Page 21 of Bellini Born

I wonder if Mr. Hot Daddy CEO gives out spankings.

Jesus Christ, Summer. One minute, you’re all “I can’t take his money,” the next, you’re panting over the idea of being put over his knee.

Yeah, but he’s the ultimate bad boy. Like, the baddest bad guy of them all.

Oh my God. Can you hear yourself right now? He’s dangerous. Stay far, far away.

“Tell me where I can find him,” I blurted, ignoring the angel on my shoulder who warned this mafia man was trouble.

Gabi’s eyebrows shot high on her forehead. “And why would I do that?”

“Because if you don’t, I’ll be forced to drag my ass downtown and set up camp inside whatever skyscraper he surely holds an office in until he agrees to speak with me. I’d prefer to avoid another public scene, if that’s all right with you.”

“Sure, makes total sense. I’ve never even met the man—who is literally my mother’s cousin—in person before, but you’re just gonna waltz up to his house to look a gift horse in the mouth.” Sarcasm colored her words. “Summer, if you wanted to pretend this never happened, here’s your chance. In his mind, the debt is settled. There’s no reason for you to ever interact again.”

On some level, I knew she was right. This was my get out of jail free card. I should take it and run. But then there was the part of me who’d grown up on welfare and food stamps, and I was just so goddamn sick of accepting handouts all the time.

“Which one’s it gonna be? You gonna give me his home address, or am I making a fool of myself in some fancy real estate office?”

“Your sense of self-preservation is shit, you know that?” Gabi groaned.

“The address,” I pressed, not backing down.

After a dramatic sigh, she huffed out, “Fine. I’ll send it to your phone, but I just wanna say out loud that this is areallybad idea.”

“Noted.”

A finger was pointed in my direction. “And I’m not letting you borrow my car this time.”

If she thought the cost of calling a rideshare would be enough to deter me, she was sorely mistaken.

“Don’t need it,” I tossed over my shoulder, headed for my room to grab my shoes and coat.

It was time to tell Matteo Bellini that I wasn’t interested in his charity.

Chapter 6

Summer

Jeez.Gabiwasn’tkiddingwhen she said this guy was loaded. The house where I got dropped off was even bigger than the one where they’d held that party.

I was still wide-eyed, taking it in, when a gruff voice said, “Keep walking, sweetheart.”

My head whipped to the side to find a burly man with his upper torso leaning out of the tiny gatehouse, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“Um.” Nervously, my hands tugged on the hem of my jacket. “I’m here to see Mr. Matteo Bellini.”

The man, whom I could only assume was a security guard, lifted a single eyebrow. “He expecting you?”

“No, sir.” I shook my head.

“Then I’m afraid you’re out of luck.”

Stepping forward, I begged, “Please. I-I was the one who saved his daughter’s life.”

That little tidbit had him rearing back in surprise. “That so?”

I nodded frantically. “Yes.”