Chapter 54 Francesca
Francesca
It’s a gray day in mid-December when I’m taking my Music Theory final exam. “Good luck,” the professor says to us all before he takes a seat at his desk. The seat beside me is still empty. I’m not sorry she’s gone, no more than I’m sorry about the choices I’ve made.
Faro is waiting for me outside the classroom when I finish the test. “How was it?”
“Okay, I think. I won’t know until it’s graded.”
“I’m sure you did well. One more hurdle to jump over today, right?”
“There’s always one more, isn’t there?”
He nods and walks me down the hallway to the auditorium.
Establishing a comfortable rapport with my bodyguard again took time, especially after Carlo’s decision to kill my father the way he did. But we’ve managed it, and I’m glad a loyal man like Faro has my husband’s back.
“Will Carlo be working late again tonight?” I ask.
Less than three years after peace was forged with four marriage pacts, only one of those arranged couples is actually together, and civil war is raging again between two of the three ruling families. Meanwhile, my husband has enough on his plate to manage as head of the Vicini Family. My family.
“I know no more than you. You can always check to see where he is.”
The men he trusts most, Faro and his brothers, were amused by Carlo's gesture of the tracking device.
I'd been shocked and overwhelmed by it. Every day, he restores the faith my father once obliterated because I know there is a man I can trust with my life, my happiness and my heart, and that's my husband.
“Rory wants to do some Christmas shopping tomorrow if you’re free.”
“I’d love that.” I love that Faro’s wife and I have become such good friends. “I have a few more gifts to find, too.” Carlo’s mother is difficult to shop for, but I’m determined. “Will you guard us on our outing, Warden?”
He cracks a smile at the nickname. “Of course.”
“You and Rory should come to dinner next Friday night,” I suggest. “My mom will be staying with us through Christmas before we spend Sylvester in Las Vegas. I’m going to ask her if she wants to move in with us while she's here.”
“In the penthouse?”
“Well… maybe she’d have her own apartment in the building.” Carlo enjoys ravishing me wherever he finds me when he gets home, and I have no complaints about that. “I know she’d enjoy seeing Aurora again.”
“I’m going to visit my father up at Attica that day, but we’ll be there if I’m not back too late.”
My joy fizzles for a second until I remember my father's actions are not my fault. “I hope he’s doing alright.”
Faro shrugs. “It’s no picnic, but the Trio looks after their own when they’re inside. Carlo makes sure of it. Speaking of your husband, it looks like I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“What do you…” My words trail off when I see Carlo waiting for me in the auditorium. After bidding Faro a quick farewell, I rush to greet him.
He looks incredibly attractive in his three-piece suit, but that’s not all that draws the eyes of my instructors and fellow students.
A monster lurks in their midst – dark, powerful and impossible to ignore.
All these regular people tremble and shrink under his cold and forbidding gaze, but I don’t.
When I look into his brown eyes, I detect the warmth and affection he showers me with daily.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, excited to see him.
“You said your last exam was a performance. I wanted to hear you sing.”
“You hear me sing all the time.”
“True, but I love seeing you on stage. What will you sing?”
“Just an old show tune about a woman hopelessly in love with a man who’s no good.”
“So… it’s about us?”
Laughing, I shake my head. “You’re good to me. The song was one of Beppe’s favorites.” His gaze softens, and I know my eyes are sparkling with emotion when he cups my face, bringing his lips down to mine for a kiss.
“Francesca? We haven’t got all day, please,” my vocal coach calls, impatiently.
“It’s a good thing that teacher is a woman,” Carlo growls in my ear.
After begging him to behave, I walk toward the stage. I smooth down my skirt as another music student starts to play the piano for me. Everyone is silent, watching me, but there’s only one person in the audience I wish to perform for. Taking a deep breath, I let the music carry me away. For him.
***
“Are you sure you don’t mind us running off on you tonight?” I ask Mom a few nights later when I’m getting ready. “I could ask Carlo to get another ticket.”
