Page 53 of The Italian Obsession
“You still picturing her to come?”
I drain my glass, unwilling to answer his question. I don’t know why I told him that. Momentary drunken insanity.
“What are you doing?” he asks.
I shrug. Fuck knows. Least of all me.
“You can have any woman in the world you want. Every beautiful Italian woman on the planet is madly in love with you, yet you choose to pine over an Australian who lives on the other side of the world.” I exhale heavily. “She’s probably happily married to someone else by now, Rico.”
“She’s not.”
His eyes widen. “You’ve been watching her?”
I pick up my second drink and sip it as I stare out over the sea. “Maybe.”
“And?”
I crunch on my ice. “She’s still single.”
“So bring her here.”
“And offer her what, Drea?” I sit back in my chair, dejected. “We both know…” I pause as I try to articulate my thoughts. “I can’t. It’s not like she lives here. If I bring her here, I have to have an offer.” I sigh sadly. “No woman in their right mind is moving to the other side of the world for a mob boss. Not a woman like her, anyway.”
He watches me for a moment. “What if she was working here and you accidently ran into her?”
“But she’s not.”
He smirks. “You’re Enrico Ferrara, aren’t you?” My eyes hold his.
“I’m pretty sure you have most of Italy on your payroll, Brother.”
I stare at him.
He raises an eyebrow. “Something to think about, right?”
“Hmm.” I smirk as his plan begins to play out in my head.
I sit back and sip my drink. My mind begins to run at a million miles per minute.
What if I brought her here and ‘accidentally’ ran into her?
For half an hour, I go through the possibilities in my mind.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” Drea says.
“Yeah, sure,” I reply, distracted as I begin to scroll through the names in my phone. I get to the one I’m looking for: Giorgio work. I dial the number.
“Hello, House of Valentino,” he answers.
“Giorgio,” I say. “It’s Enrico Ferrara.”
“Ah, Rico. Long time no speak, my friend. How can I help you?”
I smile. “I… need a favor.”
Chapter 9
OLIVIA
