Protecting The Principessa (Complete)

~ Chapter 35 ~

He blinked a few times as he looked down at her and watched as her eyes fluttered open. And with a speed he didn't even know he had, he stood up, and looked around, the gun that was always at his back was now in his hand. He turned, watching the gray car retreat down the road, and his anger quickly came to the surface. The car wasn't recognizable, and he got no good look at the plates, but he knew better than to let his guard down for even a second, especially with what happened just a few nights ago.

His jaw clenched, as did the hand holding his gun, and he never heard the movement behind him. But the press of her hand on his arm caused him to flinch, which wasn't something he ever did. And it wasn't her that he was mad at, it was all on him, on the way he was fucking up. And over what? Her? Her dad wouldn't agree to that. In fact, when he hears about this, and Adriano had to tell him, he'd be surprised if her dad didn't go bat shit crazy on him.

"Adriano?"

"What?" he answered back, still not bothering to look at her, even though the car was gone.

"Don't be pissed." With that, he swung around and stared at her, caught off guard for the moment at the smile on her face. "I thought that would get you to turn around." He let out a breath and used his free hand to run through his hair.

"Why, so you can see how angry I am?" She crossed her arms over her chest and lifted a brow, but he wasn't about to back down. "I should get you home."

"Because someone shot at us?"

"You, Ignazia, not me! This was about you and yet again, I failed you." He watched as her arms fell and she took a step towards him. And as she stepped before him, she slowly shook her head.

"How do you figure that you failed me?"

"I should be watching you, watching out for you, not...not...," but he didn't have the words.

"Not kissing me?" she offered, and he nodded. Her hands ran over his chest and even through the warmth of the sweater, his skin felt on fire. "How about you explain to me why this date happened, why the kissing is happening, and I'll forgive you for failing me." He couldn't stop the laugh that escaped, even if he knew it was wrong. There was something about this woman that put him at ease, and it shouldn't, not by a long shot.

"It's not you I need forgiveness from." He knew he shouldn't have said that, that she was still struggling with the role in her father's life, but it was the truth. She could ignore it all she wanted to, say he could sit on the sidelines, but as the mafia princess, it just wasn't possible.

"I don't believe he can have a say in my life of whom I forgive, whom I don't, or who the hell I can be pissed off." This time it was his time to raise a brow as he secured the gun back at his back.

"You would be way off base you know?" She narrowed her eyes, and he could see the frustration building. And if she were any other woman, he could see her throwing her hands up and stomping her foot.

"So, what, he controls my life?"

"A lot more than you think, Izzy."

"Yeah, well, that's a power he thinks he has." His hands reached out and grabbed her arms, giving her pause to the ranting she was about to lay out.

"Look, I know this is all new to you still, and that after the shit with the event, things are still soaking into that little mind of yours. But your father is powerful, a lot more than you are giving him credit for. In his world, Carlo does control everything, and I mean, EVERYTHING, that includes a lot more of your life than you'd like to think. When one is a successful Don, his power can easily slip through his fingers, so one has to learn how not to let that happen, and that goes for his kids." He knew that he was triggering things in her mind. Izzy wasn't dumb, she would find out soon enough about the contract, about his say in it. And yeah, he might want the power, who wouldn't? But his interest in the woman before him had nothing to do with that damn piece of paper. In fact, he couldn't even quite pinpoint where or what caused the interest.