by Rye Hart
I wouldn’t allow my family to be at risk. Rose stared at me, her eyes wild with fear and fury, but it still didn’t prompt me to stop my plan. I was going to do whatever it took to keep them safe.
Even if it meant losing them in the process.
“I had a few rough years after my parents’ death,” I said. “But after I realized the anger that consumed me would never truly go away, I worked to change. I took my inheritance and invested it into new ventures that have garnered me the wealth I have today.”
I saw her swallow thickly, but she still wasn’t speaking.
Nor was she coming any closer.
“I wanted to clean up our family name. Pull us out from the depths of the crime syndicate we’d fallen into. I wanted to clean our money of any stench of impropriety, so I donated much of it to charities. But my family name still holds a lot of sway and implications of power. They want me gone because they don’t believe that I won’t come back and try to take back my territory.”
Rose drew in a shaky breath and it broke my heart.
“I can’t imagine how terrible your childhood must’ve been,” she said.
I turned my gaze on her while tears continued to pour down her face. And then she did the one thing I would’ve never expected her to do during this conversation. She launched herself at me and threw her arms around my neck.
I held her close in my arms, drawing her scent deep into my nostrils. She locked her legs around me, her hair covering my reddening face and her lips grazed the shell of my ear. “I’m so sorry about your parents,” she said breathlessly.
“Thank you,” I said, whispering.
I buried my face into her neck, feeling her tears drench my skin. I kissed her skin repeatedly, memorizing the way it felt on my lips for the last time. I honestly had no idea if I was coming back from this endeavor but I was willing to die if it meant keeping my family safe.
With every kiss I pressed into her skin, however, I felt her body stiffen in my lap.
“But you can’t keep using violence to solve your problems, Camillo. It just perpetuates the cycle. Don’t you see that?”
I pulled away from her and looked into her eyes, watching them silently beg me to come up with another way. But I knew what I had to do, no matter what she thought about it.
“I won’t allow our family to be in danger, or to live in fear,” I said. “No matter what happens, I’m going to deal with the problem, once and for all.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine – Rose
Lightning cascaded through my veins the moment Camillo said “our family.” All of the daydreaming and the luscious escapades at night had all amounted to those two powerful words flowing from his lips. I closed my eyes, memorizing the way those words sounded in his rugged, beautiful accent while his hands traveled up and down my back.
For a moment, I was able to allow those words to block out the truth of everything that was going on.
I clung to him tightly as we sat there on his bed. I could hear the boys stirring downstairs, the morning sun finally peeling their eyes open. I sighed into his shoulder. I didn’t want Camillo to go. I wanted him to stay here with us. I wanted someone else to deal with the violence if there had to be some. I didn’t want him to taint himself further with the one tactic that brought him to where he was sitting in the first place.
But when I raised my head from his neck and looked into his eyes, I knew he hadn’t changed his mind.
“You’re still going, aren’t you?” I asked.
“I have to, my beautiful songbird. I have no other choice.”
My spine shivered with his nickname for me. His fingers tucked a strand of loose hair behind my ear. I looked deep into his eyes, pinning him with my gaze.
“Then you have to make me a promise,” I said.
“Anything.”
“You have to promise to come back to us.”
He took in a deep breath and slowly let it out, staring into my eyes. A look of profound sadness crossed his handsome face and I felt my insides go cold.
“Rose, I cannot promise that,” he said. “I promised you I would keep you safe, no matter what that means for me.”
“Promise me,” I said again.
“I can’t.”
Tears rose to my eyes as Camillo pulled me into his body. I cried into the crook of his neck, taking in the scent of his cologne as my fingernails dug into his strong back. This man who took my virginity and gave me my daughter and showed me an undreamt of world, had to come back to me. Because I loved him. Because I needed him. Because he was my family.
“I can promise you that I will try with everything that I am to make it back to you,” he finally said. “Will that do?”
He leaned toward me, his lips pressing lightly against mine. It was different from all the other times he’d kissed me. This one was soft and delicate, like lace. His lips slowly pressed into mine and my arms threaded around his neck. Soon, I was being lifted off the bed while his hands rounded the globe of my ass.
I felt him sit me down onto the edge of his desk in the corner of his room. My tongue slowly explored the mouth I’d come to associate with sweetness.
I wrapped my legs around his waist and his fingertips slowly pushed my robe off my shoulders. My bare body was glowing for him and his eyes roamed my curves before he dipped down and took one of my nipples between his lips. I could feel his cock growing against my thigh and wetness started to gather between my legs, but a knock at the door interrupted us.
“Camillo?”
Camillo groaned into my breast, pulling a moan from me that was tinged with a bit of laughter. He slid my robe back up onto my shoulders as Kevin knocked on the door again, trying to find his new best friend.
“He probably wants to play on the beach,” I said, grinning.
He kissed the tip of my nose before he helped me off the edge of his desk.
