Riccardo (10 page)

“You
have
to come out to Australia, Dante. My father would love it. The entire
famiglia
would love it.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

LORENA

From the moment we landed in Sydney, Raphael was on the phone to my father. He was probably dying to hand me over to someone else. He should consider himself lucky because I was on my best behaviour. Raphael was seated at the front of the limo while I shared the backseat with Paulie.

I sat there with mixed emotions and my heart was erratic. I couldn’t help the excited thrill that swept through me at the prospect of seeing my family again. My nerves—which I could swear I didn’t have—kicked in, making me anxious at the thought of confronting Riccardo again.

While in Europe, the last several weeks, Raphael was my constant shadow. He never left me unattended, unless I was with Paulie of course. Paulie became one of my closest friends. We’d talked way into the evenings about anything and everything. He even shared things with me that I'd hold dear to my heart, things that shocked me. I believed we bonded because I didn't have Riccardo hovering around me or chasing Paulie away.

I knew Riccardo was jealous of Paulie, so I played on it every chance I got. I was quite surprised he never caused a ruckus over Paulie accompanying me, alongside Raphael to Europe. However, after Paulie's revelation, I expected things to be a little different once we were home.

“Yeah, Boss, all good, I told ya,” Raphael croaked into the phone. “No probs. We should be there in thirty to forty minutes.” There was a long silence and I noticed Raphael glance toward me with an intense stare and then went back to speak to my father about some business. It made me wonder what my father had said or perhaps asked. Raphael answered him with a clipped ‘No,’ and the conversation quickly ended.

“So what did my father have to say?” What I really wanted to ask was why the hell he didn't want to talk to his daughter? I hadn't spoken to him in over two days. I wanted to ask him questions. Those questions were of course mainly about Riccardo. I desperately wanted to know if he'd be at the house or anywhere near me for that matter. I needed to know. I had to prepare myself. Prepare for the all-consuming confrontation with Riccardo.

“Boss wants everyone over for a family dinner,” Raphael announced.

“Oh, that's all? Daddy didn’t say anything else?” I delved, hoping to get more information out of him. I briefly looked at Paulie to gauge his reaction, but he merely shrugged.

“That's it, doll. Family dinner at six sharp.”

I wondered if I would see Riccardo at dinner. Thank God, we had a stopover in New Zealand, allowing me some time to freshen up and change at our hotel before heading back to Australia. Why couldn't I get him out of my mind? He was all I could think about. I was busy overseas, attending workshops and interior design expos, which occupied a lot of my time, yet I still thought about him, but not like this. The anticipation of our first meeting caused me a great deal of anxiety. My throat was dry and my palms were sweaty. I was so nervous. It was a joke. I was normally so confident and not scared of going after what I wanted, but at that moment, I was petrified about seeing Riccardo again. A shiver ran down my spine and my stomach bottomed out just thinking about it.

I knew the feelings I had for Riccardo were love. They couldn’t be anything else. Pain, both raw and real, sat in my chest causing me agony, while the sensations in my stomach were like a lethal roller coaster ride. I honestly never knew love could hurt like this. When did it turn from an infatuation to love? Was it the incident with my mother and how he protected me so closely? Or was it a progression of sorts? Damn, I couldn’t even pinpoint exactly when it was when I fell in love with him.

When my father suggested I study overseas to look at various opportunities towards my passion for interior design, I jumped at the offer. Not only did I get the chance to learn more about something I was passionate about, I also had the opportunity to visit where my father was born and where he was raised as a little boy. Spending time in Messina, Sicily, was a real eye opener. I thought it would be a backward little Italian town with cobblestone streets, but I found it to be the complete opposite. Messina had wide streets and the villages were far from backward.

While there, Raph and Paulie hired a car and they took me for a day trip to Taormina. I was sure my father would have huge regrets sending me there, as I spent up big on his credit card. Taormina reminded me of a Sicilian Monte Carlo, minus the casino and royal family. That place was glorious. I needed more than one day in the popular, chic resort town.

The whole time I was overseas, I tried to convince myself that spending several weeks away would curb my desire for Riccardo. It had only increased it.

