Page 76 of Beautiful Desire

“Keep an eye on him and keep me updated on his movements. Even if he’s taking a half-hour shit. Got it?” I bark into the phone.

“Si,” is all he says before I hang up.

Checking the time on my phone, I quickly scroll through my contacts and dial his name, hoping he picks up. The phone rings and rings, and just when I’m about to hang up, he answers.

“What’s up, asshole?” Fabi’s deep voice comes through the line.

Closing my eyes, I release a deep breath.

“You good?” is all I ask.

“Of course I’m good. Why wouldn’t I be? I’m married to the sexiest woman in the world, who is always insatiable for my dick, and have the best son ever. Life is good, stronzo.”

Hearing the smile in his voice puts one on my face. Although I could do without hearing about their sex life.

When I say that, his reply is, “Sorry, brother. Gotta keep the missus happy and fed because she’s always hungry. Did you call just to talk about how great my sex life is since yours is nonexistent, or did you actually need something?”

Dick.

“I just got off the phone with Enrico. Nero’s still here. I’m worried…” I don’t even want to finish that sentence.

“You’re worried about what?” he asks with no bite in his tone.

“Nero came to see me the other day in my office, early, catching me off-guard. He saw Elle.” My teeth clamp down on each other as I remember him eye-fucking Elle and kissing her hand.

“Okay, so you’re worried about Elle?”

Taking my silence as a yes, before I can answer him, he continues.

“Because she’s here. She’s fine. Although, I did see her crying, but I assumed it was because you were an asshole to her again. Remind me to kick your ass the next time I see you.”

Elle’s crying? Why would she be crying? When she left, she was fine. More than fine. She had just gotten off. I was so pent-up that I had to go and jerk off in my office bathroom again, but that didn’t quell the need for her, so I came home and went for a run in my gym, hoping to clear my head. But all that did was bring up memories of Nero.

Fuck, Nero.

“Uh, yeah. Sure, man,” I tell him, forgetting what he said to me. “Listen, Fab, when Nero came to visit me, he wanted me to do one last job for him. I told him I wouldn’t do it. I disclosed how I got rid of all the evidence he had on me and told him I was no longer his puppet. He left pretty mad, saying this wasn’t the end and I’d see him soon. He wanted me to kill you so he could be the head of the Italian mafia here.”

I hold my breath and wait for him to explode, but he never does. Instead, he laughs. I’ve known Fabi for a long time, and although he’s been a much happier person since Gia came into his life, I’ve only heard him laugh a handful of times.

“Is this a joke?” he asks, chuckling.

“What? Of course not. Why would I joke about something like this?” I reply.

“Because you’d have to be utterly stupid or joking to think Nero could take me down.”

He’s right. I know Nero doesn’t have anywhere near the amount of power, wealth, resources, or men compared to Fabi. But that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t try.

“You should have seen him, Fab. I’ve never seen him so worked up before. He believes it’s his right to be the don here. I know I don’t have to worry about you, but I do. You’re like a brother to me, and I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened. Not again.” My voice breaks on the last word as thoughts of losing another brother go through my mind.

I prepare for the verbal ribbing he’s going to give me, but I’m taken aback by what he says instead.

“Hey, you have nothing to worry about, man. I’ll make sure you never have to go through that again. Luckily for you, I’m impenetrable. I’m ready to take him down if there’s even a whisper of him trying anything.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, I squash any more unwelcome thoughts. He’s going to be okay.

I don’t realize I said that last part out loud, and Fabi surprises me when he says, “Of course I’m going to be okay. I’m fucking Fabrizio Moretti.”

At that, we both laugh. Leave it to him to crack a joke about his own life.

---