Chapter Five

“Do you have anything on her?” Arturo asked, only mildly interested. Human relationships meant nothing to him, which was why I enjoyed his presence. I could voice whatever bullshit crossed my mind without worrying about offending him.

“Not a thing, unless you mean her occasional alcohol consumption. I doubt that’s enough.”

“She’s got you.”

Yep, Anna had me. Since she caught me with Mrs. Alfera a month ago, she’d never stopped reminding me of her new advantage, and only a few days ago she’d finally used it to blackmail me into getting her and her bestie Sofia into Danilo’s birthday party. I knew those two had something else planned than shaking their booties to the beat but I was in Anna’s hands, and she knew it.

As expected, the party turned out to be a major shitshow that ended with Sofia crying her eyes out over something her fiancé Danilo had done and Anna panicked because of her friend’s state. I was majorly pissed because it was only a matter of time before someone would let something slip to Dante. Dad was already suspicious too. My career was about to go down the drain, all thanks to little Miss Perfect.

After the party, I dragged Anna up to her room in the Cavallaro lodge where we were staying. “Stay in this room and don’t do anything stupid tonight. I’m sick of dealing with this.”

Anna crossed her arms over her chest. “Maybe you should stay here with me to make sure I behave.”

“No thanks. I don’t need any more drama in my life than I already have. I’m sure Danilo would agree with me.”

Her eyes flashed and she sauntered closer to me, which looked strange in her Chucky the murder doll costume she’d picked for the costume party.

“Maybe it would be the kind of drama you enjoy.”

I cocked an eyebrow. If Anna thought she could seduce me dressed like a killer puppet, she had to be more drunk than I thought, though I hadn’t seen her drink any alcohol. “I don’t think you have anything to offer that I’d enjoy.”

Now she was furious, which fit her killer doll costume so much better than the seductress expression. “We both know that’s not true.”

I didn’t want to consider what Anna might have to offer. Not tonight, not ever. “Go to sleep, Anna.”

I turned but Anna grabbed my arm. I gritted my teeth. She was testing my patience.

“You don’t mind bending the rules, so why don’t you with me?”

I glared down at her. “I’m not interested in you, Anna. I won’t have your dad skin my balls for the sloppy, inexperienced fumbling of a virgin.”

“Who says I’m a virgin?”

I laughed. This girl had written virgin all over her forehead whenever she pranced around me. “Because I have been guarding you for years and you were never alone with a guy unsupervised.”

“That’s not true. I was alone with Clifford when our families met.” She let her fingertips wander up my chest until I pushed her hand down. “I think he’d tell you I’m worth the drama.”

I had half a mind to give her a dose of her own medicine and throw her on the bed. Maybe she was playing around but she’d become the little prude virgin the second she was in bed with me. There was no way in hell that Clifford had dared going near her with Dante nearby. Anna was a good liar but that story was too ridiculous.

I took a deep breath through my nose, resisting the urge. I was a fucking adult and wouldn’t let a teenage girl’s provocation drive me to inappropriate actions. I released her as if she’d burned me. “This is my last warning, if you don’t stop this bullshit, I’ll resign.”

Her lips parted. “You wouldn’t.”

I leaned down. “Try me. I’ve been waiting for this chance for years.”

“If you resign, I’ll tell everyone you banged Mrs. Alfera.”

I lost it. I got in her face. “Do you want your daddy to kill me, Anna? Is that it? I’m sure if you ask him nicely, he’ll do his little girl the favor even without dragging Mrs. Alfera into the dirt with me.”

“I don’t want you dead, Santino,” she said quietly, for once earnest, which made her Chucky doll outfit even less fitting. “I want you to stop treating me like an annoying burden.”

“Then stop being one,” I muttered and closed the door in her face.

I took another deep breath. Anna would eventually give up.

Ever since the Christmas party, unwanted images of Santino banging Mrs. Alfera had popped into my mind.

Instead of putting me off, they’d made me want to experience Santino’s animalistic side myself. I could tell he was passionate and lacked control. I could only imagine what that would mean in the bedroom. Clifford’s words about me doing something about my virginity had only enforced my desire to experience pleasure before marriage. If Clifford gave me the green light, what stopped me?

Of course, I had to be discreet, not just because of Clifford. Mom and Dad would certainly not be happy if word about me getting naughty made the rounds.

Two major problems stopped me from pursuing my desire:

Constant surveillance through my family or Santino that prevented me from being alone with a guy.

Plus my unreasonable wish to experience sex with Santino.

I couldn’t get him out of my mind.

And he was a reasonable choice. After all, he lacked morals as his adventure with Mrs. Alfera proved and he was the only not-related man I was alone with all the time. He and I could get naughty without anyone ever finding out.

It was the optimal solution. I couldn’t fall in love with someone and have sex with them, after all. My future marriage with Clifford would make a relationship really difficult. Not to mention that I didn’t have time for a boyfriend. I was busy with school and my designs. Anything more than a fling was out of the question.

