Chapter 5

Lucian.

Vinny gave her very few rules while she stayed at school, but the most important one was no made men. Well Adelina had royally screwed that one, literally. She saw her life flash before her eyes, Vinny was going to kill her when Lucian spilled that she was spoiled goods. Her stomach ached just thinking of herself in such terms.

"Pleasure to meet you." Lucian extended his hand. He looked her over, taking in the plum colored dress and nude heels. Her hair was pulled back stylishly in a low bun.

She eyed him suspiciously. He wasn't going to say anything? It was rare in this world that people didn't use the information they had on someone to get ahead.

She took his hand in hers to shake, his palm was calloused and warm to the touch. "You too." She responded.

"Sit," Massimo gestured to the open seats.

Adelina sat directly across from Lucian, in the light of day she could better admire him. He was a beautiful man. Tan skin with dark hair covering his head. He had emerald colored eyes which were rare in an Italian man and possibly why Adelina hadn't pictured him as a made man the night before. He was impeccably dressed in a three-piece Armani suit and black leather shoes, the man had good taste.

"Is your father joining us?" Massimo asked fanning his napkin across his lap.

"No, I don't typically bring my father on dates." Lucian replies with a smirk, looking Massimo in the eye.

Before Adelina could even process, she laughed. Never in her 21 years of life had she witnessed someone blatantly disrespect the boss.

Vinny gave her a stern look.

"Is this normal for you?" Lucian asked, that smirk ever present on his face.

"Lucian-" Lucian cut Massimo off with a wave of his hand.

"I was speaking to Adelina."

Her name on his lips sounded like heaven.

Adelina kept herself from looking to Massimo or her brother who she assumed were fuming from the lack of respect. “No,” She answered meekly, her voice betraying her. “This is the first they’ve joined me.”

He nodded. ”How many times have you been set up?”

“A few.” She answered meekly. It was true. Vinny had sent her out with men he approved of in the past. Each one she had scared off or found a way to run as fast as she could. She had no interest in being a perfect Italian daughter. She planned to get the hell out of Providence once she graduated, marriage and babies were not in her future.

He paused his interrogation to take a long sip of his cognac right as the waitress came over.

The waitress, a thin blonde with painted red lips, took her time jotting down their orders and leaning low to show off herself to the powerful men at the table. Lucian’s gaze never left Adelina.

"Tell me bella," Lucian began once the waitress was gone. "Do you always let your uncle and brother make decisions for you?" He said with a smile slowly spreading across his mouth.

The butterflies reappeared in Adelina's stomach. Is he joking?

"Lucian-" again he raised a hand to silence Massimo.

"Please let her answer." He said, his gaze never leaving Adelina.

"I, uh, I'm not answering that." She responded quietly, her eyes drifted down to her lap where her napkin was crumpled and fisted up in her hands. "Is that a trick question?"

"How so?" Lucian mused.

"Are you trying to see how well behaved I am or defending my honor?" she responded quickly before thinking better of it.

At this, Lucian let out a throaty laugh. "I'm not trying to trick you, Adelina. Just trying to get to know you."

"I'm here," she told him quietly. "So that should answer your question."

"Do you not want to be here?"

"It's not personal."

"Forgive me if I take it as such." He paused again to take a drink.

Adelina wanted to scream that she didn't have a choice in the matter. That she was dragged here against her will. That if this was any other family she would be sleeping in her dorm room, eating breakfast at the cafeteria, and be surrounded her friends. Instead, this was her family and she was in the middle of an arranged date that she had no say in.

"So, Massimo says you’re in college. Brown, yes?"

"Yes."

"What do you study?"

"Literary Arts."

"And you like it?" he asks.

"Yes, a lot actually."

"Good, you should have a passion in life." He says with a genuine, soft smile.

"And what are you passionate about Lucian?"

"Many things, bella.” He chuckled.

The waitress returned with plates of food and fresh drinks. Her hips swaying as she placed the food in front of Lucian, and Adelina couldn’t help but feel a small pang in her chest.

"Where did you go to school?" she asked Lucian, determined to not be the only one being interviewed.

"Colombia." He told her, swirling his fork in the noodles and sauce on his plate.

Adelina gulped in surprise. She definitely didn't expect a mobster with a degree for a future husband.

"What for?"

His smile turned into smirk. "Criminal justice and business."

"Well then," she mused. "That's quite ironic."

"Quite." He responded before taking a bite of pasta.

"Can I ask you something?" she said after a minute.

"Of course, bella."

Adelina had a strong suspicion of what kind of business Lucian was into, but she wanted to hear it from his mouth. So far, he had been open to questions, so why not this one?

"What do you do exactly?"

Immediately Vinny choked on his drink beside her, and Massimo was quick to scold her.

"It's fine." Lucian said raising that hand to silence the table, again. He took a minute to school his features. "You're a smart girl, Adelina. I think you already know."

She inhaled deeply, her suspicions confirmed.

"I'd never put you in danger. " He added.

She sucked in a sharp breath. She knew exactly what he was referring to and she hated him for knowing and still sleeping with her last night.

Theo put her in danger just a few years ago. While no one would ever say it to Massimo, it was clear that others thought it. He’d lured the Irish to his home. She shuddered at the thought, if only they knew the truth.

She nodded, but refrained from responding.

Lucian picked up his napkin, folded it and placed it on the table. "Massimo, can I have a word with your niece privately please?"

"Sure, the office is just over there." Massimo gestured to Vinny's office towards the back of the restaurant. Vinny's face was getting more agitated by the second. Lucian placed a hand on the small of Adelina’s back as he led her toward the office.

"What the hell?" Adelina shouted as soon as Lucian closed the office door behind them.

"I beg your pardon?" he smirked (smirked!) at her outrage.

"Please tell me you didn't know who I was last night?" she said throwing her hands to the air.

"Sorry, bella."

"Jesus." She paced around the small office. "Do you know what kind of trouble I'd get in if they found out?

"They won't." Lucian's said coolly, "and if they did, it wouldn't matter."

Her eyes snapped to him. "Why? Why wouldn't it matter?"

"Bella, ju

st trust me, hmm?" he moved closer to her, pinning her against the office wall.

"You're higher up the food chain than them, aren't you?" Adelina asked, her gaze burning into his.

He smirked, "You're a smart girl."

"What do you want from me then?"

Lucian paused for a moment thoughtfully. "I should be asking you that question."

"I don't want anything from you." She spat out the words like he was a vicious man before her.

He released his arms, giving her space. “What do you want then? In life, I mean.”

She studied him, thinking the question over.

"Hmm?" he prodded.

"I'm, uh, not sure." She answered. "I've never been asked that before."

"That's a damn shame then." He moved in closer, pressing his hard body against hers again. "I want to give you whatever you want, bella, but you're going to have to figure out what that is first." His lips came forward gently brushing hers, then he pulled away quickly. "Come, let's get back to the table."

Adelina stood against the wall in a haze. There was an ache between her legs that she couldn't crush.

What the hell just happened?