REGINA NERA (Black Queen)

Summer 2006 Thirteen-year-old Regina was rushing to the kitchen because Isabella, her nanny, had promised she could eat ice cream once she was done with her homework. She'd done it in record time and wanted her reward. Isa never lied and if she wanted anything, she could have it but there was a kind of excitement she always felt whenever she earned her rewards. A sort of fulfillment a thirteen-year-old didn't have words to describe. Since she was in a hurry, she wasn't careful with her steps and missed the last two stairs. With a scream, she went flying, prepared to land on her face and break her nose. Instead, strong arms wrapped around her and she fell on top of something hard. Her forehead colliding with something harder. "Oomph" She lifted her head, ready to offer an apology, and looked into the most beautiful green eyes she'd ever seen. The word sorry died in her throat. "Wow," she breathed in innocent wonder. How come she'd never seen that color before? Her eyes were brown, like her late mama's. Her papa often told her they were the most beautiful but he was lying. Green was the most beautiful. Before she could get her fill, hands ripped her away and she protested, ready to give the person her piece of mind but she found herself glaring into her father's eyes "Papa" "Are you hurt?" He asked setting her down and turning her around "Do you feel pain anywhere?" "I'm fine" she giggled spinning on her heel to show him she was fine. But that was the wrong thing to do because he changed. His eyes becoming hard "How many times do I have to tell you to be careful? Do you realize you could have broken your hands or leg or even your neck? How old are you, Regina?" She looked down at her feet, letting her eyes well then pretended to cry "I'm sorry, papa. I didn't mean to do it" immediately his hands went around her. Everyone on Vincelli's territory knew there was one thing their Capo couldn't stand and it was seeing his daughter's tears. They also knew she'd used them to get out of trouble more than once. "I'm sorry, bambino. Don't cry" "Don't be angry with me, papa. Please?" "I'm not angry. I was just scared. There, there. Don't cry" she buried her face in his chest then turned to look at the man standing a few feet away from them and winked. The corners of his mouth lifted a little then he was back to looking like a statue. After promising to be careful, her father sent her off to the kitchen. But because she couldn't keep her eyes off the man, she tripped on her feet and almost fell again. Growling in frustration, Sergio Vincelli stormed off to his office telling his new man how his daughter would be the death of him. "Isa, Isa, Isa" "Slow down, caro. Or you'll fall down" Regina climbed on one of the long chairs beside the kitchen island. For her age, she was taller than most kids and a few modeling agencies had shown their interest in her. But her papa would never let her anywhere near them. She was his beautiful, precious daughter. He'd told them working was beneath her. She was born to be pampered. "Guess what? I just saw the most handsome prince ever" "Where? On TV?" "No, Isa. He was with papa" "Really? Why do you think he's a prince?" "Because he's handsome" "Eat your ice cream before it melts, caro," Isabella said dismissing her. She was at the age where she thought everyone handsome was a prince. If only she knew what they did... If it was up to her, she would have taken Isabella to Italy where her uncle Silvestro was. As a businessman, he lived a better and safer life than the Capo. But Sergio would kill anyone who tried to separate his daughter from him. For all his faults, no one could say he wasn't a good father. Regina thought about the prince all throughout the week and the next. Always hanging around her papa's office, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. But he was gone for six months. She wondered why she hadn't asked him his name. How could she marry him if she didn't know his name? One day, on her way to school, she saw him again. She'd just gotten in the car when another black car parked beside theirs. He got out looking more handsome than she remembered. Without thinking, she jumped out. "Hi" she waved at him shyly "Hello" "I'm Regina. What is your name?" He looked like he wasn't going to tell her but Enrico and Armando, her bodyguards rolled down the front windows. They could be scary when they wanted to be. "Christian," he said then left. She made it a point to always talk to him when he came over. Thawing that ice around his heart. Over the years, they became close and whenever he left, he'd ask her what she wanted and then bring it for her when he came back. There were times she went for months without seeing him. But she was fine with that. As long as he didn't have a girlfriend. "Do you have a girlfriend?" Would always be her first question when they saw each other again. And like always, he would answer with one word, "No" Such a simple word. He would never know what a difference it made or how she felt at hearing it. It meant she still had a chance. The older she got, the stronger her feelings for Christian got. Even after her father told her about her arranged marriage to Vito De Angelo, she didn't bat an eyelash. Because there was only one man she was going to marry and it was Christian Carello. Case closed. === Everything about how he felt was wrong. He'd worked so hard and became Consigliere in just five years. He couldn't throw that away for his stupid feelings. But Regina was a temptress. He'd known that first time he saw her flying down the stairs that she wouldn't be just Sergio's death but also his. The older she got, the more distance he put between them. Those eyes and those long legs haunted him enough as it was. He couldn't let himself get any deeper than he already was. So he took any and every job his Capo delegated. Hell, he took even those that weren't meant to be his. Just so he could stay away from Regina. And he succeeded. Up until her eighteenth birthday. When she stood naked in front of him. ******************************************