by Katie Dowe
She did not answer but went on to tell him what happened. “You sprayed him?”
“I pepper sprayed his ass,” she said with satisfaction causing him to smile a little bit. “I guess that pissed him off and that was why he shot me.”
“Maybe,” he said grimly. He reached for her hand. “I am afraid there is more.” He lifted her hand to his lips and closed his eyes. “You were pregnant.”
“What!?” she stared at him astounded. “Wait you said ‘were’. Does that mean–”
“You lost the baby.” He told her quietly his throat working as he tried to dislodge the blockage there.
“If I had not aggravated him–” she blinked away the sudden tears.
“It’s all on the bastards who held you up,” he said with quiet savagery. “I am sorry.”
“So am I.” she whispered. “I never knew.”
“It was very early stages.”
“Will I be able to–” she stopped again not daring to voice the question.
“The doctors said yes.”
She closed her eyes and the tears slipped down.
With an oath, he abandoned his seat and came beside her onto the bed careful not to jostle her arm he pulled her into his arms. He felt the rage surfacing as she broke down!
*******
“You need to rest,” he told her abruptly as she hung up from yet another person at Romano’s who was calling to find out how she was doing. It had been all over the news and the papers had been speculating about who shot her and about her bravery. Lorenzo and his father had been doing their own quiet investigation.
“I have been resting,” she told him. She had come back home two days ago and was told by the doctors that she would have the full use of her arm by another few days. It was approaching March and the snow was heavy on the grounds. All the household staff had been catering to her every need and she had told Marcus and Camille that she was thoroughly spoilt. “I am thinking that I am going back to work next week.”
“No,” he told her grimly as he fluffed her pillows. He had been sleeping in one of the other rooms as he said to give her time to heal. No amount of persuading him had worked. “You need more time.”
“I am not going to lie here on my back when I am perfectly able to get out of bed and do something Lorenzo. You are being unreasonable.”
“You were shot!” he shouted at her causing her to jump. “Two more inches closer and it would have been your heart. You are not going back to the damned company Monique, so deal with it!” without waiting for her to answer he turned and strode swiftly from the room.
“We will just see about that mister,” she muttered darkly as she carefully got off the bed. Her arm was a little stiff but she had been able to use it and she had no intention of letting something like a gun shot in her arm stop her from living. She was alive and that’s what mattered!
*****
He splashed the amber liquid into the glass and put it to his head, drinking it down and ignoring the burning sensation in his gut. He wanted to hit at something and going into the fully equipped gym had not done him any good. He had told her to take a driver when she was going out with her and she had refused and look what had happened!
“Henry has some information,” his father’s voice sounded behind him. He spun around to look at him.
“Good,” he said grimly. “I need some news.”
“Ever heard of Angelo’s?” Bernardo made his way to the well-stocked liquor and poured himself a measure of scotch. They were in one of the sitting rooms where a cheerful fire blazed in the hearth and a quietness around them that indicated the staff had retired for the night.
“I have seen their brands around. They have been trying to break into the market with little success. The quality of their clothing is poor and too high priced.”
“Apparently someone tipped them off that we were coming out with the flexible denims.”
“Someone in our company?” Lorenzo’s eyes narrowed dangerously as he looked at his father.”
“It would appear so.”
“They did this and caused me to lose my child?” his voice was dangerously soft as his fingers gripped the glass.
“We are flushing that person out as we speak.” His father looked at him in understanding. “I would like to wring someone’s neck myself son but we have to be careful to stay within the limits of the law.”
“What law?” Lorenzo asked grimly.
“Let me deal with it.”
“Not a chance in hell. That is my wife up there who almost died and my child who never stood a chance. I am going to deal with it.”
Bernardo looked at the set expression on his face and nodded. “I am going to have a talk with Angelo.”
*****
Laura Brinkley sweated profusely as she waited for Lorenzo to come into his office. She had been told that Lorenzo wanted to meet with her. She was hoping against hope that it was not what she was thinking. She had told Lincoln that she did not want any harm coming to anyone and he had agreed and told her that he was just going to persuade her nicely. She had been shocked to learn that she had been shot! She should not have agreed to any of it! Mrs. Romano had been so nice to her and now this!
Chapter 9
Lorenzo had to do a lot of breathing exercises before he could face her. He had never hit a woman and he had no intention of doing so now. So he took several deep breaths before he went in. He had told his secretary to put her inside his office and had deliberately waited half an hour before going in. He wanted her to sweat it out. He had not told Monique what he was about and had told his mother to keep things quiet. He wanted to deal with it himself.
He pushed the doors open and she sprang to her feet looking at him anxiously. Laura Brinkley was a quiet mousy woman who made little or no contribution whenever they were in meetings, so she was hardly noticed.
He strode over to his desk and went to sit behind it indicating that she has a seat.
“You seemed nervous. Any particular reason?” he asked her mildly as he fiddled with the paperweight on his desk.