“To be continued,” he said, smirking.
“Anyone in there?” Kevin called out.
“Yeah, buddy,” Camillo said. “What’s up?”
“I was wondering if you wanted to play on the beach,” Kevin said.
“Is Junior up yet?” he asked.
“He’s getting his bathing suit on but Cassie’s still drinking coffee.”
“Shocker,” I said, murmuring.
I went over to answer the door, and I could see the slight shock on Kevin’s face. His eyes bounced between us for a second as Camillo walked over to his closet, and I didn’t have to look back to see what he was doing.
He was pulling out his suitcase and getting ready to pack it.
“Camillo has to go tend to some business for a few days,” I said. “Is it okay if I take you guys to the beach?”
“Will he be back soon?” Kevin asked.
I looked back at Camillo, who was beginning to pack some of his clothes into the suitcase he’d sat on the bed.
“I’ll be back before you know it, and we’ll have a wonderful Christmas,” Camillo said.
“Awesome,” Kevin said, smiling. “Can we go to the beach now?”
“Have you eaten breakfast?” I asked.
“Do we need to?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said. “Go downstairs and find something to eat for breakfast.”
“The chef should be in the kitchen, Kevin,” Camillo said. “Just tell him what you want, and he’ll whip it up.”
“Awesome. Thanks!”
I drew a deep breath through my nose before I turned to look back at Camillo. Then I stepped out and headed for Ana’s room. She was awake and playing in her bed, occupied with a toy I didn’t recognize. I shook my head as I plucked her from her crib, listening to her wonderful sounds as I carried her downstairs.
I didn’t even get Ana into her highchair at the table before Camillo came downstairs with his suitcase in hand.
“All right, you guys,” Camillo said. “Something’s come up at work. But don’t worry, I’ll be back in time for Christmas. You can help yourselves to anything b
ut there’s one rule you have to obey.”
“What’s that?” Junior asked as he came around the corner.
“You all have to stay on the island,” he said.
“Oh, that’s easy,” Kevin said. “This place is dope.”
“Dope?” I asked.
“It was a phrase in one of our videogames,” Kevin said. “The main character called a car ‘dope.’ I think it means something’s awesome.”
“You’d be correct,” Cassie said.
I didn’t have to look around the house to tell Camillo had beefed up security. There were men walking along the beach out back, which told me they were probably scattered all along the island. The chef put a small plate of eggs and buttered toast in front of Ana as the boys sat down at the table, and I took the opportunity to escort Camillo to the front door.
I grabbed his lapels and looked up into his light blue eyes.
“Remember your promise,” I said.
“Always.”
He kissed me sweetly, like he had upstairs. His body stepped into me while his free arm wrapped around my back and, suddenly, I wanted all of him. His lips undulated against mine in a slow dance and all I wanted him to do was press me against the wall and connect his body with mine.
But all I could do was pull away, smoothing my hands over his broad chest while I memorized every last bit of him I could.
“Please come back,” I said, whispering.
He dipped his lips to the shell of my ear, causing my eyes to flutter closed as I bit back a moan.
“I promise.”
And just like that, he was gone. I went back to the breakfast table and felt Cassie’s eyes on me the entire time, but I was determined to distract the boys. We ran around on the island and they didn’t seem to care about the men with guns strapped to their hips. Cassie stuck close to me and I could tell her eyes were constantly scanning the tree lines. Over the next couple of days, I didn’t really sleep much. I tossed and turned and, eventually, I started sleeping in Camillo’s room just to breathe in his scent.
I tried calling him a few times but he never answered, and he never called back.
I had a feeling he wouldn’t be able to communicate with me, but it didn’t stop me from being upset with him. The worry was eating me alive and I cursed him for being reckless and for putting our family in this position. I was upset, frightened, and sick with anxiety. I could hardly eat and I slept even less. Eventually, Cassie tried to intervene with sleeping pills she found who-knows-where.
But I waved her off. I needed to keep my wits about me, for the kids, for Cassie, and for Camillo, if he ever came back.
The boys continued to make memories and Ana continued to enjoy running around in the surf. Every once in a while, Cassie would take the kids and it would give me a chance to venture around the island. I stood in Camillo’s secret dungeon and fingered the chains he had once harnessed me in. I walked back and found the hidden waterfall, allowing myself to soak in the hot spring as tears fell down my face.
All I wanted was for Camillo to be back. All I wanted was to be a family again.
“Please come back to me,” I said through my sobs. “Please come home.”
Chapter Thirty – Camillo
I am going home again. Home to my family.
As I traveled back to the Poconos, back to the cabin Junior and I had called home for months, I realized exactly what was going on. I saw the black sedans with the tinted windows. I saw the surveillance on my cabin. I saw people who were walking back and forth in my house, tearing it apart and destroying the furniture.
