by Anthology
Madison
Disappointment shone on his face as she touched his hand. He seemed deep in thought and her gaze dropped to her watch. “I’m sorry. I’ve been talking your ear off. I’d better go before it starts to snow.” Madison rose to her feet and clutched her purse to her side. They’d had such a nice time. At least, she had. Being in his arms had her tingling in areas that hadn’t been tingly in a long time. Had she said something wrong? The man came from the windy city and probably thought she was a country bumpkin. She’d probably bored him to death and he’d been trying to think of a way out.
“Wait. I’m sorry, I thought of some troubling news. Let me walk with you and finish our talk.” He also stood and again she felt his comforting hand on her lower back. “I could use some fresh air.”
Instead of walking to her car, they walked along the shore of the icy lake. It had snowed during the ball and about an inch already covered the ground. White fluffy flakes still floated down. Again, she couldn’t help but think about what a perfect place this would be for events.
“Are you cold?”
Her cheeks pinked. “Oh, a little. Just my hands, that is.” She rubbed them together and he took one in his.
“I’ll keep them warm.” In an instant her fingers heated and warmth spread through her limbs.
All thoughts seemed to disappear from her head but she needed to ask something. “What was the bad news you were thinking of? Is it something I can help with?”
“The daughter of a friend of mine has disappeared.”
Her breathing slowed. “I know someone who’s missing also. It’s heartbreaking.”
“Is her name Andrea?” He spoke quietly, his gaze never leaving hers. Long, strong fingers gently entwined with her own.
“Yes.”
“Do you have any idea what might have happened?” Roman squeezed her hand.
“No, but I worry her former fiancé might have something to do with it.”
“How so?” His eyebrows furrowed.
“She purchased her dresses from me. I didn’t care for the man.” A shiver rippled through her and it wasn’t from the cold.
“Oh?”
Madison pinched her lips together before speaking. “I got a bad vibe from him. He was domineering.” Thinking back on her dealings with him, the man had been terrifying. “I got the feeling that if things didn’t go his way there would be trouble.” What had Andrea seen in him in the first place?
“Did he ever threaten her or you?”
She shook her head and tried to concentrate on the Christmas lights decorating the homes around the lake. “No, but I know he abused her. When she came for fittings, I noticed bruises on her skin.” Madison faced him again. “I finally got her to admit they were from him.” Tears threatened her eyes. “I begged her to go to the police and call the wedding off.” She trembled as Andrea’s purple and blue blemishes flashed in her head.
This time he let go of her hand and placed his arm over her shoulder. “You did the right thing. Hopefully we will find her soon.”
“You are looking for her too?”
“Yes, I have some men around asking questions and a friend on the police force.”
She sighed and briefly laid her head on his shoulder. It felt good to have someone to comfort her, if only for a short time. Andrea’s disappearance had weighed more on her than she thought. What if it wasn’t Diego and there was a murderer in their midst? Neither was a good thing. A knot settled in her stomach and the rest of their walk was spent in silence.
Regretfully, their time together would end soon. He gave her Valentina’s card to set up a meeting with her next week. Firenza’s would be ideal for a bridal fashion show next month, for all the new brides getting rings during the holidays.
“Thanks for accompanying me. I had a wonderful time.” She chatted, hoping to spend a few more minutes with Roman. “Do you live near here?” Maybe they would be able to meet up again and talk about something more than work.
“My driver, Arlo, is waiting to take me to my place on the lake.” Roman nodded toward the black SUV that sat near the edge of the parking lot. The linebacker-sized guy from the coffee shop stepped out of the car and closed the door. The hem of his long black coat waved in the evening air. Another man sat in the driver’s seat. The vehicle and men both stood out from the usual sights she saw in town. The reason why escaped her. Sure, there were lots of SUVs and men, but something wasn’t quite the same.
