Adored: Book 1 (The Beloved Series)

by MJ Masucci

  “I’m sorry. This is different. I love you. I’m not some jerk that will hurt your feelings about sex. Nina, would it frighten you if I said you were my soul mate?”

  “No, I feel that way, too. I told you that you’re my missing puzzle piece.”

  “One day, we’ll be together permanently.”

  She eyed him suspiciously, “Julian, what do you mean by that?”

  “Do I have to spell it out for you?”

  “No, I think I understand but I know what everyone’s reaction will be. I’m too young; we don’t know each other very well.”

  “I’m not saying marry tomorrow, but I am saying you’re it for me. I don’t want anyone else. I want to show you what you’ve missed. We can travel and go places.”

  Julian actually felt excited by the prospect of having a family again. He glanced at the clock on the mantel; it was late, just before midnight.

  “I think we should go to bed. It’s late.”

  He got up and helped Nina off the carpet then they headed for the bedroom. He felt himself twitch when she removed her robe and slipped under the covers naked; in turn, he removed his clothing before getting into bed. She placed her head on his chest, stroking the ridges of his abdominals and listening to the steady beat of his heart.

  Chapter 11

  They periodically made love throughout the night. When Julian opened his eyes, the sun was high in the sky and it was nearly noon. Nina was curled up against his side and he gently shook her awake.

  “Sweet pea, it’s almost noon.”

  She mumbled something incomprehensible.

  “What?”

  “I’m so tired. Can we just stay in bed all day?”

  “I wanted to start painting again. I need my muse to pose for me.”

  “But your studio is cold.”

  “I have heat up there.”

  He nuzzled her neck with his nose, “I really enjoyed last night.”

  “Me too. I need a hot shower before I pose for you.”

  “Go right ahead.”

  As Nina slid out of bed, the tune “My Way” could be heard coming from her cell phone.

  “Shit, that’s my father.”

  She ran to the living room and dug her phone out of her purse. Julian could hear her heated conversation. From the sounds of it, her father was not happy she was spending so much time with Julian. After she hung up, she came into his bedroom, her face full of sadness.

  “He wants me to come home.”

  Julian’s face clouded, “What is his problem with me?”

  “I don’t know, but I aim to find out. I don’t want to leave you.”

  “You won’t unless you plan to fly down the mountain. I need to drive you home.”

  He didn’t realize how wrong he was. As Nina went to get dressed, the long blue car pulled into the driveway. He watched as Lou got out of the driver’s seat and headed for the cabin.

  Julian ran into the bedroom and pulled on a pair of jeans. He was struggling into his t-shirt when Lou knocked at the door. He shoved his feet into a pair of sneakers and went to answer.

  “Where’s Nina,” Lou growled.

  “I’m here,” she said as she breezed out the bedroom door.

  “Let’s go. Your father is waiting for you.”

  Defiantly, she kissed Julian hard on the lips before she walked outside. The last thing he saw was Lou’s smirk through the open driver’s side window as he pulled out of the driveway.

  What the fuck was that all about?

  The day passed and Julian heard nothing from Nina. He texted her and received no response. Worry began to grow from the pit of his stomach, so much that the sandwich he had made sat uneaten on the table.

  As darkness rolled around, he heard a car in his driveway and ran to the door, but his hopes were dashed. Thaddeus Tallman got out of his car and headed for the cabin door.

  Thaddeus or Thad as he liked to be called now was a childhood friend. They had spent many summer days as children hunting frogs in the creek and climbing the large rock outcroppings that lined the twenty-eight acres of the Gennaro property.

  In high school, people often thought they were brothers. Coincidentally, Thad had the same dark hair and smoke gray eyes as Julian, but he was shorter and stockier.

  “Thad, great to see you. Are you on leave?” Julian said as Thad walked up the wooden porch steps.

  “No, been discharged. I’m home for good. Going to work at Dad’s garage. What have you been up to?”

  “Oh, this and that.”

  “Come off it. Mom said you been dating Nina Caro. Are you crazy?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “You know about her father, don’t you? He’s strictly crime boss.”

  “I don’t know if that’s entirely true.”

  “Julian, he is. Has he threatened you yet? Oh and watch for those two thugs she calls brothers, both assholes.”

  “How do you know so much? You’ve been away.”

  “Dad tells me things. They almost busted up his shop when they thought he overcharged Mrs. Caro for a repair. He had to go down the list charge by charge before they agreed the bill was correct. He was plenty pissed they accused him of overcharging, but they scared the shit out of him.”

  “Yeah, I got a little of that yesterday. Tony was eyeballing me when I went to pick Nina up.”

  “Why her? You can have your pick.”

  “Not to sound cliché, but she completes me. I had no intention of getting involved, but I’m in too deep to turn back now.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Seriously. You want a beer?”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  Julian got two beers and they sat outside. He kept checking his phone for any communication from Nina, but there was none. Thad told him about his travels with the Navy.

  “Mom wanted me to ask if you want a puppy.”

  “A puppy? What kind of puppy?”

