by Cm Hutton
I released my grip and took a step back. I trusted Johnny and he wouldn’t let me down, but I was angry and appalled that Lori Ann had obviously called Jason London…even after she knew how I felt about their friendship. I followed Johnny through the house to the back garden and to the garage. He was on the phone the whole time, contacting multiple people, including other men on my security team. Lori Ann didn’t have a clue as to how far my arms reached around Milan, let alone around northern Italy. We would find her. There was no doubt.
*****
More than an hour later when that noioso stronzo—boring asshole—Fausto Camillo, the desk manager from Novotel, called my cell phone to say he saw Lori Ann with two strange men, he wrongfully assumed she’d been taken from me against her will. I thanked him and told Johnny where to drive. While Leandro spoke to Fausto and gave him a nice reward for the information, Johnny and I decided on what to do. We simply asked Fausto to pull the alarm, in test mode of course so as not to alert the authorities, and we would wait for Lori Ann and her American friends to appear. We promised Fausto no bloodshed inside the hotel, but when mia moglie—my wife—refused to appear, the plan changed. Johnny persuaded me to leave, but he, Leandro, and Marcello stayed behind to make sure the trio did not leave. I couldn’t let her get on a plane. Tracking and stealing her in the United States would be…brutto. Ugly.
I pulled Johnny aside and gave my orders.
“Voglio che sia catturata viva.” I want her captured alive.
“Non mi importa di quel che farete a loro.” I don’t care what you do with them.
“Faccia questo, e Lei puó avere un pezzo di lei…Prima che io la punisco.” Do this and you can have a piece of her…before I punish her.
I made the decision to stay there at Novotel in a room on the first floor. I left Johnny, Leandro, and my driver Alonso in the lobby near the front desk and door to the stairway. Then I had Marcello guard the staircase leading from the third floor while I went to my room and researched possible flights the Americans would try to board. Lori Ann and her friends would have to go through all my men to escape.
And they did.
*****
In the chaos, Alonso was killed, Johnny was shot in the leg but was okay, and Marcello was rendered helpless to do a damn thing. By the time Leandro, Marcello, and I reached the airport, we found Lori Ann and her friends in the security line. I stood still, staring, willing my body not to sprint through the fucking line and kill all three of them. I took one step, but Leandro’s arm grabbed my elbow and without a word, his glare told me to stand down.
“Aspetti,” Wait, Marcello said. He was right. I needed to plan my next step. I would make sure they didn’t see it coming.
The anger boiled deep inside of me, and I needed release. I’d taken out all my frustration on each and every piece of expensive artwork Lori Ann had ever purchased. I didn’t care the cost. But two chiantis later and bleeding knuckles did nothing to help. Only one other thing would.
I phoned her and commanded she come to my house. At first, she fought the idea, worrying about being caught by my wife, but I assured her that Lori Ann was gone.
It was midmorning when twenty-three-year-old Elena and her friend Daniela rang the back door to my home. I tried to smile, but all I could do was growl, grab Elena by the hair, pull her to me, and shove my tongue down her throat. Daniela gasped, drawing my attention. I held tight to Elena with my left hand and used my right to rip Daniela’s tee shirt from her body, leaving her bare-chested in my kitchen. “Antonio…”
“Shh…” I wouldn’t let either of them speak. With my hands gripping each young woman by her hair, I walked the girls into the master bedroom. I was going to fuck both of them in my marriage bed. And I couldn’t wait to tell Lori Ann all about it as soon as I got her back home.
I wasted no time. Both girls were tied to my bed, hands above their heads, stripped nude. Sheathed with a condom, I spread Elena’s legs and shoved my cock into her tight pussy, pounding her over and over as I sucked on Daniela’s tiny breasts. “Cazzo, cazzo, cazzo,” Fuck, fuck, fuck, Elena screamed. Daniela moaned and begged, so I shoved two fingers into her wetness and fucked her with my fingers. My release didn’t come for a long time. I was wound so tight with my fury that all I could do was thrust into those girls over and over. They were begging for me to untie them by the time I finally pulled out of Daniela, ripped off the condom, and came all over both of their faces, forcing them to suck the tip of me into their mouths.
