FEDERICO

She's wrong.

I do want her; more than I've ever wanted anyone. And the more I'm around her the more I crave her.

She's definitely the strangest woman I've ever known. And last night I found out she talks to herself in a certifiable kind of way, but I think it's a coping thing for her. Still, it was interesting to hear her so unguarded, without the usual sarcasm she hides behind.

She talks in her sleep, too. Well, more like mumbles. I moved the pillows to watch her and then I laid my head on her. I don't know why I did it, but listening to her steady heart beat gave me a sense of peace I haven't had in a long time. And then a memory flashed in my mind of my mom and me as a child.

"Come here, Federico, figlio mio." Mamma holds her hands out to me and I climb up on her lap. She wraps me tight in her arms; my head up against her chest. (My son)

"Do you hear my heart?"

"Yes, mamma."

"Do you know you're the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside?"

I grin and her eyes smile back at me. "Really?"

"Yes, amore mio. What does it sound like to you?" She runs her fingers through my hair; it feels nice. (My love)

"It sounds like home."

She lifts my head away from her and smiles as she cups my face in her warm hands. "One day when you are older, you will find a special woman, and her heart will sound like home to you, too. And when you find her, you must treat her like the Queen she will be to you and always protect her."

"But girls are gross."

Mamma laughs and I smile, her laugh is pretty. "Not all of them, Rico. I'm not gross am I?" She raises an eyebrow.

I shake my head and give her a tight hug. "No, mamma, you're not."

"There's a difference between women and girls, Rico. Remember that."

I thought my mind was playing tricks on me from my usual lack of sleep but now that it's happened for a third time, I definitely know I sleep better when Elenora's around and I don't know what to make of it.

I've never slept with anyone in the literal sense of the word, but I never wanted to before her, either.

Hearing her say nice things about me when she thought I was sleeping brought the most ridiculous smile on my face and I was thankful for the darkness of the room.

The door to the bathroom opens and she walks out taking my breath away in an off the shoulder sweater and tight washout jeans with knee length boots. Her long dark brown hair is down in big waves.

"Thanks for the clothes and shoes; the jeans are a little tighter than I'd like but they're...nice. And out of everything you got there were no bras or panties."

"I can see you're going boobmando, and I don't mind one bit." I smirk walking towards her as she crosses her arms over herself. I mentally kick myself from saying anything while I could have enjoyed the view longer. "And I figured you'd keep my underwear, but I'm impressed you ditched them. I'll have some ordered for you."

"No need, because I have clothes at my apartment." She gives me a tight smile as she walks past me but I hold her back.

"You're coming back tonight, right?" My fingers graze along her beautiful face and I watch her mouth part as her irresistible soft brown eyes meet mine. I lean in and brush my lips on hers and try to control myself at the soft sigh that passes through her sweet lips.

"Why are you doing that, Rico?"

"Doing what?"

"You're being so touchy-feely." Her eyes are on my lips as I rake my bottom lip.

"Because we're in love, remember?"

"Only in public," She whispers.

"I'm a big believer in practice makes perfect. The way I see it, if we practice in private, then when we are in public no one will doubt our acting skills." I skim my nose along her jaw and her pulse races under my lips when I place a kiss on the side of her neck.

She rests her hands on my bare chest and pushes me away. "We both know you have enough 'practice' to last us both a lifetime."

"Here we go again, with your judgey-ness."

"Judgey-ness?" She chuckles. I like how her eyes squint whenever she smiles or laughs. "I'm not judging you, Federico. And to be honest, until yesterday, I didn't think you cared what anyone thinks about you and the choices you make."

"I don't give a fuck what people think."

"Au contraire, my crazy fake, amore," She applies some chapstick on her naturally blush tinted lips and makes a popping sound before she slips it back into her clutch. She walks up to me in confident strides; I like the way her hips move, in a hypnotizing sway.

"You care what I think." She bops me on the nose and surprises me when she rises on her toes to kiss the tip of my nose in a playful manner. "The bloody piece of wall over there is proof of that, Mr."

