Ruthless Prince by Piper Stone
Chapter 10
Stefano
The ugly thought remained even though my attention shifted to Alexandra.
As I searched the various rooms, I realized that I’d never had a single woman spend a night inside the house. I’d shared a few interesting experiences with one or two, but no one had enticed me enough to warrant risking my security. Having Alexandra with me meant significant change, something I wasn’t fond of. Still, I would enjoy sharing a night of dark and filthy passion.
A moment of angst rushed into my system when I couldn’t find her immediately. She wasn’t in any of the rooms. While soldiers surrounded the house on all sides, directed to take shifts at least for the unforeseeable future, that didn’t mean she hadn’t found a way off the property. As my anxiety increased, so did my anger. When I finally threw open the doors to the back deck, my beast had surfaced, prepared to punish her.
Relief rushed into my system at the sight of her. She’d changed from a stunning black dress into a white denim skirt and emerald-colored shirt, her shapely figure accentuated by the tight material. As she leaned over the railing, surveying the landscaping and extensive fountains, she had her head lifted toward the sky, one of her long legs bent at the knee. At this moment, she looked like the girl next door as the sunlight shimmered against her long hair.
I was breathless, my blood pressure rising. I could devour her easily right here, but if there was a decent thing in my body, some humanity left, I would at least allow her to see details of the world I’d grown up in. At some point, she would need to fully understand that being the wife of a mafia leader held as many responsibilities as it did drawbacks.
As I approached, I expected her to tense, but she seemed relaxed in the environment, the smile on her face remaining. But I knew she sensed my presence as I did every time she walked into a room. While I leaned against the railing, I kept my distance, curious as to what or if she’d say anything to me.
A full minute passed.
Two.
“You have a beautiful home, Stefano. Everything is picture perfect. I’m certain I’m not allowed to explore without a guard.”
“I’m glad you approve. This is your home now, but you are correct in that one of my soldiers must be with you at all times. You aren’t a prisoner here, but there are some rules you must follow.”
“Of course there are.”
“They’re for your protection.”
Rolling her eyes, she gave me a venomous look. “And to ensure I’m only a few feet away from you at all times.”
As usual, she was pushing me, but I refused to have the night turned into a caustic event. “You’ve learned exactly what my family is up against. I would think you’d appreciate the security.”
“No one likes to live in a gilded cage, especially ones with hulking guards.”
“Unfortunately, that’s exactly what you’re going to need to get used to. The attempt on our lives won’t be the last time.”
“Something to look forward to. Fabulous,” she chided.
“This is serious, Alexandra. Those men who hunted us were well trained with one goal in mind, putting a bullet in our brains.”
The look she gave me was even more rebellious than normal. “Why would you think I’d want any part of that in my life? I think I’ve had enough of it.”
Somehow, I had a feeling her words were a product of her past and not what we’d just experienced.
“I’ll make certain you have everything you need. Clothes. Movies. Other entertainment.”
“A perfectly safe and haunted bird. How magical. Maybe you’ll let me out of my cage now and then to take a walk. Won’t that be particularly special.”
My anger was increasing, which she didn’t deserve. My fury was still directed at Matteo’s callous attitude. “You will learn to accept what the future holds.”
She shook her head, her eyes still full of questions. “I’m curious. Why don’t you live on the Benedetti estate like your brothers?”
“I’m surprised you’re aware of that.”
“Cassis told me. Don’t worry. He doesn’t like me, but he did answer a few questions. At least I found out he can speak English very well, flawlessly in fact. I think I learned more about the estate than you’ve ever mentioned. Then again, I doubt you’re ever going to tell me anything personal. That’s getting too close. Right?” As she laughed, the sound filtered into my ears, the beautiful lilting sound like the music of angels. Sadly, she was faking her sudden frivolity. My nostrils flared as the light breeze wafted her delicate perfume into my system. I was having difficulty controlling my hunger, the beast longing to be fed.