The power I felt having them tied and helpless was almost as euphoric as the first time I hit my wife. The release I felt from that was like a drug. I wouldn’t hit these young women, though. I couldn’t. Not with the families they belonged to being so important to my business. Both of their fathers had invested in my shoe company when I’d taken it over after my own father died. I owed them my livelihood. They would kill me for even talking to Elena and Daniela. I couldn’t imagine the torture I’d be in for if they knew how often I fucked their daughters.
So, what did I do? While those beauties were still tied up, naked with my cum all over them, I reached for my phone and took a picture. They thought it was a trophy for myself, but no. I waited for one week before I sent it to Lori Ann with this message…
Antonio: This is what I’m going to allow my men to do to you when they come to you and bring you back home. They will each have as much of you as they want before I deliver my punishment. This is their motivation for finding and delivering you to me.
And then, I will send a picture to your Jason with this note. ‘Deve morire perché tu devi essere punito.’ She has to die because you have to be punished.
You should never have left me, mia moglie. My wife.
*****
Three weeks later, I would be standing on American soil with two men I’d hired to help me get my wife back. Alessandro and Davide were new to my staff. We’d planned and coordinated every move down to the exact time my plane would leave the airport and take Lori Ann and me back to Italy. It was only a matter of time, and all my pent-up stress would be released. Too bad my wife would need to suffer in order for me feel better.
Chapter 10
Jason
We’d been back in San Diego for a few weeks and all was quiet, as far as I could tell. Craig went home to Denver almost immediately after we got back, but not before we had my brother Kyle stitch up his arm and make sure he was okay. Armed with an ass-load of antibiotics, he flew back to Denver and continued to keep track of us as well as The Italian. I also had Kyle check on Lori Ann’s injuries and was shocked to find out she’d re-injured her four broken ribs, basically undoing any healing that had occurred, and had broken another when I pushed her into the back of the car at the hotel in the midst of our getaway. I hated it, even if it was the only thing we could’ve done at the time to keep her safe.
I had Lori Ann all to myself, and it felt strange. We’d settled into a great beach house I’d rented on Mission Beach that wasn’t in my name or hers. I’d gotten a friend on the force to put it in his name. We were safe for now, but there were no guarantees. The floor plan was spacious with two huge bedrooms on the main floor, two upstairs nestled between a large game room and Jack-n-Jill bathrooms, and another nice-sized bedroom downstairs connected to a workout area fit for a mega gym. The main floor, as well as the upper one, had large decks with cozy wicker furniture that looked out onto the vast ocean. It was huge and spectacular, fit for a large family.
The first night was hard for me. I’d said goodnight to Lori Ann at the threshold of her bedroom, then turned and marched to my own room. About thirty minutes after I’d showered, brushed my teeth, and climbed into bed, I heard her feet walking down the hall and fought the urge to tell her to go back to her room. I wanted Lori Ann near me, but didn’t. The feel of my girl next to me wouldn’t be a good thing, not when she wasn’t free. But as she came closer to my bed, I lay still, pretending to sleep, and waited. She didn’t hesitate. I felt the bed dip, and my swee
t girl curled up next to me as close as she could get, and without a word, I wrapped my arms around her body, kissed the top of her head, and fell into a deep sleep.
This was the new us. She needed to feel safe, and I wanted her close to me…to protect her.
A few nights later, after getting ready for bed and securing the doors, I went looking for Lori Ann and found her on the third floor deck. I quietly walked to her and wrapped my arms gently around her waist. We’d been touching a lot…maybe too much, but it was nice and comforting to both of us. “Hey, you okay?”
“Yeah.”
I rested my chin on the top of her shoulder. “Sure?”
She sighed and wiped a silent tear. “No.” I stayed quiet. “I’m just grateful to be here—with you, in the States and away from him.”
