Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 307 -

*Olivia*

Even inside the compound of the Italian mafia, the garden was overflowing with summer activity.

The smell of chlorine was comforting to me, having always been around the pool at Dahlia's house. Summers were always my favorite time, and this year was no different.

Since Dahlia couldn't swim with her injury, I had elected to join her just sitting by the pool and the garden. It was beautiful this time of year, and we weren't missing anything.

It felt like forever since the last time we had just hung out and enjoyed the sun on our skin. So many things had happened to complicate our trip here, and I was glad to have a moment to just breathe and relax.

"Do you really think we're ready?" Dahlia asked quietly out of nowhere.

"For what?" I asked, turning to look at her.

"University," she answered, glancing at me with wide eyes. "I mean, classes start in a few weeks, and we don't have everything ready yet. What if I suck at finance? What if I totally fail my first classes?"

"Dolly, we're doing Gen Ed classes first." I frowned, sitting up. "We've been planning this our whole lives. Why are you so worried? We've always known that you'll study finance, and I'll study art, together at the same university."

"But what if it isn't enough?" Dahlia said, her breath hitching as she turned to me with worried eyes, "We were going to stay on campus, but what if they replace me again? Giovani can't keep his men with me all the time. I'm so nervous that things are just going to fall apart on us, and I can't do anything to stop it."

"Dolly-" I reached out to her to give her some kind of reassurance, but she pulled away, wrapping her arm around her waist.

"No, Olive." She shook her head. "Things aren't as simple as when we were kids. We thought we had it all figured out... but what if we were just kidding ourselves? What if-"

She hesitated and then met my eyes, her eyes filled with fear.

"What if I'm too scared to go?" she murmured, half to herself.

"Dolly, no." I rushed to her side, grabbing her hand as I shook my head furiously. "You are the bravest girl I've ever met, and it's okay to be scared. We can figure all of this out. But don't give up on your dream so easily. That isn't like you at all." "I don't know what is 'like me' anymore," Dahlia muttered softly.

I could see the cracks she had been hiding, the wounds in her heart that hadn't healed. But I didn't know how to help the emotional scars she was dealing with.

I didn't know how to reassure her this time.

Dahlia sighed, gripping her phone in her hand as she got to her feet. "Don't worry about me, Olive. I'm just tired and spouting nonsense. These meds are something else."

She attempted to laugh, but it didn't sound the least bit real. What could I say to help her?

"I'm gonna go to bed early," Dahlia told me. "Night, Olive."

And then she was gone.

"Night," I called out quietly as I watched her walk away.

I frowned, worried about Dahlia as I headed inside. I'd never seen her look so unsure and scared. She'd always been a headfirst kind of girl, but I guessed the kidnapping had scared her more than she wanted to admit.

I didn't want her to put her dreams on hold because of the bastards that did this, but I also wanted her to be safe. She was right. If we lived on campus, there'd be a greater risk of something like this happening.

I sighed as I headed straight for my room, a little put out. The afternoon had started so well, and now I was feeling bad again. I doubted the reminder of Dahlia's kidnapping would ever go away. It would always be looming over our heads.

I entered my room and shut the door behind me. I stood in the middle of the room, simply gazing around as I wondered what on earth I was going to do now.

I heaved a sigh as I sat down on the edge of my bed, boredom already settling into place. Normally, it was Dahlia who came up with ideas to keep us entertained. But with her asleep, I didn't know what to do.

Right when I was feeling lost and a bit empty inside, there was a knock on my door. I glanced up, a bit surprised but hopeful as I opened the door in a hurry.

My eyes met with the beautiful brown of Giovani's. He smirked, leaning against the doorway, looking like an Italian god. I swore, I could've drooled from the casual clothes he wore.

His shirt was open slightly, showing the top of his chest, and my eyes locked onto it immediately. He chuckled and I blushed, gazing away as I asked, "What's up?"

I hated how high-pitched my voice got and he grinned, the bastard knowing how he'd affected me.

"Where's Dahlia?" he asked, looking behind me as if to see if she was in there. It was a ridiculous thought since we'd banned her from the staircase.

"She's sleeping. I guess she's feeling a little tired from the pain meds they've got her on," I told him, then tilted my head curiously. "What are you doing here?" "Am I not wanted?" he asked, a smirk on his lips, but there was a bit of insecurity hidden behind it.

"Of course you are," I smiled, grabbing his hand. "You just normally have work this time of day."

"Well, one good thing about Alessandro taking more of an interest," he said as he shrugged, "is that I get to stay behind while they do all the work. So, I was wondering if you'd like to head out to town." My heart lurched in my chest, and I swore it was about to jump out and land in his lap. I swallowed, trying to control the rapid beating and calm myself down. He probably didn't mean what I thought he meant. "Like" I gazed at him, not able to stop the hope blossoming in my heart. "Like a date?"

"If you want," he said, smiling.

