Covet (Beautiful Sinner Series Book 2)

by Elena M. Reyes

  “Your head on my mantle.” And just as I predicted, he takes off toward the rooms upstairs, slamming a door closed behind him as the three of us shoot out in different directions.

  Archie goes toward the back and out the door.

  Callum to the front with his weapon drawn.

  And I take my time walking up the stairs. Slowly. Without a single ounce of haste.

  At the top of the landing, I turn to the left and turn the handle. It’s not locked, and I don’t waste my time. The next room is the same, but the third one is the key to finding the slimy fuck.

  One kick and it flies open, the cheap wood splintering and flying throughout the room as my eyes land on his huddled form in a corner. He has another gun in his shaky and uninjured hand, pointing at me with the fear of God in his eyes.

  “I’ll shoot.”

  “Go ahead,” I say and take another few steps in his direction. “It’s you or me at this point.”

  “What do you want?”

  “And there’s the billion-pound question: what do I want?” Scratching my jaw with the barrel of my gun, I continue my walk. Coming closer. Cornering him. “Money, I have. Power is mine. However, there is one thing...”

  “I don’t know you...you...you break into my home and shoot my brother-in-law. Threaten me.” That trembling hand brings the gun up a little higher and he aims it at my head. “Do you have any idea who I am? What I can do to you?”

  There’s a small wooden chair in the corner of the room and I grabbed it without fear, flipping it around to straddle the seat. Then, I eye him. Just stare from my place near the end of the bed, and as the seconds tick by, his nervousness becomes more pronounced.

  “Ask me who I am.” Not a question. I’m challenging his bullshit notion of being an alpha in a game where he barely knows how to wipe his arse. “Ask me my fucking name, Felix De La Vega.”

  “Who are—” He’s cut off by my bullet to his kneecap. “Motherfuck!”

  “Does the name Casper Jameson ring any bells, Felix?”

  Felix’s face is ashen and his eyes are wide; the anger from before is still there, but now the predominant emotion is fear. “No. No. No.”

  “Si. Si. Si, motherfucker,” I mimic his pathetic tone. “And would you like to tell me why or how you remember my name?”

  “I-I took on a—”

  “A job that is going to cost you your life, Vega.” Standing from my seat, I kick it out of my way as I make my way over and crouch down in front of him. His finger twitches as I do, and his gun goes off, shooting me in the arm. It’s a clean entry and exit; I don’t flinch. Instead, I bring my face closer to his with my shitty grin firmly in place. “You’re the man Nico Savino came to when looking for a trusted contract killer. True or false.”

  “True,” he whimpers out as I dig the barrel of my gun into the wound on his leg.

  “And you gave him Mauricio’s information?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you know both men well?”

  “I do...please stop.”

  “Okay.” I pull back and he lets out a breath of relief. “For now.”

  “For now? What are you—”

  “We’re going on a little trip, you and I.”

  22

  “I’M GLAD YOU came, Roe,” my father says as I step into the all-black Denali SUV outside of the Boston airport. He’s sitting in the back as always while two of his men are up front, and I breathe a sigh of relief to see Dominic isn’t one of them. “It’s good to see you.”

  “Good to see you too.” Pulling my phone out of my small purse, I check once more to see if I have any missed calls or messages. There isn’t, and it makes me sad that I’ve come to expect it. It’s been two months since our last call; a Skype date where he was distracted and after five minutes of stilted conversation, was called back to work. Then, there’s the last few messages; sporadic at best. They’ve been short and basic.

  I couldn’t even come to him with my concern over the anonymous text I received. You can’t talk to someone who just isn’t there, and I’m thanking my lucky stars that nothing came of it because there’s no one to turn to. All I have is my gun and an accurate aim to depend on.

  Heck, I don’t even trust the man sitting beside me all that much—if anything, his visit is a test to see if we can ever have a normal relationship of any sort.

