Chapter Five
Andrea
It was our first night at the Rossi Villa. After the chaotic get-together we had at the mansion before coming, I wasn’t looking forward to hanging out with anyone anymore. But sadly, dinner on the first night was mandatory.
I turned off the shower, grabbing a towel to lightly dab my skin before shrugging on a dark silk robe. I walked out of the bathroom.
My heart did double flips when my eyes landed on Luciano, who stood by the large windows that led to the balcony. I had forgotten for a moment that I was there with someone. He was shirtless, clad in black sweats that hung low on his hips.
The wide, muscular expanse of his back made me remember how I had scratched his skin the night he was inside me. My cheeks burned furiously, causing me to bite down on my lips.
“You can take a picture, amore mio,” he teased huskily. “I heard it lasts longer.”
I blushed, embarrassed. “Get over yourself.”
He turned around fully, like he was giving me a chance to properly ogle him.
God, he was beautiful.
His dark hair remained tousled atop his head, with lazy strands kissing his skin. I had presumed he’d have tattoos, but his tanned skin was toned and flawless.
Realizing I was staring at him again, I looked away sharply, approaching the dresser.
“I’m your fiancé. I think at the very least, you can try to eye fuck me and not feel guilty for it.” I didn’t have to look at him to know that he had that stupid, psychotic grin on his face.
I had barely started reaching for my skincare products when I felt his presence behind me. I sucked in a breath, wanting to put on an unaffected look. But his fingers found my waist, slowly squeezing before he spun me around and placed me on the edge of the dresser.
He grabbed my thighs, wrapping them around his waist so our middles connected, and he stood between my legs like he always did.
“Fake fiancé,” I corrected him through clenched teeth, like my heart wasn’t pounding so hard in my chest.
He smirked. Those blue eyes lit up with mischief, and, God, I hated that he looked so handsome.
“Why did you come?” I whispered. He had a choice not to show up, given how I had embarrassed him in my office the other day.
“Because you need me—”
“No, not that.” I shook my head. I wasn’t buying it.
“Because I want you so badly, it fucking hurts.” Although I could feel his throbbing length against me, which stiffened my nipples and made my pussy leak, I knew he wasn’t just talking about my body.
He glanced at my lips, biting his. I could see how much he was fighting to keep control.
“Do you kill people too?” I had to ask.
He chuckled. “Only people who would dare lay a finger on you. I’m not afraid to make a man’s death look like an accident.”
I smacked his chest, glaring at him. “You won’t kill anyone.”
“Yes, as long as they keep their paws off you,” he said casually as he pressed a kiss to my forehead.
“My father and I aren’t the best of friends. We do not share the typical father-son relationship, so I’m not in business with him. I rebel against everything he stands for.” There was a mask of indifference in his voice, but I could pick up on lingering trails of longing.
“Why?” I splayed my palms on his chest, looking up at him.
“Because I’m his biggest disappointment.”
“Did he say that to you?” I murmured.
“He didn’t have to,” he said quietly.
“You want to know what I think?”
He nodded.
“I think you love your father as much as he loves you, but your male egos are getting in the way,” I told him, pointblank.
He went quiet, like he was torn between defending himself and stomaching what I just said. “That’s not true.”
I leaned into him, lips almost brushing. “You know it is.”
A thick silence fell in place between us. Our lips were almost brushing, but we never quite kissed. It was as though we were content with reveling in the art of near-touch.
“We should get ready.”
****
The dinner was being hosted on the villa’s patio. I knew that Sofia and Lillian would have something to say, as usual, because Luciano and I were running late.
The pathway that led to the patio was lined with golden candles, illuminating it down to where the table was. The open space was decorated with vibrant flowers and soft lighting. The luxurious table reminded me of a royal feast.
Papa was at the edge of the table, clad in a black tuxedo.
He cleaned up nice with his gray hair perfectly slicked back.
My evil stepmother was draped in a fancy red evening dress that complemented her signature red lipstick, with her hair in a tight French twist. Sofia went all out with her beaded golden dress, luscious, bouncy curls, and flawless nude, dewy makeup.
She looked like she was about to walk the runway.