A few months later, when Clifford invited me to his end of school year party, I saw my chance. If Santino refused to see me as a woman, I’d have to settle for someone else, and who’d be better than my soon-fiancé?

Because Mom was desperate for me to hang out with him and possibly fall in love with him, Dad grudgingly allowed me to go to the party. Of course, he insisted Santino tagged along. Santino quickly left me to my own devices and sought a place in a corner with a beer and his phone, trying to stay undisturbed. Him looking like he did, and being a hot, a few years older guy, had girls swarming around him in no time of course. But he ignored their advances like he’d ignored mine all these months.

I headed over to Clifford who was talking to a very pretty dark-skinned girl. Like I’d told him, I wasn’t jealous. Nobody knew of our soon-to-be-announced engagement anyway.

When Clifford saw me coming his way, he excused himself and met me halfway. I could tell that he was drunk already, not just because he wrapped an arm around my shoulder. He’d never been this touchy-feely before. “So glad you could make it.”

“Me too,” I said. Santino’s expression had darkened at Clifford’s familiarity, but soon he disappeared from my view as more dancers got between us, and Clifford led me into the next room. The entire mansion seemed to have been cleared of furniture.

“I can’t believe your parents allow you to party in their house like that.”

“They are in our holiday house down in Florida. As long as the cleaning staff makes sure everything is squeaky clean once they return, they don’t care what I do.”

He led me toward his pool house, which was the only place where the party wasn’t going on.

Clifford strolled over to the pool table with me by his side and leaned against it. “And? Did you follow my advice?”

“Advice?”

“To get some action?”

I huffed. “It’s not easy to have fun when you’re me. My bodyguard makes sure fun is impossible. Did you see his sour face because he had to be at this party?”

“Can’t you tell him to give you some privacy now and then? When I want to be alone with a girl, I tell my bodyguard to give me some room and he does.”

“Santino doesn’t follow my orders, only my dad’s and mom’s. And they won’t order him to give me alone time with guys, trust me.”

Clifford shook his head with a chuckle. “This is so archaic. You realize how awkward it’ll be if I give you your first kiss on our wedding day.”

“That’s still a few years away.”

“More than a few I hope.”

I didn’t want to burst his bubble but I doubted my parents would want to wait until I was thirty for me to marry. It just wasn’t done in our world.

“What makes you think you’ll have more chances to be alone with guys in the next few years?”

“Nothing… then kiss me now if it’s more convenient for you,” I muttered.

A grin spread on Clifford’s face as he considered that, taking me by surprise. “Why not?”

I smiled. If Santino didn’t want to kiss me, I might as well test the waters with my future husband. Nobody could say anything against that, right?

Clifford pushed away from the table and moved in front of me. His unruly hair fell into his eyes and he shoved it back with a charming smile as he leaned down slightly.

Clifford was good-looking in a neighbor-next-door way. Santino was a sexy, angry beast.

“You ready?” Clifford asked as he leaned down more. He cupped my cheek with a grin. I nodded, even as my stomach twisted with nerves.

Clifford’s lips pressed against mine. They were soft, gentle, and his eyes searched mine to see if I was okay with what was happening. It was nice and considerate—and not what I wanted. He deepened the kiss and moved closer, his palm pressing against my cheek and his body leaning over mine.

I tried to get into the kiss. This was my future. I closed my eyes and became more active in the kiss, trying to let loose and not get lost in my thoughts.

The door creaked open. Clifford and I both turned toward the sound. Santino loomed in the doorway, looking murderous. He prowled into the room. Clifford immediately stepped back from me, alarmed. “What—”

Santino grabbed him by the collar, lifted him away from me and shoved him toward the door. Clifford landed on the floor.

“What’s your problem, dude? This isn’t the Wild West.”

Santino sneered at him. One of Clifford’s bodyguards staggered into the room, hand on his gun. When his eyes settled on Clifford and Santino and me afterward, he lowered his hand a few inches. Not taking his eyes off Santino, he helped Clifford to his feet.

“You called?” the bodyguard asked.

Clifford gave me a sheepish smile. I raised my eyebrows. He pulled out a small remote with a red flashing button and clicked on it until it stopped flashing. “My parents forced me to carry this at all times.”

“Because of our bond?”

“Threats to my life,” Clifford said.

I nodded. I had to admit it put me off that he’d called for help the moment Santino had grabbed him. Santino hadn’t even done him bodily harm. Maybe my standards were just warped because I’d been raised around men who were intimately familiar with violence and too proud to call for help.

Santino grabbed my upper arm and dragged me out, but the bodyguard stepped in our way.

“You can’t just leave. You attacked a senator’s son. This needs to be reported.”