She starts walking away but I grab her around the waist and toss her on the bed; I fall over her and begin tickling her and her loud laugh fills the room. "Okay, Rico, stop!" She says in between her laughs. I pull her hands up above her head and she gasps.

"I'll stop if I can kiss you."

"You're being ridiculous."

I hold her hands with one of mine and begin tickling her again. "Rico!" She squirms under me as she laughs. "You're not playing fair."

I smile down at her. "Playing fair is boring, Elenora."

"Okay, okay, fine, just stop!"

Leaning down, I capture her lips, tasting the mild sweet flavor of the chapstick she applied. I bite on her bottom lip, causing a soft moan from her. My lips move over hers again and slip my tongue into her inviting mouth. I let go of her hands and smile against her lips as her hands reach around my neck and she pulls me closer.

She surprises me when she rolls us over so she's on top now. Her long hair falls down on us like a curtain. I run my hands up along her thighs and squeeze her ass, groaning when she presses herself against my growing erection. It feels like she's not resisting at all and she's letting herself experience and feel everything as we continue kissing.

But then she pulls away and climbs off of me.

She's panting as she smirks at me. "I'll see you later. You've got a situation you should probably take care of." She circles her finger down, referring to the hard-on I have.

"Wait, you can't leave me like this."

"Sure I can, you've done it to me plenty of times. Payback a bitch, right?" She winks.

"Can I come grab you for dinner later?

"Sorry, I don't know what time I'll finish with the wedding." She gathers her dress and heels from the bathroom.

"But you're coming back tonight?"

"Rico," She groans with annoyance.

"Okay, we'll talk about it later, but I'm sending Mostro with you."

"No."

I stand now, as the anger begins to grow within me. "Elenora, he's going with you or you're not leaving."

"I promise I'll come back tonight, just don't make me have a bodyguard" Her eyes imploring mine.

"How do I know you're not lying to get your way?"

"Because if you know one thing about me, I won't break a promise." There's clear sincerity in her eyes.

"Fine, but one more thing." She looks back at me and I chuckle at the irritation that crosses her features. "A dare..."

She perks up but then narrows her eyes as she waits to hear what it is.

"Kiss me goodbye."

"We've kissed enough, Rico."

"I thought you didn't back down from a dare?" I ask, crossing my arms. Her shoulders rise and fall as she takes a deep breath. She sets her things down on the table and crosses the room to stand in front of me.

She looks at me for a moment before she reaches out and I stand still as her small hand touches my stomach first of all places. I uncross my arms, continuing to watch her. Her fingers trail up and over my chest, to my shoulders and then down my arms. She picks up my hand and her fingers skim over the bandage; and then she kisses the bandage before she does the same for each of my fingers, her eyes watching me the whole time.

I don't know what I was expecting, but this is much better.

She steps closer to me and presses her lips on my chest, leaving a trail of kisses and moves up to my neck, my face and finally my lips.

Her hands glide up over my shoulders and then her fingers run through my hair when she deepens the kiss. I wrap my arms around her to bring her as close to me as I can. The sounds of our kissing and heavy breathing fills the quietness of the room.

My phone rings, and I don't want to pull away from her but she does first. She's breathing loudly as she leans her head on my chest. "Um, I'll see you tonight." Her voice is quiet, keeping her eyes down and then turns away. She picks up her things and walks out the door without looking back.

I sigh before I answer my phone. "Pronto."

"Federico, where are you? You missed a meeting this morning and we need to discuss some new information," Zia Rosetta's stern voice comes through the other side of the phone.

"I'm staying at The Di Maggio."

"Why the hell would you go there?"

" I didn't want to keep imposing on Luca. It's fine, Zia." I walk into the closet and grab something to wear.

"What if the girl finds out?"

"Elenora won't find out." I insist as I select a tie and then a watch. "I'll see you in twenty minutes." I hang up and make another call putting it on speaker.

"Are you tailing her?"

