He Hates Me Not: A Dark Stalker Romance (Hate & Love Duet Book 2)

by Rina Kent

  That day isn’t today — or ever for that fact.

  She’ll always think about running, about leaving.

  I’ll fuck it out of her; I’ll punish her for the way she’s punishing me.

  Maybe then I’ll get rid of the fucking fantasy I have about her belonging to me.

  14

  Georgina

  Something is wrong.

  I know when something is wrong.

  The men come in and out more often. Jasper doesn’t show up for lunch and Enzo doesn’t leave his side.

  It’s always bad when that jerk is around; it’s like he’s the bearer of bad news. From the gossip I managed to extract from Salli, Enzo is a Morelli and while I have no damn clue what that means, apparently it’s something important like the Vitallio name here.

  Besides, Enzo is a businessman in the States. True, he doesn’t give off the killer vibe like Jasper, but he does seem like his own brand of danger. Also, I have no doubt he’d kill me if he finds the chance to.

  Salli said his family was murdered by the Costa men, like Jasper’s. Although the way they lost their family hurts my heart, I can’t believe my father was behind that.

  He was a caring man.

  Lucio would, though. I have no doubt that man is the devil incarnate.

  Back to the present. Ever since Jasper recovered, he’s been having meetings upon meetings. While the cats, Francesco and Salli keep me company, I feel the weight of his loss every time I fall asleep waiting for him.

  I don’t like it.

  The bed is empty and wrong when he’s not here. For someone who spent their entire life sleeping alone, it’s weird that I can’t stand Jasper’s absence anymore.

  Usually, I’d toss and turn until his warmth envelops me from behind and he brushes his lips against my shoulder or the hollow of my neck.

  Today, I decided not to sleep altogether. I’ve been reading through Francesco’s textbooks. Apparently, I’m primary school level in Italian according to the little guy.

  He keeps telling his grandma that I speak funny. He’s the worst teacher, either laughing or grumbling when I don’t get things right.

  When I was with Mom, I don’t recall her speaking Italian with me since she was American. Dad did, though. I remember him trying to teach me words and saying things like I should be proud of my origins.

  A pang of sadness hits my chest at the memory. Dad was so affectionate toward Mom and me, how come he left me in that school? How come he’s letting Lucio hunt me down?

  The door opens and I startle, realizing I haven’t been focusing on the book.

  Jasper comes inside quietly and stops when he sees me. He’s in his usual pants and shirt, but it’s like he gets more attractive by the day.

  Seeing him lead all those men and bringing these families together gives him a different type of aura than the heartless, lonely killer he was in Chicago.

  Not that he’s not heartless anymore, because as much as the men respect him, some of them fear him and his background. But now, he has priorities and he’s using his skills to teach the younger teens how to defend themselves and their families.

  Before, he was cold without an aim, but now he’s a leader and it’s hot to see him belong somewhere after decades of being a lone wolf.

  “You’re still awake?” he asks in a tone that implies he didn’t want me to be.

  I knew something was wrong.

  “Why?” I pretend to focus on the book. “Are you avoiding me or something?”

  “That will only happen in your dreams, Pet. You’re the one who likes the avoiding game.” His voice is husky, tired, and there’s this urge that beats inside me to stand up, run my fingers over his stubble and kiss him.

  “Well, I’m not the one who disappears early in the morning and returns late at night.” I clamp my lips, hating how hurt I sound.

  Jasper crouches in front of my chair, so I’m staring down at him, a gleam shines in the depth of his eyes. “Did you miss me, Pet?”

  “I did not.” I stare away.

  He grabs me by the collar and forces me to focus back on him. “Are you having withdrawals because I haven’t owned you like my little slut in a few days?”

  My thighs clench, but I refuse to answer.

  “Are you having withdrawals, Pet?”

