Shaking my head, I reach over and lay my hand over hers. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean… Youareworth my time, Allegra.” And she is. I know it.
“This is the only world I’ve ever known, Bonnie. Believe it or not, Lorenzo did everything in his power to change how the family did business, but we are rooted in decades worth of tradition and it takes time. You may not agree with this,” she says, brandishing her arms wide, “but do not be foolish enough to think we are the only bad guys. It’s not so black and white. Do you know how many law enforcement officials, politicians, and heads of state are involved in our line of work? They just don’t openly call themselves mobsters. We live in a world of dog-eat-dog. Maybe you should open your eyes and see the grey areas before you so easily judge me or Lorenzo—but I digress, Lorenzo loved me and cared for me, not with the sole purpose of raising me to be a criminal, as you so love to phrase it. He was the parent I needed; in the only way he knew how. I’m naturally gifted with numbers, so it was natural for me to fall into the business side of things as I got older. I wanted, and want, to make sure the family is secure. I owe the Ferrante name everything.”
Fiddling with my knife, I look at her with a new purpose. She’s right. I’ve judged her harshly. And rightly so in the beginning, but now, I’m seeing a different side of her life. Since being here, I haven’t once seen or heard anything that is tantamount to brutal behaviour, which I absolutely thought would be the case.
InMob’s Seductionthe family are out busting knees and cracking heads every night. The only thing happening here is a lot of hard work, mainly from the field pickers, and Allegra in her office.
“I know it… I don’t… Okay, yes, I’ve judged you, but when we first met, I think you’ll agree it wasn’t the best first impression.”
She grins. “I’ll give you that. I came in far too strong. And I won’t lie. There have been times I’ve had to be the woman you met that day. But not everyone is as innocent as you, Bonnie. The world is cruel. I’ve had to play the bitch to keep myself safe. Also,” she shrugs, “I do like the rush. Being that powerful is an addiction. No point denying it.”
I need to choose my words carefully because I don’t want her to clam up. “But you’ve…you’ve hurt people before?”
She nods. “Yes. But I can promise you this: None of them were innocent. Some were cruel and I’ll admit I enjoyed it at times. Those reasons may not excuse it in your eyes, but as I said, things are never black and white. Spilling blood meant I’d earned my way to where I am now. Growing up, reaching the head of the family was my only goal. I didn’t have anything else.”
“Okay. Do you…do you sell drugs?”
“No, never,” she sighed. “Okay, I’m going to tell you something that could potentially get me killed.”
“No!”
She holds up her hands. “You need to understand how this works, Bonnie, if you want your questions answered.” She waits until I gesture for her to continue. “There are several families that make up the Mafiosi. Each family has a different stream of income. Drugs, guns, protection, and theft. The Ferrante family had their finger in the drug business at one point, but Lorenzo’s father stopped it after a while. It’s too volatile and messy. A pact was made between the families. It ensured there would be no turf wars or encroachment on each other’s businesses. A refined way to live The Life; one far different from the Mafiosi of old.”
Blimey, I feel like I should be taking notes.
“When I began to run the businesses here, I chose to focus on our legitimate sources of income. Times are changing and it won’t be long before the law catches up to families like ours, no matter how many people we pay off. Because, Bonnie, there will always be a bigger fish out there, and they will come for us when it’s advantageous for them. So I’ve built up a Ferrante empire that is beyond reproach. That being said, we still have one line of income that is less than legal.”
“What is it?” Do I want to know? Does it make me an accessory?
“Art theft and forgery. We steal from the wealthy, only to sell it back to them.”
Huh, okay, as far as crimes go, it’s not so bad.
You’re making excuses because you like Allegra!
Looking into her eyes, I can’t lie to myself; I do like her. She’s gorgeous and mysterious. Not so much now, but she’ll always hold that air of forbidden fruit that tempts me so.
“That was a lot. Sorry, I don’t know what to say now.”
She starts eating and I see her walls rise again. “Nothing for you to say. I just hope I’ve shone a light on things you were finding difficult to understand.”
“Thanks. You didn’t owe me that. But I appreciate it, and it helps me see these different sides to you more clearly.”
We fall silent and finish our meal. I’m not sure what I want to happen next. I don’t want the evening to end, but what am I hoping to get out of it if it continues?
Allegra clears the dishes and wipes the counter. She’s totally at home and happy here. It was the reason I asked her who she is. The second she took her hair down, it was like this other persona slotted into place and she became a woman at home, enjoying a meal. It was all sonormal.
It’s this side of her that has my heart racing as she moves around the kitchen. Sure, the bad girl vibe is hot, but that kind of thrill only leads to getting burned. This Allegra is so much more appealing. She’s softer, and she’s beautiful. Her eyes take on a glow that is so often missing when she’s in boss mode.
Maybe that’s what leads me to reach out and take her by the wrist as she goes to walk past me. Her skin is soft against my fingertips. I watch in trepidation as she stops and turns her head to me. I haven’t got the answer to her earlier question. I don’t know what I want, but my mouth opens before my brain engages.
“I don’t think you’re a baddie, Allegra.”
“No? So who do you think I am?” Her voice wavers and I see how vulnerable I’m making her feel.
“I think you’re beautiful.” I could have said a thousand different things, but those words are what came out. And I don’t want to take them back.
She turns her body to me. NowIfeel vulnerable. For all I know, she’s about to laugh in my face. I’ve seen a softer side, but I know the ice is never far away. She probably thinks I’m pathetic, getting mushy over the woman that took her, and she’s probably right, but try telling that to the chemical reaction happening inside my body right now.
