Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 326 -

*Giovani*

I left Olivia's room wearing only my pants as I carried my shirt and jacket in one hand. You'd think I'd have learned by now to dress fully before leaving Olivia's room, but I didn't.

I was fucked the moment I walked out into the hallway. I stiffened as I caught a familiar figure standing at the end of the hallway, near the stairs.

Tallon.

He was holding a mug of something-tea or coffee. He'd probably been coming back from the kitchen, and I cursed myself for getting caught once again.

I sighed, throwing my shirt over my shoulders for some bit of coverage before I gestured to Tallon to follow me and walked away to my room.

The metal knob was a cool relief against the heat of my palm as I twisted it, pushing the door open. As I entered, I left it wide open for him to follow, not even looking to see if he was behind me. By the sound of his footsteps, hesitant and quiet on the floor, he was.

I tossed my jacket onto my bed, sighing as I collapsed into one of my leather chairs. Tallon stood in the doorway, arms crossed with a surveying look as he watched me closely and carefully.

I motioned to the other chair, and he took the invitation as he sat there, crossing one leg over the other like he didn't have a care in the world.

I wanted to grab myself a drink, but I just sighed, slumping in my chair.

"So you and Olivia?" Tallon broke the silence. If it was meant to be a question, it didn't sound that way. There was a hint of accusation in his voice, and I dreaded what came next.

I didn't need another blackmail on my tab. I didn't need Tallon watching me like his brother.

I just nodded, silently, not giving any other information away.

"Well," Tallon said, not shocked about it in the slightest. "I can't say I'm surprised."

"That obvious?" I remarked, hesitant now. I was usually good at masking my emotions, but did we really give it away that easily? If so, there was no telling who else knew.

"Not really, no." Tallon shrugged. "But you two were paying very close attention to each other. Plus, you seemed very concerned about her safety. I guessed something was going on... but that you two were sleeping together? Not in my wildest dreams. I mean you're old, and she's almost young enough to be your daughter-"

"Shut up before I shoot you." I glared at him darkly, tightening my hands around the armrests.

"Sorry." Tallon nodded. "But still, I figured if anyone would've gotten a sugar daddy, it would be Dahlia or me, to be honest, but I guess Olivia takes after our mom in that case-"

"Tallon!" I snapped, sharply.

"Again, sorry," Tallon said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm just kinda in shock, you know? I mean Olivia's like a sister to me, and to hear she's fucking my cousin who's like forty-something-I mean why couldn't she be like her mom? I mean, if she was into younger guys, I'm not saying I wouldn't be interested but-"

My patience snapped. I got to my feet, one second away from punching him in his face, and his mouth snapped shut as he sent me an apologetic look.

I sighed, sitting back down. I might as well let it go. There was no point in arguing with Tallon about whatever bullshit fell out of his mouth. It was his specialty.

That and pissing people off.

"Well," Tallon said with a small grin, "this certainly explains what's wrong with Alessandro."

I frowned, rubbing my temples from the growing headache. Alessandro? Did he mean his feelings for Olivia? I still wasn't happy about it, but was there something more about it that I didn't know about? "What do you mean?" I asked.

"I don't know if he'd want me telling you this," Tallon sighed, looking a little unsure. "But Alessandro's had a crush on Olivia for years. I mean, he already didn't like you because of the whole, you know, Dad choosing you as Don over him." I nodded. I'd gotten that much at least.

"But if he found out you claimed Olivia before he did," Tallon inhaled sharply, wincing, "that would explain why he looks so damn pissed all the time and why he's practically wanting to fight everyone he comes into contact with." And blackmailing me.

I leaned back in my chair, gritting my teeth at the reminder. I thought he had been acting childish before, but he blamed me for taking Olivia from him as if she were a toy he owned....

Fuck that.

She was a person, and she made her own damn decisions. If she chose me over him, that was something he was going to have to get over, and it was certainly no reason to ruin both of our lives just because he didn't get what he wanted. He may be older than her, but he acted more like a child than Olivia ever did.

"So, Alessandro knows. I get that. But, I have to ask," Talllon hesitated, glancing at me then his hands tucked into his lap. "Does Dahlia know?"

I sighed-the million-dollar question, the main cause of keeping our relationship a secret.

"No," I told him, sending him a warning glance. "And we'd like to keep it that way if you wouldn't mind."

