Song above for the chapter: "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" ~Zayn, Taylor Swift

FEDERICO

I follow Elenora around the penthouse like a damn dog as she collects her equipment and packs her luggage. "I just don't understand why you took a job so close to the wedding?"

Domani sits at the kitchen counter eating the frittata she made for us for breakfast along with Ciccio and Mostro. They've been showing up early or staying later than their shifts, knowing she'll always offer them food to eat.

Elenora shakes her head at me in frustration. "I told you about it but you've been so busy and distracted, Rico." She zips her carryon and sets it on the floor, rolling it as we walk back into the main room.

"Is it really a good idea with everything that still needs to be done before the wedding?" I ask, hoping I can find a way to have her stay, but I know her work is important to her.

"Rosetta's wedding planner took care of most of it. I've done what I needed to do, while you probably haven't even touched your list, have you?" She folds her arms waiting for me to answer, while I rack my brain on what damn list she's referring to.

"I knew it! I can't do it all, Rico, you're the one who wanted to get married in the first place."

"You guys already sound married," Domani sets his plate down in the sink.

"He's right, you two have been squabbling like a couple of old hens the last few days," Ciccio adds.

"Get out!" I glower at all of them.

Mostro shove's Domani and Cicicio as they walk to the elevator. "You two couldn't leave well enough alone, you just had to add your two cents; I didn't get to finish my food."

"You could have eaten faster, bitch," Ciccio replies.

"You don't rush good food, bitch; you savor it," Mostro counters.

Elenora has an exasperated look on her face when she turns to me. "They don't need to go, but I do, Rico.

Once the guys are out of the room I walk up to her and capture her lips. She gasps in surprise but I love how quickly she responds, kissing me back just as eager. I attempt to walk us back into the bedroom.

"Rico, I need to go," she tells me in between her kisses.

"There's always time for a quickie, amore." I push her back toward the couch and we tumble over the armrest laughing. I kiss her neck, biting and nibbling her tempting skin.

I admit, I wasn't fond of how the sweater dress she's currently wearing clings to the curves of her body with the knee length high heel boots, but now, I like the fact that I have easy access. I tug at the collar of her dress and kiss her shoulder as she pulls at my belt and undoes my pants.

"It's been too long since I've been inside of you, baby."

Her laugh is throaty and sexy. "We had sex last night."

"But not this morning, because I had that damn phone call that came in early." I slip my fingers under her lace panties and groan at the touch of her warm and slick folds. I love how she moves up against my fingers and grow harder at the sounds she makes. I reach down to grab a condom from my wallet.

But she grabs me and guides me into her entrance and wraps her legs around me and I'm swallowed by her warmth.

I groan loving how she's taking control but more at how she feels as she stretches around me. "Nora, are you sure?" I struggle to focus as she tries to move us.

"No time." She pulls at my shirt to kiss me and I start pumping into her.

"More, Rico, harder!" Her seductive demands send my pulse skyrocketing. I grunt, smashing into her over and over again. She moans and tightens around me before she rides out her orgasm; I inhale sharply at the sensation around my dick before I lose control soon after.

Elenora sighs. "That was definitely worth it." She lifts my head from her chest to kiss me. "But now I'm definitely going to be late." I move reluctantly off of her and help pull her up. She rushes off to the bathroom as I put myself together again.

I pick up her bags as she returns. "I'm going to miss you."

"I'll miss you more." She smiles against my lips when she kisses me. "The next time we see each other will be on Saturday." She pecks my lips again, reminding me I won't have her with me not just because of this damn work trip, but also because she insists on waiting to see each other until our First Look.

We walk into the elevator and I hit the garage button. "Oh, I almost forgot, I left a surprise gift in your office. It's on the left side, in the drawer next to your gun. But don't open it until the night before—Friday." She gives me a mischievous smile.

"What is it?" I lean down and nuzzle her neck, inhaling deeply before I start nibbling on her throat.

"If I tell you, it won't be a surprise. I hope you like it."

I place a kiss on her head. "I know I will love it."

She leans away and her eyes search mine. "Are you sure you want to do this, Rico?"