“From the day I turned fifteen, I wanted to move out. After college, I was determined to purchase a house of my own. My father was furious, my mother sobbing at the news. So, I compromised, purchasing the land next to the estate and hiring the finest architect and contractor in Italy to create my vision of a coastal house. Without the ocean of course.” Chuckling, I remembered how particular I’d been about the design of the house, infuriating the first architect. “The first architect quit. It took another fifty thousand dollars to convince him to stay.”
“So money can buy anything.”
I took a deep breath before answering. “Money isn’t the answer to every need, but I’ve always found it not only essential but providing a benefit that brutality never could.”
“That surprises me.”
“At least I am still continuing to surprise you.” Another round of silence settled in, the quiet almost too much for me to bear. “I don’t want to argue with you, Alexandra. There is no point in doing so. As far as telling you all about my life, I doubt there are things that you honestly want to learn.”
“Maybe I do. I’m not easily disturbed.”
“Be careful what you are asking of me. I’m not the kind of man you want to get close to.”
“Then we don’t have anything to discuss. Perfect,” she said with no emotion.
Another minute passed by, my longing for her increasing, but I also had the desire to get to know the woman underneath the icy exterior.
“Would you like to see the estate, the vineyards?” I asked a few seconds later.
“Actually, I would love to. From what little I’ve seen, I can only imagine how amazing it was to grow up in such an incredible place.”
I inched closer, running the tip of my finger down the side of her face. “Remember that in every beautiful façade, there are shadows filled with nightmares.” The words seemed to resonate with her, which piqued my curiosity about what happened to make her so guarded. Peeling the layers in order to find out would prove to be interesting.
“That’s very sad, Stefano.”
“We all live with sadness in our lives, every single human being.”
She sighed. “Cathartic and true. At least you had an incredible opportunity.”
“Yes, but it came with contingencies. Since you seem to want some personal information about me, I will tell you this. I ran away on two occasions.” It was something I hadn’t thought about for years either.
Her eyes lighting up, she giggled then slapped her hand over her mouth for a few seconds. “You’re kidding me.”
“Trust me. I’m not kidding. After the second time, my father brought me into his office and explained the business we were in, something he hadn’t done before. Then he took me with him to handle a particular issue he was having with one of our customers. It was the first time I witnessed what he was capable of, and it was something I will never forget. After that, my gut told me that running away wouldn’t solve my problems. He also said that the only way to protect his family was to keep them close.” I shook my head, remembering the day as if it had occurred last week. “It was also the only time in his life that he told me he loved me.”
Why I’d bothered to tell her something so personal was beyond me. I’d never mentioned it to anyone, including my two brothers.
“How old were you?”
“Fifteen. I even stole a car.” I couldn’t help but laugh.
“A rebel.” She squeezed my arm, the touch electric.
“I was the black sheep of the family before I could walk. I own it proudly.” Just sharing that with her felt as if a small weight had been lifted from my shoulders. As her smile faded, so did mine. Hers was replaced with another haunted look, the sadness in her eyes almost overwhelming.
“I’m sorry, Stefano. I thought you were close with your father and mother. I can’t imagine what that was like. For a boy to finally learn about his father like that is just tragic.”
“Don’t feel sorry for me. There is no reason to, and I adore my mother. She is a beautiful creature who just happened to fall in love with a monster. But she loves her children with all her heart, calling us her three little princes.”
Alexandra cocked her head, pursing her lips. “Your father provided homes and lives for dozens of people. Catherine told me how much the employees respect you and your entire family. You wanted to make certain I knew that there was goodness behind the dark shadows of your life. Your anger toward your father, is it because of what he forced you to witness?”
I took her hand, leading her to the door. Yes, my father likely deserved some kind of medal, at least according to a significant number of employees. Little did they know just how brutal and merciless he was. “Let’s enjoy our evening together. Shall we?”
“Only if you tell me the truth.”
As she tried to pull away, I took a deep breath, holding it for several seconds. Why I found it difficult to look at her, I wasn’t certain. What I did know is that she’d unearthed a portion of emotions that I’d locked away from years. I wasn’t certain I wanted them brought out into the light. Perhaps if I shared a difficult moment from my life, that would allow her to share the details about the trauma she’d endured. “Let’s just say my father had more time for his employees than his did his own children. The incident I mentioned only fueled my desire to enter the family business.” When she didn’t respond or even react in any way, I shoved the thought aside. “Now, end of the conversation.”
