Gianni stared at Cara Mia as she eyed him intently. He felt like she was probing his soul. Her facial expression screamed hope and something he hadn't realized he needed from her, trust.

He hated that his brother had put the decision on him. Gianni knew his answer would be no because he didn't want her anywhere near the life. Vagabond would be a front for them to smuggle drugs and money, as well as, hold some of the merchandise in the fortified and securely protected safes in the basement.

He had just met her, but Gianni felt an incessant need to protect her. He had never felt this way about any woman he encountered and there were many. Gianni had dated a lot and slept with even more, but he wanted more than a pair of legs that would open for him whenever he wanted.

He wanted a woman that would make him laugh. A woman that was smart and could handle her own. He saw all of this in Cara Mia. She carried herself in a way that let him know she didn't need him or anyone else for that matter. She was strong. She was talented. She was Italian. He thought with a smile as he watched her move.

Cara Mia walked back to her iPod and selected a song that she felt at her core was what Gianni needed to hear in that moment. A haunting beat began as you could hear Cara Mia vocalizing.

I'm thinking it over

The way you make me feel all sexy, but it's causing me shame

I want to lean on your shoulder

I wish I was in love, but I don't want to cause any pain

And if I'm feeling like I'm evil, we've got nothing to gain

Gianni felt as though something was caressing his heart. The music? The lyrics? Her voice? He couldn't wrap his mind around what he was feeling, but it scared him. As Cara Mia sang, he felt seen for the first time in what seemed like forever. She sang to a part of him that he had hidden from the world and oftentimes himself.

Baby I'm thinking it over

What if the way we started made it something cursed from the start

What if it only gets colder

Would you still wrap me up and tell me that you think this was smart

Cause lately I've been scared of even thinking 'bout where we are

He watched her so closely as she sang to him. For him. Gianni was so angry he would have to be the one to crush Cara Mia's dreams of working at the club, but as the oldest he knew that's how things would always be. He was the deliverer of punishments and bad news.

He knew that she would hate him after this. Gianni wished somehow he could tell her he was doing this to protect her, but his family's dealings were a secret to most and an unfounded rumor to others.

He watched her as she looked at him and sang almost lovingly and he wanted to take her right then and there. Take her away from the madness that was the mafia and keep her safe. If I don't give her this job she wouldn't be around the life. She wouldn't be around the drugs, money and business associates. Gianni nodded to himself feeling his decision cement.

But if I do give her this job then she'll be around me and I'll be around her. I could protect her. I'm Gianni the V. No one would dare touch her if she were mine. The thought had Gianni confused. Could he be so selfish and rob her of a normal life?

There was something about Cara Mia that Gianni didn't want to lose. But there was also something about her that he wanted to protect more than his own life and both feelings scared the shit out of him. He had just met her and she did more to him than any of his exes.

Granted, they weren't really girlfriends but rather girls he went on a few dates with, but still. He stared at Cara Mia and couldn't understand what it was, but she had him spellbound.

He heard clapping and looked at his brother and cousin standing. "Well, cousin, did she read you like a textbook and get the job or not?" Gianni looked up at Cara Mia's hopeful face and wanted to smile, but he had to make the hard decision despite what he truly wanted.

That's what it meant to be the eldest son. That's what it meant to be a Petrillo man. You don't get to fall in love in this business. He thought to himself as he looked her in the eye.

"It's going to be a no. I'm sorry, Cara Mia." Gianni looked emotionless, but internally he was begging that she would see in his eyes he was doing what was best for her. "That's bullshit!" Pietro retorted, but Gianni didn't even look at him. "No, it's okay. I'm just really grateful for the opportunity guys. Grazie mille (thank you so much)."

In an instant, Cara Mia was gone and Gianni knew it was because she was crying. Pietro was in full on theatrics while Giovanni just shock his head. "What was the problem with her, huh? She was perfect. She was beautiful, she's Italian, she can sing and dance like a fucking goddess! So, tell me cousin, what could have possibly been the issue?"

