Bellissimo Fortuna (Beautiful Fortune) (3 page)

“I don’t like it. Not at all. How would you like it if it was Bianca being treated that way?” I can tell I hit his Achilles heel.

“Enough, Bronson. We do it my way.” His final word has been spoken, and I can’t do anything but abide by it. But I can work around it. She will be safe. I turn to leave his office, knowing I still need to calm down before I go to her. “Bronson,” my father’s voice stops me, “have you decided what you are going to do? I see the way you look at this lifestyle. I know you hate it. I want you to know, you have choices, and whatever you decide, you have my full support. This life . . . it isn’t for everyone.” He seems resigned. Part of him wants me to follow in his footsteps, and part of him wants me to get as far away from it as I can. We mimic each other perfectly in that. I don’t want to be a part of this life, but I don’t want to spit in the face of my heritage.

“I can’t do what I really want to until you’re out. I won’t risk you, you know that.” We have had many talks about my dream. I want to be a DEA agent. While the majority of my father’s crimes aren’t drug related, they are still mixed up in some. And I won’t be able to choose whom I take down, not to mention, I would be used against my father at every turn . . . by both sides.

“You can. I only want your happiness, so I beg you to follow your dreams.”

“Right now my dream is upstairs hating herself for telling me things she tried to keep a secret. She is worried sick that her father will take away all her of options, so my future will be figured out on another day.” He just nods his head towards the door, dismissing me.

I text Bianca.

Let Callie know it’s handled. Heading to gym, keep her with you until I get back. It will all be fine.

I still have some energy I need to work out, but I feel most of the tension melt away as soon as my dad agreed. Now, I have to figure out how to get her to be with me most of the time while still giving her the freedom that has been taken away from her. I want her to spread her wings, explore life, and grow. I’ll always be here to guide her if needed, but I want her to be with me out of want, not obligation. We will be walking a slippery slope. I still need to tell her what I did, and hope it’s what she wanted. I don’t doubt it; it’s just the way it is supposed to be. Now, we just move forward slowly. Ease into the relationship aspect of us. We’ve always had the friendship; we just have to grow that.

Attraction isn’t the issue for me; I am hard at just the mention of her name. I’ve had many fantasies involving her auburn hair wrapped around my hand, her mouth around my cock, her beautiful emerald eyes staring at me. I can’t wait to stroke her creamy, white porcelain skin and claim her, but I won’t rush that. I can’t wait to nurture her dreams, blossom her confidence, and turn her into the woman I see underneath all of her insecurities and age, first.

Getting a good work out is just what I needed. I took my anger out on the punching bag, jabs and kicks until I couldn’t catch my breath or stand. I hadn’t worked it all out, but knowing I was going to be able to tell Callie she was safe, she was mine, made me eager to get home. I was hoping she would stay at the house tonight, let the blow of my father’s announcement sink in and ebb out with no repercussions for her. Her dad should be happy, being tied to me, the Boss’s son is a great honor, but for some reason I know, I feel it in my gut, he won’t be. He has his own agenda, and I am thwarting it. I just hope he doesn’t underestimate me and take it out on Callie. That will be one mistake he won’t recover from. From this point forward, she is off-limits to him.

I walk into Bianca’s room, and the look she gives me tells me she is worried about Callie. She is in the same place I left her, staring off into space and doesn’t even realize I am in the room. I go straight to her and sit down next to her pulling her as close as I can. I feel her relax in my arms and there is no greater high than knowing her faith in me, knowing she draws her consolation from me.

“What happened?” Her wide eyes are probing, trying to read me.

“I took care of it. I promise you, you’ll be safe.”

“How?”

“You are now promised to me. You are mine.” Her gasp of surprise catches me off guard. What did she expect? She has to know what my intentions were when I told her I would handle it. My father’s word is the final in all things
familia
related. He can veto the promising of her to Marco, and claim her for me.

“Why would you do that? You know there is no getting out of it.”

