by Unknown
"Where's Gio and the rest of the family that you claimed to be protecting? What would have happened if they had attacked the house?"
His voice was laced with anger. Apparently, Natasha was wrong about the look that he'd given her. It wasn't the "wait until we get home" look. It was the "wait until Joseph walks away" look. Natasha's attention went straight to Gianni's hold on her arm. She looked down at his hand, and then directly in his eye. Apparently, Gianni wasn't intimidated either, because he didn't look as if he had any intention of releasing her arm.
"Gianni, John took our entire family to Jack's penthouse. You know that Storm Tower is guarded like Fort Knox."
"Natasha you could’ve been hurt, or worse."
His tone had softened, as well as his hold on her arm.
"Gianni, you could’ve been hurt, or worse. Neither would have been okay with me."
"We'll talk about this later," Gianni responded dismissively. "I know that you want to go and see about Victoria."
Natasha did want to check on Victoria and the others, but as far as she was concerned, she and Gianni had already had their talk.
“Okay, sweetheart. Thank you."
Chapter 24
TAMMY
Tammy was riding quietly in the passenger seat next to Luca when her phone chimed, indicating that she had a new text message. They were leaving the hospital. Jack's mother and sister were doing okay. And Victoria would eventually be okay.
Tammy had never suffered a miscarriage, so she couldn't put herself in Victoria's shoes. But, at least she was alive, and the doctor said that she would be healthy enough to try again if she wanted. Tammy, having watched the video feed, saw the horror that Victoria had survived. She admired her strength and endurance. She saw Emily fight for her mother, and she saw Katherine sacrifice herself for Victoria. Also, she learned that, in the end, Natasha, with Joseph's help, had saved the day. The women that she was surrounded by were nothing less than extraordinary. And although Tammy's only skill was exotic dancing, she still had to do her part.
"I know where the Russian is," she informed Luca.
"What? How?"
"I reached out to a Russian chick that I work with, Rulenska. I told her to keep her eyes open for a beautiful, dark haired, blue eyed, foreign, Russian. She just sent me a text saying that she showed up at a whorehouse up north a few hours ago. It's run by a dude named Sergei. Rulenska said that she was acting all paranoid; screaming to anyone that would listen that she needed a plane to get her out of Chicago. I can text you the address."
Luca had the look of a man that had just won the lottery. He instructed Lorenzo to pull over. When the vehicle stopped, he caressed Tammy's face and kissed her hard on the lips.
"Thank you so much," he whispered against her lips. "Thank you."
"Luca, please be safe."
"I will. I promise."
Luca instructed Lorenzo to take her straight to the penthouse and to make sure that she was kept safe. He hopped out, and Lorenzo sped away. Tammy knew that she had to tell Luca what she knew, because they'd never be safe until the Russian was dealt with. However, she was terribly worried about him as she watched him hop into another vehicle. . He meant more to her than she wanted to admit. However, she knew that he had to do what he had to do.
Lorenzo took Tammy to Storm Tower, escorted her to the penthouse, and handed her over to John. But before he left, he ensured Tammy that he would make sure that Luca returned to her unharmed. And while Tammy was grateful for his reassurance, she wouldn't be comfortable until she saw him again.
She walked into the penthouse and went on an immediate search for David. With everything that'd happened, all she wanted was to hold her little boy in her arms. When she found him, he was sleeping in the guest bedroom, cuddling next to Jasmine. She lay down beside him, careful not to wake him, and pressed her hand against his chest. Her son's beating heart lulled her into a peaceful sleep.
Tammy woke to sweet kisses to her cheek.
"Mommy, wake up," she heard David whisper. "Mommy, wake up."
Tammy reluctantly opened her eyes, but when she saw David's cute little face leaning over her, she couldn't help but smile.
"Good morning, baby."
"Good morning, Mommy. You gotta get up cuz Uncle Gianni is making breakfast," he insisted, tugging on her arm.
