by Mynx, Sienna
“You dropped something.” He opened his palm. The bracelet was in the center of it. She accepted her treasured item. “The next time you come to me, I won’t let you go so easily.”
She smiled. He winked and turned and went back to his room. Mira closed the door shaking her head. “Next time, huh?”
****
Giovanni showered. Not that it was necessary, but the woman had left him with such an unyielding hard-on he needed the cool jets for relief. He shouldn’t have seized her when she came into his room. Like a frightened bunny she leapt from his arms and hurried away when all he wanted to hear was that she felt his passion for her. Hell, what did she expect? Showing up in his room barefoot, bottomless, eyes wide and lovely, with a mouth like hers, the moment he discovered she was weak for him he lost all control. He was only a man after all. And the taste of her? Never tasted anything sweeter.
His day had been filled with a few surprises. The first kiss she gave him took his breath away, but the second set his blood to boiling. A sly smile split his face at the thought of her rebellion. He hadn’t expected it to end with her falling into the pond. And the joy in her pretty brown eyes when she told him that her precious items were returned to her made him the hero. He missed the soft vulnerability that could be found in the arms of a headstrong woman.
Of course she had the perfect body for a man like him, supple in all the right spots. The kind of curves that would be a comfort to him when chaos returned to his life, and he knew it was coming soon. Territory wars were brewing with the expansion of tourism in southern Italy. He needed the alliance with Calderone to stay ahead of his enemies.
He joined Dominic and Carlo on the open terrace that wrapped around the side of the villa and caught the cool breeze from the Lario, which was the lake. The men finished lunch and awaited his arrival. Most in his family preferred to dine in the sun. Dominic and Carlo pummeled him at once with business matters, while his mind kept flashing to thoughts of his and Mira’s brief time together. Every time he heard movement his heart thundered in his chest. He could feel the ache return to his groin and extend through his semi-erection. She did not reappear, and after an hour of hoping, he shifted his attention to the men who needed him.
“Did you hear me? Catalina has called. She wants to talk to you.”
“Handle her.” Giovanni ordered Dominic as he swirled the cubes in his glass. “Who found the purse?”
Dominic frowned but Carlo answered. “Renaldo made a few calls. It was with Maximo’s men. He had it brought in this morning.”
“Well done.” Giovanni downed a shot of his malt and swallowed an ice cube. He needed something to cool him off. The doors to the villa opened and in drifted the soft giggles of a woman. He glanced up as Lorenzo strolled inside with his arm draped over the redhead. Both of them had wet hair and deep flushed looks. It appeared that his cousin had done much better in his pursuits.
“This looks serious,” Fabiana smiled at the men. “Is Mira upstairs?”
Giovanni nodded.
She rose on her toes and kissed Lorenzo. “I’ll go find her. See you for a late lunch. Okay?”
Lorenzo nodded and let her go. Giovanni noticed how his cousin kept his eyes trained on her hips. “Woman is a firecracker. You have no idea.” Lorenzo whistled. Carlo snickered but Dominic cut his eyes away in disgust.
“How are things?” Lorenzo asked.
Dominic rose. “I’m heading back home, to see to Catalina.”
Lorenzo nodded. “You do that little one. I’ll handle business with Giovanni. That is until Flavio returns.”
Dominic glared. Lorenzo never missed a moment to point out that Flavio was consigliere and their young surrogate cousin was just a stand in. Giovanni waited for the tension to pass. He didn’t need to speak. The men gave each other a nod of reprieve and parted. Carlo rose next. He walked over and slapped Lorenzo on the back. Grabbing his neck, he whispered in his ear. Lorenzo roared with laughter. Carlo sauntered out.
“You don’t look to be pleased.” Lorenzo tossed Giovanni’s way.
“I have a lot on my mind.”
“And the designer? She was supposed to give you some relief. How was she?”
“Watch your fucking mouth. Don’t speak of her in that way.”
Lorenzo’s brows shot up. “Scusi. Guess she’s made an impression on you.”
Giovanni headed to the bar to refresh his drink.
