by E. C. Land
Damn.
Opening my door, I stalk to my bed and gingerly place Arwen down on top of the comforter.
“Cedric, there are other rooms. Why are you putting her in here with you?” Vex asks from the doorway, slightly behind Finley and Mara-Lee, who are standing just inside the room.
“Because of who she is,” Finley mutters calmly, not taking her eyes off the girl. “What happened?”
Sighing, I give Arwen one last look, turn back to the women, and nod to the hallway. “Let’s talk out there, I don’t wanna wake her up.”
Nodding, the three of them walk out of my room and back to the kitchen.
Rubbing a hand across my face, I sigh heavily and plop down on one of the tall chairs sitting at the counter. I brace my elbows in front of me—clasping my fingers together—I meet Mara-Lee’s gaze, then Finley’s.
“Three of Preacher’s men were at Night’s Bliss tonight.” I start seeing Finley tense. “Ciro, Tito, and Sylvain. Ciro was talking up Libby at the bar while the other two were on the dance floor. I personally followed them out the front doors after telling them to leave, but not before Ciro told me they were looking for Arwen. Since I was already outside, I went ahead and walked to my car. Soon as I passed the dumpster, I noticed someone next to it. She didn’t move or even budge when I touched her. When I noticed who she was, I picked her and brought her here. I think she got away from Ciro and those other two. She’s got bruises on her neck.”
“Have you called Danti or one of his brothers?” Finley asks, her features unreadable. But I don’t have to read her face to know what she’s thinking. I know Finley and how her mind works.
“No, I’m not calling him. Not until I hear from Arwen what’s going on,” I grumble.
“Does someone want to tell me who you’re speaking about?” Vex asks. I know she and Finley keep what they do separate from each other, but at the same time, they don’t hide anything. Vex knows when it comes to Finley’s businesses, her decisions are final—doesn’t mean Fin won’t listen. The same goes vice versa. Finley doesn’t get involved with club business. That is unless she’s asked to, or it involves Vex being harmed. Thankfully, that hasn’t happened yet. Unfortunately, it was Finley who had ended up being hurt.
“Arwen is Danti Petruccelli’s little sister,” Finley says, glancing to Vex. “She’s the only daughter to the Petruccelli family and is supposed to be married off to someone Danti doesn’t want her with. It’s why I’ve made the arrangement with Danti I did.”
Vex nods and seems to contemplate what Finley’s just said.
“Do we know who she’s supposed to marry?” Mara-Lee asks quietly, still looking slightly pale. I hate that she’s being reminded tonight of things she would much rather keep buried in the past.
“No, Danti didn’t tell me,” Finley mutters and looks directly at me. “What are you wanting to do with Arwen?”
“First, I’m going to go help clean her up a little, at least until she wakes up. Then I’ll talk to her and find out what happened,” I say, unclasping my hands and laying them flat on the counter as I stand from the stool. “I’ll also let Arwen know she’s safe with me, That I won’t let anything happen to her.”
With that, I leave them to it, not wanting to hear anymore. I’m tired, but need to take care of Arwen first.
Right now, she’s what’s important, and I wish I truly understood my emotions when it comes to her. It’s like I’m entranced by her, and I haven’t even seen her open her eyes yet.
Chapter Five
Mara-Lee
Watching Cedric leave the kitchen, I take several deep breaths.
“You okay, Mara-Lee?” Finley asks, coming to stand next to me and wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
I nod and give her a smile I don’t really feel like giving. “Yeah, I’m okay.”
“Don’t lie to me,” Finley grumbles and releases my shoulder.
“Seriously, I’ll be okay. I’m just surprised, is all,” I whisper.
“It’s gonna be okay. I don’t think Arwen will even remember you,” Finley says soothingly.
I flinch at the reminder. I know Arwen, or well knew her when she was little, when I was very close with her brothers. Especially Amer. Then everything had changed. My life changed. I haven’t been back, and I’ve made sure they never realized I’m here. Because I don’t want to see him. If I do, I risk him taking me once more, and this time I don’t think I’d survive.
