“So, how are the wedding preparations going? I was told we’re not to be involved. And if I may say, I was sad at first because Gabriel is my only son. But since the wedding is on your territory, I can’t disagree.” My eyebrows furrow because this is the first time I’m hearing about this. “Is that what Gabriel told you?”
“Who else?” She shakes her head. I observe her beautiful face covered with a tinge of sadness, and the thin thread of calm toward Gabriel tears apart.
“I disagree,” I say, taking a biscotto and dipping it in my coffee. “I have enough things I need help with, and I think you could be the perfect person for the assignment.”
Her eyes meet mine, and they shine with hope. “You do?”
“Yes. That’s why I’m here,” I lie. “But first, tell me the secret of how you make this delicious biscotti.”
Patrizia giggles. “I see what you’re doing; you want to make me feel better.” She takes my free hand and squeezes it gently. “Don’t worry about me. Gabriel is taking care of things on our side. He doesn’t want me to worry about my blood pressure.”
My heart squeezes a bit, and I realize he’s just taking care of his mother, and not wanting her to be worried just shows how heistaking care of her.
I smile and take a sip of my coffee. “And what do you think about this arrangement?”
“Gabriel is a grown man; he is free to do as he wants.” She shrugs. “We almost lost faith that he would ever get married. Especially after what happened.”
I tilt my head to the side. “Why, what happened?”
Patrizia shakes her head. “That is a story for Gabriel to tell.” She takes my hands in hers and pleadingly looks me in the eye. “There is only one thing I’m going to ask of you. Please don’t hurt him.”
I furrow my eyebrows. How would I hurt him? Why would I hurt him? There are so many questions occupying my mind, but I don’t ask any of them. I just nod. “I won’t.”
And that is the truth. What I want is to give him everything.
I spent the morning and lunchtime with Patrizia, who told me stories about Gabriel. She's so proud of her only son that she couldn’t stop talking about him. I absorbed every piece of information I found important. I also found a way she could be helpful without putting her health in danger. When I asked her if she knew where we would be living, she told me Gabriel owns the penthouse in Manhattan and that he didn’t mention anything. So, she asked if I wanted to see it, since I will be living there.
I took her up on her offer, and now we’re in the elevator, on the way to Gabriel’s penthouse. I fist my hands at my sides as the elevator goes up and swallow as my heart beats in my ears. I inhale and exhale slowly and steadily, trying to calm myself. When the door opens, I can breathe, and I walk into a waste of space of a penthouse.
I don’t see where Patrizia goes. I stop in my tracks, and my breath hitches, not from the beauty of the skyline, but from the glass that cages the space. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the sunshine, too vast, too open, leaving me exposed. The warm design of the living room doesn’t ease my pulse. I should have known what to expect from a penthouse.
A distraction from my left side snaps me out of the fear, and I hear someone pulling a trigger. I turn to face an irritated Gabriel, dripping wet, in his birthday suit. I bite my lip and smile. My fear is gone now.
Tilting my head to the side, I take a good look at him. My memories don’t do him any justice, nor do the clips andphotographs I have of him. I rake my eyes from his feet, up his muscular legs to his trimmed groin, and I wet my lips at his half-hard cock. I go up to his V-line and his six-pack to his muscular, tattoo-covered chest. His right shoulder and upper arm are covered in a tattoo that I will enjoy discovering the meaning of. On the left side of his chest, there is a bullet with a ribbon around it that says: loyalty, honor, and respect.
I ignore the gun pointed at me. Instead, I focus on his irritated face and smirk. “Are you going to shoot me?”
“He isn't shooting anyone.” Gabriel’s attention falls to Patrizia. “Why are you naked? Shame on you. Cover yourself.”
He lowers his gun and covers his groin with both hands. “I’m naked because I was in the shower, in my own home. You're the ones who are invading my privacy.” He shoots me a look before he turns his defined ass and leaves for what I assume is a bedroom.
I smile and focus on the open kitchen connecting the living room, questioning who the hell will be cooking for us. Surely, not me.
“Why are you here? You could’ve called me if you wanted something, Mama.”
I turn toward the now-dressed Gabriel in his jeans and black shirt. He kisses his mother on the cheek as he looks over her and shoots me a glance of disapproval. I raise my eyebrow and smirk.
“Well, I just had a splendid morning with Valentina, and since she will be your wife, I thought she should see where she's going to live and if she wants to make any adjustments.”
He looks between the two of us. “You spent the morning together?”
I nod.
Patrizia looks confused. “Well, yes. I hope you don’t have anything against me spending time with my future daughter-in-law?”
He exhales. “No, Mama. I don’t.” He looks at me before he turns his attention to his mother again. “Now that you’ve got Valentina here, I can take over.” He takes out his phone and types. “Go downstairs. There is someone who will take you home.”
“Fine.” She walks over to me and gives me a hug that I return. “He is all bark but no bite,” she whispers, and I chuckle. She points her finger at him. “Be nice.”