“Are you falling for that designer?” Lorenzo pressed.
“What?”
“This is a first. You usually don’t visit Bellagio for long. On my way in, I saw the boys. Looks like you might be here for a few more days.”
“I have business in Bellagio thanks to you. The caberineri have dispatched two inspectors. They’ve asked to see me directly.”
“Of course.” Lorenzo grumbled with forced restraint. “What are your plans for afterward?”
“Afterward?”
“Our guests?” Lorenzo’s gaze switched to the ceiling to emphasize his meaning.
“Aww, Mira. She and I have unfinished business. A private matter.”
“The favor she owes for the building you want in Napoli? Still negotiating?”
“I don’t negotiate, you know that.” He’d forgotten her rebuke of his offer. Fuck he’d buy her four buildings if she’d let him run his hand up under her skirt just once more. “She’s unlike any other woman I’ve met since my return to Italia. I find her interesting.” He turned from the bar and sipped his drink, locking gazes with Lorenzo from over the top of the glass.
“You do know she could never fit in your world. A fling is the best you could hope for.”
“What about her friend? You two look pretty cozy.” He returned to his seat and plopped down.
“Fabiana? Don’t let the red hair fool you. She’s Italian. A hot little sex kitten. I can’t get enough of the pussy, now that she’s finally given me a taste. But I’m not a man to settle down. She understands this. You, however, cousin, well let’s just say we see things differently when it comes to women.”
Giovanni chuckled. “No shit.”
“That friend of hers, I’m not too sure about. She’s a bit jumpy. A bit of a donna. Imagine molding her into a Battaglia wife?”
“I don’t want a woman to be molded into anything. And I don’t want a wife.”
“You have Catalina back in Sorrento being molded into the perfect bride.”
“Different. And you know it.” Giovanni said his throat dry and his patience short. Lorenzo looked poised to counter and the phone rang. Both of their eyes switched to it. Giovanni observed him while he took the call. There was a short exchange and then he asked the caller to allow him to ring him back.
“Something I should know?” Giovanni asked.
“No. It’s my gift for Fabiana. An artist I’ve commissioned to do her portrait.”
“Thought she wasn’t worth the effort?”
Lorenzo gave a thin-lipped smile. Giovanni narrowed his gaze on his cousin. He could tell when he wasn’t truthful. In that moment he knew he was lying.
“You said the carabineri have come. Is it one of our friends?”
Giovanni didn’t bother to answer.
“Should I attend the meeting? It was my restaurant, and Francesco was my partner.”
“I owned the damn place, and they know it. I’ll handle it.” After another long swig of his whiskey he slammed the glass on the bar. “I’ll leave now. Send Bella my regrets. Maybe I can join you all for dinner.”
“Giovanni?”
He paused at the door.
“My request, to be part of the meeting with Don Calderone? Domi is headed back to Napoli. Will you allow it?”
“No. I’d rather you focus on returning my investment.”
He waited for Lorenzo to challenge him. The flash fire of rebellion sparked in his cousin’s eyes. Instead he nodded his obedience and held his tongue. Giovanni shook his head and walked out.
Once alone Lorenzo picked up
the phone and dialed. “Che cosa?”
“We need to meet.” A deep voice rasped on the line.
“Where and when?” Lorenzo asked, checking his timepiece.
“Now. The Denelli place.”
Lorenzo ended the call. He walked over to the closet behind the bar and located his gun. Giovanni would be occupied, and with Carlo and Dominic gone he could manage the meeting with little consequence. So he hoped. Things were getting further out of his control, and Giovanni was too close to the truth.
****
“Where are you?” Fabiana threw her door open. Mira had chosen another green dress. This one had a long skirt that covered her knees, and thin spaghetti straps. She was working on her tangles when her best friend charged in.
“There you are. I saw Giovanni downstairs. He said you were up here.”
“Did he?” Mira tried to sound unimpressed. She could still feel herself tingle between her thighs at the mere mention of the man. How on earth could she face him after what transpired between them?