Her fiancé, whom I had come to know as Adriano, wore a fancy dark gray suit and left his brown hair in a stylish mess.
The look in his eyes as I approached the table kept me on edge. It was glazed with unbridled lust and something sick. I wasn’t about to pretend that I hadn’t noticed it since I arrived.
Well, there goes your perfect fiancé, sisterly.
Luciano’s arm rested on my lower back, firm and possessive like he was sending off a warning to everyone who cared to listen. Was it weird that a man I just met made me feel safer than people I had known for years?
“Ah, here I thought we were going to starve before you arrived.” Lillian made a snide comment. She was still salty about our altercation this afternoon.
“My fiancée and I apologize for keeping you all waiting.” Luciano smiled sweetly.
Lillian huffed and looked away.
“Good evening, Papa.” I kissed both his cheeks.
“Good evening, tesoro. You look beautiful.” He flashed me a warm smile. I blushed.
Luciano drew out a seat for me on the right side of Papa at the table. He took his seat next to me.
“Shall we?” Papa grinned.
“Yes,” we chorused.
He beckoned the chefs who came in and served us our appetizer for the night.
By the time they were done, everyone had a tantalizing plate of bruschetta—a chunky slice of garlic bread, topped with tomatoes, olive oil, salt, cured meat, vegetables, and rich dark sauce drizzling—before them. We dove in immediately.
“So, Papa, Adriano and I have planned to have the wedding here at the villa. We want to get it done quickly, as we are so excited to spend the rest of our lives together. That means we’d have to extend our stay here.
” Sofia casually dropped the bombshell, dipping a forkful of bruschetta into her mouth.
“What does that mean?” I frowned.
Luciano softly grabbed my thigh like he was assuring me that he was there.
“Surely, you are not that slow, my dear.” Lillian smiled sweetly.
“I think that’s very beautiful, honey.” Of course, Papa would go on to act like he didn’t hear his wife blatantly insult me.
I scoffed. “I don’t know if you know this, but some of us have lives outside of our family. I have a career, Sofia. You can’t spring news like this on me and expect me to press pause on my job simply because I have to be stuck in Venice for your wedding.”
“I don’t know about you, Andrea, but I don’t plan on being the lord of the ring for months like you have been,” she sassed. I saw her mother grin in my peripheral vision.
I laughed. “Now you want to make this about me. My personal life is none of your business. Why don’t you—”
“Girls.” Papa interrupted.
I clenched my fists.
“Let’s not ruin the night,” he said calmly. “Tesoro, you wouldn’t have to bother about taking time off work if you had picked up the reins of the corporation like I told you to.” I could see the twinge of disappointment in his eyes.
My heart bled at his words. Of course, leave it to Papa dearest to never fail to rub it in my face at how much of a disappointment I was.
“Papa, I have told you that I’m not interested in the family business.” I gritted my teeth.
“But you can waste your life away chasing a hobby?” He frowned.
I scoffed. “Right.”
“It’s a good thing Papa never needed you anyway. I’m handling the corporation just fine.” Sofia might be a bitch, but she treated Papa’s business like it was hers.
“Of course.” I flashed her a cold smile.
My taste buds were numb. I was exhausted, and my head pounded so hard.
The night had barely begun, and I was already so apathetic toward the entire dinner.
I burned so badly to walk out on everyone.
But the only thing keeping me together was Luciano’s hold.
I spared him a glance, but he wasn’t looking in my direction.
His jaw was locked, and his expression was as blank as a sheet.
I kept shoving my food down my throat. For a moment, everywhere was silent.
“So, Luciano...” Lillian broke through the tension. “Do you spend all your time making illegal money off people’s backs like your father?”
My eyes widened.
I turned to Luciano. He looked collected, too collected, and a corner of his lips twitched.
“I don’t handle my father’s dirty work for him if that’s what you’re asking, Lillian.
Matter of fact, I own a few hospitality businesses of my own.
” Luciano responded with a politeness that made me so proud of him.
He didn’t give her the reaction she expected, and knowing Lillian, that must have cut deep.
I smiled, massaging his forearm lightly.
“Adriano, here, is into an honorable business,” Sofia commented snarkily, leaning into her fiancé to kiss him. I couldn’t fight back an eye roll. “He runs a successful PR company.”