  “Sheba had puppies. Eagle’s the dad.”

  Eagle and Sheba where the Tallman’s Huskies.

  “You never got them fixed?”

  “Nah, Mom wanted Sheba to have a litter first. So now we got six puppies running around the house. She had eight altogether, but we gave two away.”

  “You know me, Thad, no good with attachments.”

  “What about this girl?”

  “I love her.”

  “That’s not an attachment?”

  “It is, but it’s all new to me.”

  Thad’s phone rang and Julian waited for him to answer.

  “I gotta go. Mom’s got dinner ready. You should come over sometime. She would love to see you.”

  They both stood and Thad shook Julian’s hand before bounding down the steps to his car. He waved to him as he backed out of the driveway. Julian sat back down to drink the rest of his beer and ponder why Nina hadn’t contacted him. What could be so bad?

  For the rest of the night, he was restless. He tried to concentrate on a logo project he’d just started, but it was no use. His mind kept wandering to her. It had been hours since she had left and not a word. Julian turned on the seldom used flatscreen TV over the fireplace and flipped the channels. He was dozing off when his phone buzzed indicating a text. It startled him and he almost dropped it on the floor.

  I’m sorry. I love you, but I can’t see you anymore.

  What the fuck do you mean you can’t see me anymore? Is this a joke?

  Julian, do you think this is easy for me? Just let it be.

  I opened my heart to you. How could you do this to me?

  His heart was breaking into a million pieces. He stared at the incredulous message then let the phone drop to the floor. Julian ran outside and screamed until he was hoarse. He went to his studio and stared at the blank canvas then he prepared to paint.

  Hours went by as he poured his pain onto the canvas. In the early morning, he finally collapsed from exhaustion onto the old leather couch. His hands and clothing were stained with paint.
That’s where Nina found him later that day.

  She caressed his face with her fingers and smoothed his unruly hair off his forehead. He murmured her name several times and his eyes popped open.

  “Is this but a dream I see before me?”

  Her tears dripped onto his face and Julian reached a paint-spattered thumb up to wipe at them.

  “No matter what they say, I can’t do it. I can’t be apart from you.”

  He sat up with a look of concern on his face, “Nina, what did they say about me? You have to tell me.”

  “My father said there are things I don’t know about you, your family. Things that will threaten our relationship and destroy us if they come out. He said it’s better we end it now before it’s too late. I told him it’s already too late, I’ve fallen for you.”

  “I swear I don’t know what he is talking about. I was only seventeen when my family died. Maybe it has something to do with my father’s business, but how does that affect us? I wasn’t involved.”

  “He said your father’s company had some type of business relationship with him and others. That it was shady and dangerous.”

  “I don’t believe that. My father would never do something against the law. How did you get away?”

  “I left. I climbed out the window and ran to Madison’s house. She dislikes you, but knows I love you. She drove me here. They don’t know I’m gone.”

  “Baby, I don’t know if that was a good idea. You have too many people that can hurt me. You should’ve called me.”

  “I have no phone. They made me text you and took it away. My father had a screaming match with my mother. He wants to take me to live with him in Brooklyn where he can watch me. I can’t be away from you; I just can’t.”

  They both turned their heads to the window as they heard a car on the dirt drive below. He peered out and saw her brothers, Lou and Frankie exit the car.

  “Fuck, they’re here. You have to go back with them. We can figure something else out.”

  Julian watched as they went to the cabin and banged on the door. They stood on the porch waiting.

  “Hide me.”

  “Sweet pea, that’s not the way to do it. You have to go with them. They’re coming here now.”

  “Fuck you, Julian. How can you push me away?”

  “There’s a better way than this,” he cried.

  They heard the clomping of shoes as the men ascended the stairs to his studio.

  “She’s up here,” Tony said as he appeared at the top of the stairs with Lou.

  A minute later all four men were staring at the two lovers.

  “You, get to the car,” Lou said as he pointed at Nina.

  “And you, you got some balls taking her from her home.”

  Tony approached Julian and without provocation, struck him in the face causing a geyser of blood to release from his nose. Nina screamed and tried to go to him but Joey pulled her away. For good measure, Tony punched him in the stomach and he doubled over with blood spilling from his mouth and nose.

  Nina’s sobs could be heard on the stairs below as they carried her to the car. Julian lay gasping for air on the floor, his tears mixing with the blood. The car peeled out of his driveway and he was alone.

  He didn’t know how long he lay there nor did he know if he passed out from exhaustion or shock. He came to with the calling of his name. The rich baritone of Thad could be heard below.

  “Thad,” he choked out.

  “Julian? Where the hell are you?”

  “Up here.”

  Thad’s face came into view seconds later.

  “Hey, Juli…what the fuck?” Thad ran to Julian and knelt next to him.

  “What the hell happened?”

  “Fucking Caros. They took her.”

  “Took who?”

  Thad handed him a handkerchief from his back pocket.

  “Nina. They told her we couldn’t see each other anymore. Something about my family, my father had some shady dealings with her father. I don’t believe it.”

  “I told you to be careful. Who did this?”