  I am. But not because of the sex. It’s because he’s not paying attention to me anymore. I’ve always been the center of his life in Chicago. He stalked me, murdered for me, inserted himself into my life until he became an indispensable part of my existence. But lately, his men and his work have become his sole priority.

  “What is it?” he asks when I remain quiet.

  “Nothing.” I let my hand roam over his face. I feel like I need to get my fill of it.

  He leans into my touch, brushing his lips into the palm of my hand, and making me sigh in contentment. I never thought these moments would be possible with someone like Jasper. The quiet, the tenderness, and even safety.

  God. I’m getting too engrossed in this man.

  “Be a good girl for me when I leave, okay?” he murmurs, still kissing my hand.

  My movements freeze. “Y-you’re leaving? Where? When? For how long?”

  “You don’t need to know where I’m going. I’ll leave in half an hour and I might stay for a few days.”

  “You’re going back to the States, aren’t you?” I release him and stand up, letting Francesco’s book to fall on the ground.

  “If you must know, yes.”

  “Why?” My voice sounds spooked to my own ears. The thought that he’s going back to hurt my dad keeps playing on a distorted loop in my head.

  He rises to his feet. “I need to take care of Lucio once and for all.”

  “But he got you shot the last time.”

  “Which means he won’t this time. Don’t worry; we have a solid plan.”

  I shake my head frantically. The images of him bloody and unconscious barge into my head like a long flashback and I feel like I’m going to throw up. “Don’t go.”

  “I have to, Petal. If I don’t, Lucio will come to Sicily and I can’t put you or the people here in danger. I’ve been around Lucio my entire life, and I know he doesn’t stop. He wants us both dead and he will do everything in his power to accomplish that.”

  “Then take me with you.” I clutch his hand. “I want to talk to Dad. He’ll help.”

  “Fuck. No.”

  “Jasper…”

  He pulls his hand from mine. “That’s off the table. Lucio will rip your heart out the moment he realizes you’re Paolo’s long lost heir.”

  “But—”

  “No.” He turns to the closet and starts throwing clothes into a travel bag.

  I barge in front of him, folding my arms over my chest. “So you can put yourself in danger but I can’t?”

  “Exactly. Besides, I did this for a living. It’s different for you.”

  “I can take care of myself. Also, you can’t keep me away from my family forever.”

  “Watch me.”

  “For the last time, I’m begging you to let me see my dad.”

  “For the last time, no. Accept that you have no family but me.”

  A tear trickles down my cheek and into my mouth. “Are you going to hurt him?”

  He stays silent, but that in itself is an answer. He will. None of the Costas is safe with him.

  Maybe not even me.

  “Now, let me relieve those withdrawals so you stay a good pet for me.” He tugs on my collar with two fingers and slams his lips to mine.

  He throws me on the bed and makes true of his words; he relieves those withdrawals, but he adds a different type of pain.

  The one where he’s leaving me so he can hurt my father.

  And I can’t let that happen.

  15

  Jasper

  The sooner I’m done with this, the faster I can get back to my little Petal.

  That’s basically the only thought that remained wi
th me during the trip from Sicily to the States.

  Enzo stayed back to take care of the people, the business and watch over Petal, but I don’t completely trust him.

  I only trust his bloodthirst for revenge and the need that beats inside him like a living fucking being. That’s the only reason I left Petal under his protection. He knows if something happens to her, he’ll lose me and that’s not something he can afford.

  Angelo and a few other men came with me in the private jet. The times where I moved on my own are over. My life doesn’t belong to me alone anymore. Now, I have an entire family to keep afloat, lands, farmers, people.

  It’s almost surreal, but at the same time, it isn’t. I was raised on these aspects, and while I became a dog for another person, my fucking enemy, at some point, it doesn’t deny where I belong — with these people.

  I motion at the men. “You two stay behind. Angelo, cover my back.”

  After a curt nod and a final rundown of the plan, they scatter all around.

  Angelo is antsy to go back to the latest widow he’s banging here in the States. He thinks widows are the most open for sex without strings attached.

