Page 43 of Always Mine
Then again, with his dark, brooding good looks and alluring tattoos, finding women to fall into bed with him is not a problem. His playboy status is verified. The ladies love a bad boy.
With our orders placed, his attention falls back to his cousin. “What time do you check into your hotel, Chi?” he asks, fishing for details.
Taking a drink of water and clearing her throat before answering, she replies confidently but shifts in her seat. “Slight change of plans.”
“What do you mean?” His delivery is measured, his tone clipped.
“Well, you know my friend Arabella, who I met on that art exchange a few years ago?”
AJ and I exchange a look. Arabella Belmont’s reputation for partying as hard as she works as Head of Media, PR & Events for her family’s media empire is one thing, but it has nothing on her brothers, Otis and Angus. It’s well known in certain circles—the ones that pay a hefty retainer to keep Vault Enterprise on hand for security and surveillance—that the brothers host underground sex parties. Not to mention whispers of their dealings with Donny Rizzo, the figurehead of the Rizzos’ New York chapter.
“This better be good, Chi. I’ll have no qualms putting you straight back on that fucking jet and sending your ass back to my dad in Sicily. I pulled strings to get you here.”
“Please, AJ. Just listen. I’m not trying to cause trouble, I promise. Arabella is coordinating the entire event, and she thought it would be good for me to stay with her so I can give her a hand with set up.”
“What does she think you are, her lackey? She can fucking get someone else to do her gofer work.”
“No, no! It’s not like that!” Panic laces her voice and face now. We both know AJ will go through with his threat.
“There’s a chance some of my photography will be shown as part of the exhibition,” she says bashfully. “I know you think my little photography hobby is pointless, but this could lead to a big break.”
Watching Chiara try to justify herself reminds me of Sophia—not that she’s been far from my thoughts all day. I feel like she could use an ally, and I figure if she sees one in me, maybe she won’t try to fuck with me.
“Listen, I know Arabella. She’s a regular client of mine,” I say pointedly, to reassure AJ I’ve got the situation covered.
He closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose before training his hard gaze on his cousin.
“You better not make me regret this.”
When he looks my way, he lifts his eyebrows almost to his hairline, telling me that was as much a warning to me as it was for Chiara.
Our orders arrive and the tension dissipates as the two cousins catch up on what’s been happening. Chiara regales us with stories of all her antics to ensure this trip to New York happened on her terms.
AJ insists on picking up the tab, pulling out a wad of cash to cover our meals and a generous tip for our waitress. I don’t miss the way he makes full eye contact and his thumb strokes the top of her hand as he presses the wad of cash in her hand. I ponder what to make of it as I move towards the underground parking lot.
“Wait! Can one of you come outside with me and take a photo of my outfit for my Instagram feed? Pretty please? I love the industrial feel of The Meatpacking District.” She looks at AJ, and he just flicks his head in ago onmotion. Chiara saunters to the front door, turning heads as she goes. There’s no denying her beauty or charisma. She’s going to give some poor bastard a run for his money one day. Right now the unlucky bastard is her cousin, who she’s roped in to take photographs of her in various poses. I follow along closely, trying hard not to laugh at the sight of the tough mobster being schooled by the pint-sized style queen on how to get the shot. A high-pitched yelp snags my attention, andI close the distance just in time to save Chiara from face-planting on the slippery sidewalk. I quickly pull her into my body, and she automatically wraps her arms around my waist in a hug. Clinging on tightly with the side of her face pressed to my chest, her voice comes out high-pitched.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” The affection startles me, and not sure what do with my hands, I rest them on her shoulders. Clinging to the front of my shirt, she steps back slightly and cranes her neck to look up at me. “Oh my God! I swear I just saw my life flash before me! Imagine if I ruined my face before the art exhibition. Fucking disaster! I owe you.”
I keep my hands on her shoulders until I’m positive she’s regained her footing. A deep laugh booms from behind us. We look over to where AJ is flicking through the pics on the phone. He finally meets Chiara’s annoyed glare.
“Well, cuz, I got you that money shot for the Gram.”
Once a playboy, always a playboy?
If a picture tells a thousand words I wonder what story these ones are trying to tell—especially since the girl staring lovingly into the eyes of Marco Marrone is not Sophia Rose Princi. Only days ago, the well-known playboy looked to be finally off the market, having been snapped hand-in-hand with the little sister of his best friend and business partner, Sebastian Princi. But these damning pics show that his alleged New Year’s Eve hookup with the Princi Law Princess was more fling than forever happily after.
So who’s the girl, and what business does she have with Marco? Does he keep a roster of ravishing leading ladies and rotate them like his designer underwear? Risky business, if you ask us.
Speaking of, it appears that Marco’s blossoming friendship with fellow bad boy and playboy AJ Gigioliotti is in full bloom. Not long before these images were taken, the pair were spotted brunching together at Joey’s Pizza Parlor. According to our secret sources, it’s one of a few business ventures the pair are involved in together.
Doing business with a mobster and doing his best friend’s sister dirty—looks like it’s a case of new year, same playboy with a side of Mafia for our favoritebachelor, Marco.
Our prediction? There’s bound to be fireworks. You can bet we’ll be angling for front row seats.
’Til next time.
GG xoxo