Stella's Own

Part 11. Leaving for school

Today was the day Stella goes back to school. What she needed was packed into her car and she was saying goodbye to her parents. Dante had also packed a few things as well.

They had gotten Stella's and Tiff's stuff moved into the new apartment already, and Stella had offered to buy any furniture that Dante needed for the room.

Giving her mom a hug she felt the tug to stay but knew that it was better to leave. She went to hug her dad and eyed Luca behind him. He nodded in a silent affirmation to keep Stella's father safe. Her father then held her at arms length and said, "Finish school, and then we'll talk about more responsibilities." He had an almost smile as if it pained him in both ways. Giving up his control and also seeing his little girl grow up.

Stella and Dante got in the car and started their long drive to Boston.

Most of the car ride had been in silence between them, except for the ocasial driving directions from the gps. Stella stared out the window and watched the cars and buildings pass by. Dante kept silent and focused. Stella couldn't stop thinking about the events the week before. How sweet it was to play with Dante, and how Antonio was probably right, but with Stella there she was more of a target than anything. Even though her Unlce now seemed to be a prime suspect in an assassination attempt on her father. She had Luca texting her every hour with updates. 

Hours later they were pulling into the apartment's garage. Dante had driven just in case they were followed. You can never be too sure.

Her faith in Luca was strong but she was too independent to actually trust that her father would be safe.

While Dante was getting the car unloaded Stella went up stairs and told Tiff they were back. He lugged three suit cases and a trunk up to the apartment by himself.

"Hey, Mr Strong Man!" Tiff yelled as he opened the door.

"Thanks for the help." He grunted.

"Tiff got one of our imports and I just had to try it. A little toast to senior year!" Stella raised her glass and downed the last half of the glass. "Did you need our help?" She purred.

Dante just shook his head, "No no, you ladies enjoy yourself." He purred back with a mocking smile, then left.

"Are you going to bring him to Stella's Own?" Tiff asked as the latch clicked. Stella's Own was a sex club for women in the backrooms of one of the collage bars she owned. It was all oiled up muscled men, who all her friends had pickings off. For a small price of 100k membership of course. She had to pay the men very well.

"No, I think that would actually get Dante to resign." She laughed. "How is it going?"

Tiff was the manager of Stella's Own, she hand picked the men who worked there, made sure they understood their duties, and she mangaged the memberships and the money. "I mean it was the summer, many of the girls were galivanting Eurpoe or off doing a NY Times internship. The Semester Opening is this weekend. We'd love to have our marvolous owner there." Tiff smiled devilishly. 

"Oh I wouldn't miss it." Stella returned the smile. "I'll drag Dante along, but he'll be clothed and on bodyguard duty." 

Tiff nods, "How is the whole, Antonio, thing?" 

"We'll he's being weird, he confronted me at a dinner club, with my father there. He's like helping me. I don't know. First my parents pull me out of school because they say this man is likely going to kill me, and now he's wanting to help." Stella says pondering the situation. 

"Maybe he had a change of heart." Tiff said. 

The door bounced off the wall with Dante standing in the door way with two backpacks on, and arms full of bags. Tiff and Stell a lurch off the couch to help him, as the giggle.