Gianni couldn't look at them. Once they made eye contact, they would know that she meant something to him. He tried to move away and get up, but Pietro was on him like the gnat he was. The moment they made eye contact Gianni watched as Pietro's eyes grew larger. "You like her!" Giovanni's head snapped up at this and looked at his brother.

"How? You don't even know her. I mean she's magical don't get me wrong, but you couldn't have fallen for her during this past hour." He watched as Gianni took his seat. "We met at Mocha Joe's and I can't explain it but when we touched it was electric."

They looked at one another and then back at him. "Then why the fuck did you just take a great paying job opportunity away from her?" Pietro asked confused.

Gianni looked at both of them like they were stupid. "Because she's special and for some reason means something to me, you imbeciles. I don't want her anywhere near our life. You saw her up there, she is everything that is happy and good and pure." Gianni ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "We don't get to fall in lo-" Gianni was immediately interrupted by Pietro's groaning.

"Come off it, cousin. If you like her pursue her. You just met, no one is talking about love, but you need to get laid and properly. This could be good for you and great for the club." Giovanni shook his head. "What are you afraid of, Gianni?"

Gianni couldn't tell them that he loved how she looked at him. She made him feel like a good man that deserved good things, be he wasn't and that was a side of him he never wanted her to see. He was scared of what her face would look like is she ever got to meet the real Gianni Petrillo, V.

Gianni shook his head at his brother and cousin and looked down. "She makes me feel some type of way after only meeting twice and that scares the shit out of me." He sighed heavily as he leaned back in his chair. "I can't let her know the monsters that we are. I can't let her get hurt or worse." He looked at Pietro with a sad expression. Pietro shook his head and sat back.

"She doesn't have to know about our life, Gianni. Most of these employees will have no idea what's really going on downstairs. The family's dealings with Vagabond is restricted to the basement and only a select few know about it let alone how to get to it. It really is a club that we're trying to establish and progress to have chains throughout the country. That's all she'll ever know." Pietro eyed his cousin and smiled softly.

Gianni had piqued the interest of many girls inside and outside of the life since he was a teenager, but this was the first time that Pietro had seen Gianni's interest pique exponentially for a woman. He was going to do his best to ensure that his cousin got Cara Mia, because unlike Gianni who felt he didn't deserve any good thing Pietro knew better. Pietro knew that his cousin was a damn good man that needed love to balance him out and keep the monster at bay.

Gianni wasn't sure about this. "Brother, you deserve some happiness no matter how fleeting. You can casually date in our line of work. No harm will come to her." Pietro shook his head in agreement. "I have many casual flings and nothing ever happens to those broads." Gianni tried to refrain, but laughed despite himself. Pietro had a point. He had a revolving door of women and no harm ever seemed to fall on any of them, but Pietro was also the nephew of the Don and not the eldest son.

"You're a man whore and none of our enemies take your trysts seriously." Gianni retorted looking directly at Pietro. "We both know things are different for me." Pietro sighed. "Just keep it casual," Giovanni instructed again. "Oh, like you and Clarissa? You have literally been with her for six years. There is nothing casual about the two of you." Giovanni felt attacked. "She knows that I don't do labels or titles and she's fine with that."

Gianni shook his head and chuckled. "Either she's lying or you are and I have a feeling it's you. She's 27-years-old, Giovanni, she is going to want to get married and have kids. You know you can't give her the life she deserves, so why did you start?" Gianni desperately needed an answer. He wanted someone to make sense out of the nonsense that was their life and his feelings.

"Because from the moment I laid eyes on her I was hooked. I wanted to be around her. I needed to be with her, so I was. It isn't easy and there are moments where she'll ask me to give to her things I can't because of our life, but the experiences and memories we've made are priceless and I'd do it all over and over again if it meant having these past six years." Giovanni placed a heavy hand on his brother's shoulder. "If you have these same types of feelings for Cara Mia then don't rob yourself of some happiness however fleeting."

Giovanni sat back in his chair and sighed. "Call her, brother. Tell her she's got the job if she wants it. Ask her out on a date and make up for making her cry." He handed him a post-it-note with Cara Mia's phone and smiled. Gianni stared at the piece of paper. He was struggling with what to do and they could both see it.

