Page 17 of The Agreement

“You have a five-bedroom house? Why?”

“When I designed this, I knew I would have a family. I wanted them close, safe, and loved.”

“You designed this?” Her eyes took in everything with a new eye and she couldn’t stop the look of awe in her eye. She knew some things about Giovanni but him having any skills like this that was new.

“It’s what my degree is in. And that’s the deal with the bars, I design them.” Valentina turned around and looked at him, seeing him in a whole new light, her respect growing just a little bit. She knew he was smart but creative? Never. Someone who can envision things like this? That was even more mind-boggling to her.

“I give you credit, I never knew and you have some amazing skills from what I have seen.”

“When I was younger, my dad told me to have a degree in a legit business, a bit more to help traffic funds; to have something that was my own and away from the mafia and family.”

“I heard it too. Of course, not to me, but my cousin; my dad often told him that.” Giovanni paused in one of the doorways to one of the guest bedrooms and crossed his arms as he watched her.

“Does it bother you?”

“Does what bother me?” she asked as she stepped further into the room and looked around, the pale green and tan colors being rather soothing. If he had the sight to decorate it, he had a hell of a creative mind and eye! To him, as he watched her, she looked so innocent as she gazed around, her eyes taking in everything.

“That you should be the one in charge and aren’t?” She paused in her perusal and glanced at him over her shoulder, her lips twitching slightly.

“When I was younger and understood what my dad did and why my cousin was always around, it bothered me, it also felt like my dad spent way more time with my cousin than with his own daughter. And at times it can still bother me. I’m as smart as any man, can outthink any of you. But,” she turned fully around and walked over to him, “I don’t have the stomach for the ugly side of that world.” He brushed a strand of hair away from her face as she stepped in front of him.

“Does that mean,innamorato(sweetheart), you have never fired a gun?”

“At least not pointed at a man; I don’t think I’m that brave.” Giovanni’s eyes roamed over her face and he fought the very strong urge to kiss her.

“No,mio caro(my dear), I think you may be braver than any of us and don’t even know it.”

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Giovanni leaned back in his desk chair as he looked at his most trusted men who were all seated in his office and before him. He had called them in after he gave Val the tour and left her in the kitchen. He had to get away after their talk, for he was likely to do something, again, that he didn’t think was right, at least right away.

He had wanted to kiss her like he felt in the club. And like then, he had to fight it. He was still furious with her and he knew that the kiss would hold that emotion and he didn’t think she would appreciate that all too much.

“Are you sure it was Celeste?” Vinny looked up at Salvatore, who quickly eased back in his chair from the glare that Vinny was giving him.

“Why would Val lie to me?”

“I don’t think she would. But I also know Celeste and this doesn’t seem like her.”

“No one has ever disrespected her before; no one has ever pissed her off enough, so we have never seen that side of her. You have to admit, minus my sisters, she was the queen B among the family. And now that my fiancé is in the picture, she won’t be. She’s being knocked down by someone she has always hated.”

“Non è vero(that’s not true).” Vinny lifted an eyebrow as he looked at Johnny.

“No? How many times have we all hung out and Celeste would see her across the way and out of all of us, she would say the most vial things?”

“Don’t you think that stemmed from the hate between our families?”

“Maybe Salvatore, but I don’t buy that. I have never hit a female, and I won’t start now with her. But I do know her and know that though she was angry and can be headstrong, she wasn’t working alone. That was too dangerous of a plan. So, who is she working with and why?”

“I’ll see what I can dig up.”

“Grazie(thank you) Johnny. Remember, male or female, I do not tolerate traitors within my family. And I know my dad; he will give me his full control to handle this the way I see fit.”

~ Chapter 15 ~

“I have a cook, you know.” Val looked up from the stove and to the kitchen doorway where Vinny stood.

“Yes, I noticed. And the poor woman almost had a heart attack when I told her I wanted to make something,” Val told him with a soft chuckle.

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