Protecting Her: A Romance Bundle

by Mia Ford

  I’d never thought sex could actually be that good.

  As I walked home, I was so happy that I felt like I was floating above the pavement. The warm streak from the previous day had turned chill and rainy, but I didn’t mind. If anything, it made me feel closer to Alessio than ever before. I knew that what I was feeling for him was real…but I had no idea whether or not he felt the same way.

  It wasn’t just the sex. Alessio had really tried hard to show me that he was changing. In addition to volunteering at the homeless shelter and food pantry, he was also donating money to charity groups all over the city. He even donated two million dollars to a charity that helped little kids with cancer get wigs during chemotherapy.

  It was like he knew all the right roads to my heart…and he was choosing to take all of them at once.

  I had no idea what I was going to do when it came time for his trial. What could I possibly say to Detective Aberson? It was a crime to refuse to testify – I could even go to jail myself.

  But would I be able to betray the man that I was slowly falling in love with?

  It was so hard to believe that in six months, my whole life had changed so drastically. When I thought of the timid little Beth Wilson who had planned on marrying Michael Bennett, it didn’t even seem like me. And knowing that had Michael lived, we’d be married by now was really upsetting. It wasn’t upsetting because that was what I still wanted. It was upsetting because I caught myself thinking more than once that a divorce wouldn’t be so awful.

  By the time I got home, I was feeling anxious and worried. Alessio wasn’t the kind of guy who talked about his feelings, but I was dying to know what he thought of me. Did he still think I was some stupid, spoiled, silly little girl? Was he only wooing me so that I wouldn’t testify when the time came?

  And what would happen after the trial? Would Alessio revert to his awful ways, and break my heart?

  Heather was in the kitchen making breakfast when I walked in. When she saw my rumpled clothes, she gasped.

  “Oh my god, I thought you’d already left for work,” she said. She smiled slyly. “But I can tell you were working on something else.”

  “Ha, ha,” I said dryly. “Spare me the humor, please.”

  “What happened?” Heather poured me a mug of coffee with cream and sugar and passed it over. I took a long deep breath and a big swallow before answering.

  “I had to go to the police station yesterday,” I said solemnly. I shook my head and my eyes filled with nervous tears. “Aberson doesn’t believe me, I can totally tell.”

  Heather raised her eyebrows. “Well, it would probably be pretty hard if you get picked up by the very man you claim to hate,” she said calmly. “I assume you were with him last night?”

  I nodded. “We stayed at the Plaza.” I blushed. “We…we ordered room service and watched stupid movies all night.”

  Heather snickered. “I bet you watched a lot of movies,” she said. “Didn’t have sex, did you?”

  I blushed hotly. “I did,” I said. I moaned and buried my face in my hands. “I’m so sick of feeling like this!” I whined loudly. “I can’t decide whether I’m upset or happy or falling in love.” I shook my head. “It’s like I always have butterflies, but then I’m also dealing with a million other ways to feel.”

  Heather nodded. She reached for the remote and turned on the television, flipping through channels.

  “I know it’s hard,” she said soothingly. “But I promise, Beth, things really will calm down. Just trust me.”

  I frowned. “I wish I could,” I said. “But sometimes, I feel like there’s no end in sight, you know?”

  Heather nodded. “I do,” she said. “I really do.” She frowned, pausing the channels at a news station. “Hey, look, something’s going on at the Plaza.”

  My heart turned to a lump of ice in my chest as Heather turned up the volume. The camera panned in on a crowd of people standing outside the Plaza Hotel and yelling.

  “That’s so weird,” I said nervously, taking a shaky sip of coffee. “I was just there, like half an hour ago. I wonder if there was a fire.” Please let Alessio be okay, I prayed silently. I couldn’t stand it if something happened to him, too.

  “Oh my god,” Heather said. She dropped her mug of coffee on the floor. The mug broke into tiny shards of ceramic and hot coffee splashed on my feet.

  But I didn’t even feel any pain.

