“What information?”
“We have a mole working for Ferrara.”
“What do you mean?”
“Our yacht with our drugs was stolen last week, it was an inside job.”
I frown in horror. “Who is it?”
“He was about to tell me yesterday and then….” His voice trails off.
“You were with him yesterday?” I frown.
“He died in my arms.”
“What?” I gasp. “You were with him when he was shot?”
He bites his bottom lip as he casually drives, as if he has this conversation every day.
“And you didn’t think to tell me this?” I splutter.
“I was….” He shrugs. “It doesn’t matter.”
I stare at him, shocked to my core. His life is so different to mine that sometimes I wonder if I really know him at all. Actually, I don’t wonder, I know that I don’t.
But I don’t want to know the other side because it scares the hell out of me.
“I spent the day in the police station answering questions and didn’t get out until about nine last night, I went to see my colleagues at the club to debrief them on the way home.”
My heart drops. “At the club?”
He nods.
“And you came home to my dramatics about strippers?” I put my head into my hands, feeling like the biggest asshole on earth. “Oh God, Giuliano, why didn’t you tell me?”
He shrugs.
I stare at him, mortified. “And you proposed to me after the day you had?”
“I proposed to you because of the day that I had.”
“What do you mean?”
“Life is short. Every moment counts.”
I stare at him as fear swirls around me. “Don’t say that. Not your life.”
He keeps driving but remains silent.
“Are you in danger?”
“No,” he snaps way too quickly.
I think for a moment. “Is this why there are extra guards everywhere?”
“Yes.” He reaches over and grabs my thigh once more. “You’re safe, babe, don’t worry.”
“What about you?”
“I’m a big boy, I can look after myself.”
This news is a nightmare. “You can’t die, Giuliano. I couldn’t bear it, promise me you won’t take any risks.”
He smiles over at me. “What do you want for dinner?”
“Don’t change the subject.” I glance behind us to see three cars following us and for once I’m glad they are there.
“I’ve got this,” he replies as he pulls into a parking lot. “Leave it.”
“But….”
“End of conversation,” he snaps angrily and I know the subject is now out of bounds. He probably regrets even telling me.
I stare at him as my mind races a million miles per minute.
“What do you want for dinner?”
I exhale heavily as I take off my seat belt. “Whatever.”
I’m not even hungry now.
*
I sit on the bathroom counter and watch as Giuliano does up his tie, my eyes roam up and down my fine specimen of a man. He’s wearing a perfectly fitted charcoal suit and crisp white shirt, trendy dress shoes and a chunky silver Rolex watch. His dark hair is thick and shiny and his square jaw could cut glass.
So fucking hot.
I smile goofily up at him.
He concentrates on his task of tying his tie and gives me the side eye. “What?”
“Just admiring your masculinity.”
He smirks and keeps tying. “Yeah well, tonight my masculinity will dominate your femininity.”
“How does that go?”
He grabs the back of my neck and drags me to him, he kisses me with just the right amount of suction, his tongue swipes through my lips and I feel it all the way to my bones.
Oh….
“Tonight,” he whispers darkly.
Oh crap. “We have dinner tonight with Carlo and Anna, I just remembered.”
He winces and pulls out of my grip and walks into the bedroom. “Cancel it.”
I jump off the counter and follow him. “Why?”
“Why?” he scoffs. “I wonder?” He puts his suit jacket on and does up his gold cuff links. “I love going out with friends and pretending that I’m not dating my future wife while watching two people who met fucking yesterday fawn all over each other.” He fakes a smile. “It’s my perfect night.”
“Stop going on about that.” I straighten his tie. “I’m having lunch with my mother on Thursday and we’re coming up with a timeline.”
“Timeline?” He repeats dryly.
“Yes, now that she’s got used to the idea of us together, we can make a map forward.”
“Why does our map depend on her?”
“You said we could wait to tell everyone until it was sorted with my family.” My shoulders slump. “I don’t want to feel guilty about this until I’ve at least tried. Please, for me?”
He rolls his eyes. “Your family are fucking annoying, Francesca.”
“I know.” I go up onto my tiptoes and kiss him softly.
“And if your mother doesn’t give me an acceptable…” he holds his fingers up to air quote the words, “—road map—”
I smirk.
“I’m running right through her stop sign with a big fucking Mack truck.”
“Okay,” I agree.
“Okay?” He seems surprised.
“Uh-huh,” I nod. “Thursday I will have a definite date that we can come out of hiding.”
He grabs me roughly on my behind and nips my bottom lip with his teeth. “That’s if you make it through tonight.”
*
Anna and I walk into the restaurant just on seven to see Giuliano and Carlo already seated at the table, they got held up at work so have met us here.
I’m wearing a fitted hot-pink dress that hangs off the shoulders with nude sky-high stilettos and clutch. My long dark hair is out and full and I have sultry makeup on with hot-pink lipstick.
“Hello, we have a booking in the name of Smithson,” I say to the waiter.
“Yes, this way.” He turns and walks through the restaurant and we follow, music is being piped through the space and the crowd is trendy and eclectic. The restaurant is huge with a few split levels, the bar is on the top floor, seven steps down is the main restaurant and kitchen and down another seven stairs is the bar area with high tables and stools.
I can see Giuliano and Carlo seated at a table in the back on the middle level and smile broadly.
I missed him today.
As we get closer Giuliano’s eyes drop down to my feet and then back up to my face, he gives me the best come-fuck-me look I have ever seen.
He likes this dress.
An excited thrill runs through me, getting that look from him is the ultimate.
“Hi.” I smile as we get to the table.
“Hello,” he replies calmly.
Anna bends and kisses Carlo. “Hey there, you.”
“Look at you being all hot.” Carlo smiles as he holds her hand out to inspect her closer.
Giuliano’s dark eyes hold mine and a trace of a smile crosses his face and now I see what he means. Having these two being able to show affection so freely is fucking annoying.
“Thanks for coming out with us.” Anna smiles to Giuliano as she pushes in her chair. “I know this can’t be easy for you two to hang out together as friends given your history. Carlo and I appreciate it, don’t we, baby?”
Giuliano stares at her.
“That’s okay,” I blurt out before he can reply. “We’re friends, aren’t we Jules. Happy to hang out with our best friends.”
He raises an eyebrow and sips his drink, choosing to remain silent.