As I whisked her through the house, I was surprised that she didn’t try to pull away. Perhaps she was learning when she shouldn’t push my buttons. When I opened the door, Cassis immediately walked toward us.
“Are you going somewhere, boss?” he asked, already scanning the front of the house in his usual search for any issues.
“Just a drive through the estate. I’ll do so on my own.”
“Okay, boss.”
Cassis’ protective nature was dutiful, but tonight I wanted nothing more than to share some time with Alexandra like any other normal human being. As if that was possible. After guiding her to the passenger door, I glanced in the direction of the Benedetti estate. While I’d wanted nothing more than to get as far away from my secured family as possible, I’d built a house less than a mile from my parents’ home. It was obvious the thought of family and security had been drilled into me all those years ago.
The early afternoon sun continued to drift behind several clouds, but they were the perfect backdrop for a nice drive in a convertible. My penchant for sports cars was well known, especially since my reckless driving had cost me two of them. At least on this day, the precious cargo I was carrying I wouldn’t risk.
After revving the engine, I gave her a quick glance. She remained pensive, uncertain of where I was taking her. Perhaps one day there would be a level of trust between us, although I doubted our relationship would resemble Matteo’s.
“Nice car,” she said as I rolled down the driveway.
“Only the best,” I said, grinning.
She brushed hair out of her eyes, remaining quiet as I headed onto the main road, but I could feel tension remaining. “What did your father make you witness?”
“I honestly don’t think you want to know.” My grip on the steering wheel tightened as I rounded a curve, an unexpected round of angst forming in my gut. I couldn’t remember the last conversation I’d had with my father, let alone any prior to that. His disinterest in being a father had transcended into his everyday behavior with business.
Ruthless.
Powerful.
Dominating.
But not around the children of various employees. To them, he would always be remembered as Babbo Natale.
Santa Claus.
“You’re like your father.”
Her statement surprised me. As I slowed, making the turn into the vineyards, I gazed in her direction. “You wouldn’t know that.”
“I think I do. All business all the time. Why do you even want a family?” She searched my eyes for a few seconds. “Because it’s required of you?”
“You say that like family requirements are a bad thing.”
“Creating a family is about falling in love. If the relationship is forced in any way, then it will never be anything special. No matter what you think. While chemistry is important, the kind of burning desire that stills your heart and steals your breath, without trust and respect… and love, what does it even matter?”
“Marriage is a product of building a good life.”
She rolled her eyes, purposely looking away. “You’re right. Money means absolutely nothing. You have everything yet you have nothing.”
Perhaps she was right. There was no sense in furthering the discussion. She’d been brought up in an entirely different world, one likely full of family gatherings that weren’t all about obtaining the perfect picture.
“I don’t understand how Catherine could be happy.” Her words were said in passing, a whisper of her inner thoughts.
“I don’t know much about their relationship other than both are blissfully content, my brother entirely different than he was only a few months ago. I suspect they’ll have four or five kids within that many years. Why not?”
“Make no mistake, Stefano. While I might learn to accept the fate forced upon me, I will never fall in love with you. What’s worse is that I don’t think you want me to.”
Exhaling, I couldn’t lie to myself that she was right. Why would I want anyone to fall in love with a man who enjoyed taking the lives of others? “Perhaps the best thing to do is try and enjoy an evening.”
“Do you even enjoy anything? Let me rephrase that. Do you enjoy the simple pleasures in life?”
“What are those?”
“Look around you, Stefano. This is one of the most gorgeous places on the face of this earth. The mountains. The greenery. It’s spectacular, but I bet you never spend time looking at it. When was the last time you had a glass of your family’s wine? I always see you drink scotch or bourbon. I bet you haven’t walked on the beach, kicking seashells or became delighted finding the perfect frozen drink on a hot summer’s day. How about a movie or a concert? Or just curling up on the couch reading a book. Do any of those things sound pleasurable to you?”