  Staring at me, from the screen of the kitchen television, was Alessio Amoruso.

  “I’m reporting with KPNG, here to tell you that Alessio Amoruso, business owner, has been arrested on suspicious charges.” A perky blonde anchor bobbed in front of the camera, oblivious to my heart breaking inside of my chest. “He was arrested shortly after ten-thirty this morning, and he’s being taken downtown to stay in custody as we speak.”

  Tears rolled down my cheeks but I felt powerless to move – I couldn’t even raise my hands to wipe them away. My heart was barely beating, and my stomach felt like a stormy sea.

  “Beth,” Heather whispered. “What happened? Do you know anything?”

  I shook my head and swallowed. When I spoke, my voice was barely louder than whisper.

  “Detective Aberson said they were very close to catching Alessio, but I thought he was bluffing,” I said tearfully.

  On screen, the perky anchor was making a show of demonstrating all of the police cars. I counted at least seven parked outside of the hotel, sirens flashing and horns blaring loudly. There was an ambulance, and two fire trucks.

  “Sources say that Mr. Amoruso was not hurt in the arrest, but that he’s known to be a wanted man. If you have any information regarding the murder of Michael Bennett or the Amoruso crime family, please call KPNG at five five five, sixty-seven, eighty-three.”

  “Turn it off,” I said weakly. “I can’t take it anymore, Heather.”

  Heather reached over and slammed her hand against the power button. The screen of the television cut to an inky black that matched my current mood. The coffee I’d drank was threatening to come back up as vomit, and I could barely breathe as my heart thudded heavily in my chest.

  “Everything’s okay,” I said tearfully. “Everything. I had no idea how I could be so stupid, Heather! How the hell did I do something that dumb?”

  “You aren’t dumb,” Heather said gently. She pulled me into a tight hug. “You can’t help who you fall in love with, Beth.”

  “But that’s just it,” I said. “I was just starting to see the real Alessio! It felt like we were just getting started.” I sniffled and buried my face in my hands. “And now I have to choose between testifying against the man I love or facing charges myself!”

  “I’m sure it won’t be that bad,” Heather said soothingly. “You know, those rich guys are really good at getting away with crimes,” she added. “Maybe he’ll have some hotshot lawyer who can really help him out.”

  I buried my face in my hands. “Obviously not,” I said. “Or else he wouldn’t have served six months in the first place!”

  Heather opened her eyes wide. “Yeah, and maybe those six times were bad enough where he realized he could never go back to jail. It’s rough for a guy like him on the inside – he’s going to have to pay a lot of people to keep him safe.”

  The thought of Alessio being hurt in prison made me cry even harder. Soon, I was hunched over and rocking back and forth with my arms wrapped around my knees. Heather stepped behind me and rubbed my back, soothing me over and over with mindless chatter.

  My phone buzzed in my pocket. Nervously, I pulled it out. When I saw that it was Detective Aberson calling, my heart sank.

  “Hello?” I sniffled, wiping my nose. “Sorry, I mean, hi,” I said quickly. Act normal, Beth! I ordered myself. Stop being such a freaking spaz!

  “Hi, Beth,” Detective Aberson said. “Not sure if you’re following the news, but Alessio was arrested this morning. We really got him,” he added. “This is an airtight case, as long as you testify. We f
ound some kind of a loophole in the legal system, and we’re going to exploit as much as we can.”

  I sank lower. “Um, no,” I said softly. “I hadn’t seen the news. At least, not yet. When did you arrest him?”

  “Just about an hour ago,” Detective Aberson replied. “We’ll need you to testify, Beth. You do know that, don’t you?”

  I nodded slowly, even though he wasn’t there to see me.

  “I do,” I said softly.

  “Well, I’ll be in touch,” Detective Aberson said. “Glad this thug is off the streets.” He chuckled heartily and hatred burned through my body as if it were seared right onto my skin. I wanted to reach through the phone and strangle the smug detective, make him really understand just how much he was hurting Alessio and me.

  As soon as I hung up, I turned to Heather in dismay.

