THE MAFIA'S VENGEANCE

FRANCESCA'S POV I was sure I was the one being spoken to and so I move to turn around or acknowledge his words. “You look like you are in need of rescuing” a smooth voice said from behind me again. I was in no mood to be patronised and the reason I was sitting alone was because I did not want to be disturbed. If he cannot see that then he is a fool and an absolutely self absorbed individual, I thought to myself as I sipped my drink. “Hey” The man said again, this time taking a seat beside me. I sat up straight in my chair and summoned every willpower I had because I desperately wanted to sucker punch him at the moment. I summoned a retort but I could as well have squeaked as my eyes landed on the man beside me. He was gorgeous and not in an earthly way; there was no way on earth someone looked that ridiculously stunning and I tried as I might, I could not get words out of my lips. “Are you okay?” He asked this time, gazing into my eyes with concern. He has green eyes, I thought to myself while I blinked rapidly to be sure I wasn’t conjuring this magnificent creature up in my head. “Who are you?” I finally blurted, groaning inwardly at my question. I had no idea who he was but that did not mean I had to come out right and ask the question and I was here because I wanted to do something stupid and crazy for once in my life. I was here because this was the only club in Italy that my father had expressly forbidden my brother and I from entering. I had never done anything he did not permit and I was never one to question my father’s decisions but after today and what had happened… all the things he had said to me, I was done trailing after my father. I was done being the woman who kept the books clean and did his taxes, only to be kept out of the most important part of business. What better way to start my newly found rebellion by patronizing this club and making sure to figure out all it entailed. “What part of this country have you been hiding, little bird?” The man before me rumbled, leaning in so I caught a whiff of that masculinity. I swooned under the heady sensation that gave me and another idea popped in my head, lifting the corner of my lips up in a smile. “We should have s*x” I declared, drawing closer to him and tracing my hand across the strong features of his chin. I saw the light enter his eyes right before it dimmed, replaced by an intensity that made my stomach jump and the breath catch in my throat. “You are drunk, piccolo uccello. I do not ravage drunk women because I totally want you to know who is f*****g you and in what way” He murmured, his eyes steady on me. He is a hard man, I thought to myself. Almost reminded me of my own father except he was younger but I could tell they were cut out of the same cloth. I took a deep breath and got to my feet, gritting my teeth as the floor swooned a bit. I was tipsy but not drunk and tipsy made me bold as I let myself near him until our bodies were aligned. “You sound like a good guy” I started He let out a bark of laughter at my assessment but I didn't stop. “You sound good and I am looking for someone extremely bad tonight so if you don’t mind” I told him, pushing myself back and walking away. I could feel his eyes on me as I walked until I was on the dance floor and just because I wanted to put on a show for him. I grabbed the nearest man I could find and began rubbing up against him. He was all too welcoming and very soon had his hands all over me which I found strangely irritating but I did not mind because I happened a glance towards the stranger at the bar and he was still staring at me; both hands bunched into a fists. I smiled at him and blew a kiss which he acknowledged only with a recline of his head and so I decided to put on a more inviting show. I turned to the man I was dancing with, barely seeing him as I made a beeline for his lips and began kissing him and he was all too happy to reciprocate. The kiss, however, did not last very long as I was wrenched from the man’s embrace by the stranger. His eyes were a stormy green as he gazed into mine and then slowly he relaxed his grip on my arm, smiling at me. “You are here for a bad guy, aren’t you?” He asked. I swallowed the lump in my throat, a shiver running up my spine at the tone of his voice. His eyes remained steadfast on mine and as I looked around, I could see that the guy I had been dancing with was no longer there. “Where is he?” I asked, expertly evading his question. He said nothing in response and I could tell he was waiting for my answer and so I looked back at him, the intensity of his stare licking against the side of my face. “Yes" I squeaked. “Then you have come to the right place, little bird” He grinned. I was sure he was right but I was no longer tipsy and I could tell that he was probably the most dangerous man in the room and I had just played right into his hands. I could not help the tremor that raced up my spine and tightened my n*****s to buds as I allowed him lead me out of the club with his hands on me, guiding me away from the noise and I could only think that this was everything my father did not want. And that was enough for me.