“Whoever did this is not on my team. Not when they do this to you.”
“I promise I’m okay.”
“Was it Bryce?”
He shakes his head.
“A client?”
Another shake.
“Marcus?”
Giulio tightens his jaw and it’s the only answer I need.
What. The. Hell.
Marcus could not get away with something like this! Beat up his own brother? No. No, that doesn’t sit well with me. Not one bit. I’m incapable of staying reserved. Not under this circumstance.
“Why would Marcus do this?”
“I don’t really want to talk about it right now. I didn’t retaliate, maybe I should have…”
“No. You did the right thing.” My fingers slowly glide a path around the bruises, across his chest, down his abdominal muscles and toned obliques. “Was it because of me?”
Giulio’s eyes drift from mine. I can see the agony in them, no matter how hard he attempts to downplay the hurt with his hand outstretched and caressing my hip bone. “It was because of our father and also something else.”
I feel for him. I really do. Although Marcus and I are on civil terms now, it still worries me that Giulio’s only sibling is doing this to him.
My hand fans out by his navel as I lower my head. My lipstick proves its transfer proof, not once spreading its creamy rose pigment as I slowly kiss my way up across all of his torso. Moans escape his throat. Ones so sensual I continue up his neck, but purposely skip his face to meet his right ear in a hot murmur instead. “I understand that this is between both of you, but I will always be here for you when you need it. Even if I will never be able to walk in your shoes, I will listen.”
Giulio stands up, takes my hand and walks to his leather chair. With his free hand, he combs through his tousled hair. I rarely see him like this, so split between the two men he is. The invincible businessman everybody sees and the generous, tender man reserved for the ones closest to him.
My doubt washes away. I don’t regret a single thing when I straddle him and he simply holds me. I make sure not to put too much pressure against him but Giulio creates it anyway, ignoring his hurt. Separated by fabric, his hands draw circles my lower back, inches from the zipper of my black square neck jumpsuit with ruched long sleeves.
I melt as he nuzzles into my neck and presses a long, sultry kiss against the base. I melt.
“I know you will always be here to listen.” His stubble grazes against my delicate skin as he pushes back my straightened hair and peppers kisses up my neck. My body throbs deeply for him, that it plunges me into ecstasy. I want him. “You’ve always helped me, Lencia.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through it alone.”
“Don’t be. I wasn’t alone. I had you in my heart.”
The kisses stop and we stay like this, desperately holding onto each other. I never want to move. I think he needs this embrace as much as I do. Giulio always presents himself as this fierce, powerful man, but I relish the times he lets his guard down.
Sometimes it’s salvation.
Giulio feels so damn familiar because he is familiar. I’m enticed by the smell of fresh, masculine Versace cologne and him. The way he was kissing my neck, the softness in his touch, the look in his eyes prompting the electricity sparking through me… it’s all him.
“Do you think I could have killed Bryce that night?”
I cup his jaw and the Italian man who stares back at me is all I know. “No, of course not.”
“He hurt you.”
“Yes, but not to that extent. You know I’ve always believed in justice for any sort of vendetta. Letting justice play its part is exacting the best revenge.”
Giulio swallows loudly. “I know.”
I will never get sick of the forehead kisses he gives. Of all the tenderness and affection it projects. Even in this uncharted territory, they bring me back to life. Back to him.
“But I think I could have. If he went any further, I think I would have.”
Oh.
I rise up from his lap and glance out the window behind him. Is Giulio really capable of killing somebody? No. He wouldn’t ever do that. He wouldn’t cause further suffering for Oscar and Slonne. Yes, I admit that maybe when it comes down to protecting family maybe he…no. There is always a line to cross. The line of ending somebody’s life is an irreversible move he wouldn’t commit.
To me, justice always overrides death. When Addilyn’s abductor or abductors are caught, I still wish them justice. I do not wish them death because that is the easy way out.
