She hadn’t known yet? “I want what’s best for you, and you trust me to give you that.” My fingers left the softness of her hair and found her hand. I lifted it and printed a soft kiss on it. She trembled in response. “You can open your eyes now.”
Taking a deep breath, she looked in the mirror. When she froze, I knew the shock was out of admiration. This was how I saw her, the woman she deserved to be. The woman she would become when she was with me.
Right where she belonged.
Tino Bellomo’s date. The Mafia boss’s soon-to-be wife.
She rose and headed to the full length mirror. Then she checked herself back and front. Every curve and bend of hers begged for my hands, for the pleasure only I could give.
She felt the exposition of the back of her neck that gave her the height she lacked and a much better posture. “You were right. Youaregiving me the best.”
Will always do, my sweet Angel.I grabbed the pumps and bent on one knee, telling her to extend her foot.
Her shock was justified. I wasn’t the kind of man who would kneel for a woman, for anything, or the kind that would give a girl her Cinderella moment. But for her, my sweet, beautiful Angel, I’d do anything.
Even her foot looked small in my big hand as I cradled it and put the shoe on it. Then, before the feeling of her skin in my hand lingered long enough to make me never want to stop touching her, I rose and took a step back to look over her body. “Twirl.”
Giggling, she did. She was happy. With me.
She looked so beautiful. A vision was an understatement. And with my last gift for the night… “One more thing.”
“It’s perfect the way it is, Tino. I’ve never looked better.”
I reached inside the pocket of my suit jacket and got out a big velvet box. “Put it on, but don’t get too excited. It’s a rental.”
She stared at me. “You rented jewelry for me?”
I opened the box, and the bling of the diamonds and rubies in the bracelet and ring set reflected in her eyes. “Something to take away from your beauty. I want people to look at them instead of you.”
Her stare widened, as if her mind couldn’t register what I was saying. She didn’t know how beautiful she was or how her innocence made her more desirable, more dangerous, than she thought she was.
When she didn’t put the jewelry on right away, I did it for her and cocked a brow, waiting for her to be a good girl and do as I taught her.
“Thank you, Tino.”
“Atta girl.”
3. Tino
“Ladies and gentlemen, I have a special guest for you tonight. Please welcome, our very own Bellomo prodigy, signorina Angelina Baldi,” I introduced her myself, standing next to the slick piano on stage at my restaurant. One I played several times. I wished I could have played with her, but tonight was all about my Angel. One day, though. At our wedding for sure.
I stretched a hand in her direction. Her heels clicked toward me, nervous at first, but as she focused only on my admiring gaze, she grew confident with every step. Her hand was cold as ice as it met mine. I held it gently, letting my heat seep into hers. Then I kissed the back of her hand. The delightful shiver she always had when I touched never failed to put a smile on my face.
“In bocca al lupo,” I said.
“What?”
I smiled again. “Break a leg.”
She laughed nervously, but I had no doubt she was going to give a stunning performance as always.
I joined Nicole at our special table where we could see Angel in all her glory and never miss a thing. I’d never take my eyes off her.
Angel’s eyes concentrated on me, on us who cared about her the most. “Good evening, I’m Angelina Baldi, your entertainment for the next thirty minutes. It’s an honor to be here tonight. If you have any special requests, please pass them to your server, and I’ll do my best to accommodate them all. Happy Valentine’s.”
Her first recital outside school, and she was handling it like a pro. I nodded once to let her know she was doing amazing. I was so proud of her. More than anyone one would ever be. Even Nicole. And certainly a hundred times more than her piece of shit of a father if he’d been still alive. If I hadn’t cut him to pieces myself for what he’d done to her.
Glasses lifted, and Happy Valentine’s Day wishes filled the restaurant as Nicole cheered for Angel. As my beautiful violinist pressed her chin on the rest and held her bow, I anticipated the melody she was opening with.
