Gianni sat back as Luca made his way towards Cara Mia's address. He looked down at the dark jeans he wore with white t-shirt and Vans and shook his head. He always thought it was crazy that he felt more comfortable in a suit than anything else, but that's just how he was built. He was the only one out of his cousin and brothers that wouldn't grumble when told to dress accordingly. He just felt that was a testament to him being made for the monstrosity that was the life.

Gianni thought of Cara Mia and smiled brightly. He felt it was destiny running into her outside Vagabond like he had. He should've known she wouldn't take no for an answer and it was her willingness to fight for what she knew she earned that had him yearning for her all day. Their text message conversations were airy and light, but still meaningful. He didn't know how she managed to do that.

When he told Luca about her, he gave him the look he was expecting. "You're being reckless." Luca instructed as they headed back to the mansion after his sixth and final meeting. "We're not in a relationship or anything, Luca. I'm just getting to know her." Luca shook his head. "Getting to know someone leads to dating and relationships and then before you know it, you're identifying her body at the morgue." Gianni glared at his best friend, but sighed. That was the fate of so many men in this life.

His Uncle Mariano faced this same fate, as well as, various other men that worked for the mafia. He would never forget the look on his Uncle's face when he told them that the Mexicans had gone after them by killing Pietro's mother. They had just celebrated their wedding anniversary and in days he was burying her. "We're just friends, Luca. Nothing more. I promise." Gianni knew he didn't believe him, but he didn't push the subject anymore.

"I just need to drop off my briefcase and then we can go." Gianni stated as he got out of the town car. "You can't go dressed in a suit, G." Luca laughed. "If this is truly just a friend like you said then you need to be relaxed and yourself. You go in a suit you'll show her that you're all about work and don't have time for "friendship". He said with air quotes. "You go dressed down and she sees there's more to you than the Petrillo power." Gianni thought it over and nodded. "So, you are good for something." He snickered as he headed to his room.

Luca shook his head as he too went to change out of his signature black on black suit and into jeans and a V-neck. He felt his best friend was being a complete and total idiot. No good could come from him pursing a relationship and deep-down Gianni knew that, so why was he risking it?

Luca and Gianni were more than best friends. They were brothers who knew one another better than anyone else did. Luca understood the weight of the world that resided on Gianni's shoulders as the eldest son and soon to be heir.

As his best friend and bodyguard, Luca found himself alongside Gianni on many jobs that ended in bloodshed and death. It is because of this that he didn't understand how he would bring an unsuspecting woman into the life. He knew that this so-called friendship was anything but and he would have to have a talk with him to remind him of their promises to themselves. Luca knew they couldn't risk all that was built for love. Love wasn't something people like them had an opportunity to experience and he thought Gianni was fine with that.

But this woman had changed that, which meant she was one heck of a woman. Luca wanted to be happy for his friend, but he knew how things would end and a loss like that would devastate Gianni. That was why Luca vowed that he would never fall in love.

He had slept with a great number of women, but that was it. Sex to get him through the stressful and lonesome nights. The way his best friend smiled all day and lit up when he talked about this Cara Mia, Luca knew he was a goner.

"This is a decent neighborhood," Luca said as they drove closer to Cara Mia's house. "What did you say she did for a living?" Gianni looked around and wasn't thrilled by the number of people loitering around, but for New York City it could've been way worse.

"She's a dance instructor at Danvers Dance Academy. She has roommates I know that much, but not sure what they do." As Luca pulled up to a grey home, Gianni immediately scanned the entrances and exits. He already started thinking about how he could set up security footage before Luca snapped him out of it.

"No need to protect a simple friend, Gianni." Luca smirked knowing what he was thinking about. "Also, didn't know friends brought other friends roses." Luca pointed at the flowers in his hand. "Chiudi la bocca (shut your mouth)!" Gianni barked as he headed to the front door. He could still hear Luca laughing. Gianni went to ring the doorbell but stopped himself. He was nervous.

Gianni Massimo Petrillo, V was actually nervous. I literally have had men around the world tremble at the mention of my name and I'm nervous? He thought shocked as he ran his hand through his hair. He said a quick chant and pushed the doorbell.

They were just friends. This wasn't a big deal. He would keep himself in check as it meant keeping Cara Mia safe. All he wanted was to get to know her and keep things platonic in order to ensure her wellbeing.

Cara Mia opened the door and smiled so brightly Gianni thought he'd faint. She looked beautiful and said a greeting to him that he totally missed. He handed her the flowers and she welcomed him in. He loved the way the house looked. It was decorated nicely, while being warm and welcoming.

"My roommate Ava is much better at arranging flowers than I am, so I'm going to leave her a note to do so and we can head out." He nodded as he looked at the pictures on the wall. There stood Cara Mia in the middle of two beautiful Black women. Together they could all do damage, but even individually they looked like walking temptations.

Gianni opened the door for Cara Mia to enter and smiled as she slid over to let him in. "Cara Mia, this is Luca. He's my best friend, driver and bodyguard." Cara Mia leaned over to shake his hand causing Gianni to laugh, because he knew Luca was not use to interactions with many people outside of the family and fellow body guards. "So, you're who I have to thank for getting Gianni in something other than a suit?" Luca chuckled deeply surprising Gianni. "How did you know?" The two men said at the same time.

