Taming Ricardo, The Italian Billionaire

Ricardo’s anger mounted as the man continued to grope her. His hand wrapped around Kyra’s arm pulling her away from the stranger’s roaming hands. “Hands off,” he growled.

“Who the hell are you?” The man asked, outraged.

“She’s mine.” Ricardo’s fierce tone and expression had the man backing away with his palms held up.

“Fine, man. Whatever.”

Ricardo spun Kyra around to face him. She stumbled and he caught her. “Jesus. Are you drunk?”

“Ricardo? What are you doing here?” She blinked several times gazing up at him with glassy eyes. She swayed, lifting a hand to her forehead. “I don’t feel good.”

Ricardo muttered a curse. Concern for her dissipated his fury. “Let’s go.” He held her by the waist, supporting her weight. He had forgotten about Allegra until she blocked his path to the door.

“You’re leaving with her?” A mixture of confusion and disbelief clouded her features.

“Please move, Allegra. Kyra isn’t well.”

“Well, of course she isn’t. She’s been guzzling alcohol all night. She’s blind shit drunk. And she was all over that guy! You should be done with her! A man like you don’t need a girl who parties and gets drunk, Ricardo.”

His brows elevated. “Thanks for your concern. Now, excuse me.”

“I don’t have a ride home. We took a cab here.”

Holding on to his patience by a thread, Ricardo held Kyra with one hand while fetching his wallet with the other. He handed her a hundred-dollar bill. “Her you are. You can catch another cab home.”

She scoffed at the bill in her hand and then sent him an irritated look. “You have got to be kidding me,” she said as he stepped around her.

“Ricardo,” Kyra groaned. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

“We’re almost outside.”

He pushed through the crowd, finally making it to the door. Outside, he led her to a secluded area between the club and another building. She stumbled away from him and vomited. Ricardo steadied her and held her hair back as she retched violently. When she stopped, he helped her to stand upright.

Kyra groaned. “This is so humiliating.”

“Is that really all you’re worried about?” He snapped.

She glanced up at him with surprise. “You’re angry. With me?”

Her confusion spiked his anger. “Are you really going to pretend not to know why?”

“I-I…” She staggered. “I need to lay down.”

With a sigh, he scooped her up and strode back to the street in the direction of his car. Anthony didn’t bat an eyelash at the sight of a nearly unconscious Kyra in his arms.  He immediately stepped out to open the back door. It was why Ricardo liked him. His driver proved to be professional in any situation. “My place, Anthony. Thank you.”

With a nod, Anthony slid into the driver’s seat and drove off.

Ricardo studied the woman in his arms. Irate as he was, he held on to her, not wanting to put her down. He shoved down the image of her in another man’s arms, else he would explode.

She rested her head on his shoulder? “Ricardo?”

“I’m here.”

She didn’t say anything else and he remained silent as well. By the time they reached his place, she was able to sit up. He helped her out of the car, ready to carry her inside. “I can walk,” she slurred.

“You look like you’re about to keel over.”

“Please, I don’t want to be embarrassed more than I already have been tonight.” She straightened and blinked as if just realizing where she was. “You didn’t bring me home.”

“No. Why? Is that where you want to go?” He asked brusquely. She shook her head. “Alright, let’s go inside then. Thank you, Anthony. I won’t need you for the rest of the night. Have a good night.”

“Good night, sir.”

Ricardo watched her struggle to take her first step. She faltered and he immediately swept her off her feet, ignoring her protests. “Damn it Kyra, if I allow you to walk we’ll be out here until morning.” He flew past the doorman and gave a polite nod. “Mr. Cranston.”

Mr. Cranston cocked a brow. “Good night, Mr. Bianchi. Is she alright?”

The doorman was familiar with Kyra because she was the only woman that had been to his place since he rented the penthouse suite, the only person other than his brothers.

“She will be.” Kyra groaned her embarrassment and hid her face between his neck and shoulders. “This is what you get for being irresponsible,” Ricardo murmured as he stepped into the elevator.

They reached his penthouse and he placed her on the sofa. “I’m going to get you some water and then we’re going to talk.”

She sighed, and nodded. “Okay.”

By the time he walked back into the living room, her head was rested on the arm of the chair and she was fast asleep. Ricardo placed the glass down and studied a sleeping Kyra for a long moment. She looked so peaceful and innocent, with her features relaxed. Wiping a hand over his face he let out a weary sigh and lifted her, taking her to his bedroom. His lecture would have to wait until tomorrow.  After removing her dress and shoes, he covered her and left the room.

Sitting in the living room, nursing a glass of scotch, his mind wondered. Tonight reminded him too much of the past. It was too similar to the beginning of the downfall of his marriage.  He had tracked his wife, Silvia to a night club, to discover that she had gone with another man. That was when he found out that she had been unfaithful for a while. She had ranted and raved about how he had driven her into the arms of other men. He was too old fashioned. He worked too much. He didn’t go clubbing or attend parties with her, she had said.

Was history repeating itself? Was Kyra already bored with him? Being thirteen years younger than him, she probably wanted a lifestyle that he couldn’t give her. For the first time in a long while, he felt insecure.