5. Franco

Chapter 5

Franco

During the entire breakfast, Aria steals glances in my direction.

I leave the mansion hurriedly, trying to get away from her. I find myself irritatingly attracted to her. I heard her last night in her room when she moaned. I can guess what she got up to.

I wonder if she heard me.

If she heard me call out her name as I came.

I chuckle as I walk to the car. "Marido, Marco wants us down at the laundromat. Double time."

I slip into the passenger seat of the car as Marido gets into the driver's side. He starts the car and quickly pulls off and into traffic. He weaves his way through, not caring much for the other vehicles on the road. He has his orders.

He pulls into the alleyway next to the back entrance of the laundromat, and I slip out. I walk to the door and swing it open. "What are you lazy fuckers doing?" I say .

Marco looks up from the table where they're counting money. "Working, something you wouldn't know about while you're babysitting."

"Is that why you called me down here? To insult me? You could have just sent a text." God, he's irritating.

I imagine him with Aria and it sets my blood boiling.

"I need you to run an errand for the family," he says. "Something that needs your gentle touch."

"Of course, anything."

"It'll be ready in about fifteen minutes. I need you to deliver some money to the other side of town. I can't trust anyone else to make sure that this reaches the correct person."

"You know I will," I say with a shit-faced grin.

"How is Aria after that attack?" he asks.

I flush a little. "She's uh, she's cool. Taking it well."

Marco frowns. "You sure? I can't have her stressed out if we're going to make a baby."

"Make a baby?" I pull a face at him. "Wait, what?"

"This attack on her makes me realize how important it is to have an heir, more than one even, as quickly as possible. As soon as the wedding is done, I'll start my family." Marco looks at me seriously. "You should consider the same?"

"What? Having heirs with your wife?" I joke, although the thought makes my heart race a little .

"Very funny asshole," he says. Donald walks over with a suitcase and hands it to me. "This needs to reach Don Cilo. Make sure it does. Also, Donald says the guy who attacked Aria was Don Vito's man. See what you can find out about what he wants with our family."

Don Vito, I think that's strange.

"We have no beef with the man," I say.

"When territory is involved, there is always beef." Marco shrugs. 'I'm going to the casino now. I have someone to see."

"You mean someone to fuck, practicing for those heirs, am I right?" I shake my head and walk out of the building. I climb into the car and wave my hand. "Let's get to Don Cilo's estate. I have a delivery to do."

"Sure, boss," Marido says.

"Marido, what do you know about Aria Dilio?" I ask. "What have you been told?"

"I know she shares a name with a family Don Vito is trying to wipe out," Marido says casually. "Though I doubt she's related. It's a common name in the streets."

"Yeah, she seems too innocent for this kind of life," I comment. "Too sweet. The woman freaking sews for fun."

Marido chuckles. "Definitely not."

"What would Don Vito have against Marco then?"

"I don't know, boss. Why are you asking?"

"Because it was his man behind the knife attack. Either he's trying to hurt Marco through Aria, or worse, he's trying to hurt Aria for a reason we don't know." I scratch the five o'clock shadow forming on my face because I didn't shave yesterday. "I think either way, I'm going to find out."

Marido pulls up to the driveway of Don Cilo's estate, and the guards stop us. As Marido rolls down the window, a car pulls in behind us. I slide my hand under my jacket and wait.

"It's our men," the guard says, looking at me. "You can't enter if you're armed."

"Don Cilo will see me. I have his payment," I say.

The guard speaks in fast Italian on the radio, walking away. It takes a minute before he comes back. "Proceed."

The drop-off is quick and painless, and I have Marido drive me to the piers. It's always the best source of backyard gossip. Fishermen tell no lies, mostly.

I also know some of Vito's enemies hang around here, so maybe I can find out what he's trying to do. We approach some of the fishermen, sitting around sharing a beer. I lean against a metal pole protruding from the ground and cross my arms. "Hey guys, I'm looking for some information."

They keep chatting, so I take out my wallet, take out two hundred dollars, and hold it up. "I just want to know what Don Vito would want with the Morelli family."

The men all get up and start walking away, except for one scraggly bearded old man. He snatches the two hundred dollars from my hand. "Vito wants to wipe out the Dilio family. He's been trying to do that for years. He massacred a bunch of them, but apparently, one was with her Godfather when it happened, and he whisked her off to safety."

Aria.

Dominique.

It can't be.

"And the Morelli family?"

"He hates them too," the man says, taking a swig of beer. "Thinks they're cocky, and they are, but they got the balls to back it." He turns and starts walking after his friends.

I need to speak to Aria. I can't let this slide.

If she really is a Dilio from that Dilio family...

I go back to the car and climb in. "Take me home. I need to speak to Aria."

While we're in traffic, my phone rings. "Yes?" I answer.

"Did you do the delivery?" Marco asks.

"Yes, I thought you were going to see someone?"

"I'm with them now," he says. "Get back and protect Aria. I don't trust Vito not to attack the mansion."

"I'm on my way there now," I say quietly.

I hang up and look out the window, staring at nothing really while I ponder about this situation. If Marco finds out he's marrying someone from another family, he can react one of two ways.

Either he's cool with it because the Dilios were a powerful family, and he can breed the family up into ours, or he flips out because he feels like he's being had, and he hurts Aria or casts her out to Vito.

Marco is unpredictable, and while I love my brother, I can't stand the thought of Aria being hurt. Something so beautiful and so soft. Once we're at the house, I climb out of the car and hurry in, telling Marido to stay put.

I walk into the dining room, where Giulia and Aria are tasting cake. "Aria, can I speak to you upstairs for a minute?"

Giulia looks at me, confused. "The confectioner is coming back with the other samples shortly."

"I won't be long," I say. "Aria, now."

She smiles at Giulia. "Just tell them to wait for me. I'll be back in five."

She walks ahead of me and upstairs to her room, where she twirls around to look at me.

God, she's a vision.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your important wedding plans," I say. "But it's come to my attention that you might be more than meets the eye."

"I'm sorry?" She raises an eyebrow. "I am sure I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Dilio. Interesting name. Yesterday, I asked you what you would know about a family like mine. Tell me, Aria, are you from a family like mine?"

"I'm an orphan," she says quietly, batting her eyelids. "That's all. My Godfather arranged for me to be married to your family as a favor to him."

"Because," I advance on her, and she starts stepping back until her back hits the wall, and I put my hand next to her head. "If you were from that family, there are consequences to this wedding you might not be aware of. So if your family was a little unscrupulous, a little...gangster for lack of a better word. You better tell me now."

She leans forward. 'I have nothing to tell you."

I smell blueberries on her breath, and I can't help myself. I lean forward and press my lips to hers, kissing her hungrily.

She places her hands on my chest, but she doesn't push me away. Instead, she grabs my jacket lapel and pulls me closer.

I press my body against hers, kissing her even deeper until I hear Giulia calling from downstairs.

"Aria? Are you guys done yet?"

I pull away quickly, and Aria sidesteps me. "Coming," she calls. She glances over her shoulder at me and walks out.

I check my face to make sure there's no lipstick or anything smudged on my face. I fix my jacket and go downstairs to the dining room .

"Well, since I'm stuck here with you two again, I might as well have some cake."

"It's not just cake," Giulia says, exasperated.

"Yes, it is," I tease. "No matter what fancy French word you have for it."

Giulia rolls her eyes. "Go away, we're having fun."

I smile and glance at Aria. She won't look at me, focusing instead on the cake in front of her.

I nod and sigh, leaving the room.

*