3. Regina

                        "Federico!" He pauses in front of the door his driver, Manno is holding open "What the fuck is your problem?" 

"What are you talking about?" 

"Are you following me? How did you know I was meeting Rizzo here? And even if it's a coincidence, why the hell would you threaten him?" 

"He was slandering me. I can't allow that" 

"Bullshit! Do you think I can't handle him? Is that the reason you keep interfering with my business?" 

"Is that anger I detect in your voice, Regina?" 

I grind my teeth so hard I'm surprised they haven't turned to dust already. For years, I've maintained a certain image in front of people. Cool, calm, unbothered. Talk, yell, strip, die in front of me and I won't bat an eyelash. I've killed ruthlessly then gone back to having my dinner as if nothing happened. Only one person can evoke some semblance of emotions from me. But of late, Federico is getting under my skin and I hate it. Old me would never have followed him out of the restaurant. Instead, I would have talked to him the next time I saw him. 

"Do you want to see how fast I can end your miserable life?" 

He scratches his forehead with his thumb. Something he does whenever he's about to piss me off further. I hate that I even noticed that about him. Or the fact that he's in a black suit that molds to his skin like a second skin but doesn't seem the least bit uncomfortable. 

"I'm not afraid of death. But what will happen to Ophelia after I'm gone?" 

"Fuck you!" 

"Yes, please. Tell me when and where and I'll be there" 

This asshole... 

"Stay out of my business. I mean it" 

"Would you like me to drive you to your next meeting?" 

It's on the tip of my tongue to tell him to go fuck himself. But doing that will be proving him right. So I turn and head to where my driver Filaminio is waiting. Tobia is sitting in the passenger seat. He's out of the car in a flash and holding the door open for me. 

"Say the word and I'll kill him, ma'am" 

I look over my shoulder to find Federico still staring at me "Give me a number"

"Fifty percent" 

"Too low. Ask me again when it's gone up"

"Yes ma'am" 

I settle in the car. It doesn't escape me that Federico waits until we're gone before he leaves. I wonder what he's playing at. When I first took over, I didn't mind the rumors of us being in bed together. They were already circulating after people found out I knew him. Some even thought I would break off my engagement with Anatolio and marry him. But after I took over as the head of the Vincelli organization, I realized the damage those rumors were doing to my reputation and put an end to them. Anyone who mentioned it turned up in the sewers the next day. I thought I'd squashed them. How did they resurface? Those old geezers are going to give me hell about it. And here's the thing, if it was my father or any man in my position, they would be getting praise for turning an enemy into an ally. 

Me? They think I'm actually sleeping with him. Nothing I say will change their minds. This is where I envy that bastard. At least he doesn't have to answer to anyone. I also know the reason none of the clan members have tried to kill me is because they believe Federico will retaliate. That just makes me hate him more. I am the black queen. Why are people more afraid of him? Should I kill him to prove a point? 

(I'm not afraid of death. But what will happen to Ophelia after I'm gone?)

Screw him for being right. I don't need him to keep me alive. I can protect myself. But Ophelia? She's too young. In the world we're living in, people wouldn't hesitate to use her to threaten me. She's the only person I have left. If anything happens to her, I'll be dead inside. No one would dare threaten her because she has Gambone as her last name. Do I want to rectify that? So bad. I want her to just be a Vincelli. No one else. But at what cost? 

"Ma'am, we're here," Tobia says snapping me back to the present. 

"Bring him out" I'm not in the mood to sit down with another man and listen to their yapping. Tobia gets out of the car and heads inside. A few minutes later, he walks out with Pierre. I don't let him say a word "You know where Iron Hill is?" 

"I can find out" 

That's a good answer. If he'd told me no, I would have kicked him to the curb. So what if you don't know where Iron Hill is? Do you expect me to give you directions? If that moron Rizzo was in his place, no doubt he would have given me that answer. I make a decision to meet with Bianchi. Hopefully, it won't take much to convince him. 

