Christian had thought carefully about where he would take Delilah. When it came down to it, there was one place that was his favorite. Good food, good atmosphere, good service. He thought she’d like it and hoped it would impress her. It wasn’t the nicest or most expensive restaurant around, but it was close.

Now he sat across from her at their table, and she looked around in awe.

“Do you like it?” he asked.

“It’s so pretty. I like the decorations and the lights.”

The place was done up in high Italian style. Chandeliers of crystal, dark wood trim, elegant tables and chairs. It felt like a place taken out of Italy and dropped here, just for them. And for someone studying art, the statues and paintings were pleasing to look at.

“This is one of my favorite restaurants,” he said.

“I can see why. I love the Italian decor.” She chuckled. “Kinda feels like a place gangsters would hang out. There’s probably a room in the back used for mafia business.”

It was a joke, obviously. Except it hit him right in the gut. The problem was, she was spot on. The family all came here often. Just looking around, he saw several people his family did business with. As they’d walked to their table, several people had given him a nod or wave of acknowledgement. If she was going to be this observant, however, maybe he should have taken her elsewhere.

When the waiter came to them, it was someone Christian knew. Tony had worked here a long time.

“Christian!” Tony said as he stood beside their table. “How’s your father? I haven’t seen him in months.”

“Very busy theses days,” he said.

“No doubt. What can I get for you this evening?”

They ordered their entrees and Tony wrote it down. “How about an appetizer? Anything you want, on the house.”

“Thank you, Tony. I appreciate that.”

When he left, Delilah raised an eyebrow. “Guess you come here often?”

“My family does. My father works with a lot of the employees here. He knows the owner.”

“What does he do?”

Christian gave the standard, legal answer. “He’s in investing.”

“Is that what you’re going into?”

“He wants me to,” Christian said. “He’s been training me to take over for him for years, but it’s not really my type of thing.”

When their food came out, the chef himself carried their plates, and the owner joined him.

“We heard that Johnny’s son was here,” the owner said. “I had to come see you myself.”

The chef set their plates down and the owner shook Christian’s hand. “Such a lovely date you have here, Christian. Can I bring you a bottle of wine for your meal?”

He glanced at Delilah, who’s eyes widened slightly. He wasn’t even sure she was of age, but it wouldn’t matter here.

“That would be wonderful,” Christian said.

“If anything at all isn’t to your liking,” the chef said, “let me know right away.”

“Thank you, both,” Christian said.

“Tell you father we said hello,” the owner said before they both walked away.

“Wow, you’re practically famous around here,” Delilah said, chuckling.

Christian laughed it off. Next time, he’d think more about who he might run into at a chosen location.

They enjoyed the meal and wine and had some good conversation, but Christian was distracted much of the time. While they ate, he’d seen a group of guys come in. They were all around his age and were all kids of the family’s made men. Once, he was part of their group, but it got old quickly. They liked to pretend they were made and get into trouble as “practice.” Really, they were just a bunch of hoodlums who happened to have the money and connections to stay out of real trouble.

They hadn’t come over, and Christian hadn’t looked at them much. But he wanted to get out of there before they could start anything.

“I know a great place for dessert,” he said as they were finishing.

“I’m stuffed.” Delilah patted her belly and sat back. “It might be a while before I can move.”

A while. Great. He tried his best to hurry them out of there, but he wasn’t fast enough. Just as Tony took the check and his card to pay, the group got up and came over.

“Hey there, old buddy,” Mark said. He was sort of the leader of the group as the one who’s father was higher up in the ranks. Christian would have him beat in that regard, and that was part of the problem.

Delilah gave Christian an uncomfortable look and he saw Lucas leering at her, leaning in slightly.

“Care to share your hot date?” Lucas asked.

“Nice to see you guys,” Christian said. “Now leave us alone.”

“Aww, but we just got here,” Mark said. “Don’t be so anti-social. We never see you anymore.”

“Well, there’s a reason for that, now isn’t there?” Christian leveled his gaze at Mark, who smirked in response.

“Right,” Mark said. “You’ve decided to live the life of a loser and spend all your time in your worthless books.”

“Yup, that’s me.” Christian rolled his eyes at Delilah.

