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LET ME LOVE YOU

♧

ARIANA GRANDE , LIL WAYNE

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I KISSED HER.

The thought replayed in my head the second I woke up, looping over and over like a song I couldn't turn off.

Celine was still next to me, her breathing soft and even, probably the first real sleep she'd had since we got to Tulum. I should've been grateful for the peace, but all I felt was restless. The urge to smoke gnawed at me, so I slipped out of bed, running a hand through my hair as I headed for the balcony.

I kissed her.

And the worst part? I didn't feel bad about it. Not even a little.

I exhaled sharply, lighting a cigarette with a flick of my wrist. The night air did nothing to cool the heat still simmering under my skin.

It took every ounce of my control to stop at a kiss. And I fucking hated that.

Hated her for making me lose control.

Hated myself more for wanting to lose it again.

Celine shouldn't have this kind of power over me. No one should. I ruled myself, my life, my choices. I never let anyone shake that—not in business, not in war, not in anything.

And yet, here I was.

Breathing her in like an addict.

Craving her like she was something I needed.

I clenched my jaw, taking a long drag of my cigarette. This wasn't how things were supposed to be. She was supposed to be my problem, not my weakness.

But the way her body melted into mine last night, the way she kissed me back like she'd been waiting just as long—

I closed my eyes, exhaling slowly.

I kissed her.

And I knew I'd do it again.

My phone rang, and I answered it, shutting the balcony door behind me.

"Hello."

"Hey, Toni." Alessandro's voice drawled on the other end.

I sighed, already bracing myself. "What did you do?"

"Wow. Can't I just check up on my dear, beloved brother? The one with the biggest heart and the most patience?"

"Cut the bullshit."

A beat of silence. Then, a low chuckle. "We have a problem."

Of course, we did.

I ran a hand over my face. "What now?"

"The drugs are fine, but the money's fucked," Alessandro said, tone light like this wasn't a complete disaster. "It got where it needed to go, but it's still dirty. And it's a lot. Moving it through our usual channels is too risky right now."

I clenched my jaw. "Who screwed up?"

"That's the thing," he said. "Not sure yet. Either someone's incompetent, or someone's trying to fuck with us. But we have millions sitting there waiting to be cleaned, and if we don't fix it fast, it's gonna start raising questions."

Fucking great.

"Does Emilio know?" I asked.

Alessandro snorted. "Of course. He's pissed. Which means I've spent the last hour babysitting him so he doesn't shoot someone before we figure out who's actually to blame."

"Keep him under control," I said. "I don't need him making this worse."

"Yeah? And how do you suggest I do that? You know how he gets when shit like this happens."

"I don't care how you do it. Just handle it."

Alessandro sighed. "Fine. But we need a plan, and we need it fast."

"I'll call you back in an hour."

"You better. And try not to be too distracted by your wife while you're at it, yeah?"

He hung up before I could respond.

I shoved my phone in my pocket and exhaled slowly.

This was a mess. A dangerous one.

And the worst part? I couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't just a mistake. Someone was testing us.

I turned back toward the room. Celine was still asleep, her face relaxed, her breathing soft. She had no idea what I was about to walk into.

And I had no idea how much longer I could keep her out of it.

I stretched, rolling the stiffness out of my shoulders, and made a few more calls to the border. I needed that CCTV footage. I needed to know exactly what the fuck happened.

I couldn't trust anyone else with this. Not with something this big.

The bedroom felt too stifling, so I moved to the bar, pouring myself a drink while the phone rang. The whiskey burned, but it didn't settle the frustration clawing at my nerves.

From the bar, I stepped outside, the humid night air doing nothing to cool the heat creeping up my spine.

Another call. Another useless conversation with some incompetent asshole who had no real answers about my drugs.

I gritted my teeth, fingers tightening around the glass.

Someone was going to pay for this.

I looked at my options here. I was clearly being fucked with.

First, the De Luca dinner that left a dead body in front of Celine and me. Then, the issue with rats in the mafia. Now, my money had been tampered with? This was getting too much. I needed to shut this shit down before it spiraled into something worse.

Who had a vendetta against my family?

My father was an asshole and a prick, but compared to most men in this business, he was practically a saint. The Genovese family had been dealing drugs since the '50s. We kept to our own, we didn't interfere with anyone else's business unless we had to. We weren't reckless. We weren't sloppy.

So why the fuck was someone trying to fuck with us now?

I exhaled sharply, running a hand down my face. The tension sat heavy in my shoulders, my jaw locked so tight I could feel the headache brewing behind my eyes.

Then—

The scent of pancakes drifted through the air.

Soft humming followed.

I followed the smell, my steps slowing as I reached the kitchen. Celine stood there, barefoot in her robe, humming some old R&B song as she moved around the stove like she belonged there.