“Did you talk to Cedric earlier?” Finley asks, changing the subject.
“Yeah, I did. He’s good, and I think he’s gonna get what he wants,” I murmur, thinking about the way Cedric held onto Arwen and him putting her in his room instead of another.
“What do you mean? What he wants?” Vex mumbles.
Smiling, I look at the two of them. “Cedric just wants to be happy like you two.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Eliya standing there silently listening. I wonder if she’s eavesdropping. Since finding the woman the way I did months ago, I’ve had mixed feelings about her. Not because I see myself as bisexual, either. More like something doesn’t sit right with me, but I can’t put my finger on it. She seems frightened most of the time.
Maybe it’s that I’m being paranoid. I don’t know. I can’t seem to put my finger on—a feeling of something about to happen. Good or bad, it’s coming our way. I just wish I knew which.
Arwen
Waking up to feeling warmer than I have in I don’t know how long—I groan and try to move, but realize I’m not alone. My heart races in my chest as I pry my eyes open and glance down to see an arm wrapped around my waist. I also know right away someone’s changed my clothes, and I’m not wearing any pants.
What in the world? What happened to me?
Memories of running away and escaping come rushing in.
Oh. No. No. No. Please tell me Ciro didn’t catch me again, and forced me to be in his room. It’s part of my uncle’s sick sense of humor. He puts me in his men’s rooms where they could have their way with me if I make him mad. Stefano’s done that a handful of times since I’d turned eighteen.
But something about this doesn’t feel like any of that. No, it’s different. The arm holding me tightly has tattoos on the forearm.
How did I get here? Whose bed am I in?
Freaking out, I try to pry the arm from my body, but it doesn’t budge. When the hand connected to the arm slides up my side, I scream in panic.
The arm is suddenly gone, and I scamper away from the mystery man—falling to the floor.
“Oh shit,” the man says, drawing my attention to him. I lift my head to find him climbing out of bed, dressed in a pair of gray sweatpants and a black T-shirt. Crab-walking, I back away from him. “It’s okay, Arwen. I’m not going to hurt you.”
Something about his voice soothes me. He holds his hands up in front of him as he steps forward. “I promise you’re okay here.”
Soon as those words leave his lips, the door on the other side of the room crashes open, causing me to scream once again in terror.
“What the hell?” the mystery man yells, turning to face the intruders. Glancing around him, I notice it’s three women, all of them holding guns raised.
“We heard her scream,” the one with dark hair and a small bump says as she lowers the gun.
“She just woke up. Do y’all mind getting out so I can calm her down.” Yes, please. The fierce looks of these three women are scaring me. I swear the one with wavy caramel-brown hair with blondish highlights looks familiar, but I can’t figure out how I would know her.
“We’ll be in the kitchen getting breakfast ready,” the last woman says before leaving the bedroom.
Soon as all three girls are out of the room, the mystery man spins back to face me. With a tender smile, he squats down in front of me. “I’m Cedric Gheata.”
At the mention of his last name, my eyes widen, and I start to back further away from him, whimpering, “Please don’t hurt me.”
Cedric’s eyes darken slightly before he conceals his anger. “I’m not gonna hurt you, cuore mio. I could never hurt you.”
The way his eyes soften makes me want to believe him.
“I might be a Gheata, but I’m nothing like my half-siblings. I can promise you that,” Cedric grumbles, holding my gaze.
Seeing the truth in his eyes, I nod. “Where am I?”
“We’re at my place. It’s the Fort.”
“The Fort?” That’s a weird name for a house. But then again, I call my father’s home a prison.
“Yeah, the Fort. Finley, Mara-Lee, and I dubbed our home its name when we bought it, because it looks like one.” He grins, standing back to his feet, and holding a hand out to me. “Let’s get you off the floor.”
I take his hand and allow him to pull me up. Once on my feet, I lean into him without meaning to. My legs feel weak and heavy for some reason.
“You okay, cuore mio?” he asks, holding on to me.
“I’m fine, just sore,” I murmur quietly.