“Okay. Okay. I'm getting up. You go, and I'll meet you downstairs."
David narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"Don’t go back to sleep."
Tammy grabbed David's face and pinched his chubby cheeks.
"Go. I'll be down in a second."
“Okay."
Tammy got up, grabbed her purse, and went into the bathroom. She washed her face, brushed her teeth, and stuffed her hair into a messy bun. She looked in the mirror and decided that she looked good enough for breakfast. She'd get dressed after she ate. She made her way downstairs and rounded the corner to the dining room. Amy, Mia, Natasha, and Tracy were sitting at the table while the children played on the floor.
"Good morning all."
"Good morning," they responded, in unison.
Tammy looked around, but she didn't see Luca.
"Where's Luca?"
"I'm here,” Luca said, entering the dining room.
He was still wearing clothing from the day before and his normal five o'clock shadow was a little thicker, and yet, he was still sexy as all hell. Luca walked around the table, lifted David from the floor, and tossed him in the air. When David squealed with delight, Jasmine ran to Luca and grabbed his leg, insisting that she have a turn. Luca obliged, but when he tossed Jasmine in the air she tensed. A look of terror replaced what was once a happy face.
When her bottom lip poked, Tammy knew that tears would soon follow. But Luca held Jasmine close, pressing her head against his broad shoulder and rubbing circles on her back. She wrapped her little arms around Luca's neck and allowed him to soothe her. Tammy was amazed that someone as hard as Luca could comfort a child so easily. He was a natural. Once Jasmine became calm, Luca kissed her chubby cheek and handed her over to Tammy. He lifted her chin and kissed her lips.
"Where are the guys?" he mumbled against her lips.
"Joseph and Jonathan left an hour ago, Jack is still at the hospital, and Gianni and Francis are in the kitchen."
Luca kissed the top of her head and headed toward the kitchen.
"Luca! Wait!" Tammy called out, prompting Luca to stop and turn around. "Did you find her?"
He nodded and walked into the kitchen.
It was obvious that Luca had no plans of sharing any of the details. Tammy stood and balanced Jasmine on her hip. She put Jasmine down and grabbed her phone out of her back pocket. She watched her run over to David, before leaving out of the dining room. She walked through the foyer and out the front door. Tammy fished through the contacts in her phone until she found the number that she was looking for.
"Hello," the voice said, on the other end.
"Rue?"
"Tammy! What the fuck?!" Rulenska shouted into the phone.
"Rue, what happened last night?"
"Girl... about fifty big ass dudes, all in black, busted in here last night and snatched that chick that you were asking about. They looked Italian, like the mafia or some shit. What the fuck have you gotten yourself into?" she rattled off in a heavy Russian accent.
"Nothing. What else happened?"
"Nothing. They were in and out. Tammy, seriously, what have you got yourself mixed up in? Worse... what have you gotten me mixed up in?"
"Rue, it's nothing really. It won't come back on you. I promise."
"Better not. You just be careful."
"I will Rue. Thanks. I'll talk to you later."
Tammy ended the call and slid her phone into her back pocket.
"Who's that?"
Tammy was startled and turned to find Luca watching her curiously. Normally, she could feel his presence before actually seeing him. But he had successfully sneaked up on
her.
"Rulenska," Tammy answered honestly.
Luca's eyebrow lifted, but he didn’t comment. "Walk with me," he said instead.
Luca placed his arm around Tammy's shoulder and ushered her to the pathway. She slid her arm around his waist. She placed her head in the nook of his arm and enjoyed being close to him.
"What's on your mind, Signor Savelli?"
"Your fashion house."
"Oookay," she responded, curiously.
"Well... now that you're no longer in danger, I think you should make arrangements to move to Paris."
"Move to Paris? I can't do that. My life is here."
Honestly, Tammy couldn't move. After everything that her father had sacrificed for her, there was no way that she'd leave him. The thought of taking David away from him seemed like a betrayal.
"Tammy, how are you going to run a business from another continent?"