  Back to the plan; the idea is to disrupt Lucio’s shipments. Enzo and I have already ruined most of his Italian shipments, but we need to take care of the ones from China. Lucio has already lost some of his allies here, thanks to Paolo. I knew he wouldn’t stay still if he knew his dear brother was the reason not only behind his wife’s death, but he’s also trying to wipe out his only offspring.

  Neither of them will have my little Petal, but they can dream.

  This is the second storage facility my men and I will burn. The first was in the western part of the city. This one is a poorer neighborhood, near an old factory that’s out of business.

  The reason I came personally is because I know this place best — perks of living as the family’s dog for decades. Enzo wanted me to send men and stay behind, but Enzo doesn’t know that a true leader gets things done himself. Maybe with time, I’ll learn to lean on others more, but for now, I can’t shake off the lone wolf’s state of mind.

  Besides, I want perfectionism so Lucio can find his fall sooner rather than later. Neither Petal nor I will find peace as long as that fucker breathes.

  Holding my gun, I flatten my back against the side of the building and motion at Angelo to keep his position. Then, I break the lock, letting the chain rattle to the side, before I barge inside.

  There should be one or two guards in here. The rest must be preoccupied with the fire at the Costa property on the west side.

  The storage is dark and smells of the wine Lucio keeps stocked here. I’m about to light my torch when the entire storage bathes in white light.

  I blink but quickly jump behind boxes, Angelo follows suit.

  “Buona Sera, Vitallio.”

  My shoulder blades lock at the sound of Lucio’s voice. He’s not supposed to be here. What the fuck is he doing here?

  Angelo and I chance a peek over the box, and there he is, Lucio. He sits on a chair in the middle of all of his stock and most of his men stand on either side of him, Stephan included.

  Fuck!

  He shouldn’t be here. No one other than my men knew it, and no one, absolutely no one from Sicily would betray me for Lucio’s sake. They all lost family because of that fucker, and they have more reasons to kill him than I do.

  Blood for blood. That’s what we live for.

  So how the fuck did he figure all this out?

  Then, I make out the plump woman kneeling at Lucio’s feet. At first, I don’t recognize her. She’s bound, her hair in disarray and her limbs are purple and bruised.

  It’s only after a close look that I recognize her.

  Rebecca.

  Rebecca Serrano.

  The late Nathan Serrano’s wife who used to work as a nurse in my little Petal’s hospital before I kicked her out of the state.

  She shouldn’t be here or with Lucio. He ordered her fucking husband killed.

  Angelo’s face tightens and it all falls in place.

  “She’s the widow you’re fucking?” I grit out from between my teeth.

  “I didn’t tell her much.”

  “Much? Fuck, Angelo. I killed her husband.”

  “And she loathes Lucio,” he continues.

  “What did you tell her during your fucking pillow talk?” I hiss.

  “That you’re here. That’s all.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Rebecca begs Angelo with her teary eyes. “He threatened my daughter. I’m so sorry.”

  Lucio slaps her so hard, blood explodes from her lower lip and she shrieks. “Shut up, whore.”

  Angelo’s hold tightens on the gun and I can feel the need to lunge, save her from whatever is going on in his head.

  “Don’t even think about it,” I speak low so only he can hear me. “You’ll only get both of you killed.”

  “So, Jasper,” Lucio muses. “Or should I call you Alessio now?”

  When I don’t reply, he goes on in his smug voice. “You really thought you could ambush me on my own turf? Come on; you’ve been my dog for a long time; I can see your pattern. When Rebecca here mentioned you were back in town, I waited for your first move. You went after the smaller storage in the west, so I figured that was only camouflage and you’d go after a bigger one next, and here we are. On your deathbed.”

  I send texts to the men outside and tell them to drive to the other end. The least they can do is save themselves.

  When the reply comes, I release a breath.