I barely get my answer out when I find myself swooped into Cedric’s arms and placed tenderly on the bed.
Cedric sits in front of me as I cross my legs and scoot to the middle of the bed.
“Um, how do you know my name?” I ask, curious as to how.
“Seen pictures of you, Arwen, and I know your brothers,” he answers, and panic starts to sink in again.
I hope he hasn’t called them.
“Don’t worry, baby, I wanted to wait for you to wake up before I spoke with Danti,” he says calmly, though his eyes seem to be taking in everything about me. “I’m gonna be real with you, Arwen. With the way I found you last night, I’m not about to let you out of my sight. Don’t ask me why, but know this, I’ll never hurt you. I also won’t let anyone else touch another hair on your beautiful head.”
Oh wow.
I don’t think anyone’s ever said anything so possessive, yet sweet to me. It’s always been cruel and harmful.
For some reason, hearing Cedric’s words causes butterflies in my stomach, and it warms a part of me I don’t understand.
Chapter Six
Cedric
Seeing the way Arwen feared me when I’d stated my name pisses me off. I can only assume she knows my family name all too well. I hate the fact I’m a Gheata and wish nothing more than to get rid of it, but my mother had told me a long time ago—the name does not make the man, it’s the man who makes the name.
I was surprised with Arwen when she took my hand, allowing me to help her off the floor. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I wait for her response to me telling her I’ll never let anything happen. I can’t believe I said what I did aloud.
Swear, the woman’s bewitched me under her spell.
When she doesn’t say anything and just continues to look at me, I clear my throat. “Do you wanna talk about what happened to you?”
Arwen flinches as she shakes her head. “If I don’t want to, will you make me?”
My chest constricts at the softness of her voice. “Arwen, I’m not gonna force you to tell me what all you’ve been through. Though I would like for you to at least tell me about last night.”
Nodding, Arwen casts her gaze to the bed and starts fidgeting her hands. “I ran away from home,” she utters silently. “I don’t want to be married off. Especially to the vile man they want to put me with.”
“Who?” The question is out before I can stop it.
“Cesare Gheata,” she whispers, lifting her gaze to meet mine. I wonder what she’s thinking right now. I know what I am. The mere thought of her being my half-brother’s—pisses me off.
“He’ll never have you,” I growl, making myself a vow to make sure he never touches a hair on her head.
Cocking her head to the side, Arwen takes in my expression. “You confuse me.”
“I’m nothing like my family. Maybe one day, when you feel like telling me your story, I’ll tell you mine,” I say sincerely. Eyeing her neck, I nod. “What happened to give you the bruises?”
“Ciro,” she murmurs, reaching up to touch her neck. “I ran away the other night, hid for the day in a crummy motel, and they found me when I was at the bus station. I got away from them, but Ciro, he caught up to me in an alley. I don’t know who, but someone stopped him.”
Ciro’s a dead fucking man when I get a hold of him.
“How do you know my brothers?” she asks, changing the subject.
“Not gonna go into details, but we’re friendly with your brothers. Your uncles and father—not so much,” I say grimly.
Arwen nods at the same time someone knocks on the door, causing her to jump.
“Yeah,” I call out to whoever’s on the other side of the door.
The door creaks open slightly for Mara-Lee to fill the space, holding things in her hands. “Hey, breakfast will be ready in about ten minutes. I didn’t know if Arwen wanted to take a shower beforehand, so I brought her some stuff.”
“Thanks.” I nod and climb off the bed. I walk over and take the items from Mara-Lee, seeing they’re all new. It must be stuff she already had on hand. She always keeps shit on hand for the girls who work for us.
“No problem. See you at the table, you can’t miss breakfast. It’s waffles,” Mara-Lee announces. Pivoting on her heel, she leaves, closing the door behind her.
Glancing over to Arwen, I hold the clothes out. “Why don’t you take a quick shower?” I suggest, nodding in the direction of the bathroom.
Arwen’s cheeks blush as she nods. “Okay.” She climbs off the bed and meets me in the center of the room. “I won’t be long.”