“Of course I know that. I did it for us. I did it because I was always going to do it. It was just time, now.”

“Really?”

“Yes, Callie. Have I not made it clear? I see only you.” She shocks me when she launches herself on my lap and takes my mouth with hers. It’s sloppy, it’s spontaneous, and it’s her first kiss. It’s blissful. It’s ecstasy. It’s completion. I gently take over. Brushing my tongue over hers, gently and slowly, I allow her to acclimate and imitate my actions. Before I know it, I’m sinking into a trance, lost in her taste. Her feelings and her warmth spread through me, creating our own cocoon from the outside world. I slowly break the kiss, peppering her lips with small nips and whisper, “Tuo per sempre.”

Her smile is the most peaceful and euphoric thing I have ever seen. Her words sear into my soul, imprinting on my heart, “Sempre tu.”

Chapter 3

Callie

Holy shit. The way his tongue is moving in my mouth is like a conductor creating a symphony, and I want to weep with the music he is producing inside me. I was out of control when I hurled myself at him, hearing his words of endearment; his claim over me, his promise of forever; it was all too much . . . but not enough at the same time. I had no clue what I was doing when I attacked his mouth like a piranha feasting on flesh, but I knew I wanted all my firsts to be with him. He will be my first, my only, and most surely my last. At a young age, some may question whether I know what I want. I agree, most sixteen-year-old girls and eighteen-year-old young men don’t know . . . but then they don’t grow up in this life. Extreme power, wealth, life and death decisions; it all ages you quickly, but we also learn by lessons. We see destruction, joy, and loyalty at every turn and are taught family first. Well, most of the families are imparted that, and I have been adopted into this family so it’s worn off on me. Our future is mapped out for us, we marry within the families, choices are not always given to us, women are to be cherished, and men are to be worshiped. Old fashioned, traditional, but it’s all we have known. Some elements may change from generation to generation, leniency on future and selections is granted but it is still ingrained in us . . . the customary values that seem to be missing from a lot of relationships are still very prominent in our lives. We don’t always have to agree with them, but as long as we don’t totally disregard them, then there are ways to finagle around them.

“Stop!” Bianca’s squawking is making my ears bleed. “I’m cool with you two finally admitting how you feel, but my eyes will not withstand all the bleach needed to get these images burned out of my mind. No tonsil hockey, no hiding the salami, no indulging in one another in front of the sister and best friend. Not cool.”

“I’ll try not to damage your vision if you quit using that tone and making my ears bleed.” I rub the side of my head checking for blood. Bronson starts snickering, and we all dissolve into a fit of laughter. Happiness. This is what it feels like, and it is surrounding me in this moment. I believe it will be all right.

“Bianca, can I talk to Callie for a minute?” Just like that, my ecstatic feeling is gone. Stripped away and left in its wake is terror. He doesn’t wait for an answer before he pulls me up off the couch and leads me towards his room. I try not to freak out that I will be in his room. With him. Alone. Oh God, what if he wants to do
it
? I’m not ready, but am I allowed to deny him that carnal pleasure? See, I need a guidebook on how to be a Mob Wife.
VH-1
doesn’t tell you all this when they are glamourizing our life. He squeezes my hand, “Relax, baby.” Easy for him to say. He isn’t about to get a zucchini shoved into a wine bottle opening. I may hyperventilate. I feel the signature kiss on the side of my head and all is fine in my world. He can do whatever he wants (within reason) to me as long as he keeps kissing the side of my head in reassurance.

I’ve been in his room many times but always with Bianca. This is new territory. “What’s up?” I ask, nonchalantly. He gives me a grin with the shake of his head. I guess I amuse him.

“First, calm down. We’re talking. That’s it.” While relieved, I’m somewhat disappointed. I was warming up to playing hide the salami with him. “I want you to stay here tonight, as a matter of fact, I want you to stay here as much as possible.” He sees the bewilderment in my expression and clarifies. “Not here in my room, but here at the house.”

