Cara's pov
"Gina, I have to tell you something." I said hesitantly, wringing my fingers under the sturdy terrace table as I prepared myself for any outburst I might receive. The air was crisp and breezy but it did nothing to cool out the uncomfortable hotness I was feeling. I was going to likely break the beautiful bond I had with Gina with what I was about to confess and not even a pleasant weather could make me feel less shitty at the moment.
My step sister regarded me with an unreadable expression before signaling for a maid to bring us more arancini. She really looked every inch the Signora of the house, so much that I momentarily forgot she was still shy of twenty. But she was no longer the daddy's little princess she was a few months back, she was now mistress of a house as grand as this.
The Fierro mansion wasn't as opulent as the Salvatore's but it was splendid all the same. The place was bursting with Gina's influence, from the natural toned walls of the foyer and living room to the many vased flower arrangements. The terrace was a literal garden, a pleasant place for the lunch we were having.
The lunch I'm about to ruin.
"I'm dating your brother." I blurted out and now I got it out, I couldn't stop. "We've been seeing each other for months now and even though we started out all wrong, I ended up falling for him so hard and I know it's fucked up because we're supposed to be family and I flat out lied to you but I don't think I'd be able to live without him.
I'd understand if you hate me and never want to speak to me again–it'd hurt me but I deserve it–and I want you to know that the friendship we have was genuine and basically my second ever real friendship and I did not in any way become friends with you under ulterior motives… hell I still very much hated your brother the time we got close.
Things progressed rapidly after that and we all went through a lot and now…" I trailed off, running out of words, my breaths coming out in irregular beats.
Gina was still giving me that inscrutable look she had and a long minute stretched almost unbearably between us until she did the last thing I expected– she smiled.
Not a mocking smirk or a cold smile but a real, warm smile.
"Gina?"
"I was wondering when you'd tell me. I guess I don't have to do that anymore."
Huh?
A maid returned with a fresh tray of arancini and Gina grabbed one almost immediately. I waited for her to swallow a bite.
"What do you mean?" I asked after she was done.
"I've known about you and Luca since like…" she tilted her head thoughtfully, "the beginning."
My jaw was on the floor. "How? I… when?"
She took another bite, her expression nonchalant. "It's not hard to notice when your relationship avoidant brother starts acting like a wounded bear whenever other men come close to a particular woman. I noticed the chemistry between you two as well. I'm sorry but you guys did a very poor job of hiding it. All I needed to find you in a room full of people was look where my brother was looking."
My cheeks flared hot, my mouth was devoid of any words. Gina has known from the beginning, another big sike to I and Luca's so called "clandestine arrangement".
I gulped before speaking again. "Aren't you mad? I mean, I lied to you."
Gina shrugged. "I was at first, then it became amusing watching you toe around boy problem gossip that was about him."
Yeah, I'd love to die of mortification. This instant.
"Oh my God!" I groaned into the back of my palm.
Gina let out a girly giggle. "Yeah, that was extremely funny. I totally stopped being mad when I saw your reaction to Luca's and Valentina's marriage announcement. I felt sorry for you even." She narrowed her eyes in concern. "How's that going at the moment?"
I fixed my gaze downward, an embarrassed yet smug smile on my face. "Luca never intended to marry Valentina. He refused the idea as soon as it was proposed."
Gina's voice grew serious. "Do you really love him?"
I lifted my eyes. "With all of my heart."
Her smile of support was instant. "Then it's all good. For real, my brother really needed a woman coming into his life and brightening it. I was afraid he was going to live the rest of it in a fixed alternation of blood and war."
I chuckled lightly. "Yeah, he's a much better person now that we're together."
Gina's expression was knowing. "I noticed."
We spent the rest of our time together chatting about various things. I opened up about my worries concerning our parents and Gina was ever supportive, telling me I and Luca was all that mattered. She informed me about party plans in the works for her father's sixtieth birthday and I promised to attend. We moved on to trivial gossip and I was even entertained with a few juicy tidbits about Valentina and her obsession with Luca. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who hated her around, Gina too, and it warmed me greatly.
I was feeling as light as paper by the time I returned to the penthouse. Everything was finally right, Luca and I no longer had to hide our relationship, I no longer had to lock away my past and I was finally my true authentic self with the man I loved.
Life was good.
I found a wrapped parcel on the bed when I got to our room, a little card on top of it. Excitement in the form of butterflies fluttered in my belly as I read the note.
SAW THESE AND IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT OF YOU.
LOVE, LUCA.
I quickly tore open the wrapper.
My heart burst with feeling when I found a pair of red stilettos lying in a scrunched white wrapping paper in the box. Another note fell off as I took the heels out and when I picked it to read, my face grew red.
I HOPE TO FUCK YOU IN THEM SOON
I couldn't control the giggle that escaped me. Live it to Luca to turn a romantic gesture into a risque one. I put down the note and tried on the shoes, unsurprised that it fit me perfectly. Luca knew everything about me, I wouldn't even be surprised if he could identify my fingerprints.
I walked to the walk-in closet and did a little twirl in front of the mirror. I noted that they were comfortable and quite easy to move around in. Perks of costing probably a thousand dollars and above.
My cheeks were hot again as my mind wandered back to the second note. I, too, would want Luca to fuck me with these babies on. I briefly imagined myself laying flat on my back, my legs spread wide with my feet encased in them as Luca thrusted into me over and over.
I had to fan myself to keep from hyperventilating. An idea popped into my head and I headed back to the bedroom to get my phone.