Chapter Ten #2
Cesare’s gaze flitted from her eyes to her lips, then to her long, slender legs. She looked absolutely gorgeous. “I like that.”
Cesare looked away pensively in the distance for a moment before looking back at Sabrina’s waiting expression.
“I’m the oldest of five boys. My parents were very involved in our community, but they had a complicated relationship with polite society.
Even so, they said what they meant, and meant what they did, so there’s that.
” He gave a rueful shrug. “My dad went to prison under the RICO Act when I was in high school. Got out for good behavior a few years ago.”
“Rico?” Sabrina asked.
“I’m not my father. Don't get me wrong; I love my pops, but we are two very different men.” Cesare said in a slightly pained tone despite the blank expression. “And I’m telling you because I don’t want you to hear it from someone else.”
Sabrina reached a hand up and threaded her fingers through his hair, lightly scratching at the base of his scalp. He didn’t know if she was trying to seduce him on purpose or by accident, but either way it was working.
“Fuck.” Cesare breathed out.
“This seems to calm you.” She observed.
Cesare grunted, too blissed out to feel embarrassed at being so easily manipulated. He’d worry about that later.
“What’s Rico?” The little minx asked again, and Cesare only leaned further into her touch. “Organized crime.” He rumbled. “Racketeering.”
Sabrinna was quiet for a moment before she spoke again, amusement coloring her words unexpectedly. “And it was all a misunderstanding, I assume?”
Cesare shook his head. “Nah, he did it. He did more than that, but those were the charges.” He muttered into her neck.
He couldn’t see Sabrina’s face, but he could feel her body continue to stay relaxed in his arms, with no tension.
“And your mother?” She asked softly.
Cesare reluctantly pulled back, just enough to meet her gaze. “She passed away just after he got out. Doctors said she was too young to have a heart attack, but she always enjoyed proving people wrong.” He gave her a pained, half-hearted smile.
“Gallows humor.” Sabrina remarked softly, tracing his brows.
“Yes.” He nodded simply.
“What was her name?” Sabrina asked.
“My mother’s name was Eva. Eva Lorena Bonetti Lombardi.” He smiled wistfully.
“That is a beautiful name.” Sabrina nodded solemnly.
“She was a beautiful woman.” Cesare replied.
“We’re both in the dead parents club.” Sabrina remarked after a prolonged moment of silence.
“We are.” Cesare sighed, running a hand behind his neck.
“I never got my card.” She frowned with faux disappointment.
Cesare looked back at her lips, thinking that if she could crack a joke about dead parents, then she stood an actual chance of holding her own with his brothers.
“I’ll get you a card.” He said, sounding more Italian than he had planned to.
“Yeah?” Sabrina asked softly. Her eyes were wide and doleful again; her pouting lips demanding his attention.
Cesare had meant it when he told her he’d kiss her after the date, but right now that seemed like the stupidest idea ever. He wanted it now.
“Yeah.” He answered smugly. “I’ll get you anything you want.” He said matter-of-factly.
“Anything?” She teased.
Cesare met her waiting gaze, his eyes both gentle and lethally serious. He ran his hands up the curves of Sabrina’s body, and squeezed at the contours of her waist. “You don’t believe me now, but you will, Sabrina. You’ll learn. I’ll give you everything.”
◆◆◆
They were back in the helicopter and halfway back to Eliot when Sabrina’s phone started blowing up with texts and missed calls. “Oh, no.” She muttered, her brows furrowed as she skimmed through the messages.
“What’s wrong?” Cesare demanded, immediately looking over to her.
“I’m part of a marine rescue, and there’s a seal pup caught in some netting. It was found on the beach by a group of college students. It sounds like some of them have been touching the seal pup.” The last part came out as a groan as she closed her eyes.
“Baby seals. Those are cute and not poisonous, right?” Cesare asked.
“They are.” Sabrina nodded. “They’re the cutest thing in the world, but if they smell like humans instead of mom, when they’re reunited, they’re rejected. The moms get confused by the new scent and can attack the babies.”
“That sucks. What happens when dispatch calls in a baby seal?” Cesare asked.
“I’m signed up to respond this weekend. If I can’t make it, Walter normally goes, but he’s in the middle of the ocean on a lobster boat at the moment.”
“Which beach?” Cesare asked.
“York Harbor.” Sabrina bit her lip.
“Sounds like we’re going to York Harbor, then.” Cesare nodded.
“Wait, are you serious?” Sabrina asked, slightly stunned.
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be? What do we need?”
“I’m texting Travis to bring supplies. He’s good at the logistics piece, but handling animals isn’t his thing. I don’t mean to rope you into this. You can totally drop me off and it would be fine.”
“Nope.” Cesare popped the end of the word with his wide lips as he looked over. “You can’t dangle putting the rescue of a baby seal in my repertoire and then rescind the invitation.”
Sabrina’s shoulders relaxed as her hopeful smile turned into one of relief and she fired off another text.
“Who’s Travis?” Cesare asked.
Sabrina looked up at his purposefully casual tone and narrowed her eyes. “He’s a friend.”
“Have you ever kissed him?” Cesare asked.
Sabrina shook her head, eyes beginning to sparkle with mischief. “I haven’t kissed you either.”
Cesare nodded wordlessly as his eyes smoldered. “This is true, but I will be kissing you very soon, Sabrina.”
“Hmm. Is that so?” She teased back.
“It is.” He nodded matter-of-factly.
Sabrina narrowed her gaze contemplatively. “Are you going to be a caveman, Cesare?” She murmured with amusement.
“No.” He shook his head with a grin. “But you are a beautiful woman, and I protect what’s mine.”
Sabrina gave him an amused side-eye. “For someone who says they aren’t a caveman, that sounds an awful lot like a caveman. But I like you. A little bit, not a lot.”
Cesare reached out, his large hand wrapping around her bare knee, and moving up just enough to squeeze her inner thigh possessively. “A little bit, not a lot.” He grumbled good-naturedly. “I think you like me more than that.”
“Hmm. We’ll see.” She murmured, doing her best to look unaffected, but betrayed by the red flush on her cheeks.
Cesare moved his hand a little higher, fairly positive it was too soon to threaten her with the myriad of enjoyable things he had in mind for her sass. “Oh, I intend to.” He rumbled, pleased when his pretty girl blushed in response.
“Let’s go save a baby seal.” He grinned.