“Trust me, Fabi,” I say firmly. “Just focus on your studies. The money won’t be a problem.”
His brows furrow in suspicion. “You can’t ask Carlo for money. Not only would he probably refuse, but it would also humiliate you in front of him.”
“I’m not asking anyone for money, Fabi. That money is already at Nonna’s house.”
His face twists in pure disbelief, almost comical. I laugh softly. “Remember that young student who used to help Nonna years ago?”
“Sara?”
“Yes, that’s right. Sara. After the apartment burned and when I was moving Nonna’s belongings, I found a small box with a flash drive inside. Apparently, back in those days, Sara needed money for something, so Nonna lent it to her. But instead of paying her back in cash, Sara gave her Bitcoin. I’m sure neither of them could have guessed how much it would skyrocket in value over the years.”
Relief washes over me when I see Fabiano’s face finally light up with joy, convinced by my carefully spun story.
“The rest is simple,” I continue. “Back then, each Bitcoin was worth just a few dollars, and now each one is worth thousands. I checked the data on the flash drive, there’s at least a few hundred thousand dollars in there.”
His blue eyes shine with excitement, and the warmth in his expression fills my heart. He grabs my hand and squeezes it tightly.
“Are you serious?”
“Of course I’m serious.”
“But that money belongs to Nonna.”
“Oh, come on. What would Nonna even do with that money? She doesn’t know it exists. And let’s be honest, as harsh as it sounds, the truth is she’s at the end of her journey while you’re just starting yours.”
“Oh my God,” he says, pulling me into his arms and hugging me tightly. “Oh my God, Lucia. What would I ever do without you?”
I wipe away a stubborn tear before it can fall and wrap my arms around him.
“I’ll take care of you as long as I’m breathing, Fabi. I just want you to be happy.”
EIGHT
Tony
I grab a pack of condoms from my desk drawer and slide them into my jacket pocket. It’s four in the morning. In thirty minutes I need to be on the jet heading to Lucia.I’ve wanted her for over a year, and now that I’ve finally tasted her, I’m fucking obsessed. She’s everything I want in a woman. The perfect mix of everything that gets my cock hard and my mind hooked.
Of course, I haven’t fucked her the way I really want yet. There’s still so much I need to teach her, so much she needs to learn, and I’m a very patient man. The fact that she’s only ever been mine, that I’m the only one who’s ever stretched that tight little pussy, drives me fucking crazy. It makes me obsess over her even more.
Nine hours on a plane just for that pussy? Worth every fucking minute.
The door opens. Heavy bass pounds through the room, then dies again as it shuts. Rafael walks in, his hair a disheveled mess. The faint smudge of lipstick on his cheek makes it obvious he’s been with a stripper.
“Don Fernando’s been in an accident,” he blurts. “Sounds bad. He’s in surgery right now.”
My eyes narrow at him, and it takes me a moment to process his words. Don Fernando and hospital don’t even belong in the same sentence.
I walk around my desk and lower myself onto the leather couch.“Was it an attack?”
Rafael perches on the armrest of the chair across from me and shakes his head.“Not according to my sources. He was driving that old Chevrolet he’s obsessed with when a truck with brake failure rammed into him. The truck driver died on the spot.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, fighting the urge to roar in rage. Don Fernando’s death would shatter all my plans because his absence means Carlo will rise to power.
I’m certain the only reason Carlo hasn’t exposed Carmen’s secret is to preserve Don Fernando’s reputation. He avoids sleeping with Lucia because he knows Carmen’s spies would report back to her. And as long as there’s no chance of a child with Carlo, Lucia’s life remains safe.
But if Don Fernando is no longer in the picture, Carlo will have no reason to stay silent. He’ll go after Carmen, avenging the murders of his two previous wives. And once Carmen is gone, there will be nothing holding Carlo back from Lucia.
And nothing left to keep me in Italy.