Tallon nodded, raising his hands in defense as he shot me a grin. "She won't hear anything from me. I can keep a secret, plus I don't want Livi to use her death stare on me. She can be really scary when she snaps."

He shivered like he was remembering something bad.

I smirked. I'd seen a hint of her fierceness already, both in and out of the bedroom, but I was eager to see what could make both Alessandro and Tallon listen to her without fear... as long as it wasn't used on me, that is.

"But if it helps, I don't think Dahlia would be mad." Tallon frowned, thinking deeply about it. He chuckled, humor twinkling in his eyes as he finished, "In fact, I think she'd replace it all kind of funny."

"Maybe," I snorted in disbelief. I couldn't help but think he was wrong and that Dahlia would roast me alive if she found out about us. She could be protective over her best friend, and for good reason. Olivia's kind nature meant others could take advantage of her, could trick her, and manipulate her-people like me.

"But Alessandro seems to think differently," I sighed. "He's been blackmailing me about it ever since he found out."

Tallon laughed, shaking his head, and I was glad he could replace some kind of humor in it. I was on the edge of a line between throwing Alessandro out of the organization for good or using him as bait to catch those damn Russians. Either way would get him out of my hair and especially, away from Olivia.

"That sounds like him," Tallon smirked, leaning back in his seat. "He's egocentric, bossy, and selfish, but he's my brother, even if he keeps denying it."

"Denying it?" I asked, my attention caught at the word. "What do you mean?"

"Well," Tallon sighed, "remember when I punched him?"

"Of course," I smirked. I enjoyed the bruise on his jaw a little more than I should've.

"Well, he'd started talking about how he was adopted, and we weren't real siblings and all this shit." Tallon shook his head, a true angry look crossing his features. "As if any of that mattered at all. Mom and Dad raised him, that should be enough to prove he's their son and our brother. I guess technically he's my nephew? He's my half-sister's kid, so... yeah."

Ah. Alessandro was going through more than I realized.

To Tallon it was simple, but to me, who knew the whole story, and to Alessandro, who had to come to terms with these facts, it was anything but.

"I'm afraid it's more complicated than that," I said, sympathizing with Alessandro now. Having to come to terms with being adopted is one thing, but learning who his birth parents were, and how badly that sperm donor who masqueraded as a father had fucked up, was quite another.

It must've taken a toll. Even I didn't have all the details about Tally and the Cartwrights, considering the things I'd heard, I didn't blame him for being confused and angry.

I tended to forget it, but Alessandro was only nineteen. He was still just a kid. I certainly didn't make all the right moves when I was his age.

"Still." Tallon huffed, crossing his arms. From the irritated look on his face, I knew he didn't want to listen to Alessandro's side of things, not right now. I understood that too.

Family was complicated, but we were still family.

"He'll come around, Tallon," I told him with an encouraging smile. "Hopefully before he decides to form a coup and take over the organization."

I wouldn't be so understanding then.

"Yeah, yeah," Tallon rolled his eyes, getting to his feet as he turned his back on me. "You don't have to worry about me, by the way. I won't tell anyone, even if I think you should at least tell Dahlia."

I sent him a warning look and he just scoffed.

"But I won't!" he called back before he stopped dead in his tracks in front of the door. "Oh, and...."

"What?" I asked, frowning as he turned around with a serious look.

"Are you and Livi happy? I mean, being together and all? This isn't just a fling, right?" His eyes darkened as he stepped forward, trying to be intimidating. "Because I swear if I replace out you were taking advantage of her, I will-" "Do what?" I smirked, casually laying my hand on my cheek. "Kill me?"

"Well...." He thought for a moment but then nodded, crossing his arms determinedly. "Yeah."

I smiled, happy to see the protective look in his eyes. Olivia had good friends looking after her, and it reassured me that they would protect her, even from me.

"Yes, Tallon." I nodded. "We're happy. I gave her many opportunities to stop or walk away, even to go back to the States, but she insisted on being with me." He pursed his lips, not entirely content as he asked, "And you like her?"

"I love her," I said, honestly.

He narrowed his eyes, surveying me for any chance of a lie, but I knew he wouldn't replace one. It was the truth. I loved her, and nothing would change that. Finally, he relaxed, smiling back as he nodded. "Good. See you tomorrow then."

As he turned around and left, I smiled to myself. I was glad I didn't have to deal with blackmail from both brothers.

But mostly, I was happy we'd received Tallon's blessing.