Summer 2006
Thirteen-year-old Regina was rushing to the kitchen because Isabella, her nanny, had promised she could eat ice cream once she was done with her homework. She'd done it in record time and wanted her reward. Isa never lied and if she wanted anything, she could have it but there was a kind of excitement she always felt whenever she earned her rewards. A sort of fulfillment a thirteen-year-old didn't have words to describe. Since she was in a hurry, she wasn't careful with her steps and missed the last two stairs. With a scream, she went flying, prepared to land on her face and break her nose. Instead, strong arms wrapped around her and she fell on top of something hard. Her forehead colliding with something harder.
"Oomph"
She lifted her head, ready to offer an apology, and looked into the most beautiful green eyes she'd ever seen. The word sorry died in her throat.
"Wow," she breathed in innocent wonder. How come she'd never seen that color before? Her eyes were brown, like her late mama's. Her papa often told her they were the most beautiful but he was lying. Green was the most beautiful. Before she could get her fill, hands ripped her away and she protested, ready to give the person her piece of mind but she found herself glaring into her father's eyes "Papa"
"Are you hurt?" He asked setting her down and turning her around "Do you feel pain anywhere?"
"I'm fine" she giggled spinning on her heel to show him she was fine. But that was the wrong thing to do because he changed. His eyes becoming hard
"How many times do I have to tell you to be careful? Do you realize you could have broken your hands or leg or even your neck? How old are you, Regina?"
She looked down at her feet, letting her eyes well then pretended to cry "I'm sorry, papa. I didn't mean to do it" immediately his hands went around her. Everyone on Vincelli's territory knew there was one thing their Capo couldn't stand and it was seeing his daughter's tears. They also knew she'd used them to get out of trouble more than once.
"I'm sorry, bambino. Don't cry"
"Don't be angry with me, papa. Please?"
"I'm not angry. I was just scared. There, there. Don't cry" she buried her face in his chest then turned to look at the man standing a few feet away from them and winked. The corners of his mouth lifted a little then he was back to looking like a statue. After promising to be careful, her father sent her off to the kitchen. But because she couldn't keep her eyes off the man, she tripped on her feet and almost fell again. Growling in frustration, Sergio Vincelli stormed off to his office telling his new man how his daughter would be the death of him.
"Isa, Isa, Isa"
"Slow down, caro. Or you'll fall down"
Regina climbed on one of the long chairs beside the kitchen island. For her age, she was taller than most kids and a few modeling agencies had shown their interest in her. But her papa would never let her anywhere near them. She was his beautiful, precious daughter. He'd told them working was beneath her. She was born to be pampered.
"Guess what? I just saw the most handsome prince ever"
"Where? On TV?"
"No, Isa. He was with papa"
"Really? Why do you think he's a prince?"
"Because he's handsome"
"Eat your ice cream before it melts, caro," Isabella said dismissing her. She was at the age where she thought everyone handsome was a prince. If only she knew what they did... If it was up to her, she would have taken Isabella to Italy where her uncle Silvestro was. As a businessman, he lived a better and safer life than the Capo. But Sergio would kill anyone who tried to separate his daughter from him. For all his faults, no one could say he wasn't a good father.
Regina thought about the prince all throughout the week and the next. Always hanging around her papa's office, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. But he was gone for six months. She wondered why she hadn't asked him his name. How could she marry him if she didn't know his name? One day, on her way to school, she saw him again. She'd just gotten in the car when another black car parked beside theirs. He got out looking more handsome than she remembered. Without thinking, she jumped out.
"Hi" she waved at him shyly
"Hello"
"I'm Regina. What is your name?"
He looked like he wasn't going to tell her but Enrico and Armando, her bodyguards rolled down the front windows. They could be scary when they wanted to be.
"Christian," he said then left.
She made it a point to always talk to him when he came over. Thawing that ice around his heart. Over the years, they became close and whenever he left, he'd ask her what she wanted and then bring it for her when he came back. There were times she went for months without seeing him. But she was fine with that. As long as he didn't have a girlfriend.
"Do you have a girlfriend?" Would always be her first question when they saw each other again. And like always, he would answer with one word,
"No"
Such a simple word. He would never know what a difference it made or how she felt at hearing it. It meant she still had a chance. The older she got, the stronger her feelings for Christian got. Even after her father told her about her arranged marriage to Vito De Angelo, she didn't bat an eyelash. Because there was only one man she was going to marry and it was Christian Carello. Case closed.
===
Everything about how he felt was wrong. He'd worked so hard and became Consigliere in just five years. He couldn't throw that away for his stupid feelings. But Regina was a temptress. He'd known that first time he saw her flying down the stairs that she wouldn't be just Sergio's death but also his. The older she got, the more distance he put between them. Those eyes and those long legs haunted him enough as it was. He couldn't let himself get any deeper than he already was.
So he took any and every job his Capo delegated. Hell, he took even those that weren't meant to be his. Just so he could stay away from Regina. And he succeeded. Up until her eighteenth birthday.
When she stood naked in front of him.
