Bellissimo Lotta (Family Trilogy #2)

By Leigh Ann Lunsford

The idea of forever terrifies Bianca Agosto. Abhorring love; she is surrounded by it on a daily basis. The Mob Princess is doted on, adored by all, and loved by one. Struggling with her feelings against love, she falls. Hard.

Dakota Hyatt, the boy who was untainted by the life in which Bianca grew up, and her brother’s best friend. His own tragedy in life makes him hold on to the things that matter. He may not understand what the life means for Bianca, but he makes sure to be her safe haven, her soft landing, the one place she can truly be herself.

Succumbing to love isn’t easy but proves to be worth every struggle; but one lie, one mistake, one indiscretion destroys it all. The boy who seemed so untouched by the life might not be as removed as they all once believed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leigh Ann Lunsford
• Release date: Apr 20, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370761265

Leigh Ann Lunsford

Leigh Ann Lunsford is stay at home mom turned author. She writes Romance/New Adult and loves her happily ever after in all books and movies. She lives with her husband, son, and four dogs in Fleming Island, Florida. When she isn’t writing or reading you can find her stuck in front of really bad reality shows or watching Sons of Anarchy. Leigh Ann has a filthy mouth and a huge amount of sarcasm that knows no end. She hopes to give the voices in her head an outlet with many more novels to come. Social Media/Email: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/la.lunsfordauthor Email: [e-mail] Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/25235051

Book preview

Prologue

Our Ending

Dakota

Sister.

Mother.

Grandparents.

Mob.

Friends.

All those words are synonymous with deceit in my mind. The one other common denominator in the flurry of words . . . Bianca Rose Agosto. She claimed my heart and played games with my mind, as I did hers. We fooled ourselves into believing this wasn’t a relationship. Lip service . . . if we repeated it enough, maybe we would fool ourselves into trusting it.

Bianca is the sister of my best friend, Bronson. Princess of the Boss, Joseph Agosto. Their family ran Indian Shores, and if you wanted to be part of the prestige, the money, the power . . . you joined the familia. It wasn’t what I wanted for myself, but it didn’t stop me from falling in love with her and making Bronson the brother I’d craved.

Despite the warnings from my ‘parents’ to keep my distance, I didn’t. I forged ahead and became attached. Callie Locati was an added bonus and all four of us were inseparable. It wasn’t always like that. For a while, Bronson and I did our own thing, but enduring tragedy after tragedy in my life pushed me towards them. While Bronson was dealing with the life-altering decision of claiming Callie, I lost my champion. My sister. My other best friend.

I didn’t grow up in the slums, but my home wasn’t of the same caliber as the Agosto’s, either. My parents were older than normal for most of my friends . . . but my sister was present, spurring my passion and encouraging me to follow my dreams. Her constant appearance at my side and in mind was the forefront of the man I am today.

I had just confronted Bianca, which was not a pleasant task. She had an arsenal in her razor sharp tongue. She’d been through so much this past year, and she had always turned to me. I was tired of her denying the inevitable. She never allowed herself to be defenseless with me, always skirting around what I wanted to hear. I just wanted her to tell me she wanted me.

Just me.

We tried to date other people, the outcome was the same. In each other’s bed. Nobody else was able to give us what we gave one another. Passion. Honesty. In your face, once in a lifetime . . . LOVE.

Waiting not so patiently for her to give me an answer to my ultimatum, I ripped open the letter that had been delivered to me. I had been busy chasing her ass around campus and had forgotten its existence. After finishing Basic Agent Training (BAT) to become a DEA agent, I’d called in a favor. A special request. My answers were just at my fingertips.

The words jumbled together. The paper became my enemy. My hands shook as I tried to decipher the meaning of what I was reading. My entire life had been a lie. My existence, a farce. Everything I grew up believing was ripped from me in the explanation I read. My eyes honed in on one name. Agosto. The people who had taken me in were the same people who had ended my family.

