia shrugs. “The only ones left around here get paid to deal with this shit.”
“Right…” I say, locking the office door behind us. We pile into the car, the silence thick between us. “So, any tips on planning this takeover?”
Carlo just grunts, shaking his head.
“You, Mattia?” I lean forward, searching his face.
He thinks, then shrugs. “Got nothing. Ask me later.”
Great. Just great.
Back at the house, I grab a quick shower, then collapse onto the bed for a nap. Maybe a clear head will help.
Eight hours later, I bolt upright. Shit, I overslept. Half a day to plan this; no pressure. Downstairs, I find Rosa hunched over the bench. “Hey, Rosa. What’s on today?”
“Just the usual,” she replies, cryptic as ever. I grab a bagel and head to the office to find it empty. Jackpot. On the desk lies the shipment yard layout, marked with a post it: Your call… – Stefano.
What an ass. I rip it off, ball it up, toss it aside, and stare at the map. Where to even start? I’m in too deep. What if I fuck this up again? Think like Luciano, I tell myself. He’s an ass, but he knows his shit. What would Luciano do?
I’ll start with a whiskey; he seems to always be drinking it.
I pour a glass and down it. Pour another and start to pace the office.
The shipment’s early in the morning. We’ve got to be there before them.
They probably have eyes on the dock, so parking close is out.
Maybe a couple streets away? But that’s too risky. Getaway cars? Need those too.
I scribble my plan, list what we need, cross out, rewrite, obsess over every detail until I’m damn near certain it’s a good plan—no, make that a fucking brilliant plan.
Shit, maybe I’ve had too much whiskey as the hours have passed.
I feel my eyes beginning to droop until eventually I’m nodding off at the desk.
Strong hands lift me. His cologne hits me, familiar, grounding, and he carries me upstairs.
“Shhh, Principessa. Sleep,” he whispers.
I fight to keep my eyes open as he tucks me in. “Wait.” I grab his arm, trying to pull him back down to me.
“What?”
“Stay with me.”
“I can’t,” he says.
“Please, Luciano,” I beg, pulling down the sheets. Reluctantly, he climbs in, resting his head against the headboard, pulling me close. I nestle against him, my head on his chest, heartbeat steady beneath my ear. “Thank you,” I whisper.
“Sleep, Principessa,” he murmurs, stroking my hair until I drift off.
But when morning comes, he’s already gone, not a trace in sight that he slept here with me.
I quickly jump in the shower, get dressed in my gym clothes, and head downstairs to the kitchen for some coffee, when their voices catch my ear from the office.
I slowly creep over to the closed door and press my ear against it.
“Not bad,” Carlo says.
“Not bad? This is fucking brilliant,” Mattia pipes up.
“If it all goes to her plan,” Stefano adds. I honestly don’t think I could ever make this guy like me.
“I call dibs on telling Red she’s amazing,” Mattia says.
“Mattia, have you taken your meds? You’re hyped today,” Stefano reminds him.
“What? Can’t a guy be excited for his girl?”
“She’s not your girl,” Luciano growls. I can just imagine the look on his face right now.
“Woah, calm down! Red’s eavesdropping,” Mattia laughs. Shit. I forgot how good Mattia’s hearing is.
“Get your ass in here,” Luciano demands.
“Yes, Don,” I say, smirking as I open the door to the office. “So, I’m amazing, huh?”
“Awesome plan,” Mattia says, practically jumping on the couch.
“You came up with it yourself?” Luciano asks. What? Does he think I haven’t learnt anything over these last couple of months?
“Of course! You asked me to, Luci,” I say, using his nickname to get under his skin. He only smiles in response.