The Dragos ⬇️

The Bonferronis ⬇️

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Day 10 (Leo's POV)

"An actual prototype would be more impressive than a nice presentation," Mike conjectured the new plan put forth by Rosalia Ricci.

(Sara Sampaio as Rosalia Ricci)

          "We have been doing business with multiple governments, Mr. Arellano, and we have never disappointed any one of our clients." The business woman's green eyes traveled to mine and sparkled. "I know what I'm doing. My brother is a very skilled engineer and the prototype for the car is already in the works and very close to completion. It'll have all the advanced features you want with the weaponization as well. It'll be better than any car we've ever designed. You can even say, it'll be better than the Batmobile."

          Everyone around the long table shared a laugh while I leaned back in my chair and just watched, utterly unamused. My mind was distracted thinking about Arie who had probably left for the States. I refrained myself from checking. It was the second time we had said goodbye, and this time it was going to last forever. A part of me was glad that she was going back somewhere she'd be safe, but the other part was in pain all over again.

          "Leo?" Mike called my attention to him. "You good?"

          "Yes." Clearing my throat, I looked between Rosalia and her fellow delegates. "We will meet again when the prototype is ready to be revealed. If I'm happy with what I receive, I might ask you to make more." Standing up from my chair, I buttoned up my suit and glanced at the woman. "Good doing business with you."

As I began to leave, the woman halted my steps with her voice. "Mr. Bonferroni, may I have a word with you?" She looked at everyone else involved in the meeting. "Alone."

The employees that accompanied her left the private room built in the empty restaurant. My people stood behind me until I waved them away.

          "We'll wait outside," Mike informed me.

          "Don't," I said, sliding my hands into my pockets. I knew exactly what she wanted to speak about, and it'd be best if I dealt with it today itself. "I need you to get to the hospital and see to the security for Verona's discharge personally. Appoint someone to stay by the car for me. I'll be at the hospital shortly to escort Verona home myself."

          Mike nodded and walked out with the men, leaving me alone with Rosalia. The woman smiled then strutted to the bar in the room. "Scotch on the rocks?"

          "I don't have all day, so cut to the chase."

          Chuckling, she placed two glasses on the counter. "Conversation would be boring without a drink, don't you agree?"

          Clenching my jaw, I took a step forward. "Like I said, I don't have all day."

          "It's about the proposal the president approached me with." I exhaled a bit frustratedly. "I was surprised to find out that you were related to her."

          "Join the party," I replied curtly.

          "Well." She dropped ice cubes in both glasses then grabbed an expensive bottle of scotch. "She informed me about the family history and the royalty status. I just wanted to let you know personally that I'm ready to marry you."

          I couldn't help but burst out into laughter. "I find it quite hilarious that you believe you could marry me." I strode ahead and sat on the stool by the counter. "You should dream within your limits."

          Surprisingly, she snickered and poured the alcohol into the two glasses while I made sure she didn't slip anything into it. "She told me you would say that." Picking up one glass, she slid the other one toward me and walked around the counter. "And it's my job to convince you."

          As she sat opposite me, I eyed her carefully and waited for her to take a sip of the drink before I took a sip of mine. "You'll never convince me."

          She downed the drink then looked at me with determination. "C'mon, Mr. Bonferroni. I'm not that bad."

          "Actually, you are."

          "Ouch." She set the glass down, biting the side of her cheek. "I'm not here to get insulted. Your grandmother urged me to talk to you about our marriage."

          Taking another swig of the drink, I placed the glass down nicely and returned my gaze to her. "Sorry to disappoint, but we're not getting married."

          "Why not?" She got off her stool and stepped closer to me, placing herself between my legs. "Just count all the profits you'll receive if we join together in matrimony. The money, the technology will all be yours. Imagine how much you can expand with me. The marriage will be good for our businesses. And as your grandmother wants, I'll give you an heir." Tracing my jaw with her finger, she seductively bit her lip and eyed my mouth with sheer lust. I cocked a threatening brow at her advancement, but remained still, curious to know what else she had to pitch for herself before I shut her down. "We've had a wonderful night before. It's been years, but I remember how exceptionally great it was. I'm sure you do too. I'll be the best wife, I promise. You'll never be unsatisfied."

