Renato, page 13
“Renato, I’m not. She won’t make a difference to us either way. But enough bloodshed has happened.”
“Have you talked to her lately?” I adjusted the lapels of my jacket.
“Not since the park.” She stared at me blankly while chewing the inside of her mouth.
“Keep it that way.”
“Never had plans on contacting her, but Renato, your request sounds like a demand.”
I clenched my jaw.
“Brilynn means you no good.”
“She would say the same thing about you.” She leaped off my desk.
“Fuck Brilynn,” I muttered.
“Too much death, Renato, that’s all I’m saying.” Her breath hitched.
“Have you finished your work for the day?” I changed the subject.
“Are you kicking me out as the boss right now?”
“I have work to do.”
“I’ll get back to my desk, Mr. Calabresi.”
She started to grab her food, and I extended a hand, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her in my lap, caressing her cheek.
“Look at me.”
Sonya pouted, and I smiled.
I tapped her nose.
“Dinner tonight.”
“Is this work-related, Mr. Calabresi?” She wrapped a curl around her finger.
I chuckled at her joke, then slapped her thigh gently.
“Can I talk to my wife for a moment please?”
A smile spread across her face.
“Dinner tonight.” I jammed my hand in my pocket. “Then a little movie.”
She gave a nervous laugh.
“I wasn’t talking about that type of movie.” I hung a lopsided grin on my face.
She had a shock-filled expression on her face.
“A sex tape.” Biting her lip, she turned away.
“All I want is dinner with you tonight.”
“A charmer.” As she fixed my tie, she chortled.
After work, I called and had the restaurant reserve a table for us; we didn’t have to wait hours for a table. I had a taste for a big bloody steak, so we booked Aphonso’s, a well-known eatery that some high-profile celebrities stopped at. Sonya sat in her chair while I sat across from her, unbuttoned my coat, and placed my cell on vibrate.
“Anything special you have when you come here?”
Our waitress came to the table. “Hello, I’m Charlene and I’ll be your waitress. Can I get you started with drinks?”
“Can we have the red wine?” I ordered for the both of us.
“Sure, and would you like to hear the specials?”
“Actually I already know what we want. Do you mind if I order for you?”
“I don’t mind.” Sonya grasped my hand.
“We will take two steaks, rice, and baked veggies.”
“I’ll have your drinks right up.” Charlene took our menus.
“What did you do after I left you after lunch?”
“Vincenzo has me working on some cool projects.” She rubbed her stomach.
“What projects?” I brushed my palms together.
She fidgeted with the silverware.
“I never told you, but my goal is to become an art buyer one day.”
“I’m listening.”
“It’s my second love, besides RJ.”
Charlene brought the wine out, and we thanked her.
“I knew you started online classes.”
“Vincenzo said that you guys own a few art galleries.”
She seemed nervous to ask.
“The company owns a lot of business.”
“He stated I could possibly have a job with that side of the business.”
If that meant she would leave the company and work longer hours, then it would mean less time for me and RJ.
“Based on the look on your face, you hate the idea.”
“RJ is growing. He needs us both around.”
“Our family is always top priority.” I quirked a smile.
“When that time comes, we can discuss it further.”
“You’re not turned off by me wanting a life outside of the family business?”
“At first I was hesitant, but the gallery is still under our portfolio.”
“That’s true.”
Charlene approached our table with the food.
“Thank you,” Sonya said, a smile returning to her mouth.
“Enjoy your meal,” Charlene responded.
I picked up my napkin and laid it over my lap, while Sonya started to talk about RJ and his latest tricks to pretend like he was asleep.
At the end of the night, we came back home. Our evening concluded in the Jacuzzi as I smoked on my cigar, holding a glass of Hennessy in my hand and watched Sonya sip on her glass of white wine.
“Thank you for dinner.” She placed the glass down on the side of the Jacuzzi, plucked her arms out, and locked them behind my neck. I watched her low eyes drip with want.
“You’re welcome.” I studied her face.
“Tomorrow I’m taking RJ to the mall. Since Tulio is gone, we don’t need to be locked away as much.” She rubbed the back of my head.
Emers was still lurking but hadn’t confronted me.
“You have a closet full of clothes.”
“Please. If it makes you feel better I’ll take McKayla and Rena with me.”
I blew out a breath. She started to trail kisses down my chest, and lower until she disappeared in the water; my head fell back in a trance when her lips wrapped around my shaft.
“Fuck, Sonya!” I groaned, and my eyelids fluttered shut. Beads of sweat popped out on my forehead as I gave myself over to the sensations.
Chapter 18
Sonya
I whirled around in my dress, stood in front of the mirror, and looked at the extra weight I’d gained after giving birth. Plus, all the delicious food Renato had introduced me to since we’d been together.
“Where are you going in that?”
“Out.” I shoved my bracelets around my wrist.
“Sonya,” McKayla grumbled.
Rena pushed the stroller back and forth with RJ inside; he kept trying to eat his stuffed bear.
