Corrupt Me Page 16

  “Bella, it’s about time we met,” EJ said, reaching out for me. “Luca talks about you all the time.”

  “Not all the time,” Luca snarled.

  I bit down on my lip, fighting a smile. “Really? What does Luca say about me? All good things, I hope.”

  “Oh, you know, the usual.” EJ flashed a wicked grin at Luca, as if he were about to spill his secrets.

  “Enough,” a deep voice rumbled through the awkwardness.

  Mr. Marchese, the don himself, tapped EJ and the men next to him on their shoulders, and they parted to the sides, making room for me.

  “Isabella, I’m sorry you had to listen to these two.” He took me in his arms and embraced me. As he released me, I noticed Luca’s twin brothers standing to his right.

  “Hey, Izzie. Long time no see.” The twin with black hair gelled into short spikes hugged me and then kissed me on each cheek. He smelled spicy and manly. Mario was the only person in Luca’s family who’d called me Izzie as a child.

  “Hey, Mario,” I said, kissing his cheeks before he released me from his grip.

  “You remember me. Well, then you already know this goon is Anthony,” he said, looking at his brother.

  Anthony brushed his dark waves off his forehead before he leaned forward to kiss me in the same fashion as Mario. Of the two, Anthony was more reserved. “Nice to see you again, Isabella.”

  Don Marchese stepped behind Anthony and clamped a hand down on his shoulder, pulling him close. “Anthony is my oldest son.” He said it with such pride that I knew Anthony would be the next don. “You two will be working together on some of our business transactions. But enough of that…” He steered me toward my chair and pulled it out for me to sit. “Benvenuto. Please, have a seat.”

  The men that occupied the chairs he’d motioned toward found new ones. I sat at the head of the table next to Luca’s father.

  “Tell me, Isabella, how is Angelo doing?”

  I placed my hands flat on the table, feeling the etched wood with my fingers. “Molto bene. Grandfather sends his regards.”

  At this moment, I realized that, in some ways, I was this man’s equal because I was speaking on behalf of my family, and the don respected me for it.

  He patted my hand, a simple gesture that was both fatherly and welcoming. “Angelo is a good man. Pass along the same for me.”

  “Yes, of course, Mr. Marchese.”

  He smiled, and then he moved his hand from mine to the table in front of him. “Please, call me Luciano. We should be on a first-name basis, considering we’ll be in business together for a very long time.”

  Despite the aura that surrounded a Mafia boss, he was quite pleasant even though I could tell there was a quiet storm behind those deep brown eyes.

  What worried me was the way he’d emphasized the length of time we’d be working together. I had been screwed long before I knew what I’d gotten myself into—and not in a good way.

  LUCA

  My father allowed Izzie to sit next to him as though she were a part of the family. Even I never garnered enough respect to gain that form of acknowledgment. The deal he had with her company was important enough to warrant the royal treatment. She deserved it, especially after the way we’d left things between us.

  After exchanging pleasantries with my father, Izzie followed Ma into the kitchen attached to the dining room by an adjoining door. At least, if she ever forgave me, I knew my family would accept her. Under normal circumstances, Ma would never let a guest help with dinner, but Izzie had a commanding effect on all of us.

  Twenty minutes later, the women emerged with bowls, plates, and casserole dishes and what appeared to be enough food to feed a small army. That was normal. I wouldn’t expect anything less on a Sunday.

  Izzie bent over to set the baking dish in the center of the table, her sweet, perky tits jiggling out of a black dress that hugged each of her curves. I damn near drooled on myself as I watched her move around the room.

  “Dio mio, woman,” I moaned without noticing I’d said it aloud.

  A hand smacked me on the side of the head, causing my vision to blur for a few seconds.

  “Manners,” Ma said as she took her place at the opposite end of the table from my father.

  I rubbed the spot where Ma had whacked me, looking at Izzie long enough to see her chuckle.

