Chapter 8: Chapter 8

When I leave Starbucks, I glance up the street and see Eden walking right past the ballet company.

I stare at her for a moment before a whining sound draws my attention to my right. Seeing a dog with the leash tied to a fire hydrant, I walk closer.

I crouch in front of the dog and carefully pet her head. “I’m just going to assume you’re a girl,” I whisper as my palm brushes over her soft hair. “What are you doing out here in the cold?”

She jumps up against me with her two front paws, drawing a chuckle from me.

I glance around as I rise to my feet, but when I take a step in the direction of my car, something twists in my gut, and I look at the dog again.

She’s staring at me with the biggest brown eyes I’ve ever seen, making my heart melt on the spot.

“Keep looking at me like that, and I’m going to kidnap you,” I warn the dog as if she can understand me.

I look into the Starbucks through the window and wonder which of the patrons the dog belongs to.

Deciding to pet her until the owner shows up, I crouch down again and let the dog sniff my hand before I scratch a spot behind her ear.

“I should get a dog,” I tell her. I look at her fluffy, long ears and white and brown coat. “What breed are you?”

I begin to feel uncomfortable crouching for so long and rise to my full height again.

When fifteen minutes have passed with no sign of the owner, I begin to feel very annoyed.

Who leaves their dog out in the cold for so long?

And with no water.

A frown settles on my forehead as I glance down at the dog. “I’m seriously considering kidnapping you.”

Compared to shit the other heads of the Cosa Nostra have done, kidnapping a dog ranks low on shitty things to do.

I glance around the area and into the Starbucks, and when it doesn’t look like anyone is in a hurry to get back to the furry animal, I untie her leash and pick her up.

“That’s it. You belong to me now,” I mutter as I walk to where my car is parked.

The fact that no one tries to stop me pisses me off even more.

I press the fob, and when the doors unlock, I open the driver’s side and get into the R8. I place the dog on the passenger seat before I shut the door and start the engine.

I keep glancing at my kidnap victim, but she seems happy where she’s looking out the window with her tail wagging.

Angelo forced Vittoria to marry him, and Renzo kidnapped Skylar.

Me? I steal a dog.

I shake my head at myself as a chuckle escapes me.

My thoughts turn to Eden, which makes my smile grow wider.

I have a date with my elusive dancer.

Fuck, I thought I was hallucinating the woman when I saw her walking on the side of the road. I slammed on the brakes so fast I almost gave myself whiplash.

I don’t stop at the ballet company like I was planning on doing and drive in the direction of my apartment.

“I should probably stop somewhere and get you food before we go home,” I mutter.

Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I check for nearby pet stores.

“Found one on Maddison Ave,” I say as I glance at the dog, who’s staring at me with her mouth wide open while she pants.

It looks like she’s smiling at me, and once again, my heart melts into a puddle.

When I stop at the store, I scoop the dog into my arms, and after climbing out of the car, I quickly check whether my new pet is male or female.

“I was right.” I grin at her. “You’re a girl.”

She licks my jaw, and I’m overcome with cuteness aggression, almost squashing the furball too hard to my chest.

Walking into the store, I head to the counter and smile at the attendant. “I just got a dog and need the best of everything.”

The attendant gets to work, and after ten minutes, I worry how I’ll get everything home. The R8 doesn’t have a big trunk, and it’s only a two-seater.

I dig my cell phone out and dial Renzo’s number.

“Hey,” he answers the call.

“I need you to come to a pet store with an SUV,” I tell him.

“A pet store? Why?”

“I kidnapped a dog and need help getting all her things to my apartment.”

“You kidnapped a dog,” he deadpans. “Are you joking or serious?”

“I’m serious.”

“Oh…okay.”

The call ends, and I quickly send the address before I grin at my fur ball.

What am I going to call her?

I stare into her eyes. “How about I call you Bellissima?”

She rubs her head against my shoulder while her body wiggles in my hold.

“You like that, right?” Again, she wiggles, and I squish her to my chest. “Fuck, I’m going to crush you if you keep being so cute.”