I immediately grabbed the first bottle I could find, foregoing the glass. I read, re-read, and memorized the facts of the case. It was clear-cut. Black and white. Concise. Nothing amiss in it, factual . . . yet I longed for it to be a lie. I relived the day my world shattered, the questions coming more quickly than the answers. None of it made sense.

I took a cab to her dorm, needing to confront her, make her hurt. She needed to feel exactly what I was. Her family, ergo she, stood for this, and I had overlooked it all these years. I knew her hands, her voice, her love was what was going to repair me, and that added to my pissed off state. Still reeling from Callie’s betrayal, I had another dose of bullshit to add to our plate.

I didn’t bother knocking. I just stumbled through her door. I noticed the roses I had brought her this morning on her nightstand with a photo of us taken last year. Her smile could illuminate the darkest of rooms; it had shed so much joy on my world.

Dakota, I heard. I glanced to the other side of her dorm room and saw her roommate. My eyes raked over her body, hidden by a miniscule towel that didn’t cover her ass. My head swiveled back to study the photo, my fingers gripping the letter in my pocket. I detonated, obliterating everything in my wake . . . most of all, abolishing my future with Bianca. In one moment I annihilated everything that meant anything to me.

Memories.

Futures.

Promised words.

All gone.

I didn’t stop to think about consequences. I didn’t care. That’s a lie . . . I cared too much and needed to shut it off.

The voices.

The aching.

The recollections.

I needed them all depleted.

I didn’t stop when I heard the traumatized scream from Bianca. I continued extinguishing her faith in me. Mine already departed.

I didn’t go after her when she ran from the room. Not her usual style. I was expecting rage, anger, a full-blown temper tantrum.

I didn’t do the one thing I swore to do.

I swore I wouldn’t hurt her.

I swore I would value her above all others.

I didn’t do any of the things I should have.

Tonight of all nights I had to purge the truth, share with Bronson the failure I was. Telling him wasn’t as hard as remembering her face, the anguish coursing through her. I welcome his blows . . . I yearn for them. Punishment for the way I treated her, pain for the misery I’ve put her through. I had come to share the truth and even sprawled on the floor of Bronson’s apartment, blood rushing from my nose and staring up at a face of fury, I didn’t relent.

It doesn’t matter.

I didn’t have Bianca, and that was the lowest I could go.

Friendship at first sight, like love at first sight, is said to be the only truth.

~Herman Melville

Chapter One

Our Beginning

Bianca

Holy shit! Who is the hot guy in the ring with my brother? I’ve been to the gym with Bronson a number of times, but I’ve never seen him before. I rip my hair out of its ponytail, fluffing it as best I can. Putting on lip-gloss is a challenge without a mirror, but doable … I’m intrigued . . . enough to let Bronson take his time without my complaints. This time. Stepping into his line of sight, I wave my hands to catch his attention, but his focus doesn’t waver. Sparring at the gym for him is like yoga to soccer moms . . . the Holy Grail. However, the guy I’m perusing looks over, and before I can warn him, he gets a punch to the side of his face.

Damn it, Dakota. You’ve got to block your opponent. Bronson is short-tempered today. Hmmm . . . he has a name.

I see Dakota nod towards me, and Bronson follows his direction. What, Binks?

Ugh. He had to use the nickname I hate. He and Callie love to torment me with that. I was just wondering how much longer?

I’m done. Let me just wrap up. Damn.

No rush. I can wait for a little while. Callie isn’t coming over until after dinner. He narrows his eyes at me, his sight going from Dakota to me, and sneers.

Oh no, sister dear. I’m through here. Same as you. I know he’s warning me off. Not going to happen. I’m a big girl; I don’t heed his unspoken advice or his permission.

I’m Bianca. I turn my attention to Dakota. Bronson’s manners are horrendous.

