Lover in Lingerie (Lingerie 15)

He pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. “That’s not how relationships are supposed to be. That’s not how a woman should talk about her future husband. You want a good man, not a bad man like that.”

“He’s not a bad man, Father. He’s kind, generous, and loving. He’s strong, powerful, and extremely authoritative. Maybe you don’t want to hear it, but he reminds me of you and Crow. He’s a man’s man… I don’t want an average good guy. I’ve dated lots of other men, and not a single one made me actually feel something. I understand you had in mind what kind of man you wanted me to be with…but that’s not what I want.”

“Carmen.” He rubbed his temples with his fingers. “This guy is the most famous criminal in Italy. Maybe even in Europe. He’s the leader of the crime lords. He has more power and more money than anyone else…combined. Do you really think it’s a good idea to get involved with someone like that?”

“I know that’s how he is on paper…but he’s not like that in reality.”

“Yes, he is,” he said coldly. “It’s one thing to be with a man like Griffin. His occupation is separate from his personal life. But Bosco is the job. He’s the symbol of power and authority. That’s dangerous.”

“He said he would give it up for me.”

My father didn’t seem surprised by that revelation, only annoyed. He rubbed his temple again before he looked back at me. “I heard.”

“Then you’re getting what you want.”

“I still don’t think he’s good enough for you, Carmen. Just because he’s walking away doesn’t mean people don’t still want to kill him.”

“I’m sure he’ll keep his security detail. He’s a very paranoid man.”

“And he should be,” he snapped. “That man has a lot of enemies.”

“He’s a man of his word, so I doubt it.”

“Any man with money has enemies, Carmen.”

“What about you and Uncle Crow?” I demanded. “We’ve had nothing but trouble for the past year.”

“I know,” he said with a growl. “And I don’t want it to continue.”

I didn’t know what else to say to him. It seemed we’d reached a stalemate. My father wasn’t happy about this, and he’d had plenty of time to think about it.

He crossed his arms over his chest as he stared at me. “This is really hard for me, sweetheart. If I didn’t give a damn, I would just accept it and look the other way. But you’re my only daughter…and I love you more than I can express in words.” His eyes softened, full of eternal love and affection. “I know we can’t always choose who we fall in love with. Sometimes it’s a chemical reaction we can’t control. But I want you…to have the best man on this goddamn planet. I want a son-in-law who will protect you when I can’t do it anymore. I know you’re angry with me, but please remember, my heart is in the right place. It’s always been in the right place.”

I was emotional and angry at the same time, and his speech softened me just a little bit. “I tried not to fall in love with him. I really did. I knew you would never like him…that Uncle Crow would never like him. I knew this would be a repeat of Griffin and Vanessa. But it happened anyway. I don’t want you to hate him. I told him if my family can’t look past this…then we don’t have a choice.”

My father regarded with me with a tender expression. “You would choose me over him?”

My eyes watered the second he asked the question. “In a heartbeat. But it would hurt me so much to do it…because I love him. It’s real love. It’s not lust or infatuation. I know him, know his soul. Don’t make me lose him. Don’t put me through what Vanessa went through.” I wiped my tears away and sniffed back the drips threatening to escape from my nose.

He rose out of his chair then sat in the chair beside me, moving close. Now the conversation felt more natural, not like he was the executioner and I was going to get my head chopped off. He grabbed my hand and held it on my knee. “I don’t want to go through what my brother went through with Vanessa. I don’t want you to go through what Vanessa went through either. But…I’m still struggling with this. When I met Bosco, he wasn’t as bad as I thought he was going to be, but I don’t still don’t like the guy.”

“Get to know him.”

He sighed like he didn’t want to.

“Please,” I said. “At least try. If you try and don’t change your mind…I’ll understand. But you need to give him a chance. Griffin was hated by everyone, but then he turned out to be the greatest addition to this family. Bosco could be the same.”