“Do you want clothes for your dog?” the store attendant asks.

“Yes.” I follow her to where there are all kinds of clothes and adorable stuff. “I want pink bows to put in her hair.”

While the attendant grabs a variety of bows, I walk back to the counter and grab one of the new bowls. “Where can I get some water?”

“I’ll fill the bowl,” she says.

While she’s getting water, I open a box of bone-shaped biscuits and feed one to Bellissima.

I see Renzo double park beside my R8, and when he comes into the store, he actually looks shocked.

“I didn’t think you were serious,” he mutters as he stares at my dog.

The attendant brings the bowl, and I set Bellissima down on the floor so she can drink some water.

Keeping hold of the leash, I pull out my wallet and hand my black credit card to the attendant.

Renzo signals for Vincenzo to come help while Fabrizio remains in the SUV. He never goes anywhere without the two men.

The other four heads of the Cosa Nostra have all said I need to get guards, but I never got around to it.

Honestly, I’m not the biggest threat out of the five of us, and someone has to be fucking stupid to come after me knowing the Cosa Nostra will retaliate.

When the payment goes through, the attendant hands me my card. I crouch to pick up Bellissima and the bowl. Walking out of the store, I empty the remaining water on the sidewalk and head to my car.

“I’m going to charge you a delivery fee,” Renzo calls out as he heads back to the SUV.

“You’re going to charge me for helping bring your goddaughter’s stuff to the apartment?”

“Now I’m the godfather of a dog? Did you drink too much today?”

I climb into the R8 and place Bellissima on the passenger seat. Starting the engine, I have to wait for the SUV to move before I can pull away from the curb.

As soon as there’s a gap in traffic, I floor the gas, and the R8 shoots around the SUV, leaving them behind.

Bellissima lets out a bark as she slides across the seat, and I instantly decelerate.

“Sorry, Daddy didn’t mean to make you lose your balance,” I apologize to her.

Fifteen minutes later, I bring the car to a stop in my parking bay, and as I pick up Bellissima and climb out of the vehicle, Renzo’s SUV comes to a standstill next to me.

I give Fabrizio a chin lift and grab the bag with Bellissima’s clothes. The men bring the other bags and dog bed, and we all pile into the elevator.

When we step into my apartment, I say, “Just put everything in the living room.”

I set Bellissima down on a couch and say, “This is your new home.”

Esmerelda, my housekeeper, comes out of the kitchen, and when she sees the dog on the leather couch, a frown forms on her forehead.

“Animals don’t belong on couches,” she complains. “She’ll scratch the leather.”

“Then I’ll buy a new couch.”

I grin at my fur ball, then leaning over her, I pet the living shit out of her. She turns onto her back, and I can see how much she loves belly scratches.

“Bellissima lives here now,” I inform Esmerelda. Rising to my full height, I glance at her. “I got dry dog food, but I want you to make fresh food for her as well.”

I can see she’s not happy about cooking for a dog, but she won’t dare argue with me on the matter.

Renzo glances from me to Bellissima. “Why did you kidnap the dog?”

“Someone left her tied to a fire hydrant out in the cold.”

“Oh no,” Esmerelda gasps. “People can be so cruel. I’ll make some chicken for her.”

My housekeeper disappears back into the kitchen, and I know it’s only a matter of time before she falls in love with Bellissima.

“So just like that, I have a goddaughter?” he asks.

“Yep.”

“What are you going to name her?”

I know the term of endearment annoys the fuck out of him, so my grin is extra wide when I reply, “Bellissima.”

He gives me a disgruntled look. “You like that word way too much.” He steps closer to my dog and rubs behind her left ear. “And it’s a long name for such a small dog. She looks more like a Bella.”

Liking the sound of the name, I nod. “I like that. Bella.”

Renzo picks up my dog, and it has me saying, “Don’t even think about it. She’s mine.”

“I’m just holding her,” he mutters. “Damn, if you’re so possessive over a dog you just got, I don’t want to see you when you fall for a woman.”