“No,” I shake my head. “Everything is alright. What did you want to speak to me about?”

“I trust you’ve ensured Nicoletta Carlucci is untouched?”

I clear my throat and nod. “She certainly is.”

“Good,” Father murmurs. “We wouldn’t want her spoiled for the upcoming wedding.”

“Is that all?” I get up and avoid his gaze. I’m eager to get the hell out of here.

“One last thing.” Father motions for me to sit down, but I shake my head. He laughs. “Always so willful, Ryder. I wanted to ask whether you had anyone in mind. A young woman, eligible for marriage perhaps?”

“No,” I reply right away. “There’s no one.”

“What about Marzia?” Father suggests. I recoil at the thought. Not that she isn’t stunningly gorgeous – but she’s my brother’s girl. I could never touch her. “Never mind. I can see you don’t like that idea.”

I don’t respond. Father merely sighs and motions for me to leave, wordlessly returning to his papers. I walk out.

The night is cold and lonely, and I find myself thinking of Nicoletta back in the Villa. Will she wait on the balcony for me to appear? Or has her papa already shared the news that I'm gone?

Somehow, I don't think those two are as close as they want the world to think they are.

There's no doubt about one thing though – I'm going to see Nicoletta again. Sooner or later, she'll come to live at the mansion and I'll be forced to share this house with her until I get married myself. So, I better get on that, and fucking fast... Father wants heirs, and if I can best Adrian for once, I'm more than determined to do it.

* * *

Tonight, my brother Julian and I are attending a private party in one of our famiglia's clubs downtown.

Julian is old enough to drink here now, and we're each enjoying an expensive cigar to go with our bourbon. I watch Julian eyeing the women in the club with that hungry look I used to have. Before her – Livia.

"You're still hung up on that Milanese woman, aren't you?"

Surprised, I look up at my youngest brother. "What are you talking about? No, of course I'm over it."

"Doesn't seem that way to me."

"Don't be a smart ass."

Julian shrugs. "Just saying, maybe you need to get over Livia with a new woman. I know there are more than enough of them here tonight."

He tips his glass towards a gorgeous redhead who's eyeing us from the bar, but I merely shake my head with disinterest. "No, that's not why I came here tonight."

"Then why did you?"

"I wanted to see you," I shrug. "You're leaving for that school soon and I know I won't see you much after you leave. I have to impart some last-minute lessons on my younger brother, right?"

“Dio," Julian grunts. "Don't have the talk with me right now, Ryder."

"Don't worry, I'm pretty fucking sure you're up to date on that," I smirk. "So, what about you? Tell me your love life is more interesting than mine, please."

He shrugs, his gaze shifty. I can tell he's avoiding answering the question which only convinces me more of the fact that there's something there, something Julian isn't ready to share yet.

"Tutto bene." I clap him on the back. "I won't annoy you, just know you can tell me any time you're ready."

"I'll keep it in mind." His gaze travels up and down the body of a stunning blonde. Some of us Bernardi heirs may be adopted, but we share one fucking thing – a taste for the sexiest, most off-limits women this city has to offer.

The rest of our evening continues, disturbed only when I see a woman enter the bar and stop in her tracks when she spots me at the VIP booth with my brother.

"Fuck," I grunt. "Sophia's over there."

"Livia's best friend?" Julian groans. "Oh fuck, please don't tell me she's coming over right now."

I'm already up, buttoning my suit jacket and offering a tense smile to my dead lover's best friend. I can't know for sure just how involved Sophia was in Livia's lies, and I don't particularly give a shit about finding out the sordid details.

"Hi, Ryder," Sophia greets me cautiously. "I haven't seen you in a long time."

"What are you doing here?"

She glances behind my back at the guards with guns. I watch her swallow thickly and my chest swells with pride. Since Sophia and Livia met me, my life has changed. I'm no longer the fucking boy Livia twirled around her little finger. She changed me forever.

"Just out with my friends." Sophia motions to a group of other women before glancing around. "Look, can I... tell you something?"

"What?" I glare.

"It's about Livia."

It's my turn to feel overwhelmed, so I merely give her a curt nod. She takes a deep, shaky breath before looking into my eyes and launching into an explanation.

Tags: Isabella Starling Mafia Heirs Romance
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