My eyebrows shot up. This was so unlike Aria. She never touched me, because she knew how possessive Luca got over the smallest things. “This isn’t only about sex.”
“Lily said the same thing, but what is it then? You know the rules, for God’s sake. It’s ironic that I have to remind you.”
“I know the rules,” I said tersely, getting angry. But Aria was the last person I should be mad at. She was right.
“Lily said you slept with her.” Aria shook her head, tears gathering in her eyes, and all my anger evaporated. “God, Romero, if someone finds out, Lily will be ruined. Or do you intend to marry her?”
“I can’t. You know that. Your father would never allow it, and if we went against his wishes that would mean war.”
“I know it. You know it. So why did you do it?”
“I didn’t push Lily if that’s what you think,” I said. Did she think I’d forced her sister somehow? “Lily wanted it too.”
“I don’t doubt it. I see how she’s looking at you. She loves you. Of course she wants to sleep with you, but you should have known better!”
Fuck, why did she have to be right? “I know. What do you want me to say? That I’m sorry?”
“You’d be lying,” Aria muttered.
Indignation shot through me but she was right. I wasn’t sorry that I’d slept with Lily, at least not enough that I wouldn’t do it again. “Are you going to tell me to stay away from her now?”
“You’d be going behind my back. And Lily would hate me if I tried to get between you and her. You’ve slept with her already, so it’s not like it matters if you do it again as long as you are careful not to get caught and not to get my sister pregnant.”
“Are you going to give me the talk?” I said in amusement.
“I’m serious. If Lily gets pregnant, then things will get really bad.”
“We’re being careful.”
“As careful as you were when I caught you on the sofa?”
“I mean it. Lily won’t get pregnant.”
Aria covered her face with her hands. “God, I can’t believe we’re having this discussion. I wanted Lily in New York so she’d have some fun, but not that kind of fun.”
I wasn’t sure what to say. Guilt weighed heavily on my shoulders, but like Aria had said it was too late now.
“Would you stay away from her if I threatened to tell Luca?” Aria asked as she lowered her hands.
“No,” I said without hesitation.
“Good,” she said, throwing me off track. “At least that means you’re serious about her. Maybe we can find a solution for you and my sister. Let me think about it.”
“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. Unless we want war, we’d have to convince your father to agree on a union between Lily and me.”
“Gianna and I married for political reasons. Why should Lily not be allowed to marry someone she wants?”
“If I was more than a soldier, then maybe your father would consider it.”
Aria’s eyes lit up. “You could become a Captain with your own group of soldiers. You’ve been working for Luca for so long and he always says you’re his best soldier. The only reason why he hasn’t already promoted you is because he trusts you with me and doesn’t want anyone else as my guard.”
I stared at her. Usually the position of Captain was handed down from father to son. Soldiers rarely received the honor of becoming Captain.
“Father still hasn’t found a husband for Lily. That’s a good sign. Gianna and I were long engaged when we were Lily’s age, so maybe he’s open for suggestions and it would be a good move to improve relations between New York and Chicago again.”
“You’d make a good Capo too,” I said with a smile.
“I’m married to a good Capo, that’s all.”
“You are,” I said. “But I don’t want to become Captain only because you talk Luca into it. I haven’t worked this hard for a pity promotion.”
“I won’t have to talk him into it, and Luca never does anything because of pity. You should know that.”
I nodded. She had a point. “Once you tell him, there’s no going back. He might not take it so well. I went against his direct orders after all. That’s still a crime.”
“Yeah, you did,” Aria said. “But he loves you like a brother. He’ll forgive you. I’ll just have to figure out a way to break it to him.”
“I could talk to him. I have to own up to my actions.”
Aria shook her head. “No, I can be more convincing than you, and he can’t stay mad at me for long.”
I laughed. “You Scuderi women have a way with men.”
Aria smiled for the first time since she’d found Lily and me on the sofa. I took that as a good sign, even though I wasn’t so naïve to think that I’d become Captain tomorrow and then Scuderi would gladly accept me as his future son-in-law. This would be a difficult battle.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Liliana
I nervously paced the kitchen. What took Aria so long? I didn’t even want to know what she was saying to Romero. What if she convinced him to break things off with me? She’d promised not to do something like that but I wasn’t sure. If she thought she had to protect me from harm, she’d play dirty if she had to.
The door opened and Romero stepped in. He looked almost relaxed. I hurried toward him. “What did she say?”
“That we should be careful.”
“That’s all? She’s not going to tell Luca about it?”
“No, not right now.”
“What does that mean?”
A slow smile curled his lips. “There might be a way for us to be together.”
“You mean officially?” I asked excitedly.
“Yes, but first Aria needs to figure out a way to talk to Luca, and then we’ll go from there.”
I tried to hold back my joy, but it was difficult. I wanted nothing more than a real future with Romero.
I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him, but after only a few seconds Romero pulled back with a pained look. “We need to be more careful. Aria will rip my head off if she catches us kissing out in the open like that again.”
“Probably not only your head,” I said with a wicked grin, cupping him through his pants.
Romero groaned, gripped my wrist and pulled my hand away. “Lily, stop torturing me.”
“I thought you like it when I torture you.”
Romero leaned down, his lips brushing my ear. “I do, when we are alone.”
“Then how about we head to my room?”
“There’s nothing I’d rather do, but we shouldn’t risk it during the day,” Romero said regretfully. “And I really need to call Luca and ask about the problem with the Russian underboss.”
I pouted playfully. “I hate it when you’re being reasonable. Tonight is too far away. I want you now.”
“Fuck,” Romero muttered. Then he gave me a dangerous grin. “Go ahead. I’ll come after you in a few minutes.”
I dashed off toward my room, already feeling my core tighten with anticipation.