“Bronson, we can’t live together. We’re both in high school our parents won’t allow that.”

He can’t hold in his laughter. “Callie, not living together. Sleep over like usual with Bianca. The only thing that will change is that I get a good night kiss now.” I don’t say anything. I’m loving this new arrangement and don’t want to argue about it. “We are going slowly. My dad is making the announcement tonight, I hope there won’t be fall out with your dad, but if there is I need you to tell me.” He must notice my dismay; I can’t involve him in that. “I mean it, Callie. If anything happens from here on out, I’m the person you go to.” He waits for me to acknowledge him, and I know I won’t be able to deny him anything he asks of me.

“Okay, but you need to let me handle as much of it as I can. I don’t want things all muddled up now.”

“I can’t promise that.”

“What else?” I decide to maneuver the conversation away from this topic. It’s a hot button for him, plus I like sweet Bronson, not angry Bronson. Sweet, take control Bronson is the best, and I am wondering how many personalities he actually has.

“We date. We go slowly. You’re only sixteen, but make no mistake, you’re mine. I’ll court you, just like is expected, but we are together.”

Expected? I dislike that word. “Don’t do me any favors,” I murmur.

“What was that, Callie?” His smirk is in place, and I want to wipe it off his face. With my lips.

“I don’t like being an obligation. I’ve been that my entire life.” I hate that feeling.

“No, baby. You misunderstood. You are not an obligation. A desire. A need. Yes, to those. I just meant natural progression is dating and courting. We’re doing it all, we are doing it right, and we will be doing it forever.”

“Are we exclusive?” I know no other man will ever make me turn my head, but him . . . he isn’t exactly known as being a monk.

“You better believe it.”

“I’m not ready for sex yet.” I just blurt it out. “No throwing the hotdog down the hallway.” Five minutes ago I thought it would be fun, but now I’m freaking out.

“Callie, first please don’t refer to your vagina as a hallway. Freaks me out a bit. And don’t insult my dick in reference to a hotdog. Not cool. Sex. That isn’t what this is about. Eventually it will happen, but we pace this. When you’re ready, and are absolutely sure, then we’ll talk about it.”

His sincerity is making me want to believe him, but he has needs. “What about you? Don’t you need sex?”

“I don’t need it. I enjoy it. I want it. But there are other things we can do, eventually.”

“So you won’t be having sex with other people?” I’m not okay with that, but can I really tell him not to? He isn’t getting it from me and men have needs.

“No, Callie. Only you from here on out.” He seems so earnest, and I am totally enamored with him. I have been for as long as I can remember.

Bianca is playing with my hair and doing my makeup. “You are going to be the envy of every girl at school. Guys go crazy for red heads.” She applies more mascara and studies her work. We just turned fifteen and are entering high school this year.

I sigh, “You know I only want one person.”

“I know, Callie. We all know.” She is exasperated by this fact. She hears it every day.

“What, Binks?” I can tell she is mulling over something and I just want her to say it.

“Do you ever wonder if saving yourself for him, by not experiencing anything else is a mistake?” I don’t. Not in the least.

“No, he’s always been it for me. I just know it.” My stomach growls at that point and I hop up and throw on her robe. “I’m going to get something to eat.”

“I’ll be there in a second,” she is responding to a text. I about trip over my own feet as I stop in the entryway to the kitchen. Bronson is reading over a textbook and when he looks up and sees me, I can feel the heat from his gaze. His pupils darken and he peruses my body from head to toe.

“Callie,” his voice is a beacon to me. “What are you wearing?”

I glance down trying to put myself in this moment. “Oh, a robe. Bianca was playing dress up with me and I didn’t want to make a mess of my clothes.”

“Callie, go get dressed.” My name comes out as a growl, his tone clearly warning me of something. Despite the threat of his voice, I’m not afraid. My stomach is fluttering, and I can see he is feeling the same.

“I’m just going to get something to eat, Bronson.” I step into the kitchen and he is up in a flash right in front of me.