by Soraya Naomi
Of course, she cuts the call right before I can trace her. Swiftly, I check the location of the phone, but she’s turned the location settings off, though I have discovered she’s still in the Loop.
They don’t know when to fucking give up and run.
And Mary’s been through enough. I will protect her with all my power from now on since our dating is out in the open anyway. Suddenly, I grasp how much I long to comfort her after the clusterfuck of a day she’s had.
After grabbing my glasses, I program an alarm on my computer that will call my smartphone when Tara’s number turns on location settings so that I can get to her quickly. Then I grab my keys from the desk to go to the only place I want to be.
***
“Just call the apartment. She’s awake,” I exhaustedly order the receptionist.
He sends me a disgruntled look but complies, picking up his phone. “Good evening, Miss Montesi. I’m sorry to bother you so late. I have a visitor for you. Mr. Henry Pierce. He says it’s urgent...Okay.” Then he addresses me, “You can go up, sir.”
Upstairs, as soon as the elevator door opens, I see Mary waiting outside her parents’ apartment. She’s dressed in a white nightgown that gives her an angelic glow and is wearing her curls in loose waves that surround her heart-shaped face, and as always, her beauty never fails to enthrall me.
Closing the distance between us with determination, I snake my arms around her waist as she clutches my nape and sobs into my chest, “I’m so glad you came.”
“I knew you didn’t want to be alone, baby.” I kiss the top of her head while she holds on to me like a lifeline, and I revel in it.
The fear of losing her was unbearable, and being deprived of consoling her earlier pissed me off. Her vital presence in my life makes me feel, makes me want the intimacy she keeps offering willingly.
But while she’s given me trust, I’ve given her lies in return. Yet I’m a selfish man, and my desire for Mary overrides the need to come clean. I won’t allow anything or anyone else to mess with us. I’m going to start settling scores once and for all. And I’ll be damned if I lose her in the process.
Mary mumbles as I guide her to her bedroom, “I was careful and stayed with David, and Keano still got to me!”
“He’s a dead man, Mary. And I will make him pay for killing Strawberry.”
“She was so sweet,” she sniffles, resting against my chest as I sit down on the edge of the bed with her astride me.
For several minutes, I let her cry while I stroke her hair and breathe in her familiar, sweet scent. Eventually, she inhales, lifting her head up, so I place my palm on her back to prevent her from toppling backward, gently swiping my thumb down her cheek to dry her tears.
“How are you feeling?” I ask. “What did the doctor say?”
“I’m fine, got some painkillers. I’m mostly in shock – I can’t believe it happened.”
“You’ve been in more danger than we thought. We underestimated Keano.”
“So who’s his accomplice?” she questions out of nowhere. “We don’t know, do we?”
We don’t know. I do.
Yet I don’t want to outright lie to her face. For her protection, until I get this all figured out, I skirt the truth a bit. “No. We don’t.” And I run the back of my knuckles down her cheek as her gaze meets mine, her hazel irises bursting with unconcealed trust when I tuck her curls behind her ear.
I don’t fucking deserve you, but you make me need you.
The words remain stuck in my throat as she moves aside, sneaking beneath the covers with a tremble.
“Are you cold?” I strip down to my boxers.
“A little. You’re my furnace.” A small, sad smile tugs at her lips. At least her vibrant spirit wasn’t killed by that asshole.
Impressed by her inner strength, I lift the sheet and join her as she faces me, snuggling against me.
“Hmm...you’re always so warm,” she murmurs, throwing an arm and a leg over me.
I return her slightly suffocating embrace by winding my arms around her neck, fingers weaved into her hair.
“Why did you decide to tell my brothers about us tonight?”
“We couldn’t deny it anymore, Mary. They saw how close we were. I went crazy when I couldn’t get in touch with you. I ordered everyone together and didn’t stop until we found you.”
She glances up, angling her leg higher up my hip. My cock twitches when I feel the warmth of her pussy through the fabric of our underwear.
Fuck! She can make me hard in a split second with one touch.
“I’m sorry you were worried,” she puts in sweetly, although it isn’t her fault whatsoever.
