Page 43 of Wicked (Wicked Billionaires #2)

DANTE

I can still feel their eyes on us, and I don’t like it. I carefully monitor the small group of mafia soldiers under the trees, and I’ve not seen a group like this in years. Openly mafia, and this close to home.

As Raven and I dance, I keep her close.

It’s now obvious we made a scene, and it was foolish of me. I should not have let go, even if I could not help myself this close to her.

As the mafia soldiers look on, I wonder what level they are. If they’re simply soldiers or if they are seniors in large families. Sons of dons, or worse, the eldest sons.

Ruthless… Dangerous… Lethal.

As I notice more women looking our way, I catch Raven watching them. She looks unimpressed. Before I can pull the plug and get us away from the limelight, mafia and women, Raven raises an eyebrow. “I see you have some admirers.”

“This was your idea,” I say, holding her firmly against me and dancing slow. “And you are likely more the target.”

Just before I reach for her hand and get us the hell away, the song finishes. People clap, and I escort Raven quickly and calmly off the dance floor. I want us far away from the mafia, and I want it done now.

I do not want complications, and here in Italy, my money and power is diminished. No one here knows I can afford to pay for anything I want in the world.

And I will pay for anything in the world to be done.

My family and Raven are my only priorities.

Tuscany is where my family resides, and I cannot start a war. Not here, not now.

After heading away to get space and air, we sip fresh wines under a large tree, and we cool in the night air. As we drink, I notice a couple heading our way.

It’s not the mafia after Raven, and it’s not women after me. It’s my parents… Almost as bad.

As I sigh, Raven follows my eyes. “What?”

“My parents. I didn’t expect them,” I say.

As the elegant couple walk up, my mother leans in for a hug. “Darling!”

As always, my father shows no emotion. He has not even smiled or acknowledged Raven.

“Mother, Father, this is Raven.”

“How do you do?” my mother asks as they shake hands. My mother can likely tell she’s not Italian, as Raven’s blonde hair is almost a giveaway. My mother’s energy looks cold and calculating. I do not like it. I know she wants me to marry an Italian, as does my father.

As the old brute tilts his head conservatively, he is equally as cold. “Good evening.”

We talk awkwardly for several minutes, and my parents ask about the castle and schedule. As usual they are aloof, arrogant, and icy.

Before it gets too awkward, a nearby table is knocked over with some kind of drama and argument.

I disappear to calm things, and it’s not mafia-related or far away. Trusting Raven can hold her own for a minute, I stop the heated argument between old men, and I help upright a table. With the chaos contained, I return to Raven and my parents.

Raven’s eyes grow large, and she covers her mouth. What the heck has she said?

“Accomplishments?” my mother asks, giving my father a look. Shit!

My parents turn from Raven to me as I dust myself off.

“Dante, tell me about these businesses,” my father demands. He said it as if it’s an accusation. As if I’ve done something wrong.

Raven looks at me, and her eyes are large. “I’m sorry.”

“That’s fine,” I say. “It had to come out sometime.” Inhaling, I check my parents’ faces. I’m surprised they’ve not found out before, but I have tried to keep everything I do on the down low. They do not read a lot of English news online, and they do not follow what I do in my life.

“I haven’t been, as you say, galivanting around the world and burning through my trust. I started a fashion company a decade ago, in New York. I worked hard, I invested, and I expanded. I’ll tell you about it one day, but it’s nothing really.”

My father looks at me with newly formed respect. “Good work, Son! I’m…”

“Proud?” my mother asks.

“Proud,” my semi-human father says. He has never said the word in his life; I gave up expecting it when I was a child. He then warms by adding, “It would appear some of your grandfather’s business skills have rubbed off on you!”

I nod, and my eyes meet Raven’s. We need to exit before the evening gets any stranger.

“Right,” my father says. “Well, we must circulate. Good to see you!”

“Indeed, and nice to meet you, Raven,” my mother says, fake kissing my cheek.

As they head away, I exhale. “Now, let’s get the heck out of here.”

We head for the expensive cars parked along the driveway, and the security guards are spread out. As another chopper banks around the estate, I look up. I’m surprised about the money here, and I cannot remember such opulence in the area.

I know little about the married couple, and we didn’t even get to meet or congratulate them. All I know is the groom is from one of the older Tuscan families, like mine.

Whoever they are, they must have some kind of connection to the mob, mafia, or Italian crime families. Either that, or someone knows someone.

Either way, I need Raven out of here and now.

As we get closer to the vehicles, I see Nicky, my cousin. We’d been close in a boarding school in our teens, and we’d sailed on the coast during the summer.

After I introduce Raven, I try to keep it short. I do not want to slow us down, not when we’re this close.

As I get the Ferrari keys out, both Nicky and Raven tell me they need to visit the bathroom. Nicky tells me he’ll walk Raven to the bathroom and that I may as well turn the Ferrari around.

Having Raven onsite is the last thing I want. Especially with her being the hottest woman in the place, and especially with connected mafioso around.

“Trust me, I’m family,” Nicky says, taking Raven’s arm.

As I race off and turn the black Ferrari, I try to keep them in my vision. It’s hard, and as another chopper lands, I put the car in park and tell myself to chill the fuck out.

Sixty seconds later, I check my watch again, and I don’t like it. Where the hell are they?

I climb from the Ferrari, and I scan the gathering under the stars. My eyes sweep the groups talking, the dance floor, the seated people, and others. I then see Nicky distracted by a stunning redhead.

My eyes move fast, and I see Raven being walked away by men in dark suits. I look ahead of them, and I see the choppers. I move fast, and I streak through the trees.