  With everyone here, it wasn’t as noticeable how far apart my parents sat. When it was just our family, you could cut the tension with a knife. Ma had found out about Dad’s goomar a few years ago, and she never let him forget it. Given my close relationship with Ma, I couldn’t forgive him for what he’d done to her.

  Once everyone settled in, the wine started flowing, half the food disappeared into our stomachs, and the conversation took a turn for the worse.

  All through dinner, I’d caught Mario stealing glances when he thought no one was looking. I’d caught on quick since I was burning a hole through her with my gaze.

  Mario, the youngest of the twins, looked down at Izzie, who had cozied up next to my father, Frank, and Enzo.

  “What’s the story between you and Luca?” Mario asked Izzie, giving me a snarky look.

  “Um…” Izzie finished chewing the pasta and set her fork on the plate.

  Antony shot me a look from across the table. “I wanna hear the story, little bro.”

  Anthony was the oldest. We all had Dad’s wavy black hair, but Anthony had grown his long enough that it fell over his forehead, making it easier to distinguish one twin from the other. Of course, we knew the differences in their mannerisms and personalities. But Izzie looked confused as hell when my brothers spoke to her.

  “There’s not much to tell. I kissed her when we were kids. Ma found us. End of story.”

  Izzie blushed, a healthy shade of pink coloring her pale cheeks.

  Mario pointed his fork at me and then Izzie, a wicked grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “That’s the old story. What’s the new one? Something’s going on here.”

  “Nope.” I frowned, staring down at my plate. “Not anymore. She hates me.”

  “I don’t hate you,” Izzie said.

  “No?” I said, shocked, as she locked eyes with me. “You should.”

  “Tell me,” Ma interjected, waving her hand. “How did the two of you meet again?”

  Izzie chuckled. “It’s kind of a funny story. This random guy almost ran over my foot on Broad Street, and me being a hothead, I threw my soda in his window. I ran away when he got out of his car, and that’s when I bumped into Luca. It wasn’t one of my finest moments.”

  “And,” Angelina, Ma’s friend, said, hovering over a plate of pasta, “what happened after that?”

  Izzie’s gaze shifted in my direction. “The guy found me, but Luca took care of it.”

  “You rough him up, bro?” Mario said, pounding his fists in the air.

  “A little. But this one here”—I motioned toward Izzie—“and that mouth of hers, she started cursing at him in Italian, like some crazy person.”

  We both laughed at the memory. A flicker of hope ran through me as we shared a quick moment.

  “What?” Izzie shrugged. She held her hands up, like a kid who didn’t want to admit they had done something wrong. “He started it.” A ripple of laughter went around the table, and she continued, “Luca’s leaving out the part where he used this as an opportunity to talk me into going out with him.”

  “No way. You’re crazy, woman. I did not bribe you.”

  “Oh, no?” She smirked at me. “You asked me to come to your party, and I told you to get lost. A few hours later, you showed up at the SAC when I was there, eating dinner. Then, you showed up at the coffee shop and talked your way into going out with my friends. I don’t believe in coincidences, Luca. You were stalking me.”

  I wanted to kiss, fuck, and kill her all at the same time when she winked at me. Everyone laughed at her story—or my embarrassment, to be more accurate.

  Ma shook her h
ead at me along with the rest of her friends. They were disappointed.

  Silence fell on the room until Aunt Concetta and Anthony’s girlfriend brought out dessert. I was thankful for the distraction until EJ opened his fat mouth.

  EJ leaned his elbow on the table, staring at Izzie. “I wouldn’t mind taking his place.”

  Izzie faked a smile for his benefit. “Appreciate the offer, EJ.”

  My father gave me a look that could cut through a diamond, warning me to keep my mouth shut. My teeth clenched together, anger surging through my body.

  When Izzie finished her dessert, she set her napkin on the table and stood, excusing herself. “Luca, why don’t you show me where the bathroom is?”

  She followed me in the hallway where we were almost alone. The guards didn’t count, as far as I was concerned. They were as much a part of the house as furniture and statues.

  “Why is our relationship the topic of conversation tonight?” Izzie kept her head down as I walked next to her, desperately wanting to hold her hand.