"I've never been more certain of anything in my life, Elenora." The concern in her eyes causes my pulse to race. "Are you...are you having doubts?"

She shakes her head. "No, never, I just want to make sure you want this. I mean, yes, I never really saw myself getting married, but I also don't want you to feel trapped; I know you're not used to being with one woman let alone in a relationship but marriage—"

"I never wanted to be with one woman until you, Elenora." I hold her face and kiss her slowly.

The elevator dings and Ciccio's voice reaches my ears as the doors open. "See, I told you they'd make up."

"Pulled off a quickie?" Domani asks as I step back from Elenora, smiling at her unfocused eyes; I kiss her nose.

"You do remember you asked for cameras to be put in the elevator, right?" Domani reminds me.

"We didn't do anything."

"The back of Nora's hair and your undone zipper say otherwise, Boss." Mostro points out.

Elenora swats my arm. "Rico, why didn't you say anything?" She smooths down the back of her hair through the reflection of the tinted windows of the car.

"I like your 'I just got fucked hair', mia patatina." I smirk, as I zip my pants. I turn her around, as she continues smoothing down her hair. "Call me when you get there." (my little potato)

She wraps her arms around me and hugs me. "I can't wait to be your wife."

I squeeze her back in return. "I can't wait to be your husband." I peck her lips three times and she smiles.

"Are you ever going to tell me what that means?" Her fingers move up and play with the ends of my hair.

"What?"

"You peck my lips three times, but not always," She replies; her eyes move down to my lips and I smile.

"My mamma would do that to me, except she would kiss my head instead of my lips and she said it was our secret way of telling each other 'I love you'," I explain and Elenora's eyes fill with tears. "It wasn't because she couldn't say it out loud or anything; she'd say it all the time, but that was just something between us. And...I like doing it with you."

She tightens her arms around. "I love you, Federico." She pecks my lips three times, then turns to the guys, hugging them, too. "Take care of him Dom, Mostro."

Mostro opens the door and offers his hand to help her in. "Don't forget your list, Rico!" She blows me a kiss before the door closes.

I roll my eyes when Mostro gives Ciccio some last minute advice. "Make sure she eats at least every couple of hours because of her Anemia; it tires her out and then she gets hangry even if she doesn't admit it. She likes almonds or those chocolate chip Cliff bars—they're not bad. I had one the other day. And she tends to fall asleep when she's working on the computer at the table so I always put a pillow under her head so she doesn't kink her neck. And she likes those tropical gummy bears to snack on while she's watching her shows."

Ciccio holds his hand up to stop him. "Mostro, I got it; I've been with her longer, bitch."

"Only because I got shot; until you take a bullet for her you don't get to say shit, bitch."

"Enough, you two; she's already running late as it is." I remind them. They shove at each other before Ciccio gets in the driver seat and pulls away.

"You decided not to tell her about Angela then?" Domani asks.

"I wouldn't say decided as much as not knowing how to tell her. It's been eating at me, everyday but I really don't think I slept with Angela. I don't know how to explain it but the more I think about that night and how I woke up...Yes, we were both in bed, undressed..." I wave my hand in the air. "I don't know—it didn't feel like I had done anything."

Ciccio drives out of the garage before I turn back to the elevator.

"How can you be sure? We were so out of it," Domani points out.

"I've watched it over a hundred times and even though we see Angela walking around in the lobby, there's nothing on you or when you supposedly would have arrived at the hotel, somethin' ain't right," Mostro says.

"And then it looks like Domani was shoved into the stairwell instead of stumbling in like what we initially thought but the image is so grainy. And for what it's worth, Boss, Nora deserves to know."

"She does, but I don't want the way she looks at me to change."

"If you're going to tell her, then tell her before you get married, otherwise, bury it Rico," Domani tells me. "We paid Angela off to keep her mouth shut so she shouldn't be a problem. Though, I still can't believe she'd turn against you like this."

I lean my head against the elevator wall as it takes us back up to the penthouse. "And you're sure you don't want to go after Tiziano anymore?" Domani questions, looking at his phone when it chimes. "Rosetta is going to shit a brick if that's the case."