"I'll find a way," she assured.
Luca stopped walking and turned Tammy to face him. He looked her in the eye and told her, "That’s just not realistic."
"I can't leave my dad."
"Your dad has his own life, Tammy. You have to live yours."
"Don't talk to me about my dad," Tammy snapped. "I know that you have a need to control everything around you, but let me worry about my family. You worry about yours."
Luca stopped walking and separated himself from her. He wore a wounded expression, and Tammy knew that her harsh words had affected him.
"To control you was not my intention. I confess that my wanting you to return to Paris with me is not entirely selfless. For that... I offer my apologies," he retorted briskly, before walking away, leaving her feeling like a total bitch.
"Luca!" Tammy shouted at his back, only to be ignored.
Truth be told, Tammy wondered herself how she was going to run a fashion house based in France from Chicago. She'd thought of every possible scenario that would allow her to stay with her dad. Not that moving to Paris, running her own fashion house, and being with Luca wouldn't be a dream come true. But, her father had never left her no matter how hard raising a daughter was for him. She had to admit that Luca was right. Fulfilling her dream while living in Chicago would be impossible. She realized that she needed to convince her father to come to France with them. She went for her phone and dialed his number.
Chapter 25
tammy
It was just after dinner and Tammy was sitting on the patio with her dad. Her intent was to convince him to move to Paris with her and David. She watched him take a sip of his Budweiser while she contemplated what words of persuasion she would use.
"Papa?"
"Mm hmm?" he mumbled into the beer bottle.
"Luca has invested in my dream to become a fashion designer."
"Is that right?"
"Qui. He purchased a warehouse for me to create and a boutique for me to display my designs."
"And why would he do that?"
Her father's question instantly made her nervous. Hell, she didn't even know why he did it.
"Well, I guess he believes in my talent."
It was a guess, but her father looked at her like she had lost her mind.
"If his investment is solely based on your talent, the two of you will be very successful," he said with a smile.
"Merci Papa, but there's a problem."
"What's the problem mon amour?"
Jean-Paul sat his beer on the ground next to his patio chair and waited for Tammy to explain.
"We gotta move to Paris," she blurted, waiting for his reaction.
"We?"
Tammy's brows bunched.
"Of course we. Papa, we’re a family. I wouldn't leave you."
Jean-Paul studied her in silence; long enough to make her fidget in her chair.
"You know... I have always been proud of you. And although I ain't never liked what you do for a living, I knew that everything that you did was for ya family. Tamara, you a grown woman; a good woman; a good mother. You're talented, and you should go to Paris and follow your dreams. Thanks to a man, that I suspect is in love with you, you got the chance to do something big. Don't you dare fret over me. My dreams have already come true. I raised a beautiful daughter who gave me a beautiful grandson; I have my health, and now a good woman to love.
Tammy's eyes threatened to pop out of her head. Hearing that her father was in love was something that she never thought she'd hear, but it was the one thing that she always wanted for him. She smiled and leaped from her seat. She sat on her dad's lap and hugged his neck.
"Papa, I'm so happy for you. Mary is really sweet."
"Dat she is, bebe. Dat she is," he sang, while returning Tammy's hug.
"You know you in love with that boy, right?"
She totally wasn't expecting that to come out of his mouth.
"Papa. No... I..." Tammy stuttered.
"Don't bother trying to convince me, or yourself, that you ain't in love. Dat boy got you glowing like a night light in shit."
Tammy laughed aloud. "Night light in shit?! What the hell?"
"Night light in shit!" Jean-Paul repeated through laughter.
Tammy was having so much fun laughing and talking with her dad that before she knew it, it was well after midnight. He sat his beer on a table and stood with a grunt.
"It's ‘bout time for me to drag myself home little girl. Come hug my neck."
Tammy stood and walked over to her dad. She hugged him as if she was leaving for Paris the next day. She wasn't looking forward to missing him.