As I made a quick turn, heading toward the tasting room and wine shop, I shot her a playful grin. “What sounds pleasurable is cracking open a bottle of wine while we take our scenic tour.”
“Isn’t drinking and driving illegal?”
“This is a private estate, and I am one of the owners.” I shifted the gear into park, immediately cutting the engine. “You are correct in that I haven’t enjoyed a glass of my family wine in weeks. Come inside with me.” I watched her reaction as we walked into the large space, happy to see her eyes lighting up. There were at least a dozen people shopping, even more enjoying a wine tasting.
“Just amazing,” she said in a hushed voice.
“Is it what you expected?”
She tipped her head, the first genuine smile I’d seen crossing her face. “I don’t know what to expect from you or your family any longer.”
“Then stop trying. Would you like to taste a few wines?”
“You seem to forget that I’ve already indulged.”
I pushed her forward, keeping my hand on the small of her back. “Then make a selection or two. Hell, or five.”
“Don’t you have a huge wine cellar at your house?”
“You already know that, but they aren’t wines you selected.”
After hesitating for a few seconds, she walked forward, searching through the hundreds of bottles. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been inside the store. This was the single location on the estate that my mother adored doting over, making certain everything was just right. The scent of fresh bread as well as cinnamon and vanilla wafted throughout the space. As a woman approached, another smile crossed my face. “Elsa.”
“Master Stefano. It’s so good to see you.” As she threw her arms around me, wonderful memories of the first time I met her popped into my mind. She’d grown up on the estate, turning her love of baking into a lucrative career. The place wouldn’t be the same without her.
“How is everything?”
“You know how your mother is. She wants everything perfect.” Her eyes followed Alexandra, a quizzical look on her face. “She’s lovely. I heard you were bringing home someone special.”
Elsa understood the makeup of the corporation as well as any other employee, only she chose to believe that our family was nothing but loving, decent people. Her loyalty and hard work had earned her a special place in everyone’s heart, especially my father’s. On this day, I refused to burst her bubble.
“Alexandra Starling.”
“What a beautiful name. I know she’s going to make you happy and it’s about time.” She pinched my cheeks as a typical grandmother would do, her eyes lighting up with the same fire that I would always remember.
“What makes you think she has a chance of doing that?”
“Because the love of a good woman is exactly what all three of you have needed. Just look at Matteo. He’s a different man, happy. That’s what you deserve.”
“You were always my cheerleader, Elsa.” I adored the way spots of flour remained on her cheek, her apron proof of her adoration for baking.
“You needed that, sweet boy.”
Laughing, the sound of my voice carried too far, prompting Alexandra to shift her attention in my direction. “In case you haven’t noticed. I’m not that naïve boy any longer.”
“Perhaps not, but you will always be my very special little helper.”
I shook my head, still chuckling. I’d always been fascinated with the sound of her German accent, making the stories she read when my mother had been unavailable even more fascinating. She’d recruited me into helping her in the bakery when I was barely old enough to stand on a stool in order to provide assistance. “And that’s something you’re never going to let me forget.”
“Yes, and I also intend on telling your children how impressive you were. I think it’s time I met your bride to be. I do hope you’re going to have the reception on the grounds. Your garden at your parents’ house would be ideal.” Her smile remained as she walked away, but not before squeezing my arm.
Weddings meant life. I was so used to the ugliness of death, just like I’d experienced with Donato’s funeral.
Children also meant life, a beautiful reminder of love shared by two people.
The thought made me shudder. Alexandra was right about so many things. Whatever we shared together would never be what she needed and deserved in her life.
After a few seconds, I walked outside, leaning against the side of the building. I’d never realized how much I’d resented my father and his generosity toward the employees until the day of his funeral. There were so many tears shed, so much pain.
And I’d felt almost nothing but emptiness.
I closed my eyes and almost instantly a flood of visions popped into my mind.
“It’s time you learn that you’re almost a man now. You have responsibilities to yourself and to your family.” As my father stood in front of me, his hand firmly planted on my shoulder, I realized that I’d grown taller than him over the last year.