"Meet me there on Saturday at nine in the morning" 

"Yes ma'am" 

To Filaminio, I say "Let's go" 

When we arrive, Dino is waiting for me at the entrance. This motherfucker never comes with good news. 

"If that shipment is not in the warehouse, I'll have your head before I go to bed" 

"It already arrived and we're even ready to distribute it," he says making me stop. That's good. At least this day wasn't so bad. Rocking on his heels, he adds "Thanks to Mr. Gambone who had a word with..." 

Again?

"What? Say that again" I catch Tobia's reflection in the glass door shaking his head vigorously, trying to warn him but Dino was never bright. 

"One of Mr. Gambone's guys showed up at the port right after I left..." 

"Ma'am, good news," Rita says coming out. She gives Dino a disgusting look "Fuck off, you idiot" I know what they're doing. 

"Should I fire your asses and hire Gambone's men? Is that what you mean, Dino?" 

"Forget that, ma'am. I reached out to Bianchi. I wanted to gauge his reaction, see which side he was leaning toward, and guess what? He agreed to a meeting. Next week Tuesday. I think he's willing to work with us" 

"So what? You want a medal?" 

"A raise will do ma'am. I've had my eye on this pair of heels..." 

"Get out of my way" 

"Yes ma'am. Your bath is ready. And I also prepared tea, coffee, wine, and a glass of scotch. Enjoy" 

Okay. Maybe it's time I give her a raise. 

~~~~~~~~~~

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing?" 

Christian furrows his brows "There are cameras everywhere, Regina. Stop messing around" 

"But I miss you. You've been gone for months and just got back. I can't control my body" To prove my point, I run my hand along his crotch, squeezing until I feel him hardening under my palm. 

"Fuck... Shit. Pantry. Now!" 

Smirking, I get up and pretend to look for something in the cabinets. I've gotten good at creating believable situations. If Papa walked in, I'd just tell him I couldn't find the cereal and went for it in the pantry. Christian is there because I couldn't reach it. The second I get there, I drop my skirt and lean on the island, waiting for him. A few seconds later, I hear footsteps and the sound of a belt buckle. He stops behind me, kicks my legs apart, lifts my ass, and buries himself inside me in one thrust. I cry out from the burning sensation. He has a way of inflicting the most delicious pain.

"Christian..." 

"Brace yourself" is all he says before he pulls out and rams back into me. His strokes are fast and hard. If I didn't know how he feels about me, I would be angry with his lack of emotion. But I know he has to be fast since we're in my house. Otherwise, he would have spent hours worshipping my body and torturing me at the same time. It's what I love about him. He lets go of my waist to rub my clit 

"Oh God... I'm close" 

"Quiet!" 

"You can't order..." He puts pressure on my clit. My body convulses around him as I come. He finishes with me and only after I come back down to reality do I realize his hand is covering my mouth "I thought you liked it when I screamed your name" I say looking over my shoulder. He pulls out and then spins me around. Crashing my mouth against his in a searing kiss. I feel it all the way to my toes. When he pulls back, I know he's hard again without looking. 

"Not here. Get dressed before..." He stops, his eyes trained on my thighs. 

"Before what?" I ask following the direction of his gaze. His cum is leaking down my thigh. I'm about to ask him to lend me his handkerchief when I catch the look in his eyes "Someone could walk in" I remind him even though I know it's useless. When he gets like this, nothing can stop him. He drops his hands to my waist and lifts me onto the countertop.

"Lie back" 

"Christian..."

"Don't defy me, Regina" 

"But..." 

A slap lands on my other thigh startling me awake. I fell asleep in the tub. Getting up, I step out of the water and grab the robe folded neatly on one of the shelves. It's the second time I'm dreaming about him this week. Why? I thought I'd buried those memories together with him. Why do I still dream about him? 

Twelve years have passed. Why is he still lurking around? Perhaps it's time I visit that old man. This could be his way of summoning me. I wouldn't put it past him to make a deal with the devil just to screw me over. 

"Be patient, papa. I'm on my way" 

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