Chapter 8

Giovanni

I knew this was a bad idea, the moment my father told me about the job. 

“Protegerla siempre.” (Protect her always.) My father ordered me in Spanish as he opened the car door for me. “Y no hay un romance, entendido?” (and no romance okay.) He winked at me. 

“Sí, pa.” (Yes dad.) I gripped the steering wheel tightly, nervous about the new job. 

It wasn’t that I was nervous about the job in particular, I had worked with the Sicilan Mafia since I was sixteen so nothing phased me. It was the fact that my father’s job was at stake here too. If I fucked up, he would suffer also. 

I glanced in the rear view mirror and locked eyes with the chocolate haired beauty, Emiliana. I held my breath for a moment, taking in her features. Her glowing olive complexion and tanned skin drew me to her. Her eyes were hidden behind large sunglasses and I ached to remove them from her stunning face to see what was behind them.

“Who is driving?” She asked but my father closed the partition between us.

“Tu es familia, y hay respeto y honestidad para mantener.” (You are family, and there is respect and honesty to maintain.) He spoke calmly to me.

“Sì, comprendo.” (I understand.) My eyes remained focused on the road ahead as we weaved our way up towards the lake. 

I had done my research, who wouldn’t have? Emiliana was the heir to her family’s business in the US and she would be in my charge. I had assumed that no one had told her judging from the shock in her eyes when she looked between me and my father in the passenger's seat. 

She was gorgeous in every aspect but I had no doubts in my mind that she was a typical spoiled brat, brought up in one of the wealthiest families in New York. She was probably used to having everything handed to her on a plate and spitting her dummy out if she didn’t get her way. I knew it would be easy for me to stay away from her, spoiled rich kids weren’t really my type anyway.

“Ahh Giovanni, Benvenuto nella famiglia!” (Welcome to the family.) Signora Magnone called to me from the kitchen. Emiliana had disappeared upstairs, giving me a fine view of her backside for a brief moment.

“Grazie, Signora Magnone.” I kissed her cheeks.

“Nona! Chiamami Nona.” I nodded with respect and she guided me out onto the patio. The table was spread with an assortment of vegetables and pastas, accompanied with a heavy load of bread. It was the one thing I missed while travelling, the wholesome meals you received between friends and family.

I could hear Emiliana’s delicate footsteps approach us from the kitchen and I turned automatically to greet her. I misjudged how fast she was travelling and her delicious chest collided against mine, almost knocking the wind out of me. Her arms clutched herself tightly whereas I gripped the first thing I could find. Her hips. 

Her doe eyes looked up at me cautiously, while I tried to control my breathing. She was radiant. Her eyes were a deep hazel colour and her skin glowed under the Mediterranean weather. She smelled like fresh water and jasmine but before I could take another inhale of the hypnotising scent, she pulled away from me. 

“Excuse me.” She smiled politely at me before walking towards the dinner table.

Her grandfather must have sensed the change in the atmosphere between us, I could see him eyeing me up suspiciously before asking Emiliana to say grace. I had to fight back the urge to laugh when she began in English and her grandfather almost had a stroke. I couldn’t take my eyes from her all afternoon and when she disappeared, my heart sank slightly. I wasn’t going to deny she was nice to look at but that’s all it was. 

No romance, as my father ordered. That was difficult to follow when there was a clear connection between us and having her against the plane's bathroom door was hot as hell. Those delicious pink lips were calling to me while her brown orbs danced worriedly between my body and my face. Maybe she could feel it too.

But I had to restrain myself. When she had asked me my name on my plane, I felt rude not replying but her Grandfather had strictly ordered me to keep her safe at all costs. That meant away from me too.

Being in New York definitely brought back memories for me. The last time I was here was five years ago and the place hadn’t changed at all. Lucio’s was new to me though. It was full of rowdy rich kids and wannabe housewives. I wasn’t sure why Emiliana wanted to be here but she seemed to be enjoying herself. Maybe a little too much.

“Come on!” She called out from the steps of the club. “Ish time forrrr pizzzzzzaaaaaah.” She stumbled down the steps and in one brisk movement she was over my shoulder. 

Her friends were hailing a taxi and Oli looked at me knowingly, Emiliana needed to go home. 

I turned on my heel and headed over to where I had parked the car, trying to contain her wriggling form.

“Hmm...you got good cheeks.” She slurred from behind me. Her hands squeezed my ass and I let a small smile appear on my face. “Yesh, I approoove.”

I placed her carefully on the ground so she could get into the car. “You’re soooo strong.” She grabbed my biceps and stuck her tongue out of her mouth in concentration. I huffed loudly and guided her into the seat.

“Pizzaaaah!” She yelled from behind me as I started the car. 

I drove us through the streets of New York, while Emiliana kept trying to undress herself. Thank god for that dress because she couldn’t undo the zipper and I was struggling to keep my eyes on the road. She looked gorgeous in the strappy dress that hugged her subtle curves and I silently commended myself for choosing it. I had to hold myself together when she tried it on, my fingers grazed her silky skin, begging to feel more of her and the twitch in my pants was egging me on.

I snapped my thoughts away as we stopped outside her building. I dragged an intoxicated Emiliana from the car who was clutching her shoes in one hand and her bag in the other protectively. I slung her over my shoulder effortlessly and nodded at the concierge as we entered the building. 

Emiliana didn’t seem phased by the gesture, if anything she seemed to love being thrown about. My thoughts were sending me to different places and luckily, Emiliana broke them swiftly with her drunken speech.

“Do you want to know a secret?” She babbled over my shoulder. “Hello? Is anyone there?” She knocked on my back like a door when I didn’t answer. “Fine, I’m not telling you.” She giggled loudly just as the elevator doors opened.

I stood her up in the hallway of her apartment as she swayed backwards and forwards. 

“I need bed.” She slurred, pointing at a non-existent door in the wall. I took her hand and guided her to her bedroom where she fell amongst the pillows and covers instantly. I silently removed the shoes from her grasp and retrieved a glass of water for her.

“Giovanni?” She called my name as I was about to leave. I paused in the doorway and she looked up at me angrily. “Why don’t you talk to me?” She buried her head into her pillow, not waiting for my answer. Soft snores filled the silence and I stepped into the living room.

“Because it’s easier.” I whispered.