“I had the most fantastic of times. We took Lorenzo’s yacht out. I met with an artist who took pictures of me. He’s going to do my portrait. Can you believe it? And after breakfast I gave Lorenzo a little dessert. Let’s just say it was everything I thought it would be.” Fabiana plopped down on the bed. “Wait, why are you changing clothes?”
“Long story.” Mira turned on her heel and smiled. “So what’s up now?”
“Nothing. The men have business. Lorenzo got a call, and we had to come back. Is that why your date ended too?”
“Wasn’t a date,” Mira mumbled.
“Oh. Didn’t go well?”
She pondered the question for a moment. Things between them went beyond well. However, it was far too soon to define what the passion they shared meant. “Let me show you something.” Mira went to the dresser and picked up her purse. She turned and showed it to Fabiana.
“Is that—?”
“Yes. And guess who gave it to me.”
Fabiana inspected the purse. “Are you serious?”
“He had it delivered to my room. Now how do you explain something like this?”
“I can’t.”
“Exactly.”
Fabiana scanned the contents. “What about your bracelet?”
“Everything was returned, including my passport. You know that purse has been missing for over three weeks and now it shows up as if it was never taken?”
“You think he set you up to be robbed? Why would he?”
Mira shook her head. “No. I don’t think so. It’s not his style. I have no clue what he wants. Surely a man like him can have any woman he wants. But he seems fixated on me. Or maybe that’s the wrong word choice. He’s so mysterious and opinionated I can’t tell what his motivations are. And I feel so overwhelmed when I’m alone with him. I don’t think I will make that mistake again.”
Fabiana laughed.
“What?”
“You kissed him didn’t you?”
“What!”
“Oh I can tell. Something is up.”
“Shut up.”
“Good grief. So what? A little kissy-poo between consenting adults isn’t a sin. The man is hot, and we’re vacationing. What harm could it do?”
“Have you forgotten the conversation we had this morning? Mafia men. Plenty harm can be done. Access to our building with locked cellar doors we can’t enter?” Mira kept her gaze averted so Fabiana didn’t read more. The man’s kiss was the least of her worries. What he did with his tongue still had her knees wobbling.
“I think that purse over there is a peace offering. So what, he’s a bad boy? Not telling you to marry the guy. His friendship could be a benefit to us. I had a long talk with Lorenzo. Not saying I’m totally sold on us becoming involved with the Battaglia’s, but what they are asking of us isn’t illegal.”
“Fabiana, you know I’m in no need of a new relationship, casual or otherwise. Have you forgotten about Kei?”
“The asshole who broke up with you because you said no to his marriage proposal? No. You don’t have to remind me. I just want you to have some fun the next few days. It’s a different country, a different time for us both.” Fabiana almost beamed with happiness. She studied her for a moment. Her wet hair was suspect.
“You really did sleep with Lorenzo?”
“We’re not talking about me.”
Mira shook her head. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“Of course I do. I’m falling in love. Now get dressed. We still have the city to see. Screw the boys. I think we should do it together. Be right back while I tell Lorenzo and get us a driver.”
“Wait. I… Giovanni and I had planned to do some sightseeing.” Mira said.
“Really? Oh. Okay.”
“Go find Lorenzo. I’ll talk to Giovanni. Maybe we can do it as a foursome.”
Chapter Five
The day had burned away faster than either of them anticipated. It was near dusk when they returned, exhausted. Fabiana could always out shop, out drink, and out eat her, but on this day she managed to do all three. They laughed as they strolled side by side through large double doors drawn open as if in anticipation of their arrival. With shopping bags swinging in their hands, the two of them finished each other sentences.
The villa in the evening had a spacious airy feel to it. Every window and door on the lower level was open. It allowed a sweetly fragrant tropical breeze to flow through the long halls. Soft yellow lamp fixtures on the walls and posted in the corners of the rooms chased away the shadows. Even the chandelier, twinkling from the high vaulted ceiling, cast beams of light over the hanging portraits and marble statues. Together they bounded up the winding stairs. Her friend chatted her up over something funny they’d seen in a storekeeper’s window, and she pretended to agree. Her mind was elsewhere.
