Ferrara Read online

  FERRARA

  T L SWAN

  Copyright © 2022 by T L Swan

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to real events, real people, and real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the Author’s imagination and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, organizations or places is entirely coincidental.

  All rights are reserved. This book is intended for the purchaser of this e-book/print book ONLY. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system, without the express written permission of the Author. All songs, song titles and lyrics contained in this book are the property of the respective songwriters and copyright holders.

  CONTENTS

  Acknowledgments

  Also By T L Swan

  Gratitude

  Ferrara

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Excerpt - Valentino

  Excerpt - Play Along

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  There are a million people I need to thank, there is never enough room on the page.

  To my beautiful mum, thank you for reading everything I write a million times. You are the best beta reader, the best mum and the very best friend.

  To Kellie, the most wonderful PA who runs SWAN HQ, thank you for everything you do to make everything run so smoothly. I love you!

  To my amazing beta team and friends, Lisa, Rena, Nadia, Rachel, Nicole and Amanda, thank you for putting up with me, I adore you all.

  To my incredible editing team, Lindsey Faber, Imogen Howson and Proof reading by Kats Literary Service. Italian Translations by Alice Arcoleo.

  Hang Lee my soul sister cover queen.

  Thank you for making me better.

  To Amazon for providing such a wonderful platform for me to publish on.

  To my amazing girl gang, The Swan Squad, thank you for giving me a safe place to hang out and have fun in internet land. You really are the best friends.

  To my Cygnet girls, you are a blessing that keeps on giving, you amaze me every day.

  To my family, thanks for putting up with my workaholic ways, one day we will sit on a beach for longer than two hours, I promise.

  I love you all so much,

  Xoxoxo

  And to you!

  My amazing readers.

  You make my dreams come true, there aren’t enough words to express my gratitude to you for picking up my books. With all of my heart,

  THANK YOU

  XOX

  ALSO BY T L SWAN

  Stanton Adore

  Stanton Unconditional

  Stanton Completely

  Stanton Bliss

  Stanton Box Set (all 4 books)

  Marx Girl

  Gym Junkie

  Dr Stanton

  Dr Stanton's Epilogue

  Mr. Masters

  Mr. Spencer

  Mr. Garcia

  The Italian

  Our Way

  Play Along

  Find Me Alastar

  The Stopover

  The Takeover

  The Casanova

  GRATITUDE

  The quality of being thankful;

  readiness to show appreciation for, and to return kindness.

  DEDICATION

  I would like to dedicate this book to the alphabet.

  For those twenty-six letters have changed my life.

  Within those twenty-six letters, I found myself

  and live my dream.

  Next time you say the alphabet, remember its power.

  I do every day.

  FERRARA

  PROLOGUE

  Giuliano, aged 13.

  I kick hard and the ball goes careering into the sky, my father stops it with his foot. The afternoon sun is setting and the distant sound of an engine drones in the background. Dad lines it up and kicks it back and I in turn, stop it with my foot.

  We’ve done this for hours most days of my thirteen years, play football in our backyard. The engine gets closer and we both turn to look out over the lake to see a luxury yacht sail past.

  We read the name on the side of the boat:

  Moments

  “Nice,” my father says. We both stand still as we watch it, there’s a woman in a big fancy hat lying on the deck, she has a glass of champagne in her hand and a man is standing on the edge looking out into the water.

  No matter how many times you see a luxury yacht, which is a lot on Lake Como, you never can’t watch it sail past. It’s tradition.

  “It would have been nicer in black,” I announce as I picture the yacht in another color.

  Dad nods. “Or navy blue.”

  “Yes.” I kick the ball back. “With a better name, written in gold.”

  My father smirks as he returns the ball with a swift kick. “What’s wrong with the name, Moments?”

  I shrug. “Bit stupid if you ask me.”

  He chuckles as he kicks the ball again.

  “Dinner is ready,” my mom calls as she walks out onto the back deck.

  “Okay,” my father replies, he picks up the ball and we walk toward the house, he puts his arm over my shoulder as we walk. It’s Christmas Day in our house, only it isn’t.

  “Why do we celebrate Christmas a day early?” I ask.

  His brow furrows as he looks down at me. “I have to work tomorrow, you know that.”

  “Every year?”

  He exhales heavily. “I can’t help it, son, I’m sorry.” He messes up my hair and continues up the steps. “We’ve had a nice day today, haven’t we?” He pokes me in the ribs. “And you are the most spoiled son in all of Italy.”