“I want to surprise Renato.” I smoothed the short, V-neck dress with spaghetti straps.
“Where are you taking him?”
I looked around the store, to make sure no one was listening to our conversation.
“I want to dance for him.” I flipped through to a light green Chanel bodice and skirt.
“Stripping?” McKayla asked.
“That’s how we met.”
I picked through another set of dresses and held up a leopard print.
“When are you planning on giving him a show?” McKayla grabbed a dress for herself.
“Tomorrow night. I want to cook for him and show him how much I appreciate him.”
“Then we should go to Victoria’s Secret next,” Rena noted.
She was right; no point in having a full outfit when I knew he’d rip it off me the minute he saw me.
“Maybe you’re right.”
Rena pushed RJ while I went to change. I went to meet them outside but saw a woman blocking them from leaving.
“Brilynn.” She looked like she hadn’t slept or eaten in a few days. She seemed jittery and unfocused.
“Why are you keeping RJ from me?”
“Brilynn, not today.” Renato would only hold out for so long before he made her disappear, and I was doing my best to keep them separate.
“Brilynn, I found these shoes for him.” I heard my mother’s voice. She held shopping bags from the kids’ closet.
“Brilynn, I can understand you, but you’re my mother,” I grumbled, pointing a finger at myself.
“One could say the same about a daughter that throws away her friend she’s known for over five years,” Mom argued.
“Sonya, we should go,” McKayla insisted.
The girls and I started to walk off, and Brilynn grabbed my wrist, but I jerked away.
“Don’t touch me.”
“He’s only using you!” Brilynn yelled; I ignored her words and continued heading to Victoria’s secret. After browsing for a short time, I picked up two sets for my surprise. Afterwards, McKayla wanted something to eat, but I had one more store to check for shoes and told them I’d meet them at the food court.
“Don’t take too long,” McKayla announced and threw a thumbs-up in answer.
The shoe shop had a sale. Even though Renato had given me a credit card with no limit, I liked sales, so I grabbed two pairs to try on.
“You walk in a room with those shoes, he might not let you leave,” a smooth voice hinted, and I shifted around toward it. A tall guy with dark gray eyes, a shaved head, and a business suit that reeked of money.
“That’s the point.” I chuckled.
He laughed.
“So you are taken?”
“I’m afraid so.” I held up my ring finger.
“If you were my woman, I’d never let you out of my sight.”
I started to take off the shoes and try another pair.
“Sorry, he snatched me up.”
He slipped his hand in his pocket and passed his business card to me.
“What’s this for?” His name was Phillip Costa, and I froze.
“Just wanted to meet the woman that caused my cousin’s death.”
“Stay away from me.” I dropped the shoes on the ground, picked up my purse, and turned to leave. He gripped me by the arm, and it looked like an innocent situation. I didn’t want to cause anyone else in the store to get hurt, so I didn’t grab my guard’s attention for help. He released my arm.
“Emers is coming. I suggest you tell your husband Costa wants revenge.” He picked up a pair of shoes and walked to the counter, paying for them. Finally, I got my bearings together and left the store, walking to the food court.
Rena and McKayla held bags of food in their hands.
“You didn’t get the shoes.” Rena poked through my bags.
“Oh, no. I decided to wear what I already have.”
“Are you all right? Are you still thinking about your mom and Brilynn?” McKayla checked.
“Kind of. I think I need to take RJ over to see her.”
“You need us to go with you?” Rena shuffled the bags from one hand to the other.
“I can handle my mom.” The girls didn’t need to be in between my drama, and Renato would stick me back in the house with around-the-clock protection. On the other hand, he and I had promised to not keep anything from each other, and Tulio’s family had it in their minds to continue this war.
“It is getting late. I want to meet with my designers before they get busy,” Rena informed me, then trailed beside McKayla and me to the car.
As soon as our driver dropped the girls off at home, I had Dome bring me to my mom’s house so we could talk. I didn’t know how the conversation would go, but it would be the last straw before I completely cut her off like I had Brilynn. Dome got out of the car with me and scanned the traffic while I knocked on the front door.
“Sonya, why didn’t you call?” Mom wiped her hands on a towel.
“Are you alone?” I held the car seat in my hand.
“Yes, just preparing dinner.” She stood to the side, and I stepped in with RJ. Dome waited outside. I carried RJ over to the couch, taking him out of the seat. He started to get fussy since we’d been out all day.
“Everything going well with your appointments?”
She smiled at RJ and sat next to me on the couch.
“You are not here to talk about my cancer treatments.”
“You’re right. I love you and want to keep a relationship with you.”
“But.” Mom grabbed RJ out of my arms.
“I can’t—no, I refuse to allow Brilynn to be brought around my family.”
“Brilynn’s like a daughter to me.” She patted RJ on the butt to calm him down.
“That’s all well and good, but I’m your blood child, and he’s your grandson. Our safety should come first at all times.”
