First Love Only Love (The Life 2)

“Can I ask a question?”

“Shoot, Pop.”

“When did you plan all this?”

“I started planning after the first day I met Gianna and learned her story.”

“You fell in love with her that quick?”

“What?” Could it be he doesn’t even know?

“Nothing. Why did you go to so much trouble?”

“She reminded me of Ma.”

That statement is a danger zone. He doesn’t know that I know he knows what happened to his mother but hearing him say it like that guts me. And yeah, he’s lying. He would fucking kill them. He’s eighteen years old, Draco, don’t get crazy. I’m not kidding myself with that one. The boy is cold.

Watching him in that police station and then again at Fontane’s was like watching a younger me in action, and I think I just answered my own question. He’s not going to stop. I wouldn’t. “Shit!”

“What is it Pop?”

“Nothing, do me a favor, don’t do anything unless you talk to me first?”

“Anything about what?”

Dammit! “About this situation.” Can’t mention the other because fuck me, I’m not supposed to know.

“Sure!” We pulled into the driveway, but he didn't turn the car off.

“You’re not gonna let the guys park the car?”

“This is Gianna’s mom’s car.” Oookay!

“I’ll see you inside then.” Shit, I forgot to ask him about how her mom died and how he knew the Fontane woman had anything to do with it. Then again, I’m pretty sure he realizes that he never divulged the information.

I could go see the housekeeper since I know where she is. But I almost want to see how he handles everything on his own. Part of me is proud of him, the part that isn’t scared out of my fucking mind that he’s going to end up getting himself in trouble. The funny thing is, I know he won’t because if he screws up here, he won’t be able to mess with those people in Sicily, and I’m almost certain that shit’s still on the table.

The thing about my son is, I’m pretty sure he knows I can get to his information, the shit he keeps hidden if I wanted to. But I won’t cross that line, I won’t break his trust, and he knows it. Shit, it looks like he has me under his thumb as well. A fucking genius with the teachings of Sun Tzu in his head, and I’m the one who trained him. Locked and loaded. As the twins used to say when they were too young to understand what it meant, fuck my life.

GABRIEL

I snuck into my room, breathing a sigh of relief only when I found her in my bed, still fast asleep. A quick shower later, and I was back at my computer working on the next stage of my plan. Becky should be in cuffs by now, and Victoria should be worrying about her future. Hopefully, she’s having the worst day of her life, or what she thinks is the worst day.

I looked over at the bed where Gianna laid fast asleep as Pop’s question replayed itself in my head. Did I fall in love with her on that first day? Is that what that feeling was and still is? And what am I supposed to do with it? Every time I look at her, she just makes me want. I looked away.

“Gabriel!” She almost gave me a heart attack. Was she calling out to me in her sleep again? No, when I looked over at her again, she was just lying there staring at me.

“Why aren’t you asleep?” She did that thing where she sat up, rubbing her eyes looking cute as hell, and I stupidly got up and walked over to her.

When she raised her arms up for a hug, I just fell into it without thinking. She felt soft and warm from the bed, and when she rested her head on my chest, her ear over my heart like she was listening to my heartbeat, I have to admit it shook me just a little.

“Why are you awake, baby?”

“I forgot to tell you something earlier.” I eased her head back so I could look down into her eyes. “What’s that?” I brushed her hair back because she’d forgotten to cover it again. I’ve missed her curls, so it was fine by me if she had a full head of those shits in the morning.

“I think we should wait until after the twins’ party before we do anything. That’s why I didn’t just let Greta leave, well, one of the reasons anyway. Another one being, I need more time to plan. I don’t know what to do, where to go from here. I believe her story, but without proof, what can the cops do?”

Plenty, especially with my help, but you don’t need to know that right now. “And the twins have been so nice to me. I don’t think it’s fair to take the spotlight away from them like that.” What a heart she has.