Arrogant Prick: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance (12 page)

Something just doesn’t feel right about this. The answers have just come too easy.

I stand up, kick the knife away and pace away from Michael as he watches my back.

A hawk screeches in the sky above the tree line. I look up to see its form pass under the moonlight. Are the answers coming too easy, or am I looking for an excuse to not kill Alessandra’s dad?

I stiffen my back and turn around with my gun out.

“Wait!”

His final words are cut off by two gunshots in the chest. His head drops to watch the blood bloom across his shirt, and he tips over face first in the dirt. I need to stop making excuses and finish off Don Pavoni. If Michael was right, and he is going crazy, killing off anyone who’s had any contact with the feds, he might be taken out by someone else before I get to him. And I won't have my revenge denied to me.

I squat down next to him and check his pulse. Dead. I grip him under the arms, flip him over and drag him toward the grave I dug to prepare for this. I promised him he could have an open casket funeral, but they’ll have to find him first. The last thing I need is to leave a made man’s corpse laying around and bring all of the Five Families down on me.

I
catch
myself drumming my fingers on my desk while I stare at my cellphone. I flatten my hand on the glass and flip the phone over. This is idiotic. I’m acting like a nervous little girl waiting for a guy to call me back after a first date. I should be downstairs helping everyone prepare for opening.

There’s a rhythmic knock on the door to my office. It’s Sarah’s trademark knock. She taught it to me when we were roommates at NYU.

“It’s not locked.” I jump up from my chair, wobble a bit on my very high heels and walk up to the door to hug Sarah as she walks in. “Hey, girl!” She throws her purse on my couch, and steps back to take a look at me. “You look so fucking good.”

I beam at her. I have to admit; I do look really good today. I went back to that expensive salon and got the whole treatment. Her eyes settle on my shoes and her mouth falls open. “Oh. My. God.”

I pose in them for her, lifting a knee to show them off.

“You finally wore the Miu Mius!”

“Yeah. They really do look good, don’t they?” I sit on the couch and she lets herself fall onto the thick cushion next to me.

She reaches out and takes one of my feet in her hands. I let her lift my leg so she can get a really good look. She’s been demanding that I wear these since the day my dad gave them to me.

“Okay.” She lets me put my foot back down. “What the hell changed, girl? Last thing I know, you’re locked away in your house because your dad is freaking out about something you can’t talk about. Then you attend a couple of funerals. Holy shit, am I being insensitive or what? I’m so sorry about Rizzo.”

“Yeah.” I drop my eyes and stare at the floor. “It’s a part of
the life
, you know?”

“Yeah, I get it.” She nods knowingly. She pauses to give a respectable moment of silence for dead soldiers she never really knew. “Would it be terrible if I steer the conversation back to those shoes? Seriously, you’re back at the office wearing the golden pair you said you’d never wear. So spill!”

“No, that’s fine. I can’t really talk about that anyway.”

“But you can talk about the shoes, right?” She looks up at me as she strokes the shoes in an almost sexual way.

“You’re so crazy.” I smile and pull my feet back from her. “I had a talk with my dad…”

She laughs. “That can’t be why you’re smiling.”

“It actually is.” I slap her on her thin thigh. “I told him that I couldn’t be cooped up in the house anymore. And that I didn’t want a driver or to be constantly escorted to work.”

“Oh shit.” She looks at me with a look of awe on her face. It’s a little sad that something as simple as this would be so surprising to my best friend, but that’s why I love her. She understands this wasn’t easy for me.

“Yeah.” I laugh. “That’s exactly how I felt when I started. I don’t really know what got into me.”

“I do!” She puts her hand up. “Pick me! I know the answer!”

We laugh as I grab her hand and put it back down in her lap. “Yeah, maybe it was that.” I can feel my face burning up. “Well, not his dick. But what he said to me that night. What he made me realize about myself.”

“Go on…”

“Anyway, I just told my dad that it couldn’t be like that anymore.” I smile. “And he accepted it. Well, sort of. Marco is still here keeping an eye on the club. I don’t think he’ll ever leave this place unattended.”