“My car is right over there.” Her gray four-door sat alone in the distant parking lot, isolated except for a van and two college-aged men she recognized as waiters from the ball. They were engaging in a snowball fight. One narrowly missed the head of the other with a large white missile. The young men’s laughter broke the silence of the night.
Roman accompanied her in the direction of the parking lot. Their footsteps crunched on the fresh snow. The moon poked in and out of the cloudy night sky. He held tight to her hand as if worried she might slip on the snowy ground. She already mourned the loss of it when he would finally let go. Madison felt like Cinderella right before midnight. The tick-tock of a clock in her head counted off the seconds before she’d return to her humdrum life. It was time to say goodnight. He stopped by a large oak tree on the edge of the parking lot. Did he want some privacy?
“I have to go. Thanks again for the wonderful evening.” Madison took a step but he held tight. Her heart skipped a beat as he slowly pulled her toward him.
“I want to see you again.” She could see his breath when he spoke.
“To talk business?”
“No, for a date.”
Her heart leaped. “I’d like that.” A big smile spread across her face.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispered along with some unknown words in Italian. He lifted his free hand to smooth a lock of hair that had blown in her face. It had to be below freezing but she didn’t feel the chill.
“You’re not so bad yourself,” she managed to whisper, and Roman laughed.
What a stupid thing to say. When had she become as giddy as a teenager? She was thirty years old but sure wasn’t acting like it. His buddies in the car were probably having a good laugh.
He leaned closer.
She may be giddy but she wasn’t stupid. To hell with tomorrow, she would enjoy tonight.
His lips touched hers. Suddenly her heart beat faster than it had on the dance floor. Despite the cold, she was melting inside. He pulled her tighter and deepened the kiss. Roman tasted like brandy and peppermint. A strange combination that was better than anything that had ever touched her lips before.
The kiss deepened and a moan rumbled in her throat. Suddenly his mouth was gone. Roman smiled and stared into her eyes. When had her arms become wrapped about his neck?
“I love a woman with passion.” He nipped her neck and she finally got a chance to thread her fingers through his hair. It was smooth and she softened into the heat of his body, with no thought…only feeling. She wasn’t one to be making out in the middle of the night with some man she just met, but it felt right.
He pulled her closer and the evidence of his desire was hard against her stomach. The delicious assault on her lips continued and there was no way she would put an end it to. Her ears burned and her pulse raced.
Cold attacked her mouth when the warmth of his lips left hers. His brown eyes were dark as coal and he rested his forehead against hers. “I’ll call you.” Roman kissed her again and walked her to her car.
“Thanks again.” Madison beamed as she settled into the seat and turned the key. She drove several miles before the heat kicked in but she hadn’t noticed, her thoughts busy with the events of the night.
Not expecting there to be much more snow, she parked her car outside her home and hummed a tune as she strolled up the front steps.
Out of nowhere, a white cloth was pressed to her face. Madison fought but the man was too strong. She couldn’t breathe, her eyes watered, and her limbs went weak.
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nbsp; When she awoke, Madison realized she was in a van and her hands and feet were tied. How long they drove, she didn’t know. It could have been hours or mere minutes before they stopped. Moving her head was agony but she finally saw the driver. A lump lodged in her throat. It was Diego.
Madison
She jerked in bed but couldn’t move. Rough hands pulled her to sitting. “Wake up,” Diego spat. Madison screamed and huddled back in the bed which was little more than a dirty cot. “I have to go see to Andrea but then I’ll be back.” His face contorted in a twisted smile. The man was insane. Why had she not noticed it before? “Then…” He grabbed her jaw in his clammy hands. “You and I will have a little fun.” Vomit threatened to rise and she struggled to get out of his hold. When he finally let go, she was on auto pilot. Her hand quickly connected with his face. The loud slap echoed in the room.
Diego raised his fist. Terrified, she cowered from the expected blow but it never came. A sick smile crossed his face. “We’ll have time for that later. Don’t worry, I’ll take it easy on you.” He took a step back before adding, “The first time.” With that parting threat, he was gone.