          She leaned down for a kiss, but I stopped the gesture with a quick and sturdy finger to her lips. "I'm already married, Rosa." I guided her back with the same finger and rose from the stool whilst chugging down the rest of the drink as the partially melted ice cubes kissed my lips. The liquid seared down my pipes a bit more harshly than before. Perhaps it was the chill from the melting ice cube. "But I do like the business aspect of it all. Maybe we can strike a deal regarding that."

"You're not married!" she exclaimed, refusing to believe me.

"Yes, I am." Yanking a fancy napkin out of a holder, I wiped her lipstick off my finger completely. "My sweet nonnina is a bit forgetful at this age. She may have skipped over the fact that I'm already married and wasn't looking for another wife."

"You're lying," she countered my statement, crossing her arms across her chest. "There's no chatter of Leo Bonferroni's marriage in the underworld. There never has been."

"You cannot expect a man like me to flaunt my private life out for all criminals." I threw the napkin aside and fixed my suit. "Don't ever bring the topic of marriage up again and don't touch me. We're doing business together, not fucking. I won't be very nice if it ever happens again." I tucked her dark brown hair behind her ear and moved my mouth closer to whisper, "And you know what happens when I'm not nice, Rosa." A shudder rippled through her body as I pulled back. "I'll see you at the party two days from now. You can meet my loving wife then. And don't make the mistake of telling anyone else about her."

"I won't, sir." She sat back on the stool and allowed me to leave.

          With each step I took toward the exit, I realized my movement was heavy and much more forced. It was as though my entire body was buried under a car and I couldn't lift it up no matter what. My stomach grumbled and churned, my mouth drying up with a foul taste. Turning back around, I glared at the woman who rose from her seat in fright. With quick, overbearing steps, I reached her and grabbed her by her throat, violently pinning her against the wall.

          "What did you do?" I seethed as her face reddened due to my deathly hold, but my strength was failing and so were my muscles. Before I knew it, I was on the floor with no power to even keep my eyes open.

***

(Arie's POV)

          Everyone had plopped down onto the sofas and the marble floor after the chaotic party that had just come to an end in the ballroom of the hotel. It had been set up to mimic a club with the dim lights and a bar with both female and male bartenders to please the eye. Sweat trickled down everyone's faces as they rested for a bit while I remained seated by myself.

          Sophie was spending time with her sister who had arrived for the wedding and was apparently married into the Russian mafia. Specifically, the guy I caught a glimpse of the other day. Admittedly, I didn't see that coming, but I could only imagine how that was going considering Soph told me Cornelia was completely off the grid for the past few years. But I didn't bother myself with thinking too hard.

I didn't participate in the dancing, but I did have a blast watching Leo's cousins go crazy with the women and acting like idiots. The ladies didn't hold back either. They were all over the men of Florence that were invited. They'd all make headlines if someone took pictures and decided to spread it in the media. It was a good thing none of the parents were around to witness the foolery and I wished I wasn't here either.

When I was packing to leave last night, Athena threatened me to stay till the wedding even after I did as she asked and talked to Leo. She said she had a couple of surprises for me and I couldn't even begin to imagine what was going on in her evil mind. After much bickering, she got her way yet again. I didn't know how she did it, but she was one hell of a manipulator. Ashton was furious, but by the looks of it now, he was enjoying himself with Evelina and the rest of the gang with a few glasses of booze in him.

The hotel staff went around handing cold towels to everyone to wipe off the sweat along with drinks to quench their thirst.