"Gianni moves too effortlessly in a suit," Cara Mia informed. "I think he's more comfortable in those things than anything else, but that would not have been a good look for tonight." She laughed at Gianni's shocked expression and Luca's amused one. Gianni just looked at her surprised that she could read him so well. He wasn't sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing.

"I think he was born in a suit to be honest. It's all he knows." The two quickly got into a friendly groove and banter that had Gianni feeling some type of way after a while. On one hand, he was stoked that his best friend and his...other friend were getting along. But at the same time, he wanted to be the only one that got her attention. "Alright, you just drive. You come here." Gianni said as he pulled Cara Mia closer to him.

It was a possessive move, but he didn't want anyone else making her laugh but him. "How was your day?" He asked looking down at her. She was so small in comparison to him. He loved how she just fit next to him. His hand was on her exposed knee and he hoped it wasn't too much too fast. He just needed to touch her.

"It was a day. I spent the most of it either talking to you or about you to my best friends and figuring out what to wear tonight. I kind of destroyed my room in the process." Gianni laughed as he looked at her outfit. "Well you look beautiful, so the mess was worth it."

She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. It caught him off guard and had Luca raising his eyebrow. "I agree and Luca did a great job, because not only do you look handsome, but we match."

Gianni couldn't deny it. They looked like a couple already and it had him smiling. He couldn't help but look at Luca who was giving him a glare through the rearview mirror. He ignored him and continued to talk to Cara Mia like nothing was wrong.

He let himself have fun for once in his life. He didn't know how long this would last, but he was going to enjoy it day by day. Once more the effortlessness of their banter did not go unnoticed by him. They were just so comfortable so fast that he soaked it all in.

They pulled up to Grant park and already saw that things were in full swing. Cara Mia grabbed the basket of snacks and blankets that she packed and waited for Luca to open her door. As they made their way to a nice spot under a tree, Cara Mia couldn't help but ask.

"Won't Luca get bored? Just sitting in the car waiting for us?" Gianni laughed as she handed him a blanket to lay down. "That's his job, Bella. He'll be fine." Cara Mia raised an eyebrow. "Bella, huh? You call all your friends beautiful?" Gianni smiled that he had been caught slipping. "Only the beautiful ones."

They sat on the blanket as Cara Mia unloaded the basket of goodies she packed. She handed him fresh fruits, a cheese and meat platter and two glasses for the red and white wine she also packed. "You didn't have to do this," Gianni said as he looked at the full spread before him. "It was no problem," she smiled. "I like taking care of my friends." Gianni eyed her as she took a bite into a strawberry. The act was simple but it had him going crazy.

We're just friends. He thought to himself as he fought to ignore the moan she let slip. She was beautiful and tempting him without even doing a single thing. But Luca's words rang true in his head snapping him out of it.

If he cared for this woman like he knew he did then he wouldn't risk harm coming for her by being associated with him. They were just going to be friends, so he could make sure she was safe and he could care for her from a distance.

The movie for the night was Mrs. Doubtfire and Gianni had to admit that was one of his favorites from the late and great Robin Williams. Cara Mia's laugh was so full of life and contagious. He wanted to just bottle up the sound to play for himself when the weight of the Petrillo name was too much to bear.

Cara Mia looked over to see Gianni looking at her. She smiled, but it was apparent he wasn't looking at her but rather through her. "Hey, are you okay?" She touched his arm shaking him from his thoughts. "Yeah, I'm sorry. I just zoned up for a minute there. Thinking about work stuff." She frowned slightly.

"No work thoughts when you're out with me, Gianni Petrillo. Just let go. Be here with me." She intertwined their fingers and laid her head on him. Her scent was something Gianni would never forget. In that moment, jasmine, vanilla and cocoa butter were his favorite scents of all time.

The rest of the night they enjoyed the movie together. As Luca drove them back to Cara Mia's house, they never let go of the other's hand. They laughed as they recited lines from the movie and cackled loudly at Luca's spot-on impression of Pierce Bronson.

Gianni couldn't deny that it was one of the best nights he's had in a long time. Even Luca couldn't deny that Cara Mia had a way of just making you have a good time. He hadn't laughed like that in quite some time and appreciated it.

"I had a really great time tonight, Gianni." Cara Mia was looking at Gianni in a way that no other woman had ever looked at him. He wasn't a saint or a virgin, but those women wanted him for his power and money. Cara Mia's eyes shined with trust and want. He would've given her anything she wanted in that instant if she had asked and Luca could tell causing him to abruptly stop in front of her house. Gianni scowled at him.

"Come on you two, my roommate is baking pies and we each have to try!" Cara Mia instructed getting out before Luca or Gianni could open the door. Luca sighed exaggeratedly as he mumbled in Italian behind Gianni as they walked up to the house.

"You're in over your head." Luca whispered causing Gianni to hit him in the ribs. "Just be on your best behavior and act normally." Gianni scowled before turning to Cara Mia who looked at them with a curious expression. "Come on, clowns." Cara Mia laughed as she got her keys out.