Code of Honor (Spontagio Family 1)

I fill in the rest of the day by working on my thesis, well aware that time is ticking away for me. I have less than a month to finish the damn thing, and I still have so much to do. But concentrating is hard. All I can think about is Lucy and what kind of trouble Giovanni has gotten himself into.

It wasn’t unusual for people to want revenge on him, and Lucy would be the perfect way to enact that revenge. Hurt him where he would hurt the most. He cares more for her than anyone or anything else in the world.

My mind naturally goes back to my own childhood. My father pissed off the wrong people and ended up dead. I didn’t know much about it at the time, but over the years, I’d managed to piece together bits of his life. I know Giovanni is holding out on me, and I will find out what he knows, one way or another.

The one thing I knew for absolute certainty was that this business isn’t a game.

I’d learned that the hard way.

—

Straightening up when I see her walking toward me, I try to read her expression. She’s not smiling. My heart pounds as I begin to consider the possibility that maybe she didn’t get in.

“So?” I ask nervously. Her gaze drops and so does my heart. Then I spot her lips twitching and I narrow my eyes at her. “You little minx, you got in, didn’t you?”

She laughs and throws her arms around me. Relief washes through me and I squeeze her back. My lips find her neck and I take in the sweet scent of her perfume. She’s intoxicating in every way and I can’t believe this incredible woman is all mine.

“I can’t believe it, Pietro. I got in. They actually want me,” she whispers, tears glistening in her eyes.

“Of course they want you,” I reply, my voice husky. My fingers caressing her face, I pull her against me, pressing my mouth against hers. I’m so fucking proud of her for chasing her dreams.

“So, you knew I would get in, huh?” She grins at me. “I mean, that’s why you’re here, right? Where are we going?”

“Someplace nice. Only the best for you.” I chuckle. I decide against telling her what Giovanni said. There is no point in making her feel nervous or unsafe if I don’t have to and the last thing I want to do is ruin her moment.

We get back to her place. At her door, I lean in and kiss her tenderly on the lips.

“I’ll be back in an hour for you. Is that enough time for you to get ready?” I ask.

“Are you sure I can’t tempt you into coming inside?” she asks, tilting her head, a sly smile creeping onto her lips. Strands of her dark hair escape her bun and hang around her face.

“You always tempt me,” I mumble. “But no, I’ll see you in an hour.”

“Can you give me a hint?” she says, her wide eyes pleading with me. She knows I can’t resist that look. I lean in and kiss her on the mouth, pressing her body against me. She pulls away, a dazed smile on her face.

“Sure. Your hint is to dress up.”

An hour later, I knock on her door. I’m dressed in a tux that is slightly too small around my shoulders and a little long in the legs. The door opens. She takes my breath away. The teal dress she’s wearing complements her flawless porcelain skin perfectly. Her hair is piled into a loose bun on the top of her head. Loose strands fall around her face. A delicate necklace hangs around her neck, resting just above the neckline of her dress.

“You look incredible.” Taking a step forward, I lift my hand to her face, my fingers pushing one of the loose curls behind her ear. The smell of roses and musk kicks my senses as I breathe in her smell. I’m about five seconds away from saying fuck the ballet. I can barely refrain myself from ripping her out of that dress and doing devilishly naughty things to her.

“You don’t look half bad yourself.” She smiles, wetting her lips in such a way that has me trying to disguise my erection. She reaches for her coat. “Shall we go?”

“Yes,” I agree, dragging my eyes away from her. I take her hand, entwining my fingers in hers. My arm around her, we walk outside to the cab I have waiting. She gets in first. My eyes roam over her body, so long and lean, one leg crossed over the other, revealing her creamy white thighs. And I’m not the only one who has her attention.

“Where to?” asks the driver, his eyes not leaving Lucy.

“To Lincoln Center,” I say, my voice sharp, placing my hand possessively on her thigh. Startled, he glances at me, as if only just realizing I’m there. I raise my eyebrows at him and his face colors, his eyes now firmly on the street ahead of him. Lucy’s face lights up, oblivious to the silent territorial war that erupted between myself and the driver.

“You’re taking me to the ballet?” She squeals, throwing her arms around me.

“I thought the best way to celebrate was to take you to see the company you’ll be working for.”

“What were you going to do if I didn’t get in?”

“Then I guess the three-hundred-dollar tickets I bought wou

ld go to waste.” I chuckle.