"The Gallos, and Diego are a bigger problem right now," I state. "We'll deal with Tiziano later. He still has to pay for what he did to my father."

"And you think Nora will accept that?"

"This is between her father and me. Once she hears the truth about him she will understand." We step out into the penthouse, and I try to ignore the uneasiness gnawing at me.

____________

I keep debating with myself if I should tell Elenora about Angela or not. I open the ring box that contains the wedding band set that goes with her engagement ring. I had it engraved with my name inside the band.

I set the box down, when my phone rings and her name flashes on the screen. We've talked or texted throughout the last few days. But I still had to fight myself to not go over to her parents house when she got back from her work trip.

"Last chance to tell me all your secrets or forever hold your peace." Elenora chuckles into the phone.

The truth of her words hit me like a freight train.

"Rico? Are you there?"

I take a deep breath. "I'm here, I...sorry. Are you sure you're ready to seal your fate to the devil himself?"

She laughs. "I did call you Satan, but you're more like a broken angel, Federico. And the last few months prove that together we can overcome anything."

"I hope so." I realize I said it out loud and clear my throat.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, its'...I can't get that damn night of the bachelor party out of my head," I respond, preparing myself to tell her about Angela. "I still...can't remember everything about what happened, and you haven't asked but I need to—"

She interrupts me. "Rico, you need to let it go. You wouldn't have done anything to hurt me on purpose and I don't know why someone would have slipped you something, but you know what? All that matters to me is that you love me."

"I do love you more than anything in the world, mia patatina."

"Good." She sniffles. I wish I was there to wipe her tears. "Have you opened your present yet?"

"No, I haven't."

"Well? What are you waiting for?"

I smile, holding the phone to my ear with my shoulder as I open the drawer where I keep one of my guns and find the book shaped box inside. I set my phone down on my desk and hit the speaker button.

"Looks like a book; I haven't been much of a reader lately."

"Oh I know, unless it's my romance novels you started stealing from me." She teases. "But this isn't a book that you read..."

"I'm intrigued."

"I hope you're more than that after you open it."

I tear the bow off and lift the lid. There's an engraved message on the cover of the book inside. I smile like a fool reading: 'For My Husband's Eyes Only.'

I lift the book out of the box and set it on my desk, flipping the cover and read the first page that says: Only you can give me that feeling. My smile widens, remembering when I told her those words.

I flip the page and I'm stunned, and speechless at the images inside. She's dressed in sexy lingerie, or outfits. She's either standing, sitting or laying out on different pieces of furniture in the penthouse but most seem to have taken place in our bedroom.

Her quiet voice breaks through my state of wonder. "Do you like it?"

"I love it, Elenora. You are so beautiful." I keep flipping through the images and I turn the book sideways to one where she's on the bed and the heel of her stiletto is pulling up at the black thong she's wearing as she looks at the camera with her bottom lip in between her perfect teeth.

"Wait...who took these?"

The next images on the bed, she's clearly naked but she holds the sheets up in a way to cover herself leaving little to the imagination, doing even less to calm me down.

She laughs. "I did, dummy. It says for your eyes only for a reason, although, halfway through it I seriously considered calling a friend to come take them, but the fact that you'd make him into a speed bump at a strip mall somewhere stopped me."

I laugh. "You know me too well." The next images are taken at night given the only lighting seems to be from the moonlight shining in and the outlines of her naked body are still visible in the shadows.

"Damn, these are amazing, baby."

"Thank you," she replies, but she doesn't hide the hesitation in her tone. "So...I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Why do you ask like you're not sure?" I stop looking at the tantalizing photos and focus on her voice.

"I don't know, I just...I don't want anything to go wrong and it's been kind of crazy doing it all so quickly but I love you. Maybe I made a mistake coming to my parents and I should come home." She sniffles.

"Sorry, I'm so emotional." She chuckles. "I miss you."

"I miss you, too, and I can't wait to see you in your dress tomorrow. Get some rest, mia moglie." (My wife)

"Goodnight, mio marito," she responds. (My husband)

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