Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi -
Chapter 507 -
*Tallon*
Fifteen years later
If there was one place you never wanted to spend your thirty-third birthday, it was inside a local bar at midnight drinking a cold beer in a virtually empty city, especially since said bar was the most sketchy-looking place in all of Tuscany. But here I was, sitting on the stool at the bar and not even daring to put my hands on the filthy counter, as the bartender stared me and my companion down with a sour look as if we were ruining his night, which we might have since the last call was two hours ago.
But did said companion care? "Happy birthday to you!"
Not in the slightest.
I winced at his obnoxious and overenthusiastic man in his thirties currently wailing the song in my ear, his arm hooked over my shoulder as he swayed us back and forth on the stools with a stupid sappy grin on his face. I hated it when he got drunk.
"Vinny, you need to stop drinking," I remarked casually, pushing the leech off of me so I could grab the beer on the counter I'd been nursing. I took a drink, finishing off the last of it and grimacing at the poor taste. Why did it always taste like backwash?
"Aw, I love you too, bro," Vinny slurred drunkenly, unable to comprehend anything I said but still able to recognize me as he half-hung off me. I rolled my eyes at the extra weight but grabbed him by the back of the shirt and hauled him up so he was leaning on the counter and not me.
"Are you two going to leave at some point?" the bartender said rudely, cleaning the same cup for the dozenth time. "Cause I want to go home."
"Yeah, yeah," I ignored his rude attitude, fishing into my back pocket and throwing a wad of cash on the counter. It was annoying to see how the bartender's eyes lit up when he saw the money, probably more than he made in a week. "Ah." I stopped him with a stern look before he snatched up the cash like a raccoon after trash. "Call him a cab and make sure he gets on it. Deal?"
The bartender glanced at the moaning and muttering mess of a man slumped over on his counter and pursed his lips unhappily. Eventually, he nodded.
"Where?" he asked roughly.
"Rosewood."
"Of course," the bartender smirked, eyeing us like one would tourists invading his property. I could tell he had already pegged us for "rich men from out of town." If he had been just a little smarter, he would've figured out that tourist season was over and we were anything but tourists.
But I didn't give a shit about what he thought so long as Vinny got back to the hotel without a scratch and I could go on my merry way without anyone knowing I spent my thirty-third birthday in a run-down bar.
Of course, if things did go south, I had someone watching over the two of us from a distance this asshole tried anything and he'd get a rude awakening.
We weren't just rich.
We were filthy rich.
"Nice doing business with you," I smirked, finally untangling Vinny's hands from me as I got off the uncomfortable bar stool. I'd been sitting in it for too long and my back ached as I got up. I stretched my arms over my head, hearing my bones cracking.
As I did so, I noticed the bartender's eyes fixate on where my shirt had lifted over my pants, revealing the holster and gun I had tucked away. It wasn't the only one on me, but was the most dangerous.
I smirked at the fear that filled his eyes, coming to a realization that many lesser men hadn't.
"Yes, sir." The bartender straightened, bowing his head as he suddenly changed his tune. It was to be expected. After all, not many had the privilege of running into the Don of the Italian mafia at three o'clock in the morning. Before I could take my leave, a hand wrapped around my wrist, tight enough to be painful, and I glanced over at Vinny, annoyed. He peeked out from his scraggly hair, a serious look in his eyes. He muttered something incoherent. "What, Vinny?" I asked impatiently, ready to leave and get back to the hotel for a good night's sleep. I was on vacation, after all, and it was my birthday as Vinny had so gladly reminded me before dragging me out to his damn bar. "Don't want you to be alone." Vinny glanced up at me with sad, pitying eyes. "It's your birthday. Spend it with family...."
I swallowed, glancing away from his knowing eyes and at the hold he had around my wrist. I counted the numerous tattoos all around my arms, remembering each birthday I had gotten one, and probably would again today.
"I'm fine, Vinny," I tugged my wrist out of his grip, sending him an impassive look. "You spent enough time with me. Everyone's busy, just like we are, so just get in your cab and go back to the hotel. I'll meet you there." Vinny shook his head, heaving a sigh, but he didn't pick his head from the counter or try to stop me. "At least get laid," he muttered into his arms.
