Lonzo: Book 1 (Tycoon Series Book 1) (7 page)

She looked…well…happy and years younger. It was as if the upcoming nuptials of her only son had the power to take ten years off her lovely, aristocratic face.

“Lonzo,
caro
! You came!” the
contessa
welcomed him delightedly with open arms, kissing both his cheeks. “That wretched son of mine said you’re going to bail out on me.”

Your wretched son was right.
He almost skipped the wedding.

“Zia Maria…you look very beautiful, as always,” he said after affectionately hugging Rocco’s mother. “Bail? Me? I told you never to believe that good-for-nothing son of yours.”

He had known her family for a long time. He was the grubby kid that Rocco would often invite home. Despite her social standing, Maria Romolini wasn’t a snob. She genuinely received him in her home and fussed over him like a true member of her family. In many ways, she was the mother that he never had.

“I know! But I’m really happy you’re here. I still can’t believe it, Lonzo. My constant prayers are finally answered. My dear Rocco’s finally getting married!”

Not if I can help it
, he thought. “That makes the two of us, Zia.”

“Come, come…have some
biscotti
. Constanzia baked some this morning. Oh, leave your things. I’ll ask someone to bring it up to your room,” Zia Maria said as she led him inside.

“It’s okay, Zia. I’m good,” he said, indicating the monkey suit and overnight bag he was carrying.

“Oh…you’re not staying after the wedding?” the older woman was surprised.

He responded with a smile, “Work beckons, Zia.”

She clucked her disapproval like a mother hen worrying over her chick.

“Now, Lonzo…you’re working too hard, my dear boy. It’s also about time you think about the future…like Rocco…”

Great.
Now Zia Maria was trying her hand at matchmaking. God help him if he’d be successful at breaking off Rocco’s wedding. Zia would probably stab him with a pitchfork. But she’d come around. She loved him too much to stay angry with him for too long.

“Amici!”
he heard his friend’s voice behind him. He almost sighed in relief at the groom’s arrival. It deflected Zia’s prodding questions about his bachelor status. She excused herself to speak with the wedding planner.

When Lonzo turned to look at his bestfriend, he saw a grinning Rocco with his arm over a woman who wore a simple white shirt over a pair of cut-offs.

He was surprised.

Rocco told the truth when he said that his intended was not his usual type. The bride-to-be was a far cry from the women Rocco once paraded on a regular basis: beautiful-blonde-centerfoldish-types with matching fifth-grader IQs.

The woman standing beside his friend was a complete antithesis: she was petite, red-haired, and very pretty in an intelligent-looking way. The young Jodie Foster came into mind as he frankly observed his friend’s soon-to-be wife. She was openly smiling at him like he was some long-lost puppy.

“Hi! You must be Lonzo! I’m Mel…the evil bride-to-be,” she joked as she extended a hand toward him—which he took and firmly shook. He was glaring the entire time at his childhood friend.

“Lonzo, I swear I didn’t tell her you were really trying your damnest to convince me to leave her at the altar! Honestly! Scout’s honor!” Rocco was on a roll. The man had a death wish.

“You were never a scout, you
cazzo
,” Lonzo muttered dryly. “You were never honorable, too.”

It was Melissa turn to laugh.

“All right, I’m out of here before you two spill blood and ruin my shirt.”

“That I cannot promise,” he responded. “Your intended is an ass. I have to straighten him out a bit.”

Mel gave him a smile.

“Try not to give my groom a concussion, Lonzo. I would really hate being left standing dressed in white tomorrow. I have to hunt you down if you do. I happen to be very good with that. Just a little warning. A pleasure meeting you at last,” she gracefully said.

He gave a non-committal grin in reply.

Still smiling, she turned and walked toward her future mother-in-law, leaving them alone.

He had to admit, he had expected a cosmetically-enhanced, money-grabbing bimbo. He didn’t expect his friend’s future wife to be this saucy. Rocco’s exes were known for their sexual capabilities, not their sense of humor.

He glanced at Rocco. He wanted to punch his friend for putting him in an awkward situation.

When Melissa was out of hearing range, they turned to walk and it was Rocco’s turn to ask.

“Well, what do you think of Mel?”

“You were right. Not your usual fare—”

“I told you she was different,” he said proudly.

“Please, I’ve only known the woman for less than ten minutes. Not enough for me to form an opinion.”

Rocco snickered. “Oh, really? You have a lot to say about her before you even saw her. Come on, Lonzo. Give me your best anti-marriage shot. You have to admit, I have chosen well.”

He sneered. “You’re whipped. Had to agree, she’s different all right. For once she’s not after your money and Zia Maria really likes her. But still, you’ve known her for a relatively short time.”

“That’s not the point. What difference does time make? Nothing. What’s important is, I’m in love with her,” Rocco declared with so much raw emotion which surprised him.

He itched to hit the back of Rocco’s head to drive some sense into his friend. Six months ago, Rocco would rather be caught dead than say those flowery words. Now he was spewing love words like a besotted swain. What the fuck happened here?

They continued to walk silently until they reached the stables at the back of the property.

“Lonz, you may think this is all foolish. Damn, I didn’t even think I’ll be marrying anyone. I’ve tried to run from the marriage trap. We’re too alike, you and I. But I have to say, meeting Mel is the best thing that ever happened to me. We just…clicked. We just do…on so many levels that I simply can’t imagine my life without her. True love really exists, Lonz. Don’t scoff at it.”

“True love? Give me a break, Rocco. You don’t really believe that.”

Rocco smiled at him. “You know what? It’s everything that it’s being touted to be…you’ll never know what hit you until it’s too late.”

He snorted. “Bollocks!”

His friend just shook his head at him.

