about the feeling, but I do. I’d never bring her into this if I didn’t.”
Francesca smile. “It’s probably because she doesn’t want to be with you,” she said. “If she was out to get you, she’d have played up your interest in her.”
I raised a brow. “Or she could just be an exemplary actress,” I challenged.
“Or she can just be an exemplary actress,” she conceded. “But you wouldn’t be where you are today if your instincts were shit, Luca.”
“She wants me, but she doesn’t want all…this,” I repeated the obvious. “I’m going to need you to help me…ease her into all this.”
Francesca reached out and grabbed my both of my hands in hers. “Luca, this woman is going to be the next Benetti Queen,” she replied. “I doubt there’s anything I can possibly help her with.”
I reached out and pulled her into my lap. She laughed as we wrestled, but in the end, she settled into my lap. I had my arms wrapped around her and had my chin resting on her head. “Remy’s going to come to mean everything to me, Francesca. I can feel it. But, you…you’re always going to be the light in my darkened, miserable life.” I felt a teardrop hit my hand, and I squeezed this woman for all I was worth. “No one will ever know me the way you do, Remy included. I’m trusting you with her just as I’m going to trust her with you. I love you, Francesca. I always have. I always will.”
Francesca cried softly in my arms, but I didn’t panic. These were happy tears. I also knew it was because I rarely said the words, so I knew she was feeling touched. I also knew she would defend Remy as fiercely as she defends Robbie. Remy might become my queen, but Francesca was still the church our thrones would be housed in.
Francesca ended up running across the hallway and spilling the beans to Robbie. When I told her Emilio was instructed to bring Remy to Kratos around one, she immediately turned into a typical fangirl and said she had to get Robbie, so they could decide what to make for lunch and whatever else women did when they’ve lost their minds. I tried to assure her that Remy wasn’t the fancy sort, but she made a good point when she asked if Ciro was invited and, if he was, lunch needed to be perfect to combat any of his idiocy.
I didn’t argue.
I let Francesca do whatever she felt she needed to do to make a good impression on Remy and saved myself from the ninety percent of a woman that I’ll never understand. Walking into my parents’ home, it was a sad state of affairs when I’d rather endure a meeting with Gio than make lunch plans with Francesca.
Walking through the house, I didn’t bother looking for my mother. It was Saturday and she usually spent her Saturdays primping. It was no secret that Gio’s kept mistresses over the years, most of his generation did. And, even though, Gio would never divorce my mother, Carlita always made sure she was a challenge for the competition. It was all stupid if you asked me.
I walked into Gio’s office without knocking because why would I? He was expecting me, and we were past the point where I needed to pretend to respect the man in private. In public, he was still my father and the head of the Benetti Family. In private, he was just an asshole.
He was sitting behind his desk and didn’t look at all surprised by my disrespect in not knocking. “What now?” I asked without preamble.
Gio cocked his head, a sly grin on his face. “Just touching base, Son,” he drawled out. “I heard you weren’t into higher education anymore, and I was just curious.” Enduring years of his beatings taught me not to react to his bullshit. “Are you pushing up the deadline? Finally caving to the elders’ concerns and getting yourself a respectable woman?”
I wasn’t sure who was feeding Gio information, but it was obvious that someone was. First, Nelson and, now, Remy. However, I wasn’t going to lie to him. I didn’t want him thinking he had an edge on me. Remy wasn’t exactly a secret, but I wanted to talk with her first before throwing her to the wolves. We said some shit last night, but we didn’t really cement anything. I wanted her to meet everyone first. That’s what lunch was