Dakota Hyatt. He extends his hand for me to shake. I feel his rough and callused palm. A foreign sensation courses through me. I shiver from the goose bumps forming across my arms and take a step back. Whoa, what was that? I look up just in time to see his smirk as he tries to cover it with a wink.

"That’s my little sister, man." Bronson steps in front of me, blocking our path of communication.

By a whole eighteen months. I snarl at him. He takes this shit too far sometimes.

Go change, Bianca. Let Callie know we’ll pick her up on the way home. He doesn’t look at me, his focus still on Dakota. I’ve lost this battle, but any good soldier knows you won’t go undefeated while preparing for war. Game on, brother. He doesn’t realize he just issued a challenge. One I won’t back down from.

As soon as I get to the locker area I grab my phone and dial my best friend. Our fathers are business associates. My dad is the head of a Mob family, and her dad is the Underboss. And a dick. He is one ruthless son of a bitch, and Callie seems to stay in his cross hairs.

Callie, I’m ready to kill your future baby daddy.

What the hell, Binks? That isn’t how you start a conversation. Usually it’s ‘hello,’ or occasionally we humans throw in a ‘how are you?’ If I didn’t know your family, I would swear you were raised by wolves. What has your panties in a twist? And why are you calling me? We have rules.

Panties? Are we seven? I wear thongs; you know this. Anyway, Bronson just killed my game. He is sparring with some hot guy; his name is Dakota. If I had a dick, I would say he cockblocked me. And this constitutes an emergency because I don’t have time to type all of this. Time is of the essence.

Please tell me I’m not hearing this, Callie whispers.

Still here.

First, Bianca, you have no game. You’ve never been on a date, let alone kissed a boy. NO! Marcus from fifth grade doesn’t count. Cockblocked? So you were going to throw down right there in the gym?

Okay, smartass. I get it. And you know I would never fornicate on that smelly, sweat infested sparring cage. Do you know what kind of diseases are floating on that thing?

So, back up and tell me what your brother did. And quit calling him my baby daddy because he doesn’t even know I exist.

Today isn’t the day I boost your ego, but you know as well as I do that boy is smitten with you. I tried to talk to his friend, Dakota, and he went all ‘me big brother, you little sister.’ It was embarrassing.

How do you not know Dakota? They’ve been hanging out almost the entire year.

How do you know Dakota? And what kind of best friend are you that you didn’t tell me about him? I say, shocked.

Well, you do live with your brother, so I have no clue how you missed Dakota. He’s been over playing video games, they shoot hoops, and work out together.

Hmmm, I say, wondering how I could have missed him.

Maybe you should pay attention to your surroundings, Bianca. I hear her cackling over the line.

Whatever. Oh, almost forgot. We’ll be there in about twenty minutes to get your stank ass . . . I hear her shriek before she hangs up on me. Take that, you hold-off-on-informing-me-or-at-least-pointing-out-Dakota-little-twit. I’m going to make you run around trying to get ready to see the love of your life.

Callie and Bronson are destined to be together. They’ve been playing cat and mouse for almost nine years, and when they finally give in . . . it’s going to be epic. We all met when Callie and I were five, and Bronson was seven. One look at that girl and he was a goner. I’m just waiting for him to finally succumb. We can take Callie from her father, and I won’t have to worry so much.

I hurry up and change my clothes and meet Bronson at the front of the gym. He’s still chatting with Dakota, and I’m hanging on their every word.

I’ll be home in an hour. Gotta pick up Callie and pizza. Just head over whenever. Score. He’s coming to my house, and I will use Callie as a diversion so he won’t watch us like a hawk.

I type a quick text to Callie.

Me: Wear something slutty. I need you to distract my brother.

My phone quickly dings.

Callie: You’ve seriously lost your mind this time. I don’t own anything slutty and I’m not a pawn you can use.

She is such a pain in my ass.

Me: You’re not a pawn, but this is a win-win. You can work on getting Bronson to fall madly in love with you while helping me scope out Dakota. Just come naked. We’re getting pizza, that’s every guys dream.