  “I’m going to kill you and finish the Vitallios once and for all. Then I’ll go to your beautiful Sicily and burn those fucking lands until they turn to ashes, along with the pretty Georgina.”

  My shoulders tense and it takes several seconds to breathe straight.

  Lucio will have to go through me first before he can get to Petal. I don’t care if I have to bring everything I planned to the ground because of it.

  “You think you can take me, Lucio? Have you thought about my plan with Paolo?”

  There’s silence from the other side and I know I’ve got him.

  “Nothing you plan with Paolo scares me,” he finally spits out.

  “Why, Luc, I think this one should. After all, it’s a tailored plan for you. Yes, you know me the best, but have you thought that I know you the best too? That I have all the susceptible information to cripple you?”

  Silence.

  Using the chance, I motion at Angelo to creep toward the entrance while still staying behind the boxes.

  “What’s the deal?” he asks.

  “You versus me. Everyone else out.” I don’t hesitate.

  “Boss,” Stephan’s booming voice echoes in the silence. “Let me take care of the rat.”

  Lucio shushes him. “Everyone out.”

  “Send Rebecca this way,” I say and Angelo gives me a grateful look.

  I’ll take care of him and her later, but she doesn’t need to die over this.

  She’s sobbing as she trips before finally landing beside us. Angelo pulls her to his side even though his expression is tight.

  When I make sure all Lucio’s men left through the other door, I motion at Angelo to use a small entrance by the back.

  “How about you?” he whispers.

  “I’ll be fine,” I murmur back. “Drive all the way to Wisconsin and stay there. I’ll find you.”

  He hesitates, but I push him away, my attention falling back on Lucio.

  After Angelo carries Rebecca out, I come out from behind the boxes. Lucio is still sitting on his chair; his face closed, neither smug nor worried.

  He has something up his sleeve.

  And so do I.

  I point the gun in his direction. “The plan is simple, Lucio, you’ll fucking die.”

  “Not before you.”

  I barely see it before it materializes from my side.

  Marco.

  I should’ve known the dog would
linger close to his master. I point my gun at him, but he already jams a needle at my neck.

  My vision immediately loosens and my legs turn wobbly, unable to hold me up.

  My eyes start rolling to the back of my head. I shake it, but it only makes the sensation more prominent.

  Something slashes my chest, I pull the trigger, but the gun falls from my hand, hitting the ground with a loud clunk.

  Lucio’s booming laughter fills the space. “You’ll fucking regret it all.”

  He’s a blur, lines of black, but I punch him anyway. I lose my balance, and my body falls to the ground, my head dropping on the asphalt.

  It’s weird how Petal’s face is the only thing I see as I slowly lose consciousness, those gray eyes, that smile — that fucking smile I dreamt about trapping, and now it’s gone.

  All that remains is black.

  16

  Georgina

  It’s been two days since Jasper left.

  Two days of eavesdropping on Enzo to make sure he didn’t get himself killed there.

  Two days of plotting.

  Two days of preparing.

  Today is the day I go home.

  I put on pants, a hoodie and sports shoes I wear when I go to the fields. I would rather take all my clothes, but that will draw attention.

  “Come here, guys.” I open the cages and they whine before they get inside. “Listen, Mrs. Hudson, Mr. Bingly, we’re going home. I’m going to hide you near the garage; it’s going to be a bit dark. I’m sorry, but I’ll come to get you soon.”

  They just watch me with that snobbish expression that says ‘you are a crazy cat lady.’ After I hide them near the garage, I pretend to stretch since Enzo is speaking to one of the men by the house.

  Ever since Jasper left, he’s been watching me like a hawk. I still think he’d kill me if he gets the chance, but since I saved Jasper, he’s been tucking away his maliciousness.

  I smile at Salli and let Francesco hold my hand as we walk to the fields. As I listen to him talking, my chest tugs and second thoughts creep in. Do I really want to leave this place, these people? Jasper?