  I shrug, I could care less about the presents, I hate that he works away for half of the week. This big old house is lonely with just me and Mom here.

  “I’ll be back first thing on the twenty-sixth,” he reassures me. “I promise.”

  “Can I come with you?” I ask. “I’ll be quiet while you work.”

  Dad’s eyes meet my mother’s. “No, son. I don’t want your mother left here alone.”

  I exhale heavily and continue to trudge up the stairs.

  Dad takes Mom into his arms and kisses her and I roll my eyes.

  These two, always kissing and cuddling. They don’t leave each other alone.

  “Me and Mom can both come to Milan.” I smile excitedly at the idea. “Yes, can’t we, Mom?” I put my arms around my mother. “That way we could all be together for Christmas tomorrow.”

  “Darling….” She sighs.

  “Giuliano, enough,” my father snaps. “Your Christmas was today. You know that. We will not have this conversation again.”

  My shoulders slump in disappointment and Mom gives me a sympathetic smile. All my friends celebrate Christmas tomorrow…why do we have to have it today?

  Why do we have to do everything different?

  We sit at the dinner table. “This l
ooks incredible, my love.” Dad smiles as he leans over and kisses my mother, he takes her hand in his and she smiles all adoringly back over at him.

  He drops his head. “Father, we thank you for this food.”

  I watch him as he says our prayers, he will eat with us and then after we’ve spent time together, we’ll all go to bed and somewhere in the middle of the night he will leave. Like he always does…. I hate his job, it takes him away from us so much.

  I just want him to stay home.

  Giuliano, aged 18.

  “Pick you up in an hour,” Valentino says.

  “Okay.” I hold the phone to my ear and glance at my watch. “I should be back by then.” I walk into my wardrobe and take a pair of jeans on a hanger and throw them onto the bed.

  “Where are you going, again?”

  “My mom is trying to get me a job with some guy she knows.”

  “Yeah well, try not to get it, at least until after summer break. Fuck working all vacation, we’ve got plans.”

  I smirk in agreement. “As if he’s going to hire me anyway.”

  “Giuliano.” My mom’s voice echoes up the stairs. “Lorenzo is here.”

  “I’ve got to go. See you soon.” I hang up and throw on my jeans and a shirt. My mom appears at the door, she looks me up and down.

  “You’re wearing that?”

  I look down at myself. “Yeah, why?”

  “I told you to wear something nice.” She brushes past me and walks into my walk-in wardrobe. “

  “This is nice,” I scoff.

  She throws a pair of black pants and a collared shirt onto the bed. “Not nice enough.”

  “I’m not going to a funeral. I’m not wearing that.” I walk into my bathroom and do my hair.

  She appears at the door. “Giulio, please. For me, will you just try to be nice this afternoon. Enrico Ferrara is not someone you mess with and I really want this to work out.”

  I roll my eyes, unimpressed. “What makes you think I want to work for him anyway?”

  “Because this is an amazing opportunity.” She straightens my collar. “And….” She pauses as if choosing her words carefully. “Your father would have wanted you to work for him.”

  “Stop using Dad to get me to do what you want.”

  “Please?” She smiles hopefully.

  I twist my lips.

  “Best behavior, promise me?”

  I exhale heavily. “Fine, but we are only staying for ten minutes, the boys are picking me up in an hour.”

  “When are you going to stop gallivanting around with your friends? It’s time to take some responsibility. Today is important.”

  “Mom, seriously.” I brush past her out into the hall. “Stop nagging me. I’m not five, I’ll get my own job.”

  “I want you to work for Ferrara,” she calls after me as I take the stairs.

  Fucking hell, what is it with her and this guy?

  “Let’s go,” I call back. “I have to be back early, I have a party on tonight.”

  “You always have a party on.”

  I widen my eyes. “Exactly my point.”

  We walk out and get into the back of the waiting car.

  “Hi.”

  “Hello Giuliano, Angelina.”

  Lorenzo smiles happily, he was my dad’s best friend. A constant in our lives since my father’s death three years ago.

  “It’s a good day, yes?” He smiles.

  “Let’s hope,” Mom replies. I frown over at her, why is she so wound up about this?

  Lorenzo is a good friend, he stepped up and looked after my mom and me. I’m not quite sure what we would have done without him, the last few years have been hard.

  He and Mom chat away as we drive and fifteen minutes later, we pull into a grand driveway. I peer in at the expansive property. Huge stone fences with a waterfront mansion in the distance.

  Nice….

  We pull up at a checkpoint and a man comes to the window, he dips his head and opens the oversized metal gates.