  “Tony, that piece of shit. They locked her in her room like an animal. She climbed through the window and her friend Madison drove her here.”

  “Madison? Is that her tall brunette friend?”

  “Yeah, you know her?”

  “I think she’s cute.”

  “If you like cobra venom,” he mumbled.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  Thad helped Julian onto the couch. He grabbed one of the rags used for painting and wet it in the small slop sink to help him remove the blood from his face.

  “Thad, what am I going to do? I love her.”

  “Is she really worth it?”

  “More than worth it. Help me into the house; I gotta call Maureen.”

  After Julian cleaned up and put on fresh clothing, he called her.

  “I have about four minutes and before I have to be back on set. So speak fast.”

  He told her what had just transpired.

  “This sounds like a better movie than the one I’m doing.”

  “Be serious, Moey. What the fuck am I going to do without her?”

  “Julian, they just kicked your ass. Maybe you better take a few days and think about this. Is she worth it?”

  “Why does everyone keep asking me that?”

  “Who’s everyone? You only have me.”

  “Thad’s home. He got discharged.”

  “Oh, tell him I said hello. Julian, I hate to cut you short, but I have to go. I’ll call you when I get home. And don’t do anything stupid.”

  He hung up the phone and frowned, “She wasn’t much help. She asked if Nina was worth it. Thad, she’s the one. I need her in my life.”

  “Then you’re going to have to formulate a plan. Maybe you can ask her friend Madison to help you,” Thad crooked his eyebrow at him.

  “This is about me now. We’ll worry about you later even if you think a snake is cute.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because she has the personality of one. You’ll see.”

  Julian didn’t see or hear from Nina for the next several days and he was miserable. Thad found out as much information from Madison as he could. Her father had taken her to his home in Brooklyn. Madison had called several times only to be told she was unavailable to talk.

  “You look like shit,” Thad said when he came to tell him the news on his birthday.

  “Thanks. I feel like shit.”

  Julian’s face looked older than his twenty-seven years. He had deep dark circles under his eyes and he looked gaunt, probably because he hadn’t had a proper meal in days.

  “Why don’t you come over to the house? Mom wants to see you for your birthday.”

  “I can’t. What if she comes?”

  Thad snorted, “It’s not a request.”

  Julian knew what Thad meant. Mrs. Tallman had requested his presence and he better show or she would be at his doorstep.

  “What time is dinner?”

  Thad checked his watch, “Another hour or so, pot roast, your favorite.”

  “I’ll be there. The last thing I want is your Mom coming here to yell at me.”

  “It’ll be good for you. You can see the pups.”

  “Thanks, Thad,” he said as he watched him walk out the door.

  An hour later, he was pulling into the Tallman’s driveway. It was a large white farmhouse with an oversized barn that held their four horses and three cows. The Tallman’s had several acres that bordered the Gennaro property. Every so often one of the horses got loose from the paddock and he found it on his land.

  Mrs. Tallman greeted him at the door. She was a short, heavyset woman with salt and pepper hair, gray eyes and an infectious smile. She hugged him tightly as he entered the house that smelled of apple pie.

  “Thad tells me you have some woman problems.”

  He looked up and narrowed his eyes at Thad who smiled. />
  “Not woman problems, woman’s family problems.”

  “Julian, the Caros are dangerous people. You should move on.”

  “I can’t. I need her.” His eyes began to water and she pulled him against her while Thad discreetly left the room.

  “Then you need to work out whatever problem they have with you.”

  “That’s just it; I don’t know what that problem is. They won’t tell me.”

  Mrs. Tallman seemed to be uncomfortable and gently pushed back, changing the subject.

  “Go wash your hands; dinner is almost ready.”

  He went down the hall and walked by the den where Mr. Tallman was sitting at his desk.

  “Julian?”

  “Mr. Tallman, how are you?”

  “Call me Jesse. You aren’t a little kid anymore. Sit down; I have some things to tell you about the Caros.”

  Minutes later, Julian left the den with a blank look on his face and a knot in his stomach. The information that Jesse had revealed put rage and fear into him. He sat down at the table and gulped an entire glass of wine in seconds. He was silent most of the meal and didn’t notice the Tallmans exchanging worried glances at each other. He declined dessert, his birthday cake, thanked them for dinner and slowly drove back to his cabin.

  When he pulled into the driveway, he noticed the light upstairs in the loft wink off. It hadn’t been on when he left earlier. All the hairs on the back of his neck stood up and a shiver went down his spine. Someone was up there.

  He backed the truck into the garage, got out and grabbed a crowbar he kept on a hook near his workbench. Slowly he ascended the stairs as quietly as he could. When he got to the top, he quickly flicked the light switch. No one was in the room, but the sheet he had thrown over the easel with his latest project was off and lying on the floor.

  “Who the fuck is in here? Show yourself,” his voice cracked.

  “It’s me.”

  He dropped the crowbar on the floor, “Baby, where are you?”

  She came out from the shadow of the storage cabinet where he kept his paints. He ran to her and took her in his arms, holding her tightly.