“I’m sorry.” Giulio stands abruptly and lets out a frustrated sigh when he reaches the floor-to-ceiling windows by the sage bench. “Fuck, what type of man am I? When I say things like that, how can I possibly be proud of myself? I’m just a sorry excuse of a role model.”
No, honey. You’re not.
I edge towards Giulio in time for him to slide his hands into his pockets with a locked jaw. There is something on his mind. I just feel it. Looking out onto Seattle, cars pass down below us. In the distance, trees dance with the wind and the city buildings create a mesmerizing display.
I don’t want him hurting and it destroys me that he’s feeling this way. When Giulio’s head lowers and I touch his back, I see his fear. I see a strong man break in front of me. The one that has attempted to hold it together all these months. For the first time since Addilyn’s disappearance, I’m a part of his vulnerability in the space we share.
My fingertips act on his tensed muscles, trailing against the soft fabric of his sweater. I step in front of him and when his glassy eyes move to me, I can’t see past the aversion.
“Everything that happened with Bryce and whatever resulted in those bruises is not your fault.”
“It is.”
I shake my head. “You are a good man, Giulio. You protect our family and you protect us well. Because that is what we are, family. If one of us falls, we all fall together and then we find the strength to rise again. We’ve all taken a tumble with Addilyn. We’re still on the ground, so let’s not cause more agony to ourselves before we get back up.”
A sad smile crosses him. “We haven’t called ourselves that in a while.”
“A family?”
“A family.”
Even with my heels, I have to rise on my tippy toes to reach his height. My lips meet his cheek and I kiss his soft skin. “We will always be a family.” I come down and our smiles extend into a sense of home. “That will never change.”
“Never.” Despite his battered skin, Giulio’s arms tighten around my smaller frame and he buries his head in my neck. “Does that mean that if I were to ask you to go out with me on Friday night, which I am, you would say yes?”
My heart beats like a drum.
Holy hell!
“Yes! Of course I will, Giulio.”
I cannot be any happier. His touch chains me to a feeling of warm comfort. It’s a place where nobody can break us. A part of me wonders how long we can stay like this, but I listen to my heart instead. I stay in the moment.
It takes a moment to realize the tears trailing down my neck are not mine but his. Giulio’s body shakes and his chest vibrates against mine. He’s holding onto me for dear life, as if he’s afraid of something that’s lurking inside him. I find myself clutching onto his sweater in need of giving this much to him.
My fingers weave through his hair and I whisper comforting words that eventually ease him. Giulio has always been here for me in my darkest moments. He’s been my shining white knight. Even when all we wanted to do was turn away, he has always been there. Here.
I want him to know that I will always be here for him too.
I will always be the mother of his three beautiful children.
I will always care for him.
“This feels like the calm before the storm.”
“They say no storm lasts forever.” I push down the knot in my throat. “But I fear i
t too.”
“Then if no storm lasts forever…the sun will soon come up again and kiss our skin. We’ll see the other side of this. Let’s not fear anything anymore.” Giulio pulls back and looks at me with a newfound faith. Hope. Our fused tears are a delicate rendition of us. “As long as I’m here, never be scared. I’ve got you all. I promise. I’ve got you, Lencia.”
I smile softly. “And I’ve got you too.”
I never want to let go of Giulio Giannotti.
Never.
Dear God, please don’t take him away from me.
Valencia
As much as I’ve been attempting to live in the present, some days it’s hard not to swivel into the past when your daughter’s life is in danger. But I’m learning. Learning to smile and enjoy my first night out in months. I agreed to go out with Kayla tonight because I’ve missed the old times when we used to hang out and simply live.
My parents are okay.
The twins are okay.
Giulio is okay.
After my moment of tenderness with Giulio this afternoon, I passed by Marcus in the lobby. I don’t know if he caught onto my hesitation but until I learn the full story, I can’t accept what he did leaving Giulio all battered and bruised.
Ever since therapy, the dynamic with Giulio has been smooth sailing. Whether it’s a saving grace or the calm before the storm, I’m beginning to appreciate and accept it either way.
