Arianna POV:
Gio didn't return to the office until later than he said, only to pick me up on our way home. He looked better than he had that morning, but if he thought I didn't notice the new bandage on his hand he was wrong.
"There you are," I exclaimed as he entered my office as I was cleaning up for the day.
He sighed in a content way, almost like a relief. I stood up and walked over to him resting my hands on his chest. "You look like you've had a long day," His hands went to my waist holding me softly. His eyes filled with a tenderness as he nodded in agreement.
I grabbed my coat and some documents along with the box of fabric handing that off to Luca and thanking him.
Gio quirked an eyebrow in question and turned to him with a wicked grin. "My sister has been tarnishing the family name, I've decided to provide her with a lesson," I explained. "Oh! And this is Peanut," I clapped my leg and the St. Bernard puppy hobbled over.
The pet stores had only small teacup dogs that didn't suit me or my purpose. So I ended up going to the pound where a litter of these guys had been dropped off.
Gio lit up at the small dog bending down to greet him. "Hello there," He let the infant canine lick his face as he was curled up in the big man's arms.
"This is a good idea you'll need more protection than just Luca, they keep finding you wherever we go. I think this is a smart choice, but I must admit…I don't understand how this involves your sister,"
I looped my arm through his. "I can explain on the way home,"
"I was thinking of stopping and getting food," He countered.
"Take out?"
"Deal,"
He still held the dog as we made it out to the car, Becca had gotten me all the puppy items I needed to look after our newest addition. I explained my devious plot against my sibling and Gio though unhappy I was provoking her found it too amusing to not let happen.
"Your father will be too busy to be bothered by fabric to help her, the timing is quite perfect," He chuckled his mind dragged down once again by whatever he had done today.
I held his hand, "What is going on?" I asked but I wouldn't push me looked over at me with temptation.
"It's nothing…yet. I believe I have a lead on something, but I don't want you to know until I'm sure," He explained, I could see the honesty in his eyes. I wanted to ask more the curiosity creeping up in me, but I trusted him more.
"Alright," I smiled and I let it go.
We picked up our food and headed back to the house sitting down and enjoying our food. Chinese was perfect after a long day of work, I wondered if Gio had anything to eat all day as he inhaled the Chow Mein, only stopping to shovel in an egg roll or some sesame chicken.
"You know I'm fine with you not telling me about your day but if you aren't going to eat I feel responsible, I think I may have to pack you a lunch," I scolded him with a wry smile as gulped down another egg roll.
He continued his rapid pace of eating stopping in between mouthfuls, "It's hard to get time in the day, but I enjoy you're cooking so much I won't say no," He grinned another pile of chow mein balled up in his cheek as he beamed at me.
I chuckled at his child like behavior, eating my food as he slowed down on his feasting. We talked and I told him how infuriating it was going through those files knowing it was my own flesh and blood facilitating these crimes and injustices. He nodded along telling me other issues people have had, cops my father has paid off, times when people have tried to get free only to have their legs taken out from under them.
When Gio first started fighting back he had a mountain to climb and he was only halfway up it, having first gained a very small stronghold by the bay to protect his imports. Giovanni's father had given him enough money to pay for some muscle along with family members and friends coming over to help him. It didn't take much time for people in the city to start flocking to him, being under my father's thumb for so long they wanted nothing more than to be free.
It gave me even more conviction to go back to work the next day and continue my work. Finding more and more statements of I.O.U's that my father's men had taken out across the city. Businesses are being strained by their theft.
Peanut whined in the bed I had placed in the corner of my office as he jumped after a ball that had rolled away. I had forwarded my phone to the office expecting a call today and as i was going over the cry cleaners on the seventh Becca came in with a goofy expression.
"Um, Miss Caputo your sister is on the line," she snickered. I wasn't surprised that she ran over to my desk to listen in as I picked up the phone but I was surprised Luca sat up in his chair and walked over to sit on the corner of my desk as well.
"Hello, Arianna Captuo," I answered the phone with as much professionalism as I could muster.
"WHERE THE HELL IS MY DRESS!" Guilia screeched over the line and I held the headset away from my ear.
"I'm sorry we haven't acquired any dresses as of late," I stated calmly.
"You stole the fabric for my fucking wedding gown you fucking bitch! That tailor was supposed to design me a one-of-a-kind wedding gown! GIVE IT BACK OR I'LL KILL YOU,"
"Ahh I see yes we did obtain the fabric for an open account at our latest business, however, considering there was no payment you can't really call it yours now can you," I held my face away from the phone as I snorted as she let out a crazed screech in frustration.
"I swear to fuck I will end you, you bitch!"
"Well I am sorry to hear that but I don't have fabric with me at the moment it's currently at Mister Risci's house for safekeeping, feel free to stop by and grab it, until then I have work to do," I hung up the phone as she let out more a slew of cuss words.
Becca sat there with her lips folded in to hold in her laughter. "Oh my goodness I didn't know women like this existed I thought they were only in movies," She gasped looking over at me. "This is your sister?"
Luca got up and walked back over to his chair. "Weird isn't it,"
"Very strange," She laughed standing and going back to her desk.
I knew sooner or later my sister would show up for her fabric but I wasn't the type to back down. She had obviously gone unchecked for far too long. Sooner or later you learn a hard lesson and if she needed to understand that you get what you give, I'll be the one to teach her that.
It killed me that in a matter of weeks, I had gone from being willing to die for my sister to wanting to watch her learn her lesson. I had the last little bit of wool pulled from my eyes, I wouldn't let this continue.
I called the tailor and explained to her the next part of my plan as hesitant as she was I could hear the need for payback. I decided too that I would pay her handsomely to cover the cost of the satin.
I leaned back in my chair excited to see the look on my sister's face.