“Yes, The Zenith Agency,” Adriano boasted.
“Wasn’t that the company that was practically sinking about a year ago or so?” Luciano casually asked. I snorted, wanting to aid him in his pettiness.
If looks could kill, my fiancé would have been six feet below the ground. Adrian’s jaw flexed. He looked like he wanted to smash his fist into his face.
“Yes, babe,” I conceded. “I’m very conversant with many top magazines as a creative director, and I’m sure it hasn’t been listed in the top fifty PR companies in the country.
How were you even able to afford Sofia’s ring?
” I turned to my boiling sister. “Babes, are you sure you didn’t get that ring yourself?
The guy looks like a gold digger if you ask me.
You can be a little shallow, so I’m just looking out for you. ” I took a sip from my wine.
“You bitch!” Sofia screeched.
“No need to cuss me out, sissy.” I pouted.
“Girls!” Papa raised his voice. “Can we just enjoy this dinner without going at each other’s throats?”
“She started it!” we both yelled, pointing our fingers at each other.
“Now, I’m saying give it a rest,” he insisted. Sofia huffed, and I rolled my eyes.
By the time the chefs brought in the main course, the tension at the table had already risen to its peak. I was stabbing through my dinner, desperate to stuff myself full and get out of there.
“Luciano, for someone with a questionable reputation, you certainly won’t mind if I ask you what you want with my daughter.” Papa bluntly threw the question at Luciano. His gaze was burning and unfriendly.
“Papa—”
“Not a word from you, Andrea,” he shushed me calmly, his gaze still intently pinned on Luciano. “With your businesses, I’m assuming it’s a front for your father’s shady deals.”
“I’m not affiliated with my father’s business, Mr. Rossi. We are two separate entities,” Luciano responded.
“But that doesn’t mean your lifestyle doesn’t pose a threat to her life,” Papa maintained sternly.
“Andrea is not in any danger with me.” He rubbed my thigh. I blushed hard and bit my lip. He didn’t even have to say it. I knew I was safe with him.
“Marco, you should make her call off the engagement to this criminal’s son,” Lillian said with hostility.
I rolled my eyes. “Your attempt to sabotage my engagement is becoming boring.”
“Look, he’s corrupted her!” she snapped.
“Quiet, Lillian.” Papa dismissed her.
Her face flushed with fury.
“If you ever hurt a single strand of her hair, I will find you and make you pay for it in ways you can’t even possibly fathom,” Papa threatened him.
“Noted, sir.”
“Does he know?” Sofia suddenly spoke up with a malicious look on her face. When she saw how confused I was, a smirk crawled up to her face.
My eyes widened when I realized what she was about to do.
“Sofia, no...”
“No, I think he should know. If he’s going to spend the rest of his life with you, he should know,” she said with an innocent look.
“Sofia!”
“Does your perfect fiancé know about how you dated an older man, got pregnant for him three times, and terminated it all three times? I think he deserves to know.” She faked a smile.
“Shut the fuck up, Sofia,” Luciano butted in, his voice cold and detached.
The table went still with silence. I couldn’t even look to my side if I wanted. I couldn’t face him.
I should have known this was going to come back to bite me in the ass.
Back when we were in college, and I was being rebellious about my father’s new marriage, I got entangled with someone who was older, as he was willing to provide the love I never really had.
I knew he was married, and I let him fuck me anyway.
I fell pregnant three times, convinced he was going to marry me.
But he manipulated me into aborting them.
Sofia was the devil herself because all those times, she convinced me she had my back until she dropped the act and revealed the secret to my father.
“Oops, I’m guessing you didn’t know.” She grinned, victorious.
“Fuck you!” I had never wanted to stab someone to death so badly.
“No, you go to hell, sissy.”
My lips trembled, my eyes blurring rapidly with tears as I turned to my father. “I blame you. I blame you for everything.”
I held back a sob, pushing my chair back with a screech. I scurried from the patio.
Luciano’s voice was the last thing I heard. “Whatever she chooses to do with her body is her business. The next time you embarrass my fiancée the way you did tonight, I will cut your tongue from your mouth and stuff it down your trashy little throat.”