Twenty-Four

 

 

Giovanni

I know I was rude to Aria this morning. I know she was confused and needed me to tell her everything is going to be okay but what I also know is that maybe she would be better off without me. I woke up this morning feeling all types of guilt. Guilt for her being sexually assaulted under my roof. Guilt for not seeing what Cecilia, Sebastian, and the senator were plotting. I still don’t even know why Sebastian is mixed up in all this. I felt guilt for not being here to stop it from happening. But most of all, guilt for feeling like maybe this happened for a reason, like it’s fate’s or God’s or whoever’s way of intervening and putting me in check. Not even two days ago, I told Aria I loved her. I have never spoken those words to anybody besides my family, and now I’m reminded of the type of life I live. The type where the woman who feels scorned doesn’t simply key the guy’s car but instead helps a rapist plot a way to kidnap his victim.

I’m not giving Cecilia an excuse but she was raised in this life like I was, and to her, you do what you have to, to get what you want. She sure as fuck did what she had to, but she isn’t getting what she wants. I’m at my parents’ house where my dad has called a family meeting. Nico, who was supposed to be out of town until the end of the week, has flown in, and we have all congregated in my parents’ living room. I’m standing against the wall while Cecilia is sitting on the couch pouting like she’s been scorned.

“Giovanni, Cecilia has come to me upset. She is out of a job and for what? Because your girlfriend is upset with her?” At his words, I slam my fist into the drywall, a picture flies off and hits the ground crashing. Stalking over to Cecilia, I bend down and grab her chin.

“Is that what you fucking said? You want to lie some more you fucking bitch?”

“Giovanni!” my mom cries out.

“Son, that’s enough. What the hell is going on?”

“What’s going on, is she was jealous of my relationship with Aria, so she got the bright idea to help the damn senator kidnap her!”

“I didn’t know!” Cecilia sobs.

“It wasn’t your fucking concern! You knew damn well she was taken from her home by me. You knew she came to my house bruised and broken! You fucking knew.”

“He told me she was lying. He said she was acting out because her mom died.”

“Then you should have come to me! This isn’t fucking business. This is my goddamned life. It’s the life of a twenty-one-year-old woman!”

My dad comes over to me and places his hand on my shoulder, trying to calm me down. “Giovanni, you need to calm down, Son. I understand this girl is important to you but she isn’t family. Explain to me what happened.”

“He had raped her repeatedly when I found her. He had her locked in a fucking basement. She was drugged and passed around.”

Cecilia starts to cry. “I didn’t know!” A little too late to fucking care, bitch.

“Why didn’t you tell us all this? I knew she was the senator’s stepdaughter but you should have made me aware of what was going on.”

“I got her help. I was keeping it all under wraps because Weston Hightower disappeared. Aria was staying with me so he couldn’t get to her, and what does Cecilia do? She hands her over to him. Edgardo ended up almost beating him to death in order to stop him from raping and taking her.”

“Almost?” my dad questions at the same time Stefan says, “Did you handle it?”

Walking away from Cecilia and toward my dad and Stefan, I say, “Yeah, I killed that fucker with my bare hands and Louie made it look like a hunting accident. When they find him, he will have been destroyed by animals.”

“Cecilia didn’t know. None of us knew because you kept it from all of us. You can’t fire her because of this,” my dad says, “And what were you thinking killing the goddamn senator? You know we are trying to lay low right now with Sebastian Lorenzo causing all types of problems.”

“Bull-fucking-shit, I can’t. She’s not stepping foot in the bordello as long as Aria is under that roof and as far as killing the senator, I don’t give a fuck. He got what was coming to him.”

 “Cecilia is part of this family,” my mom points out, “She didn’t know the man was going to hurt her. She made a mistake. If Aria and Cici can’t be under the same roof, maybe it’s time for Aria to leave.”

“I. Don’t. Give a damn what Cecilia thought. Have her go work at one of the clubs or restaurants or the damn casino! I don’t care. But she isn’t coming back into the bordello and Aria isn’t going anywhere.”

“Who’s going to take care of the women?” my mom asks.

“I was hoping you could help me train another woman.”

Cecilia huffs loudly and lets out a sob. “Gio, please. I’m so sorry.”

I turn around and walk back over to her. She’s now standing up like everyone else. “Don’t you ever call me Gio. You want to play the innocent act? Fine! But as far as I’m concerned, you and I are no longer family.” I look around the room, four sets of eyes staring at me in shock. “And if any of you have a problem with me being with Aria, you come to me. Don’t you dare say a fucking word to her.”

“Is she aware of the risks?” my dad questions.