  “I have no idea what to do,” I said, shaking my head. “He’s going to ruin both of our lives.”

  She shrugged. “Well, you have to do what you have to do,” she said softly. “Beth, you’re a strong woman. You’re going to make it out of this no matter what. I know that, from the bottom of my heart.”

  I shook my head. “I wish I knew that.” I sighed. “My heart is breaking. I can feel it right now, cracking apart in my chest.”

  Heather reached out and put her hand on my shoulder. She looked deeply into my eyes.

  “Beth, I promise, things will work out.”

  “How can I even know what’s happening anymore,” I wailed. “I feel like up is down and right is left and red is blue!”

  Heather squeezed my shoulder reassuringly.

  “You just have to follow your heart,” she said. “That’s the only way you’ll know.”

  20

  Beth

  Two Months Later

  As I sat in the benches of the New York City District Court, I was more nervous than I’d ever been in my entire life.

  Alessio had been locked away for two months. We hadn’t been in touch – I’d been too afraid to even call, much less plan a visit. When he’d first gotten arrested, I’d worried that my feelings for him would change.

  But now, they were stronger than ever. I knew in my heart that no matter what happened to me, I’d be in love with Alessio Amoruso until the day I died. It didn’t matter if he got old, or fat, or lost his magnificent hair.

  I loved him passionately, and nothing could change that.

  The courtroom was packed. Heather wasn’t coming – I’d told her that this was something I’d had to do on my own. But Alessio was notoriously famous in New York, and both fans and haters of his family and restaurant chain had come to voice their opinion.

  When the judge came in, I rushed to stand up. An armed guard led Alessio in front a side door. He looked handsome as ever in a new Armani suit, even if his hands were cuffed in front of his muscular bulk. He looked even bigger than he had before going away. His arms were bulging against the beautiful sheen of the suit. His longish dark locks had been shaved, revealing a perfectly shaped head that somehow made his dark eyes look more intense than ever.

  We locked eyes as Alessio walked past me towards the bench. I swallowed nervously. I love you, I thought suddenly. Even if I never get the chance to tell you – I’ll love you forever.

  Tears welled up in my eyes. I hated the rough way the guard was jerking Alessio around like he was a piece of meat. I wanted to scream and cry until they left him alone, until they uncuffed him and let him sit like a normal human being. But I knew that it was futile. Alessio was being tried on both counts of first and second degree murder, and this day wasn’t likely to have a happy ending.

  Detective Aberson was sitting with the district attorney and the prosecution team. I saw Douglas Bennett, Michael’s father, sitting in the first row on the other side. His wife, Gabrielle, was next to him in a skin-tight silk dress that would have looked more at home on a dance floor than a courtroom.

  “Order,” the judge called. He banged his gavel against his podium. “I call this court to order!”

  I tuned out as the judge droned on and on about upholding civic responsibility. It was ludicrous to me that we had to go through this pageantry – why not Alessio’s high-powered lawyers work everything out behind closed doors? I’d always respected the justice system in my country, but suddenly I felt like it was failing me more now than ever before. Alessio’s not a bad man, I thought as I watched his lawyer call the first witness to the stand. He just needed the love of a good woman to bring out his better side.

  The trial seemed to fly by. By the time we were dismissed for lunch, I was so nervous that I couldn’t even eat. I choked down a few sips of water and washed my hands in the women’s room, hoping to dry my sweaty palms. The gesture was totally futile – as soon as I was back inside the courtroom, my hands were soaked through once again. The worst part was that seeing Alessio for the first time in months had reawakened my baser desires. My panties were soaked with pussy juices and my clit was as hard as a little pebble, wedged between my labia and wanting Alessio’s tongue.

  Detective Aberson took the stand. He interviewed a witness who could barely speak English.

  “I call Elisabeth Wilson to the stand,” Detective Aberson said loudly. He cleared his throat, then looked at me with a hardened gleam in his eyes.

  This is it, I thought. This is the moment where I ruin my life.