My pulse kicked up.

Dear God.

She was laughing at something the chef said, flipping a pancake onto a plate with the kind of ease that shouldn't make my stomach tighten. But it did. She was so at ease, so fucking unaware of the war waging in my head, the blood on my hands.

Like she wasn't wrapped up in all this shit with me.

I should've turned around. I should've gone back to figuring out how to clean up this mess before it got worse.

Instead, I leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, watching her like she was the biggest problem I had.

That's because she was.

She must have sensed me because she glanced over her shoulder, her lips curling in that smug little smirk that made me want to kiss her or strangle her—sometimes both.

"Morning, papi," she teased, dragging out the word because she knew I hated it.

I ignored the way it made my stomach clench. "You're cooking now?"

She turned back to the stove, flipping another pancake. "I got hungry."

"You could've just let the chefs handle it."

"I am letting them handle it. I'm just helping." She gestured toward the head chef, who gave me a respectful nod before returning to his work. "Besides, I wanted pancakes."

I pushed off the doorway and walked over to her. "You woke up craving pancakes?"

She shrugged, cutting a small piece off one and popping it into her mouth. "Among other things."

Her eyes met mine as she chewed, slow and deliberate, and I knew exactly what she was doing.

Fucking hell.

My jaw ticked, but I refused to give her the reaction she wanted. Instead, I reached over and plucked the fork from her hand, grabbing a bite for myself.

Her lips parted in protest. "Hey—"

"You made them. I should taste them," I said, popping the bite into my mouth.

They were good. Of course they were.

She huffed, crossing her arms. "I didn't say you could have any."

"And I don't remember asking." I smirked at the way her nose scrunched up, like she was debating whether to argue or let it go.

Before she could decide, Val and Koko strolled in, both still in robes, both looking half-asleep.

"Is that food?" Val mumbled, rubbing her eyes.

"Is it free food?" Koko asked, already grabbing a plate.

Celine sighed dramatically, handing Val a fork before she could start picking at the pancakes with her hands.

I leaned against the counter, watching as she moved around the kitchen effortlessly, throwing playful insults at her friends while making sure they ate.

She made chaos look effortless. Beautiful, even.

I shouldn't have kissed her last night.

I shouldn't have.

But fuck if I didn't want to do it again.

I forced myself to look away, focusing on my coffee instead of the way Celine moved—too effortlessly, too confidently, like she hadn't completely fucked with my head last night. Like she hadn't kissed me back like she wanted it just as badly as I did.

Val and Koko were arguing over the last pancake, Malakai had stumbled in looking half-dead, and Celine was laughing at all of them like she didn't have a single worry in the world. Meanwhile, my mind was split between the mess happening with the money and the fact that I could still taste her on my fucking lips.

"You look stressed," Celine said suddenly, turning her attention back to me.

"I wonder why."

"Maybe you need to relax." She slid a plate toward me. "Eat something."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "You think pancakes are going to solve my problems?"

"No, but they'll stop you from being a dick for like, five minutes." She popped a piece of fruit into her mouth and gave me a knowing look. "Might be a nice break for the rest of us."

I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice just enough so only she could hear. "You didn't seem to mind my attitude last night."

Her breath hitched, the only sign that I'd gotten to her. But then she recovered, tilting her head with a slow smirk. "Oh, papi, I never mind."

I clenched my jaw. Fucking hell, she was good at this.

"Alright," Malakai groaned, dropping into a chair. "Are we doing anything today or are we just gonna sit here making bedroom eyes at each other?"

"We do not make bedroom eyes at each other," I snapped.

"You do," Val and Koko said at the same time.

Celine just grinned, dragging her fork across her plate. "I mean, if the shoe fits."

I exhaled through my nose, willing myself not to react. She was baiting me. I knew she was baiting me.

I also knew she was winning.

"Whatever," I muttered, pushing off the counter. "I've got shit to do."

"Business or pleasure?" Celine asked, licking syrup off her fork.

"Neither."

She pouted. "Boring."

I shook my head and walked off, ignoring the sound of her laughter trailing behind me.

If I stayed any longer, I was going to lose whatever little control I had left.

"I don't want to."

"Or you can't."

My jaw ticked. "I can."

Celine's smirk widened. "Then do it."

I stared down at her, refusing to take the bait. I had shit to deal with—real problems, not whatever this childish stunt was. But she just kept watching me, eyes gleaming with amusement, waiting.

"You're so predictable, papi," she said when I didn't move. "All talk, no action."

I exhaled sharply, my patience wearing thin. "Celine."

"Chicken," Malakai taunted.

"Cazzo," I muttered.

"Do it," Koko goaded.