Helena joins Kayla and me and brings along her kids. It’s somewhat of a family affair with me bringing the twins too. Oscar has questioned everything on the menu twice, while Slonne has submersed herself in watching Frozen with Daisy on my phone.
We have spent the last couple of hours at Zeluci, a chic Italian restaurant near work. It’s filled with chattering diners, clinking metals, and bolts of laughter. Exposed charcoal bricks cover each wall and dark décor piping adds to the industrial feel. Helena opted for a table at the front of the restaurant, where the aroma of the immaculate rustic food doesn’t reach us. She’s just gotten a fresh blowout after all and doesn’t want her hair to smell.
Comfort greets me in Kayla’s company. It’s just like old times.
Frequently I find myself looking over at my twins, niece, and nephew and then back at the women. Ever since Addilyn was stolen while I was in the house, public places have caused great pandemonium inside me. I’m constantly preoccupied that in the blink of an eye one of them could be taken too. I know I need to stop thinking like this, but the letter threatening that Oscar and Slonne were next doesn’t help.
There’s this thing about living in strife. The longer I adapt to that twisted feeling inside me, the longer my demons blindfold me in a game of chance. It’s a wicked thing.
“Valencia?”
Both Helena and Kayla are staring at me. My sister is to my left and sits beside Daisy and Slonne, while Weston and Oscar are on the adjacent sides. Weston’s head is down alternating between his sugar free dessert and homework, while my son observes his cousin’s schoolwork. Kayla, who sets down her coffee with a smile, is directly across from me. The head of the table to my right is vacant.
I blink uncontrollably to steady myself. “Yes?”
“How are things with Giulio?” Kayla asks. “Did couple’s therapy help in any way?”
“It did! We’re getting closer and this afternoon he asked me out on a date on Friday night.”
Her jaw drops. “Oh my god! Yes!”
Helena playfully pokes my side. “Yes, girl! And you’re only telling us now?!”
I grin at their enthusiasm. “It only happened today! We’ve had a few moments over the past week and the arguments are simmering down. My therapist shined some light upon us and suggested a new strategy. I think…I hope it’s a good thing for us.”
“Oh my god!” Kayla adds, “I really do hope it works out well.”
“Me too. We need to be united against all the chaos.”
“Does his opinion on Addilyn’s case still stand?”
I nod. “Both of us are still adamant in our views. Working a way around them will be difficult, so I don’t want to get too ahead of myself before the night actually happens.”
“Girl, I’ll take care of the kiddies.” Helena winks smugly. “You two need the break!”
“Thank you, that means a lot.”
“Anytime. I’m so happy for you both!”
“So am I!” Kayla grins and we raise our beverages to cheers together. “To hopeful beginnings!”
The night goes well. It’s fresh air from the past few months. I finally feel parts of the real me returning, the one before all the stress got in the way, and it feels so good. But just like sometimes in life, it comes to a premature end the moment Kayla’s eyes widen. “Oh my god.”
“What is it?”
“Uh, Marcus and Bryce just walked in!”
What?
She’s right. A beaming Marcus strolls through the restaurant doors with Bryce by his side. This is the first time I’ve seen him since our drunken incident exactly a week ago and I don’t know how to feel about it. Giulio told me that he wanted to apologize but I thought he meant in the office, not in the middle of this dinner! Bryce McCarson being right here is an uncanny coincidence.
“That’s Bryce?” Helena grits, grinding her teeth together.
“That’s him.”
“What an asshole!” Helena proceeds to slide down in her seat, smiling sinfully. “What? It’s not like we want them to see us.”
I groan. “They’ll still see us. We need menus, you know like in those detective shows.”
“They’ll see the kids and then they’ll see us maniacs,” Kayla admits.
“Don’t look at him! Eyes are like freaking magnets.”
“Mommy, why are you all underneath the table?”
“Because I lost my purse, Daisy.”
“But it’s here on the table.”
“Uh…” Helena stumbles for words. “I meant Auntie Lencia’s purse.”