  Swallowing nervously, I made my way through the courtroom over to the judge. A man held out a bible and I repeated everything he said, swearing to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. So help me god, I thought as I sat down in my seat after the little ceremony was over. That doesn’t mean anything to me anymore. If god were here, he’d make sure Alessio wouldn’t be locked away for the rest of his life.

  Detective Aberson strode across the floor, a notebook in his hand.

  “Ms. Wilson,” he said curtly. “Can you tell me where you were on the evening of March twelfth?”

  “Excuse me?” I blinked. “Why?”

  Detective Aberson frowned. This was a question I knew I’d be asked. But now that the time had come to do my duty and tell the truth, I couldn’t do it.

  “I’m sorry,” I said. I stood up. “I can’t do this.” I looked at Alessio. “I can’t testify against this man.”

  Detective Aberson glared at me. “What are you talking about?”

  “I can’t do it,” I repeated shakily. Tears came to my eyes and flooded my senses as I frantically shook my head from side to side. My heart was pounding but I knew I was doing the right thing.

  “Ms. Wilson, this means you could potentially face charges for obstructing justice,” Detective Aberson threatened. The jury gasped but I remained defiant.

  “I don’t care,” I said. “I don’t care what happens to me, I’m sorry. But I won’t testify against Alessio.”

  Armed guards began marching towards me. The tears that had collected in my eyes suddenly spilled over, dripping hotly down my cheeks as my nose and sinuses filled with wet snot. I cried out in emotional anguish as I ran, blinded by my own tears, from the witness stand and into the courtroom.

  I didn’t make it very far before the guards grabbed my arms and tried dragging me down the carpeted aisle. Somehow, being manhandled by a bunch of paid brutes was enough to kick my rage and emotion into a higher gear. I grit my teeth and fought hard against the men restraining me, kicking and screaming and whipping my arms through the air.

  One of the guards let go, obviously surprised by my strength. I took the opportunity to whirl around and scream at the court.

  “I’m sorry!” I yelled. “But you can’t convict him! Alessio is a free man! Alessio is a free man!”

  “Shut the fuck up,” one of the guards hissed. He dug his fingers into my shoulders and dragged me down the aisle. I locked my legs and refused to walk, letting my high-heeled feet. Finally, the guard sucked in a titanic breath and pulled me hard until I was gasping in pain. My heart was racing and my body was soaked with sweat
by the time the guards managed to drag me out of the courtroom.

  Behind me, everyone was silent. When I glanced back inside before the guards slammed the doors in my face, I saw that everyone’s face was pale and bloodless with shock. They were all staring at me with their jaws hanging open. The one exception was Douglas Bennett. He looked murderously angry, like he wanted to rip me apart with his bare hands.

  I couldn’t help it. I waved to him. If I hadn’t been so upset, it might have almost been comical.

  After the guards barred me from re-entering the courtroom, I heard the judge screaming for order and the sound of his gavel banging, but that was no match for the uproar and cries from the crowd. Everyone was screaming and yelling – some were even cheering.

  That’s when I saw a huge line of guards rushing towards me, hands on their guns. Shrieking in fear, I kicked off my high heels and ran out of the courthouse. The day was a sunny, warm spring one, and the hot air felt good on my face as I closed my eyes and scrambled quickly down the courthouse steps. My heart was pounding as I darted down the street. I knew that looking over my shoulder would cost me time, and I had to keep going until I managed to lose my tail.

  It was like I’d completely lost my mind. I ran and ran until my lungs were bursting for air and I thought my heart was going to explode in my chest. Horrible, dangerous thoughts kept running through my mind. Now that I’d broken free and run away, what would happen to me? Would I be arrested? Would the cops put an APB out for me?

  Would they stalk Heather and demand to know where I was? What about Douglas Bennett? Would he sue me for making a scene at the trial of his son’s killer?

  Michael, Alessio, everyone – I’m so sorry, I thought as I darted down an alley and ran into a café. I know I failed you all. I tried to do the best I could, but I know it wasn’t enough.