Daddy's Little Girl

Chapter 16

By the time we get back to the house the sun was beginning set. We walked inside hand in hand laughing when I hear someone clear their throat. I quickly pulled my hand out of Nico's and greeted my mother.

"Nicholas, I haven't seen you in ages sweetheart."

She said pulling on Nico's shoulder so he would bend down so she could kiss his cheek.

"It's nice to see you again, Mrs. Romano."

"Do you mind if I ask what you are doing here?"

"Um, Nico, can you do me a favor and go make sure Lance is tucked into bed?"

"Sure thing. Excuse me."

He said before slipping out of the tense room. She arched her eyebrow as she watched him leave. Ma obviously wasn't pleased to see me and Nico getting along so well. To her, I had to be with Gabriel Ricci. This was the second time she's come here unannounced. I really can't have her snooping about whenever she likes, this woman has a talent for digging up things that were meant to have stayed buried.

"Ma-"

"Why are you with that Valentino boy? How could you do that to Gabriel?"

"What?"

I say in shock of her audacity, although by now it really shouldn't surprise me.

"You can't just come back to my house and tell me how I'm supposed to live my life."

I scoff.

"Yes I can, because I am the one who gave you life."

"Why are you doing this, ma? Why are you even back from Italy?"

"I already told you, because I got the letter."

"What the fuck is this letter you keep talking about? What letter?!"

I ask annoyed.

"You better lower your god damn voice! How dare you talk to your mother in such a tone."

"Escusa, but ma I really need to know what this letter is! I haven't written to you, so who did?"

"Gabriel. It's a letter explaining what has been going on between you two and it also came with an invitation."

"An invitation? To what? Come back home?"

"Why are you pretending that you do not know?"

"I swear to God I have no idea what you are talking about."

"The wedding invitation!"

"Who's wedding invitation?"

"Yours, amore mio!"

"Wait-"

"The little guy is knocked out."

Nico said cheerfully reentering the room.

"Aw, the baby is asleep? Mind if I see him for only a minute?"

"No, ma, I think you should go."

I say frozen in my place.

"It would only be for a second-"

"I said no. Don't show up acting like you love this family because you selfishly left after daddy died. I honestly for a split second thought you might have come back for me, but no, you just ran back here thinking things were finally going to go your way. If you really cared about us you would know Lance isn't even a baby anymore, and I'm apparently not even your daughter."

"How could you say such things?"

"Get out."

"Okay, I'll leave. But I just want you to know that I do love you and that is why I am pushing for this secure marriage."

And with that she was gone and I was left still in shock in the entry room.

"What's wrong?"

Nico softly asked hugging my stiff body.

"I... I don't know."

I don't want to talk to him about Gabriel, especially since every thing has been going very well between us.

"Come on, let's go upstairs and I'll change your arm bandages before you go to sleep."

"I can't. I have some where to be."

I say shaking off my shock. Gabriel is coming to pick me up at 8.

"Why don't you stay home with me? We can watch a movie or something. Anything you want."

"I can't, I need to fix something."

Nico sighed.

"Ok, just be mindful of your arm. It's healing so well, you wouldn't want to over do it."

"I know. I'll be back soon, I swear."

I say getting on my tippy toes to kiss him before going to my closet to change into a black clubbing dress detailed with gold chains on the ribs. I send a quick text to Gabriel letting him know not to pick me up and that I'll just meet him at the club. I don't know what his angle is, but I won't let him get away with it. I knock on Christiano's door.

"Yeah?"

"Hey, could you drive me to Imperial Fire?"

I ask.

"Yeah, give me a second and I'll be downstairs."

He said turning off his tv and getting up.

"Thanks."

I go downstairs and wait by the front door. Through the glass I could see Nico sitting on the side of the fountain.
I go outside and walk over to him. He was smoking his cigarette looking out towards the front gates and didn't even seem to notice me walking towards him. Before I got the chance to reach him, the garage door opened and Christiano called to me as he was getting into the black Bentley. Nico looked over his shoulder and saw me. The smoke waft up into the night sky and his eyes looked worried and pained. I was about to say something but he turned back and blew out another puff of smoke. I sigh and as I walk away I could have sworn I heard him mutter "Always running out of time". He just has to trust me for now.

~~~~~~~~~~~

At the club's front steps, Christiano opens my door and I get out.

"I'll be close so if you need me just call."

"Ok, it shouldn't take long."

I say before a bouncer led me into to the club over to the roped off VIP section where Gabe was already sitting with a few other people.

"Hey baby."

He greeted me with a kiss.

"These are some of my good friends, brothers Ronnie and Daniel Bambino, and Daniel's wife Trista."

"Hello."

I smile trying to quickly get through the introductions and straight to the reason of why I came.

"Gabriel, may I talk with you in private somewhere?"

"Sure, sweetheart, but in a minute. It would be rude to leave our hosts."

I bite my lip.

"Please, sit."

He smiled. I sit down at the table. These are Luis's bothers. I wonder where Luis is now. I am forced to talk for another 15 minutes about things irrelevant to me as I downed one drink after another. Finally we get up and move out to the dance floor.

"Gabe, we need to talk, remember?"

"Come on, after one dance."

I really didn't feel like playing this game. I don't party like I used to to, and all I really want to do is go home.

"Please, Gabe, I'm serious."

"Okay. Let's go back to my place then."

"Fine."