Page 68 of Luciano (Belles & Mobsters 1)

“I hope it’s worth the wait,” I yelled to Ella, rolling my eyes.

My eyes scanned the room. We haven’t even gotten our first drink and there were women already stumbling all around. This club was one of the newer ones and completely redone. It has become one of the hit clubs to visit and be seen at. Neither Ella nor I cared about being seen, so we hadn’t been here yet.

The black crystal chandelier hung over the extravagant bar, accenting the red marble countertop as well as the booths surrounding the space.

Someone bumped into me and I almost lost my balance, my whole body shooting forward when a pair of man’s hands wrapped around my waist to steady me.

“Shit.” I hated crowds. And drunk people that acted like jerks.

“You alright?”

A deep man’s voice against my ear had me turning my face towards it, and that was when I saw him.

The beautiful hazel eyes shattered me the moment our eyes locked. And then he slowly started putting me back together, only to shatter me again three months later.

“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you.” My heart pounded under my rib cage. I swore he must be able to feel it, because it was exactly where his hands were.

Against his jet-black hair, his eyes were more prominent, more green than hazel. The five o’clock shadow on his sharp cheekbones and those beautiful, full lips made me want to trace his face with my fingers.

Everything about the man that I met that night, my future husband, made my muscles tense and go rigid. I wasn’t sure if it was a warning of self-preservation that I ignored or awareness. Did my body recognize the man that would bring me the ultimate pleasure? Or demise?

One kiss.

One night.

It was a hard and fast falling.

Yes, I bickered with him and fought him once I found out he was using me for his revenge. But at the same time, I craved him. The taste of the passion he gave me that first night, I wanted it every night.

Luciano was my ultimate vice. Probably my ultimate destruction. Whatever drove him the last time to kidnap me and force me into marriage, it must still be there.

“Gracy, what are you thinking about?” Nonno’s voice startled me. I was so deep in thoughts I didn’t even notice him approaching me. I met his gaze, full of concern and softness.

I wondered why Luciano’s father never mentioned he knew my parents. Or that he was meant to be my guardian. How did they know each other? And why didn’t Luciano know? He and his father kept no secrets between the two.

My eyes sought out Matteo. He was still in the same spot, slowly taking down the tower. Just as I intended to do.

“Can I ask you something?” I turned my gaze back to Nonno. He had never given me reason not to trust him. Unlike Luciano, his father had consistently been kind and welcoming. Even more importantly, he had been honest.

“Of course.” He must have expected a long discussion because he sat himself next to me.

“How did you know my parents?”

“You too, huh?”

“What do you mean?”

“Luciano asked the same question.”

“Oh.”

“Your father and I had a common goal. It was to stop Alphonso Romano and your grandmother from human trafficking. But then we became friends. My wife and your mother got along well, and obviously your father and I.”

My father and Luciano’s father were friends. He must have trusted Nonno explicitly if he designated him as my guardian. More than his own family. Two such vastly different backgrounds, yet they were friends. Luciano and I had different backgrounds too.

Except, Nonno didn’t point a gun at my father’s head. Luciano did, however, point it at mine.

“Your father was a good man, Gracy.” I knew he was. Both my parents were great people.

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