Page 4 of Unrelenting (Ruthless Temptations #1)

FOUR

Lorenzo

As I settle at my usual table at Gianetta’s, I can’t help thinking I made a mistake in bringing my cousin here.

I love my family, and I would never raise a hand to a woman, but right now I want to slap the petulant pout right off Olivia’s face. She’s been in a shitty mood since I picked her up.

Apparently, Piotr Reznov, heir to one of the most powerful Bratva organizations in the world, turned up at Damiano’s house to speak to her.

Olivia has been staying with Damiano for the last couple of weeks, ever since her oldest brother, Antonio, head of our New York family, banished her to Italy for being a major pain in the ass.

Their brother Matteo came too, and they were staying at a country villa Gabriele bought years ago and never lived in.

Unfortunately, Matteo got caught up in the shooting of a young girl and sent Olivia to Damiano to keep her safe from the violence that followed.

It’s been a turbulent few weeks. My American cousins create soap opera worthy drama wherever they go.

Olivia isn’t a bad girl. She’s certainly not the reckless, spoiled brat Antonio paints her as. She’s done some silly things in the past, but I can’t judge her for that.

After all, I haven’t always thought through my actions. I like Olivia more than most of the men in my family do, but right now she’s pissing me off. She’s acting like the devil himself is asking to marry her.

Piotr Reznov is a good friend of mine. Despite his icy demeanor and reputation for ruthlessness, he’s a decent man. He’ll protect Olivia and I think he actually likes her. It’s more than a lot of the women in our world can hope for.

She should be grateful she’s caught the eye of such a powerful man but, of course, she’s chosen instead to stamp her feet and bitch about it.

“Are you going to sulk all night?”

“I’m not sulking.” She pushes her lips into an even more pronounced pout. “I just don’t understand why you won’t take me to a club.”

“What?” I thought she was in a bad mood over Reznov. The prospect of visiting a club hasn’t come up. “You never said you wanted to go to a club.”

“Yes, I did,” she insists. “Just after you picked me up.” She waves her hand in frustration. “I said I heard La Stanza Rosso is amazing.”

And I was supposed to realize that meant she wanted to go?

“La Stanza Rosso is amazing.” It’s one of Damiano’s most popular clubs. Local celebrities have been flocking to it since the doors first opened a few years ago. “But you won’t be going there.”

“Why not?” Olivia flicks her long, dark brown hair over her shoulder and glares at me in a manner that probably makes other men shit themselves.

“Because Antonio would have my head if I took you to a club.”

She grunts indelicately. “I didn’t realize you were scared of my brother.”

“I’m not scared of anyone, cugina. ” If she thinks she’s going to shame me into taking her to the club, she doesn’t know me at all. “I have respect for the head of your family, that’s all. Now, drop the subject and let’s just try to enjoy dinner.”

Olivia sighs dramatically and picks up the menu. Poor Piotr will have his hands full if he persuades her to marry him.

“You don’t need the menu,” I tell her. “The only reason to come to Gianetta’s is the steak.”

A sly smile crosses her lips. “The only reason?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

My younger cousin shakes her head. “You’ve been glancing at the kitchen door every two minutes since we got here. Who are you looking for?”

“Nobody,” I say defensively.

“Is nobody the chef here?”

I scowl across the table at her. “What do you know about Lucia?”

Olivia shrugs. “Only that Damiano thinks you’re obsessed with the hot chef who owns this place.” She grins broadly. “And now I know her name is Lucia.”

I smile tightly, trying to ignore that my brother believes I’m obsessed with Lucia. Obsession is for weaker men. It suggests powerlessness against the force of desire.

While it’s true I want her more than I’ve ever wanted another woman, she isn’t the only focus of my attention. I’ve not lost sight of my business priorities or my obligations to my family.

I don’t have the chance to tell Olivia to mind her own damned business because Angelina, the pretty young waitress who usually serves me, comes to take our order.

“Good evening, Signore Volante.” To her credit, she works hard to mask her unease at having me in the restaurant. Like most people, she sees my reputation and not the man I really am. “Are you ready to order?”

I’ve had the same meal every time I come in here, but Angelina still waits patiently for me to tell her what I want.

Generally, I’m not such a creature of habit, but Lucia’s signature dish cannot be surpassed.

“We’ll both have the Bistecca alla Fiorentina, medium rare, with creamed spinach and a single portion of rosemary potatoes.”

Olivia doesn’t like potatoes. Fuck knows why. She beams at me when she realizes I’ve remembered that.

“Certainly, signore. Shall I send Stefan over?”