"Fuck!" Gus huffed, sprawled out onto the floor as some of the cousins left with individuals to hook up with while the rest of the guests were escorted out, leaving only the family members in the ballroom. "Let's play never have I ever." He managed to sit up straight, leaning against my legs itself. His sweat seeped in through my pants before I slapped his shoulder and pushed him away.

"Ew!" I grimaced.

"Please, Sirena." He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it aside, laying back against my legs once again. "Better?"

          "Ugh!" I groaned, parting my legs for his sweaty, well-built back to rest against the front of the sofa.

          "Opening your legs up for me already?" Gus smirked like a sly dog.

          "Dude, stop!" Ashton shot him a glare of sheer disgust as he sat down next to me with Evelina.

          Gus snorted. "Hop off my sister and I'll hop off yours."

          "Weren't you screwing Zaya in the bathroom just an hour ago?" Evelina fired at her older brother on the behalf of Ashton while I got stuck on Zaya. She was here and screwing Gus? Why hadn't she come to see me? "And now you're trying to get in Arie's pants."

          "You're not supposed to know that, and sit at least a foot apart from him."

          "Oh, I'm sorry." Evelina's tone was undeniably laced with sarcasm as she scooted exceptionally close to my brother and felt up his thigh. "Is this better now, brother?"

          "The fuck it is!" Gus growled, immediately rising up to his feet. My heart lurched up to my throat, thinking that my brother was about to get beaten to a pulp by an angry Bonferroni, but thankfully, Gus only ripped Evelina away from Ashton and seated himself between the two.

          "Augustus, if you're done flaunting the power of your mighty testosterone, can we get on with the game?" Arabelle was very displeased with the mini ordeal as she picked up a glass from the server's tray and found a seat on another sofa next to her husband. "As the game goes, I will say something that I haven't done and if you've done it, you have got to take a sip out of your glass, yeah?"

          Everyone sat around, some on the sofas and some on the ground. Drinks were served to all, and I just took my usual water.

          "I'll start," Chiara volunteered. "Never have I ever slept with a man."

         Guilty to the crime, I took a sip and so did the other ladies in the room except for Evelina, Heaven, Yana, and Viola.

          "Willingly?" Evelina asked, forcing us all to look at her blankly as she let out a devilish chuckle. "Oh, boy! I love making everyone uncomfortable."

          "Same!" Yana high-fived Evelina before they got a very disapproving glare from Athena that immediately shut down their chattering.

          "Keeping things light-hearted, never have I ever sucked dick," Marco continued the train of statements along the sexual context.

          "Stronzo, most of them are our sisters," Gus chided him.

          "A game is a game, and no one is my sister here," Rome smirked.

          I facepalmed. If this was the direction this game was going to progress in, I didn't know if I'd be comfortable to drink to every one of my dirty deeds. If I had Soph, my ride or die, then I could definitely breeze through this.

          When I saw some ladies taking a sip, I took a quick swig of mine. Ashton looked at me unpleasantly. "What?" I yapped at him. "Don't look at me with those judging eyes. I'm a saint compared to you."

          "I'm not judging." He shuddered in disgust then blurted, "I eat pussy all the time."

          I slapped his arm. "Stop telling me that."

          "Now we're even."

          "Wow!" Ilaria, Marco's older sister and the bitch who called me Leo's mistress, caught our attention and chuckled to herself. "I'm surprised Chiara sucked a cock. I would've never imagined her to even touch one considering how cunt driven she is." Guess this bitch didn't learn her lesson after being slapped by her dearest auntie.

          "Sorry, I can't hear you over the hairy testicles in your mouth, you royal skank," Chiara shot back at the woman whose brothers and cousins refrained from saying anything in her defense. They knew Chiara was a woman not to be messed with. "And yes, I've experimented. Maybe I will sleep with a man too. Eros, will you help me out?"

Eros leaned back in his seat and smirked. "Just tell me the time and place, baby, and I'll give you the best night of your life."

"Of course, but you will have to allow me to sleep with your girl first."

