Filed to story: Bound by Honor (Aria & Luca) Drama Story
“I am his Capo, Val. I doubt he’ll ever see me as anything else.”
I nodded. “All right. Bibi is supposed to come over any moment for lunch. Will you join us or are you going to work?”
“I need to work. I’m sure you two have a lot to talk about.”
Anna hopped off the chair and rushed over to us, brandishing her drawing excitedly. “Look!”
Dante squatted beside her and regarded her artwork patiently as she explained every stick figure to him. I stifled laughter at his serious expression. I loved seeing him with Anna, how he tried to make her feel validated with everything she did.
Fifteen minutes later Bibi arrived at our mansion for a playdate. Luisa and Anna loved each other, a fact that made me deliriously happy. I was glad that Anna had one of her best friends living close by because she was always sad that she couldn’t see Sofia very often due to the distance between them.
I nodded toward the guards sitting in the car in front of our house who’d driven Bibi over. She didn’t have a license unlike me but even I hardly ever drove anymore now that I had kids. Dante didn’t want me to go anywhere without either Taft or Enzo, or preferably both anyway.
Bibi looked splendid in a formfitting wool dress with her auburn hair down as she strode toward me, holding Luisa by the hand who was dressed in a cute pink dress. Luisa looked exactly like Bibi as a child, a fact for which I was very grateful because Bibi didn’t need any more reminders of her dead brute of a husband. Holding Leonas, I hugged her with one arm then cocked my brows. “You look stunning. Who are you trying to impress? Now I feel underdressed.”
I had opted for comfortable chino pants and a blouse that allowed quick access to my breasts for nursing.
She flushed, looking around in embarrassment as if someone might overhear us, and I ushered her in. Anna and Luisa hugged then they rushed upstairs, probably to play in Anna’s room.
Bibi crooned at Leonas, pointedly avoiding my eyes.
“Bibi, spill.”
“You just gave birth, Val. You should be the center of attention, not me. I can’t tell you about my dates.”
I shoved her lightly. “Bibiana, you’ve spent years living in misery and had to listen to everyone’s happy stories. Now it’s your turn. Please, I need the distraction.” I really didn’t want to worry about Orazio and my father anymore. Then I realized what she’d said. “Dates, as in more than one? I thought you needed me as a chaperone.”
Bibi looked mortified. “I know… but you had Leonas…”
“And you couldn’t wait to meet Dario as soon as possible.”
“We’ve been only been on two dates,” she admitted with an embarrassed laugh as we walked into the living room.
“And?”
“He’s very charming.” Her cheeks turned even redder and she focused on Leonas once more. It was adorable how embarrassed Bibi was about her dating life. She’d never had a crush or been in love, so this made me deliriously happy for her. “Can I hold him? He’s absolutely adorable!”
I nodded. She took Leonas from me and rocked him gently, looking absolutely smitten. Maybe Bibi was getting baby fever again. We sank down beside each other on the couch. Gabby had already prepared a pot of tea and an assortment of Bibi’s favorite macarons. It felt like I’d been eating constantly since I’d returned home.
“Bibi, you’re holding out on me.”
She bit her lip then met my gaze. “I let him kiss me after our second date. I didn’t want to-“
“He forced-“
“God no,” Bibi said quickly. “I mean I promised myself not to allow closeness because I didn’t want to give him the wrong impression but then I just… I don’t know. He stood so close and smelled so good and it just happened.”
“So you kissed,” I said with a grin. “So what? You’re a grown woman. And you deserve to enjoy yourself a bit.”
Bibi shook her head. “You know what people are going to say if they find out I kissed a man I’m not married to.”
“Nobody’s going to find out and if they do, they better keep their opinion to themselves. Nobody deserves this more than you. So how was it?”
Bibi smiled. “It was just… wow. I’ve never felt anything like it, as if every part of me is melting. I had so much trouble pulling away.”
I linked our fingers, not able to stop grinning despite my worry over Orazio and the war. “Then don’t pull away next time. Who cares?”
Bibi shook her head, looking determined. “No. I can’t be selfish about this. I want Luisa to have the best future possible and I don’t want people to talk behind her back about how her mother had an affair.”
I squeezed her hand. “Dario is a lawyer. I’m sure he’s got his ways to be sneaky about it.”
Bibi giggled but then she became serious. “I want to do this on my terms. I told him I’d like to see him again but that we need to go slow.”
“Do whatever feels right. I’ll support you no matter what.”
I leaned forward and kissed Bibi’s cheeks. “But Bibi, you deserve some man-made orgasms.”
Bibi gasped then burst out laughing and I fell in, feeling lighter than I had in a while.
Valentina was usually the peacemaker in our family. She didn’t like the lingering conflict between her brother and father, but this time it was my decision to invite Giovanni over for a clarifying conversation. With the war getting worse, I couldn’t allow fights among my own men, much less my family.
“I hope they don’t argue in front of the kids,” Val said with a sigh.