“I don’t know,” she laughed nervously as she stood there ringing her hands. “I was supposed to submit a report to Michael and I am late doing so.”
“That would not have been something that would have been brought to my desk. Are you sure that is the reason?” his hand closed around the paperweight so tightly that it cut into his flesh. The mousy bitch! He thought furiously.
Laura stared at the incredibly handsome and enigmatic man sitting there. Lincoln had drummed it into her head that they had gotten their money by piggybacking on hardworking people to get what they wanted. He had told her that they were not doing anything wrong in taking back what should have been theirs in the first place. “I am sorry!” she burst out suddenly as she stared at him.
“For what?” Lorenzo asked her as he got to his feet.
“He told me that he would not hurt her,” she blabbered, her light blue eyes wild as she looked everywhere else but at her. “He said he would just rough her up a little bit for her to give the information. He never said anything about shooting her. I am so sorry Mr. Romano, please believe me.”
“Who is he?”
“His name is Lincoln and he is my boyfriend.”
“What did he tell you to do?”
“He said that I should tell him and Mario his cousin what was coming out for the spring and I should let them know when Monique-Mrs. Romano would be by herself. I overheard her telling her brother that she would be coming by the hospital to see her niece and I made the call.” She was sweating profusely and the clothes she had on were too tight. She had not meant for her to come to any harm and now she was going to prison!
Before he could say anything else, his door was pushed open. Monique had pried it out of Adele and had hurriedly asked one of the drivers to take her to the offices. “Mrs. Romano!” Laura gasped and could not stop shaking.
“What are you doing here Monique?” he asked her harshly.
She still favored the arm showing that it was not fully healed yet and that made it worse. “I want to talk to you,” she looked at the woman trembling there and felt a wave of pity for her that was overwhelming.
“Not the time,” he told her impatiently. “You are supposed to be in bed.”
“Please Lorenzo.”
He looked at her for a moment and then with an impatient sigh he pressed the intercom button. “Ms. Brinkley is not to leave the office, Monica. Please see to it.”
He came over and led her off to a private dining room. “What is it?”
“What is going on?”
“Don’t worry about it. I am dealing with it.”
“I was the one who got shot so I should be privy to whatever it is that’s going on.” The minute the words were out of her mouth she knew that she had said the wrong thing. “Lorenzo!”
He reached into his cell phone and made a call. “Come get my wife and take her back to the manor.”
“I am not going,” she said stubbornly.
“You are going even if I have to get Clint and take you out of here and into the car, you are going!” he snapped. He strode over swiftly and pulled her into his arms careful not to injure her arm further. “I am dealing with it my way and there is nothing you can do about it!”
“Lorenzo please! I just want to know what is going to happen to her. She is not a bad person.”
“She gave her boyfriend the information that almost got you killed! I lost my child because of the information she gave.” His hands tightened on her arms and caused her to wince. He let go of her abruptly and stared down at her. His head snapped up as a tall white haired man came in. “Take her home.”
“Right away sir,” he said respectfully. “Mrs. Romano?”
She stood there staring at him for a moment and then with her shoulders held straight she went before him and through the door that took them away from his office.
Lorenzo slumped against the wall and closed his eyes for a moment. He could not bear to think about what had almost happened to her and what had happened to the seed he had planted inside her! Straightening up, he fixed his face into an expressionless mask and went back into his office.
*****
“I am being held prisoner” Monique paced the length of the elegant living room of her brother’s place restlessly. She had persuaded Clint to take her to her brother’s place and the man had had to call Lorenzo before doing so. April and the baby had gone to her parents for the day and her brother had come home from work early.
“I agree with your husband this time baby girl,” he stopped her and held her arms gently noticing the way she winced at the slightest touch. “I saw them rolling you into the hospital and I nearly died. There was so much blood that for a minute I thought I had lost you. You are married into a very high profiled family and because of that there are going to be people who are going to think that you are an easy target.”
Monique felt her shoulders slumped in despair. “He said I am not going back to work.”
“He is scared. Give him time.” Marcus said gently.
“I was pregnant Marcus and I lost my baby.” For the first time since she had heard about it she felt the tears coming. Marcus pulled her into his arms and she cried into his sweater until she was spent!
*****
Monique looked up as she heard the discreet knock on the door. “Come in,” she called and was surprised to see her father-in-law coming into the sitting room. She had come from her brother’s an hour ago and had spent the time doing the exercise she had been told to do with the squeeze ball to work out the kinks. She had not heard from her husband and she was afraid to call him. “Bernardo, I thought you were at the office.”
“I was with the police,” he saw the way her eyes flared at that. “They have taken the suspects into custody.”
“That was quick.” She flexed her fingers before looking over at him. “And Laura?”
“Lorenzo fired her. She won’t be serving any sentences.” He paused as he looked at her. “He is fit to be tied my dear. He wanted to throw the book at her. I guess you showing up there stopped him from doing so.”