"Oh, sweetheart." Athena took a sip from her glass and winked. "I'm ready now. Come here and show me what you got."

Eros looked between the two women. "I don't know if I should be mad or turned on for some girl on girl action."

"Turned on is always the answer when it comes to girls, bro," Rome pitched in his thoughts and grinned to himself, petting his dog. "Ozzy Pawsborne and I will enjoy the show."

"Shut up, man," Eros shook his head at his little brother and put his arm around Athena's shoulders as a shield.

"This could go on forever." Gus groaned. "Moving on. Never have I ever been in love."

          I didn't know why but that statement made my heart sink. Not for Gus, but for myself. It was a weird feeling at the pit of my stomach. I didn't want to answer that question because I knew I'd get some looks but fuck it. They all knew Leo and I were together once, and they weren't asking for names here.

          I took a sip of my water and so did Allaire, Rome, Valentina, and Leo's married cousins. As expected, I did receive some looks and smirks, but no words, thankfully.

          "So you're telling me you two aren't in love?" Marco questioned Athena and Eros who hadn't taken a sip. Honestly, I was curious to know why because every time I saw them together, they couldn't keep their eyes off each other as if no one else mattered. Also, they were always touching, whether it was by holding hands or an arm around the waist. I found it heartwarming because it reminded me of Leo and how crazy we were for each other, but it also saddened me because we were eons apart now.

          "Define love for me," Athena asked a simple question, but it had me thinking about it. There wasn't one way to define love. There were many little aspects, millions of different things, and it came in multiple ways. I didn't know them all. However, I did know that it had me speechless because I couldn't put the intense emotion into words. It was too powerful.

          "Something you can't live without, maybe?" Gus blurted.

          "Well, I can't live without my wardrobe, my heels, my jewelry. Basically, my entire company." Athena shrugged. "So, I guess I'm in love with my company."

          "And I can't live without my heart. Literally," Eros chuckled. "So... Am I in love with my heart?"

          We all laughed at their clever answers.

          "Wow! You two are really... I can't even find the words." Allaire blinked, trying to make sense of the couple.

          "We know." Athena and Eros winked at each other and took a sip from their glasses.

          "Okay, my turn!" Yana jumped up from her seat, partially spilling her drink. "Sorry, but I got one. Never have I ever kissed anyone." Everyone in the room took a sip which made the young girl frown. "I'm the only one?"

          "Baby, you're only seventeen." Eros comforted the girl. "No boy is coming near you until you're twenty."

"Twenty-one," Athena added.

          Yana narrowed her eyes on the two before crossing her arms and plopping down onto the sofa once again.

          The game went on with funny, stupid, and sexually deviant statements. Undoubtedly, it was very entertaining to see who drank upon which statement. I got to know a little about everyone more than I needed to, but it was fun, nonetheless.

          A while later, everyone had fallen silent when Verona entered the room with her maid to one side and ten bodyguards surrounding them like a shield. I was elated to see that she was walking again. After what Leo told me she had been through, I admired her strength so much. Not many would be able to go on after two years of captivity and the recent attacks. I had a newfound appreciation for her. Despite all, she still had that endearing smile on her face that was heartwarming to see.

"Ciao (Hi)," she managed to smile at everyone. We all greeted her back as a seat was cleared up for her next to Arabelle, seeing that Alicio had immediately left as soon as she came in.

"V, do you know how to play 'Never Have I Ever'?" Evelina asked her sister-in-law who shook her head no.

"She knows truth or dare, so how about we play that, sì?" Athena offered up the idea and Verona complied. "Let's start with you. Truth or dare?"

"I'm in no condition to do a dare, so truth."

"Can I ask?" Ilaria slightly jumped up in sheer excitement to question the woman.

"Be careful with your question, Ila," Arabelle warned her cousin, knowing exactly how she was. "Say something derogatory, and I'll slap the bloody senses out of you, yeah?"

