Page 10 of The Agreement

“Really?”

“Yes; I’m really good with numbers and it’s a skill that both my dad and my cousin use. As for the other business meetings, I do sometimes. Not that he doesn’t trust me with the information, but you know how some people don’t like dealing with women or to be around women in that regard.” Yeah, that was a fact Giovanni knew well enough honestly. “Why?”

“Again, curious.” He looked around at the guests and saw his mom waving at him; they were getting ready to go. “Maybe I would like for you to sit in on some of my meetings.” Her eyes flashed to his and something was shared between them.

~ Chapter 9 ~

“Buongiorno(good morning), Giovanni.” Giovanni looked up at his dad as he walked into the kitchen. His dad perched against the island, a cup of coffee in one hand and the morning newspaper in the other.

“Buongiorno, papà(morning, dad).” Vinny eyed the man again as he made his way to the coffee pot. It wasn’t odd to see his dad awake, and hell it wasn’t odd for Vinny to be awake either. But it was odd to see his dad still in the kitchen and not in the family dining area, which told Vinny that his dad remained just so he could run into Vinny.

“You and Val make a striking couple,” Donatello said, tossing the newspaper on the counter between them. “The media are calling you two the power couple.” Vinny finished making his coffee, adding in just enough sugar before he picked the paper up, his eyes scanning the article and its pictures.

“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised; we both come from some of the wealthiest families in Chicago.”

“You do.” Donatello put his cup down and rested his hands on the counter, looking at Vinny. “I don’t need any more problems, Giovanni.” Vinny took a sip of his coffee, looking at his dad over the rim.

“Significato(meaning)?”

“I haven’t gotten around to talking to you aboutquella stronza(that bitch) that was in my home.” Yeah, maybe Vinny had stayed a touch busy to avoid his dad.

“I took care of it.”

“It shouldn’t have happened.”

“I agree, dad, but I promise it will not happen again. That was a mistake and she learned she couldn’t do that.”

“Good, because if I hear anything like that again,figlio (son), I won’t be happy and you will be answering to your Don and not yourpapà(dad).” Vinny nodded at the silent threat. Donatello was pissed and he couldn’t blame him, but it wasn’t like Vinny hadn’t told Jennifer, he had; she was just the dumb cunt who didn’t quite grasp the meaning the first time.

“I got it, dad. She won’t be around again.” At least Vinny hoped he could keep her away. He wasn’t above killing her, though, if she wouldn’t stop.

“I’m trusting you, Giovanni.” His dad took a sip of his coffee and nodded his head at the newspaper. “I was watching you two last night, you know. You guys look like you have settled your differences. At least for the moment.”

“I guess. Maybe that was steaming from our dads?” Donatello raised his brow to his son and Vinny just smiled. “Uncle Tony is your underboss, when you got with mom, did he ever say anything to you?”

“He was your mom’s brother, of course, he did. He took me back to a room where it was he and two of their cousins. He told me he wasn’t coming to talk to me as a made man here but as a worried brother. He said if I was to ever hurt her, I would be taking a short walk into a long knife.”

“Weren’t you pissed off?” Donatello thought that over and shrugged.

“Figlio(son), us men, we walk two lives a lot of the time. I never found disrespect in what Tony did. In fact, as her brother, I may have been more pissed if he hadn’t. At that point, it was never about what my job title was but just a man wanting to marry his sister. Perché(Why)? Are you upset they pulled you aside?”

“Well, more so who it was.”

“Val has no brothers and from what I gather, Joey really looks after her when he can. And him talking to you wasn’t bad. Tell me, would you have been upset that no one was set to defend your fiancé?” Giovanni stared into the cooling liquid in his coffee mug. Okay, maybe he hadn’t thought about this like that. He did get it; he had stepped up to talk to boys about dating his sisters, but maybe he felt more out of shape because it was the “who”, that being the Don of the family. But his dad was right, Joey looked out for his cousin and no one could fault them for that.

“Thanks,papà(dad).”

“She’s a rare jewel to find. Make sure you don’t try to hide her shine.” Vinny frowned at that. What the hell did that mean? Vinny didn’t want to change Val, just maybe curb the attitude slightly.

“Uh, yeah. I hate to run but I got a few things to get done tonight before I pick up Val for the bar opening later.”

“What’s this? Giovanni is actually going on a date?” Vinny rolled his eyes as he sat his mug in the sink and walked out of the room.

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Vinny pulled up to the De Luca house and knocked, unable to explain why he was nervous. Yes, this was his first date but maybe it was also the added pressure of their first appearance. In their world, appearances’ were everything, and though many probably wouldn’t believe they were marrying for love, they should at least look happy. The door opened and his eyes opened wide as he stared at the beauty before him, and he knew he shouldn’t be stunned.

Valentina stood before him in a blue dress that ended mid-thigh and clung to her body like a second skin, but it kept everything covered. He would term it as a sexy sleek look, which is something she knew how to be. She never went out of her way to show anything and looking at that now, Vinny was happy about that.

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