Protecting The Princiepessa (Complete)

~ Chapter 26 ~

She wasn't sure what kicked up the butterflies in her stomach, but she knew she had them when she pulled back and saw the smile on that man's face. Good f*****g Lord, he was sexy as sin. Not that she didn't know, because she did, very much so, but that smile, yeah, she could see tons of panties dropping for him, for that look. And she tried to tell herself she wouldn't be in that mix, in that line, however, she wasn't sure she believed that. Truthfully, she was thinking of little else but getting him in bed these days and that was not good.

She finally stepped back, and he let her go, but she couldn't miss the flash in his eyes like he didn't want to let her go. And she almost screamed not to stop at him, but that wouldn't have been right. Not when they stood outside her dad's place with Sara lingering about. Talk about a sobering thought. Nothing like thinking of the woman he was going to marry to make all of her wanting to disappear.

"Shall we?" he told her, resting his hand on her lower back and turning her to the door. She wanted to shake his hand off, as childish as that sounded, but she needed to think. And when he was touching her, she couldn't. Well, she could, but the only thoughts she had was of him and she wrapped up in his sheets, f*****g around like rabbits. Which lead her down the road of his stamina and what else...fuck, she had to stop! That wasn't healthy. Wanting this man wasn't healthy.

She glanced up as the door opened and a voice squealed before launching herself into Izzy's arms, causing her to smile. She wasn't sure why Sienna took such a strong liking to her, but it was nice. Izzy hugged the little girl back and then smiled at the woman in the doorway.

"Come on Sienna, let poor Ignazia breathe, it's not like you haven't seen her." Izzy smiled down at the little girl and followed her inside, the presence of Adriano strong behind her. She had to get over this thing, or this dinner was going to suck for her. It was bad enough that she felt him, she didn't need to worry about him when he was next to his fiancé.

"Ignazia." She turned and smiled at her dad who drew her into a hug. "Are you okay now?"

"Fine. Everything got squared away." Izzy smiled at him before turning to look at Stefano who had just walked down the stairs. His eyes danced between his dad and her.

"Something happen?" She glanced at Adriano as he passed the family and his eyes shot to hers. She wasn't sure what to explain and what not to get into. She had a feeling that the other kids hadn't seen anything like that, even though this was probably more their world than hers.

"Nothing big, and nothing to worry about," she told Stefano who nodded. She was older than everyone, yet it seemed Stefano was willing to defend her, which she found odd but endearing.

"Let me know if there are problems, I got your back, sis," he told her before walking to the table. She wasn't sure what to make of that but by the chuckle that her dad let out, it seemed like he didn't mind.

"Got a bodyguard with a brother. Funny, Sara doesn't," he told her, leading her to the table. "Sure you're okay? When I talked to you on the phone, you did sound rather upset." Izzy took the chair that he held out and nodded.

"Promise dad, I'm okay. It just rattled me for a moment, but nothing that I couldn't handle." She unfolded the napkin and crossed it over her lap, glancing up as Adriano took the seat next to her. Her head snapped over and she saw Sara sitting across the table from him. That was different. Adriano threw her a smile before grabbing his own napkin.

"Take care of everything?" Carlo asked Adriano as he sat down at the head of the table.

"Oh no you don't, no discussion of work at the table, you know that Carlo," his wife said, sitting down herself. Izzy hid her laugh behind the water glass.

"How did you know I was even suggesting work, prediletto (darling)?" Marina rolled her eyes and then glanced at Sara and then at Adriano. "How's the planning coming?" she asked them.

"We're waiting mom," Sara said, looking bored, which Izzy found funny. What could they be waiting on? Was it some mafia rule or something? Marina passed the pasta bowl around, letting everyone serve themselves and Izzy watched Sara, again, wondering why.

"For what?" Marina asked, clearly confused as well.