"Si, Capo. She took a taxi and it looks like they are heading towards the apartment building as we speak," Ciccio informs me. (yes, boss)

"Make sure you stay with her. But stay out of sight; if she sees you she will find a way to evade you. Has Mostro found anything on Gabe?"

"Nah, he's laying low at his place in Queens, but we've got people watching him, too, boss."

After I tuck in my shirt, I slip on my jacket. "Good, keep me informed. I'll be in a meeting for the next hour or so. Call me if there's an emergency."

"You got it."

_______________________

"Federico!"

Domani nudges me with his arm and I look over at him and he nods ahead of us; my Zia Rosetta is glaring back at me.

"What?"

She exhales loudly and looks around the room. "Everyone out of the room except for Federico and Domani."

Mickey and Angela leave the room without hesitation and as soon as the door closes Zia Rosetta focuses her frustrated eyes on me. "What the hell is going on with you, Rico?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're unfocused. You've got your head in the clouds, nipote." She paces the room. "Did you even hear the information that was found today?" (nephew)

There's no point in lying so I keep quiet.

"Did you fuck her?"

"What?"

"Elenora. Did you fuck her? Is that what has you so unfocused?" She crosses her arms, raising an eyebrow.

I pour a drink from the liquor tray in the conference room. "I don't need to explain myself to you or anyone else." I throw the drink back and pour another.

"Your little display at Serafina's birthday could have ended everything for us, Rico. You let Gabriel get under your skin and showed him your weakness. He's going to make a move on her."

I slam my fist on the liquor tray, rattling the glass bottles. "The hell he is."

Zia Rosetta smirks and walks over to the tray and pours herself a drink. I move away and look out the large windows in the room, trying to control the rage inside.

"I think it's time we bring Domani into this."

Domani looks over at her then back at me. "Rosetta, I don't think that's a good idea."

"Nobody cares what you think, Domani. You are Rico's right hand man and you do what you're told. We did not get this far to have it all fall apart or for Rico to catch feelings for the daughter of our enemy."

She walks closer to me. "Tell me, what do you expect to happen when her life is ruined, huh, Rico? You think she'll want to be around you when she finds out you've been playing her from the beginning?"

The thought causes my heart to beat erratically. "Her father should be the one we focus on."

"So you have fallen for her?" She begins laughing. "How ridiculous is this?"

"That's not what I'm saying, Zia and I haven't fucked her. But she's innocent and she's been through enough. She's just getting her life together after..."

Domani leans forward on the table. "After what?"

I groan in frustration. How did everything get so twisted and complicated?

"She was attacked a year ago." I sit back down and finish off the rest of my drink. "Raped."

"Shit," Domani mutters.

"Well," Zia Rosetta sighs. "I can sympathize, but since when do you care about someone being innocent?"

She leans down over my shoulder. "You finish what you start Federico Di'Maggio. You can't do anything about the fact that you picked the wrong daughter, but you finish this or I will." She walks out of the office.

I know Domani's going to start with his questions so I beat him to it.

"Did you have Mickey look into the information on the floral shop?"

"The purchases are made over the phone—different pay phones all over the city," Domani informs me.

"What about forms of payment?"

"Gift cards or C.O.D. Mickey said he'll keep digging." I sense Domani's questioning eyes on me. "Are you sure this isn't some sort of unrequited love, type of thing? Maybe a client of hers?"

I shake my head and remember the frightened look on her face when she read the card. "No. But whoever he is, he's a smart motherfucker." I lean forward and rake my hands through my hair.

The loud clock in the room ticks away as each minute goes by. "What are you going to do, Rico?" Domani moves to sit next to me.

"I don't know."

"Are you falling for her?"

"I don't know."

"For what it's worth. I like her."

I turn my head slowly to look at him. "Whoa, not like that. I mean, I probably would have but... never mind." He rubs his neck. "Are you going to be able to finish this?"

"Not the way I planned, but I'm not going to forget what Tiziano did to my parents."

******