The Brambilla's, The Beginning

When they were upstairs she carefully removed his shirt. Seeing the blood on the bandage which was on his shoulder she knew it was more than a flesh wound. "You're a liar."

He was shocked at her outburst. "What?"

"You said it just grazed your shoulder and I can see it was much worse than that. If we are going to make this work between us you have to always be honest with me."

"Okay, you're right. The bullet did go into my shoulder, but it wasn't deep and the doctor removed it easily. I just didn't want to scare you. I guess this means you'll have to do most of the work when we make love."

"As if you're going to be getting any of that for a while." She looked at his bloodstained bandage and went to walk away.

"Where are you going?"

"You need a fresh bandage so I'm getting the first aid kit."

When she came back she made him sit down on the bed as she carefully removed the covering from his wound. It broke her heart to see the stitches and knew that it had to have hurt. "You're going to have to take it easy for a while so that you don't rip the stitches open."

He watched her face as she cleaned his wound and placed a fresh covering over the stitches. "You're going to make a great mother someday."

She lifted her eyes to look at him. "What makes you think that?"

"The way you're so gentle taking care of me. I can picture you cleaning up our little one's cuts and bruises and mothering them. We should start a family right away."

"Let's wait until we're married."

"Well, considering we're getting married in less than three months we could start now. Throw away the pills."

"Are you sure?"

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life. I want a baby, our baby. I want to feel him growing inside your stomach, watch him or her grow up and take their first step. I want to see them get married to the love of their life and have children of their own. I can guarantee that you will be the hottest grandmother around."

She started laughing. "Oh so now you're thinking of me as a grandmother? Let's not rush it." She placed her hands on his face and pulled him in for a kiss.

"I want you to get on top of me and make love to me," he said when the kiss was broken.

Putting her hands on his chest she pushed him down onto the bed. "Not tonight, now get some sleep."

He was still asleep when she woke up and going downstairs she started breakfast. She heard footsteps behind her and as she turned around Eddie was walking towards the coffee machine.

"Morning beautiful. Is Leone still asleep?"

"Yes, he had a bit of a restless night so I let him sleep in. I'm making some breakfast, would you like some?"

"Yeah I could eat," he said, taking his coffee he went and sat down. "You know you don't have to do the cooking. He does or did have someone coming in to do that for him."

"I like cooking, and it's so much better when you cook for more than one person." She placed the plate with bacon and eggs and toast in front of him. "We're not having one of those traditional weddings, there won't be any bridesmaids or ushers. But I could sure use someone to walk me down the aisle and I was hoping that you might do it."

He looked at her with a big grin on his face. "It would be my honour to walk you down the aisle and give you to Leone."

They were eating their breakfast and talking when Leone came down.

"Hey buddy, you look like shit," Eddie said jokingly.

Leone went over and kissed her on the cheek and looked over at Eddie. "I feel like shit, but this gorgeous woman here is taking very good care of me."

She got up and walked over and poured him a cup of coffee and told him to sit down while she made his breakfast.

"So Eddie if you're not doing anything later today would you go with me down to the casino and check on the staff?"

When she heard this she turned around in anger. "There is no way that you are going anywhere tonight. You are going to stay home until you are better and don't give me that look."

Eddie started laughing. "You better listen to her or you going to be sleeping on the couch tonight."

"You're not helping," Leone snapped at Eddie.

"Look man, you stay home and I'll go and take care of things for you."

"It looks like I'm outnumbered, so all right you can go but let me know if there are any problems. Just keep an eye on the new guy who's working the blackjack table. I heard a rumour that he's ripping off some of the customers and I do not allow that. It's not that I want the customers to win but I want them to have a fair chance and not be cheated."

After Eddie had left he grabbed her arm and pulled her down onto his lap. "Now that you are keeping me, prisoner, what are you going to do with me? I really hope it involves a whole lot of sex."

"No sex, just a lot of rest for you mister. Now I am going to start on a new painting while you're sleeping."

"Damn it, woman, I can't sleep all the time. I have to keep busy or I'll go crazy."

She put her arms around his neck and became very serious. "I know you're not used to just lying around. But for me, will you just stay in and rest for a couple of days?"

He moved his hand over, placed it between her legs and started moving up. "For you, I will. But I want you to know I'm horny as hell right now and I want to fuck you."

She could feel his part poking her, but she had to be strong and refuse him. "Not yet, maybe tomorrow."

"Baby, it was my shoulder that got hurt, not my cock."

Before he could persuade her to give in she jumped off of him. "If you don't want to go upstairs to bed and sleep then go lay on the sofa and turn on the TV. I want to finish these dishes before I start painting."

He knew he wasn't going to win this battle so he got up and headed to the living room to lay down. "I saw that," he said when he saw the smirk on her face. "You may have won this one sweetheart, but rest assured I will have you sooner than you think."

Three hours later she had enough of painting so she went in to check on Leone. She wasn't happy when she found him with a bunch of papers on the coffee table and his laptop open.

He looked up when he saw her entering the room, and with her hands on her hips, he knew he was in big trouble. "Now before you get mad and give me hell I'm still resting. But I'm bored and had to do something and this work needed to be done."

