Athena
Sicily was beautiful. I had to look at a kid staring wide-eyed as if all he could see around him were candy shops. The air was warm, a bit similar to New York but it had a much more crisp feel.
My eyes tried to adjust to the vibrant display of colors as we alighted from the car.
Luciano placed his hand on the small of my back, making my stomach tremble rather foolishly. The street we were in was rather bustling with people.
From the pictures I had googled, I had expected quiet streets and old buildings but they paled in comparison with what I saw.
“Come on Cara,” he urged, tugging me towards a huge ass resort on one side of the road. The name of the resort? Moretti. It was simple, plain and so fucking obvious, I wanted to facepalm. Might as well wave a red flag and dance it around announcing to everyone that he was the owner of the building.
“You couldn’t name the building something else?” I asked, arching a brow at him. “Seriously?”
Luciano shrugged. “Why is it much of a big deal? My industries and buildings all carry my family’s name. It is the only way to show those bastards that I made it despite their constant pulling down.”
“Which bastards?” I asked in a low voice. Was he referring to those who had killed his parents? I had seen the look on his face when I asked what he did to them. He had killed them. There was no mistaking that. I guess he hadn’t found out who I was yet.
If he had, he would have told me blatantly that he had killed them and would toss my ass out of the plane. I doubted he wanted to toss my ass anywhere right now, considering he was drawing circles all over my back.
We had barely stepped in through the resort where there was a loud bang. I crouched to the ground immediately, analyzing the situation. Who had shot the gun? Where was it from? Fuck! If it was Damian, I would kill him-
“Ben Tornato!” A group of people, men and women alike had gathered before the entrance, screaming and cheering at us.
When I looked up, there was an amused look on Luciano’s face as he stared down at me. “What are you doing?”
I cleared my throat awkwardly and rose. “Sorry, trauma.”
“Boss!” A man yelled running towards Luciano. He was quite short and was dressed in a sailor’s uniform. His dark hair was gelled and I was beginning to think it was like a plague in Italy. What was it with these men and gelled hair?
“Enzo!” Luciano greeted with a nod and stretched out his arm. Enzo took it firmly and then they proceeded to speak a bunch of Italian jargon.
Oh shit, this was going to happen a lot in Italy, wouldn’t it? How was I supposed to find the mafia base if I didn’t understand the language they used? I might as well just expose myself.
I watched Luciano and felt a shiver run down my body. The way his tongue moved fast made the words he said sound like some sensual mantra. Good lord, I wanted him to pray all over my skin in Italian.
Fuck, snap out of it Athena! You’re here for the final blow. There’s no time to dally between the sheets with him! Don’t be stupid. I sighed wistfully. Maybe I should have let him have his way with me back in New York. If I had known the end would come so soon, I would have.
“La Mia Donna, Raven,” Luciano said and I perked up when he mentioned my name.
Enzo grinned and said something rapidly in Italian that made Luciano chuckle and look at me.
“Are you two gossiping about me? It’s rude to use another language in front of a foreigner.” I snapped and for some reason, Enzo laughed again.
And then the other people around laughed. I had never felt so fucking small.
“I could teach you,” Luciano leaned down to whisper in my ear. “But you know what I want Raven. How about I take that as a price and teach you, hmm?”
I placed a hand on his chest and pushed away from him. “We’re in public, you dolt.”
“She’s a shy one! Good one boss!” Someone from the crowd yelled and my face reddened like a fool. What impression did they have about me? Did they think I was his whore?!
I looked behind me, trying to calm my reddened face and my gaze fell on two men standing outside where we were a few minutes ago.
They were dressed in black uniforms lined with red stripes that read ‘Carabineri’. I didn’t have to think so much. They were the police. That had to explain the uniform.
Why were the Italian police standing outside the resort, staring furtively into the resort? I glanced back at Luciano to see if he noticed, but he was discussing with a group of women and they were all stone-faced, it was almost hilarious.
Was everyone here in the freaking mafia?!
“Come on Raven,” Luciano said after rapping in Italian with his people. “Our room is ready. I had asked them to prepare the one with the best view.”
“Our room?” I asked, alarmed. “What do you mean our room? I’m not sharing a room with you.”
“Ah come on now Cara, don’t be modest. You’ve been in and out of my bed. What’s sharing a room?”
I gasped and looked around to see if anyone heard what he said. Women giggled while men hailed their boss as if he had performed some arduous feat. Luciano chuckled.
“I don’t know if I should be pleased or not, that my people approve of you so.” He said.
“Is that why you brought me along? To gain their approval?” I demanded as he led me to the elevator. I made a mental note to explore the resort later. There had to be festering secrets everywhere.
“I have been gone for five years, Cara.” He explained in a low tone as the elevator door closed. “If I didn’t bring back something exquisite after all those years, I very well have failed my people.”
“So I’m exquisite?” I asked and I hated it so much that the words came out breathless.
Taking my breathlessness for what it was- a signal that I needed him at the moment, he pulled me until I was flushed against him, my body warmed rapidly and a soft cry slipped from my lips when his wandering hands grabbed my ass.
“Very exquisite,” he whispered, placing his lips against mine. Our kiss was long and slow and so fucking sensual. I gripped his forearms, feeling them contract and relax under my touch. He tasted like the whiskey he had on the plane.
His tongue clashed against mine in tiny flicks and strokes. I pressed impossibly closer, moaning when one hand tightened around my waist and the other fondled my backside.
“Luciano… I-”
“Shh,” he whispered, placing a tiny kiss against my mouth before pulling away slightly. “I know you don’t want to go all the way, woman. Don’t ruin this for me.”
“Sorry,” I mumbled, leaning my forehead against his chest. I tried to catch my breath.
“If you’re truly sorry there’s a way you can make it up to me,” he chuckled.
“If you say anything saucy, you’re doomed!” I threatened and the jackass had the nerve to laugh at me.
“I’m doomed anyways, Raven.” He mumbled, reaching for my chin. His lips captured mine again. Somewhere in the dull recesses of my mind, I heard the elevator door ping open.
“Luciano,” a foreign yet familiar voice called jolting us apart.
Giorgia. Fucking Giorgia.
She stood outside the elevator, glaring daggers at us. No, to be more precise, she was glaring daggers at me.
“What is she doing here?!” She screeched and I winced, sinking further into Luciano’s arms. He took the memo and held me tighter, walking out of the elevator.
“Giorgia, I’ll talk to you later. Leave.” He said so simply if I were Giorgia, I would smack him in the face.
“How could you bring her here?! What is she doing to you?! After everything-”
“I’ll handle things as I see fit, Giorgia. If you question my authority once more then I’ll assume that you truly are against me.” He ordered. Gripping my hand, he yanked me forward and we walked past her.
I almost felt bad for Giorgia. She loved him. It was plain, all over her face, how much she did. It must hurt to see him with another woman. To see him with me.
I wanted to tell her he was only with me because I was holding out on him. I wanted to tell her I was only with him to end his life. I wanted her to run, to leave, and never look back.
Because Athena Hernandez was going to wreak havoc on the mafioso. Big fucking time.