"Listen here little girl... you goin' to Paris, not Mars. They make airplanes that fit me same as everybody else."
Tammy chuckled at his wit.
"I know Papa. I love you."
"And I love you."
"Let me walk you out," she said, stepping back.
"Naw. That boy been hovering round that patio door since we been out here, and I know he ain't pining over me."
Tammy turned around. Sure enough, she could see Luca's silhouette behind the doors. Jean-Paul kissed Tammy's forehead.
"I'll see myself out."
“Okay. I'll see you later."
Tammy watched her dad disappear around the side of the house. She heard the door slide open and watched Luca's hulking body cross the threshold. He was dressed comfortably in a t-shirt and jeans. The muscles under his shirt were unable to be concealed. In the night light, his darker skin seemed to glow. He approached, and Tammy crooned her neck to look into his dark, soulful eyes.
"I'm sorry, Luca. I shouldn't have snapped at you. You didn't deserve that. You were only stating the obvious. I'm really sorry."
Luca caressed Tammy's face and whispered, "Moving to another country is a big decision."
He smiled while holding out his hand to her.
"Come. I'd like to discuss something with you."
Tammy placed her hand in his and, together, they strolled the property. They walked in silence until Tammy decided to break it. "I'm really sorry about earlier," she repeated.
"No worries. But we must talk about it."
Tammy nodded, in agreement.
"Bella, I’m from a different place than you. Our way of life, our cultures, our traditions... all different. So, please let me explain to you who I am."
He led her to a huge willow tree. Tammy had always been leery of willow trees. They could be spotted in almost every horror movie, but she was with Luca, and he made her feel safe.
"At the risk of stating the obvious, I am a man. I am not a boy. I am not a woman. I am a man. And I am trying to be your man. I understand that American women like to be in control, but for me that would be a problem. In this relationship...." he said, pointing between the two of them. "...I will govern most things. I want you... so much. But I won't be your woman. What I will do is make decisions based on what I think is best for you, for us.
Tammy listened as Luca continued his speech, and all she could think of was how sexy his accent was. A warm breez
e blew up her sundress, and the wetness between her legs brought a chill to her core. She moved closer to him and placed her hand on his chest. His hard body was proof enough of his manhood. She realized that he was right. She didn't want a woman. She wanted a strong man to care for and protect her and her son. She had that with Luca. Not to mention the fact that he had a big dick and laid pipe like he belonged to the plumber's union. Since being around Victoria and Natasha, Tammy had learned plenty about dealing with powerful men. Whereas Victoria was constantly attempting to assert her independence by arguing, Natasha never argued. She would simply hear Gianni out, without debate, and then do what she wanted to do.
Tammy massaged his pecs and then slid her hands up and over his big shoulders. She smiled up at him.
"You're right, Luca. We are different, and we do come from different places. And, yeah, baby, you're all man. Forgive my aggression. I haven’t had the best experiences with men. I don't trust easily, but I’ma learn to be a better woman for you."
"I believe that you know that you can trust me, Bella," he said, placing his hand in the small of her back. He pulled her against his body. Tammy could hear seduction in his tone, so she decided to do a little seducing of her own. She let her hand slide down his torso and cup his package. She massaged him and whispered, "Yes, baby, I trust you. I trust you to take me back to the house, take me upstairs, slide your extremely big dick inside me, and pound me into the mattress."
Luca's eyes were hooded with desire. He moved closer to her ear and licked her lobe.
"You're wrong, cara," he whispered. "I don't intend to wait that long."
Luca pushed her back against the tree and pressed his lips to hers. He licked the seam of her mouth, demanding access. Tammy allowed his tongue entry and sighed from the sweetness of cognac and the taste of mint. Luca grabbed her ass and pushed his body against her. She could feel his hardness, and the desperation to have him inside her elevated. But Tammy had other ideas. She pushed him away. Luca's eyebrows bunched, and his breath hitched. He advanced on her again, but Tammy pushed against his chest.