“It’s on the table too!”
It’s absolutely laughable. Three grown ass women halfway down their seats in a game of avoidance. “I can’t do it. My back kills me like this.” I suppress a chuckle and slide back up in my seat before tucking a tress behind my ear.
Daisy points at my bag. “See. It’s right there!”
“Oh, yes. Thank you, honey.”
She shakes her head and turns back to the movie. “Silly, Auntie.”
“Kayla? Valencia?…Helena is that you?” So much for attempting to save our asses! Marcus is who I see first. His eyes dart between us with a prompt smile on his lips. “Hey, mind if we join you?”
Kayla shrugs with a sigh. “Not at all.”
My sister throws her a look, but what was she alternatively going to say? No, you can’t sit with us. We aren’t in Mean Girls…well, maybe in some profited spinoff of Mean World. After all, even though they’ve both witnessed Marcus and Giulio’s tension either at work or during family occasions, they don’t know anything about the younger Giannotti’s attack on Giulio.
Marcus waves at Kayla, greets the kids and me with a side hug, and then flashes a smile over at my sister. Helena looks the other way as he pulls up a chair and takes a seat.
Then, here comes Bryce cocky cockney McCarson in the flesh. There’s something wrong about the sentence. I don’t even have the decency to backtrack. Hell no, not when Bryce rounds the table and takes the seat right beside me at the head of the table.
He wears an American Eagle black tee and dark washed jeans. That familiar bergamot scent with a hint of spice gets me for a moment.
Bryce gives me his undivided attention. “Long time no see, aye?”
“I really would prefer if we don’t go there.”
“Okay. We won’t go there.” He swallows and motions beyond me. “Are they ya kids?”
“Yes, that’s Oscar and that’s Slonne with the magenta coat.”
“They look like you…and Giulio…Oh, shit! They’re twins?�
�
“Uh, yes…” I find it only fitting with Helena’s gaping stare on him to defuse the animosity. “And this is my sister, Helena. Helena this is Bryce McCarson, an interior designer at the firm.”
“A pleasure to meet ya, Hele—”
“Oh, cut the crap you jerk!” I tug at Helena’s side praying for her not to go any further. Not here in front of everyone. I don’t want to cause a scene but she does, leaving me to hopelessly glance at Kayla. “You fool around with my sister and then have the audacity to sit by her and act as if nothing happened? As if kissing her neck when she tells you to stop is nothing? Save yourself the time and leave…don’t stare at me like that…boy, I said LEAVE!”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Where do you suggest I go?”
“I suggest you go to anywhere on the East Coast; there’s a sale going on at the moment.” Helena motions towards the door. A travel agent sugar-freak telling Bryce McCarson where to go. “Boy, I said leave. Move, hop, jump, sprint, fly…do whatever it is you do but get the hell away from my sister before I send you on a one-way plane to Timbuktu!”
Those distant green eyes don’t leave her for a moment, but when they do and they land on me, I look away for my own sanity.
“Okay, Elaine.” He scoffs, pushing out his chair. “I wasn’t here to talk to you anyway.”
“My name is Helena and good riddance!”
As Bryce stomps towards the exit, Marcus groans. There’s fury written on his face, one I failed to see when they initially stepped in. “Why couldn’t you just let it go?”
“Let it go? How can you seriously say that?” Helena hisses. “Did you not hear what he did to my sister?”
Marcus leaves the questions unanswered and bids us a quick goodbye.
Breathe.
“Hell yeah, ain’t nobody speaks to my baby sister like that!”
“I appreciate it, but I could’ve handled it. I don’t want this to lead to yet another thing Bryce gets hung up on about me. It’s not the best look stepping forward whenever he does return to work.”
“He deserved it! Anyway, I’m going to the bathroom.”
Weston glances up from his homework the moment she leaves. “Who was that other guy?”
Merciful Vows: A Bittersweet Second Chance Romantic Suspense (The Giannotti World Book 1) Page 22