After our moment in the cellar, I had no idea how I was going to react around him. That was if I ever saw him again. He had avoided me like the plague during Matias’ party and left straight after we sang happy birthday. During the week leading up to me leaving for Europe, he made himself scarce, not attending any family dinners or even coming to the mansion for meetings with my father. I assumed all meetings were being held at the club, but I wasn't that naïve to not notice he was deliberately avoiding me.

I sighed and stared down at my fashionable strappy white heels as I crossed my legs in the limo, tugging down my white dress that reached low on my thighs. I linked my fingers and rested my hands on my bare knee and flicked am imaginary piece of lint off my dress with my other hand.

“What's wrong? Why the huge, deep sigh?” Paulie asked.

“Nothing I can't handle. I'm just a tad nervous.” I looked over at Raphael making sure he couldn’t hear our conversation. He was too busy talking to the driver. “I don't want Raph to hear. He will only just go tell Stefano or Riccardo.”

“I don't know why you are so nervous. You've only been gone a few weeks. What on earth has made you feel nervous about seeing him again?” Paulie asked.

Before I could answer, we were interrupted by Raphael’s phone ringing. Not that I was going to tell Paulie the truth about what went down in the cellar anyway. I hadn't even confided in Sierra. “Hey, you two back there. Keep your voices down. I'm on the phone with Capo.”

Great
. He was on the phone with Riccardo while I had to sit there like a good little girl and shut the fuck up. I wanted to ask Raphael if Riccardo was coming to the family dinner but my nerves got the better of me.

“I'm on it, Riccardo. I'll be there soon.” He turned to both Paulie and myself and announced, “I need to swing past the club and do a job for Riccardo. I'll have the driver drop the both of you home.”

“So does that mean you're both coming later to the house?” I didn't want to sound desperate when I asked. Hopefully, it didn't come out like that.

“Not sure, doll. Capo says it could take all night.”

Great
. My questioned was answered. I wouldn't be seeing Riccardo. I wasn't sure if I was relieved or distressed about it. All I knew was the longer I waited, the more my anxiety would increase. It was bound to happen; it was all just a matter of time.

CHAPTER TWELVE

RICCARDO

There was no way I could have gone to that family dinner, no way in hell. I wasn't ready to see Lorena. I'd probably go past the house in the next couple of days, but for the time being, I was doing all I could to avoid her.

After a long meeting with Raphael, I was glad to be home. My eyes had to adjust to the darkness of the room when I first entered. The reflection of the streetlights was streaming through the window, creating a shimmering light against the living room wall. Once my vision adjusted, I noticed Lorena sitting on the couch.

“How the fuck did you get in here?” I bellowed at her.

“Tut tut,
Padrino
, is that any way to welcome your goddaughter after all those weeks away? Honestly, I expected better from you.”

Who the fuck let her in? It could only be Stefano or Raphael, and since I’d left Raph at the club, it had to be his fucker of a twin. Why the fuck did he give her access to my house? What if I had been doing a hit? Fuck, Stefano was a wanker sometimes. After my internal cussing, I took the time to absorb the woman in front of me. Holy fuck, she looked damn hot. Her white dress left little to the imagination, and those sexy, white heels emphasised her long, tanned legs. Legs I dreamed of being wrapped around my waist while I thrust into her. It seemed my idea of sending her away had changed nothing. I still wanted her. Just looking at her made my cock hard.

I was surprised to see her here. I never asked about her the whole time she was overseas and Sebastiano never so much as mentioned her name in front of me. I stood there in silence for a few seconds, not answering her and simply admired her beauty. I looked my fill, trying to memorise her every feature and delicious curves. It was about time I accepted the fact she was a woman. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t fight what I felt for her anymore. My denial was over. Despite two months of her being away, all it took was one look, and I was ready to bury myself between her legs.

“Was it Stefano who let you in?” I demanded, trying, but failing to ignore my need to take a step forward and pull her into my arms.

“Um…possibly. I don't tattle tale. Let's just say I used a touch of my Morassi charm. Calm yourself down. There's no need to go blow someone's head off for no reason. We're all alone and we need to um…chat,” she purred in a soft voice. While everything about her was the same, her beauty, her voice, there was a different confidence within her.