  I could hear her choking back tears that never came.

  “The situation with our families only makes things more complicated. We’re in business together now, and I don’t mix business with pleasure.”

  I pulled her aside when we reached the bathroom, out of sight from onlookers. She flattened her back against the wall and sighed as I leaned closer.

  “I’m so sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am now that you’re here, having dinner with my family. They love you. Of course they do. Who wouldn’t?”

  “You don’t,” she grumbled. “You didn’t even have the decency to tell me the truth. I had to find out about the Pennsport deal on my own. Do you have any idea how much it hurt to find out that the man I was falling for couldn’t be bothered to trust me with the truth?”

  “You were falling for me?” My mouth flung open in shock.

  Izzie was my end game, plain and simple. And I loved her.

  She wiped the tear streaming down her cheek. “You’re home for me, Luca. I’ve never had much of one, but when I’m with you—”

  I pulled her to my chest and rubbed my hand down her back. “I love you.”

  She lifted her head from my shoulder, her blue eyes searching mine. Now that I had her attention, I decided to be honest—not only with myself, but with Izzie as well.

  “I’m pretty sure I’ve loved you since we were kids. You’re the only girl who’s ever liked me for me and not for what I could give you. You don’t need money or power. You already have that. You’re beautiful, smart, and independent, and those are just a few of the things I love about you.”

  I wrapped my arms around her, taking in the scent of her vanilla body cream. I loved the feel of her body pressed against my chest with her head nestled right below my chin. “I really am sorry, Izzie. If it’s time or space you need, I’ll be here whenever you’re ready. I’ll wait.”

  “I missed you so much, Luca.” She squeezed me tighter, her hot tears soaking my shirt.

  I pressed my lips to her forehead. “I missed you, too, amore mio.”

  Chapter Ninteen

  IZZIE

  After our encounter at his house, Luca had been showing up at my door every day for a week, each morning offering to carry my books, a hint of hopefulness in his smile. I was never immune to Luca’s charms, and it wasn’t long before I took him up on his offer and had coffee with him at Broad Street Beans.

  That night, I ran back into his arms, where I belonged.

  Hunched over a legal pad, I scribbled notes for the Riverfront Realty deal on my lap. Luca climbed the stairs and stepped into his living room, cans of soda and a bag of chips in his hands. He set the food on the coffee table, sank into the cushion next to me, and flipped through the channels on the cable box. After finding the game, he popped open a soda and took a sip. Luca offered it to me, and I shook my head.

  I sighed when he hopped off the couch, yelling at the most recent play. I didn’t even bother to look up. He cursed the television, as if it would talk back, and then he mumbled under his breath. His cell phone rang off the hook until halftime, making it impossible for me to concentrate. Every time, he would do a quick scan of the caller ID and send it to voice mail.

  Irritated, I slammed my fist on the table, knocking over an empty soda can. “Luca, seriously. You promised, if I slept here, I could get my work done. Between the game, your cell phone, and your constant outbursts…”

  “C’mere,” he said with a smile.

  I set the pen down, and he pulled me into his arms, so my back was against his chest.

  He peppered my neck with kisses. Against my skin, he said, “What did I do now? Whatever it is”—he made his way to my earlobe and sucked on it for a second—“I’ll make it up to you, babe.”

  “Don’t babe me,” I snapped back, only mildly distracted by his touch. I was too angry about the documents still clutched between my fingers. “You need to start talking to me. I need to know what I’ve gotten myself into, Luca.”

  He tugged at the seam of my T-shirt, his hand sliding up my stomach and over the top of my lace bra. “What’s the problem?” His breath warmed my skin, and the more he touched me, the more my anger started to fade.

  I let out a soft moan as his hand slid between my thighs. “Stop distracting me. I need to talk to you about something important.”

  My panties were so wet. I could barely think of anything other than having sex with Luca. His hand traveled to the button of my jeans, but before he could pop it open, I ripped his fingers away. I lifted a stack of papers from the couch and handed them to Luca.

