Filed to story: Submitting to My Bestie’s Daddy Read Online >>???
I widened my eyes, fascinated by this. My heart began to pound. What?! We had almost been poisoned? I licked my lips nervously, wishing I had been paying more attention. Seeing this reaction, Giovani’s demeanor softened.
“Relax. Like I said, I took care of it. I suspected the cake was poisoned and could have just got rid of it just in case. I killed two birds with one stone, though, and had him try it. It was a fast-acting poison. We got rid of the cake and replaced it,” he explained.
I nodded, letting out a sigh of relief. “How did you get him to try it?”
“Told him to taste a bit of the frosting,” Giovani said with a wink. I couldn’t help but chuckle despite how morbid that was. My cousin continued. “So, the Cartwrights are still active, as you know, and tried sabotaging your wedding.”
“The loud banging was therefore more than fireworks, as I suspected?” I asked, causing him to nod. The man ran his fingers through his slicked-back hair, wearing a reassuring but somewhat sinister smile.
“Yes. That was a shootout that myself and my men took care of. What a time to feel alive, during a gunfight at a wedding. Your guests and your wife were none the wiser, and the kids were perfectly safe. They tried to make it otherwise, but I shot those fish in a barrel, so to speak.”
“It was that easy?” I asked, blinking in surprise. Not even a whiff of this activity was picked up by Becca, thank goodness, given she would be tossed into stress all over again. Giovani just smirked, now, giving me a thumbs up.
“I wouldn’t say it was completely easy. A lot of planning was involved, a lot of research, a lot of money trading hands. You’re family and deserve some peace, though. I was willing to pull strings to make sure it happened,” my cousin said.
Surprisingly, I felt a tear trickle down my cheek as I realized just how often Giovani went above and beyond for me and my family. My cousin was a dangerous person, but someone with a heart of gold. I very much appreciated that.
I bit my lip, considering things. He was exceptional at getting things done, and making sure the word didn’t get out. No doubt, he bribed enforcement to keep their mouths shut for times like this. Cartwrights or not, this would continue to follow me.
“There was another thing I wanted to ask about,” I said slowly, letting out a sigh. What I had was a huge responsibility, and cursing Giovani with it wasn’t ideal. I had a feeling he wasn’t going to be opposed to what I’d be asking him, though.
“Go on,” Giovani drawled, reaching over to take a sip of his wine. “Oh. Would you like a glass?” he raised his, and I thought for a moment before nodding. He gestured to one of his own security men, who poured me a glass. I thanked the man before refocusing on my cousin.
“I am very exhausted being the Don. The Cartwrights being at large are just a drop in the ocean, to be frank,” I began. “My family will have this heavy burden on us as long as I am our family’s Don. I’ve been able to efficiently take care of business, but it’s not meant for me.”
“You’ve been doing a great job, James,” Giovani offered with an encouraging smile. “The family is thrilled to have you at its head. Still, I can tell it’s stressing you out, yeah. Not to mention you have a kid on the way.”
“Exactly,” I said. “Meanwhile, you are as efficient, if not more so, than I am. I think you would be a great person for the position I find myself in. I just don’t want to dump all of these problems on you, it’s a huge responsibility and comes with a lot of stress.”
“Which I deal with on the regular already, James,” Giovani chuckled, giving me a wink. He studied me for a second before saying, “You know, I don’t mind the added stress or responsibility. It would be an honor to be the Don.”
“You and I have a very different way of looking at it,” I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck and grinning sheepishly. I felt hope rush through me, though, at his willingness to hear me out and possibly take the Don position.
I said, “In that case. You wouldn’t be opposed to me giving you that title, then? I know it is a heavy decision, and you may need to think about it for a while. But I’m confident you would be the best fit for this, Giovani. You would bring it justice and make our family prosper.”
“Such sugary words from the Don, I feel like royalty,” Giovani joked, giving me a wider smirk. I rolled my eyes and couldn’t help but chuckle. He then grew serious, however, taking a sip of his wine and giving a nod.
“Look, James. I genuinely admire you and want to help you. The Don position is something I would be more than willing to take. This whole ordeal means a lot to me, and I think you are doing amazing work. It is taking its toll, though, on you. Can I handle it? Yes.”
“Well then,” I said, straightening up. “Let’s get things squared away so that you will be the family’s Don.”
Neal.
A few weeks had passed since I met Mariano, and the strong sense of attraction I had to both his looks and personality had not faded. In fact, we were hitting it off even harder now, and I couldn’t be happier.
Thankfully, I was brave enough to call Becca and say I wanted to visit as a friend. I meant it this time. There was no ulterior motive, not that there had been one, to begin with. She may have been stuck in my head a little, but that wasn’t an issue anymore.
After some hesitation, she agreed to see me. Likely because I wanted to introduce her to Mariano, which put her at ease for me not actually being after her anymore. I accepted that she was with James.
Mariano and I were sharing lunch before heading out. I gazed into his eyes, my own full of adoration for the man. “We’re really hitting it off, aren’t we?” I chuckled, breaking the silence that had formed between us as we ate sandwiches.
Mariano winked, saying, “I think we are, yes. I am thrilled to be favored by such a sexy guy as yourself, Neal.” I blushed deeply, glancing away and taking a bite of my sandwich. He had the most wonderful way with words while I could be a little awkward.