All day her thoughts were filled with him. The man had left one hell of an impression. From his larger than life imposing stature to his handsome tan gold face and dreamy eyes, it had become hard to shake thoughts of him. Even the strong spice of his cologne lingered in the back of her mind and caused her blood to rush to her face with shame. He’d used his tongue masterfully, gave her the first climax she’d had in months, and she was sure he had done it all on purpose.
At first she intended to decline Fabiana’s invite for a day in town without the men but found that Giovanni had left on business when she returned to the parlor in search of him. Mira half expected to hear he’d left Bellagio for his life in southern Italy. And that had been disappointing.
“Are you even listening to me?” Fabiana walked in her room ahead of her.
“Yes. I think.” Mira answered.
Fabiana slipped her a look under dark lashes. Mira pretended not to notice. She placed her bags on the chaise, and nervously rubbed her hands together.
“You’ve been weird all day.” Fabiana began, circling her. Mira rolled her eyes upward. Her friend went to the window in the room and leaned against the sill. “You’ve been a bit spacy. Is it work? Do you want to call Angelique and check in?”
“No. Don’t be silly. I’m trying to unwind, and you keep taking out the measuring tape to see how much. I’m relaxed. We had a good time, didn’t we?” She dropped on the bed and crossed her legs. Fabiana observed her with a scrutiny she had grown to loathe. If she weren’t careful she’d confess it all before she had time to decide on how she truly felt over her and Giovanni’s passionate moment.
“Wonder where the men are?” Mira said through a forced smile. “We haven’t seen Lorenzo. Shouldn’t you let him know we’re back?” Fabiana rose. She glanced out the window and paused. Her brows furrowed together with concern.
“What is it?”
“Come here! Quick!” Fabiana stepped closer to the window. Mira pushed up from the bed and hurried to her friend’s side. Together they watched Lorenzo speed up the sloping driveway on a motorbike. He climbed off with a flushed hard look to his face. The front of his
shirt, and his trouser legs were caked in dirt, as were his shoes. “What in the hell happened to him?” Mira asked. “Maybe his car broke down or something?”
Lorenzo spoke with a few men who regarded him curiously as well, then marched toward the villa.
“I’ll go downstairs and find out what’s going on.”
“Wait a second, he—.” She turned and her friend was gone. The door slammed shut behind her. Mira searched the cars parked and didn’t see the shiny yellow Ferrari she and Giovanni had taken earlier. She chewed on the inside of her jaw wondering again if he had gone for the evening. After a few minutes curiosity forced her to act. She headed for the door and stepped out into the hall. The armed man who always stood guard had gone. She’d noticed that detail first when they returned. Just knock on the door and see if he’s there. Maybe he’s in there? He clearly stated what a return visit to his room would bring. After the fourth knock it was clear he was gone. Feeling a bit silly she turned away.
“Ciao, Bella.”
From nowhere, he appeared. Their eyes met, and she stood frozen to the spot. “Yes. As a matter of fact I was.” A warm mixture of excitement and trepidation filled her. “You left this morning without saying goodbye.” To her, her voice sounded soft and needy. However, the sly smile on his face and the desire in his stare indicated he had a thing for soft and needy. She cleared her throat and straightened her back. Giovanni did his usual sweep of her appearance; his gaze lingered on her breasts before returning to her face.
When he stopped before her, she felt breathless again.
“I returned. For you.”
“I see.” She pretended to be unimpressed. “I…” Mira cleared her throat and spoke in a steady voice. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you that Fabiana wanted to do some sightseeing with me today. Didn’t want you to think I was running away again.”
“You? Run? After allowing me to taste you? The thought never crossed my mind,” he replied with a jesting quip.
“Oh? Good.”
His gaze left her face and shifted to his closed door. “You want to come in?” he reached for the knob with one hand and placed his other to her hip to steer her toward temptation. Contact of his palm against her body nearly seduced her into complying.