  He took them from me, a perplexed look on his handsome face, and as he studied the documents, his expression changed. Luca bit down on the corner of his lip, his grip tightening on the documents.

  A few minutes passed with Luca sucking in deep breaths and letting them out, as though he were in physical pain. “I should have told you…I’m sorry, Izzie.” He laced his fingers between mine. “How long have you known?”

  “I found out right after you stopped talking to me. After Mr. Catalano came to see me, I was suspicious of the Pennsport transaction. Rinaldi Holdings is not in the business of managing apartment buildings, and as VP of Real Estate Acquisitions, all deals go through me. I didn’t think much of it at first, but given Mr. Catalano’s behavior and the fact that his office is located at the same address as a strip club, I started to get a little worried. Then, I checked out the articles of incorporation, the HUD-1 forms from the last sale of the property, and the amended operating agreement. I know your dad is the owner of LSM Investments. I just wish you had told me, considering I’m the one putting my ass on the line.”

  The papers slipped from his hands, and he rubbed the back of his neck. He did this when something was bothering him, which didn’t help to alleviate my anxiety.

  “Babe, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to give you the impression that I had anything to do with my father’s business.” Luca slid a curl behind my ear and softly kissed me on the lips. “Please don’t be mad over something I cannot control.”

  “I get it, Luca. Grandfather does many things I don’t approve of, and it’s not like the Rinaldis are clean. But I need to know what your father’s motives are with this deal. Something is not right about it. I haven’t found any physical proof, but the books are messy, which isn’t a good sign, and I’m having a hard time with figuring out where the money trail starts and stops.”

  He shook his head, a dejected look on his face. “I don’t think you understand, babe. LSM Investments is my company. My dad forced me to incorporate right after my eighteenth birthday. He said it was my way of paying respect to the family business. Mr. Catalano handles everything, and the company practically runs itself, but it’s my signature on all the documents.”

  “I don’t understand. You don’t have the same name as him.”

  “Yes, I do. We’re both named Luciano after my great-grandfather, but Ma started calling me Luc
a, so she could separate us when she was yelling at us.” He chuckled at the memory of his mother. “My middle name is Salvatore, and my dad’s is Santino, which makes it hard to tell us apart.”

  I leaned back against the leather couch and pressed my cheek against the cushion, reaching out for Luca and feeling the inseam of his jeans. I didn’t want to think about what this meant for us or how it would impact our relationship. All I wanted to do was immerse myself into mind-blowing sexual bliss with Luca.

  He smiled one of those crooked-as-fuck smiles that went straight to my legs.

  From the second we’d met, I had known I was in trouble. Nothing about dealing with the Marchese family screamed safe or sane. But, despite my overwhelming need for control, I had allowed him into my life. The walls I’d built up over the years, Luca had managed to demolish them within the first few weeks. And my feelings for him now were so strong that I couldn’t trust myself around him. I would never escape the clutches Luca had on me.

  “I shouldn’t have to play detective.” I let out a frustrated sigh. “You need to be as honest as you can with me, or this is not going to work between us.”

  He propped his elbow up next to my head and rested his fist under his chin. “Babe, I’m sorry. I promise. From now on, I’ll tell you what I can, especially if it involves you.”

  As I rubbed his thigh, I could feel his bulging erection. He leaned over, the heat from his breath sending a shiver through my body. I threaded my fingers behind his head and slipped my tongue in his mouth, deepening the kiss as I lifted my leg over his, straddling him.

  “I’m not mad,” I breathed against his lips. “If I were, I wouldn’t be here right now. It’s too late, Luca. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

  “You’re not scared?” He held me at arm’s length, searching my eyes, as he waited for a response. “I mean, if you are, I understand. This life isn’t for everyone.”

  The Rinaldi nerves of steel never faltered, even under extreme cases of duress. One could argue that we were tough, but on the other hand, I liked to think it was because we were cold and had been hardened by the pressure of our own lifestyle. Just because we were rich didn’t mean we hadn’t worked for it.