AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I gulped down my own arousal and excitement at his proposition. Wait… he wanted to get to know me? That was never going to work. I could never be honest about who I was.
“What if I prefer mystery… What if finding out everything we can about each other ruins the sexual chemistry?”
“So, you’re admitting it? You like me?” I could practically feel his smugness oozing through the phone and I rolled my eyes. “I know you would have just rolled your eyes at me. How’s that for knowing you?”
“Coincidence,” I teased, smiling to myself.
“Then let’s keep the mystery. Only tell me things you want me to know. No shit about work or real names. I just want to know what makes you, you…”
“That’s pretty romantic,” I teased.
“No. Don’t get me confused with prince charming, Princess. I’m just trying to get in your pants.” I burst out laughing and he chuckled. No one had called me ‘Princess’ since the day Alessio barrelled into my life for all of twenty minutes. I didn’t hate it. “One call or text a day. Tell me to fuck off whenever you want.”
“And you’ll listen?”
“Probably not.”
“Okay,” I smiled, feeling like a giddy teenager again with a high school crush. How was this happening? How was I agreeing to this? This would only end in disaster. I can see it all playing out before my eyes. A car crash. An avalanche. A tsunami of chaos. Yet, I can’t stop it.
“Ciao, Princess.”
“Ciao, Panther.”
Darkest Secrets
I threw my phone down on the bed with the biggest shit-eating grin. There was something about the way I could tease this girl that brought me so much satisfaction. Maybe it was because she was playing hard to get. Maybe it was because she kept me on my toes. I never knew what was going to come out of her mouth but when she spoke, I hung on to her every word.
I folded my arm behind my head as I laid back on the bed, shirtless, wearing only a pair of joggers. I had just come back from the hotel gym when we started texting. I had sent the previous two texts hours ago when I first woke up at the crack of dawn and tried to distract myself from checking my phone every few minutes for her reply by sprinting on the treadmill and lifting weights. It had done the trick until I took it from my locker and saw she still hadn’t responded. Every rational and logical thought in my brain told me to leave the girl alone. But my dick won. I couldn’t get the idea of seeing her again out of my head. I knew that until I had slept with her and got whatever this was out of my system, that’s where she would stay.
I sighed as I stood up and stalked over to the floor-to-ceiling glass window overlooking Venice. I had hoped she’d be feeling the same way; wanting to finish what we started last night. But instead, she was willing to never see me again. Which only made me more determined. So determined that I found myself saying words that had never before left my lips. Let’s get to know each other. What the fuck was I thinking? I don’t do that. Alessio Barbieri does not ‘get to know’ women. And they don’t get to know me. I am a closed book. My darkest secrets stay buried deep inside me, chastened by impenetrable chains along with my cold heart. Yet, I said it. And I meant it. I was intrigued by her. I liked flirting with her even more. I probably wouldn’t even have to talk about myself anyway. Just listen to her chat about shit. That’s what women wanted, right? Someone who listens. I could do that. Then I’ll fuck her. And the spell will be broken. I’ll carry on with my life.
I leaned my forearm against the window as I looked down at the miniature figures walking along the streets of Venice. One day, all this would be mine. Buccini and Leone can fight each other to the death for their claim over it but it would all be in vain in the end. Hopefully, they end up killing each other and then it will be mine for the taking. I didn’t even like the North that much. But it represented more power and ambition. The only two things I had ever known. It was a different style of life up here. More chaotic. Busier. I liked the relaxed and chilled pace of the South and I was itching to get back home to my estate in Sicily.
As my mind focused on the only family in Italy that could even come close to challenging us in influence and size, I found my infuriating thoughts drifting to Elenora Buccini. She would have just turned twenty-five a few days ago. My sources say she is back in Verona, living in the Buccini mansion after her time at university. I have kept discreet tabs on her for years. And Giovanni. It was sensible to know what my enemies were up to. The mafia princess was harmless. But that didn’t stop me from wanting to know more about her. It had crossed my mind a few times since meeting Flora that it could be the reason I was so intrigued by her. Because she reminded me of the Buccini Princess.
In our brief encounter eleven years ago, I had seen innocence but fire behind those big brown eyes and sweet full lips. She hadn’t been scared of the rough sixteen-year-old thug that had broken into her studio. Just like Flora had never shown any fear in my presence either. Elenora was a slightly awkward but pretty thing at fourteen. I often wondered what she looked like now, but I always dismissed it quickly. I could easily find out, but I had disciplined myself over the years to keep my weird obsession with her at arm’s length.
The room’s phone started ringing, pulling me from my thoughts as I strolled over to answer it.
“Si?”
“Buongiorno Signor Barbieri, your sister is here. Signora Leone.”
I inhaled a deep breath as every muscle in my body tensed under the stress of that information. Of course, she wouldn’t let me escape this city without ambushing me.
“Shall I send her up, Signor?”
“No. I’ll come down.”
I slammed the receiver down and grabbed a T-shirt off the chair, throwing it on. Isabelle and I had what some would call a complicated relationship. But to me there was only one word to describe it; fucked. We had never felt like brother and sister from the moment I was brought back to the family from that crack den. She resented me for her mamma leaving and Diego had never tried to help us bond because he was more interested in having me focused on learning the family business and shipping her off to any school that would take her to keep her out of his hair. We rarely spoke growing up, let alone got on. Until she graduated and moved back home. That’s when everything changed between us.
I was no longer the annoying kid that had barrelled into her life and stole all her papi’s attention. I was suddenly a sexy, dangerous teenager who without even trying, seemed to have gained her lustful attention instead. Stupidly, as a teenage boy who only thought with his dick, I played right into her hands. It went on for a year or so behind Diego’s back. Behind everyone’s backs.
One night, Diego found an opened packet of condoms in her room. He lost his shit. No one was to touch his princess. Not because he cared about her but because she was more valuable to him as a virgin. That was the first time in my life I ever felt truly terrified of my adoptive papi. I had seen him do unspeakable things. But the unrelenting rage in his eyes that night was unlike anything I had ever witnessed. I knew he would kill me if he found out. But Isabelle lied. She saved me and blamed one of his young soldiers. I had to watch as Diego beat the boy to death. An innocent boy died because of my actions. After that night, I told Isabelle it had to stop. That we could never be together because the world had to believe we were related. And that’s when the blackmailing started.
As the door to the elevator opened and I stepped out into the elegant reception area, I clocked her immediately. She was a striking woman. Every room she walked into; she had heads turning. She was perched on the arm of a white chair in a figure-hugging black dress with low cleavage and killer heels. Her ridiculously long black waves swished behind her as she tilted her head coyly and gave me a flirtatious smile. I kept my face neutral, a mask of no emotion, as I marched towards her and she stood up ready to embrace me.
I had to keep up appearances. Especially in her husband’s hotel where he had cameras in the public areas. I smiled, leaning down to kiss her on each cheek in greeting.
