“Are you allowed to go?”  Val rolled her eyes at her friend.                 “I’m his fiancée Claire, not a lap dog or anything.”                 “So, you’re free to go after class?”                 “Yes.”  Valentina looked up at her friend and classmate.  Claire was one of those people who didn’t know about her world, and that’s how Val wanted to keep it.  She didn’t hang out much with her outside of class, so when she asked, she was quick to say yes to get away from that mafia world.                 And all they knew was that she was engaged, and to whom, but all they knew about Giovanni was that he was some type of business man. 

He pulled into the four car garage and quickly cut the engine after he parked.  She looked through the window at the other three cars and lifted a brow as he helped her out.                 “Where would mine go?”  He grinned at her question and tossed her a wink.                 “I have a warehouse at the back of my property that has another five cars.  These are merely the ones I drive more often.  When you move in, I’ll simply put one of these back there.”  She blinked, she knew that it would happen, her moving in and living with him, but to hear it, it felt more real.                 “Right,” she muttered, which caused him to chuckle.  It was as surreal for him and it was her.    &nb

The following day, Val still couldn’t shake the kiss out of her mind. Nor could she deny how much she liked it and wanted to do it again. He had let her stay in a guest room and the next morning she had gone home to change and grab her school stuff. And now, she was on her way, in a vehicle her to-be-in-laws had sent to pick her up so she could have lunch with them and discuss wedding stuff all with that kiss plaguing her mind. Yeah, she had no clue had to do that. And normally she was the calm and collected type. But, like everything else that came along with Giovanni, he got under the skin, just in a different way than in their past. Or, at least for the most part; there were still times he irked her and pissed her off the wrong way. “Here we are, ma’am.” Val lifted her head and stared at the restaurant that she came to quite often enough with her mother. “Thank you.” The guy nodded as he held the door open for her and helped

“Is everything ready for tomorrow night and the gun drop?” Vinny asked as he glanced over at Salvatore. “My dad is leaving me in charge of this run, and I want to make sure it’s good.” “As far as I know, everything is on course. The truck should be in at 11:30, we have a crew of six unloading and dispersing.” Salvatore stopped talking as Sofia’s name popped up on the caller ID in the car, which Vinny quickly declined. He was in the car, driving home and talking business, the last thing he wanted was to talk to his mom right now. “Good, and you will be overseeing everything?” “Like I always do, boss.” Vinny shot a look at Salvatore, and he laughed. “Everything is set up and ready to go as planned.” “And we have eyes on Dante?” “You trust him so….” Before Salvatore could finish the question, there was another incoming call from Sofia and once again, Vinny declined it. “I don’t trust hi

Val gave her mom a look as she ran through the house and to her father’s meeting room. It really wasn’t her fault that she was 20 minutes behind, she had done her best to be here, but she knew that wouldn’t fly with him. So, as she walked in, she was ready for the rather nasty look he tossed her way. “Mi dispiace papà (sorry dad),” she told him as she took the seat next to him. “Sorry gentlemen,” she told the other four men who were sitting around the table. Joey offered her a smile and she felt better, but it was short-lived as her dad grabbed her arm. “You think it’s okay to be late and that a fake sorry and some pretty smile will make it okay?” “No, of course not father, I am sorry, but things happened at school…” “I don’t want excuses, figlia (daughter),” her dad growled out, effectively cutting her off and making her wince. “Naturalmente (of course),” she said, rather meekly, her head down, w