A Love Restored

“Woah, Ganny,” I crash into Nico. “Who are you running from?”

one. I say hastily. “I was looking for you. You cave me a d

a dance.”

Nico looks a litte skeptic, but he nods. He holds me at arm’s length and looks me over. “Nice dress.” He comments,

I grin. Nico sucks at giving compliments, “How about that dance?”

Nico takes me by the arm and pulls mo times while we dance.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

and pulls me on the dance floor. Careless Whisper by George Michaels is playing, and Nico steps on my feet a

few hundred

“This was a bad idea. I say when he steps on my foot again. “My toe might be broken.“

Nico rolls his eyes. “No, it’s not, Wanna get something to eat?”

I nod. “You almost broke it at prom. And yeah, I’m starving”

I sit down and take off my shoes while Nico gets us some food. My feet hurt, but sure enough, I’m not injured. I keep forgetting that I’m not supposed to dance with Nica. He has two left feet, and tends to kill people with his dancing skills.

I look around the room. Everyone is mingling with each other, Consigliere and Don are off to one side, nursing a glass of whiskey and talking. Donna is dancing like a madwoman, but that’s her for you, Julian is standing close to where I’m sitting with his back to me, speaking with the new Capo, Remi Ajax.

Remi Ajax is my brother Gabriel’s boyfriend. He is always hanging out at our house. I think he sees me staring at them, and waves. Embarrassed, I wave back. Remi smiles, and starts toward me. Julian turns to see who he is waving at. Noticing it is me, he follows.

“Hey, I’ve been looking for you. Happy birthday.” Remi Ajax says, pulling me into a side hug, Remi Ajax is very young, about 26, and he is good looking in that engaging smile and blonde surfer way. I would be into him if I didn’t see him as my older brother, or if I wasn’t in love with Julian.

“Thanks.” I tell him, “You didn’t get me a gift.” I tease.

Remi Ajax rolls his eyes. “Yeah, I know, dude. Il treat you to breakfast for the rest of the week.”

“Make it a month and we’re good.”

“Done”

Julian coughs. “Remi Ajax, I’m pretty sure the murder of your stand in is a pretty trivial issue here. He says, sourly,

“You need to fucking loosen up, Capo Bastone,”

I wasnt aware Remi Ajax and Julian were on such friendly terms, but I’m more surprised about Remi Ajax’s stand in dying and not getting to know about it. Gabriel is only a soldier, but he gets to know things through Remi Ajax, and usually tells me all about it.

“Ten was killed?” I ask urgently. “When? How? By whom?”

Julian ignores my question, and says to Remi Ajax, “We should take this to my office.”

“Hello” I wave my hand between their faces, and Julian’s eyes flicker to me, irritated. “Are you guys deal?”

“Ginevra,” Julian says my name slowly, as if he’s talking to a toddler, “You shouldn’t interrupt. He a good girl and go back to rating”

I gulp, my mind brading to a nasty conclusion when I hear the words “good girl“.

“Sorry, Capo Bastone I say, “But I don’t like being ignored.”

“And I don’t like being disrespected by little girls.”

My eyes narrow, What a jackass,

I take a step closer to him, and tilt my head so I’m looking in his eyes, I wasn’t a little girl when we were dancing, Julian, was 17o

Remi Ajax gapes at me. He pulls me hack by my arm. “That’s enough, Ginny” He says, authoritatively. For the first time, I can see why he made Capo.

Hemi Ajax is scary

when he’s serious. “Don’t speak to your Capo Bastone that way. Now scurry off before I have to do something I don’t want to.”

I’m about to say something, but Julian beats me to it. “That’s alright, Remi Ajax. I think I can fundle Ginevra myself”

“Capo Bastone, she’s a child. Let her be,” Remi Ajax s

says. I like how he’s trying to protect me. He doesn’t need to, though. Julian would never hurt me. Besides, I’m liking this little game he’s playing. It’s not like he can hurt me. I’m used to him not liking me back. And hearts only break when expectation

“I m not a fucking child, Remi Ajax”

Julian smirks “Care for another dance, Ginevra?”

I look at his outstretched hand. My fingers ache to touch his palm, but my ego won’t let me. If I refuse to dance with him, it’s going to be the ultimate insult. In the mafia, you don’t deny your superiors anything. Especially if they’re a Rivera.

I give in, and let him take my hand and lead me to the dance floor once again, this time in a corner, where I’m sure no one

Sure no one can see us.

This day has changed so much between Julian and I. I had never in my wildest dreams thought something like this could ever happen.

I don’t know what song is playing, but when Julian pulls me close to him and his hand snakes up my back, a fire starts deep inside my bones.

Julian buries his head in the crook of my neck. He bites the top of my ear lightly. I gasp.

“Wha-”

“Quiet.” He orders in a whisper. “Just stay quiet, Ginevra.”

I suck in a sharp breath. I don’t like to be ordered around. But with Julian, it feels right. As if doing what he says is what I’m supposed to do. Maybe it’s because he’s the Underboss. Maybe it’s because he’s turning me on like a light bulb.

“Aren’t you a sassy little girl, Ginevra?” He mocks. Trying to be smart with me. Trying to make me mad.”

“I wasn’t trying to make you mad.” I say, despite the fact that he told me to be quiet.

Hetsks, and bites my ear again. “So disobedient. Has your Daddy taught you anything?”

o listen to arrogant, condescending men.”

“No, he hasn’t taught me to

He chuckles. “Darlin, the mafia is made of arrogant, condescending men.”

I roll my eyes.

“Who ev

even says darlin‘, anymore?”

“Who even says condescending, anymore?”

That shuts me up, but only for a moment.

Everyone does.” 1 “You wouldn’t know. You’re too fucking old.

Julian laughs loudly, enough to make others on the floor turn to look at us. One look from him, and everyone is back to their business.

“What a dirty mouth,” He says “Maybe I will have to teach you.”

Trach me what?”

“I’m never going to be good girl

“Yes, you will, darlin.” He says. “Yes, you will.”

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