“Take all the time you need, cuore mio,” I murmur, calling her a term I’ve used a few times already this morning, and I’m surprised to be using it at all. I’ve never called anyone my heart. Never wanted to.
Watching her go into the bathroom and close the door, I let out a harsh breath. What am I doing? I want this woman, but I shouldn’t. She’s Danti’s little sister. Arwen deserves more than what I can give her. Hell, she deserves the fucking world.
I can see the hurt and pain she’s endured in her life when I look into her eyes. Those beautiful green eyes hold so many secrets, I wonder how she’s survived this long. When I’d cleaned her up last night and changed her into one of my T-shirts, I didn’t miss the brutal scars on her back. It looks as if someone took a whip and beat her to hell with it.
Still, it doesn’t take away from her beauty.
Fuck me. I’m screwed when it comes to Arwen. It’s like she’s my very own form of ecstasy, and I haven’t even touched her, let alone kissed those gorgeous lips. Yeah, I’ve gotta get my head straight before the two of us head into the kitchen for breakfast.
Holding Arwen’s hand, I lead her to the table. Mara-Lee is setting everything out just as Finley, Vex, and Eliya take their seats.
Each of them twisting to look at us as Arwen and I step into the kitchen.
“Morning,” I grunt and pull a chair out for Arwen. Once she’s seated, I take the one right next to her and throw my arm over the back of hers.
“Everything okay?” Finley asks, already diving into the waffles.
Mara-Lee makes the best breakfast foods. We all love it—especially Finley since she’s been pregnant.
“Yeah, everything’s good.” I nod.
“Good,” Finley says and smiles at Arwen. “I’m Finley, and this beautiful woman next to me is my girlfriend and partner, Ainslee, but most people call her Vex.”
I chuckle at Finley’s introduction as Vex snorts.
“I think I can introduce myself,” Vex snickers, breaking up food for Dominic to feed himself.
“Nice to meet you both,” Arwen utters meekly.
Leaning into Arwen, I press my cheek to hers and whisper, “Remember, you’re safe here. You don’t have to be scared.”
I want her to feel comfortable. I promised to keep her safe and I will. No matter what it takes.
Chapte
r Seven
Arwen
Sitting next to Cedric, I’m feeling completely out of my element. Not that I really have one to begin with. I’ve never sat down to breakfast with family and that’s what this feels like. Well, all except for one woman.
Normally I’m not allowed to meet anyone’s eyes. I’m always to keep them cast to the floor. If I didn’t, I’d be punished. I guess you can say I could easily be punished for simply breathing wrong. However, being around these people, they continuously attempt to keep drawing me into the conversation—no matter how short my answers are.
“Cedric, are you gonna be going to Night’s Bliss today?” Finley asks, nibbling on a piece of crisp bacon.
“Think I’m gonna work from my office here today,” Cedric grumbles. “I’ve gotta go through some applications and deal with some of the staffing issues.”
“What staffing issues?” Mara-Lee asks, furrowing her brows.
I don’t know what it is, I truly wish I did, but I can’t put my finger on it when it comes to her. She’s so familiar to me.
“Some of the waitresses and bartenders keep complaining. I need to take a look at some of the footage I forwarded to my home computer and see exactly what the problem is.” Cedric shrugs, not once removing the arm he’s got on the back of my chair.
I find it comforting in a way. Something about him just soothes me, and I don’t understand it. I’m baffled by my own reactions to Cedric.
I should be running in the opposite direction, knowing he’s a Gheata, only he doesn’t seem to be like the rest of them.
“Well, after my doctor’s appointment, I’m heading over to Night’s Bliss,” Finley announces to the table.
“Are you finding out what you’re having?” Cedric smirks.
“We want to be surprised—I think.” Finley smiles brightly and looks to Vex sitting next to her.
I love the way the two of them look at each other. If I knew I could have what they do, I’d wish on a thousand stars for it. Only my life isn’t meant for anything, but heartbreak. When I was a little girl, I used to wish on shooting stars at night while sitting by the window in my room.