“The feeling is mutual,” I finally said, coughing. Mariano smirked at me, then winked, running his tongue over his lips in a very tempting manner. I stared at him for a moment, enjoying the idea of those lips against mine.
“I would describe myself as a cat, given how often I have your tongue. In more ways than one,” Mariano said, causing me to chuckle and rub the back of my neck. I finished my sandwich in a few more bites, standing up and stretching.
“I can be a bit tongue tied around you. You’re just so wonderful, Mariano. I’ve been through a lot in my life, and to finally find someone who returns my very strong feelings is among the best feelings in the world.”
Mariano finished up his lunch as well, reaching over to pick up my plate and put it on his. He then carried the dishes to the sink, no doubt to be done later. Currently, we were at my apartment, ready to head out to check on Becca soon.
After everything, I wanted to remain friends with her, and possibly make amends with James. Many of our past enemies had intercepted, anyway, and we connected through actually getting through what that hell was.
Mariano walked over to me after getting the dishes situated, catching me under the chin and staring into my eyes. I felt my heart pound as he leaned in and placed his lips against mine, causing my entire body to relax.
He explored my mouth for a little while as I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close. He had strong arms, which matched his tongue. I loved how he dived in with no hesitation, confident in everything he did. I was completely love-struck.
Eventually, the kiss had to end. He pulled away, taking a breath and smiling brightly at me. “I’m looking forward to meeting your friend today,” he said softly. “I am very glad to hear their wedding went well. You said past things could have come up and interrupted it?”
“Yes,” I sighed, shaking my head. “You know by now that my past is rocky, but that’s the case with friends associated with me as well. Too many twisted people out there trying to destroy lives, essentially,” I explained, causing him to nod.
He ran his fingers through my hair, causing me to swallow and go for yet another kiss. This tender one lasted for a few seconds, though not as long as when we made out. I licked my lips when it ended, letting out a sigh.
He said, “Rocky pasts are just that. In the past. I’m glad you and your friends have found some peace. I know we’re going rather fast, but I enjoy being part of your life and am happy to meet these friends of yours.” I smiled at him, knowing he meant every word.
After one more hug, we headed to the car, chatting about another date idea. “I would love to go to the aquarium,” he explained. “Having lunch at the wildlife sanctuary was amazing, I’m so happy to see your passion for such a thing match mine.”
I nodded. I hadn’t ever been able to explore likes such as that, but my sister loved the beach and the animals associated with it. Wildlife in general, really, which caught my interest as well. With all the guns, revenge, and violence I couldn’t live and be myself.
Now, with Mariano, I could. We were discovering every day that we had similar interests. I said, “It was,” with a smile. The memory of us sharing drinks and treating ourselves to a savory meal in the aviary of that sanctuary was a treat.
We were able to watch the birds nearby, listening to their calls and talking about the status of their preservation, which was laid out on the cards and information given by the sanctuary itself. We had a hard time tearing our eyes away from each other, though.
“They say owls are the wisest birds,” Mariano muttered, interrupting my train of thought. He opened the door for me, and I got into the car. He was driving today, something I didn’t mind. We had navigation set up, anyway. The handsome man then continued his train of thought.
“But I’ve always found corvids to be much more intelligent. Corvids and parrots. Isn’t it fascinating? A creature with beautiful black feathers, and a creature with a menagerie of colors, both so different in look and alike in mind,” he said. I beamed at him, giving a nod.
The intellectual always had something wonderful to say and sometimes found mathematical connections to it too. I joked, “Are you going to find some connection to geometry or numbers with what you just said?”
Mariano gave a soft, chiming laugh, one that always warmed my heart. “Give me a moment. I’ll think about it.” I smiled at him, and we were off, chatting like a storm on the way to Becca and James’s house.
It had been a few days since the wedding, and I was glad to catch them before their honeymoon. They were apparently leaving in about a week, having squared away those plans quickly. Given how much money Becca had, I wasn’t surprised. I wasn’t sure why they didn’t go on their honeymoon right after the wedding, which was usually the tradition, but it wasn’t my business.
We eventually pulled into the driveway of their family compound, and I got out of the car. Security approached, needing to verify who we were before we could approach the front door and greet Becca.
Mariano didn’t seem nervous about this at all and didn’t skip a beat. “Gentlemen,” he said kindly, giving them a nod. His smile was contagious, and Becca’s security returned it with as much warmth.
I knocked on the door, waiting a beat before Becca answered. She gave me a careful smile, no doubt hoping I wasn’t going to try and beg to get her back or anything. My face flushed with embarrassment at that thought.
I really had been unreasonable, hadn’t I? Rather, I said, “Hello, Becca. I am really glad to hear your wedding went well. Thank you for agreeing to see me to check up and possibly make amends. This is Mariano, someone I’ve been dating for a bit,” I said, not giving her a chance to speak before I finished.
Becca peered at Mariano and gave a dip of her head, holding out her hand for a shake. They shook hands, and Mariano said kindly, “Hello there. I’ve heard many good things about you. I’m honored to be meeting a friend of a wonderful guy like Neal.”
We were let inside and led to the coffee table, where Becca said, “I’m glad you two found one another.” There was a hint of relief in her tone, which caused that coil of guilt in my gut to intensify. Things would be cleared up today, though, I was sure.