"Marina, let them work this out, we've done our part." Izzy glanced over at her dad, curious about that statement. What was their part? And why was she getting a distinct feeling that maybe this union wasn't wanted by both parties after all? Adriano looked at Sara before he glanced at Carlo, his brow coming together. And Izzy watched with a fascination she couldn't describe, nor understand. It was clear something was brewing in Adriano's mind and now all she wanted to do was unlock it. "I meant to say thank you, Adriano, for getting the dress for Ignazia for the event tomorrow."

"What?" Ignazia asked, glancing between the two men yet again. She was under the impression that her dad had gotten it for her and from the glare she was getting from her stepsister, Sara thought the same thing.

"I bought it, your dad didn't," Adriano said, lifting his shoulders as if it wasn't a big thing. But she knew damn good and well it was, just like he knew. And she was confused why he would buy it when he even said her dad was getting it.

"Why?" Again, Adriano shrugged, and she wanted to smack him with her napkin.

"I was there, just seemed easier." Izzy narrowed her eyes but turned her head away. However, from the side of her eye, she caught the smirk her dad was sporting, and she frowned. What the hell was going on? She did another look between the two, guessing that Adriano might not know either, but she had a feeling he was going to and that it would be sooner rather than later.

"Eat up, Ignazia." Her gaze turned back to her dad, and she lifted a brow, ignoring the smirk he returned back to her. She got the hint, she wasn't going to get any information, so at this point in time, it was pointless to ask for anything. Adriano glanced at her from over his cup and narrowed his gaze in a silent question, but she merely shook her head. What could she say? What could she ask? Especially at the table that her new family was at. Besides, she had a sinking suspicion her dad was up to something, and she didn't know if she was frightened by that mere thought or not.

"That's not fair, you don't take me shopping!" Izzy's eyes flew to Sara across the table for a second before she looked at Adriano who just shrugged.

"It's not my job too. Besides, you have your own funds and your own means, and more often than naught, Sara, you shop with your friends. So, why should I take you shopping?" Sara huffed at that comment and Izzy sat back in her seat. She didn't want to start a fight, wasn't her intention, but then it wasn't like she knew the truth either.

"Because you're supposed to love me, supposed to want to take care of me. Instead, I find you taking care of some hussy who has probably slept her way through half the men under my dad's control. And why they would f*****g touch her with a ten-foot pole, let alone their d**k, is beyond me!"

"Sara, watch your tone at this table! That is rude and uncalled for! Adriano wouldn't cheat on you with your sister," Marina scolded her child, but Sara looked anything but repented.

"Stepsister, mama, who really holds no importance. So, I can't understand why she's even here or at this table."

"She's here, Sara, because she's my daughter, and you will do well to remember that. I know you're a spoiled brat, but that does not give you the right to treat her in such a manner," Carlo yelled, standing up from the table. Sara turned her heated eyes on him and stood up at well.

"You're playing favorites with a woman who was nothing more than a whore..." Ignazia stood up, her anger blazing. Sara could say what she wanted about her, she could care less, however, words about her mother were crossing a line that didn't need to come up.

"Excuse the f**k out of me, you do not get that right!" Izzy shouted. "I don't care who you are, you have no right to say that about my mother. My dad loved her with a passion, don't you know?" With that, Sara turned and glared at Izzy, a sneer taking over her lip.

"A b***h born out of wedlock, it's nice to see that a w***e defends a whore." Ignazia was just about to jump over the table and strangle the woman, but Adriano's arms wrapped around her and hauled her back.

"Let me go, I'm going to ruin that face of hers!" Izzy screamed, causing Adriano to chuckle.

"No doubt, however, that still is his daughter and he doesn't like to see his kids fighting."

"Well then he f*****g better take care of her," she huffed even as he took her out to the car.

"Calmati (calm down)," he whispered in her ear as he headed out the door and around the side of the building where no one could see them.

"I will not, did you hear what she said? About my mother? I ought to cut her up into tiny pieces..." Her words were cut off by the taste of Adriano's lips on hers and his tongue swirling around hers. God above, help her, she wanted this man!