Page 62 of Merciless Desires

“Once she gets to know you, she’ll be fine. She was always that way as a child. She never had many friends, but those she connected with all loved her.” My father smiled. “She’s so charming.”

“I noticed your English is very good,” Aldo said. “Did you have a private tutor?”

“You could say that.” I glanced up at my father. “A special friend of the family taught me.”

“My father insisted that my brothers and I learned fluent English at a young age. He said it would help us in our line of work.”

“He was right,” my father said. “Speaking of business, we’re having three more join us for dinner tonight.”

“Really?” Aldo drank more of his wine. “Who?”

“Rocco Torrio,” he said. “Do you know him?”

“I’ve met his father, but I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Rocco.”

“He’s a formidable opponent and a wise ally to have now that he’s moving into his father’s position of authority,” my dad said as he looked at me. “His half-brothers will be joining us as well.”

I sighed an audible breath of relief. This could all be over tonight.

“His half-brothers?” Aldo asked.

“Romero and Gio Bilotti,” I said with a smile. “Have you heard of them?”

“Who hasn’t?” Aldo’s grip tightened around his glass. “You’ve been staying with Gio while you were in America. I’ve seen the two of you on social media.”

“I bet you did.” I licked my lips. “Gio is quite photogenic, isn’t he?”

My father cleared his throat, glaring at me.

“I’m grateful for Gio looking after you while you were in a foreign country, but we won’t be relying on him for such tasks any longer, especially when it comes to my wife,” Aldo said. “Once we’re back home, I’m sure you’ll forget all about him.”

“Why would I do that?” I asked. “He’s my friend.”

“I’d consider it inappropriate for you to have a male friend.” He set his wine glass down. “You agree, don’t you, Janero?”

“My father doesn’t speak for me.” I realized the absurdity of that statement considering I was about to be whisked off by a man my father demanded I marry. “Neither will you.”

“My daughter can be quite sassy,” my dad said. “You’ll get used to her, but Cinzia, now is not the time for this battle.”

“Can we talk about another part of your business?” I asked my father, trying to stall until Gio arrived.

“Perhaps.” He sighed. “What do you want to discuss?”

“I was just wondering if you found out who fired at Gio and I in front of his house. It seems like that would be at the top of your list of priorities. Not a frivolous wedding.”

“There will be nothing frivolous about our wedding.” Aldo reached into his pocket and took out a velvet black box. “You don’t need to concern yourself with the family business.”

“I would think you would be interested in finding the weasel who tried to shoot me, considering you want to marry me.” I glanced at the door in the grand foyer of the resort, willing Gio to come through it before Aldo popped the question.

“The Bilotti brothers are famous for their enemies.” Aldo ran his finger along the box. “Someone is always after them. It probably had nothing to do with you.”

“Something tells me otherwise.” I continued to stare at the entrance. Please, Gio.

“Enough of this conversation,” my father said. “Aldo, if you have something to ask my daughter, do it now before our guests arrive, so we can celebrate at dinner and make new alliances.”

“I already have your father’s blessing.” Aldo slipped off his chair and dropped down on one knee in front of me. “We don’t know one another well.”

At all.

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