“I doubt Lorenzo listens to anything I say,” she said a little sulkily. She spread her arms wide. “How do you deal with things like these?”
“The price you have to pay for being in business.” He lowered himself into a sofa opposite her. “When Lorenzo was growing up, he was pretty sheltered and that was for a reason. His mother was scared that he would be kidnapped and be held for ransom so everywhere he went there was always someone shadowing him.”
“It’s the same thing my child will have to go through when the time comes,” he said huskily as she remembered that she was no longer pregnant.
“It will happen again,” he told her kindly.
“How is he?” she asked him.
“Diving into work. We are hoping you will not have to testify. There was a clear cut confession and they gave themselves up. The stores will no longer be carrying Angelo’s brands.”
She nodded. “I feel sorry for Laura. She was doing something for the man she loved and for that I cannot condemn her.”
“Love makes strange bedfellows,” he looked at her contemplatively. “You are not my son’s usual type but I must say you are the first one I have seen him so worked up about.” He chuckled softly. “He is not immune as he pretends my dear, take it from me.”
*****
She waited up for him. She had taken a long hot bath and put on one of the slinky lingerie that had been sent over to her by one of the persons in charge of making sure the brands were ready to put into the stores. It was a blush red color with a long slit up the thigh. It was thin and left nothing to the imagination. It had a deep dip in the chest area that went all the way to her navel revealing her flawless skin. She had brushed her hair and put it on top of her head. It was after ten before he came in just as she was about to drop off to sleep. She had left the light on beside the bed. She watched as he hung up his coat and started taking off his shirt and then his pants. He came over to the bed and stopped when he could see her clearly. She opened her eyes wide to let him know that she was awake. “Hi,” she murmured huskily.
“Hi,” his voice was wary as he came closer to the bed. “I had some things to take care of–”
“It’s okay,” she interrupted him stretching her hands out for him to take.
“What are you doing?” he took her hands and sat on the edge of the bed.
“I want my husband to make love to me.”
He started to pull away but she held on. “I need you.”
“You are not better,” his voice was hoarse as he looked down at her. The material molded her skin lovingly, the nipples of her breasts clearly printed against the filmy material. Without even looking at the discreet tag at the inside, he knew it was one of theirs. It looked like it had been made especially with her in mind.
“I am,” she ran her hands over his bare chest loving the feel of the rippling muscles. She was determined not to give up on him falling in love with her. In time, they will be able to make more children! She busied herself reaching down into his underwear to touch his rising erection. “You want me too.” She touched the tip of him and he closed his eyes, his body stiffening. He had deliberately stayed back to calm himself and to come home when he knew she was sleeping. He was all jumbled up inside and he had no idea what to do with the feelings inside him.
“Monique” he gritted his teeth as she used her nail to graze the tip of him.
“Please,” she murmured huskily. “Are you going to make me do all the work?”
With a groan, he climbed on the bed and over her, his dark eyes intense as he looked down at her. She pulled down his underwear to release his erection and felt her body flushed with heat. There was hardly a scar where the bullet had grazed her skin and the twinge of pain was fading. All she was feeling right now was the intense need of him and what he could do to her when they made love!
He slipped the nightgown off and stared at the body he had not been able to look at since… he shook the thought away and finished undressing her. His hands cupped her full breasts, taking in the hardened nipples. His thumbs caressed them and watched the buds harden even more. Her mouth was opened and the breath came forth as sharp pants from between her lips. “Lorenzo,” he was going too slowly and her body was burning up with need.
He did not respond as he bent his head to take a nipple inside his mouth. Monique dug her fingers into his thick dark hair, arching her body as his tongue swirled around the sensitive bud. She had been carrying his child! For one brief moment in time, his son or daughter had been growing inside her and that made her so motivated to make more children starting now! His hand reached between her legs to touch there. His fingers entered her wetness and groaned as she lifted her legs to give him better access to her. His fingers made slick slippery sounds as he increased the pace, his teeth teasing her nipple and pulling it into his mouth. Monique squirmed beneath him restlessly feeling the build-up of passion inside her. To her intense frustration, he stopped just then pulling out his fingers and removing his mouth from her nipple.
“What?” she asked him her body in an agony of unfulfilled passion.
“You are not ready,” his fingers were still sticky from being inside her and he could smell the strong pungent smell of her arousal. He almost brought his fingers up to his lips to lick her off! “The doctor said you needed at least three weeks to recover.”
“No!” she gripped his corded arms as he bent over her. “You can’t do this to me Lorenzo. Please! I need you so much!”
“Monique–”
“I love you!” she blurted out.
He went still at her admission and closed his eyes briefly. “I know.”
She looked at him in shock. “You knew I love you?”
“Ever since we were in Italy,” he moved and got next to her on the pillows. “That was partly why I left and why I did not contact you.”