“I know.” I pulled away, a little sad at the reminder that she wasn’t mine to keep. Yes, she was my Lori Ann, but not mine. And it killed me a little every day that I had her near. I turned to walk back inside the house and to my bedroom when I felt her right arm jerk my elbow, stopping me.
“Jace, what’s wrong?”
I felt foolish for being such a puss, so I tried to play it off. “Nothing, I’m just tired.” And I’ve loved you for years. And I want to completely devour you. And you are mine, not his.
I tried to pull my arm away, but Lori Ann didn’t let go. “Stop. Talk to me. I can tell you’re holding something back. Just tell me. Is it Antonio?” Panic started rising in her voice. “Did he find me? Oh, God. Are his men coming to take me?”
I turned to look straight into her eyes. “No. You’re safe. This isn’t about Antonio.” I didn’t want her freaking out, and honestly, I couldn’t stand it anymore. I’d reached my breaking point and had to say something to put some distance between us, and I knew just what would do it too. “I…well, I’m having a few issues being so close to you. It’s bringing up old feelings that are tough for me to put aside. That’s all.” It was the truth, and as much as I knew her reaction would hurt me, I needed the pain to force me to stay the fuck away from her.
“What?” She jerked back and stared at me. That look hurt more than I’d expected.
“Hey, it’s no big deal. I was just remembering how nice it was to be so close back in college.” Please God, don’t let me make a complete ass out of myself.
“Oh.” I could’ve sworn there was a bit of disappointment in her voice, but I ignored it and kept walking away toward my room. It was most likely wishful thinking on my part.
“Night. I’ll see you in the morning.” I had no idea whether she’d crawl into bed with me or not, but I gave her the “out” to sleep alone. Secretly, I’d hoped she would come to me, but that would only screw with my head even more. I rounded the corner to my room, stepped inside, and leaned against the wall, closing my eyes. I wasn’t the kind of man to take advantage of a woman, especially a married woman, but dammit, Lori Ann had been mine for the last fifteen years, in my heart, in my head, and in every way that counted. I was struggling, and my demons were winning. Maybe I needed to go out and release some of the sexual tension I’d built up in my own mind. Yeah, that was exactly what I needed to do. But I wanted to make sure Lori Ann was safe, so as I dressed in a pair of jeans, a black graphic tee shirt, and boots, then called in a few favors and had some of my buddies come watch the house.
When I emerged from my room, Lori Ann was sitting in the living area watching TV. “Hey,” I said, drawing her attention to me. She sucked in a breath and furrowed her eyebrows when she saw I was dressed to leave. “I’m going to go out for a while. I have some friends watching the house, so you’re safe. You gonna be okay?”
The strange look on her face was unnerving. She tried to hide the sadness, but I saw it just before she turned on her fake persona to show me she was just fine. “I’ll be just fine. Go. I don’t need a babysitter, but thank you for having someone watch the house. Makes me feel better.”
“Sure.” Fuck. I couldn’t figure out if I was glad she was okay with me leaving or not. But the harsh truth won out. She was a married woman, and I was desperate to feed the gnawing ache in my body. “I’ll be back soon,” I said as I kissed the top of her head.
She flinched and said, “See you later. Be careful.”
“Always.” I hated myself for wanting her…for needing her, but most of all for leaving her.
I drove to a nearby club but couldn’t bring myself to get out of my truck. I just needed some space—and someone to mindlessly fuck, but that probably wasn’t going to happen. I couldn’t get Lori Ann out of my mind and the thought of her finding out I’d done something like that kept my dick in my pants and my ass out of the club. I wanted to go to Derek’s, but I was sure they were all in bed and I didn’t want to disturb Claire’s kids. My younger brother Kyle was on a twenty-four hour shift at the hospital, and Melissa had kids to worry about. I was alone. So, I did the only thing I knew to do. I drove to my office at the precinct and did some work and a lot of research, but first I called Craig.
Chapter 11
Lori Ann
What in the hell was going on? Jason left me at the beach house all alone and went out? And that confession? It jolted me.