"Yes!" I flinched at how loud my own voice was, and he laughed as I blushed deeply. I couldn't stop the grin on my face. I was practically floating in happiness at the thought of us going on a proper date. But my thoughts then fell upon my attire. I glanced down at my T-shirt and shorts, which were much too casual for something like a date. "Let me just change!" I shouted as I slammed the door shut on him. I dove for my closet, grabbing the nearest sundress as I changed in record time. I glanced at my face in the mirror, deciding to forgo the makeup with no time left. There were only so many moments I got to steal with Giovani, and I was not going to waste any.

I opened the door, beaming at Giovani, who hadn't moved an inch since I'd shut the door. He looked amused as his gaze raked me up and down. A heat pooled in his eyes, one that was familiar to me, and I bit my bottom lip, a bit nervously. For some reason, I felt more exposed than when I was actually naked with him.

"You look beautiful, carino." He stepped forward and then bowed as he offered his hand to me. "Would you mind accompanying me, my lady?"

"I would," I gave him my hand immediately, a matching smile on my face. I blushed as he kissed the tip of my fingers, giving me a sultry look.

Giovani wrapped my hand around his arm, escorting me like a proper lady. I had no idea where we were going, but I didn't care. Anywhere with him was where I wanted to be.

His car was waiting outside, and I had an idea he'd ordered some kind of surprise. He opened the door for me, letting me slip into the front seat this time since he would be driving.

It was afternoon by now, and the streets of Florence were filled with people. Tourists snapped photos at every corner, and locals walked down the streets without a care in the world.

We pulled up to a beautiful pair of open gates with a large stone pillar and a fountain in front of it. I glanced at the sign that read 'Giardino Delle Rose.'

"The Rose Garden?" I said in surprise, turning to him with wide eyes.

He nodded, parking the car. I got out, seeing the massive hills before us, healing upward. There were so many hedges and trees in the middle of the green fields. The path wound all the way to the top, and there were already dozens of people following it.

"It's beautiful," I said, smiling.

Giovani moved to my side, wrapping an arm around my waist as he winked at me. "Just wait til we get to the top."

He was carrying something in his left hand, but I was too distracted to investigate as I took out my phone and quickly snapped a photo.

I turned the camera and leaned my head on his shoulder. Before Giovani realized what was happening, I snapped the photo and checked it out. I beamed with happiness, blushing as I realized Giovani's eyes weren't on the scene before us, but

on me.

The look of affection as he stared at me was clear to anyone who saw the photo, and the little curl on his lips was just perfect.

"Let's go," I grinned, grabbing his hand as I pulled him into the gardens.

Just as the name said, the path was filled on both sides of the roses. Pink, white, and red, almost every color was represented in the beautiful blooms.

Petals scattered with the wind, brushing against our cheeks as we made our way through. I laughed when a few pink petals got stuck in his hair, and I paused, letting go of his hand as I took the time to pluck them out.

His eyes were soft as he watched me, and I couldn't help myself as I placed my hands around his jaw and kissed him deeply.

With rose petals falling around us, my heart beating only for him, it was like we were the only two people in the world. We parted, and I giggled as he grasped my hand first. I was drunk on the romance, becoming bolder by the second as he pulled me through the gardens.

Once we reached the very top, He pulled me onto the grass and revealed what he had been holding the entire time-a picnic basket.

He pulled a red and white checkered blanket from the basket and unfolded it, letting it settle on the grass before holding out his hand for me. I took it, settling myself on the blanket as he pulled out a feast from the basket. Sandwiches and cheeses, grapes, and strawberries covered in chocolate-there was everything I loved. I thought there was nothing in the world that could make this day better, until the sun began to set over the horizon.

He was right. The view from the top was gorgeous, and I breathed out happily, leaning my head on his shoulder as we watched the sun set over the city.

Giovani was a perfect gentleman as we headed back down under the purple sky. Lanterns lit up and just as we reached the bottom, Giovani pulled me into a hidden crevice and kissed me deeply.

Our tongues entwined as he pressed me against the wall. I wrapped both my arms around his waist and kissed him just as hard as he did. We were both hungry, and we panted as we broke apart.

Looking into one another's eyes, we both laughed and I pressed my forehead against his, swimming in happiness. Right now, he was mine... and mine only. There was nothing but me reflected in his eyes, and a deep possessive part of me I didn't know existed purred happily at the thought.

I didn't realize how much I had been craving his attention until now.

By the time we arrived home, I was too happy to let the day end, even if it was already night. I outright skipped my bedroom and pulled him into his own, pushing him down onto his bed.

I wasn't going to let him go until we were both satisfied. The night blurred as he took me again and again, and to my surprise, Giovani fell asleep first.

I breathed deeply as he held me, both of us nude. He breathed out softly, his chest rising and falling and I smiled at him softly.

I reached out to brush his hair away from his face, absolutely sure now.

I loved him.