Fight Me Little Pearl

Chapter 19

Chapter Nineteen

VALENTINO

I watch in astonishment as she whirls around and marches toward the stairs. I lunge out of the chair and grab her arm.

She jerks away from me. “Don’t touch me!”

“What the fuck is the matter?”

“Do you really have meetings all day?” she asks, glaring at me. “Or do you have to meet one of your many whores?”

I stare at her with astonishment. I don’t understand what’s going on. How did we go from Okay, I won’t dress like a slut in public, here’s a loving kiss for you, to Don’t fucking touch me you whore loving jerk?

“That’s right,” she says sarcastically and runs up the stairs and away from sight.

For a few seconds, I stand there undecided. I turn to leave, deciding to ignore her outburst. The world I have built with blood, sweat and tears is out there waiting for me, but I only make it to the door before I realize that the world would be worth nothing without Francesca. My whole day would be doomed if I don’t resolve this situation with her first. She will be on my mind all day, and I won’t be productive. No doubt, my father would call this: Exhibit A. Chapter one from my father’s book of why one shouldn’t care too much about anyone, but… here I am.

My heart won’t listen to my head.

When I get to our bedroom she’s nowhere in sight, but water is running in the shower. I go into the bathroom and it’s a mistake because Francesca is stark naked under the shower. She glares at me.

“Go away.”

I stop at the door, careful not to get wet. “Come out, and let’s talk.”

“No. I’ll be in here for ages. You better leave.”

“Come on, piccola perla . You kno-”

“Don’t ever call me that,” she growls at me. “I bet you go around dishing out these cheap endearments to every woman you sleep with.”

I lose my patience. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Don’t yell at me,” she shouts. “I’m talking about Vica. The day we arrived at this house, you hugged her and you called her cara .”

Vica? That’s the subject of discussion? I sigh and step into the shower, hating that I’m getting myself wet because of someone as inconsequential as Vica. Francesca rolls her eyes and starts to step out of the shower, but I grab her arm and drag her towards me.

“I can call anyone cara , Francesca. It is a meaningless word, but there is only one woman I call my little pearl. La mia piccolo perla .”

She stills in my arms and meets my gaze softly. “I don’t want you calling anyone anything.”

I grin. “I won’t.”

“You said that too quickly.”

“Because I don’t have to think about it.” I run my hand down my face to clear the water as it rushes down my head. “I only called her that to make you jealous. I don’t think I’ve ever called her by an endearment before.”

“I wasn’t jealous,” she denies with a pout. It makes her look even more delectable and fuckable.

“Of course not,” I smile, struggling to keep my gaze on her face. Her naked body is right in front of me, but I have to go to work. It’s so damn hard.

“Have you ever had sex with her?”

“Francesca…”

“I won’t get mad,” she says. “I just want the truth.”

I shrug. “Yes.”

She looks so scandalized, I almost laugh. She’s jealous, and it’s unbearably cute.

“What about since we arrived in Italy?” she demands with a scowl.

My suit jacket hangs heavily over my shoulders as it soaks in more and more water. “No. I haven’t been with anyone since you became my wife, but where did this garbage about Vica come from?”

“Because you were drinking chamomile tea,” she says, sweeping her hair back violently. “Vica told me it was your favorite tea. Clearly, she knows a lot about you.”

“She doesn’t know anything about me. I might have drunk chamomile tea with her at some point, but it’s not my favorite brew.”

“But I know even less about you,” she says.

“And whose fault is that?”

She shakes her head. “Sort of mine, but even when we’re together you hardly tell me anything.”

I stare into her eyes for a few silent seconds. “What do you want me to do, Francesca?”

“Promise that you’ll never speak to Vica again.”

“Okay.”

“That was too quick.”

I sigh. “I don’t need to think about it. If it makes you happy, why not.”

She nods. “And let’s get to know each other better,” she says with a giggle. “Like your favorite food. Your favorite color. I want to know everything about you.”

I smile at her innocent enthusiasm. It is almost childlike. She is uncorrupted by life. As much as I’d love to stay in the shower and watch her warm up to me, or talk about all our favorite things, saving her family is the most important thing on my list right now.

“I want to, but can we do that when I return?” I ask, stroking her face gently. “I have urgent matters to attend to this morning.”

“Okay, when you return,” she agrees shyly. “Come home soon.”

Come home soon. It hits deep. I would have loved to have that on record and play it all day.

“I will, piccolina .” I kiss her cheek. “Take care.”

I step out of the shower, leaving puddles on the tiles.

“You’re just gonna leave?”

I turn, and my mouth falls open at the sight of my bride gently rubbing on her nipples. My cock springs to life, and her gaze drops to my crotch.

“Stop it, Francesca. I have to be at work.” My voice sounds thick and unnatural.

“Okay,” she says, sinking her teeth into her bottom lip. “I guess I’ll just have to take care of my problems myself.”

I turn to go, but when she releases a sexy moan, I know it’s impossible.

“Okay, I think I might have five minutes to spare,” I say, peeling off my soaking clothes and rejoining her in the shower.

She laughs and melts into my arms.

One hour later, I’m in my car heading to the meeting with my cousins and Zio Marco when Franco Barbieri calls. At my command, Vance moves the call to my earbuds.

“Good morning, Don Barone,” Franco greets. He sounds flustered.

“I’m moving you and your family to a safe house in the Bronx before the day ends. Someone will come by later and tell you exactly what to pack and how it will be done,” I tell him.

“Thank you,” he breathes. “There was an attack last night at the club, but I escaped unscathed.”

I frown. “And what about Francesca’s mother?”

“She’s fine.”

“What about the other thing?” Franco asks.

“What other thing?”

My voice has turned to ice, but the old fool blunders in anyway. “Have you told my granddaughter the real reason you married her?”

“Franco, how about I tell you this other thing?”

“What?”

“The next time you bring this up, I’ll feed your tongue to you.”

He makes a hissing sound as he sucks in a breath.

“You know I don’t make empty threats.”

“Yes, I know that.”

“Anything else?”

“No.”

“I’ll be in touch.” I snap my finger, and Vance hangs up.