“Why bother? Matteo is going to be the one in charge after you die.”
He laughed, the booming sound filling his office. “My son. Do you not understand that all three of my boys will have important roles within this organization?”
I had no idea what to say to him.
His grip remained firm as he guided me toward one of his office windows, the second story location allowing him an incredible view of acres of vineyards. “Do you know I worked in those vineyards for years before my father would even consider me becoming a part of the business?”
“I didn’t know that.”
“He did and at the time, I hated him for it. Now, I realize that he was attempting to help me understand the importance of hard work and that every part of the estate held special meaning. Your mother preferred formal education, which I can understand. All three of you are turning into fine young men. However, you must understand that by working together, you’ll be much stronger. There will always need to be a leader because those who will pay us money require that. What you need to learn is that true power can only be achieved by a solid and strong family working together. I hope one day you are as lucky as I am to have three talented sons.”
“I don’t want a family, Father. Why bother with the complications?”
After shaking his head, he walked away. “You will understand the importance one day, the love and support that only a family can provide. Until then, you will learn about every aspect of our business. You must become ruthless in your actions, refusing to take anyone’s apology. Come with me, son. It’s time to be indoctrinated in our other side of world. I will issue one warning, Stefano. You are my son. You will show no fear, no hesitation, and no reaction to what you are about to experience. If you so much as flinch, you will never have another opportunity to work by my side. Am I clear?”
Sighing, I fisted both hands. The memory was bittersweet, the blood soaking my clothes, splattered across my face a symbol of our power.
And proof that we were nothing but brutal monsters.
I’d done as asked, proving myself to my father.
I’d become a man in the world of the Benedetti Empire.
As the door opened, the sight of Alexandra with a smile on her face forced my cock to throb. In her arms were two full bags, a loaf of Elsa’s fresh Italian bread peeking from the top of one.
“I can tell you like the store,” I said as I grabbed one of the bags from her arms.
“What’s not to love? Fresh bread, cheese, and wine? And Elsa. She is… incredible.”
“You are correct. She’s been a godsend to the family over the years.”
“She adores you.”
“For some reason, she does,” I said, half laughing. “Cheese and bread, huh?” I placed the bag beside the seat, studying her intently. She seemed more relaxed, a hint of mischief in her eyes.
“The perfect picnic. I have olives too, Elsa’s choice. She said you are the only family member who could eat an entire jar.”
Laughing harder, I opened the door. “Elsa has far too many stories about the Benedetti children.”
“Yes, she does,” she murmured as she slid into the seat. “And she was happy to share several of them with me.” Her laughter was natural, free of the tension she’d shown before. As I started the engine, she shot me a look, twisting her lovely lips. “What about the drinking and driving part?”
“I think we should set an example for the other customers. Don’t you? Besides, there’s somewhere special I’d like to take you.” I winked, feeling lighthearted for a change.
She narrowed her eyes, finally giving me a single nod. “As long as we can indulge.”
“I assure you, sweet Alexandra, that we will do more than just indulge. You seem to forget how much I enjoy feasting.”
“Be careful what you ask for.”
Whatever the change, I didn’t care. At least for tonight I would relax and try to enjoy some of the pleasure that she’d called me incapable of not being able to do. Up until now, the only thing that had mattered was business, pushing forward as our enemies did everything in their power to destroy the organization.
That wasn’t going to happen.
While my father was without a doubt a harsh and formidable man, he’d built an empire. Anyone who tried to infiltrate or destroy would learn exactly what the power of being in a strong family would mean.
As I shifted into third, powering the car further into the estate, I realized that maybe for the first time in my life there was a chance of being happy.
But I knew without a shadow of a doubt that keeping her safe would be almost impossible. I felt it in my bones. There would be many who would stop at nothing to destroy what limited happiness I might have, and she would take the brunt of their assault.
As I gave her a long, hard stare, I realized that for the first time I would die in order to protect someone. Alexandra was the light that I’d needed, a beautiful creature that I didn’t deserve to have in my life, but she was now mine.
And no one would take her away from me.