"It's just a harmless question, Belle." Ilaria turned back to look at Verona with a condescending fascination which made me want to punch that woman myself. "You're a complete mystery to us. Leo always kept you hidden. Do you think it was because he was ashamed of you?"

"Ila!" Leo's sudden voice bellowed through the ballroom that sent a chill up my spine and startled the others. He screamed something in Italian as he trudged further into the room with Mike right behind him. His tone was full of burning rage that made me fear for Ilaria. His hair was ruffled as if he had just gotten out of bed and tried to settle them as efficiently as he could. The rest of his appearance was perfectly neat as usual. Not a single thing out of place.

Leo continued bashing his little cousin in Italian as everyone else remained absolutely quiet with widened eyes. His fists were clenched, his face flushing red, and his voice getting louder and louder as he got closer to the girl. Ilaria rose from her seat with angry tears in her eyes before she stormed off without a single word.

Leo turned back to the rest of us like a fuming bull ready to charge. "Anyone else wants to test my patience right now? I'm in the mood to kill."

"You have a thing for aggressive men?" Ashton whispered.

I nudged my brother's arm to shut him up which caught Leo's attention. The fury bubbling in his eyes died down just a fraction as he let out a breath to calm himself. His brows furrowed a bit, wondering why I was still here, but he gave me a very subtle nod. In return, I offered him a meek smile.

We were in a good place now since we talked. There wasn't any hostility in the air anymore. Just mutual understanding and high regard for each other. Admittedly, I shouldn't have told him my heart was still emerged in immense love for him, but I couldn't stop myself. It just poured out like a tsunami that drowned me in tears. Just getting it out lifted a lot of weight that sat on my shoulders. I felt better and lighter. Every word that left my mouth last night was nothing but the truth, except the part about the miscarriage. Well, it wasn't entirely a lie. I did lose one.

Leo turned around and walked over to his wife who just looked at him blankly. "And answering Ila's question, I'm not ashamed of my wife at all. The reason I've kept her away is that I don't trust any of you fuckers. If you got more questions, ask them right now and to my face, if you have the balls."

No one made a sound. Some looked around awkwardly and some looked down in shame. I glanced at Verona whose lips were pinched together as she gulped and stared at Leo. All I sensed was sadness in her eyes.

Stefano, the mute cousin, raised his hand a bit cautiously then made a few gestures with his hands that went over my head. Everyone chuckled, but Leo was unamused. Maybe I should start learning Italian and sign language because I hated being out of the loop like this.

"Stef, fuck off." Leo rubbed his forehead then held a hand out for his wife. "Let's go."

"I just came out here. I'm going to stay for a bit," Verona smiled up at him.

"Yeah, we just started playing truth or dare. Play with us for a bit," Viola suggested.

"Not in the mood," Leo quipped.

Verona grabbed his hand and pulled him down onto the armrest of the sofa, muttering, "Per favore?"

Leo let out a sigh and sat comfortably on the armrest. "Just for a bit."

"Truth or dare, brother?" Gus asked Leo with a smirk.

"Truth."

Gus leaned back and thought to himself for a second. "How many women have you slept with?"

"Really?" Leo scowled at his little brother who shrugged in response.

"More than you," Verona answered for her husband and laughed which had others snickering. I didn't know if it was a roast meant for Leo or Gus, but it gave us all a good chuckle.

"I wouldn't have felt so attacked if Leo said that himself," Gus retorted.

"Sorry," Verona apologized, but she couldn't keep her smile to herself.

After a few people came Athena's turn and she went with truth. Arabelle decided to ask the question. "Do you not like my son?"

"Not again." Athena rolled her eyes and grabbed a drink from the waiter. "I don't like kids in general. Those little rascals make me want to puke, but I can actually handle Bruno. He's not painful, so no, I do not hate him."

"Good. Just wanted to make sure." Arabelle, pleased with the answer, smiled to herself devilishly and downed the drink.