Santino released me and stepped up to the other man, bumping chests with him and giving him a death stare. Santino wasn’t a walking wardrobe like that guy, but he was taller, and the look in his eyes even gave me chills.

“This is between the families. No police. No fucking official reports, got it?”

The man guffawed. “You think your gangster intimidation works on me? I don’t care what you want, Al Capone.”

Santino gave him a smile I knew to mean danger. He slammed his fist up into the man’s chin without warning and with such force that the guy toppled backward and landed on the floor with a loud thud. Santino kicked him a few more times for good measure until the guy didn’t stir anymore.

I was frozen. Clifford looked completely paralyzed and as if he might be sick any moment.

“Problem solved,” Santino said simply. “He won’t call the police today.”

“Is he dead?” Clifford pressed out.

Santino gave him a pitying look. “No.” He stepped up to Clifford who stumbled back. Santino obviously enjoyed Clifford’s terror judging from the excited gleam in his eyes. “And you keep your hands and tongue, and especially your dick, to yourself until the wedding night, understood?”

Clifford nodded hastily.

“Santino,” I protested but he stalked toward me, grabbed my upper arm and dragged me away. People turned toward us with open mouths when we hurried toward the front door.

Santino practically pushed me toward the car and rounded the hood toward the driver’s side and got in without a word.

I slipped into the passenger seat.

“Your place is in the back,” Santino muttered, already starting the engine.

“I feel like riding in the front today.”

He floored the gas. I was pressed into the seat and had trouble putting on my belt as he took the first corner.

I watched his profile. The only thing missing was fume rising out of his ears, he looked so majorly pissed. I had to stifle a grin.

He shot me a scowl. “Don’t look so fucking pleased with yourself.”

“You got mad because I kissed Clifford.”

“I protected you. If your father finds out that you tongue-wrestled Cliffy on my watch, he won’t be pleased, fiancé or not.”

I rolled my eyes. “You protected me from Clifford?”

The hint of amusement crossed Santino’s face. “His wandering hands are a danger to your virtue.”

“When you say virtue, it sounds so weird. You are the least virtuous person I know. You banged a married woman.”

“Don’t talk like that, and that’s none of your business. You should be worried about your virtue, not mine.”

“Clifford doesn’t care about virtue or our rules. He told me himself that he doesn’t care if I’m with other guys before our marriage.”

Santino shook his head with a look of disgust. “Fucking idiot.”

“Why?”

Santino stopped at a red light and turned to me. “Because if you were promised to me, I’d make sure no other guy would get within a mile of you.”

“So that’s why you attacked Clifford? Because you were jealous?”

“Why should I be jealous, Anna? You are my ward. Your protection is my concern.”

“You could have been the first to kiss me, but you didn’t want to.”

Santino hit the gas. “I’m your bodyguard and you’re not of age.”

“I’ll be of age in a few months, Sonny. Don’t be more Catholic than the Pope.”

“Why the fuck are we discussing this? I won’t kiss you. Not now, not ever. You are a job, Anna.”

He said one thing, but his eyes told another story. I’d been cracking his stony exterior brick by brick in the last few months. I’d have to use my chance before Santino rebuild his walls.

“You should be more careful around Cliffy. His father is a snake, and even if he still seems like a likable, sappy idiot, this could be an act. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. So even if he doesn’t care about our rules and traditions, that doesn’t mean he won’t use them against you. If he starts bragging about kissing you, our people will hear it eventually, and they’ll judge you by our standards and not Cliffy’s.”

“He’s too terrified of you to ever mention the kiss to anyone.”

Santino smirked.

I shook my head. Then I smiled secretively and leaned slightly toward Santino. He sent me a warning look becoming visibly tense. I had to admit it gave me a kick. Santino never flinched away from danger or pain, but my flirting made him tense.

“You know, Santino, I wanted it to be you. I imagined it was you. And you protecting my virtue like a murderous, crazy knight in shining armor was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Santino released a sigh and tightened his grip on the steering wheel. I leaned back with a grin.

“Don’t imagine me when you kiss Cliffy. What he considers kissing is an insult to anyone with balls. The look on your face is one my Grandma has when I peck her cheek. It’s not a look of a woman being kissed by a man she isn’t related to.”

“If you think you can do better than Clifford, prove it. I’ll be the judge. I promise I’ll be fair.”

Santino gave a dry chuckle. “I don’t have to prove anything.”

“If you say so.” I shrugged and looked out of the window. Santino muttered something under his breath. I hoped I could provoke him into kissing me. Kissing Clifford had left me… wanting. The kiss had been pleasant and I bet many girls had worse first kiss experiences but it wasn’t what I wanted. I desired fireworks, butterflies wreaking havoc in my belly and heart racing. Pleasant wasn’t cutting it.

Santino wasn’t pleasant or nice. Santino was what I craved.

Even his iron will had to have its limits and if anyone could break it, then it was me.