“I guess that’s good for me,” Mark said. “Your dad isn’t in a very good place right now. If you’re not going to defend your father’s business, then I might just think about taking some things over for myself.” Mark grinned at him.

“I’m sure my father and Giorgio will figure it all out,” Christian said.

At the mention of Giorgio, Mark quieted. He knew Christian had a better shot there since his father was in higher with the Russos than Mark’s father was.

“Nice chatting with you all,” Christian said as Tony approached with his receipt. “But we’re heading out now.”

He thanked Tony and stood protectively beside Delilah as she got up.

“Keep hitting those books,” Mark said. “I appreciate your lack of interest in the family business.”

Christian ignored him and turned away, putting his arm at Delilah’s back, not only because he wanted to touch her, but to show he was going to protect her. He tried to get the annoyance from his chest as they walked out to the car.

“That was an interesting group of friends you have there,” Delilah said as they pulled out of the parking lot.

“Friends. Right.”

“What was that all about?”

“Stuff with my father’s business. Now you see what I was talking about before. I’ve had to fight to just attend school.”

“But I don’t understand. If your father is in investing, wouldn’t going to school to learn about that help you in taking over, if that’s what he wants?”

“Not exactly. The type of investing he does isn’t something that you can learn in a classroom.”

“Still,” she said. “A business degree would give you basic management and business skills that help in any sort of business like that.”

“He doesn’t see it that way.”

“Why?”

He blew out a sigh. He wished he could tell her everything. That wasn’t allowed and could bring them both harm. But he desperately wanted someone to talk to. “Mind if we just sit somewhere to talk?”

“I’d love to,” she said.

The night was a little too chilly for a walk. He pulled into an overlook and shut the car off.

“My father doesn’t always make investments that are the most… ethical? That’s part of the problem. The people he works with, the business moves he makes… I don’t agree with it. I don’t want to be a part of it.”

“Then it’s good that you’re getting your degree in what you want and are planning to do what’s best for you. I’m sure he’ll come around.”

Christian laughed once, without humor. “No, he won’t. That’s not in my father’s nature. It’s his way only. There is no other way. The highway isn’t even an option.”

“What does that mean for you?”

“It’s not always easy to escape the things you’ve been born into.”

She reached over and put her hand over his, giving him a sad, understanding smile. Her sadness seemed to echo his own. He’d been trying to get away from his family for as long as he could remember.

“I wish I was born into any family but mine some days,” she said.

“Exactly. I just wish for once that he’d see that I’m my own person. I’m not his robot to control.”

She squeezed his hand. “He doesn’t control you. You’re already proving that by going to school when he doesn’t want you to. You won’t live there forever.”

“No. But I’ll never really escape him. How can I just pretend I don’t have a family at all?”

“You can’t. But you don’t have to let them take over your life, either. It’s your life.”

“Doesn’t feel like it sometimes.”

“I know what you mean.” She let out a sad sigh of her own.

“Do you?” he asked.

She nodded. “It’s for different reasons, but I feel trapped and controlled by my family, too.”

“Why is that?”

“It’s not their fault, but they’re so… needy. My father died years ago and my mom isn’t in good health. She’s been on disability for years, and it’s not enough to support a family of four kids. I work to help pay for things, and even though I’m in school and trying to live my life, I still have to be there to help. I’m practically a mother already, with all the stress of caring for my three younger siblings and taking care of a sick parent. This isn’t something an eighteen-year-old should have to deal with. This are things that I shouldn’t be facing until I’m in my thirties, yet here I am.”

“I’m sorry that so much is on you. Families can be the biggest burdens.”

“They’re supportive, though, emotionally. My brother and sisters can’t help being kids. My mom can’t help being sick or that my father died. I can’t help being the oldest and the one to best help them all. But it doesn’t make it any easier.”

“Neither does having money. I’d give up my whole trust fund if my father would give me just an hour of support and praise.”

She laughed. “I’d give up the support and praise for one month where the bills were all paid.”

“The grass is always greener, isn’t it?”

“I don’t think it’s very green for either of us.”

He turned to face her and looked deep into her eyes. “Then maybe we both need to forget about our problems for a while.”

He leaned in slowly and she closed her eyes when his face was just inches from hers. He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her.