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Chapter 13: GABRIEL
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
The Life First Love Chapter 14: GIANNA
I’m extremely nervous to the point I want to back out of going back home this soon. It may have only been days since I left, but it feels like ten lifetimes had already passed for all that has happened since then. I’m not going to lie; part of me wants the three of them to see me looking the way I do now; I guess it’s only natural to feel that way.Part of me is genuinely worried about my dad. I guess it’s not that easy separating the bad from the good; I still recall the way things were in the beginning, and for that reason, I can’t cut all ties completely, though my respect level for him is pretty low.And then there’s this other part of me, the part that remembers the trauma of living under their shadow, of not being heard or believed when it mattered, of being replaced in my own home, having my life completely taken over. That part still feels fear at the thought of facing my tormentors.I had to keep gripping one hand with the other to keep them from shaking. The only thing sto
The Life First Love Chapter 15: GABRIEL
There were two very pale females in that room, while one adult male looked like someone had goosed him. Come on, jerk, get your shit together for Pete’s sake. “So, you look well; they’ve been taking care of you?” Felix, you are a lost fucking cause. That was my first thought when he dropped that sentence into the silence that fell.No, wait, that seems way off. The words never judge a book by its cover are never actually talking about books. No man is that dumb, that clueless when faced with the truth. So I looked again. I watched him as he spoke to his daughter, and good old Felix was clutching his hands together so tight, they’d turned white. My eyes went back to his face, and no, he wasn’t angry at her, but he was livid about something.I knew when I saw him last night that the tide in his house had changed as well, but this was better than expected. I know he’d talked to the Feds and heard about Victoria’s dad being alive, but I have no doubt these two could spin a spider out of
The Life First Love Chapter 16: FELIX
Stupid! Stupid, gullible fool, and worst of all, negligent. Is that why the kid had brought Gia to the house looking like that? Did he know how much it would shake things up, especially me? It’s amazing what you learn when people think you’re not listening, I’m just ashamed that it took me this long.Apparently, there’s more to the story that Becky told me about Victoria being suspended for arguing in school. What did the Russo kid mean by looking for a new school? You don’t change schools over suspension. But more to the point, how many times in the past did Victoria make that snarky comment about her adoption being an improvement? Always before, she’d passed it off as a joke, but today for the first time, it sounded ugly, mean.She’d been Gia’s closest friend, as close as sisters Adrienne had once said. I believed that, had that too been a lie? I want to run and hide, bury my head in the proverbial sand. Weak, I know, but thinking of the mess I would need to unravel if all this is
The Life First Love Chapter 17: GABRIEL
The tears started before we made it to the door. In fact, as soon as I helped her out of the car, four women, with the grandmother leading the pack, came rushing down the steps, well, as much as society mavens rush. To be frank, the Russo billions are about a hundred, a hundred- and fifty-years tops. Her maiden family looks like the type who brought theirs over before the state was even named.I could smell something in their blood that surpassed blue; these people are the real deal. “Oh, Gianna, my beautiful Gianna.” I had to bite my tongue not to tell grandma that I was the only one allowed to call her that. I didn’t hold back to make a good impression or anything like that; I just didn’t want to put a damper on her first visit.So, imagine my surprise when she did it for me. “I go by Gia.” She still had a death grip on my hand, so maybe she’d felt me tense up when the old lady used her name. Don’t ask me why I won’t let anyone else use her name. Maybe it’s because no one stepped i
The Life First Love Chapter 18: GABRIEL
Bedtime came way too soon, and I got ready to leave; though I dreaded leaving her in a strange place, I knew the time spent with her family would be beneficial to her. But she wasn’t making it easy. “I’m not that far, call me if you need me, and I’ll come get you; otherwise, call before you fall asleep, and I’ll stay up with you, okay.”She nodded but didn’t look convinced. “Come on, walk me out. I’m sure there’s a lot they want to say without me there.” She walked me to the door and outside, where the temperature had dropped. I looked around the outside of the house, picking out her room just in case—Draco Russo training at work.“Kiss me goodbye, so I know you’re okay with me leaving.” That’s about the most domesticated thing I’ve ever said in my life. Luckily for me, she got up on her toes and pressed her lips to mine. I get a kick out of knowing that neither of us had ever shared this with anyone else before, though she refuses to believe it.“Go on inside now; it’s cold out her
