I remember the horrified look on her face when she jumped out of his car and ran back to the restaurant. I waited around until her cousin picked her up and brought her back to their apartment, satisfied that I ended yet another one of her dates.
It’s what I’ve done since that night I met her at the masquerade party. That night, the mechanics of how my brain works changed, and I knew Liana would one day be mine.
However, that wasn’t enough. I knew I’d get her one day, but until then, I wasn’t going to stand by and let another man lay his hands on what’s mine. So I made sure of it.
Ever since thatexplosivedate, Liana hasn’t been seen with another man. Fortunately for me, her drive and ambition to build her fashion brand has seemed to supersede any want orneed to go out on dates. It’s made my life these past few years extremely fucking easy.
“So, why Liana?” Gio asks, snapping me out of my thoughts of the past. “I mean, I get what the alliance with the DiMaggios would mean for our family, but youreallythink you have a shot with the ice queen?”
“Yeah, you’re complete opposites. You’re a fuckboy who’s seen with a new model every other week, and Liana’s, well…”
“Well…?” I say, raising a brow at Gui.
He shifts his gaze to Gio, then back to me. “Well, she’s kind of too good for you, bro. She’s an independent, career-driven woman. Why would she want to settle down with you when her life seems to be going perfectly fine as it is?”
My phone rings, and I snap my attention to it, seeing it’s one of my capos calling. I answer it, bringing it up to my ear.
“Tomasso, what can I do for you today?”
“Massimo, I received an unexpected phone call. I thought it might interest you.”
“Go ahead,” I say, intrigued on what this could be about.
“Liana DiMaggio wants to meet with me.”
My spine straightens at my future wife’s name. “For what?” I growl out.
“She didn’t say.”
“When’s the meeting?”
“Today. In an hour.”
“And you’re just informing me of thisnow?” It might be unprofessional, but I can’t contain the annoyance in my tone. Why would she be meeting with my capo?
“I just got off the phone with her. She was determined to meet immediately.”
I close my eyes and spread my fingers across my forehead, rubbing my temples with my thumb and middle finger. “Alright. Whatever it is she wants, don’t give it to her. Have the meeting,tell her no, then call me right after and fill me in on what’s going on.”
“Will do,” he says, and I hang up, tossing my phone on the counter.
“Everything all right?” Gio asks, raising a brow at me.
“Liana called a meeting with Tomasso.”
“For what?” he asks.
“He doesn’t know yet. The meeting is in an hour.”
“Hmm, maybe she’s more ready to settle down than we thought,” Gui says with a laugh, and I snap my gaze to his.
“What is that supposed to mean, Guilherme?” I snap, placing my hands on the edge of the counter and gripping it tightly.
He holds up his hands. “Damn, calm down. No reason to use my full name when I’m just pointing out a possibility. Caruso has a son—asingleson—and if memory serves me correctly, he’s the same age as Liana. Why else would she be there?”
“And you thinkshewould be the one to set up that meeting to discuss an arranged marriage?”
Gui shrugs. “Why not? Seems like something an independent businesswoman would do.”