“What about Nico? He’s fucking living with his girlfriend! Are you asking him if she’s aware of the risks?”

“Bro, don’t bring me into this shit. I run a casino and hotel. I’m not being prepped to take over the Valentino organization.”

“It’s still dangerous.”

“And Amber knows she has to have a guard with her everywhere she goes.”

“Aria knows it as well.”

I look at my mom and see she’s frowning. “If she is who you want, I will respect it, Giovanni. I just hope you know what you are doing because mark my words, whether you mean for it to happen or not, you will destroy that girl.” She walks out of the room shaking her head with Cecilia trailing behind her.

“Your mother is right, Son. This life isn’t for everyone. As a matter of fact, it’s not for most. Now, you haven’t debriefed me on what happened in New Jersey. Let’s discuss this is in my office where I can have a cigar without Claudia bitching about the smoke.”

We spend the rest of the morning discussing possible theories regarding Sebastian and the Lorenzo organization. Around three o’clock, my mom brings us all a late lunch and we spend the rest of the afternoon going over numbers. It’s been awhile since we have had a meeting like this so there’s a lot of shit to discuss. When my mom asks if we are staying for dinner, I realize I haven’t spoken to Aria all day. I tell her I need to check in with Aria first and then take a moment to check my phone. There’s nothing from her, so I shoot Rome and Caesar a text asking if she’s ok, because while I am perfectly comfortable destroying a man like Sebastian, I’m a damn pussy when it comes to texting my girlfriend after I gave her the cold shoulder this morning and pissed her off. When Rome texts back that she left to Amber’s place with a suitcase, I shoot a glare to Nico.

“What?”

“Did you know Aria is staying with you?” I show him the text from Rome.

“No but Amber thinks I’m gone until the end of the week. I didn’t tell her I’m back since I’m planning to surprise her.” He waggles his eyebrows and I roll my eyes.

“You said she has a guard, right? Text him and see if Aria is still there.”

He sends him a text and a few minutes later says, “He said the girls were out all day with their friends and they are on their way to dinner and then to a club to go dancing.” He holds his phone out to show me a picture of the backs of all the women walking into the restaurant. I recognize Aria right away. She’s wearing a peach colored skintight dress with black fuck-me heels, and her hair is in waves down her back.

“Which club?”

Nico laughs. “Great minds.” He shows me the next text, which gives him the name of the club.

We go to the kitchen and let our mom know we won’t be able to stay for dinner. “I’m going to run home and change. I’ll meet you at the club.”

“Sounds good.”

I run by the house and change my clothes into a pair of jeans and a button-down shirt. I check on the girls and let them know my mom will be by tomorrow. Caesar, Rome, and Edgardo are all here and know to look after the place until Johnny returns. Then I jump into my car and take off back toward the city to find my girlfriend and beg for forgiveness.

I get to Club Ten and I am let in right away. The owner has been a member at La Stella’s for years. The music is loud and the lights are dimmed down. I search for the women in several areas but don’t see them anywhere. Just when I am about to send a text to Nico to see where he is, a blur of peach catches my attention.

On the dance floor, shaking her ass like it’s 1999, is Aria. She is surrounded by her friends and they are all dancing, but my eyes are locked on her. Her arms are in the air, her head thrown back as she laughs. Her body is swaying to the music, and in this moment, she looks so young, carefree, the way a woman of her age should look.

Instead of going to her, I stand from the sidelines and observe her. I watch as she lights up the darkened floor with her natural brightness. The other women gravitate toward her, feeding off her energy. And I wonder if I have ever really seen her smile like that. Was my mom, right? Would being with Aria mean destroying her? She was supposed to be safe at La Stella’s and look what happened. What if the next time, my guys can’t get to her in time?

Before I can give it any more thought, Aria’s eyes land on mine, her smile falters slightly and it hits me dead in my gut that I want to be the one to bring her smile back, which raises the question; what if that means having to let her go? I push the thought down and give her a small wave. She tilts her head slightly and crooks her finger in a come-hither motion then grants me with a huge megawatt smile.

Bridging the gap between us, I take her into my arms— noticing her face has more makeup than usual to cover the bruises Weston left on her—and even though the song booming through the club is a fast, pulsating number, I pull her body close to mine as she dances seductively against me. My knee parts her thighs and she grinds against my leg, giving me access to feel her heat on me. Leaning down, I whisper into her ear, “I’m sorry.”

She looks at me and nods, her arms coming around my neck as she pulls me down to her, her lips brushing mine. Her kiss starts off tentative, but quickly becomes more fervent—hungry. It isn’t until her tongue finds its way in, that I taste the alcohol on her breath. Looks like I’ll be apologizing again once she’s sober.