All Chapters of Best Friend's Daddy, Billionaire Devil: Chapter 101 - Chapter 110

GIANNIWhat was that noise?My eyes fly open, my heart racing out of my chest. There was a noise somewhere in the house. Unless I dreamed it—I didn't even know I had fallen asleep.Passed out is more like it. Sitting in my chair, alone, where I ended up after I cleaned the mess on the floor. The thought of Caterina returning to the house and seeing that mess haunted me. I couldn’t just leave it, yet I also refused to have anyone else do it.And it was a brief respite from the blame I heaped on myself once the worst of my drunken stupidity passed. I should’ve been there for my daughter. I should have been the sort of father she could come to when Christopher first started hurting her–since I doubt it started in Europe. I should’ve been there for her in these past weeks, insisting we find her a therapist, all of it.Somewhere along the way, I lost sight of my priorities. I’ve had the rest of the night to sit here and hate myself for it before passing out.My heartbeat slows once I’m awa

CATERINAAt first, I don't know what’s happening when I feel light pressure against my temple. Once, twice. Ugh, something keeps touching me. I try to shrug it off, since all I want to do is sleep. My body is limp with exhaustion, and I'm so comfortable. It feels like the bed has molded itself around me. I burrow deeper against it, hoping for sleep to grip back onto me and pull me under.It's the soft, deep chuckle in my ear that brings me back to the present. My lips turn up at the sides as Gianni pulls me close, making me the little spoon to his bigger one. His strong arms wrap tightly around me, and I bask in the warmth of his body heat. Now I really don't want to get up, ever. Never. I could happily spend the rest of my life wrapped up in him and these amazingly soft sheets.Too bad my anxious brain has other thoughts. “How are you feeling?” I whisper, just in case his head’s about to split open after all the drinking he did. I’m surprised he even has the energy to kiss me, which

GIANNIThere is nothing quite like the morning after a fight. Especially when the sight of the person you fought with brings everything back into perspective in bright, brilliant color. I only wanted to savor those last few minutes with her, but Roger's exquisite sense of timing fucked the whole thing up. It's enough to make me grind my molars as I march down the stairs. No doubt he wants a continuation of last night's bullshit. Little does he know how disinterested I am in what he thinks about my parenting skills.Instead of waiting for me in the office or his own, he stands outside my office door. His body language screams tension: head down, cracking his knuckles, practically vibrating with nervous energy. He may even be talking to himself under his breath.He looks up upon hearing me coming and clears his throat. “I thought you might want to clean up what you left in here last night.”“What the hell are you talking about?” I shove the door open and walk into the room to confirm I

CATERINA“You know, you don't need to do this.”I turn away from the stove, wooden spoon in hand. “And you don't need to say that again. I've already told you I want to make dinner.”“I'm not your responsibility. As much as I love your cooking.” Dad shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans, shrugging. “I'm the one bumming around without a job. I should be making dinner so it'll be on the table when you get home from work.”“How do I put this delicately?” I can't, and there's no holding in the laughter that bubbles up at the idea. “You make a mean bowl of cereal. But otherwise…”“Hey! I've gotten better with time,” he cuts me off.“I'll have to take your word for it.”“Very funny.” He goes to the fridge and pulls out a head of lettuce. “Do you think I'm incapable of making a salad?”“I guess we can give it a try. I mean, what could go wrong?” He rolls his eyes, but his sheepish grin goes a long way toward loosening what was left of the anxiety I've been fighting all day. I feared

GIANNI“Anything else you want to discuss with Costello when he comes in?”“Hmm?” I barely heard Roger’s question. He asked one; I know that much, though the substance was lost on me.He only shakes his head, sighing softly as we emerge from the stairwell leading up from the gym. We're both showered and dressed after our morning workout. I can't pretend getting back into my routine hasn't done wonders for my mental state. I lost sight of the important things for a minute there, but I'm back on track. No more heavy drinking, no more feeling sorry for myself. The only way out of a mess is through action, not wallowing.Though it seems my thoughts are still wandering, and of course, there's only one person to blame. The girl currently out to brunch with my daughter. I’d much rather have her in bed with me, the way she was when I woke up. By the time I was dressed for the gym, she was just beginning to stir after sleeping in on this fine Saturday morning.“Costello,” I mutter once I've ca