Mom shakes her head. “No, Carlo will have plenty of time to grow tired of having his mother-in-law underfoot, and I’m not sure I’d enjoy the performance surrounded by a large crowd.
” My face falls until Mom tuts at me, saying, “Don’t make that sad face, Francesca.
I’ve told you I’m quite content. Go have fun tonight.
I’m going to spend the evening with Dinora and her husband.
He’s invited his brother over, too. Poor man’s been a widower for nearly four years now. ”
My eyebrows raise. “Really, Mom?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Don’t get any matchmaking ideas in your head.” I smirk until her voice drops and she leans in closer. “But on another note, I received a letter that I’ll be writing a response to soon. It was like an early Christmas gift.”
Our eyes meet and a silent conversation is exchanged in a heartbeat. Ronan has written to our mother. My brother is not a letter-writing man by any stretch of the imagination, but I love that he’s heeded my request and given her some joy.
“Anything you’d like for me to add in my response?” Mom asks.
Blinking rapidly, I tell her to send my love before turning to the walk-in closet where I select a dress to wear to the Richard Rodgers Theatre tonight. Another date night, another musical, another sexy dress. Hopefully, we won’t wreck another Ferrari.
“Could you help me with the zipper, Mom?”
“That’s my job.” Laughing, we whirl around to find Carlo in the doorway of the bedroom. He’s home right on time.
With a pleased smile, my mother starts to leave. “Your hair’s all wet,” she comments, gently reaching up to touch his shoulder.
He flashes a charming smile in response. He’s been extra careful to make her feel welcome, knowing how hard these past few years have been. “It’s snowing. Must have melted when I stepped inside. Dinora and her husband are downstairs. Enjoy your evening, Beatrice.”
“I will. Take care of my girl.”
“I always will.” Flushed with happiness, I watch him stalk toward me in my sexy black dress. The appreciation in his eyes is evident even when he says, “You might be cold dressed like that, Red.”
“You’ll keep me warm.”
He nods. “I may have to kill some unfortunate fuckers for staring at my wife tonight.”
“If you keep your eyes on me all evening, you won’t see them staring… and maybe I’ll ignore all the women staring at you.” He smirks. I may manage to ignore the stares of other women who desire my husband – he’s only mine – but we both know how vigilant he is about my safety, especially in public.
We ride down to the garage in the elevator, holding hands.
He glances over at his collection of vintage sportscars and the new Ferrari before leading me toward a black limo that’s idling by the exit.
The driver, the very one who picked me up from a hotel months ago on the night I made a deal with the devil, waves at us but allows my husband to open the door for me.
“I thought we’d be alone.”
He settles beside me on the plush leather seat, his warm arm slipping around me to ward off the chill. “The privacy screen will remain up.”
“But there’ll be no convertible tour of Times Square after dinner,” I say with a small pout.
“Well, it’s snowing, and this way I won’t wreck another car later when my horny little wife gets ideas in that pretty head of hers.”
My pout becomes a naughty grin because I’m certain he’s right.
***
Several hours later, I wrap my legs more firmly around his hips as his thrusts speed up.
I love this feeling; our mouths meeting, our hands clasped, our bodies joined, when we’re so wrapped up in each other nothing else seems to matter.
“I love you,” I murmur as my next release is hurtling toward me.
He bites my throat, then licks it as he slams into me harder. I start to shake and my toes curl. “I love you, too, mia moglie. Every day, I love you more. Come for me,” he rasps, very aware I’m ready to shatter. “Scream my name.”
And I do, only hoping my mother is sound asleep in the bedroom downstairs this late.
Afterwards, he pulls me on top of him as he so often does, worshipping my skin with gentle caresses and peppering my lips with sweet kisses.
Every day, I love him more, too. I may not have chosen him but in the end I certainly did. Twisting my fingers through his thick dark hair as I grow drowsy, I know I would choose him, again and again, over any other man.