26. SCARLET
If anybody told me a few days ago that I would have sex with a mafia boss and spend the morning after with his sister, having the time of my life, I would have accused them of being high.
It's happening, though. Guiliana, or Gigi, as she likes to be called, is not only funny but also the easiest person to talk to I've ever met.
"He wasn't always this perfect, you know," she tells me in a conspiratory whisper. "His front teeth used to be like this," she puts her pointer fingers in front of her mouth and holds them standing out and sideways. "Oh wait, I have pictures…."
She picks up her phone and swipes through them. The idea that Antonio used to have flaws intrigues me. Well, flaws besides being a dangerous mafioso, that is.
"Ahh, here it is. I made this folder for when he gets married one day. All his little embarrassing moments. I plan on putting on quite the slideshow." She winks, and I laugh.
"I thought you said you deleted those," comes a familiar voice from the doorway.
My head turns so fast, I fear I just gave myself whiplash.
And there he stands in all his glory. My heart hitches. Nobody should be allowed to look this perfect. At some point, he loosened the tie around his neck and opened the first few buttons on his dress shirt, and oh boy, does he look hot.
A five o'clock shadow is blooming on his face, making his olive skin tone appear darker and smoothing some of the hard edges of his jawline and square chin.
To a casual observer, he would appear relaxed, casually leaning against the doorframe, but to me, he looks like a predator about to spring on his unsuspecting victim.
His hands work on his cufflinks, no doubt preparing to roll up his sleeves. His dress jacket is carelessly slung over his right shoulder. My stomach flutters ridiculously at the sight of him. I don't think a better-looking man has ever walked the Earth.
"I lied," Gigi replies to her brother and holds out the phone to me.
I shouldn't be lusting after a teenager—Antonio is probably not older than fourteen or fifteen in this picture, but even at that age, he was hot.
His hair was longer and wavy, and he wasn't as filled out as he is now, but I bet every girl in high school was vying for his attention.
Despite the… I suppress a small giggle, crooked as hell teeth.
Gigi wasn't kidding. Those teeth were hideous.
"I suggest you take your phone back now, Gigi, or I'll be forced to send certain images to a certain man." He raises an eyebrow, and Gigi squeals.
With a small giggle, I hand the phone back to her. "You owe me a story," I whisper, and Gigi actually turns bright pink.
"You were supposed to delete those," she pouts.
"I lied," he throws her words back at her with a crooked smile that would make any movie star die of envy.
"So," Antonio drawls out the O , "To what do I owe the honor of your presence?"
"I just came to see how my big brother is doing," Gigi says, getting up and embracing him.
Shit , am I supposed to do the same? I have no idea how to greet him or act around him. It was so much easier this morning waking up with him.
"Let me guess, your allowance ran out?" Antonio asks, hugging Gigi.
I swallow. I've always wanted siblings; I actually begged my mom and dad for one.
Dad would have been on board, but Mom never let me forget that I ruined her figure.
I had the waist of a wasp before I had you , she used to say.
I'd rather die before I go through that again .
Seeing Antonio and Guiliana like this brings my childhood longings back to the surface.
How much easier would my life have been if I could have shared it with someone?
Despite Antonio's biting tone, it's obvious that he adores his sister. And her teasing shows she feels the same.
"Oh, don't be an ass," she grins up at him. "Really, I'm only here to see you. It's been a while."
"It has nothing to do with the new Mercedes that just came out?" He arches an eyebrow at her.
I sit on the couch, mesmerized by their interaction; all that's missing is a bowl of popcorn.
"Oh," she flutters her eyelashes, "it has?"
"I know Guido already called you."
He drops his jacket over the headrest of a chair and walks to the little bar in the corner.
Gigi looks flustered. "Are you spying on my phone again?"
He pours himself a drink. "It became necessary, sorry, Gigi."
She rolls her eyes. "Are we on high alert again?"
"I wouldn't say high, but alert, yes," he downs his drink.
"I see your clothes haven't come in yet, passerotta." He saunters over to me, his gaze hot enough to light a fire in my stomach.
