Filed to story: Submitting to My Bestie’s Daddy Read Online >>???
Rather, she said, “Becca, it may be better to do what they say. There is more to this than you know. They have a bit more influence than you assumed.”
“That’s right, Antoinette is ours, you bitch,” Terese snapped, giving a wide grin. “She knows her place in this pecking order. Otherwise, things could happen with her raids. Maybe they’ll find something this time. Who knows?”
Antoinette winced at that, shaking her head. That sly, confident smile had been wiped from her face. I’d lost my one friend in this area. Layla was gone, James was being a stubborn prick, and now, Antoinette needed to join the side of these terrible people or risk something.
I had no idea what was going on, or why Antoinette needed to side with them. I just knew that one thing after another kept on being added, and I couldn’t take this anymore. Still, I took a deep breath and composed myself, trying so hard to maintain focus.
For a moment, I tried distracting myself with just how plastic Terese looked.
I considered bringing that up. Her lips were pursed as she waited for me to say something. Once again, I was struck with the curiosity of whether or not her Botox would just fall out from how her lips were right now.
“Aw,” Marilyn said in a taunting manner. “Gonna cry harder, whore? Terese is right, you’re not wanted here. Go the f*ck away while you still have a chance, or your life will be even more miserable. Understand?”
Terese grinned, walking up and leaning into my face. “Hit me like you did last time. I dare you.” I saw one of her plastic-clone goons whip out a phone to start recording. As much as I wanted to give in right now, I couldn’t.
Rather, I shoved past her to my front door, took out my keys, and opened it. Without turning, I said, “Get away from my house.” Then, I turned and slammed my door so hard that it shook. Finally, I turned and leaned against it, my back dragging against it as I sat there.
I buried my face in my hands and just began to sob, my entire body shaking. The entire world was against me. I was completely alone right now. With James wanting to return to work at the businesses he’d been managing in Florence, and me wanting to explore new options about what to do with my professional life, I’d need help with the kids.
I’d have no help now. Layla was gone, I wasn’t welcome in this neighborhood, and I’d lost yet another friend. I didn’t know what they did to threaten Antoinette, but I needed her right now, and she couldn’t speak up without risking herself.
This place was hell.
As I continued to curl up and sob, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I tried shrugging it off, but it was held there firmly. “What do you want, James?” I said, my voice muffled a bit. I heard him sigh in my ear and finally peeked at him.
“Becca,” he whispered. “Baby, I’m here. I know you’re mad at me, but if you need someone right now, I’m here. Let me comfort you?”
I managed to nod in acceptance as James swept me into his arms and brought me to the couch. The nursery was quiet, so the kids were getting some restful sleep, at least. Following James’s yelling, of course. I still wasn’t sure that’d been warranted.
That said, at this moment, I wanted to throw back my head and scream. I held off from doing so, and rather, buried my head in James’s chest and started to sob. His hand ran down my back in a comforting manner, trying to calm me down.
Five minutes later, I made a decision that I didn’t want to, but knew I had to. We just couldn’t stay here anymore. The Cartwrights would jump down our throats soon, and those evil Stepford wives no doubt had tons of connections I didn’t know about.
That, and based on tonight, they would use those connections they had to hurt my entire family, including my kids. That much was proven at the trial. They didn’t care about Alessandro having a good life. They only wanted to make us suffer for ‘not belonging here.’
“James,” I whispered, catching his attention. I looked into his eyes and said, “Fine. We’ll go back to Italy. My father is still there. I have him. I have you.”
“Okay,” James said, giving me a careful smile. “We will leave tomorrow, then. I’ll have Tony send over a jet. It will be so much better there, Becca.”
“I don’t know for how long, James. I don’t want that life for my son,” I said to him, the thought of the mafia and James inevitably gaining the Don position coming to mind.
What else could we do? We had nowhere to go right now and needed to leave.
For now, I had to accept that we were bound for Italy in the morning.
James.
“Please make sure it’s taken care of,” I muttered, my eyes narrowed as I stared at the wall. We’d arrived in Italy a few days ago, and problems were already springing up. I was the Don, no surprise, a fate that would befall Alessandro eventually as well, unless something changed.
Here, we’d have more opportunities. That tiny detail was stuck in Becca’s mind, but I could tell she wanted out as soon as possible. Hopefully, she would adapt because I didn’t intend on moving.
The incident with Layla was stuck in her mind, too, which meant she was occupied with that thought quite a bit. She was currently interviewing nannies. She was very picky and cycling through many. Given what we’d gone through, I couldn’t blame her.
Giana, the former housekeeper, was on leave for an indefinite time. Something was going on with her family, and of course, given that Becca hadn’t really liked her in the first place, I told her to take all the time she needed.