The Life First Love Chapter 19: DRACO
“You okay, Gabe, Gianna?”“Yes, Pop, we’re good. What brings you here?” I just gave him a look because I’m pretty sure he knows the answer to that already. “You two go ahead and get in the car and follow me.”“Where are we going?”“To Fontane’s house.”I walked past my men, who’d raced to get here behind me. After I got the call, I didn’t have time to wait around for them. That’s why a car is always ready with a key in the ignition and sitting at the bottom of the front steps. A different one each day because enemies tend to notice routines.I ignored the Fontane woman who was trying to get my attention and going about it the wrong way. A crowd had started to gather, and I guess that made her feel brave. “That’s right; the big bad wolf came to save his little snot-nosed brat of a son.” I laughed at that one, preposterous as it was.She took a few steps back when I looked over my shoulder at her, and I hadn’t even opened my mouth yet. “Lady, I’m not here to save my son. I’m here t
The Life First Love Chapter 20: DRACO
“Have you found my son?”“Sorry, boss, we’re still looking.”“You have the nerve to say that shit to me, Tommy?” He took a small step back. Keep your temper down Draco, remember, your daughters are in the room.“We looked everywhere; he’s just….” I held my hand up because if he said that shit to me one more time, I'm going to lose one of my best men.“You two know where your brother went?” As if they’d tell me if he asked them not to.“Nope!” They looked at each other as if for confirmation. Not even the threat of the guillotine will get them to talk if they know the answer. But I can’t fault them for that; their mother and I raised them to be that way. Then again, Gabe would never involve his sisters in anything that might bring them harm.“And Lancelot’s not answering his phone. I wonder why.”“You may leave Tommy; I’ll deal with you later for what went down with these two.” He didn’t seem too worried about it. Probably proud. “The four of you can follow him. I won’t hold you
The Life First Love Chapter 21: RUSSO
“May I help you, sir?”“My name is Antonio Russo, Mr. Fontane. You’ve met my son and grandson, I believe. May I come in?” I waited respectfully for his response while he checked out the men behind me with curiosity. I can imagine how they look to him or anyone who’s ever seen a badly written mafioso movie. Thugs all of them, but my sons won’t let me leave the house without them; even here, so many miles away from where I lived that life and did my business.“Yes, yes, of course, come in. What brings you here at this hour?” I waved my men off as they made to follow me inside. “No, you stay out here and wait for me.” I followed the man down the hallway into what must’ve once been a very attractive room but was now a tacky shell of gaudy furnishings, and the color was all wrong. This is a reflection on the lady of the house, as my good wife would say. Insecure, tasteless, tacky, but I wasn’t here for that.Two women, one older the other little more than a child, entered the room behind
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The Life First Love Chapter 37: GABRIEL
Breakfast in the morning was a riotous mess. Ma was in her element, having the whole family here, including the grands as well as Gianna’s relatives who had gone from talking about the party the night before to the upcoming trip to Paris and the ball. I learned that Gianna was going to be busy once we returned from the Caribbean, which is a good thing. It will give me time to put the finishing touches on the Fontane issue while gearing up for mine. Aside from finding her the perfect gowns last minute, which they didn’t seem as worried about as the other stuff her invite entailed, there was a mind-numbing amount of crap she had to go through. I’d been there for my sisters’ and knew she had a long road ahead of her. I’d gained a whole new respect for the tradition after getting an up-close look from behind the scenes. Before, I thought it was a lot of waste for what boiled down to just a party. But the way the women in my family act it’s almost like a rite of passage, and I can see w
The Life First Love Chapter 36: GABRIEL
“Let me grab a jacket. Be right back.” She started to fret that there was nothing to do justice to her gown like a typical female before I stopped her.“No need. Here.” I walked to the coat closet where the rest of her outfit waited and removed the cape I’d left hanging there.“Oh my, it’s beautiful.” I draped the ermine coat around her shoulders and stood back to look. The padded silk cape had been died to match her gown in daffodil yellow, while the white ermine border glistened beneath the light of the chandelier. “I’ve never seen anything like this.” She ran her hands over the fur in awe.I took her hand and led her to the door, or I have a feeling she’d have stood there all night admiring herself. She hadn’t yet noticed the butterflies outlined with gold thread pattern that flitted along the back and sides of the cape, but I knew that would be a whole other conversation if she did, and I didn’t want my prey to retreat before the finale I had planned.“It’s not too cold, is it?