I massage the back of her head and capture her mouth in a feverish kiss, pushing my tongue inside her mouth forcefully – a claiming. Tasting and memorizing her soft sighs, feeling the contours of her curvaceous body against mine. We merely kiss, yet this is the most intimate moment I’ve ever experienced. Memories of her challenging me back when we were just friends dance in my mind while I groan, pulling her into me. For a long moment, we drown in it and then I press my lips against her forehead. Somewhere along the way, making Mary mine has become more important than anything else.
“Sleep, baby. You’re tired and too much has happened today.”
Too much I failed to protect you from.
“Okay. But FYI, I’m not happy you put a tracking device on me without telling me; however, I am thankful because it saved me.”
“I’m fucking thankful you’re all right,” I whisper.
“So am I. Just no more lies, okay? I hate that. It makes me anxious.”
I could tell her. My instinct tells me I can trust her, so I begin, “Mary...”
She looks up, her eyes red rimmed, and I’m unable to speak the words and add more agony to her current grief.
“Sleep,” is all I say, which she accepts as tiredness pulls at her.
Thank fuck I’m with the one person I crave to be with every night, and I won’t give her up.
“Ti amo,” she utters softly. “Will you stay with me?”
“For as long as you need, baby,” I promise against her hair and fold her tightly into my arms, the place where she belongs as I kiss the top of her head repeatedly, wondering when I’ll be able to say the words.
Do I love her? Maybe I do. It’s something very similar to it; I can no longer deny nor negate it. And for that reason, the people who have endangered her must account for their actions.
Unfortunately, what I don’t realize at this point is that I should’ve told Mary everything on this crucial night because a trail of destruction has started with Keano’s escape, and I’m already too late to stop it.
CHAPTER 32
Mary
In life, people come and go. Some you forget, some you remember once in a while, some become friends or lovers for a time. Only, one day, someone will cross your path who always seems to be there during pivotal moments, who leaves a mark on your existence that establishes an unequaled invisible bond. That mark was left when Henry first fucked me and it deepens every time he protects me.
For several days and nights, Henry stays with me while I’m stashed away inside my bedroom in my parents’ apartment where, from the first day when Keano shot Strawberry, I’m suspended in a state of utter shock. The second day, my anger starts to take over, especially since Keano’s still out there while I have to be cooped up inside, and meanwhile, David hasn’t been found either. I haven’t asked my brothers what the status is with Keano, knowing they won’t answer. And Henry’s been ignoring my questions, telling me not to worry, yet that’s impossible. Even Henry’s doting behavior hasn’t stopped my fury from growing.
But as mad as I am at Keano, I’m glad that day pushed Henry and me closer together. I sense deep in my heart that he’s truly attached to me. But I still feel a certain distance. Whether or not that’s anxiety about Keano, I’m not sure.
In the long run, being confined gives a person too
much time to think, so I’m excited when, on the fifth day, Henry tells me to put on my shoes because we’re going out. Feeling a little less gloomy, I dress in my jeans and a lilac sweater that hangs off one shoulder, and after I have dinner with my parents, Henry knocks on the front door to escort me to the elevator, but we go up instead of down.
“Are we going to Adriano’s?” I ask, disappointed, as Henry wraps his arms around me from behind. “I thought we were going outside.”
“We’ll go outside too. I know you’re going crazy in there.” He nips my earlobe. “Even though I love having your body all to myself to fuck every night.”
I bite my lip, hiding a smile and adoring the way he’s expressing his emotions more – especially his crude words that turn me on to no end. In his own way, Henry’s been my ray of light during these dark days, and without him, I’d be wallowing in grief.
I’m jarred out of my thoughts when the elevator opens, and Henry guides me onto the thirty-ninth floor, the one beneath Adriano’s penthouse where there’s a door on each side for two apartments.
“What are we doing here?” I probe when he knocks on the left door and it’s opened by Carmine.