"If you're offering." I sent him a cheeky grin, turning my back on him. It took a full minute and I was nearly out the door before I heard a loud shriek calling, "What the fuck?"
I laughed, my spirits already feeling a bit brighter, but the moment I stepped outside, it dropped to the lowest point in my stomach. I shoved my hands into my pocket pants, glancing around at the dead streets of the city. Summer was over, school had started, and everyone was going back to their normal lives.
And I stood here in the middle of the city, completely and utterly alone.
It had been a long fifteen years since the day I'd been named the Don. Despite what everyone expected from the troublemaker and jokester of the family, Giovani had been right. I had done well as the Don.
It had been all too easy to establish my reign over the family. I'd always been too charming for my own good, at least that was what my mom used to say. Using that charm to get the family on my side was child's play. I wasn't perfect by any means, and I relied on the talents of the people around me to make everything run smoothly.
Giovani and Olivia had moved to LA, just like they'd planned, and Elio, their son, was now sixteen. It had been difficult to be away from him over the years, but he was a good kid and a happy one. They all were. The two of them lived a fantasy life, just as much in love as the day I first found out about them.
Elio had even started learning how to drive over there, and it was hard to believe he was in high school now when not too long ago he was just a baby blowing spit bubbles at me. He even grew out of his separation anxiety, the memory of the kidnapping fading away quickly. He had been so young, after all.
He'd been told about it, but it didn't affect him at all. Dahlia had gone to school, getting her bachelor's and then master's degrees. She took over Dad's business, training to be the best entrepreneur. She'd gained them twenty-four percent profit in the last quarter alone.
Mom and Dad still lived in Miami and though Dad was getting up there in his years, they were both still doing well. Mom had made it her mission now to get all three of us married, but it had yet to happen. Dahlia was too busy with the company and I was too busy being the Don and Alessandro....
Well, after a long hiatus, he'd finally swallowed his pride and had become an advisor to me. He was the one I trusted with everything.
As the years went on, his temper had calmed significantly. I was just happy he didn't hate me after getting the role he wanted.
Luckily, Alessandro had proved to be more mature than any of us first thought. 'Spend it with family,' Vinny had said.
Even if I'd wanted to, I couldn't have. I was sure that if I reached out and flew over to my parent's house, they would welcome me with wide open arms, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. The responsibility of the family rested on my shoulders, and every year it got heavier.
Vincenzo was the only one I hung out with, though he preferred to be called Vinny. My right-hand man and my best friend, I was grateful he was willing to drag me out to spend my birthday with me, especially when I had no one else who did. Alessandro had offered to come, but somebody had to watch over the family while I was gone, and I wasn't going to bother him with something so superficial.
It was just a day, after all.
I walked down the dark, empty streets of Tuscany, pondering to myself as I glanced at all the businesses that were now closed. I could always do what Vinny suggested-replace some random girl and get laid-but that was never my thing. I didn't date, or at least for real. Of the four girlfriends I'd had in the past, the longest had lasted six months before she broke up with me. Too inattentive, too busy with my work, didn't love them enough-there were a thousand excuses they'd all laid upon me as the reason.
And I agreed with each one.
Truthfully, I hadn't loved any of them. They were more like passing flings if I was to be honest than a real relationship. I liked them well enough and was attracted to them, but each time, I couldn't bring myself to keep them around. It always turned into another burden to drag around.
I sighed, glancing across the bare streets before crossing. There were only a few places still open, and one of them was right in front of me. With the neon signs, I glanced at the tattoo shop before me, surveying the examples in the window before I decided on which one to get.
It was my yearly ritual and I'll be damned if I didn't follow through with it. Ultimately, I decided on one and opened up the door to the shop, the bell ringing above me. I wasn't paying much attention because I ran straight into something, or something ran into me.
"Oof!" we both exclaimed at the same time and I caught a glimpse of long, brown hair and a body falling backward.
It was all instinct as I reached out and caught her by the waist with one hand, hanging onto the door with my other. I stared into a pair of wide, deep, crystal-blue eyes.
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