Protecting The Principessa (Complete)

~ Chapter 29 ~

"Uh, Mayor, it's a pleasure to meet you," she told him, holding out her hand to him. The man smiled before casting a glance at her dad.

"This is a surprise. I'm sorry Ignazia, I thought he only had two daughters."

"She's a special one," Carlo said, smirking. Izzy eyed that look, knowing that something was brewing with the man, however, she wasn't going to get any answers about the game he was playing.

"I wasn't around much, I guess you could say," she told the mayor, starting to wonder what the connection between the two men was.

"Well, I'm glad you're around now. If you'll excuse me, I need to talk to your father for a moment." She nodded her head before turning around and looking at Adriano.

"I thought he wasn't going to do that," she hissed, her eyes flashing in anger. Adriano shrugged because he thought the same thing. In fact, he thought he had made it plain to the boss why saying anything would be dangerous not just for Izzy, but for the family, but maybe it fell on deaf ears.

"He's the boss, whatever he says, goes." She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, pushing her chest up without realizing it.

"That's so fucking dumb. What could those simple words do to everyone?"

"You're a lot smarter than people give you credit for," he told her, and she stared at him.

"Please, I'm not Sara," she said.

"Thank goodness for that," he told her, as he leaned close, "or last night wouldn't have happened." When he withdrew, her eyes held confusion, but that statement only confirmed what she thought, it wasn't based on love.

"And this is my daughter, Ignazia." She turned around, seeing another man come up with her dad. "This is Chef George; he runs that Italian bistro that you love so much. He has 10 spots across the city and is a dear friend of mine." Ignazia pasted on another smile and held her hand out.

"Pleasure, sir. And might I say, the food you have is amazing."

"Thank you, bella. Viene da mia nonna, sono sicuro che sarà entusiasta di sentire le tue parole (It comes from my grandmother, I'm sure she will be thrilled to hear your words)."

"Please do pass it along," she said, and the man smiled at the fact that she understood just what he said.

"She's a smart one, Carlo," the chef told her dad and with that, Izzy tuned them out again. If this was how the night would be, it was going to be a long one.

"Want something to drink?"

"Something strong," she told Adriano, but he chuckled.

"I believe it's wine or champagne." She made a face at both suggestions.

"Really, that's it?" She glanced over at the bar and rolled her eyes. "Can I go to the liquor store down the street and grab a bottle and then pour it into a glass to make it look like I belong here?" Adriano chuckled again before looking around.

"I would almost approve of that, but your dad wouldn't."

"He's a bore, what can I say," she joked again. "Do you want me to go with you, or should I be safe by my dad?" Adriano looked at her and then around. With the way people started looking at her and then at her dad, she had a feeling that she really shouldn't leave Adriano's side at all.

"Walk with me. I don't trust your dad not to turn his back and something happens." Ignazia took his arm and started walking over to the bar.

"Doesn't he have his own bodyguards; wouldn't they watch out for me as well?" Adriano grabbed the two glasses of wine and handed one to her before leading her to a quieter corner.