That’s an unsettling realization, but it’s true. I’ll pick him before my family. I never imagined this scenario. Not just having a family member hold me captive but choosing someone who isn’t blood or ourMala del Brentabranch. But I don’t have to think twice about where my loyalty lies now. I shouldn’t feel this devoted to Alejandro so soon, but I do.
He’s become a part of me.
I need him like my next breath.
How the fuck did that happen?
It happened because you’ve never felt more comfortable with a man than you do with him. You’ve never felt so intuitively understood as you do when you’re with him.
He calls you Vita for the same reason. He said as much.
“Vittoria, your stubbornness will get you in as much trouble now as it did when you were a child.”
“Except I won’t concede anything. Let Alejandro go, and we stand a chance of not being enemies.”
“You’d pick thiscazzo d’Orroover family?”
Golden prick. Basically, a man who marries a wealthy woman because he’s a good fuck.
“Family? That word means nothing since you did this to me. Betrayal works both ways. What do you thinkMamàwill say when she learns of this?”
“You assume she doesn’t know.”
“My mother sanctioned you having men accost me, assault me, drug me, and tie me up? Bullshit.”
“Do not swear at me.”Young lady.
I can practically hear what she doesn’t say.
“Fanculo.” Fuck off.
Alejandro chuckles. He may not speak Italian, but it doesn’t surprise me he can swear in the language. I’m certain he heard plenty of curses from the Mancinellis since he grew up in the same neighborhood as them. It’s the same one his cousins bought homes in. His dossier included places I’d most likely find him. A map showed me his parents’ home is only a few blocks from his cousins’.
The man I heard walking in with myziafinally steps into view. I wondered who loitered behind us, but I didn’t want to look away from her long enough to find out. At this point, I don’ttrust her not to stab me the moment I shift my attention from her.
Holy motherfucker.
“Zorzi?” The Venetian form of Giorgio.
And my ex-boyfriend.
We dated from our last year of secondary school through most of college. I broke up with him when the AISE came calling. I couldn’t see how I’d maintain a romantic relationship with someone when I couldn’t tell anyone what my job truly entailed. I wasn’t the analyst I claimed to most people.
“Hello, Toria. Long time no see.”
Not fucking long enough.
“Why?”
“Why not?”
“Hiding from me and now hiding behind myzia. Your cock’s as small as I remember.”
“Cagna.” Bitch.
I shrug as best I can. He’s always been easy to antagonize. At least with me he was. He’sMala del Brentatoo, so he’s patient with his prey. But I could wind him up when I wanted. Our arguments were epic, but so was our making up. At least, it seemed like it since I had no one to compare back then. It was adolescent fumbling when I consider how things are with Alejandro.
“What do you want, Zorzi?”