When he quickly closed his laptop she became suspicious. "What are you looking at on the computer?"

"It's just business," he replied. What he was doing was looking over the plans for the house he was having built. He was checking to see how it was coming along, but since it was a surprise for her he didn't want her to know what he was really up to.

"Okay," she said, looking at him suspiciously. "I'm going to start dinner now. Is there anything in particular that you would like?"

"Yeah, you naked with your legs spread under me."

"Oh my God, grow up," she said, shaking her head as she headed to the kitchen.

Later that evening Eddie and William came over to talk to him and she made coffee for them all and sat down with them.

Sometimes during their conversation, Eddie turned to her. "Have you gotten a dress yet for the wedding?"

"Not yet, I was going to go tomorrow but I don't want to leave Leone here alone."

"Baby, I'm a big boy and I can stay by myself."

"I know you can, but if I'm not here to keep an eye on you to make sure you get plenty of rest you'll probably go out."

"Then how about I take you to pick out your dress?"

"No, you are to stay here. I wish you would stop being so stubborn. Don't you know that if you do anything strenuous you could rip open your stitches? Besides, it's bad luck to see the bride's dress before the wedding."

"I can take you," Eddie piped up.

"That's very thoughtful of you, but it would mean leaving Leone by himself."

"Baby, let Eddie take you and I give you my word that I will stay here and relax. I will just make some phone calls and go over some files that I've been neglecting lately."

"Well, as long as you promise not to go anywhere and definitely do not work out in your gym."

"I gave you my word and you know that once I do, I never go back on it."

She then looked over at Eddie and smiled. "If you're really sure you want to take me and that you won't be bored, then I would love to have you with me. That way I'll get a man's perspective."

"Great, then I'll pick you up in the morning."

Later that night when they went to bed she was so sure that she would have to fight off his sexual advances. But she was glad and yet a little surprised when all he did was kiss her good night and tell her how much he loved her. She figured it was because his shoulder was still hurting.

Morning: "Are you ready to go sweetheart?"

Leone rolled his eyes when he heard Eddie calling her sweetheart.

"Yes, I'm ready." She went over to Leone, placing her hand under his chin and making him look at her. "If I find out that you went out or did anything strenuous you won't be getting any love for a very long time. Have I made myself clear?"

"Damn woman, you're so bossy."

"Answer me or I won't go."

"Alright, I'll behave. Here, take this and buy the dress of your dreams."

Taking his credit card she felt a little guilty for having to use it. "I'm sure I should have enough left in my account so I probably won't need to use it."

"What's mine is yours, so just use it. In fact, I want you to keep this card. That way if there's anything you want you can go ahead and get it."

"I won't be too long," she said giving him a quick kiss.

Leone walked them over to the door, placing his hand on Eddie's arm. "Take care of her and protect her with your life."

"My friend, I won't let anything happen to her and that is my promise to you."

When they got to the bridal shop she tried on a couple of dresses and asked Eddie for his opinion. The first one she tried on he sat there and shook his head.

"Nope, that's not the one for you darling."

She went back into the change room to put on a different dress and came out to show him. Once again he shook his head. The third dress she kind of liked and when she went out to show him he shrugged his shoulders and rolled his eyes. Now the fourth dress she fell in love with and hoped that he would approve of this one.

Going back into the other room Eddie stood up and stared at her. "Oh my God, that dress is absolutely beautiful." He went over to her. "Sweetheart, this is your dress."

She turned around to look at herself in the mirror and smiled. "It is beautiful and I was hoping you would like it. I just hope that Leone likes it."

He went over and stood behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders as he looked at her in the mirror. "Just look at yourself, you know he will love it."

"But it's so expensive."

"What if it is? You only get married once so you might as well have the dress you want." He looked over at the saleswoman. "She'll take it."

Lucky for her it didn't need any alterations and she was allowed to take it home with her. After changing into her clothes and handing the saleswoman the credit card she was told it had already been paid for.

She turned to Eddie. "Did you pay for this dress?"

"Yes, I did."

"Why would you do that when I have Leone's credit card?"

"I wanted to be the one to buy it for you. Call it a wedding gift just for you. I am a man of great wealth and can afford it without batting an eye. Let me do this one thing for you."

She went and threw her arms around him and gave him a big hug. "Thank you, Eddie, you are such a dear friend."

"I will always be your friend. Now let me take you to lunch."

"I really should get back to make sure that Leone's keeping his promise to take it easy."

"I've already taken care of that."

"How?"

"I called William and told him to keep him company. But knowing how stubborn that man of yours is I sent him there on a business matter. Since he is Leone's main guy he won't be suspicious."

"You think of everything."

Eddie carried the dress that was carefully wrapped in a garment bag and placed it in the back of his car. "How are you going to keep him from looking at it?"

"I'm going to put it in the guest bedroom and I will warn him that if he even thinks about taking a peek I will cut his balls off."

He couldn't stop laughing at her remark. "Ouch, that just gives me the willies when I hear things like that."

When they got to the restaurant she called Leone to let him know that she and Eddie would be home right after they had lunch.