Trying to get her wits about her, Madison glanced around the room for a weapon, or even a clue as to where she was. Rubbing her arms to keep warm, she tried to concentrate. The sound of birds fluttered somewhere in the rafters. Was she in a barn? Getting to her feet, she dragged herself to the doorway but could go no farther. One foot had been chained to the wall.
The room had probably been used for tack, as a few old saddles hung on one wall. The amount of dust and spider webs indicated that it hadn’t been used in quite some time. At least he’d left a small bottle of water on top of a shelf. Madison cracked the seal and took a much needed drink.
Leaning against the wall, hopelessness took over. Did her mother even know she was gone? The shop was closed on Sunday, so no one would even notice she wasn’t around until Monday morning. What about Roman? He said he would call, but if she didn’t answer, would he give up? People were searching for Andrea, but were they looking for her too? With a heavy heart, she took one last look around for a big stick or tool of some kind but there was nothing. The room was empty. She had no clue where her purse was, so she had no phone.
She had to conserve her energy. On wobbly legs, she staggered back to the unappealing cot. Whatever was on the cloth he covered her nose with last night had done a job on her. Her last thoughts before slipping off to sleep were of Roman. She’d finally found a man she liked only to be stolen away by a man she hated.
Roman
“Where the hell is she?” Roman yelled into the phone. It was his fault no one had followed her home. It was sloppy and careless on his part. He had a man guarding Madison’s mom’s house but not hers. He’d floated on air thinking of her kisses only to come crashing to the floor when he remembered Diego would be after her, not her mother. When Arlo arrived at her home, her car was there but Madison had vanished. There had been a scuffle in the snow and her purse lay near the front door. His men were looking everywhere, but so far there was no sign.
Roman clenched his fist. He’d let his guard down long enough for Diego to slip in unseen and take his woman away—his woman. He tossed the phone on the desk and paced the room. Yeah, he was as crazy as Diego for thinking that some woman he danced with and talked to for a few hours was now his, but he couldn’t help but feel they had a connection. A relationship he wanted to further pursue.
It had been a long time since he’d met a woman who hadn’t bored him after ten minutes. She didn’t know who he was, either—an added bonus. Some chicks liked the thrill they got from sleeping with someone they thought of as a killer, a monster, a member of a mafia family. Then there were the others who were only interested in his ample bank account.
She had her own business and dreams and never once asked him anything that had him question whether she was a gold digger or thrill seeker. His head throbbed and he pinched his nose with his fingers. Fatigue set in. He hadn’t slept in hours.
“Dammit. What the hell’s taking them so long?” He blew out his cheeks and wore down the carpet some more.
The cell phone rang and he sprang for it. “What’ve you got?”
They’d found Madison, alone and unharmed in a barn out in the countryside. “I’ll be right there. When you find Diego, bring him to me.” Relief battled it out with the fury roaring through his veins. “Keep him alive. That bastard is mine.”
Madison
Madison awoke to an angry voice coming from the other room. Peeling herself off the dingy cot, she stood and tried to shake some circulation back into her limbs. Diego screamed and she jumped. Last night he’d kidnapped her. This morning he’d made threats to kill her, yet she was unharmed and her leg was free. She was also alive.
“Where is she?” It was Roman, his voice harsh and threatening. Had he come to save her?
On shaky legs she staggered over to the open door and collapsed against it. A group of men circled around her abductor. Diego had been tied to a chair. Suddenly Roman’s fist smashed the side of the bound man’s face. Diego’s head whipped to the side and a few of his teeth flew to the floor.
“I’ll only ask one more time.” The menacing sound of his voice sent a chill down her spine. “Where is she?”
“I’m here.” All the men in the room turned. Madison weakly pushed away from the wall.