“I guess I’ve been trying too hard to push you two back together.” She got up from the couch, heading to the kitchen.
“Extremely hard.”
“After your father died, you know we didn’t have a lot of family, but Brilynn and you became good friends, so I knew you’d have someone with you in case...”
She placed RJ on her hip and opened the fridge to grab some mashed fruit she kept for him.
“You can’t think like that.” I grabbed her free hand.
“Life is short, and I love you, Sonya, but the minute those people came here, I pictured you without me, and I got scared.”
“Renato’s not perfect, but he loves us, and his family is a supportive, Mom.”
“Renato’s crazy.” She blew out a breath, and I couldn’t do anything except agree.
“His mom says the same thing,” I jested.
“Are you staying for dinner?”
“Din… Dinnn,” RJ babbled.
“No, I made plans to cook dinner for my family tonight.”
“How is school going?” Mom queried.
“Fine, I’m thinking of moving to in-person classes.”
“How will you navigate that with him and work?”
“Renato knows that my passion is art buying, and his younger brother has me helping out with a few of their galleries.”
“Gosh, the families are really rich.” Mom remarked, smiled at RJ.
“Billionaires,” I muttered.
RJ clapped his hands together.
“Billionaires, seriously.” Mom gasped.
“They are, but his money doesn’t matter anymore. I’ve tried to tell him plenty of times, but he insists on spoiling me,” I replied.
“I taught you well. I’ll stay away from Brilynn.” She leaned her head on my shoulder.
We stood at the counter as she washed off some vegetables.
“Thank you. Brilynn can be manipulative. For your safety, it’s best to call and tell her you can’t see her again.”
“I saw on the news the guy that threatened me is dead.”
“Brilynn worked with him, and my gut is telling me she’s still working with his people.”
“Your father would be proud of you, Sonya. I hope you know that.”
“I do.” I kissed her on the cheek.
“Little one, I’ll see you soon. Bring him by so I can babysit one day.” She kissed his hand and held him out for me to take.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“If you want to do in-person classes and you need someone to watch him, I’m here.” She waved around the house.
“Maybe when you feel up to going out, we can find you someone.”
“No one will ever replace your father.”
I nodded but turned and sauntered to the front door. She unlocked it for me.
“Dad would want you to be happy.”
“As long as you are happy and I have my grandbaby, nothing else matters.” She reached for a hug, engulfing me and RJ.
“Say bye to Granny.” I held RJ’s hand up to wave goodbye.
RJ finally fell asleep around nine, so I planned to have the food ready thirty minutes later, and Renato texted he was on his way home. The wine bottle was chilled, I was showered, and candles were set up in the living room near his fire. Renato told me this was our home and he’d made me feel welcome to the point I could redecorate as much as I wanted. All I did was make sure RJ had a room he was comfortable in because most of his life we’d shared a room. I did tell him about putting a fence outside to surround the pool. Then the guest room I stayed in when I first arrived was changed into my office.
The locks on the door clicked, and I heard the alarm chirp. I moved to the mirror to check my makeup and the dress I’d picked up from the mall today. I went to meet him at the door and noticed the polished marble flooring gleaming in the full light.
“What’s the occasion?” Renato asked.
I smiled. “I made you dinner,” I replied, pointing at the rectangular walnut table.
He smirked, stepped down the entry stairs, and came farther into the room.
“Any reason for the dinner?” He hiked his brow up in suspension.
“A way to show my appreciation, and then I have a surprise after.”
“I hate surprises, Sonya.” He groaned, sliding his hands around my waist.
“I can promise this surprise will make you very happy.”
He dipped his head to the side of my neck and sucked on my ear.
I raised my hand to his shoulder to slow his excitement down.
“Dinner.”
“No.”
I busted out in a laugh.
“Never had someone refuse dinner.”
He grabbed my hair. “I love when you change your hair up like this.”
Today it was in a simple braid, styled into a halo, but we’d mixed in the colors pink and blond. He trailed kisses along my collarbone.
“There is something I need to talk to you about.”
“Will it make me mad?” he mumbled through his kisses.
“Possibly, but don’t let it ruin our night, please.”
He pushed me back gently, dropping his hands to his side.
“Speak.” He walked around me to the table and sat down.
I cleared my throat and sat across from him and picked up the bottle of wine.
“You know I went to the park and the mall with the girls today.”
He stopped moving as I lifted the covers off our plates, waiting for me to continue.
“Brilynn and my mom showed up.”
The napkin fell on the table as he leapt up in a hurry, and I grabbed his wrist to stop him.
“Why didn’t you call me the moment they showed up?” He slid a hand in his pocket and removed his phone.
“Wait! Renato, calm down.”
“Calm down?”
“Just listen.”
He held the phone out to dial who I assumed was his brothers.
“I kicked them out both times, and I went to talk to my mother alone and we resolved our issues.”
“Sonya, I don’t like to be in the dark when it pertains to my son.” The room was silent.
“He’s my son too.”
“Which you’ve seemingly forgotten.”