  As we drive through, I look back out the rear window at the gates slowly sliding closed behind us and the guards all standing around.

  Fuck, I thought our house had hard-core security, but this place is next-level. The car pulls into a circular driveway area, another group of men stand around.

  What are they all doing? Do they work here, or is some kind of meeting going on? Maybe this is a group interview thing?

  “Just act natural,” my mother whispers.

  Huh?

  The door opens and a man steps back and nods. “Angelina, lovely to see you.”

  “Thank you, Mario.” My mother smiles softly as she climbs out of the car.

  His eyes find mine.

  “Giuliano, it’s a privilege to meet you, sir.” He dips his head.

  I frown, how does he know my name?

  “Hello.”

  “This is a great day.” He smiles to my mother and holds his hand toward the front door. “This way.”

  We walk up the huge sandstone steps and my mother knocks on the door, I glance back to see everyone standing around watching us.

  What are they all doing?

  This is fucking weird.

  The door opens in a rush. Large brown eyes meet mine and not the friendly kind.

  I instantly feel uneasy.

  “Enrico,” my mother says softly.

  “Hello,” he says coldly as his eyes stay fixed on me.

  How rude.

  Who the fuck does this guy think he is?

  “This is my son, Giuliano. Giuliano, this is Enrico Ferrara.”

  He glares at me and then puts his hand out. “Hello.”

  I reluctantly shake it. He’s tall with dark hair, olive skin and brown eyes. He has this aura around him of power.

  Animosity swims between us like a tangible force.

  I get the feeling he doesn’t like me and that suits me fine, because I already know that the feeling is mutual.

  Rich, spoilt prick.

  Like fuck I’m ever working for him.

  “Please, come in.” He turns and walks up the hallway and I give a subtle shake of my head to my mother, she hits my leg.

  “Giulio, please,” she whispers. “You promised.”

  I may be a lot of things, but a good actor isn’t one of them. My father always said that my honesty was my greatest strength and yet, my greatest weakness.

  We walk out into the kitchen area, and I lock eyes with a girl. She’s around my age and has long dark hair and porcelain skin, with the most unusual eyes I’ve ever seen.

  We stare at each other and my heart somersaults in my chest.

  Who is she?

  “This is Olivia.” He points to a hot blond woman. “And this is Francesca, my sister.”

  Francesca.

  My eyes flick to him, his sister…fuck it.

  They all continue to talk, but Francesca and I just stare at each other as the air swirls, the physical attraction between us is palpable.

  I feel hot and flustered, excited, very unlike me.

  An awkward silence falls over the room.

  “Francesca, why don’t you show Giuliano around the property?” Enrico asks her.

  She gives me a shy smile and I feel it all the way to my toes. “Okay.” She gestures to the door and I follow her. We go out onto a large patio area and down some steps, then we walk out across the lawn toward the lake.

  She stays silent and seems nervous, while I can’t take my eyes off her.

  Seriously, she’s the hottest girl I’ve ever seen in my life. She makes me feel nervous and I’m never fucking nervous.

  “Hello,” I force myself to say.

  “Hi.”

  I try to hide my delighted smile and fail miserably. “And to think I didn’t want to come today.”

  Her brow furrows. “Why do you say that?”

  “Well.” Before I can stop myself, I whisper, “If I didn’t come, I wouldn’t have got to meet you and…. You’re ju
st so—” I shrug as words fail me, “—beautiful.”

  Her eyes widen as we walk down to the water’s edge, we look out over the lake. “It’s beautiful here.” I say.

  She smiles, “It is.” She points to a house we can see in the distance, “I’m going to live in that pink house one day.” She announces proudly. “It’s my favorite house in Lake Como.”

  I smile as I look at the house across the lake. “It's gorgeous.”

  Like you.

  We walk around the side of the house.

  “Do you have a boyfriend?”

  She gives a nervous shake of her head.

  “Enrico is your brother?”

  “Yes.”

  How have I never seen her before? “Do you live here?” I ask.

  “No, I live in Milan.”

  We walk up the back staircase and arrive into a grand hallway. I look up and down. “How many bedrooms are there?”

  “Eight.”

  “Where’s the bathroom?”

  A frown crosses her face, why did I ask that?

  Where’s the bathroom, is that the best you can do…seriously?

  Fuck, ace it up.

  “It’s in here.” We walk in and I look around, it’s super modern and all white. A large stone bath is in the center of the room. Being alone with her in a small, confined space changes the mood between us and something comes over me as I instinctively close the door and step toward her.