And I still don’t have a clue about Lorenzo’s deep, dark secrets.
Lorenzo
“What the hell were you thinking?”
I scowl at Bianca. “Leave it.”
“Leave it? Your job was to get them to give us money they owe not become unhinged, and start a fight.”
“I intimidated him, didn’t I?” I growl, pacing up and down my office. The Moretti family has been sent away with the threat that there will be in serious trouble if they don’t cough up what they owe. The meeting didn’t go smoothly, but I’m not about to admit that. “That’s my job, Bianca. To make them fear us. It doesn’t matter how I did it.”
“Of course it does! For one, you’ve just shown that you have a massive weakness...her. And worse still, you’ve shown that you can’t keep your temper under control. They’re going to take that as a weakness too. They’re going to think you can be easily unraveled.”
“And they’d be wrong.”
“Not anymore.” Bianca shakes her head at me. “Lorenzo, you used to be untouchable. You know damn well that if this was a traditional family, I’d be running our business. I’m the eldest. I should be running the ship. But Mother and Father thought I wasn’t up to the job. They saw you and knew you’d always be the level-headed one, the fearsome one, the ruthless one…”
“You don’t think I was ruthless back there?” I growl. I did what I had to do to protect Lydia. She’s mine and not because she’s my maid. I’ve claimed her. She’s going to give her body to me and I’m going to make it mine. My cock is straining against my pants, ready for her even as I’m filled with anger and frustration at our predicament. She’s forbidden fruit, but that won’t stop me...not even if it interferes with my work.
“You were ruthless, of course, you were. But you were also reckless. I’ve never seen you that way before.” Bianca takes a step toward me, her face softening a little. “Look...whatever you’re feeling, I know it’s tempting to follow your heart to it. Love is stronger than hate or fear. That’s why it’s so dangerous. You showed back there that you’d be willing to do anything to save Lydia. You’re going to get her killed, Lorenzo. Send her away before it’s too late.”
“No. I’ll protect her. She’s only safe with me,” I growl. I stare Bianca down. “Let them try and cross me, I’ll rip them apart. I’m not a violent man, Bianca, you know that. No matter where our work has led us, I’m not a killer or a savage. But if they threaten her again, even in jest, then they’re inviting me to do something I don’t ever want to do.”
“Have some sense,” she begs me. “I’m scared, Lorenzo. Their family...they’re powerful. Just as powerful as ours. And we don’t have anything we can use against them. They have the power, they are holding our money, and now you’ve pissed them off.”
“They’ve pissed me off and trust me, my wrath is more to be feared than theirs,” I growl. I pour two glasses of whiskey and push one toward Bianca. I sip it, allowing the fire to rush through my veins. Bianca picks up her glass but just stares at it.
“When did you stop trusting me?” I say. “I’ve always taken care of this family. You said it yourself, our parents trusted me to be in charge. I’ve never put you in danger before. But Bianca, you know exactly how to take care of yourself. And even if you didn’t, I’m here to protect you too.”
Bianca arches an eyebrow. “You know what, little brother? I don’t think you care about me anymore. You don’t care that your recklessness is going to affect me. If you did, you’d get rid of her. But you care more for her after a day than you ever will about this family.”
She doesn’t get it. She doesn’t understand how Lydia is the only woman to ever make me come alive. She’s the heat in my veins. She makes me want to live a new kind of life. For over twenty years, this has been my reality. At seventeen, I became a mafia boss when our father was killed. I’ve carried this burden for a long time. I’ve never taken a lover. I’ve never even looked at another woman. So how can she possibly understand what Lydia means to me? How can she understand the things I crave from her after forty years alone? Bianca has never known that kind of loneliness.
“Believe what you want,” I growl. “You can leave whenever you want, Bianca. This is my house. It’s in my name. I built this empire and I’m not about to destroy it. But if you don’t believe in me then maybe you don’t belong here anymore.”
Bianca stares at me in shock. I don’t think she ever expected me to put my foot down with her. She’s always been able to do whatever she wants, swanning around like she owns the place but not having a single ounce of real power. Now she can know for real where she stands. She doesn’t call the shots here, I do.
Scowling at me, she knocks back her whiskey and then throws the glass at the wall callously. I don’t flinch as it shatters into a million pieces, as does my relationship with my sister. She walks out of the room and I calmly sip my drink. She’ll forgive me someday. But right now, she’s not who I’m focussed on.
I have to see Lydia.
I have to have her.
My fists are clenched at my sides as I make my way to her room. I want to sweep her up in my arms and kiss her. I want to slam the door shut behind me and rip her clothes off until she’s naked