"Yeah, do it, Antonio," Val added. "Unless you're scared of a little water."

I could kill them. All of them.

Celine's brows lifted in challenge. "Well?"

I held her gaze. And then I kicked off my shoes, pulled my shirt over my head, and dove in.

The water was fucking freezing. My muscles tensed as I resurfaced, slicking my hair back with both hands. Laughter erupted around me—Celine's was the loudest.

"Oh my God," she cackled, doubling over. "You actually did it!"

I swam toward the edge, wiping water from my face. "I'm going to kill you."

"Relax, papi," she teased, dangling her legs in the water. "You look good wet."

Val, Malakai, and Koko were still laughing, but Malakai—ever the instigator—took it further. "Hey, if Antonio's in, we're all in."

Before the girls could react, he grabbed Celine by the waist and yanked her in with him.

A shriek tore through the air before she hit the water. She surfaced seconds later, gasping. "Malakai!"

Koko and Val howled, but they barely had time to celebrate before Malakai turned on them.

"No—Malakai, wait—" Val started, but he was already on her. Koko tried to escape, but it was useless. Within moments, all four of them were in the pool, splashing and screaming.

I should've climbed out. I had more important things to deal with—my family's money was still dirty, I had to track down whoever was fucking with my business, and yet...

I watched Celine.

She was soaked, her robe floating around her, clinging to her skin. She pushed her braids back, breathless from laughing, and then her eyes flicked up to mine.

That was the moment I realized—I wasn't getting out.

The chaos around us faded into background noise. Val was cursing Malakai out between gasps for air, Koko was trying to climb onto his shoulders to dunk him, but all I saw was Celine.

Water dripped down her collarbone, her braids heavy and slicked back, her skin glowing under the soft pool lights. She swam closer, her smirk sharp, playful.

"You gonna stand there looking like a statue, or are you gonna admit you're having fun?" she teased.

I exhaled slowly, flexing my fingers in the water. "I should be handling business."

"Then go," she shrugged, but there was a dare in her eyes. "No one's stopping you."

I didn't move.

Her smirk widened. "That's what I thought."

Before I could fire back, she splashed me—full force.

The little shit.

A slow grin crept onto my face. She saw it too late.

"Antonio—"

I lunged, catching her waist and pulling her under with me. Her muffled shriek bubbled through the water before we surfaced again, tangled together.

Celine coughed, pushing at my chest. "Asshole!"

I held onto her, keeping her close, my hands sliding lower. "You started it."

She was breathless, pupils blown, fingers curling against my skin. For a moment, I forgot about everything else—business, family, the constant weight of responsibility.

I was here.

With her.

And I wasn't going anywhere.

Celine's fingers curled against my chest, but she didn't push me away this time. Not really. My grip on her waist tightened, the water lapping between us, the sound of splashes and laughter fading into the background.

I should've let her go. Should've put space between us before I did something stupid. But then she tilted her head, lips parting like she was about to say something—maybe another tease, maybe something sharper—but nothing came out.

She just looked at me.

Her body was warm beneath my hands, despite the cold water. Her robe had floated open, the fabric clinging to her curves, leaving almost nothing to the imagination. My eyes dragged lower before I forced them back up, but she'd caught it. I knew from the way her lips curled.

"See something you like, papi?" she murmured, so low only I could hear.

My jaw clenched.

Val, Koko, and Malakai were still shouting, too caught up in their own game to notice that something had shifted.

Celine tilted her head, her breath ghosting against my cheek. "You're holding onto me like you don't want to let go."

I didn't.

That was the problem.

Instead of answering, I let my thumb brush against her waist, feeling her shiver—not from the cold, but from me. Her lips parted, her breath catching just enough for me to hear it.

I had her.

I could kiss her right now, pull her against me until there was no space left. She'd let me—I knew she would.

But I wanted her to beg for it first.

I leaned in, just enough to make her think I was going to do it, enough to have her inhale sharply, her fingers tightening against my chest.

Then I let go.

She barely had time to react before I was swimming away, pulling myself up onto the ledge of the pool like nothing had happened.

Her eyes were on me, still wide, still dark with something unspoken.

I smirked, grabbing a towel. "You coming, princesa, or are you just gonna float there?"

Celine's lips parted, then closed again. She blinked once, then her expression sharpened like she was snapping herself back together.

"Fuck off, Antonio," she muttered, flipping her wet braids over her shoulder.

But she climbed out of the pool.

And she followed me.

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i feel like I haven't updated in so long but it's only been two days 😭 im so happy to write more now because I can increase the TENSION EVEN MOREE and Antonio and Celine's backstory's can really shine through and they're bond can grow and stuff

but tysm for reading please tell me how we liked this??

remember to stay hydrated!!

- zio 🍸