Pizza. Naked chick. Golden.

We have an unspoken rule. Unless it’s an emergency, we don’t call one another. If you can text it, do it. Besides, we are together every day, so I don’t need to talk to her on the phone after face-to-face conversations. Plus, I’ve used my allotted phone call for the today. I check for her response:

Callie: I don’t know why we’re friends.

I laugh and catch the attention of Bronson and Dakota. What’s so funny?

So damn nosy. Callie. I watch his face and see his eyes flare at the mention of her name. Time to fuck with him. She’s complaining because she doesn’t have any clean clothes, so I assured her coming over naked was fine. I explained our clothing optional rule. I stare at Dakota while speaking the last part. I see him swallow, and he isn’t sure how to take me.

Bianca, Bronson growls.

I bat my eyelashes at him and give him the angelic smile I reserve for my dad when I want something. I figured you’d be thrilled.

Get in the fucking car. Maybe I’ve pushed him a bit too far.

See you later Dakota, I sing-song as I skip to Bronson’s car.

Later, Bianca, I get with a chin nod. I hate that.

I make sure to buckle up before Bronson reminds me, trying to make him less tense. I know I’m going to get a lecture, and any little thing can help. We getting Callie before pizza?

Yes, why?

Didn’t know if you’d want the entire pizza place to see her naked. Told you she doesn’t have any clean clothes.

He sighs and gulps in a big breath. It’s his calming technique. We are the only people who make him crazy enough to need calming techniques. Callie and I do it well and often. Please quit talking about Callie naked. Quit trying to hit on my friends. Y’all are fifteen years old, and you’re not allowed to date yet.

We are almost sixteen.

"Six and eight months. That’s not almost. Dakota and I will be seventeen by then. Just for once, stop."

Okay. But at no time, not even in the future, can you date, pick up, hook up, nothing, with Callie.

His mouth opens and shuts, not eliciting a sound. Squinting his eyes, taking in an exasperated breath, he levels me with his gaze. You’ve got to be shitting me?

Nope, fair is fair. She’s my friend, and as you pointed out, much too young for you.

"She’s not just your friend, and that is just ridiculous."

I met her first.

By five damn minutes. Bianca, why in the hell are you so difficult?

Just showing you how asinine you sound. Do you want to date Callie?

I can’t keep up with you. You need a full-time handler.

Hmmm. I know just the guy I’ll offer that job to.

Bianca, knock it off. I just giggle at him.

Seriously, does Callie need to bring her clothes over to be washed? Or do we need to go to the mall and pick her up some things? His concern for her, his love for her, is so fucking obvious I have no idea how she doesn’t see it.

Nah, I was teasing.

You never know with her parents. He’s right. I hate the hand she was dealt. A drugged up, booze-drinking mother who pays no attention to her daughter. I’m not sure she knows what millennium we’re in. And her dad, there isn’t a word to describe him. If Bronson knew half the shit she keeps from him, he’d lose his shit.

I give him a sympathetic smile, I know. I hate it. It’s getting worse.

Shit. Okay, I’ll talk to her tonight, and you try to get her to stay over a few more times a week.

I will. But remember, no copping a feel. Hands off my merchandise. He just shakes his head at me and starts the car. I know in time he’ll admit his feelings for Callie; once he does he can’t say anything about who I’m interested in. The thing I’m worried about is the time frame. I’m not like them; I don’t want forever at such a young age. I question Callie all the time about how she can be sure. I want to explore my options, nothing serious for a long time.

Our entire existence involves some sort of danger or a pressing issue that lingers around us because of what my father does. I want to throw caution to the wind, for once. I get it; I just don’t like it and can’t wait to break free from it. So until the day comes that I can be free, I will keep all my possibilities open and play the field.

Without a struggle, there can be no progress.