"If you don't call her I will and I bet you she'll say yes to all that I ask of her," Pietro smirked wiggling his eyebrows. "I will shoot you one of these days." Gianni threatened with a laugh. "Promises, promises." Pietro snickered standing up.

They said their goodbyes while Pietro flirted with the waitress. Gianni began to exit the club and dialed Cara Mia's number before bumping into something or rather someone. "I'm so sorry," he heard a soft voice say. Gianni looked down to see Cara Mia wide eyed staring up at him. "Gianni," she whispered. "I was just about to call you. I wanted to sa-" Cara Mia cut him off.

"Did you want to say no once more?" She was angry and she had every right to be. Her audition was flawless and the job was so obviously hers. "I wanted to say sorry," Gianni said honestly. He could tell it caught her off guard and he wanted to continue before he lost his nerve.

"You deserve this position and it's yours if you want it. We would be blessed by your talent and I was an idiot to not admit it initially. I just didn't want you working for my family. To work for the Petrillo family is to deal with a zoo of stress and craziness and I guess I was trying to protect you from that."

Cara Mia could tell he was being sincere and she appreciated that. "I don't need you to protect me," she smiled, placing her hand on his muscular arm. Gianni smiled down at her loving how strong and brazen she was. You have no idea how far from the truth that statement is. "I do want the job," Cara Mia smiled. "But only if you're cool with bosses and employees dating." It was Gianni's turn to be caught off guard.

"I figured that's another reason you didn't want me to work at the club. I mean this morning I felt a spark between us..." Cara Mia was trying to gauge Gianni's face. "...maybe I read that wrong." She removed her hand and began stepping back.

Gianni shook his head and reached for her. "No, you didn't. I felt it too. I just...I don't do relationships." Gianni stated loving the feel of her skin as he unconsciously drew circles on her waist. "If you're okay with just being casual and lowkey I'd love to get to know you better."

Gianni didn't know what he was doing, but he hoped he hadn't offended her or rubbed her the wrong way. He could limit where they went until she was comfortable inviting him to her place. He would keep her from prying eyes for as long as possible like Giovanni did with Clarissa and hopefully have his own slice of Heaven.

As he looked at her big brown eyes and smiling face, Gianni become more and more pleased with his decision to listen to his brother and cousin. I will never tell them they were right, but I can take them out for drink or something. He watched as Cara Mia moved closer to him and placed a hand on his chest.

"I can do casual and lowkey." Cara Mia smiled. He smiled widely at her and she was taken aback. He was breathtaking and it was as though seeing him smile for the first time was her favorite thing in the world. They stood there and talked for a few minutes, both forgetting what else they had on their agendas.

Cara Mia received a text and was immediately reminded of what she had to do. "I hate this, but I have to go." She frowned looking up at him. "Wait a minute." Gianni said looking down at his phone.

He called her cellphone in front of her, so she could save his number. "Got it. I'm saving you under Carino." Cara Mia chuckled a bit. "You think I'm cute, huh?" She looked at him like he was crazy. "Oh, you know you're cute and now that I have your number I can text and pester you whenever I want," she laughed.

"You could never pester me." He said as he brushed a hair from her face. They stood there staring at one another for a moment before Gianni summoned the courage to ask her out on a date. She smiled widely and accepted.

Speaking with her was effortless. It was as though they had been friends for a very long time and Gianni liked that. He liked that they felt like friends first and more second. Friendships were the foundation of any good relationship and when the bones are good the house can't shatter.

"You sure you don't need a ride home?" Gianni asked as Luca pulled up. "No, I like walking. Besides, the Dance Academy isn't too far from here. I have to tell my best friend Rachelle I got the gig." She smiled brightly proud of her new position.

"Okay," Gianni smiled. Cara Mia stood on her tippy toes as she gave Gianni a kiss on the cheek causing him to smile widely. "Be careful and remember Giovanni is going to call you tomorrow about interviews for the dancers." Cara Mia nodded and waved.