“I got this, Romeo.” In an instant, Arlo was by her side. He pulled out a folding chair and motioned for her to sit. Romeo—the mobster called Romeo? Months ago, Stephanie had mentioned a mafia connected man who was coming to town. A cold-hearted mobster who had a reputation with the ladies as well.
Roman’s dark eyes met hers. It was a side of him she hadn’t seen before. He was all business, with no pleasure and no compassion. His crisp white shirt, blood stained and the sleeves rolled up. A shoulder holster and gun completed his attire.
“Where’s Andrea?” Roman was in Diego’s face.
“Andrea deserves what she got. How dare she turn me down?” Diego spit blood as he spoke. “That bitch talked her out of it.” He didn’t and couldn’t point with his hands tied behind his back but everyone in the room knew who he meant. Madison’s spine stiffened, and Arlo placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
With a deadly stare, Roman kicked Diego’s chair and it fell backward. Diego’s skull smacked as it connected with the hard floor.
Madison jumped at the sickening sound and studied Roman as he paced. She’d hoped of making him her boyfriend, yet right now there was nothing boyish or friendly about him. Just hours before, she’d prayed for him to find her and he had.
A cellphone sounded from Roman’s back pocket and he held it to his ear. His face relaxed. Andrea had been found. Alive. The tension in the room eased. Diego would go to jail and the nightmare would be over with.
Roman faced her across the room. A fierce expression crossed his face. Pulling the gun from the holster, he marched over to Diego. A shadow crossed her view as Arlo stepped between them. The loud blast of a gunshot echoed. She screamed and sprang to her feet. Arlo’s hands gripped her shoulders but she could see anyway. Roman stood above Diego, the gun still pointed at the now dead man’s head.
“Call the cleaner and get rid of this mess.” Roman put the gun to his side and headed her way. It was the last thing she remembered before fainting.
Taking a deep breath, she pulled the blankets higher and rubbed the slumber from her eyes. Yawning, she opened her eyes and bolted upright. The room and bed weren’t hers. She swung her feet to the side and sat up. Once the dizziness subsided, she wandered into the nearby bathroom. At least she recognized the reflection in the mirror, although she appeared a little rough around the edges.
She was still dressed in her gown from the ball. The hem of the gown couldn’t be fixed, not that she would ever want to wear it again. When she returned to the bedroom, bits and pieces of what happened had resurfaced. The ball, her romantic walk with Rom
an, their kiss, Diego’s abduction, and Roman killing the man point blank. That fact alone should have her running for the hills, but surprisingly, it didn’t.
Roman had brought her here. Madison remembered a physician examining her and proclaiming she needed some rest. Since when did doctors make house calls? They’d called him Romeo. He was the mobster Stephanie warned her about. Steph had to have known who he was when she dragged her from the coffee shop that morning. If only she’d told her then, but they were both worried about Andrea and busy with work.
A knock at the door disturbed her thoughts and an older woman entered carrying a tray.
“Good morning. We heard you had quite the scare last night.” She set the food filled platter on a nearby table and the hearty fragrance of coffee, cinnamon toast, and bacon brought her near.
“My head hurts a little.” Madison pulled out a chair and bit into the sweet toast. The warm bread oozed butter onto her tongue.
“I’ll let Mr. Caponelli know you’re awake.” The woman patted her shoulder as she walked by. At least that explained where she was, with the mafia man Roman Caponelli, and this was his house.
“Thank you,” Madison managed to get out before taking a long sip of java. The caffeine instantly eased her headache and snapped her awake. Settling back in the soft chair, she managed to take in her surroundings. The bedroom was masculine with warm colors and dark wood. Did it belong to the man of the house?
Again, knocking sounded from the door, but this time it was the man in question who entered. “How are you feeling?” He took the chair opposite her and poured himself a cup of coffee.
“I think I’ll live,” she joked, but he didn’t laugh.
“The thought of that man touching you makes me wish I’d have skinned him alive before killing him.”
She shuddered at both the thought of Diego’s touch and of the man being desquamated.