Protecting The Principessa (Complete)

~ Chapter 25 ~

Adriano rolled his eyes and let out a silent huff, debating on how to answer that question because that was the last thing he was expecting. And the only way Carlo knew that was by talking to Ignazia herself. And he didn't believe she ratted him out but rather she was upset, and he called. Either way, it sucked for him. He was really hoping he wouldn't have to explain that at all but didn't look like luck was on his side at the moment.

"She didn't listen to me." Even to his ears, that was lame, and he knew Carlo would think the same. But it was the truth. "When I got to the warehouse with her to check the load because I got a tip something was off, I told her to stay in the car."

"She told me that, Adriano," Carlo growled out.

"And did she tell you she didn't listen to me? I knew someone was fucking you over so I knew the scene wouldn't be pretty, do you think I wanted her to see that?" Carlo huffed but Adriano went on. "I found Santino and had already laid a few punches in on him when she came in. I didn't hear her, but when I turned around, she was by the door. She told me she didn't feel safe in the car alone and that sent bells in my head."

"Really? Your car is the safest place to be, so don't give me that bull shit!" Yeah, Adriano thought the same thing, and Izzy would have known that, so for her to say something, something was really bugging her, and he wouldn't be the asshole that he should have been and kept her in the car. Really, there were few options and sadly, his anger chose for him.

"I told her that, but she still didn't feel safe. I had no choice but to bring her in. Was it smart, no way and I know that. But between Hector, the shit with the guys, and the disobeying, I was through the roof and I'm sorry." He heard the sigh come from the other side of the phone and he felt it himself.

"She's upset, Adriano. She's not used to seeing things like that." Adriano once again rolled his eyes. Honestly, none of Carlo's kids saw that, yet he was babying Izzy, the one person who probably didn't need it, which Adriano found funny. Sure, the scene was rough, and he had no doubt it caused her to be sick, but he knew her well enough that she stepped back, thought it through, and understood it well enough.

"I get that boss, and I'm sorry, I really am. Next time I got to do something, I'll make sure she's not around." Carlo grunted at that, and Adriano smirked; he had the boss there. Again, his job was important, but it seemed watching over Izzy was the most important one according to the boss, so he couldn't slack on his other jobs. And things like this were a lot more commonplace than he'd liked to admit.

"Stai zitto, stronzo (Shut up, asshole)." Adriano chuckled, as did Carlo. "Please, go pick her up and head here for dinner, like you were supposed to. I don't need any more feathers to be ruffled today."

"Yes, sir." Adriano hung up and shook his head. He was taking Ignazia to the house, where Sara was, he had no doubt that more feathers were going to be ruffled this evening, and probably a lot sooner than he wanted or even thought.

-----

Adriano glanced at her as she got in the car. She had changed into a pair of shorts and a tank top that had his eyes dancing over her body. The cut of the shorts emphasized her rather toned legs and the top cut down her chest into a v, making one's eyes dip lower than they should. And the Converse she threw on almost made him moan, which was funny because he preferred heels on a lady rather than tennis shoes. But those shoes on her, yeah, they added a whole level of sex appeal that he shouldn't even be closely thinking of.

His eyes drifted upwards and over her face, her jaw clenched, showing him that she was still clearly hurt and upset. He put the car in reverse and let his mind wander. Having a female mad at him over something like this was different, he wasn't sure how to handle it. He wasn't all in the wrong, and they both knew that. But it wasn't like he could accuse her either because that would lead to an all-out yelling match. So, he spent the fifteen-minute drive lost in thought, much like it seemed she was. And when he pulled the car into the driveway and she made a move to get out, he softly grabbed her arm.

"Ignazia?" he called, the voice loud in the silence of the car. It was then that he realized he hadn't even turned the music on, which was unusual for him. Usually, he liked the background noise of it but hadn't even bothered with it. Yeah, he was very deep in thought it seemed.

"What," she told him, not even glancing at him. He couldn't quite pinpoint why that stung, but it did. He cleared his throat and looked down at his hand on her arm before looking back up at her.

"I owe you an apology." Her shoulders slumped and she turned to face him, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

"Go on." His eyes narrowed slightly, and he lifted a brow.

"Go on?"

"Yes, Adriano, I know you have more to say." She crossed her arms, and he tried so hard not to glance down at the breasts that she unknowingly pushed up. But as he looked away to think, he couldn't stop the glance, and then he couldn't stop his mouth from watering. What the fuck was wrong with him? He was about to go into his boss's house where his fiancé was, he didn't need to be drooling, or wanting, his other daughter.

"You're really going to make me go on." She nodded and he sighed, his gaze focused through the window. "I am sorry, I never should have made you see that. I will admit I was in such a haze over many things at that moment, that your not listening was the smallest infraction, however, of all the punishment I dealt out, I think yours was the worst, and I can't take that back. I never meant to hurt you, believe me. And of all the people that I wanted around, you were the last." He paused and licked his lips, his eyes still outside. He couldn't look at her because he knew he would lose what little courage he had gained over the last twenty minutes or so in apologizing and explaining.

"Adriano," but he held his hand up to stop her and finally turned his gaze to hers.

"Most men can't stomach what you saw and it's really unforgivable that I put a woman through that, much less Carlo's daughter. I swear, I have more respect for you than that but at the time..." He stopped as her finger pressed against his lips. His eyes locked with hers and she offered him a smile.

"It was a lot of blood and a lot of pain, but I'm not a weakling, so please don't think I am. I'm sorry I didn't listen, I really am, and I should have. I'm not sure what I thought when I got out of the car, maybe something a little less....bloody, but I get it. I know you didn't want me to see that, that you were actually protecting me from it, and I thank you.

"I have no one to blame but myself for not listening. And I'm sorry if I got you in trouble with my dad. He called to remind me about the dinner when Santino dropped me off and I couldn't keep the pain out of my voice. He's a fucking astute man." Adriano laughed at that, his lips barely pressing against her finger in a brief kiss. He wasn't sure why he did that, and he wasn't sure if she felt it, but he had to do it, and really, he wanted to do it again. Fuck, he wanted to kiss her again. Again, not a good thought when they were both in the driveway.

"He is, but he's the boss for a reason." He opened his car door and glanced over at her. "We're okay?" He walked over to her side and held the door open, waiting for her response. Once she got out and looked up at him, a brow arched, he knew.

"I guess we are." With that, he smirked and yanked her into his arms, causing her to squeal and laugh, but she wrapped her arms around his waist. And he wasn't sure why, but it just felt so right to him, another sign that he needed to stop with whatever the fuck was going on with him, with them. He knew he should pull away, but he allowed himself this simple moment. He wasn't sure why he cared that she was mad at him, but he did. And he did want to make it right.

So, when she pulled back and smiled up at him, he knew they were good, and he gave her one of his rare smiles. And had he thought to look up at the bedroom window where a certain female was glaring at him, he might have stepped away and schooled his features. Or had he thought to shift slightly to catch the look of an older man from an office window, he might have caught the twist of a smile and the conniving look that entered his eye and would be wary of the change in the contract that was being done, a change of a name to a piece of paper.