I froze. My eyes widened. The relief was short-lived because this wasn’t much better. He’d still kill me. There was no man more protective of his siblings than Giovanni.
“I–um, that’s not…” Fuck.Put a sentence together, you idiot. “I would never cross any boundaries with your sister, Giovanni.”
“So you’re not interested in her?” He frowned, shifting in his chair. “That’s not the impression you’ve been giving. Max said you told him you liked her. I’ve noticed you’re always around when she is, and you get along well. So, are you just trying to fuck her, or are you seriously interested in dating her? You should answer carefully.”
“I’m…” Shit. What was the right response without ending up with a bullet in my head? “I like her, of course. Elenora is… beautiful, lovely, and funny. But I would never overstep. I know you’re very protective of her and rightly so. You don’t allow her to date anyone, so I’ve kept my distance.”
He studied me. I swallowed.
“Hmm.”
I didn’t know what the fuck that hmm meant, but I didn’t like the way he was looking at me with those dark eyes.
“I don’t allow my sister to date because I don’t trust that many men have good intentions towards her or are good enough for her.”
I nodded. “I understand.”
“But I’ve known you for a while now, Aiani. You’re Camilla’s brother, and she’s family. I trust you more than most. You’ve never given me any reason not to.”
The walls were closing in, yet I forced myself to hold his gaze.
“If you want to date Elenora, I’ll allow it.”
I stared. Paralysed to the spot.
“But only date her with intention,” he continued. “You’ll date with the intention of marriage. I will never force my sister into an arranged marriage. It has to be her choice, which is why I suggest you date her and let her get to know you on a personal level. No sex until you’re at least engaged to her. That’s non-negotiable. But understand this, Aiani, I’m not promising her to you. If she decides she doesn’t want this, then you will let it go with no hard feelings. Understood?”
I merely nodded because I didn’t know what the fuck to say.
“But if this works out and you can make my sister happy, it would be the best outcome for all of us.”
He was right. It really would. My days were numbered. I knew that much. Whether one day I fucked up badly enough for Buccini to do it himself, or one of the monthly assassination attempts by rival families who wanted my territory and businesses succeeded, one thing was certain. I couldn’t carry on being a young, single mafia boss without heirs. I needed a marriage alliance. And who better than a Buccini?
Finn wouldn’t like it, but I’d make him understand. He wasn’t born into the mafia, nor did he understand the responsibility resting on my shoulders. He was free to be who he was. I wasn’t. But that didn’t mean I didn’t love him or that I didn't want a future with him. I just had to be strategic. Find a way for us tobe together while securing my position and, well, my life. What good would I be to him if I were dead? And this… marrying Elenora Buccini might just be the perfect way. Finn was her bodyguard, after all. He’d move into my house with her. Once we were married, we could tell Elenora and explain the situation. She and Finn were extremely close. She’d want only the best for him. And I’d let her have discreet affairs with other men. All Elenora wanted was to feel free to do as she pleased, to live a life not controlled by men. I could give her that.
“Is she here now?”
“She’s still asleep. She went to an art gallery last night. But let’s arrange a dinner to ease her into the idea.”
“Okay, sounds good.” That would give me enough time to meet Finn and explain the situation. Hopefully, he’d see it for what it was—a perfect chance for us to be together.
Cazzo, this was it—the answer to all my problems.
I glanced at my phone under the table and saw Finn still hadn’t read my message. When he’d tried to call me this morning, I was in a meeting with Giovanni and Max. We kept missing each other, and now I was on a triple date at the Buccinis’ restaurant in Verona. I’d wanted to warn Finn beforehand so I could explain my plan, but he never turned up at the flat. I knew he was on duty and probably couldn’t get away, but shit, if he turned up here tonight with Elenora, he’d feel blindsided.
Giovanni gave me a subtle nod and a sly smirk the moment she walked through the door. Pushing down my nerves, I turned to glance over my shoulder and saw Elenora storming through the empty restaurant, a pissed-off look on her face. Luckily, her anger seemed to be directed at her brother, not me, though the same couldn’t be said for the man behind her. Our eyes locked,and Finn gave me a what-the-fuck-is-going-on look when he saw it was a meal of couples: Giovanni and Olivia, Max and Cami, and, well, me and Elenora. I turned back to the table, wiping my sweaty palms against my thighs.
Elenora sat opposite me, beside Giovanni, and we made harmless small talk, but I still couldn’t calm my pounding heart at the feeling of Finn’s penetrating gaze on the side of my face. I needed to get him alone to explain this to him, but how the fuck was I supposed to do that with all the Buccinis around?
“Did you enjoy the gallery?” I asked Elle, trying to keep the conversation going. She looked as if she’d rather be anywhere else.
“It was great. Very… interesting,” she replied, frowning. “How did you know about that?”
My gaze snapped to Giovanni, and he smirked at me. Then he gave me a subtle wink, his go-ahead to drop the bomb. I swallowed and lowered my voice.
“Giovanni mentioned it. I was hoping to ask you out on a date.”
Elenora glared at Gio. Finn glared at the side of my face. I felt physically sick.