~Frederick Douglass

Chapter Two

Dakota

Damn, Bronson’s sister is gorgeous. I’d seen her in passing at their house but never paid much attention. What a mistake that was. Her long caramel-colored hair against her deep tan coloring is stunning. But her eyes . . . their gold color and sparkle are so unusual. She knows she’s beautiful, and I can tell she likes to play games. Ones I don’t have time for. Anymore.

Bronson and I have been friends for a few years, but the last few months our friendship has solidified. After being absent from school for two weeks, he approached me the day I returned. Never asked me what happened, just invited me to the gym to spar. It’s like he knew I needed the outlet, and I found out later that he’d heard the gossip at school.

My sister was murdered. No leads. No developments. Dana was my best friend. Even though seventeen years separated us, she was with me in every life choice I made. My parents were so much older, both in their fifties, when I came along, so having Dana made my life easier. They waited before having Dana and referred to me as a miracle, an unexpected surprise. More like a mistake. I wasn’t made to feel that way, but with them both at retirement age, I felt like I was holding them back.

Dana’s death rocked us all to the core. The help she offered my parents, to step in and support me at activities, and give me an outlet to speculate about my typical teenage tribulations was sorely missed. My mom retreated into a zone, drew into herself instead of offering me strength, and my dad was lashing out over every little infraction. Both had reservations with Bronson and I hanging out, but they couldn’t give me a valid reason, and since I was seventeen they could only oppose it for less than a year. They stopped caring. They seemed to give up when Dana was taken from us.

The housekeeper greets me as she opens the door. They are all in the media room, she tells me. The staff is always at the house, but it’s not formal or stiff. Just like extra help, because God knows his dad doesn’t keep normal hours, and I’m sure Mrs. Agosto could use another pair of hands.

What’s up, man? I watch Bronson stuffing pizza in his mouth.

About time you got here. Those two are driving me crazy.

Who?

Bianca and Callie. They’re bored. They don’t like my choice of pizza. They don’t like video games. They want to watch a movie. They want to go for ice cream. Name it, it’s been suggested.

I can’t help but chuckle. They keep your ass on a short leash, huh?

He just glares at me. It’s not like that. I’ve got to keep an eye on Bianca; she’s my sister. Callie, well . . . His voice is longing but full of conviction.

Your sister’s best friend. Like two for the price of one. Or in your case, a bigger headache.

Nah. Callie isn’t like that for me. She’s not just Binks’s best friend. She’s mine, too. We all grew up together.

You interested? He’s closed off when talking about relationships, but the shift in his stance, the far off sound of his voice, makes me think there is something more.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been interested. It’s complicated.

Most relationships are, especially when you add a female to the mix.

Nah, she isn’t like that. A lot of shit happens at her house, not my story to tell, but it’s not good, man.

You hoping to be the white knight?

Something like that. He shakes his head.

I won’t pry, but I want him to know I’ll be here as a friend. Well, if you need help, I’m here, man.

Thanks. He presses the button on the wall. Dakota’s here. He turns back and flashes me a shit-eating grin. Five. Four. Three. Two.

I hear trampling on the stairs, followed by laughter and shrieking. You’ve made quite the impression on Bianca. I’m warning you, she’s fifteen and my sister. And Callie is off limits. I just nod my head at him.

They both come through the door breathless and laughing. Hey, Dakota. Callie waves at me.

Well, it’s about time. Let’s go, Bianca addresses the room.

I told you, Bianca, we aren’t going anywhere. Did you even ask Dad?

As long as you are with me, he doesn’t care. Bronson’s face says it all. She has him over a barrel. She nudges Callie with her foot.

I’m craving some strawberry ice cream. As soon as the words are out of her mouth, Bronson is dropping his slice back in the box and reaching for his keys. There is a definite story there . . . one I’ll do my best to pry from her later.

I’m parked behind you, want me to drive? Bronson nods.

SHOTGUN! Bianca is quick on the uptake. Callie’s face turns beet red,