Protecting The Principessa (Complete)

~ Chapter 32 ~

Adriano watched Carlo walk away, his head pounding. He wasn't sure what to expect but he knew it couldn't be good. In fact, he can admit it, he was rather worried. Not that he didn't do everything his boss asked of him, because he did, but shit, tonight was a fucking shit storm and he had no one to blame but himself. Even though he wanted to pin it on others, he knew the fault was his. He never should have stepped away, regardless of what Sara wanted, and he knew that.

With a sigh, he turned around and walked back into the building, looking for Sara. He was almost wondering if she knew something was going to happen and dragged him away, but he couldn't see that. She was a bitch, sure, but she wasn't the type to be a pain in the ass like that. No, he would just admit that it was perfect timing.

"Let's go," he told her once he walked up to her and took her arm.

"We're leaving?" He had no clue why she was confused, everyone else was leaving too. The party and the event were done.

"Yes."

"And going home?" He stopped and looked at her, a brow raised. "Daddy told you to take me home, didn't he? Why can't we go back to your place? Ignazia is at my house, so we can be alone." He glanced down at her hands that were running over his chest and rolled his eyes. They hadn't done anything more than kiss and that was for show only, so why even have the act of making them look like they were some happy couple?

He couldn't deny Sara was beautiful, she was. But she was a world-class, spoiled bitch and he had always disliked women who only knew how to stomp their fee to get what they want. He didn't need some independent woman, but he enjoyed women who could do things for themselves, and she was far from the type. Izzy was astute and realized there was no love lost between these two, that it was all her dad's doing.

"No," he told her and took a step out of her clutch. He took her arm again and led her outside and out to the valet. "I'm taking you home like I was told to do." She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms as they stepped aside to wait for his car.

"And you always do everything you're told, right?"

"I try because it's my job. Unless something changes, why? Upset that I wasn't on your arm the whole night?"

"Hardly. I got hit on by a few men, so really don't concern yourself. It just sucks that we should be the talk of the town with our upcoming marriage and yet we aren't. Because with events like tonight's, you aren't with me, you're doing something else." He turned to her, a smirk on his face.

"It bugs you that she's a buzz-worthy factor, and you aren't. Our marriage isn't some high-to-do thing in this world, and you know that, but you sure are trying to make it that it is. Why?" She glared at him and then turned her head away. "I never did get to ask why you agreed to this?" She opened her mouth to say but shut it just as quickly as the valet showed up, his eyes glancing at Sara. Adriano noted that he was smart enough to realize it was a different female but didn't comment on it. Adriano shook his head as he climbed into the driver's seat, knowing that Sara wouldn't tell him, and he didn't really need an answer.

-----

"You wanted to talk," Adriano said as he knocked on the wooden door and pushed it open when he heard the voice.

"I did, Adriano. Come in and sit down." Adriano looked at the man behind the desk and nodded, making his way to one of the two chairs. "Sara got in okay?"

"Sure. She's pissed at me, but I don't think that's anything new." Carlo leaned back in his chair, his gaze hard on Adriano.

"No, and it won't be. It also won't be your concern any longer, either." Adriano shook his head, confused by that.

"What?" he asked after a few moments.

"I'm pulling Sara off the contract," Carlo said, setting the contract down before Adriano. "You two don't fit. I thought she might have listened to you a bit more, but she won't. She needs a different type of man to control her. Maybe someone like Mike, we'll see." Adriano looked at the papers before him and then at the man behind the other side of the desk.

"Then what about my end? Everyone knows I'm going to take over your spot when you pass or retire. Are you saying I just worked my ass off for the last two years for nothing?" Carlo smirked and shook his head.

"No, I'm not saying that. You're still engaged, you still have to honor your side, just the name has changed." That had Adriano narrowing his eyes at the man. Everyone knew Carlo could be a snake when the time suited him, and it looked like it was doing that just now.

"Who?" Carlo leaned back again, pulling a cigar from the side of his desk, leisurely lit it, and slowly took a drag. Adriano waited, but he wasn't sure how much patience he was going to have. He wanted to reach across the desk and strangle Carlo, but he had to fight back that urge. "Who?" Adriano asked again, and Carlo merely lifted a brow, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"The who isn't important, just know the name has changed and I will take care of Sara myself. She will understand that it's for her own good."

"Carlo, with all due respect, if you're going to go around fucking over people's lives, at least tell them who." Carlo laughed as he nodded at Adriano.

"You got balls, Adriano, but don't talk to me like that in the future. I'm still your boss and will be your father-in-law." Carlo stood up and walked around the desk, stopping right by Adriano's chair. The man tapped the contract and looked at Adriano. "Let's not try and downplay the passion between you and Ignazia. And please don't make me out to be a fool; I'm aware of what you two have already done." Adriano leaned back in his chair and lifted a shoulder.

"Sara and I were in agreement about sleeping around."

"Oh, I know. I doubt Ignazia will be open to that agreement, though." Adriano clenched his teeth and then turned his attention back to the contract, seeing her name. "She's not to know." His gaze once more flew to the boss.

"You're not telling her?" Adriano asked.

"Nope. She's not as easily maneuvered as Sara was, it took everything just to get her here without drugging her. So, no, the end game is for you to be married to her to get this spot, however, you have to actually date her and get her to say yes." Carlo smiled as he walked away, taking another drag off his cigar. "Have fun," he told Adriano. With that, Adriano stood up and flew out of the room, his anger rising.

It was one thing to sign a contract with a willing party, even knowing that both ends weren't happy, however, it was another shitty thing to sign one without the party knowing. And then leaving it in his court to basically get her to say yes! How the fuck was he going to do that? Ignazia was a woman who did her own thing, she wouldn't easily give in to him. And what the fuck would he say when she found out about it? Because, if she was smart enough to realize he had one with Sara, then she would have to be smart enough to realize that there was one for her.

He paused as he landed on the last step. No, Carlo meant for her not to know about it. Adriano had to make it look like he really wanted her. And that was shitty! He was not a committed type, never had been and even though he was to be married, he wasn't going to remain a committed man! And now, now he had to show this astute woman that he only wanted her or risk losing the crime family he built up. What kind of fucked up shit was that? That was Carlo playing his worst damn game and making others pay for it!

With a frustration brewing that he hadn't seen, he started to walk, needing to get out of there and far away from that man. Though he was furious, there was nothing he could do, and Carlo knew that; he played that card really well. Adriano wanted the seat that he worked his ass off for and no one knew how he got to be the underboss, and he vowed to keep it that way. Without noticing, he walked through the front door of the guest house and paused as he saw Ignazia there. He forgot that Mike brought her here, or maybe he didn't, maybe he was headed here all along.

"What is it, Adriano? You look like you're ready to spit nails." Oh, he was, there was no doubting that, but it wasn't what he wanted to do. Without thought, he stalked over to her, causing her to back into the wall, her eyes wide at his behavior and probably the darkness in his eyes, but he just did not care, not at this moment. Not bothering to wait anymore, his hands cupped the side of her face and his lips landed on hers, branding her, punishing her, kissing her with all his anger, all his emotions, and unbeing knowing to him, all his passion. It was a furious kiss that left him hungry for so much more.