Secretly, I wished I could be of more help around the place, but I had many issues of my own to take care of and couldn’t dedicate the time. Plus, she was still rather annoyed with the entire situation, so my hovering would only make it worse.
On the other end of the line, Tony replied, “We traced his goons to Vicollo Del Malpasso 129. We’ll be moving in soon to catch and be rid of the vermin.”
“Good,” I replied, letting out a sigh of relief. “I’ll relay instructions to the other men. Keep me updated, and we can finally put this to rest.” I hung up, glad Becca wasn’t around to overhear any of that. Her anxiety would make her more ornery, no doubt.
I leaned back in my soft, leather chair, glad to be back to the luxury I was used to. Really, I didn’t want this life for Alessandro either. He shouldn’t be tied down with all of this like I was. I hoped to eventually move on from it as well, but responsibilities were responsibilities.
There was a knock at the door, and I approached it, peering through the peephole to discover a woman standing there and giving a wave. I smiled, realizing this must be someone visiting Becca for an interview.
After opening the door to let her in, I said, “Hello there. Here for the nanny interview?” She nodded enthusiastically. Brunette curls fell down her shoulders, and she had bright green eyes that indicated eagerness to help out.
“I am,” she said, her smile widening. I stepped aside, leading her through the house and hearing her gasp. She said, “This place is gorgeous! You’ve done well with it.” I couldn’t help but smile at her observation because she was very right.
Becca was in the nursery with the kids at the moment, and so, I led the woman there. Becca came to the door and smiled kindly at the interviewee. I noted the bags under her eyes and the glint of exhaustion in her gaze.
“Hi, there!” Becca said, trying to come across as cheerful as opposed to completely out of it. “Welcome. You must be Estella. I can’t wait to introduce you to the kids!” Then, she looked at me and nodded in thanks, an indication that she’d handle this. Perfect.
For the next few hours, I began to reconvene, setting up various spreadsheets on my computer and making several phone calls. Despite this Don business, I could continue to work on the business I had been handling before to increase the family’s wealth and power.
There was never any shortage of money, or need to worry about such things. Becca still had far more than me, given when I ‘died,’ she was left all of it. The Family money was under my control as Don, but it didn’t all belong to me. Therefore, it was my turn to rise again.
I wanted to establish myself and make damn sure there wouldn’t ever be a reason to be worried. I was typing a mile a minute, setting up connections, and settling in here.
Hopefully, Becca wouldn’t beg to leave. That thought made me scowl, and I shook my head. The snap decision was stressful for her, but in the end, better for me. Something better for me would be better for both of us. She would learn to love it here.
Though, I did want to do all I could to reduce the stress on her. She didn’t want the Don life bestowed on Alessandro, and I didn’t either. Could there be someone to pass the title off to, perhaps? I furrowed my brow in thought.
Perhaps. I would be paying close attention to others in the family to figure out who I could approach and pass the Don title to instead of sealing Alessandro’s fate. Truth be told, being a Don of the family wasn’t a death sentence, but it was a huge responsibility.
I didn’t want Alessandro to lose more people close to him like he had his mother. He was too young to understand but would grow older, and then it would click. I didn’t wish the death of a child upon anyone, especially not my own grandson.
Which would be a real possibility in the far future if he got caught up in the many nefarious things connected to being Don of the family. As disruptive as it was, I could handle it, even if deep down, my heart still bled for Tally.
Despite what was said in court, and how upset I was, I knew Tally couldn’t be dead because of me. Right? It was an inward battle I fought constantly. If our family didn’t have these connections, she could still be alive.
That didn’t mean it was all on me, though.
I ran my fingers through my hair as these thoughts went a mile a minute. Shaking my head, I made a list of people I wanted to speak with regarding this matter, added their phone numbers and email details, then just closed down that document.
I’d prefer to focus on building the influence and power my business had here right now. After another half hour of working, I went into the kitchen and made myself some lunch. My first thought upon entering the large kitchen was that I wanted to hire more maids. Since Gia had left, things were starting to fall apart.
Though, with what happened regarding Layla, Becca would probably be hesitant. Would she even be right in the mind enough to select a nanny? I bit my lip, doubting it. Either way, I started the pot of boiling water on the stove and began to prepare other things. Sometimes, I liked to cook for myself.
I’d have a secondo consisting of fresh fish, something the staff picked up from the market for us yesterday. It was nice to have people working for us right now, especially with just how much stress the family had been through lately.
Finally, I prepared the vegetables, local, and delicious. The kitchen was soon filled with the scent of a hearty lunch cooking, and I licked my lips. Becca would hopefully take a break and come get something as well.
Taking a seat at the dining table once everything was ready, I sent Becca a text to let her know I’d made some food and then read through the news on my phone while I waited for things to cool. Eventually, I looked up and I saw someone entering the room. Becca looked even more tired, and as she took a seat, she sighed.
