Gael's Naughty Angel: A Mafia Prince Romance

Charlie wasn't too keen about Angela going to New York because she was still healing, and he had a feeling that something bad was going to happen. It was her who told him over lunch with Giovanni and Gael at the table. For a few seconds, there was only silence that you could hear a pin drop. Then Charlie gave Gael an undesirable stare as if he believed that Gael forced her to go to New York with them. 

Gael loosened the neckline of his shirt, feeling the pressure of the older man's stare. Having faced many fellow mafiosos and criminals over the years, there was nothing like Charlie's judgment that made Gael want to kneel and ask for forgiveness for breaking his daughter's innocence and getting involved with him. Gael swallowed hard and opened his mouth to speak, but Angela beat him to it.

"I asked Gael if I could go with him…"

Gael blinked. What else could he say at this point? He did indeed tell her she didn't have a choice, but he couldn't possibly tell that to Charlie's face. 'Chicken shît,' he cursed himself.

"Is that so?" Charlie asked.

The air was so thick, Giovanni suddenly shrunk in his seat.

Gael sat straight and kept his expression firm. "Yes. I'll keep her safe, Charlie. She won't go anywhere unaccompanied. My men—I'll always be with her at all times." If it were before, he could confidently say his men would keep her safe. But that wasn't so true now, was it? Santiago didn't do his job properly and his soldier's mistake was also Gael's, that he believed. 

Angela looked at him and he didn't meet her gaze. He could, however, feel the intensity of her stare and he was unable to tell if she was against what he said about her being constantly watched. Surely she wouldn't think he'd let her go anywhere without someone guarding her. If he needed to, he'd lock her up—comfortably of course—where only he would have access to. Gael wouldn't have to do that…hopefully.

Charlie looked down on his plate for a moment, and when he lifted his chin, he glanced between Angela and Gael, and told his daughter, "Very well. You promise me that you check in with me at least once a day. Twice if possible. I don't want to have to ask Colonel Reyes to personally see if you're okay." Then he looked at the two De Lucas. "I assume that would not be favorable for your family?"

Giovanni muttered almost instantly, "No, Sir."

While Gael reassured the older man, "I'll see to it that she doesn't forget to do so."

"I won't," Angela added in a toneless voice.

***

The private plane left Mayne City Airport at eleven in the evening. Gael and Giovanni had sedated Evan and smuggled him to New York. It was nearly two in the morning when they landed.

Angela had fallen asleep during the short flight. She looked so peaceful that Gael didn't want to wake her, so he carried her out of the plane and into the waiting Escalade on the tarmac. The whole day was so exhausting for her. She stirred in his arms when they got settled in their seats but stayed asleep as they headed towards Brooklyn.

"I can't believe I slept through that." She croaked as she sat up just as they pulled at the curb in front of Gael's brownstone. 

He smiled. "You had a long day." 

"We're staying here?" She blinked as her vision settled at the brownstone.

"Yeah. I need to be closer here. It'll be easier. You don't mind, do you?" 

"Of course not. You know I don't care where I sleep. Just give me a pillow and a blanket, and I'm good." 

Gael raised his brow. As if he'd allow her to sleep just anywhere. He'd punch himself if he let that happen. His phone rang, and he spoke with Giovanni who rode in a separate car when they landed. "Yeah. I'm on my way." 

"It's...two in the morning… You're going somewhere?" muttered Angela, her brows drawn together in concern. 

He could see the disappointment on her face, and he wished he hadn't put it there. "I need to talk to my father." They got out of the car. He led her inside the house and into his bedroom. "Your stuff is still in the other room. I'll help you move them here in the morning. For now, you should go back to sleep." 

"But... I don't..." She sighed. "How long will you be gone?" 

Gael checked his watch and said, "I'll be back before you wake up." 

That wasn't really an answer, but he wasn't sure how long their meeting would take. He had a feeling his father would be unhappy about them bringing Evan back to New York. Alessandro would've preferred they finished the scumbag somewhere else because he thought keeping a prisoner unsecured for a long time would increase his chances of escaping. Gael wouldn't allow that to happen. Evan was already in the impenetrable basement of the Bunk, all his limbs tied to heavy chains while his clothes were stripped off, leaving him shivering. There was no going out.

***

Angela couldn't sleep after Gael walked out of the front door, so she ended up moving the stuff she left in the guest room from when she stayed last December to the master bedroom, cleaned up, and organized her things. 

It was already nearly four in the morning when she fell asleep in bed while trying to wait for his return. That night, she had a nightmare.

She dreamed about a very dark place. There was nobody else around, but harsh voices could be heard from afar. She followed the noise until she saw some man pointing a gun at Gael. And then…no one could stop the bullet that pierced through Gael's chest.

Angela ran towards him. Using both hands, she pressed on the bullet wound to stop the bleeding. So much blood gushed out of her hands, soaking their clothes and making a large puddle around Gael's already lifeless body. There was nothing she could do but hysterically scream and call for help.

"Baby… Wake up…" Strong, warm hands shook her awake. Angela gasped, meeting Gael's worried gaze. "You okay? You were dreaming."

She let out a sigh of relief seeing him in front of her, her head falling against his chest and her hands desperately clutching his shirt. "Yeah…"

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Angela bit her bottom lip. Her dream was still so fresh in her head. She just wanted to forget.

When she didn't say anything, Gael lifted her face so he could look into her eyes. "What is it?"

With misty eyes, she told him, "Someone shot you, and I couldn't stop the bleeding. There was so much blood. You were…" She croaked, shaking her head.

"Hey… It was just a bad dream. I'm here. No one shot me."

"You can't die!"

"I won't—"

"I won't allow you to die! I'll be really mad if you let something bad happen to you. I'll kill you myself."

The worry on his face turned into slight amusement, but he suppressed a full-blown grin from surfacing. Instead, he leaned in and stroked his lips to hers. "I'm safe, Angel. I'm not dying until you allow me to."

"You better."

Gael wrapped his arms around her for a long time. When she calmed down, he pulled away and kissed her forehead. "Get ready. Nonna's expecting us for breakfast."

***

Angela had been pretty quiet since they arrived at Nonna's house and met Gael's family. She wasn't her usual chirpy self that Alice even noticed and asked if she was okay. Angela chalked it up to being exhausted from the flight and not having enough sleep. But the truth was, she couldn't stop thinking about the nightmare. It was horrible; she barely finished her plate.

While they all moved to the large living room to continue their chat, the doorbell rang, and one of Gael's cousins opened it. A leggy blonde came inside, wearing an above-the-knee maroon pencil skirt and a white sleeveless blouse. She looked confident with her chin raised, and a stylish black leather briefcase slung on her arm. 

"You're here…" Giovanni grinned as he strolled towards her and gave her a peck on the cheek. She smiled and turned her head when Gael came to greet her as well, giving her a brief hug. With her hand lingering on Gael's arm, she chatted with them in hushed tones.

"Who's that?" Angela asked Alice. The touching was too much for her liking.

Alice released a breath that sounded more like a huff. "That's Savannah Black. She's a lawyer."

"You don't like her?" 

Alice turned away as if looking at Savannah was uncomfortable and annoying. "She's a bitch. Only friendly towards those two."

Angela glanced their way again, and Savannah laughed at something the men said. She didn't know her yet, but she couldn't help the brewing irritation inside her because the woman's hand was still on Gael's arm. He had shifted away from her earlier, but her hand managed to find its way on his arm again.

As if he could feel his eyes on her, Gael turned around and met Angela's frown.