I desperately wanted to tell Jason about the picture and text that Antonio had sent, but I was embarrassed and sickened by the grotesque man my husband had become. It had my nerves frayed and my stomach in knots. That bastard had fucked those girls in our bed and threatened to let his men do the same thing to me. What kind of monster would do that? And now Jason was acting weird, like he needed to get away from me, and I didn’t know what to do or what to think.
Yes, I’d always had feelings for my best friend. But when we were in college, our lives were headed in two totally different directions, and it just wouldn’t have worked. I’d met Antonio a few years after moving to Italy, and we dated for a really long time before finally deciding to marry. In hindsight, maybe Antonio and I saw it as the next step in our relationship. We loved each other and were great friends, so it was easy. But we never had the closeness or unconditional respect and love that I’d always had with Jason. I knew that now…well, I guess I knew that almost two years ago, a full year before my husband ever hit me for the first time.
I felt panicked. I didn’t want to hurt Jason. As a matter of fact, I was struggling with my own feelings toward him and was terrified they were only because of my current domestic upheaval. I loved curling into his arms every night. He felt like my true home, but my head was a mess and I was still a married woman, even if my estranged husband was an abuser and far away and threatening me with more violence. So, to clear my head and pass the time, I took a long, hot shower then slipped into a thin pink silk nightgown that hit just above my knees. It was the easiest thing to maneuver into with my injuries. I walked to the kitchen and got a glass of wine before I climbed into my bed and turned on a movie.
It didn’t help.
All I kept thinking about was Jason hooking up with some tramp in the back of a club, or bringing some girl back here to the house just to fuck her while I had to pretend it was okay. It made me sick, like never before. My mind alternated between flashes of Antonio’s picture and one of Jason pounding into some random girl.
It was almost 12:30 am by the time I’d persuaded myself to turn off the television and try to get some sleep. Hours later, in the middle of the night, I felt a hand brush through my hair, causing me to sit straight up and scream.
“Hey! It’s me. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you. I was just checking to see if you were okay.” His voice was low and husky, either from drinking or the late hour.
“Jace?”
“Yeah, Legs. It’s me.”
I couldn’t help myself. I wrapped my good arm around him and buried my face into his neck. With a sob, I said, “Thank God! I’m sorry.”
He gripped his arms around my body. “What for? You didn’t do anything. I’m the one who took off earlier. I just needed some space to clear my head. I sho
uldn’t have left, though. I’m sorry.”
I could feel my body shaking from the emotions that had consumed me from the time Jason had left me there alone. “I’m glad you’re back and alone. You are alone, aren’t you?” I whispered.
“Yes, I’m alone.” He chuckled. “Did you really think I’d bring someone back here?”
“I didn’t know, but I hoped not.” I still had my face buried into his neck, but he pushed me back slightly and lifted my chin with his hand.
“Really? And why is that?”
“I don’t know.”
“You do know. Now, tell me.” His voice was stern, dominant. “Did you think I was going to parade some cheap piece of ass in here and compromise our location? Or did you think so little of me that you’d believe me to be the kind of prick that would bring another woman here to fuck right under your nose when I’d just told you I was having feelings for you again?” He was pissed.
“Jace.” I felt confused and embarrassed.
“No. Tell. Me.” Although his voice was commanding, it wasn’t threatening. I wasn’t afraid of him. I was afraid of my feelings for him.
“I didn’t want you to bring anyone home, here to this place or to your bed. I don’t even want to know where you went because I won’t be able to stop thinking about it…about you with someone else.” Stupid fucking tears started to fall.
He sighed, the tension suddenly gone from his body as he dropped his hand from my chin, and the look on his face was replaced with shame or embarrassment. “Truthfully, I wanted to go out and just find someone to get my mind off of what I’m feeling, but I couldn’t.” One hand carefully curled around my waist and started making slow circular movements against the silk covering my body, making me suddenly aware of just how little I was wearing. “All I could think about was you curled up in my bed and the disappointed look I’d see in your eyes if I’d done something so stupid.”
“But you’ve been gone for hours, Jace.”