All Chapters of Vendetta and Vino: Tuscan Temptations: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Sophie’s POV‘I can't believe I'm walking and being celebrated in the same space the Met Gala is held every year,’ I thought to myself as I perused the ornate decorations that graced every wall and table. The museum ballroom was tastefully decorated with a fusion of French elegance and New York grandeur. The walls were lined with glossy gold frames that highlighted the stunning artwork, and in the center of the room stood a magnificent marble sculpture in a glass display case. I stood toward the front of the room and assessed the guests chatting excitedly. The tables were dressed with fine white linens, accented by tall golden candelabras and an array of crystal glasses and utensils. Ornamental vases filled with vibrant flowers adorned every corner, adding a splash of color to balance out the more traditional aesthetic. Meanwhile, guests mingled in tuxedos and long gowns that sparkled under the flickering chandelier light. I glanced down at my ballgown and was thankful a styli

*Sophie’s POV*My reflection stared back at me as I took in what I was wearing. Mr. Rossi had already seen me at my best when we first met at the unveiling, and I didn't want to show up in my grungy flea market attire. I came home to change, and Luca deserted me so he could go have lunch with Kylie and Minerva. I wore a simple black dress I bought recently, and I paired it with a pair of black high-heeled sandals that I bought because they made my already long legs look even longer. I pulled the top of my curly mop of hair into a top knot, and let the rest fall down my back. My dark brows framed my mocha-colored almond-shaped eyes, eyes that never cease to remind me of how much I physically resembled my mother.I had decided to skip makeup altogether except for a hint of blush and shiny lip gloss. Mr. Rossi seemed nice enough, but I didn't want him to get the wrong idea about how I was dressed. Men like him were used to getting whatever they wanted, but I wasn't interested in being

*Sophie’s POV*The reverberation of the front door hitting the wall caused us all to turn our heads. Alessandro Rossi stood in the doorway with an amused look on his face as he assessed the precarious situation the three of us had found ourselves in. His eyes moved from the scared expression on my face to the gun in the other man’s hand, and I swear he smiled.He wore an expensive suit that accentuated the muscular build of his body. His face was lined with age, but still handsomely chiseled. "Jacopo, put the gun away. Sophia and Luca were invited here by me, and I won't have you running them off because you're having one of your temper tantrums."Jacopo. That was the name of this handsome stranger that stole my breath at the flea market, and now stole my peace in Tuscany.Jacopo furrowed his brow and scowled at Alessandro. His gaze shifted to Luca and me, and he bared his teeth in a menacing expression. I held my breath as Jacopo tightened his grip on the gun before uncurling his

*Sophie’s POV* Luca and I barely got six hours of sleep before we had to be back at the villa. Mr. Rossi's late wife had been an avid collector of all art mediums. We were walking to a storage building on the property where he held most of her collection, and Luca was blabbering on about the bedroom he slept in being haunted."I don't think that's possible," I said, trying to stifle a laugh. "Ghosts aren't real, Luca."He scoffed, "You don't know that."I rolled my eyes, "Sure, Luca. Keep telling yourself that.""You may not be a believer, but I am. I woke up three times to a woman's voice saying my name. The third time, I swear I felt someone breathing on my neck. How am I going to get anything done when ghosts are keeping me up all night?" he dramatically pretended to fall over from exhaustion.I rolled my eyes and listened to my work boots crunch against the gravel beneath my feet, "Stop. You're going to give me nightmares. If that happens, I'll kick your ass," I warned.We

*Jacopo’s POV*"Where the fuck is she?" I asked Dante, one of the men working under Sophia.He shrugged his shoulders and continued to take measurements for the contractor who was working on the foundation of the house.Everything was changing, and it was starting to piss me off. The house had been emptied and gutted. Every time I walked in and saw the damage, I felt like I was going to throw up. I needed to find Sophia and see what the end game was. She told me she wanted to restore the villa, but it sure as fuck didn't look like that.Luca saw me glowering his way, so he stood up straight and approached me, "Can I help you with something, Jacopo?" I rolled my eyes, "Where is she?" Something mischievous flashed in Luca's eyes, "Who do you mean?"It was obvious that these people had no idea who I was, or for that matter, who the Rossi Family was. Even worse, they seemed entirely too comfortable ignoring my orders and showing a complete lack of respect towards me. "You know e