I shake my head. As knowledgeable as the sommelier seems to be, I don’t need his assistance in choosing a wine.

“No.Tell him to bring me a bottle of the Barolo I like.”

“Of course. Would you like me to let Lucia know you’re here?” Angelina casts a wary glance at Olivia. I wonder if that means she knows what happened between me and her boss two nights ago.

Would Lucia have confided in her? I doubt she’d have spoken about our new relationship in such crude terms, but she must have told people something to explain Bruno showing up to escort her home last night.

“No, don’t disturb her while she’s busy.” Though I can be a selfish asshole, I can see the restaurant is almost full. Lucia loves her job, and I won’t get in the way.

As Angelina walks off, Olivia pours herself a glass of water. “So you really like this Lucia?”

“What makes you say that?”

“You blushed when the server asked if you wanted to speak to her.”

Though I’m confident I’ve never blushed in my life, my hand still goes automatically to my cheek.

Olivia cackles like the little witch she is.

“Oh, you do like her,” Olivia teases. Her voice gets loud enough to carry across the room. “In fact, I think you love her.”

“Shut up, Olivia!”

She immediately sobers. I feel bad for snapping at her, but she should know not to discuss private matters in public.

“I’m sorry, Renz,” she says, giving me her wounded doe eyes. “It’s just nice to think of you finding someone special.”

Her words give me pause. “Why me in particular? Why not Damiano? For that matter, why not Gabriele? If anyone needs to find someone special, it’s him.”

My brother has barely left his house in Rome since he was wounded in an attack two years ago. He sustained facial injuries and has lasting scars.

If ever a man needed a woman, it’s Gabriele, but I fear he will never find one.

“Well, because you’re sweeter than they are.”

“Sweeter?” My skepticism is on full display at her response.

“Yes, you’re a dominant ass and an incorrigible fuck boy but you have a protective streak a mile wide, and you like women. You like to talk to them as well as fucking them.”

“Uh-huh.”

“You’re like one of those cinnamon roll types, only you’ve been baked a little too long and you’ve gone hard on the outside.”

I shake my head at the nonsense she’s spouting.

“After Matteo, you’re my favorite Volante.”

“Uh-huh. Still not taking you to a nightclub, Livvy.”

She throws back her head and laughs. “Oh, well. Watching you staring at the kitchen door like a love-struck teenager is more entertaining, anyway.”

Ignoring her, I pour myself a glass of water as Stefan approaches the table with our wine. He’s carrying the bottle as if it’s an unexploded bomb. Like everyone else around here, he’s afraid of me.

“What happened there?” I ask, noticing he has a black eye.

“There was a dispute between patrons the other night. I tried to intercede.”

“I see.” Perhaps I need to have Bruno here whenever the restaurant is open. “Does that happen often?”

Stefan shakes his head. “Only the second time I’ve seen an altercation turn physical, and I’ve been here three years.”

Clearly desperate to get on with his job, he presents the wine to me, showing me the label.

I nod, and he uncorks the bottle before pouring a little into a glass for me to taste. I oblige by taking a small sip.

“That’s perfect.”

“Very good, signore .” He pours my wine and glances at me for permission before filling Olivia’s glass as well. Then he places the bottle on the table.

As he turns to leave, I call out to him. “Stefan.”

“ Signore ?”

“Why haven’t I seen you at my vineyard? Every other sommelier within a hundred-mile radius has come out to sample our wine.”

He sighs regretfully. “Signorina Lazaro makes all the decisions about the wine we carry. She prefers to deal with the same producers her grandmother did.”

There’s disapproval of Lucia’s management in his tone that makes me want to test his loyalty. I don’t like the thought of people working for her who don’t fully support her.

“You know, I have a vacancy coming up at the vineyard for an experienced sommelier.” It’s actually true.

I’m planning to offer a fine-dining experience in one of the empty rooms beside my coffee shop and restaurant.

“Would you consider taking the position? You’d be generously compensated and have full control over our wine list.”

Stefan’s eyes widen. He gives it only a moment’s thought before shaking his head. “It would be an honor, of course, but Signorina Lazaro has been good to me. I won’t leave her.”

“Of course.”

As Stefan walks off, Olivia sends me a puzzled look. “You’re trying to poach your girlfriend’s staff?”

“Lucia is not my girlfriend.” I hate that juvenile term. “And I wasn’t trying to poach him.”

“Ah, you were testing his loyalty to her.” Olivia is more astute than most people give her credit for.

“Yes, and he passed with flying colors.”

“Or he’s hoping you’ll come back with a huge salary offer he can’t refuse.”