Page 13 of The Vatican
After my dad left, I put the pizza away, and walked down to Mattia’s apartment. I told her everything and guilt was heavy when I came back to my apartment. Not sure if it was because she was the oldest girl, but her lecture-game was spot on.
She ignored my defense and pointed out that I knew better. I knew better than to bring someone I hardly knew to a Benetti building. Mattia told me that, while I might not be spoiled like Cira, I had been being selfish with the stunt I pulled. I tossed and turned all night, knowing I owed Dad and everyone else an apology.
It felt worse when I acknowledged that I hadn’t even broken the rules for someone I really liked. Yeah, Geno was a great guy, and I was hoping we could develop into something more, but it was mostly because he seemed compatible. Not because I had this burning desire to tear his clothes off whenever I saw him. Geno’s attraction stemmed from finally being ready to come home to someone at the end of the day. I wanted that, and I was hoping Geno would be a good candidate.
Did I wish I could have a love like my parents? Sure. Who didn’t? But my parents have been in love with each other since they were in daycare, for Christ’s sake. That’s not shit you found just around any corner. Even with as much as Uncle Ciro loved Aunt Robbie, and Uncle Luca loved Aunt Remy, no one could deny that my parents’ love story was, hands-down, the thing of fairy tales.
After I ate breakfast, I jumped in the shower, knowing I was going to have to go apologize to Dad. It sucked, but, if there was anything Uncle Luca has taught me, it’s that you apologize and admit your transgressions face-to-face. Only a coward apologized behind the phone. If you wronged someone enough that they deserved your apology, then they deserved it in person.
I’d just finished blow-drying my hair when there was a knock on my front door. Thinking it was Mattia here to make sure I was going to grovel properly, I went to answer the door in just the oversized t-shirt I had thrown on while I did my hair and makeup. When I checked the peephole, though, it wasn’t Mattia.
It was Francisco.
“Open up, Fiore,” he said.
I knew I should probably go throw on some pants, but it was Francisco. My attire wouldn’t faze him at all. I swung the door open, and my eyes narrowed. “What are you doing here, Benetti?”
His eyes ran down the length of my body, and I had to keep from shivering. When his black gaze traveled back up to my face, he asked, “Do you always answer the door like that?”
I cocked my head. “I was getting ready,” I replied tartly. “I’m on my way to Dad’s.” He jerked his head for me to get out of the way. I did and shut the door once he was inside.
“What are you doing here?” I asked again once he turned around to face me again.
“Geno Rivera,” he said, and the air left my lungs.
Goddamn it, Dad!
I slapped my hands on my hips. “Are you serious?” I cried. “Did my dad really send you over here to lecture me?” I didn’t give him time to answer. “Well, save your breath. Mattia already gave me the what for, and I was on my way over to apologize to everyone for…my lack of judgment where our safety is concerned.”
“I’m not here to lecture you about unwelcomed guests,” he replied.
Okay.
Now, I was confused.
“Then what about him?”
“Who is he?”
I rolled my eyes, dropped my defensive stance, and walked over to lean against the back of the couch. “I met him a couple of months ago at The Emerald.” I shrugged a shoulder. “He’s cool.”
Francisco arched a brow. “Cool enough to invite him over, apparently,” he remarked.
“I said I was going to apologize,” I repeated through clenched teeth.
Francisco stepped towards me, and he didn’t stop until our toes were almost touching. My body shivered and it wasn’t a good kind of shiver. Francisco was setting off violent vibes and that wasn’t a good thing. He was very much like his father in the fact that he exercised control over his emotions remarkably. If he was upset, it was probably because he’d been ordered to kill a man whose only mistake was befriending me, not knowing any better.
“Bene-”
“You’re not allowed to see him anymore, Fiore,” he said, surprising me.
“What?” I mean, I knew he wouldn’t be able to come over anymore, but to stop seeing him altogether? “Why?”
Francisco’s eyes roamed my face until they traveled lower in a perusal of my entire body. This time the shiver was of a different variety, and I could feel my heart starting to beat in a way I wasn’t sure my chest could contain.
It felt sexual.
When his eyes made their way back up to mine, he said, “Because you’re mine, Fiore.”
