Chapter 1. Alessandro Costa
“Alessandro Costa!” Luca yelled over the mindless chatter, pulling me from my thoughts. “We need to talk about this.”
He knew better than to speak to me that way, so when he immediately relaxed his tone, I unclenched my fists. “Luca.”
“I’m sorry,” he apologized. “But you know your dad wants this sorted. For you and Isabella.”
If I hadn’t known Luca since we were kids, I probably would have knocked him the fuck out, but since we were friends, I decided to let it slide.
This time.
“Luca, I didn’t come here to talk about that. I came here to eat and drink.”
“I know, but your dad...he’ll keep asking you about it and won’t stop until the deal is set.”
Luca was right, for once. My father was a tough man, but a family man. He adored my mother and sister and only wanted the best for us.
“We should have gone to a strip club,” Dante blurted, smirking.
Dante was the type of guy you wanted in your corner. The most loyal friend you could ever need, and after my bitch of an ex cheated on me, I craved loyalty in my life. He was the one person other than my own blood; I trusted the most.
“Please,” I replied with a huff. “You, look at a stripper? If you could pry your eyes away from my sister for five fucking minutes, sure we could have gone there.”
Dante’s cheeks immediately turned red, and I knew I surprised him. He was blissfully unaware I had noticed the way he gawked at Isabella. She had no fucking clue either. For years he has watched over her.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Alessandro.”
A smirk played on my lips while I drew my brows higher. “The fuck you don’t.”
Dante released a harsh breath as he scrubbed his face up and down with a grunt. “Does she know?”
“Nah, I don’t think so.”
Relief immediately washed over him as he fell back on the plush leather couch. He was always so protective of Isabella. Looking out for her as though she were the most important person in his life, and in some ways she was. I knew he liked her but was too fucking chicken shit to do anything about it.
“Fuck. She’s with that asshole anyway. What’s his name?” Luca asked.
“Salvatore,” I replied, and swallowed the bile which rose in my throat. There was something about him I didn’t like, but Isabella couldn’t see him like I could.
“Fuck, Salvatore,” Dante spat. “We should kill him.” His jealousy was evident in the tone of his voice and the way his eyes flared with fury.
I laughed trying to ease his pain. “You know what Isabella would do to you if she ever found out?”
Dante shrugged his shoulders. “She’d kill you, too.”
I shook my head and smirked. “I’m her brother, man. No fucking way. You? I dunno. You’re expendable.”
My friend chewed the inside of his mouth. Clearly my words had affected him. “I need another fucking drink.” He leaned forward and signalled the waiter for service. “Whiskey. Double.”
We ordered some shots along with it when suddenly my eyes glanced towards the door. The air was immediately pulled from my lungs as the innocent looking Goddess walked in.
“Who the hell is that?” I breathed as low as a whisper.
Both Dante and Luca turned to the entrance then shifted their attention back at me.
“Fuck, Alessandro. She’s sweet.”
I ignored Luca’s comment.
My greedy eyes couldn’t pry away from such beauty, and fuck, she was gorgeous. The way she mindlessly bit her lip and tucked her hair behind her ear. The subtle sway of her hips and her clothes which hugged perfectly against her flawless body. I couldn’t help but focus on her long legs. My gaze travelled upwards and I wondered what she looked like beneath that short skirt. I imagined my head between her thighs while she arched her back and moaned in response to my thrashing tongue. I bet she tastes fucking sweet.
“Alessandro!” Luca yelled. “You look like a damn pervert.”
My attention shifted to my friend briefly. When I wanted to sneak another glance at the girl, she was gone. ’Fuck. I wonder who she is.”
“Why don’t you talk to her and find out?” Dante asked.
I let out a laugh. “When you finally tell my sister you have the hots for her, come and tell me what to do.”
I had no problem talking to women. None. It wasn’t fear that stopped me, but the question of whether I wanted to or not repeated in my head. Especially after what happened with Calista.
“Excuse me.” A delicate voice called out. “I’m here to take your orders.”
