Page 28 of Vincenzo's Promise
Vincenzo
As soon as we stepped off the plane, text messages from Angelo came barreling in. The only thing keeping my anger in check was Bella’s excitement to be in Belize. She’d talked nonstop about how beautiful everything was, and I didn’t want to ruin this experience for her with what was happening at home.
Any other time with my bad mood, the constant chatter would have annoyed me, but with Bella, things were always different. Her voice and excitement soothed some of the anger raging in me. I’d learned this in the few months we had spent apart. Whenever I had a rough day and we talked on the phone or FaceTimed one another, she always calmed my anger, making my day better despite what was happening around me.
I’d traveled to Belize on multiple occasions for business. The beauty of the place never surprised me. Its tropical climate, extensive coral reef, and beautiful blue waters made it one of my favorite places to visit whenever the chance arose. However, this would be the first time I experienced its beauty with a woman. A woman who my feelings were rapidly changing for.
When she brought my attention to the ways I’d been interacting with her, it shocked me, to say the least. We’d already blurred the lines of our relationship during our frequent conversations, which were always sexually charged. Now, being with her and doing simple things like holding her hand or wrapping her in my arms was like second nature. Like it was what I needed to do to show her I was in this thing for the long haul and would protect her with my life if necessary. I didn’t think; I just reacted in a way that came naturally.
I not only wanted to protect Bella. I needed to. I’d really put no thought in the threat against my life until Angelo brought it to my attention when we were at the airport. Threats against me were normal, and I shook it off because to me, it was nothing. Whoever her stalker was had no idea who he was dealing with, and I refused to let the threat against Bella go.
We sat on the balcony overlooking the ocean of what would our home for the next week, and I’d never seen something so stunning in my life. Bella’s hair blew in the light ocean breeze, the sun hitting her ebony skin at the perfect angle. She was mesmerizing, carefree. I wanted her to remain this way, not frightened because of some prick, even if our lives were in danger.
This was the reason Angelo’s news had me seething. We both were under attack by unknown enemies, and I absolutely hated not knowing shit. Apparently, not only was someone stalking her, but someone was also interfering with my business. I didn’t believe her problem and my problem were connected, but the Feds had been snooping around businesses that shouldn’t have even come up on their radar. Angelo believed her stalker reappearing and the FBI’s scrutiny was a coincidence also, but we both believed Isabella being in my life now definitely had something to do with my businesses being targeted as some sort of warning.
“Zo, are you, all right?” she asked, her soft hand squeezing mine. “You’ve been quiet, or maybe,” she chuckled, “I’ve been talking too much.”
I was so lost in thought, mulling over our situation, I hadn’t noticed the silence between us lingered longer than I would’ve liked. It brought attention to the fact something was wrong, and I wanted to shield her from it, at least until there was more information. She was more worried about me than anything and hadn’t questioned whether Angelo found anything on her stalker.
My chest tightened at the concern in her voice. We hadn’t known each other long, but there was something special about her, and there was something different going on between us. I could admit it, once she brought it to my attention, and it scared me shitless because I couldn’t really say if I was ready for it. But when she became my wife, did I have a choice other than to accept any feelings I had for her?
“Yeah,” was my simple response. I didn’t really want to confide in her about what was going on.
“We’ve had this discussion about us being honest with one another, Zo.”
She sighed, and it got my full attention. I’d been distracted the entire time from the airport and once we got to the villa. I’d probably been ignoring her, which was something I hadn’t wanted to do.
“If something is going on with you, I would like to help if I can,” she said. “I’m going to be your wife, your Donna, which means I’m here to help carry your burdens, just as you are doing with mine.”
It was hard to share things weighing heavily on my mind with someone else, especially when I been handling everything by myself for so long. Many looked at my position and only saw the glitz and the glamor of being the head of the clan, never the part where I couldn’t trust anyone. Sure, the position came with perks—money, cars, homes, women, but I also made decisions that affected the lives of my men and their families every day. Decisions that affected my life every day. It was a burden only I carried. Of course, Angelo gave me his advice on what to do in certain situations. Ultimately, however, decisions were mine alone.
But Isabella was right. What was happening affected her too, and she would be my wife soon. We’d both agreed to share things with one another, even if we didn’t necessarily want to. I expected her to do the same if something bothered her.
“Some of my businesses are coming under fire from the FBI. Businesses that shouldn’t be.”
“Do you think it has something to do with marrying me?”
“It’s a possibility.” I placed my hand on her thigh and gave it a gentle squeeze. “But it’s nothing for you to worry about. By the time we get back to the States, things will be straightened out.”
I hope.
“I just hate that I’m the one bringing all this attention to you,” she confessed. “First, from my stalker, and now the Feds. Are you sure I’m worth it?”
I didn’t need to think. Yeah, she waswellworth it.
“Hell yeah, you’re worth it and more.”
She smiled, her chin dipped, and a light blush stained her ebony cheeks.
“So, what do you want to do first?”
She intertwined our hands, and I didn’t pull away—I didn’t want to. Everything between us seemed so natural, like we were in tune with each other’s thoughts and emotions. It was the freakiest and the most intriguing shit I had ever experienced with a woman.
When she’d straddled my lap in the car on the way to the airport, I couldn’t help but get lost in everything Isabella Lombardo. I did believe the times we shared over the past few months, although not in person, had strengthened whatever the hell was happening between us. It had me rethinking if I couldn’t fall in love with her. I now knew that was a lie. If I could fall in love with anybody, it would be Bella.
“I haven’t the first clue what I want to do.” She turned to me, excitement in her voice. “I definitely want to go to the beach. It’s beyond beautiful. Then dinner, maybe.”
“The beach then dinner it is.” I stood, pulled her to her feet, and then into my embrace. She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I grabbed her generous hips. “After dinner, I have something very special planned for you.”
