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Her parents, while strict with her, are not as strict as mine, and she talks to a lot of people from other families. She told me she's heard Eric is very selfish and horrible in the bedroom. Apparently, every woman who has slept with him has regretted it. Not what I wanted to hear about my future husband, especially as a virgin. For one night of really good sex, I would do just about anything.
Then an idea formed in my head. If I were to have a one-night stand, I would no longer be a virgin and it would be my way of sticking it to Eric. I could have a night of mind blowing sex and he wouldn't get a virgin. But I'd still fulfill my marriage contract. The wedding was far enough off that I could do this now and then play at being the perfect little fiancé that he wants.
The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to do it. But first, I was going to need Bella's help.
So, I went back downstairs and thankfully my parents are still in my dad's office. When I knock on the door, they look up, surprised to see me again.
"I was wondering if I could go over and hang out with Bella for a little bit. I could really use some girl time," I ask. While I want to be honest with them as much as possible, at the same time I want to keep the real reason for my visit a secret.
“Of course, baby. I think it'll be good for you. Let us know when you're on your way back or if you decide to stay the night. Just give us a call and let us know," Dad says, smiling.
The moment I step out the door, every guard will know to watch me on the way to her house.
My dad and his brother each built a house at either end of the property. The families share a big backyard, so I don't really have to leave the property to get there. It’s been a big reason why we've been able to be such great friends.
Still, I like to play a game with myself and pretend I'm sneaking out. I try to stay out of sight of the guards by imagining I’m stealthily staying out of sight. While I know that there are always eyes on me, even when I don't think there are, it's still fun to pretend. It's just that feeling, a rush of trying not to get caught. It's enough to make me feel alive.
Especially since I'm pretty sure that my life is over once I say ‘I do.’
Chapter 2
Matteo
"Sir, Orlando is here," Gio, my right-hand man says.
"Bring him on over and anyone that he's with. Cover all their food and drinks for the night," I tell him and he heads off to do as I ask.
Gio makes his way across the club floor. I’m at Club Red, which is one I frequent often, and even have a room upstairs. It’s also the one that I love coming to because its security is the best. Another point in its favor is it's a great place to find the one-night stands that seem to drown out everything going on in my life. Even if it's just for a few hours.
I never expected to take over my family at the young age of thirty-one. Even though I always knew I was being raised to be the new head of the family, I thought I'd be in my forties before it happened. That's when my dad took over. What I didn't expect was for my father, who was the peacekeeper in the city of Chicago to be murdered, which forced me to step up. All of his advisors have stayed by my side, helping me learn the ropes. But they're also encouraging me to get married, settle down and ditch the playboy reputation so that other families will take me seriously.
When I tell them that's something I will worry about after I avenge my father's death, they don't like it. Right now, they're trying to convince me to keep the peace, but there is no peace until those who murdered my father die.
That's why my buddy, Orlando is here. Years ago, Dad took him under his wing and taught him what it was like to run his own family. Orlando had this intention of building his own empire for the girl that he loved in order to save her and protect her. Since my dad would do the same for my mother and because this kid was planning on heading home to Charleston SC, my dad didn't see a threat in it.
His family has become one of our best allies outside the city of Chicago, and the moment he heard about my dad's death, he was on his way here. Though we were friends growing up, it's been a while since we've seen each other in person. It's not like we can meet up for dinner once a month without drawing the attention of people with whom we want to stay under their radar.
When Orlando and his wife join me, I stand to greet them. This is the first time I will get to see them since their wedding almost two years ago. After his wife had been kidnapped, he was on one mission and that was to put an end to the family that dared to lay a hand on her. Not only was he successful, but he has earned a reputation with other families all over the country. Even though we may not be in the same city, we definitely know what's going on everywhere.
"Are you sure you can get away like this? There's not going to be any issues back home?" I ask. Wanting to make sure because the last thing I would want is for my friend to have problems because of me.
"Because you think of Charleston SC when you think of organized crime, right?" He laughs, shaking his head. "My second in command is staying behind. Since they deal with him most of the time anyway, most people won't even realize I'm gone. At least not right away.
I brought some of my best investigators. They aren't known around here, so we're thinking we might be able to do more digging than your men, who people know. Once we got here, they went their separate ways. They were given the code word that you gave me in case there was any trouble. Though I don't expect there will be, as these guys are the best at what they do. Don’t worry, we’re going to find out who killed your father and we will avenge his death."
One thing my father taught both of us was to never let your emotions show in your voice. Not ever. Because he trained us hard in it, we're both good at keeping emotion out of our voices. But even I can tell that it's as important to Orlando that my father's death is avenged as it is to me. Orlando didn't have a father and my dad was the closest he ever had. Besides, how many mafia dons would take their housekeeper’s kid under their wing and teach them how to create a family of their own?
For a little while, we sit, talk and catch up. The entire time my eyes are trained on the club, seeing who comes in, who's talking with who, and my favorite, who is leaving with who. That's why I noticed the moment the beautiful blonde walks in the door. Even though I've never seen her here before and I would remember, I'm drawn to her in an inexplicable way.
She looks familiar, so I call Gio over.
"Who's that blonde in the red dress that just walked in?"
"That's the Romano girl. Aria Romano."
"Damn. She's the one that's engaged to Eric isn't she?" I ask, trying to hide the frown at just the mention of Eric's name.
"That's her. I'm shocked her father let her out, much less to a place like this," Gio says.
