A slow smile curled his lips. “There might be a way for us to be together.”
“You mean officially?” I asked excitedly.
“Yes, but first Aria needs to figure out a way to talk to Luca, and then we’ll go from there.”
I tried to hold back my joy, but it was difficult. I wanted nothing more than a real future with Romero.
I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him, but after only a few seconds Romero pulled back with a pained look. “We need to be more careful. Aria will rip my head off if she catches us kissing out in the open like that again.”
“Probably not only your head,” I said with a wicked grin, cupping him through his pants.
Romero groaned, gripped my wrist and pulled my hand away. “Lily, stop torturing me.”
“I thought you like it when I torture you.”
Romero leaned down, his lips brushing my ear. “I do, when we are alone.”
“Then how about we head to my room?”
“There’s nothing I’d rather do, but we shouldn’t risk it during the day,” Romero said regretfully. “And I really need to call Luca and ask about the problem with the Russian underboss.”
I pouted playfully. “I hate it when you’re being reasonable. Tonight is too far away. I want you now.”
“Fuck,” Romero muttered. Then he gave me a dangerous grin. “Go ahead. I’ll come after you in a few minutes.”
I dashed off toward my room, already feeling my core tighten with anticipation.
* * *
The next day, Luca returned from New York. He was on edge, so our confession would have to wait. During dinner that evening, Aria, Romero, and I acted as if nothing had ever happened. I really hoped Aria would figure out a way to talk to Luca soon so we could all find a way to make a future for Romero and me possible.
Gianna kept chancing looks at Aria and me as if she could smell that something was going on. Gianna had always been drawn to trouble so it was really no surprise.
Halfway through the main course, Luca’s phone started buzzing. “What now?” he growled as he dropped his fork. Today definitely wasn’t the day to tell him about Romero and me. I hadn’t seen him in such a bad mood in a while. He got up, pulled the phone out of his pants pocket and answered it.
“Rocco, I didn’t expect your call,” he said.
We all turned toward the conversation.
Luca glanced in my direction. “Liliana is doing well.”
My father had only called once the entire summer to ask how I was. For some reason I worried about the true reasons for his check-in.
“Tomorrow? That’s short notice. Has something happened?”
I put my fork down, my stomach tightening with anxiety.
“Of course. She’ll be there,” Luca said with a frown. He hung up and returned to the table, lowering his large frame into the chair.
“What’s going on?” Aria asked before I could even utter a word. She looked as worried as I felt. Did she think Father had found out something about Romero and me? If that were the case, the call wouldn’t have gone over so peacefully, that much was sure. And who should have told them? Nobody in this house would.
“Your father wants Liliana to come home tomorrow,” Luca said, lips tight with concern.
“What?” I said, shocked. Romero didn’t quite manage to hide his surprise either. I had to force myself to tear my gaze away from him quickly before Luca got suspicious. “So soon?”
Matteo laughed. “You’ve been here for three months.”
Gianna rammed her elbow into his side and he rubbed the spot with a smirk.
“I was joking, damn it. Why do you have to be so violent?” he asked.
I wasn’t in the mood for jokes. I felt like the rug had been pulled out from under my feet. I’d always known I’d have to return eventually but now that I was being faced with my father’s order, I felt heartbroken.
“He wants you on the earliest flight. He booked the ticket already,” Luca continued as if his brother and Gianna weren’t still bickering.
“Did he say why?” I asked.
“He said something about social responsibilities. Apparently there are a few parties he wants you to attend, but he wasn’t very forthcoming with information.”
My eyes darted to Romero again, but then I focused on Luca. “Did he say how long I had to stay in Chicago?”
Luca narrowed his eyes. “No. Chicago is your home, so I had no right to ask.”
“Lily is of age, she could simply refuse to return,” Gianna said snidely. Matteo had his arm wrapped around her shoulder. As usual their fighting hadn’t lasted very long. They’d probably soon go to their room to make up.
Luca glowered. “Then I’d drag her onto that plane if necessary. If her father wants her to come home, she’ll go. I won’t risk a conflict over something as ridiculous as this.”
I bit my lip. “It’s okay. I’ll go. I’ll survive a few parties, and I’m excited about seeing Fabi again. I missed him. I’ll plead Father to let me return to New York as soon as possible.”
I didn’t talk for the rest of dinner and was glad when I could finally get up. It was ridiculous of me to be so nervous about going home; because despite everything Chicago was still supposed to be my home. I headed out toward the terrace and wrapped my arms around myself, feeling inexplicably cold even though it was still warm.
The door slid open behind me again and Aria walked up beside me, giving me an understanding smile. “I’ll call Father and ask him to send you back for another visit soon. It’s not like he needs you in Chicago. You’ll be back before you know it.”