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"What can I get you, ma'am?" "Daiquiri. Thank you" I say leaning on the bar suggestively, my dress moving up an inch. The bartender moves to my left to make the drink but he keeps flicking his eyes back to me every few seconds. If I was in his position, I would also misunderstand. Judging by the way my breasts are almost spilling out of the dress I wore tonight, he probably thinks I'm into him or something. A black little number that hugs my curves and has a plunging neckline. The hem is dancing dangerously close to my bare ass and even though my back is to him, I know his eyes are glued on the material. Probably wishing for it to ride a little higher so he can confirm whether I'm wearing panties or not. I'm not. Tonight, I brought all the guns out and then some. Not real guns though. Just a few things that are supposed to make Christian change his mind. My birthday was two months ago and it was the best birthday in my life. I turned eighteen, lost my virgin
"Where are we on the shipment?" "We're making progress, ma'am" I throw him a dirty glare over my shoulder "Try again" "It will be done by the end of the end day, ma'am" "I don't need to tell you what will happen if this isn't sorted today" it's simple. Heads will roll. I am not in the mood to play games with those bastards at the port. If that shipment is a day late, I will handle it the way I normally do. By shooting first and asking questions later. I'm tired of men thinking they can get away with defying me just because I'm a woman. Dino nods. I expect him to leave but he continues to stand where he is "Anything else?" "Mr. Gambone is waiting for you in your office" "When did he arrive?" "A few minutes ago, ma'am""You can leave" I bite out through gritted teeth. Keeping up my calm and unbothered facade when all I what I want to do is run in there and punch him for invading my privacy. He shouldn't be here, much less in my office. Who knows what he's
"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 t
I take one last look in the mirror and then make my way to the office downstairs. It's past ten and aside from the men patrolling outside, everyone has retired to their rooms. Lifting a book off the shelves, I press a button that opens a secret door then push it open and press the lift button. It opens immediately because no one uses it. Once I step inside, things go back to how they were, the door closing and the shelves returning to their normal position. I lived in this house my whole life but I never knew about the secret rooms until I defied papa. Then he turned into someone else. Someone I couldn't recognize. It's been that way for years now. Except, now I'm the one he can't recognize. It makes me wonder if he's ever regretted his decision. Would things have been different if he'd stopped when I begged him to? The elevator stops and the doors slide open. As I walk into the room, my heels announce my arrival. There are days like today when I expect him to turn his head and look a
The look on her face is priceless and I'm the lucky bastard who gets to capture it on camera. I've been taking videos of Ophelia since the day she was born, recording every milestone in case Regina misses something important. She's so busy running an empire that she barely gets to see her daughter. As the good samaritan that I am, I sometimes take advantage of that. But only because the woman is stubborn. She's blind to anything that doesn't involve Vincelli organization. So far, I've wrangled two dinners and three drink dates from her in exchange for the videos. The footage I took today will earn me a drink or a dinner date depending on her mood. She's apathetic that seeing any expression on her face is a record-worthy event. Even if it's anger. She stops at the foot of the stairs with a gun in each hand. Her eyes scanning the room cautiously. I rake my gaze over her outfit. A silk nightgown with a V-neck that molds perfectly to the swell of her breasts and a floor-length, matching
Flashback "Christ, move" he grabs the extinguisher and puts out the fire. I realize there was a kitchen towel next to the stovetop and it's half burnt. That must be the source of the fire. Or the oil I accidentally poured on the towel. Federico turns to look at me, annoyance flashing in his eyes. I wonder if it was his favorite towel "Were you trying to burn my house down?" "I want eggs" "Yes, Your Highness. Who the fuck do you think I am? Your maid?" "Then move. I'll cook for myself" "Forget it" he takes the pan with burnt eggs and throws it in the sink then grabs another one. Cracking two eggs in a bowl. I wonder why I didn't think of that. "Make it four" "You know I'm starting to think this deal is not worth all this trouble. Eat your fucking eggs and go back home" "We already signed the contract," I tell him watching the way he flips the eggs. How are they not burnt? "How did you do that?" "Control the fire. If you're not sure about the amount of heat to
"Gentlemen, you're up early. I hope you came prepared. The chilly morning air can be detrimental to your health" I quip walking past them. It's nine in the morning but I'm ready for this day to be over. Dealing with underbosses who happen to be part of the family is tiring. I know how the mafioso values family but I'd rather have men who have earned the position instead of entitled assholes who are always trying to bring me down. Especially if said assholes are related to me. Distant relatives but still relatives. "Despite our age, we are strong Regina. And if by any chance something happens to us, our sons can take our places so don't you worry your pretty head" Rinaldo says. I think in his brain, he still thinks there's a chance for them to dethrone me and have one of their dumb sons as the head of the organization. How I wish I could let those morons take over so as to prove to their fathers how stupid they are. I make them more money every year, always filling their banks while th
PastPast "I won't marry him," I say, my voice strong with false bravado. Papa slaps a hand on top of the table, making me flinch. De Angelo just left after spending the entire night ogling me like a creep. I can't stand him and despite how much Papa hates me, I can't believe he's trying to force me to marry him. "I don't remember asking for your opinion. " "I will die before I marry De Angelo" "Then fucking die, Regina, but know that you will show up to that wedding. Dead or alive" his harsh words tear another piece of my heart away. This is not the man I grew up with. This is not the father who, up until two weeks ago, meant the world to me. Ever since he found out about my relationship with Chris, he changed into someone else. I thought he'd be happy that I found love. That he would only give me a hard time, but eventually agree to my relationship because he loved me and wanted the best for me. How very wrong I was. Now Chris is dead and I'm set to marry one of his as