Page 19

19

Bonnie

I was right. Allegra turning up out of the blue with a bag full of scrumptious food has made the night perfect—also, confounding. I just can’t get a handle on her and it’s messing with my head.

My dad’s warning is rattling around my noggin, telling me to eat my food and go to bed. She’s a criminal no matter how I cut it. Nothing she does or says changes that, and yet, I’ve not followed anyone’s advice and eaten and gone to bed. Instead, I’ve opened my trap and blurted out my innermost thoughts.

“What do you want to know?” she says.

Um, everything? But I don’t want to come across as too eager.

I set my own cutlery down. “Lorenzo raised you, I guess?”

“He did. My parents were killed by a rival family and he took me in.”

I knew it was something along those lines.

“And so, what? He trained you to be…this?” I don’t know how to describe her. “Evil mobster” doesn’t sound right, but I know she’s far from innocent.

She taps the end of a finger to her chin. “Okay, Bonnie, I’ll tell you my sad little story and you can decide if I’m worth your time.”

Oh, that was ice cold.

Shaking my head, I reach over and lay my hand over hers. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean… You are worth my time, Allegra.” And she is. I know it.

“This is the only world I’ve ever known, Bonnie. Believe it or not, Lorenzo did everything in his power to change how the family did business, but we are rooted in decades worth of tradition and it takes time. You may not agree with this,” she says, brandishing her arms wide, “but do not be foolish enough to think we are the only bad guys. It’s not so black and white. Do you know how many law enforcement officials, politicians, and heads of state are involved in our line of work? They just don’t openly call themselves mobsters. We live in a world of dog-eat-dog. Maybe you should open your eyes and see the grey areas before you so easily judge me or Lorenzo—but I digress, Lorenzo loved me and cared for me, not with the sole purpose of raising me to be a criminal, as you so love to phrase it. He was the parent I needed; in the only way he knew how. I’m naturally gifted with numbers, so it was natural for me to fall into the business side of things as I got older. I wanted, and want, to make sure the family is secure. I owe the Ferrante name everything.”

Fiddling with my knife, I look at her with a new purpose. She’s right. I’ve judged her harshly. And rightly so in the beginning, but now, I’m seeing a different side of her life. Since being here, I haven’t once seen or heard anything that is tantamount to brutal behaviour, which I absolutely thought would be the case.

In Mob’s Seduction the family are out busting knees and cracking heads every night. The only thing happening here is a lot of hard work, mainly from the field pickers, and Allegra in her office.

“I know it… I don’t… Okay, yes, I’ve judged you, but when we first met, I think you’ll agree it wasn’t the best first impression.”

She grins. “I’ll give you that. I came in far too strong. And I won’t lie. There have been times I’ve had to be the woman you met that day. But not everyone is as innocent as you, Bonnie. The world is cruel. I’ve had to play the bitch to keep myself safe. Also,” she shrugs, “I do like the rush. Being that powerful is an addiction. No point denying it.”

I need to choose my words carefully because I don’t want her to clam up. “But you’ve…you’ve hurt people before?”

She nods. “Yes. But I can promise you this: None of them were innocent. Some were cruel and I’ll admit I enjoyed it at times. Those reasons may not excuse it in your eyes, but as I said, things are never black and white. Spilling blood meant I’d earned my way to where I am now. Growing up, reaching the head of the family was my only goal. I didn’t have anything else.”

“Okay. Do you…do you sell drugs?”

“No, never,” she sighed. “Okay, I’m going to tell you something that could potentially get me killed.”

“No!”

She holds up her hands. “You need to understand how this works, Bonnie, if you want your questions answered.” She waits until I gesture for her to continue. “There are several families that make up the Mafiosi. Each family has a different stream of income. Drugs, guns, protection, and theft. The Ferrante family had their finger in the drug business at one point, but Lorenzo’s father stopped it after a while. It’s too volatile and messy. A pact was made between the families. It ensured there would be no turf wars or encroachment on each other’s businesses. A refined way to live The Life; one far different from the Mafiosi of old.”

Blimey, I feel like I should be taking notes.

“When I began to run the businesses here, I chose to focus on our legitimate sources of income. Times are changing and it won’t be long before the law catches up to families like ours, no matter how many people we pay off. Because, Bonnie, there will always be a bigger fish out there, and they will come for us when it’s advantageous for them. So I’ve built up a Ferrante empire that is beyond reproach. That being said, we still have one line of income that is less than legal.”

“What is it?” Do I want to know? Does it make me an accessory?

“Art theft and forgery. We steal from the wealthy, only to sell it back to them.”

Huh, okay, as far as crimes go, it’s not so bad.

You’re making excuses because you like Allegra!

Looking into her eyes, I can’t lie to myself; I do like her. She’s gorgeous and mysterious. Not so much now, but she’ll always hold that air of forbidden fruit that tempts me so.

“That was a lot. Sorry, I don’t know what to say now.”

She starts eating and I see her walls rise again. “Nothing for you to say. I just hope I’ve shone a light on things you were finding difficult to understand.”

“Thanks. You didn’t owe me that. But I appreciate it, and it helps me see these different sides to you more clearly.”