  But Casper and I; we’re missing the element of heat that makes me feel alive.

  His mind just isn’t with me. He’s obsessed with vengeance.

  Doing something that even though I hate the separation it’s created; I understand. Truly do.

  Losing his mother the way he did, violently and cruelly, would do that to a person. Casper is out to find those responsible, and all I can do is be supportive and wait. Understand. Because if the shoe was on the other foot, I would expect the same as I hunt down the animal responsible.

  I am my father’s daughter, and forgiveness is a concept I struggle with. More so if you hurt someone I love.

  The traffic at this early hour is heavy and the drivers in a hurry, cutting each other off while others curse and make hand gestures in a lewd fashion. Goes to show you that no matter where you are in the world, rush-hour traffic sucks and brings the worst out in people. “Where are we off to first?”

  “You just got here, kid. No rush.”

  “Really?” Because this man is not known for being laid back.

  “Yeah.” He chuckles, making a show of silencing his cell phone. “How about we get some breakfast and then go to Salem. You haven’t been in ages and the weather’s nice out.”

  “Only if we can go to The Friendly Toast for breakfast.”

  “Done.”

  “Thank you.” I smile at him, really excited about going to the place Ali talked about after her visit last Halloween. “It comes highly recommended and it’s waffles. What’s not to love?”

  Dad looks at me then, his expression softer than I ever remember seeing. “Believe it or not, your happiness means everything to me, Aurora. And while I’ve been shit at showing you this in the past, I plan to remedy that.”

  I don’t reply to his statement and he sits back, following my lead. Maybe we can talk more another day, but for now I just want to relax a bit, eat, and spend some time with him where I’m not hurtling reproaches and he’s not demanding that I do as he pleases.

  For once, I just want to be his daughter and he my father with no anger on either side.

  Where are you? ~Casper

  It’s the message I found once dressed this morning after going to bed with a throbbing headache. A headache that’s ever-present and won’t be getting any better until I put an end to the hot mess I currently find myself in. Because this is exactly what I thought it to be.

  True to his word, Matteo kept all talk of business nonexistent for the first forty-eight hours. It was nice. Felt almost normal as we hung out and did things that I never thought we’d do together. Even his security detail made sure to keep a distance—to not disturb—as we reconnected, and I grew at ease with the idea of spending time here. With staying at his home instead of the hotel I’d booked prior to my arrival.

  Also, doing something as simple as visiting the Salem Witch Museum and then walking the downtown area afterwards made me realize that a part of me wants him in my life. I’m not fully sure to what capacity and if I can ever depend on him, but I want him there.

  The third day was completely different, though. The man I’ve been expecting made a very memorable appearance…

  “You want me to what?” I seethe, gripping onto the chair’s armrest and digging my fingernails into the leather. It’s the only thing keeping me in place. It’s preventing me from hurtling things across the conference room and at his salt-peppered head. “No.”

  “Just calm down, Roe. It’s not that big of a deal and –”

  “Christ, something is very wrong with you. How could you even begin to think I’d consider this idiocy? That I want any part in your s
cheme!”

  “You have more of a choice than I ever did, Aurora. More than my father did…please…just consider what I am putting on the table.”

  “So, let me get this right…” A sardonic laugh escapes as I begin to tap my fingernails on the large wooden table, a long one where he’s smart enough to sit on the opposite end with his PowerPoint presentation that must’ve taken him all night to prepare. “Either I step up and take over as boss, or find a husband who will? Did I sum that up correctly?”

  “You make it sound—”

  “Archaic?” I finish for him, eyes narrowed. “Because what you’re proposing is the same bull crap that took you from us. A marriage of convenience to some random man I’ve never so much as met before.”

  “Dominic isn’t a stranger. You’ve met him in London and he’s a great man. A dependable asset who knows the ins and outs of my company and day-to-day activities. He’d be a great husband if you choose to go this route, and who knows, maybe someday you might even fall in love. All is possible if you give it a chance.” Matteo’s sales pitch is completely in the tank after this.