"Wait, passerotta?" Gigi asks, looking from him to me with an astounded expression on her face.
"Gigi," Antonio warns in a deep growl.
"I don't get it," I say, pleading with my eyes for her to fill me in.
She laughs, "You were what? Ten? Eleven?"
"Gigi, no," Antonio shakes his head.
"He found this baby bird after a storm and brought it home. Dad warned him that it would die, but he had it in his head that he would save it."
I can't help it. I hang on to every one of Gigi's words; she's opening up a whole new side of Antonio to me.
"I'm warning you," Antonio reiterates.
She waves him off, and in a conspiratorial voice, continues, "He was with that bird, twenty-four seven.
He even took it to school. He fed it, cleaned it, the whole nine yards.
" Gigi smiles proudly at her big brother, and I think it’s that look on her face that resigns him to Gigi finishing her story.
"And then one day, the baby bird turned into a beautiful sparrow. " Gigi finishes.
"Ah," I look from her to him as warmth spreads through me. Seeing this side of him makes me… makes me like him even more.
"Okay, now can we?—"
I interrupt Antonio, "What happened to the bird?"
"It flew away," he replies sourly.
"He was heartbroken," Gigi intimates.
"I was not. It was just as nature intended. The bird flew off with… damn you Gigi," he growls again, making me laugh. "I'll send you to a nunnery," he threatens his sister, making her laugh even more.
"You'd miss me too much."
He rolls his eyes, before they land on me, "So? Shopping? What happened?"
"I… uh… I haven't ordered anything yet," I manage.
"Hmm, and why's that?" His voice sounds like a purr. Hypnotizing, sending a surge of wetness through my sex.
"Uhm." I lick my suddenly dry lips, wishing Gigi would interrupt and say or do something, but I suppose she’s as mesmerized by this exchange as I was by theirs.
"I don't have the funds for those kinds of clothes," I say as I find my voice.
It sounds a bit more defensive than I would like, but at least I managed to string some words together that make sense.
"Funds?" He looks confused.
"Funds to pay you back. I know I can't use my cards right now, but?—"
Gigi's giggle finally brings the interruption I've been longing for. Antonio throws her a cutting glare.
"What makes you think you need to pay me back? You're my guest," he says.
At the last word, Gigi snorts loudly.
"Guiliana!" Antonio's voice is sharp.
She waves her hands in front of her, still laughing. "Ignore me."
"Don't you have a car to buy?"
Her eyes light up. "Really?"
He rolls his. "Really."
"Oh, you're the best brother ever. My favorite!" she gushes and throws herself against him.
"I'm your only brother," Antonio replies dryly. "Go, Guido is waiting so you can pick your color."
She jumps up and down like a little girl, clapping her hands in joy. Her happiness is contagious, and I feel myself grinning like an idiot.
"Best… brother… ever," she kisses his cheeks with each word.
"Ciao, I hope to see you again soon." She waves at me, then puts her hand up in front of her mouth like she doesn't want me to hear when she turns to Antonio, but she speaks loud enough that I do. "Please keep that one. I really like her."
Antonio grins and throws an indecipherable glance at me. "I'm intending to."
Gigi exits the room like a queen with a last beaming smile, a blown kiss toward her brother, and a wave.
"Well?" Antonio turns to me with a serious and questioning expression, reminding me of what he asked me before Gigi interrupted.
"Well," I hedge, looking for the right words. "I just assumed…" I flounder, not finding them.
"I just bought my sister a three-hundred-grand car, and I'm sure I'll add another two hundred by the time she's done at the dealer. I assure you, I can afford to buy you some clothes and necessities."
"It's just… I'm fine with clothes from Bloomingdale’s," I try.
He looks taken aback, as if I'd just said Woolworths.
"So, the price tags are what stopped you?"
I nod, relieved that he understands.
"Alright, give me a few minutes to make some phone calls, then we'll eat something, and then I'll take you shopping."
"Okay." I'm confused. Didn't he say I shouldn't go out in public?