“Hey, sis,” he says, “right on time,” turning down the wide hallway that leads into a spacious living room with floor-to-ceiling windows and an indoor terrace. This is the same floor plan as my parents’, the only difference being the ten-foot ceiling and the massive, state-of-the-art black kitchen with an island where Adriano’s shutting the fridge door, popping something into his mouth.
My gaze shifts back and forth among all three men. “Adriano, what are you doing here? Who lives here?”
Carmine and Adriano glance at Henry, who stops in front of me.
He looks very big all of a sudden, more so than usual. “Mary, we need to talk about your living arrangements. As I’ve told you, your apartment has shit security, and in light of what’s happened, it’s too dangerous for you to live there from now on.”
My mouth drops open. “This is about my apartment?” I hold up my palms in defense, and then I point toward my brothers. “I’ve had this conversation with them already. I can’t afford anything else. Why are you telling me this now...” My words trail off as understanding dawns. “Is this apartment for me?”
“Yes,” Henry answers calmly.
So many questions and emotions barrage my brain. Mostly, I’m stunned. “Who bought it?”
“We did,” Adriano and Carmine respond in unison, standing beside Henry, whose commanding presence is different, more imposing, like he is when he’s with the Syndicate men.
Being up against these three men – while I’m already in a vulnerable place of anger and grief – downright unhinges me. I clutch my hair in disbelief, gazing at the grey wall that holds a fifty-five inch silver framed TV. The entire room is furnished elegantly, yet I’m incapable of enjoying any of it. Somehow, it bothers me that Henry arranged this, along with bugging me and ordering me around. Yet he hasn’t even told me he loves me. I might feel it, but I need him to say it too and stop organizing my life with my brothers.
I state to Henry, “So you plan my whole life behind my back. With them.” Then I address my brothers, “And you two are no better. You spring this on me now? This week?”
“Because now is the only time you’ll accept it,” Adriano points out without a hint of guilt, and all three of them tower around me, making my head spin. “Mary, it’s simply for your safety. You’re getting more involved in Syndicate business. Moreover, with the success of Club 7, you’re obviously becoming a target for thugs like Keano. And I won’t rest until he’s dead. But even after that, I need to protect you the same way I protect Cam and Amalia.” His tone softens as he palms my cheek like only a brother can, a loving touch that promises he’ll watch out for me.
“Whose idea was this?”
“Mine,” Henry answers, being unusually quiet and studying me as Carmine takes my hand in his.
“You’ll be happy here, sis, and you’ll have your freedom. It’s not as if Adriano and I hang out with each other every night. And don’t worry about the money. If you must, pay us rent, we don’t care. We got the apartment much faster than expected, and all the furniture is yours if you want it. We can also move all of your stuff here.”
Their uncompromising faces with looks of genuine affection moderate my temper. “I don’t mean to be ungrateful. It’s just that this week brought about a whirlwind of emotions. I don’t know what I feel. I-I’m upset that everything’s being done without even discussing it with me. You guys need to trust me more. I’m not a teenager anymore. If you would’ve told me this before you purchased it, I would’ve probably agreed with you. But now you’ve managed to shove it in my face and you put me on the spot.”
I send Henry a disillusioned glance, and he flinches for a second before masking his expression.
“Be upset all you want but accept our gift,” Adriano declares, and he kisses my forehead, muttering, “Consider it a very early graduation present.”
When I hear a vibrating noise, Adriano takes his phone from his pocket, turning around and motioning to Carmine, who moves to him so that they can both read a message.
Henry inches forward but doesn’t touch me as our eyes meet and he cups my jaw, a little more forcefully than usual. There’s something about his dominating manner that troubles me; why does he do these things behind my back?
So I ask him, “Why now? You’ve been coming to my apartment for weeks. I’ve lived there for months.”
“Because after Keano took you, I went fucking crazy, and I won’t allow him to hurt you again. If you can’t do it for your brothers, do it for me. I can’t work knowing you might be in danger once you go home.”
“Something’s different about you,” I blurt out.
Still, his admission melts my heart – a heart that’s been conquered irrevocably by him. Though a tremble of uncertainty fissures through me. If we want to be together in this Syndicate, he can’t repeatedly keep me in the dark. I’m fully aware that puts me in more danger.