  Had he not said that name. Offered him to me like some prized stallion.

  I’m done.

  “No,” I say and stand up, gathering my purse from beside me. “The answer will always be a no. I’m not you, and I’ll never play this game.”

  “Do you have a problem with him? Is there something I’m not aware of?”

  “How well do you know him?” I counter, raising my brow.

  “He’s been with me for years. Came highly recommended by a family friend of Samantha’s.”

  “I don’t like him.” Plain and simple.

  “What did he do?” Matteo asks, his tone now serious. Worried.

  “He’s pushy and rude and quite honestly, I have no interest in the man. That, and there’s something about him that doesn’t quite sit well with me. Like his anger when I—”

  “Okay. I get it,” he interrupts, rubbing a hand down his face in frustration without letting me finish. “We can shelve the Dominic subject for the moment, but don’t ignore the other half of my proposition, Roe. I also said you could take over on your own and find a husband to stand beside you within the time frame of a year. Find him on your own while I expand the Conte House to an international level.”

  “Your help isn’t needed.”

  “It was your mother’s dream to do so.”

  A low blow and I bristle, gripping onto the wooden edge so hard my knuckles turn white. “Her dream was to love and grow old with you, Dad.” My barb is just as sharp and it cuts him deep, the immediate flinch as if I’ve slapped him the perfect tell. “Something of which you will never know…to be with someone who holds your heart, and I will not follow in your footsteps. I’ve met someone—”

  “Who?”

  “That’s none of your concern.”

  “You’re my daughter and I have the right to ask. To make sure he’s good enough.”

  “For me or your precious family affairs?”

  “You always come first,” he hisses, slamming a hand down on the folder in front of him. “You’ve always come first.”

  “Bullshit.” I don’t believe that. He’s never proven so.

  “Just answer me this much?” His tone softer now, but I can still detect his own anger beneath the surface. “Are you happy with him? Does he treat you right?”

  “My world is bright when I’m with him.” And that’s all I will give him. Because the king of give and inch and he’ll take a mile would make things difficult if he knew who I’m seeing. To be honest, I’m surprised Casper hasn’t brought it up after pulling the file on me. Maybe he just doesn’t care. But my father is different in that sense and will think it somehow leads back to him. That he’ll use me to get to him. “This is also where I’m warning you not to interfere if you want me in your life. This is where I draw the line.”

  Instead of the reaction I’m expecting, of demands, Dad just smiles and nods. “Okay.”

  “Okay?” I raise a brow, not buying it.

  “I’ll drop it for now. Maybe we both need to rethink our approach.”

  “The answer will still be no tomorrow.” Declaring that my third option, I walk over to him and kiss his cheek in a show of mild affection and then walk out without looking back. Knowing that it’s best if I book my ticket back home for the following night.

  The phone in my hand goes off, and it’s my second alarm. It’s fifteen minutes past eleven and I need to get a move on. I promised to meet him at his central office in the heart of downtown Boston, a large building near the center that is recognizable by all that see it.

  Because not all Cancio businesses are illicit.

  Because his money is not all dirty.

  My father has two great passions in his life: power and real estate. He dominates both.

  The man is also known for being a real estate mogul with properties, high-rise towers all across the US and a few abroad. It’s one of the reasons why nothing has ever really been pinned on him. He’s too good. Too smart. He knows too many people in high places who are always willing to help him.

  “Just message him back,” I mutter under my breath as I pull Casper’s text back to the screen, reading it for the tenth time since finding it. It came in sometime during the early morning hours and along with it, there was one missed call a few minutes prior. Nothing else. No voicemail to let me know if something is wrong. If he is okay. Where are you? “He would know if he called.”

  But that’s what we’ve come down to since the last time we were together; a here and there that I hate. I feel disconnected from him, and enough is enough. Considering the time difference between London and Boston, my fingers fly across the screen to reply, but I’m stopped from hitting send by a knock on the door of my room.

