Page 44 of Ciao, Amore

“I’m not a thing; I can handle this myself,” Dani insisted but was met with another gross, wet kiss, this time right on the mouth.

“Brizio,fermata. Stop,” Steffi commanded. He ignored her too.

“Come on, my tall New York girl. We would make beautiful babies together. It’s okay,” Fabrizio crooned, stumbling over her feet and crushing her toes.

Stunned, Dani managed to push him away, then took off her bracelets and her shoes, handing them to Merelys. She went after her drunken dinner companion before Nico caught her around the waist and spun her around.

Nico put her down, then went after Fabrizio, holding him up by the collar of his shirt with a fist cocked back, ready to fly, until Angelo rushed over and grabbed his arm. Tommy appeared behind him, looking with big eyes from brother to friend.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.Tranquilo,Nico,” Angelo exclaimed. “Brizio, you been actin’ like a fool all night. The fuck’s the matter with you? You know Daniela’s here with Nico. Quit fuckin’ around. Now, everybody relax. Nico.Nico. Relax.”

Nico’s face was deep red, flushed with alcohol and rage. He still wouldn’t release the other man. Brizio stood with his palms up and eyes wild, explaining himself in Italian too rapid for Dani to understand except for his repeated phrase to the effect of “my job.”

Well, good. If Nonno fired him for this, it would be what he deserved. But this needed to be over. She tugged on Nico’s jacket, and after looking at her, he let go of Brizio and backed away.

“Brizio, you take your orders from Nonno, so I can’t tell you to leave. But stay the fuck out of my way. And don’t you ever fucking put your hands on her again. Don’t talk to her. Don’t even breathe in her direction.”

Then Nico turned and grabbed Dani’s hand, hauling her out of there.

“Good night, everybody,” she called weakly.

They waved a half-hearted good night in return. So much for the fabulous party. They climbed upstairs, but as they neared the end of the hallway, she wiped her eyes and saw a note fixed to her door, written in English.

Squinting at it, she read, “Dear Daniela. Your room is closed for repairs. There is water everywhere. Your belongings are now in Nico’s room. Apologies. –Nonno.”

“Seriously?” she cried, trying to twist the doorknob. It was locked.

Stomping her foot and feeling very much like a tired, frustrated four-year-old, she rattled it vigorously, but it was pointless. Nico was swaying on his feet, apparently not comprehending what the fuss was about.

“I can’t believe I was gonna have to fight Brizio. He’s been an asshole since we were kids, but he’s one of us. I don’t understand why he acted that way tonight. Fuck. There’s no loyalty. None.” He groaned, squeezing his eyes shut, then opening them. With resignation, he slumped against the wall. “That’s it. I’m a Neanderthal. Cardinal Corrigan High School, the best in the Bronx. I’m a Corrigan man, through and through. I should go find him and kick his ass. The dis…the disrespect…”

Dani snapped at him. “You know what? I’m too tired for this. Let’s just get in there and go to bed.”

She pushed his door open and saw her bags in the corner between the wall and the armoire. She closed the door against prying eyes, and this time, she made sure it was locked against barbarian invaders, young and old. Sure enough, a quick perusal of the interior revealed someone, most likely Cetta, had hung and folded her clothes neatly. Grudgingly, Dani had to admit Cetta had done a great job, to the point where she wouldn’t need to refold everything herself.

Then a horrible thought bloomed in her head like algae on a pond. The battery powered boyfriends. Had Cetta found them?

Dani searched the shelf in the armoire and then the drawers. The little pink neon zippered bag that held her assortment of vibrators was missing.

Oh God. With rising panic, she rifled through her luggage. Totally emptied. She went through the other drawers in the chest where Nico’s things were haphazardly strewn about. What a mess. She itched to fold them but refrained, shutting the drawers with wide eyes.

What the fuck? Did Cetta leave her vibrators in her old room? And if she had, how the hell was Dani going to get them back?

Nico was in his bathroom, pissing with the door open. Shaking her head, Dani went to change into her pajamas. He staggered back into the room after flushing.

Dani took her turn, but unlike him, she closed the door. When she returned, he was laid out in the middle of the bed, wearing only his boxers, his long arms and legs reaching to the four corners. That beautiful new suit was discarded on the floor like they were his sweatpants. It was a big bed, and she still wasn’t sure there was any room for her on it.

“My vibrators are gone,” she said, poking him. “I think they’re locked up in the other room.”

He laughed. “That’s awful. I can help. Wanna fuck?” he asked, eyes closed while he pointed at his cock, which looked semi-hard through his boxers.

“That has to be the most romantic shit I’ve ever heard. You should write for TV,” Dani replied, hands on her hips.

But that spread, that body…and yes, as much as she hated to admit it, his toxic Neanderthal moment protecting her from the lecherous Fabrizio had been ridiculously sexy. But she was going to stay strong. He’d given her an awful case of lady blue balls that morning, to borrow one of Terri’s many phrases, and she wouldn’t forget that—no matter how tempting he was splayed out like that. No matter how tempting it was to ride that thick cock to a screaming orgasm.

Nico stirred, trying and failing to open his eyes. “Mmm-hmmm. I’m gonna fuck the shit out of you. Just…give me a minute…”

“No. Go to sleep,” Dani mumbled.

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