“But still, I’m so proud of you!” She wraps me in another hug.

“Well, wait till I’m finished! This is why I waited to tell you in person.” I flash her a beaming smile. “I also told him I’m dating Gio!”

“No. You. Didn’t.” She leans back, staring at me like I sprouted a third eye.

My smile is so wide my cheeks hurt. “I totally did!”

“Also, stop for a second.” She grabs my hands. “Did you say boyfriend? So we’re upgrading his status from booty call to boyfriend?”

“Yeah, maybe.” I tilt my head and grin, squeezing her hands.

“Does he know?” She laughs.

“He better.” I flash her my best you-better-not-mess-with-me glare. “I think his exact words were 'I’m not going to be able to let you go'.”

“Ooh…” She puts her finger on her forearm and makes a sizzling noise. “I love the combination of goods Gio brings to the game. Hot, massive cock, and possessive. That's the trifecta.”

I laugh.

“That last one really only works when you've got the first two though.” Sarah holds her fingers about a foot apart. “I’d say a man should be at least yea big before being possessive becomes an attractive quality.”

I giggle. “Yeah, just about.”

“So, back to the matter at hand.” She puts her hands back down on her lap. “How did your dad take the news?”

“Not nearly as well.” I scrunch up my mouth. “But…I held my ground there, too.”

“Because you’ve become Superwoman.” She nods. “We’ve covered that.”

“You’re making me blush!” I laugh. “And while he hasn't said he approves, we’re all going to go out and have dinner so Mom and Dad can meet Gio.”

“Oh, damn.” She has a worried look on her face. “That’s pretty soon. I’ve literally never introduced a boyfriend to my parents yet.”

“Have you kept any past two weeks?” I look at her doubtfully.

“A few.” She grins. “Anyway, this isn’t about me or my man harem. This is about you, and pretty much your only man. Does he know he’s going to be having dinner with your parents?”

“Yes.” I pause. “Sorta.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I texted him.” I look over at the Nokia sitting on my table. “I just haven’t heard back yet.”

Sarah's mouth opens into a perfect O of surprise. “He’ll be cool with it,” she says.

“Yeah.” My voice isn’t as confident as I’d like it to be, and I can feel the butterflies in my stomach again.

“From what you’ve told me though, he doesn’t seem like the type to be intimidated by the thought of meeting your parents.”

“I don’t think anything intimidates him.” I smile, thinking about our amazing escape to the woods and the trip back.

“And this is why you’re finally wearing those gorgeous heels?” She’s practically eye-fucking my shoes.

“Yeah.” I point my toes. They really do look amazing on me.

“One thing though.” Sarah looks at me sternly. “It’s like, totally crazy that your parents get to meet him before I do.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” I pout and bat my lashes at her. “It wasn’t on purpose. You’ll meet him the first chance I get.”

She pats me on my arm and laughs. “Don’t worry girl, I know. I’m not going to hold this against you.”

“You’re too good to me, Sarah.”

“For long.” She grins playfully as I laugh.

My laughter is interrupted by the familiar buzz of my trusty Nokia. We both rush over to the other side of the table but she gets to the phone first. These heels are not meant to be run in.

“Give it to me!” I reach for the phone.

Sarah only hesitates for a second before giving me the phone back without even reading the text first. She knows how much this means to me.

“What did he say?” Doesn’t stop her from leaning in and trying to read over my shoulder though.

“He asked where and when.” I type in my answer and wait. “And…now he just said okay.”

“Well that was easy enough.” She smiles.

“I know…” I’m suddenly feeling worried though. This is really happening. I’m going to introduce Gio to my mom and dad, and hope they like him well enough to not kill him.

“What could go wrong?” she asks.

I can’t even tell if Sarah is joking.

* * *

“
O
kay
, Mom!” I shout loud enough to be heard downstairs. “I’m almost ready!”