  Thinking it’s the estate manager with some sort of message from my father— a cancellation—I rush to open the door and it’s a mistake. The kind that makes your skin crawl and breathing speed up slightly. “How can I help you, Dominic?”

  “May I come in?” he asks instead of answering, trying to step around me, but I block his path and keep him on the other side of the threshold. I don’t want him inside my room. I don’t want him near me.

  “No.” There’s something about this man that rubs me wrong. A gut feeling that makes me cautious. “Whatever you need to discuss can be said downstairs, and I’ll meet you in the living room in ten minutes.”

  A flash of annoyance crosses his face, but it disappears just as quickly and is replaced by a slick smile. “Do I make you uncomfortable, Aurora?”

  “Not at all.”

  “I think I do.”

  “Good for you.” If he thinks I’ll back down, he’s got another thing coming. “Now, wait for me downstairs and we’ll speak then.”

  “Maybe I don’t want to leave. Maybe I want to be closer.” Dominic takes a step forward and I do the same, not giving him the opportunity he seeks. At once, the harsh scent of his cologne infiltrates my nostrils, making me want to sneeze. He smells nothing like Casper. Nothing like the woodsy scent mixed with his natural essence that makes my knees weak. “Maybe I’d like to take you to dinner tonight and get to know you better.”

  Even upset with him, I miss the jerk. Can’t deny it.

  “I’ve already explained that I’m seeing—”

  “Casper Jameson isn’t good enough for you, Aurora.”

  Everything within me freezes, and my hands ball into tight fists beside me. I’m angry and uncomfortable and worried. It reminds me of those messages I received. Of their emphasis on my relationship with Casper.

  Messages I’ve pushed to the far back of my mind as the sender hasn’t made another move. Messages I’m yet to tell the man I’m supposed to be with about since he’s never around. Not here for me like I knew deep down would happen.

  “How the...” I’m seething, almost shaking in my indignation “...why the hell are you concerning yourself with my perso
nal business? Who asked you to?”

  “It’s a personal choice.”

  “Is it, now? Or are you doing my father’s bidding like a good little boy?” I challenge, arching a brow while crossing my arms over my chest. A move he follows with his eyes, licking his bottom lip, and I clear my throat. “Eyes up here, jerk, and answer my question. Did my father put you up to this?”

  “No, but I doubt he’d approve of that asshole fucking his little girl.”

  “Leave.”

  “There’s no need for this hostility, Aurora.” Dominic’s eyes are still on my chest, and when I clear my throat in annoyance, he just shrugs as if to explain that he can’t help himself. “We got off on the wrong foot, but I want to change that. Just give me a chance to—”

  “No.” I have no interest in him. Not going to beat around the bush. “And I suggest you back off. That man who you claim isn’t good enough is a jealous bastard and doesn’t take kindly to others sniffing where they don’t belong.”

  “Really?” He laughs, and the sound sends a shiver down my spine. “Is this the same man who’s been ignoring you? Who’s left you all alone and defenseless?”

  “Get out or—”

  “I will if you agree to one date.”

  “You will because just like my father...” I lean in close and make a show of batting my lashes in a dramatic fashion, grabbing the door handle while his attention is on my face “...I have an amazing shot and I carry. Don’t test my patience, Dominic.”

  With that, I slam it in his face and engage the lock.

  From this side, I can just make out his low curses and then the sound of him walking away. And it’s when I’m sure that he’s gone that I breathe out a sigh of relief. For a second my shoulders drop and tension evaporates, but then on my next inhale it all comes rushing back in a chaotic tsunami of emotions. My mind swirls with questions. My body shakes as the hidden fear of the last few minutes makes its appearance.

  However, one thing stands out above the rest:

  Why does Dominic know about Casper and his absence?

  Then, there’s a scarier thought: Why does he care?