Bellissimo Fortuna (Beautiful Fortune) Read Free Page A

is impressively striking and believes she isn’t anything to look at. Before I walked out of the room, I made sure to kiss her head and reassure her, “I’ll be back in a bit. Don’t leave.” I looked to Bianca, and she silently let me know she will keep an eye on her.
    “He hates me because I don’t have a penis.”
    “He tells me I am the ugly, red-headed child, and he has to beg someone with ambition and no ties to the family to take me.”
    “He won’t let me go to college. I want to be a teacher.”
    “He says you and Bianca tolerate me because you were raised with manners, but he’s heard you complain to your father about me always being here.”
    Is there anything that man didn’t lie to her about? It went on and on. I almost came out of my skin when I asked her if there was physical abuse. The hesitation in her breath and her unwillingness to meet my eyes told me all I needed to know. She quickly let me know it was a grab on her arm or a bruise on her wrist when she was trying to escape his verbal taunts. I don’t care if it was a fucking paper cut, nobody, and I mean nobody, lays a hand on her. She won’t be harmed ever again. I had never questioned that she would be mine forever. It just hadn’t been determined when. I was just waiting on the signal from her, and today I got it loud and clear. In the Mafia you grow up faster than most, and in the Agosto family when you fall in love, you protect what’s yours. I had hoped she would be a bit older, more mature when I made my move, but the situation at hand sped things along. No complaints from me. At eighteen, I’m not a virgin. I passed the time waiting for her, but now there will be no one else. I’ll still take my time with her, but there is no question that I will claim her. I intend to do it now as I storm into my father’s office.
    Not knocking and not caring who is in his office, I barge in.
    “Figlio?” my father greets me with his brows drawn together; he knows there is an issue. He can read me, and in this moment I am forever grateful I have the parents I do.
    I snarl, “Frank Locati.”
    “What about him, Bronson?”
    “Callie is upstairs, and she won’t be going home.” I know I am teetering on being disrespectful but not without reason.
    “Son, you need to remember your place. I’m here for you, but not to take your orders.”
    “She’s mine, Papà.” He just nods at me. “He treats her horribly. Calls her names, says unspeakable and spiteful things. He has marked her skin with his hand.” I’m getting worked up relaying this story again, breath ragged, and my father has done nothing to lessen my ire.
    “Family business, Bronson. We don’t get involved unless he crosses the line. You know the rules, we each handle our own families how we see fit, and unless it is abuse, we don’t interfere.” I’ve heard that same spiel from him one too many times. I love my father, and have the utmost respect for him, but I need him to listen to me this time.
    “He promised her to Marco.” My father is taken aback. I can see I finally got to him. “I want her promised to me, by you. I need the announcement made, today.” Time is of the essence because if Frank promises her to Marco in front of the family, my dad can still overrule him, but it will create more hardship for her.
    He seems to mull this over. “You sure? This is life-changing. You are giving your word, making her untouchable to anyone else, and it will be your honor to keep that promise. Are you sure you are willing to do that? You need to think about it, son.”
    “Nothing to think about. She’s mine. I don’t care who knows it, but I want her father to know it. I also need him to know she is untouchable.” He studies me and must like what he sees because a smile spreads across his face.
    “I’m proud of you, Figlio. I was wondering when this day would come. I’ll make the announcement this evening.”
    “When can we move her in here? She can share a room