I look at myself in the mirror one last time. I’m wearing a long black Michael Kors dress that barely kisses the floor and a pair of Coach kitten heels. She must have noticed me wearing the Miu Mius and felt it was open season on me accepting the gifts I refused before. She was so happy when she gave them to me that I couldn’t say no. It’s like she’s been waiting for this moment my whole life.

I adjust my breasts in my bra, trying to downplay my cleavage as best as I can. Thankfully this dress has a conservative neckline. I’m careful not to touch my hair because I really don’t know anything about making a blowout last. All I know is that my hair looks better than it’s ever looked, and I could only make it worse by touching it.

I grab my purse from the top of the dresser, look at myself one last time in the mirror, and head downstairs.

My mom looks at me with the same look she had on her face the day of my prom. The only difference is that today I actually have a date.

“You look so beautiful.” She clasps her hands together and wipes a tear away from the corner of her eyes before it can mess with her mascara.

“Thanks, Mom.” I take her hands and kiss her cheek lightly.

I hear the sound of leather soles on marble and turn around to see my dad walk into the main entrance with Marco at his heel. He’s wearing a navy suit with thin pinstripes, a red tie and a white pocket square.

My mom steps between us, and takes his hand in hers. “You look great, honey.”

“Thank you, my dear.” He kisses her on the cheek. “You look beautiful as always.”

Mom takes my hand in hers, joining us as a family with a bright smile on her face.

Dad puts his hand on my shoulder and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “You look beautiful, princess.”

I think I hear an odd tone in his voice, but I put it aside. It’s just me being worried about how this night’s going to go. God I hope Gio shows up on time. Dad hates it when anyone keeps him waiting.

Dad looks at the both of us. “You’re both ready. Good.” He turns to Marco. “Bring the car around.”

Marco nods with a blank expression on his face. He seems a little odd, too. Normally he’s a lot friendlier. No matter. Time to see if Gio can charm my parents, too.

* * *

W
e get
to La Rodinella at five of eight. Marco double-parks the Maybach directly in front of the doors to the irritation of the traffic behind us, but no one says anything. This is just how it is when we go anywhere with my father. Marco steps outside to get the door for us, and I notice him avoiding my eyes as I step out of the car. Something’s definitely up with him, but I don’t have time to dwell on it as an attendant at the restaurant opens the carved wooden door for us. The smiling hostess guides us to a private dining room.

The restaurant is lit by chandeliers and sconces covered with stained glass, plus candles flickering on the tables. The walls are paneled with dark wood and the chairs are upholstered in red velvet. It’s my dad’s favorite restaurant, run by a famous Italian chef.

We follow the hostess into the private dining room and a smile splits my face as I see Gio standing by the table waiting for us.

He’s dressed handsomely in a well-tailored navy suit, blue tie and perfectly shined brown wingtips. His hair is freshly cut. He looks like he's just shaved.

He smiles as he takes my hands and kisses me lightly on the cheek. “You look beautiful, Alessandra.”

I’m caught speechless. I had hoped he wouldn’t show up in his typical t-shirt and jeans, but I didn’t expect him to clean up so well.

He steps to my side when he sees my dad walk into the room.

“Hello, Mr. Pavoni.” He extends his hand to my dad. “I’m Giovanni Gallo. It's a pleasure to meet you.”

My father takes his time looking him over. I finally release the breath I didn’t realize I was holding in when he takes Gio’s hand and gives it a firm shake. “Pleasure to meet you, Giovanni.” He motions to my mom, waiting eagerly to meet him. “This is my wife, Gina.”

My mom steps forward quickly and clasps his hand in both of hers. “You're such a tall, handsome man. I hope you’re as well-mannered as you are dressed.”

I laugh softly. That wasn’t nearly as embarrassing as she could have been.

Gio smiles. “I hope that you’ll find I am.” He pulls back my chair as my dad pulls back my mom’s chair. She has a small smile on her lips and nods approvingly as she sits down.

I take my seat at the table and we order our wine and drinks.

As the waiter fills our glasses with a second glass of wine, my dad speaks up. “Mr. Gallo, did you grow up in Brooklyn?”