“No, it’s not. So stop trying to ruin my wedding, Lonz. I know what I am getting myself in for. I want this and I
need
her. ”

Lonzo realized that convincing his friend against marriage was an exercise in vain. The guy’s mind was really made up.

He failed. He sighed in defeat. For now.

“So how many will be witnessing you wear the shackles tomorrow?” he asked, changing the topic.

“Why? You afraid I’ve invited your exes? I was really tempted at one point but I was overruled by Mama and Mel. Or were you asking me indirectly if Mel’s maid-of-honor’s here?”

He shrugged. He couldn’t care less for Mel’s bestfriend. He intended to leave the place as soon as the ceremony was over. He won’t be hovering.

“Lonz, I’ll wait for the day when you will finally eat your words. It only takes one woman, the right woman to topple you from your tower of crap.”

Lonzo laughed. His friend was really brainwashed in the cult of true love. Dimwit.

“Then you shall wait in vain, my friend. Hell will freeze over first.”

Rocco stared back in exasperation. Then his friend checked the time.

“We have to go or else we will be late.”

“Late for what?”

“Dinner…what else? My dear mother is hosting it. You know how a stickler for punctuality she is.”

“Man, do I have to make an appearance? I know all your relatives already.”

“Sorry,
paisan
. Non-negotiable. And besides, the maid-of-honor might be there…”

“I’m not interested, Rocco. So drop the not so subtle hints. Besides, virgins are overrated. Not that I ever believed she’s one.”

“You’re such a jaded bastard.”

“No. Just a realist. Just look at Britney Spears and you’ll get my point.”

“Britney Spears?! You’ve accused me of gossiping and reading smut…look who’s talking now.”

Lonzo hit his friend in the solar plexus in retaliation before making a run for the castle’s entrance, leaving Rocco behind sputtering and cursing him colorfully.

Chapter Five

When her plane landed
at the International Airport of Perugia, Jordana felt she’d been transported to another world. Another time, even.

Passengers and locals recognized her and some took out their mobile phones for a quick photo. For the most part, they maintained their distance. Unlike in Milan, where she usually got mobbed by overzealous Italian guys who shouted their eternal love for her. Sometimes she thought there must be something in Italy’s water supply that kept the testosterone levels among the male population ridiculously high.

Heads turned as she went to get her luggage. Even if she went incognito, her height was too hard to miss. She towered over most women here at five feet ten inches on her stockinged feet. Looking like a long-legged toddler with her luggage trailing behind her, Jordana left the terminal to look for the car that would take her to the
castello
of Mel’s groom-to-be.

As if on cue, her phone rang. It was Mel.

“Hey, dearie. Finally! I gather you’re at the airport by this time?”

“Mel! Yes, I’m here. I thought I will not be able to make it in time after all the delays. But here I am.. I sometimes wish there’s still Concorde,” she happily informed her friend. When she checked the time, it was nearly ten in the evening.

“It’s okay, silly… no worries. It’s a shame you didn’t make it to dinner, though. It was splendid. My soon-to-be Mummy-in-law is so gracious and warm. You’ll get along fabulously with her. Anyway...I’ll tell you about it when you get here. Oh, look for the driver in a black Benz. He’s been waiting for you for over an hour now. He’ll take you to the
castello
. Do you want us to wait for you? It’s only a thirty-minute ride.”

“Oh, please don’t wait up on my account! Tomorrow’s your big day and you must have your beauty sleep!”

Mel giggled on the other line.

She spotted the Benz parked near the curve. She walked toward it. The driver saw her and approached to take her luggage before opening the door of the passenger side for her. She smiled her thanks to the chauffeur, while still talking to her friend, her phone firmly tucked in her ear.

“You really sure? I really want to tell you everything about dinner and all that, but I guess you’re right. Anyway, I’ve asked the staff to look out for you. Your room’s ready and I’ve ask Constanzia to send you supper as soon as you arrive.”

“Hey, don’t worry about me, pet! I’ll be fine. Go get some sleep or you’ll be having raccoon eyes tomorrow. Bad for pictures! That’s an order!”

Mel laughed happily.

“Okay, honey. Wedding will be in the afternoon, by the way… so you can sleep the entire morning away if you want…get that jetlag out of your system. Bye for now! Can’t wait for our chat tomorrow! We have lots and lots to talk about!” her friend said before she bade her goodnight.

“Bye, honey. Goodnight!”

She was still smiling when she finished the call. Mel sounded really happy and she was glad her friend found a guy who made her laugh that way. Her friend deserved to have that kind of happiness. She just hoped that the guy was equally deserving of her friend’s love.

As the car made its way back to the
castelo
, Jordana slumped back into the backseat. It had been a long flight. Even for someone who was used to moving around, being confined in a seat, even if it was first class, was extremely tiring.

Maybe the right word was exhaustion. Despite the intrusion of the paparazzi during the past months, she had been burning the midnight oil to keep up with her commitments.

Well…at last she can now relax and get recharged without prying eyes.

She glanced at the window on her left. The full moon gave enough illumination to this region’s amazing views. Whenever she traveled to Europe for jobs, it was hard not to take in all the magnificent structures that had existed since time immemorial. She always goggle-eyed everything here. It was so fascinating because it was so Old World.

Perugia was distinct from other cities in Italy. It was hard not to take in what the city had to offer for a first-timer like her. Its art, its monuments, its buildings and churches were magnificent. It showcased Etruscan influences, Roman architecture and Renaissance art. It was no wonder why this Umbrian capital was considered one of the art centers of Italy.

The Volvo left the outskirts of the city to head for the open countryside.

She closed her eyes for a moment, intending to rest her eyes. She eventually dozed off.