“You’re probably glad I’ll be gone because that means I can’t see Romero for a while,” I snapped. I felt instantly bad for lashing out at my sister. Closing my eyes, I said, “Sorry.”
Aria touched my shoulder lightly. “Don’t worry. And I really don’t want you to leave, please believe me.”
I nodded. “I’ve gotten used to life here. I’ve been happy. I don’t even remember the last time I was happy in Chicago.”
“This is only a temporary thing. You’ll be back here in no time, and while you’re in Chicago I’ll talk to Luca about Romero. Maybe when you’re back we’ll have made a plan on how to convince Father to accept Romero as your husband.”
Hope flared up in me. I looked at my sister. “You’re right. I should see it as a short vacation. Maybe soon I’ll be able to call New York my home for good.”
We didn’t say anything after that, only stood beside each other and watched the boisterous ocean. What I really wanted to do was talk to Romero, be in his arms and convince myself that this thing between us was meant to last, but it was way too early to retire to bed and we couldn’t risk anything with everyone still awake.
When the breeze picked up, Aria and I returned into the living room. Romero caught my eyes from across the room. I couldn’t wait to be alone with him tonight, to feel his body sliding against mine. I’d never needed him more.
* * *
Earlier than usual I crept out of my room and headed for Romero’s. I wanted to spend as much time with him as possible. He didn’t look surprised when I slipped in.
He was sitting on the edge of his bed, arms braced on his knees. He pushed to his feet when I closed the door. For a while we only stared at each other until the pressure in my chest threatened to crush my rib cage. Why was I being so emotional about this? Romero crossed the room and gripped me by the hips, then he turned us around and led me backwards toward the bed until my calves bumped against it and we both fell back on the mattress.
Our hands roamed each other’s bodies almost frantically, undressing and caressing. Who knew when we’d get the chance to feel each other again? It could be weeks. Too long. We needed to make the best of our last night together.
Tonight I wanted to be in control. I pushed Romero onto his back and he didn’t resist. I straddled his hips and lowered myself onto his erection, feeling it slide into me all the way. I closed my eyes for a moment, releasing a low breath at the familiar feeling of fullness. Romero gripped my hips and started pushing upwards, driving himself deeply into me. I leaned forward onto my forearms so my face was above his and my hair surrounded us like a curtain, our own personal sanctuary from the outside world. “I’m going to miss you,” I whispered as I rocked back and forth. “I’m going to miss this, everything.”
“You won’t be gone long,” he growled.
He sounded absolutely sure. I kissed him, moving even faster until we both came at the same time, but we weren’t sated yet. We made love two more times that night as if we could stamp the sensations of our togetherness into our minds that way.
“I don’t want to leave,” I murmured afterwards as I lay in Romero’s arms. “I want to fall asleep in your arms.”
Romero reached for his alarm clock. “Then don’t. We’ll get up early so you can sneak back to your room without anyone noticing.”
I smiled, and rested my cheek against his chest. It didn’t take long for me to fall asleep with the sound of Romero’s heartbeat like music in my ear.
* * *
The alarm woke us before sunrise and I quickly gathered my clothes in the dark room. Before I left, Romero pulled me against his chest and kissed me fiercely, then I slipped out and rushed back to my room. I caught a couple of hours of sleep before I really got up and prepared everything for my drive to the airport.
The hardest part about leaving was that I couldn’t hug or kiss Romero when we said goodbye in the airport waiting hall. With a last glance, I walked away, trying to ignore the insistent worry that I wouldn’t return.
* * *
When I landed in Chicago, my old bodyguard Mario was waiting for me. He wasn’t the most talkative person so we didn’t speak during the drive to my family home.
As I stepped up to the entrance door, my heart pounded in my chest like a drum. The last time I’d been here, the house had brimmed with sadness and death.
Mario opened the door for me and I stepped in. It wasn’t as bad as it used to be but I definitely didn’t feel at home here anymore. Was it my imagination or did the stench of disinfectant still linger in the corners?
“Where’s my father?” I asked quickly before my mind conjured up more craziness.
“In his office. He wants to see you right away.”
I doubted the reason for that was that he’d missed me. Mario headed off to take my luggage up to my room. I walked down the long corridor and knocked at Father’s door, trying to ignore the way my stomach twisted with nerves.
“Come in,” Father called.
I took a deep breath and slipped in. Fabi stood near the window. He had grown in the three months that I’d been gone and something about the way he held himself told me that wasn’t the only change in him. The last few months seemed to have taken a toll on him. It would have been better if Fabi had been allowed to go to Chicago with me for the summer, but naturally that had been out of the question.
Father sat behind his desk as usual. He didn’t bother getting up to hug me. But Fabi walked up to me and I wrapped my arms around him before he could decide he was too cool for affection. He was taller than me. I leaned back to take a look at his face.