“I’m here for whatever ya need, babe.”
I grinned at my best friend. She could totally see through all my bullshit, and even though she saw it, she stood by me. More than likely, I would get grilled again, harder. It was why I loved her. I would do the exact same thing to her.
“Can you explain what has Val’s dick in a pinch?” Kiera asked.
“You heard Jag; he’s ranked the same as my brother and yours, but holds all the responsibility over in the west, and technically, he doesn’t have our last name.” Even with us in the corporate world, she would understand that. It was a shark eat shark world out there, and the family business was the same.
“Well, fuck.” Kiera huffed out a breath. Then, being the great best friend she was, she changed the subject. “Can we go shopping instead of getting our feet done?” She rolled her eyes.
I laughed. “I don’t give a shit what we do. I just had to get out of there before the damn house blew up.”
We both laughed at that.
***
“Where are we going?”
Jag had finished talking to Scraper outside the car door while my curiosity was choking me. Hulk had already gotten in the passenger side, and I swear to Christ that man was going to break the car. We needed a semi to cart him around.
“It’s a surprise,” was his response as he flashed me his megawatt smile, making my heart constrict.
I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply, drawing in his scent. It was just the lust. Now I was lying to myself, but I shook it off.
“When I said meet me at eight, didn’t you think I had other plans?” Like going in my room and fucking like rabbits then sleeping so I didn’t have to think of all these feelings you have swirling inside my head.
“I know exactly what you were thinking.” He winked. “Instead, we’re doing this first.”
He reached over and grabbed my hand, sending my body into a hyper-alert state from the simple touch. I closed my eyes, willing my heart to shut off—to lock down—but it didn’t help. It thumped loud in my throat and those little butterflies I haven’t felt in my stomach since I was younger started to fly rapidly.
He squeezed my hand, and I looked up into his beautiful, concerned eyes.
“Want to tell me what’s got those wheels turning so fast?”
I schooled my features and took a calming breath. Instead of lying, I asked him something I was curious about. “Were you going to tell me you were running everything in California?”
“It’s not a secret. I know your family shields you from it, but yes, I was going to tell you before I left.”
“What’s the big deal about me knowing? I don’t get it. What are you, Spiderman at night or something?” I joked.
Hulk chuckled from the front.
“Shut your fucking mouth,” Jag sneered then turned his attention back to me. “Do you know much about the business?”
“I know my business damn well, but Daddy’s, no. That’s the way I want it.” I knew it was illegal at times. Yeah, I did watch the news. I knew more about the Soprano’s and The Godfather’s business dealings than my father’s though.
“Right. They do that shit to protect you.” His beautiful eyes penetrated me, sucking me in with their magnetism. I could do nothing, but suck him in. “Now, not only are you the daughter to Salvador Lambardoni, you’re being seen out with one of his right hands—me. The target just got a bit bigger on your head.”
Shit. That I got. “So I have to ask—though I’m sure you won’t answer—how did you get this position and not one of my brothers or cousins?”
He was quiet for some time, contemplating what to say. All I wanted was the truth, something more to help me uncover the man underneath.
“My father was Geovini Maratelli.”
I gasped, and his grip became tighter around my hand, not letting me move an inch.
Ten years ago, my father was accused of killing Geovini, his best friend. They knew each other growing up, but the Maratelli family moved out to California. According to the papers, Geo was found dead in his office, and several links to my father were found. Daddy happened to be in California at the time. It was one of the worst years of my life. I was in my late teens then and idolized my dad, still did. His being accused of murder was a tough blow.
I had met Geo a few times, but I was shielded from attending the trial and wasn’t allowed to step foot in the state. I wanted to be with my family more than anything, but nothing I said could convince my mom or even Uncle Vino. As a result, I cried with Kiera. I read the newspaper articles every day, trying to piece the puzzle together. When my father called and told me he didn’t do it, I believed him to my core. Every night, I prayed and prayed answers would be found.
After what felt like forever, Daddy was let off due to a lack of evidence, and the killer had never been found.
My thoughts flickered to the last time I had seen Geo. I had been about thirteen, and we had met for a family dinner. The young boy … “Geo Junior,” I whispered, the link clicking.
Jag chuckled. “I always hated being called that, but yes, that’s my legal name.”
“We’ve met,” I stated matter-of-factly.
He looked confused and tilted his head. “I don’t remember meeting you.” He studied me intently, no doubt trying to think back to all the years he had spent with his father.
“Once, at a family dinner. My family, Uncle Vino and his family, and yours. We were young, thirteen or so.” I knew it was him. He had the same exact eyes.
A slow grin laced his lips. “I remember. So I have met the infamous Catarina Lambardoni before.”
“I guess you have. Funny how things happen.” What in the hell was I saying? Stupid. “I’m so sorry about your dad,” I whispered, looking down at our entwined hands, loving the roughness of his touch.
“I know your father and your family had nothing to do with it. This is my family, too. While your dad was out on bail in California, he stayed with me.” He looked at me intently. “Did you know that?” I shook my head. “He taught me about the business one step at a time.”
That was news to me, and I didn’t know how to feel about it.
As the car slowed, my gaze moved to the window, seeing night had fallen. “Where are we?” I asked, to change the subject.
He didn’t answer, but when the car stopped, he pulled my hand, and I stepped out of the car, into the night. The night sky looked pitch-black with only small specks of glitter in the sky for stars. The moon was full, lighting up the ground around us.
“Check it out,” he ordered the guards, who began to walk into the darkness and came back with a head nod. “Come on.” His voice had softened when it came back to me.
We walked hand in hand in silence as we approached a checkered blanket with a wicker picnic basket sitting in the center of it. With the night sky shining above, it was like something you would see in a movie. The wide open space was only illuminated by the moon and the stars. No one could have torn the smile off of my face at this kind gesture from him. My stomach also twisted at it. Why was he putting so much effort into this when he’d already told me he was leaving? Why waste his time with something so romantic and thoughtful when he wasn’t planning on sticking around? Did he see this actually going somewhere? I broke from my musings.
“You did this?” I was in awe. I didn’t know how he had found this place. I hadn’t even known it existed. It seemed like a park with the flat open ground, though without any people around. The moonlight didn’t illuminate any playgrounds or benches for people to sit either. It was almost as wide as a football field without those huge white lines or numbers. All I could see was green grass that glowed in the moonlight. It was perfect.
“I had some help.” He shrugged as if it was no big deal, but it was a big deal for me. Antonio never did anything remotely this nice or sweet for me.