“Is something else going on? Do you know more about Keano? We promised, no lies, Henry,” I remind him with a frown.
His eyes round, and he clenches his jaw – I don’t get his conduct at all. Maybe he’s more affected by the Keano situation than I thought? Maybe I’m underestimating the threat lurking at every corner? What’s happening with Keano and being with Henry has sucked me deeper into this Syndicate world, and I do know it would be smarter to live here.
And with that realization, I wonder why the hell I’m complaining, because as I look around, this is a dream apartment with a killer view of the Chicago River. Also, there’s one major perk: I get to be closer to my niece, Amalia, and visit her as often as I can since they reside one floor up.
Before Henry gets a chance to answer, Adriano interrupts, “Mary, don’t overthink this. Stay here tonight or go to Cam.” He then tells Henry, “We need to go.”
“Is there news about Keano?” I probe, but Adriano ignores me and strides to the hallway, waving his hand, commanding Carmine and Henry to follow.
Henry cradles my cheeks, pressing a hard kiss on my mouth. “Will you stay here?”
Not wanting him or my brothers to worry while they’re obviously going to do something Syndicate related, I concede, “Yes. For you.”
A devilish half grin pulls at his lips right before he kisses my nose, whispering, “Then I’ll reward you later.”
“Ti amo,” I babble and mentally face-palm myself because this is the third time I’ve said it, knowing I need to stop and wait for him to say it as well, so I continue hurriedly, “I really want to get out, even if it’s for just ten minutes. I’ll have the guard downstairs go with me to get a coffee at the Starbucks that’s two blocks away.”
He sends me a stern look, implying he’s about to order me to stay inside, so I plead, “Please. I need to go out.”
“Okay, only for coffee and stay with the guard, baby,�
� he insists in a low tone.
“Yes, boss.” I wink at him, wanting him to leave on a positive note since he does all of this for me.
Luckily, he smirks before disappearing down the hall. I truly believe Henry means well and we’re heading toward a committed place.
Pacing around my new apartment, I walk to the window to stare at the full moon, which seems bigger way up here on the thirty-ninth floor. In truth, I need a fresh start and begin to look forward to bringing my stuff here. Before I exit, I check out the three gigantic bedrooms and the bathroom with a marble Grecian tub.
“I’m so getting a king-size bed,” I murmur to myself, treading down the hall and seeing that Adriano’s left a set of keys on a dresser next to the door.
Grabbing them, I head downstairs to the reception area where a buff, dark-haired Syndicate guard is already waiting for me. As he trails me out of the building, we turn left, and when the wind hits my cheeks, I lift my face to the sky and inhale the crisp scent of an impending winter.
“Let’s get a vanilla latte,” I suggest as my guard inspects the street and steers me sideways when people pass us.
“Okay, but afterward, we return immediately, Mary – Henry’s orders.”
“I didn’t expect anything less,” I mumble.
After rounding the corner, we dodge a car to cross the street, landing us right in front of the coffee shop. We step over the threshold and once we’re inside, it’s just as busy as you’d expect it to be on a Friday night. I order two coffees and inch to the side along the bar counter to wait.
Noticing that there aren’t any stirrers, I ask my guard, “Can you get a spoon and a napkin for me?”
He nods and zigzags through the other customers as I watch the barista who’s tending the coffee machine when I hear from behind me, “Hello, Mary.”
Swiveling around, I’m met with Tara. Her smile is pleasant, but there’s something sharp about her face that her grin and a layer of foundation can’t hide.
CHAPTER 33
Henry
I exit Mary’s new apartment, relieved because I expected her to put up more of a fight. But I’m damn pleased this hasn’t turned into a battle. I could tell that she understood this was the best course of action and was able to tamp down her initial reaction of anger toward us for organizing her life, once again, impressing me. Though I did plan to discuss it with her before her brothers bought it, but Adriano’s realtor succeeded in rapidly finalizing the paperwork. When you swim in money and can throw it around, everything gets taken care of faster.