The Life First Love Chapter 35: VICTORIA
Who has this kind of security for a sweet sixteen? I couldn’t even get close to the gate. What am I even doing here anyway? Like a lost puppy searching for its owner. I don’t know what came over me, what made me get into mom’s car and sneak away, but I needed to know if everyone else had been invited but me.Just thinking about it made me too sick to my stomach to sit still. I couldn’t stand the thought of all of them laughing at me, talking about me behind my back, reminiscing about all the things I’d said and done in the past, and laughing at me. It always comes back to them laughing at me; that’s the one thing I can’t stand.But it’s like there’s an information blackout, and I’m the only one left looking in from the outside. My so-called friends aren’t returning my calls, and there’s no one else for me to ask. At least I haven’t seen any of them show up, and I’ve been here since well before the party started. I thought it would’ve been easy with all these people going in and out
The Life First Love Chapter 34: GABRIEL
“I wish the fuck you would.” Gianna jumped a good foot off the floor at my outburst when she stepped out of the room ahead of the others. My vision blurred for a few seconds, and I was lucky I was leaning against the wall, or I might’ve fallen on my ass at the sight. I couldn’t even find my voice for another minute or so, too perplexed by what I was seeing.I knew it, I knew they were up to some shit when they refused to show me what they were wearing for this dance number, but this, this goes beyond anything I could’ve imagined.“Gabriel, what’s wrong?” She looked spooked and more than a little wary at my tone, but what the hell.“What’s wrong? I’m going to wring your neck; that’s what’s wrong.”“Look, here comes the other two and their entourage.” Lance huffed beside me.“Gianna, what the hell do you think you’re wearing?” I reached for my jacket to cover her, only then remembering I wasn’t wearing one, and besides, I didn’t dare walk towards her, or I just might follow through
The Life First Love Chapter 33: GABRIEL
The next day there was nothing but chaos in the house. People talk about bridezillas, but I bet they have nothing on two Italian princesses who have their father wrapped around their fingers and a bevy of people willing to do their bidding for the right price. I didn’t see my girl all day because the twins wanted her with them. There were stylists, makeup artists, and who knows what else milling around the house since breakfast and the noise level was off the charts. Her ankle-biter kept me company all day while I kept him out of the way until it was time to get ready for the party. Pop had made his escape with Uncle Marcus on the golf course while I stayed in my room doing what I do best.I spent most of the morning eavesdropping on her family home and the other half preparing for Sicily. There was still no news of my grandfather, but I’d at least made headway in finding my way into the Ricci circle. My first plan of action has always been to find out who was at the party that nigh
The Life First Love Chapter 32: GABRIEL
The week flew by, or maybe it was the excitement surrounding the twins’ party that made it seem like it had. I’m always amazed at how life still goes on for others, even in the midst of your own turmoil. Gianna was being brave, but I’m almost certain she’s still in the trauma bonding stage, which is why I’ve been distracting her these last few days with anything other than sex.Sometime around Wednesday, which was the third day she cried in her sleep, I was hit by a thunderbolt. She’s going through trauma, but what’s my excuse? Why am I allowing this to happen when I know in the back of my mind that it’s not right? I’m not sure why it took me this long, but while everyone else is in a celebratory mood, I’ve been dealing with the guilt of taking an innocent’s innocence.Refusing her when I still want her is proving to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but I’m doing it for her. I still won’t let her go back to her own bed, though, because she needs me in the night, so I stay
The Life First Love Chapter 31: GABRIEL
She’s asleep. Exhausted, hurt, confused, it was all written on her face, even as she slept. I watched over her for a little while longer before easing out from under her and going to get cleaned up. The water burned the scratches she’d left on my back and shoulders, but instead of being elated at the wildness she’d shown in my bed, I felt true nervousness for the first time in my life.Something has changed inside her. She no longer seems like the levelheaded innocent I’d saved that day not too long ago. To add even more to my worry, now that the excitement of the moment is over, my mind keeps throwing horrifying scenarios my way. There’s so much that could’ve happened to her in that house, so much that could’ve gone wrong, and I’ll be forever grateful to my sisters for not letting her go there alone.My thoughts wouldn’t settle down enough for me to do what I need to because I’m too worried that she’d go rogue again and wondering how the hell I can prevent it. Right now, her blood i
The Life First Love Chapter 30: VICTORIA
I’m going to kill her. I’m going to kill all of them. There was a wild fury building inside me, a pressure that needed release soon or I’d explode, so I screamed. It didn’t do much, but at the very least, it helped ease some of the pressure from my head and chest. The air around me thickened, making my head spin as I made my way up the stairs to my room, all the while fighting back the tears that I refused to let fall. Tears are for the weak, like Gia.I stood in front of the mirror in my room, assessing the damage and feeling both angry and embarrassed. I can’t believe I let her do this to me and in front of Gabriel Russo, no less. Now that it was over, I thought of all the things I should’ve done to her, but I’ve never been much of a fighter; then again, neither has she. Where the hell did she learn to fight like that?My lips were already starting to swell when I cleaned the blood away, and I could barely see out of my left eye. I had the urge to just let myself cry just this once
The Life First Love Chapter 29: GIANNA
It’s been days, and still, no matter how hard I push myself, I can’t escape the anger that now lives inside me. It’s frightening and all-consuming in a way not even my grief had been. It was hard enough dealing with my mother being gone at such a young age, enduring the things I have with her not here.I’d learned to keep my head down and wait for the day I could make my escape, but now, there’s no way I’m leaving without that bitch’s head. “Hey!” Hey, Gianna, calm down, come here.” I felt Gabriel’s arms come around me from behind me, pulling me back away from the punching bag in the home gym. I’d forgotten he was here.“It’s okay; I’m fine, really.” I also forgot how he watches over me like a hawk with its young these days. Maybe he, too, has noticed the change in me though I’ve done a pretty good job of hiding it. I’ve been pushing myself to the point of exhaustion these days to get rid of some of the pent-up anger and frustration, but today I seem to have reached my breaking point