She wants to fucking chat?
I couldn’t even think straight let alone talk. Lorena stepped closer to me. The scent of her sweet perfume mingled with her own erotic flavour hit me hard, forcing the heat in my body to rise a few notches. Her body was a thing of beauty. I loved watching her, the way her tits bounced and her hips swung from side to side as she walked was enough to drive me insane. Lorena epitomised the stereotypical blonde bombshell, yet everything about her was natural.

I steadied my breathing once my decision solidified. Despite the consequences, it was time for me to claim her and make her mine. Lorena Morassi was my woman and I wouldn’t to deny myself any longer. To hell with the consequences. She was worth the risk and worth dying for.

***

LORENA

His reaction and lack of response filled me with anger. I wanted to do more than just chat with him. My initial instinct when I first laid eyes on him was to lunge forward and knock my fist against his gorgeous face. And oh, man, what a gorgeous face it was. He was even more handsome than when I left.

The first thing I noticed was his hair. Riccardo normally kept his hair extremely short or shaved it. But this time, he actually had some; it had grown. He looked different. Having hair framing his face, emphasised his strong jawline and chiselled cheekbones. My heart was fluttering at the sight of him. God, I missed him. My time away hadn’t dulled my ache for him at all. I still wanted Riccardo. I had thought about this long and hard while I was in Italy. I was angry he asked my father to send me away, but at the same time, I still craved him. Damn, I hated these feelings.

“Are we ever going to address what happened between us?” I asked. While I wanted to be resentful, to push him away and follow through with my plan for revenge, as his eyes settled on mine, my anger dissipated and heat took over.

Damn him for ignoring me. Damn him for resisting me all these years. I wanted him so much. I had to make him see we could work. While he had one tough exterior, I was going to persevere until he crumbled. Sticking to my guns, I slid my arms around his waist, pressing my face against his taut chest and inhaled Riccardo’s signature masculine scent. Lust rode me hard.

He still didn't speak. His response was not exactly what I’d expected. I waited for his rejection but it never came. Instead of pushing me away, he inserted a leg between my thighs, and raised it up until my dress lifted and my crotch rubbed against him. I cried out from the sensation of rubbing myself against his thick thigh.

“I still want you, Riccardo. Can you feel how hot and wet I am against your leg? It's all for you,” I said as I moved closer, licking his neck and then sucking on his skin leaving a mark. His erection surged in his pants, despite barely touching him.

Remaining silent, which was as infuriating as it was hot, he reached down, lifted my dress to my waist and grabbed my arse, bringing me even closer to him. While his body was behaving exactly as I dreamed, I needed more. I needed his words, his promise. I needed to believe he wouldn’t let this happen and then dismiss me. My heart would not cope with another rejection.

I leaned in close, hovered my lips over his, but didn't kiss him. I licked his neck again and whispered, “But do you want me, Riccardo?”

I waited for his answer, but he remained silent, his hands firmed on my backside, squeezing tightly.

“Riccardo, I can’t keep doing this. You can’t push me like this. It’s all or nothing.”

Slowly, his finger shifted underneath my panties.
Fuck
. I had to hold strong. I tried to push him away, but his solid wall of muscle prevented me. Pissed and needing answers, I bit down hard on his neck, until he yelped and took a step back from me. “No. No more. You put my father first when all these years you could've had me. You even chose to fuck a bunch of whores instead of me! I will walk away right fucking now unless you can promise me all the shit stops.”

I hoped desperately he’d take me seriously and offer what I craved, but when I looked deep into his eyes, my stomach plummeted. He gave me nothing. His face was closed off, seemingly a decision already made. I had to get out of there before my heart was torn in two.

With my body taking control and my brain not really functioning, my next move took me off guard, as well as Riccardo. I moved forward and kneed him in the balls. I gasped in horror as he doubled over, clutching himself, in pain.
Shit
. I needed to get the hell out of there before he recovered. But not before I had the last word. “That is for choosing the
famiglia
and your honour over me,” I said, turning and walking away.