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Rocco checked his watch. “Probably fifteen minutes, half an hour,” he said. “Ricardo is usually fashionably late.”
I snorted at that, feeling a little better. Having Rocco here was good, because I was beginning to understand that I was a little bit claustrophobic. “I feel strange,” I said, my heart racing.
Rocco frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I feel like I’m going to pass out,” I said suddenly, my vision blurring out around the edges.
“Just breathe,stellina,” Rocco said, looking right into my eyes, putting his hands on my shoulders. He breathed deeply and I followed suit, looking at him. I began to feel better almost right away, and then I slowly began to take in oxygen, breathing deeper, better. As I did, I kept looking into his eyes, and then I couldn’t help myself. I leaned up slightly, reaching his height, and pressed my mouth to his.
Rocco made a sound of surprise in the back of his throat but he kissed me back slowly, exploring my mouth with his tongue. I moaned softly into his mouth and, although there was barely enough room to, I jumped up, wrapping my legs around his waist. Rocco caught me with a grunt, sliding his hands up under my ass and pressing me to the wall with his body. He rolled his hips against me and I gasped, rocking forward to feel more friction. He was already half-hard and I was slick and ready for him, like always.
“God, it’s like I can’t get enough of you,” he mumbled against my throat, kissing and biting there.
“Me either,” I admitted. “Want to make up for lost time.”
Rocco’s gaze shot to mine. “What does that mean?” he asked.
I bit my lip, not wanting to answer. I kissed him again, catching his bottom lip between my teeth, and he groaned when I bit down.
But just as Rocco shifted to bunch my dress up around my hips, I heard the front door open. Rocco sighed and slowly lowered me to the floor, keeping his hands on my waist. He put a finger against my lips, quieting me. I breathed deeply, trying to keep the anxiety under control and calm the arousal. I listened carefully as footsteps came heavily up the stairs. I could hear my father’s voice. “Please, come in.” He sounded positive and almost bubbly, acting the part for Ricardo.
“Why did you ask me to come here?” I heard Ricardo ask.
My father paused for a long moment. “We’ve had our issues, the Gallos and the Rossis,” he said. “I wanted to clear the air. I heard you’re taking over for your father.”
“The old man’s still well and kicking,” Ricardo drawled.
“Yes, but generations change.” There was a long pause, as he waited for Ricardo to respond. When he didn’t, he continued, “You know, I’m planning to allow Allegra to take over for me.”
“Has she been found?” Ricardo asked, his voice nervous.
“Not yet, but I’m sure it’s just a matter of time,” my father said. “She just runs off from time to time when she gets a new boyfriend.” That was a blatant lie, I’d never done anything like that before, but my father didn’t want Ricardo to know I’d been taken. He didn’t want him to think he suspected him.
“If you need help finding her…” Ricardo started.
My father scoffed. “She’ll be back. She can just be a little rebellious.” He paused again. “I guess you can understand that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ricardo snapped.
My father just chuckled low in his throat. “Don’t act dumb, boy. We all know that you go against your father at every turn.”
“I love my father,” Ricardo said.
Rocco shifted in the small room, pressing closer to the door, and I put a hand on his arm, telling him with my eyes to calm. He rolled his shoulders but then he finally relaxed when I stroked my nails down his forearm.
The sound of my father’s forced laughter echoed through the hallway, clearly meant to mask the underlying tension. I could almost picture the scene: Papa at his desk, playing his part in a calculated fashion, while Ricardo Gallo struggled to maintain his composure. “Love is as love does,” my father answered. “And it’s an interesting way to show it, taking over his business behind his back.”
Ricardo’s voice shook with anger. “I’m doing what needs to be done. The family needs to grow and change. Don’t you agree that evolution is important in this lifestyle?”
“Maybe,” my father said. “But what about loyalty? Enzo has been grooming you for this role, and you want to betray him?”
“It isn’t betrayal,” Ricardo insisted. I could imagine his hands on the arms of the chair, his knuckles going white.
“Your vision will lead to destruction,” my father warned. “Mark my words, Ricardo. Betrayal begets betrayal. You think you’re paving a new path, but all you’re doing is tearing our families apart.”
A heavy silence settled over the room, the weight of their words hanging in the air. Rocco and I exchanged glances. Ricardo seemed angry. Should we go in there? Was it time? Rocco shook his head, as if reading my mind.
“I don’t plan to tear our families apart,” Ricardo said quietly. “In fact, I wanted to bring our families together.”