I glanced up and the air sucked out of my lungs for the second time. The Goddess’ loose hair was now tied in a bun, and she wore dark glasses which tucked behind her beautiful ears. I suddenly imagined what it would be like to whisper dirty things to her, and how my words would cause her body to squirm.
She locked eyes with each of us and smiled sweetly, but I could tell she was nervous by the way she licked her lips and cleared her throat.
“We haven’t looked at the menu,” Luca said.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she apologized. “How about I give you five more minutes?”
“I don’t need five more minutes,” I replied. “I know exactly what I want.”
It was her. I wanted her.
“I’ll take the sliced sirloin with garlic butter,” I ordered. Nooooo. No garlic. “Wait. Scratch that. I’ll take the steak and lobster.”
She jotted something down on her notepad and I watched her eyes sparkle through her glasses before Dante and Luca placed their requests.
“Okay. It won’t be long,” she smiled, glancing at the three of us. “I think your drink orders are ready.”
Warmness settled on her cheeks, and I wondered what got her so flushed. She cleared her throat and strolled over to the bar, my eyes on her plump ass the entire time. God, imagine that bouncing on me.
The waiter carried over our drinks. I grabbed the glass of Whiskey and brought it to my lips as I watched her work. She fumbled on her feet a few times, and I couldn’t help but smile at her innocence. What I also noticed was that it wasn’t only my eyes glued to the perfect girl. Most of the men in the establishment watched her as intently as I did, and even though I had no claim of such beauty, I felt the anger rise in my chest at the thought of another man touching her.
When our food was prepared, she placed the meals on a tray and carried it over. Just before she reached our table, the waitress stumbled on her feet with everything falling to the floor from her grasp.
“Oh, God!” she muttered.
I immediately stood to help her but was stopped when the owner of the establishment stormed over. “Again?” he roared. “Why the fuck did I hire you?”
She glanced up at Frankie, who I now despised for talking to her that way. Her voice strained with her apology. “I...I’m sorry. Please. It won’t happen again.”
“You’re not worth it,” Frankie spat. “Pack your shit. You’re fired.”
Her chest crumbled as tears swelled in her medium-brown eyes. Not wanting to watch this unfold, I reached out my hand to her and noticed her name tag across her right breast.
Sia.
She glanced at my offer for a moment before her soft skin touched my own. I helped her to her feet, and she avoided my gaze. “Thank you.”
My attention shifted to Frankie. “I’ll deal with you later.”
Frankie knew what that meant as he was very aware who my family were. He swallowed hard and walked away, leaving me alone with trembling Sia.
I shifted my gaze to the Goddess in front of me. Her eyes still flooded, but they were directed towards her hand, which was still grasped in mine.
She quickly pulled back and croaked. “I’m sorry. I’ll pack my things.”
With a gentle touch, I held her elbow and whispered. “Wait.”
Her warm body was dangerously close to mine, and it was taking every restraint in me not to claim her.
“Yes?” she uttered, and it came out almost poetic.
“Come work for me.”
Sia’s kind eyes found mine and her breath slightly hitched in the back of her throat. “What?”
“You’ve just been fired. You’re jobless, right? Come work for me.”
I wasn’t sure how desperate she was for a job, but I was sure as fuck desperate to keep her close to me. In every way she would allow.
“I don’t know. What is it you do?”
“My family owns a security company. Please,” I begged. “Allow me to do this for you.”
I reached around, pulled out my wallet before I removed my business card and handed it to her.
“Elite Security?” she glanced up at me again. “I think I’ve heard of them.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” I replied. “So, what do you think? Will you come and work for me?”
The slow nod of her head was all I needed to bring a smile to my lips.
She didn’t know it yet, but I was going to make that girl mine. Sia will belong to me.
AUTHOR’S NOTE.
Hello, beautiful readers.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this story. I would appreciate if you could remember to vote after every chapter as that helps the writers immensely.
Much love and appreciation always,
Lizzie Lioness