We fall silent and finish our meal. I’m not sure what I want to happen next. I don’t want the evening to end, but what am I hoping to get out of it if it continues?

Allegra clears the dishes and wipes the counter. She’s totally at home and happy here. It was the reason I asked her who she is. The second she took her hair down, it was like this other persona slotted into place and she became a woman at home, enjoying a meal. It was all so normal .

It’s this side of her that has my heart racing as she moves around the kitchen. Sure, the bad girl vibe is hot, but that kind of thrill only leads to getting burned. This Allegra is so much more appealing. She’s softer, and she’s beautiful. Her eyes take on a glow that is so often missing when she’s in boss mode.

Maybe that’s what leads me to reach out and take her by the wrist as she goes to walk past me. Her skin is soft against my fingertips. I watch in trepidation as she stops and turns her head to me. I haven’t got the answer to her earlier question. I don’t know what I want, but my mouth opens before my brain engages.

“I don’t think you’re a baddie, Allegra.”

“No? So who do you think I am?” Her voice wavers and I see how vulnerable I’m making her feel.

“I think you’re beautiful.” I could have said a thousand different things, but those words are what came out. And I don’t want to take them back.

She turns her body to me. Now I feel vulnerable. For all I know, she’s about to laugh in my face. I’ve seen a softer side, but I know the ice is never far away. She probably thinks I’m pathetic, getting mushy over the woman that took her, and she’s probably right, but try telling that to the chemical reaction happening inside my body right now.

Allegra doesn’t laugh. She takes a step towards me until her body is crammed between my legs. Her palms reach my face and I’m speechless. Any bravery I had has melted quicker than the cream in Mamma Picollo’s cannoli.

Our eyes lock, and I couldn’t look away now, even if I wanted to. I don’t. Is she asking for permission? Without thinking, I nod, and her lips descend. But before I feel her mouth on mine, she whispers, “You’re beautiful too… out of wool.”

And then Allegra Malgeri, crime boss extraordinaire, is kissing me like the world is about to end.

I’ll admit my kissing experience isn’t profound. Don’t get me wrong; I’ve had some nice make-out sessions before. Not many, though, and nowhere near as explosive, fulfilling, and lust-inducing as this one. I’m shrouded in her scent and warmth. My hands travel to her hair because, apparently, I am all in. And her platinum locks have called to me from the very first time I saw her.

Scraping my fingers across her scalp, something primal takes over. I gather her tresses and pull, making her moan. This isn’t me. I’m fiery in temper but never with a woman. I’m the “soft touches” kind of girl; the one who likes sweet and slow. Whoever the hell I am at this moment doesn’t want any of that. No. I want her passion, and I want to show her mine.

A flick of her tongue across my lower lip has me opening my mouth to let her in. She delves in and immediately owns me. Her hands snake around me and grab my hips, pulling me closer until my crotch is firmly against her. I naturally start rocking because I just can’t help myself. That is, until the bubble is shattered. We both hear Lorenzo’s voice filter down the hallway, heading in our direction.

Allegra wrenches herself from me, looking half-crazed. I try to say something, but my throat closes up and she shakes her head. We set about straightening our clothes just in time. Lorenzo rounds the kitchen doorway with my dads in tow.

I see the flicker of recognition on my dads’ faces. They know exactly what was happening seconds before they entered, and I can’t stop my face from flaming. Lorenzo seems utterly oblivious, which I’m grateful for.

“Bonnie, Allegra, it’s good to see you both,” he says affably.

“Lorenzo, Mark, Phillip. I hope you’ve had a good day,” Allegra replies, calm as a sodding cucumber. My heart is doing the Cha-Cha Slide, and I can hear blood pulsing through my ears.

“Very nice, thank you,” Pops says. Dad is staying silent. Shit.

“We were just coming to grab a snack,” Lorenzo prattles on. “Is that Mamma Picollo’s?” he asks. Allegra nods. “Oh, it’s been far too long.”

“Feel free,” she replies. Lorenzo doesn’t wait to dig in. “If you’ll excuse me.” She gives me a quick, side-eyed glance and then leaves.

“Mark, Phillip, you absolutely need to taste this. Mamma Picollo is an institution around here.”

I need the awkward stand-off to end right now. “You should, it’s fantastic. Anyway, I’m off to bed.”

“Bonnie,” Dad begins, but I’m not doing this now. I’ve got to process that life-shattering kiss Allegra just planted on me. My dad’s shock will have to wait.

“Tomorrow,” I say with conviction. “Good night, Lorenzo. Maybe…um, maybe we could talk in the afternoon?”

Lorenzo stops chewing, and his eyes bulge. It’s kind of funny. He rushes to chew and swallow, but he’s already nodding his head.

“I’d love to. I’ll be in the restaurant all afternoon.”

I give him a smile and half a wave. “Okay, then. Night.”

Glad to be out of there, I take the stairs two at a time and then freeze. Allegra is just down the hall from me. Is she thinking about that kiss? Did it affect her as much as it did me? Am I brave enough, or stupid enough, to go and find out?