"Following up with that question," Marco quickly jumped on the bandwagon, "Eros, do you want kids? Yana, Heaven, Lina, and Oliver don't count."

"Is this going to be another one of your failed attempts to break me and Athena up?"

"Just answer the question," Marco snarled.

Eros stroked Athena's hand gently and looked at her lovingly as she kept sipping on her drink. "Hypothetically, we'd have some really cute ass babies. It'd be fun to see a little Athena running around the house, but terrifying if she ganged up on me with her mom. But we got everything we want in life. Kids are not a necessity."

"Hypothetically, a little Eros wouldn't be bad either. I'd have to be very strict with him. Wouldn't want him to turn out like his daddy now," Athena winked at her man then chuckled.

"You guys can never give a straight answer when it comes to such things," Mike pointed out and broke the couple from their fierce eye contact.

The game went around before it was my turn and I stupidly picked dare. Bad choice!

"I dare you to make out with me," Gus grinned like a smug bastard, sparing his older brother a quick glance.

"Nope," I refused immediately, peering at Leo a second later who had his gaze intact on me. His eyes were reserved, not saying much, but I knew he wasn't happy with the idea.

"Sirena, we've dated before. Maybe you've forgotten how good of a kisser I am," Gus winked. "Girls would kill for this opportunity."

"She said no, so shut up," Leo barked at Gus. I didn't fail to notice Verona's stoic gaze on her husband. It was as if she was suppressing something. I didn't know why but it instilled a subtle fear in me. Fear of what? I had no idea.

"It's just a dare, brother."

"Arie, if you can't do dares then don't ask for them," Athena taunted me as usual and sipped on her drink like a high-class bitch.

"Fine!" I obliged, standing up from my seat. "I'll do it."

With a cunning smirk stretching his lips, Gus rose up and assembled himself in front of me. His abs were on mighty display and all I could picture was Leo, but I immediately shook that image out of my head. "Good girl."

"Shut up." Cupping Gus' face, I brought it down and entwined our lips. My heart was palpitating too rapidly for me to handle. Gus' hands snaked around my waist and rested on the small of my back, pulling me undeniably closer to him. His lips reminded me so much of Leo's and I just kept drowning in the older Bonferroni's thoughts which was wrong on all levels. Gus wasn't Leo and he sure as hell wasn't Fred.

"I'm done," I excused myself and immediately sat down only to see that Leo wasn't there anymore. Mike and Valentina were gone too, but Verona was still seated.

"You're a good kisser," Gus complimented me.

"I know." I buried my face in my palms and cursed myself like a guilty criminal. I was on a break from my relationship with Fred, but that didn't mean I could just kiss anyone and confess my love for someone else. I knew Fred wouldn't do that. I just wanted to dig a grave and bury myself in it at this point. This trip was a disaster.

Before I knew it, it was my turn once again and I did not make the mistake of picking dare this time. "Truth," I declared.

"Let Verona ask this time," Athena suggested. She gave Verona a shady nod then looked at me and winked with a devious smile plastered on her face. I was taken aback and didn't understand the meaning of it, but I brushed it off. It was the typical Athena.

Turning my attention to Verona, I smiled delightedly. "I'm all yours. Ask me anything."

She cleared her throat and swallowed down hard. "Just answer truthfully."

I nodded. "Of course."

"Are you still in love with my husband?"

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DUN DUN DUN!!!
(Had to do it. 😂)

Yay or nay?

This drawing of Eros and Athena was made by @lethalwriter I just wanted to share it here. I adore it so much! ❤️❤️ Show her some love.

What do you think of Rosalia Ricci? What did she do to Leo?

One of you actually suspected that Arie lost only one child, but still had the other one, so congratulations to you!

And finally, the big reveal!!! Verona knows!!! What do you guys think of that?

How does she know?

What will happen next? What will Arie and Leo do about it?

Thoughts on Verona?

Leo?

Or Arie?

Further comments and questions are always welcome ❤️

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Much love ❤️
~Reet