Page 12 of Unrelenting
After all, I haven’t always thought through my actions. I like Olivia more than most of the men in my family do, but right now she’s pissing me off. She’s acting like the devil himself is asking to marry her.
Piotr Reznov is a good friend of mine. Despite his icy demeanor and reputation for ruthlessness, he’s a decent man. He’ll protect Olivia and I think he actually likes her. It’s more than a lot of the women in our world can hope for.
She should be grateful she’s caught the eye of such a powerful man but, of course, she’s chosen instead to stamp her feet and bitch about it.
“Are you going to sulk all night?”
“I’m not sulking.” She pushes her lips into an even more pronounced pout. “I just don’t understand why you won’t take me to a club.”
“What?” I thought she was in a bad mood over Reznov. The prospect of visiting a club hasn’t come up. “You never said you wanted to go to a club.”
“Yes, I did,” she insists. “Just after you picked me up.” She waves her hand in frustration. “I said I heard La Stanza Rosso is amazing.”
And I was supposed to realize that meant she wanted to go?
“La Stanza Rosso is amazing.” It’s one of Damiano’s most popular clubs. Local celebrities have been flocking to it since the doors first opened a few years ago. “But you won’t be going there.”
“Why not?” Olivia flicks her long, dark brown hair over her shoulder and glares at me in a manner that probably makes other men shit themselves.
“Because Antonio would have my head if I took you to a club.”
She grunts indelicately. “I didn’t realize you were scared of my brother.”
“I’m not scared of anyone,cugina.” If she thinks she’s going to shame me into taking her to the club, she doesn’t know me at all. “I have respect for the head of your family, that’s all. Now, drop the subject and let’s just try to enjoy dinner.”
Olivia sighs dramatically and picks up the menu. Poor Piotr will have his hands full if he persuades her to marry him.
“You don’t need the menu,” I tell her. “The only reason to come to Gianetta’s is the steak.”
A sly smile crosses her lips. “The only reason?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
My younger cousin shakes her head. “You’ve been glancing at the kitchen door every two minutes since we got here. Who are you looking for?”
“Nobody,” I say defensively.
“Is nobody the chef here?”
I scowl across the table at her. “What do you know about Lucia?”
Olivia shrugs. “Only that Damiano thinks you’re obsessed with the hot chef who owns this place.” She grins broadly. “And now I know her name is Lucia.”
I smile tightly, trying to ignore that my brother believes I’m obsessed with Lucia. Obsession is for weaker men. It suggests powerlessness against the force of desire.
While it’s true I want her more than I’ve ever wanted another woman, she isn’t the only focus of my attention. I’ve not lost sight of my business priorities or my obligations to my family.
I don’t have the chance to tell Olivia to mind her own damned business because Angelina, the pretty young waitress who usually serves me, comes to take our order.
“Good evening, Signore Volante.” To her credit, she works hard to mask her unease at having me in the restaurant. Like most people, she sees my reputation and not the man I really am. “Are you ready to order?”
I’ve had the same meal every time I come in here, but Angelina still waits patiently for me to tell her what I want.
Generally, I’m not such a creature of habit, but Lucia’s signature dish cannot be surpassed.
“We’ll both have the Bistecca alla Fiorentina, medium rare, with creamed spinach and a single portion of rosemary potatoes.”
Olivia doesn’t like potatoes. Fuck knows why. She beams at me when she realizes I’ve remembered that.