I was far outnumbered and so, I alerted the police to what was going on and watched as the raid went down. I told them to come up without their lights and sirens on if they wanted to catch them in the act. I watched from my car on top of a hill as the firefight began, smirking as the police officers downed each of my enemies with lethal force.
When I flew back to Italy, I did so in a suit. I wanted them to know I was coming for business. I wanted them to know I wanted to talk. I sat in cafes and sipped teas from my youth, relishing thoughts of losing myself in Rose’s body when I got back to the island.
My security team kept updating me on the condition of my family and every time they told me they were okay, I breathed a sigh of relief. I could tell myself I was doing this for the greater good. That if I had to break my promise, it would not be in vain.
Though I knew breaking my promise to Rose would mean I would lose her forever.
And just like I expected, things went sideways on me. I followed cars and familiar faces into alleyways. I drove along the back roads of Italy, passing run-down vineyards still trying to breathe life into their soil while the vines withered and died. The Del Vecchio family owned most of the countryside of Italy, running all the wineries as they saw fit and robbing these families of their much-needed wealth. My family owned most of the city areas, where the Del Vecchio family wanted to take over.
In the end, I did what I had to do and I vowed to take those secrets to the grave with me. All that mattered was that my family was safe and would never be in danger again. My ultimate destruction of the Del Vechhio family finally closed that chapter of my life for good.
The helicopter descended onto the island and the security team was there to greet me. I talked with them for a little while, congratulating them on a job well done. I told them their paychecks and bonuses for keeping my family safe and alive had been deposited into their accounts and then I started up the hill with my luggage.
I had no idea what I was going to tell Rose, nor did I know how she was going to react.
I couldn’t wait to see everyone again. It was Christmas Eve, and I could smell the holiday in the air. The morning sun draped across the island as I walked all the way up the hill, taking the time to think instead of having someone drive me to the front door. I knew Rose would be curious and I knew she would see the bruises and stitches I’d tried to cover up with my clothes. I winced with every step I took, reminding myself that they were safe, healthy, and cared for.
I came through the front door and dropped my luggage to the floor. I could hear the boys chattering and my sweet Ana giggling and, as I rounded the corner, I saw them all at the table. The chef was placing a variety of foods in front of them while Cassie mindlessly sipped what was probably her third cup of coffee. Then, my eyes descended onto Rose.
She looked haggard and worn, her eyes heavy with exhaustion as she slowly panned her gaze toward mine.
Her shriek sent the boys flying at me. They wrapped their arms around me, but Rose stayed rooted to her seat. Cassie smiled and Ana giggled and I finally made my way to the table to place multiple kisses all along Ana’s face. I smelled the top of her head, committing her scent to memory as I shut my eyes, and, all the while, I could feel Rose’s eyes on my body, clocking my every movement, as if she could read me like the pages of a book.
Ana lifted her arms up to me as I lifted her up from her highchair. Her hands clung to my suit and she buried her face into my neck. I breathed deep and said a silent prayer of thanks that I was still alive to hold my precious little girl.
And then I felt Rose’s hand on the small of my back.
I propped Ana up onto my shoulder and wrapped my tight grip around Rose. She felt soft underneath my grasp, like the petals of the flower she was named after, as her face pressed into my chest. I could feel her sigh with relief against me as my hand stroked her back, relaxing her tense and taut body into mine as I held my family in my arms. I bent down, burying my face into her neck, trying to wash away what I’d just gone through.
I kissed the side of her neck and I felt her stiffen. I knew the boys were watching and I knew I was holding our daughter, but I didn’t care. I no longer cared what they saw. This was my family, I was in love with Rose, and hell be damned if the boys were uncomfortable with me kissing her.
I planned for us to be together the rest of our lives, so they just had to get used to it. I released Rose a
nd put Ana back into her highchair, but I could still see the uncertainty in Rose’s eyes. I sat down and had breakfast with them, stuffing myself with eggs and toast and jams and fruit. I hadn’t eaten a meal like this in days, surviving on nothing but portable meals and caffeine to keep my body humming. Alert. Alive.
I stared at Rose all through breakfast, noticing the fact that she wasn’t eating. Her shoulders looked slimmer and her cheeks were a bit more hollowed out. I cast my eyes over to Cassie, silently asking her if Rose had been okay. But all Cassie did was shake her head and my stomach plummeted to the floor.
“Camillo!” Kevin said. “Wanna see the Christmas tree Junior and I decorated?!”
“You guys put up a tree?” I asked.
“Yeah! Come see it!”
Kevin hopped up from his chair and took my hand. He pulled me into the living room with Junior hot on my heels and that was when I realized how much decorating had actually occurred. Green garlands lined the walls and doorways of the home, peppered with red and silver decorative balls. The Christmas tree was massive, with twinkling white lights and ornaments I kept in the attic. I smiled at the beauty of it all while the boys rattled off all they did while I was gone, but the only thing I could think about was Rose and how she hadn’t followed us into the room.
I bent down and hugged the boys tightly, telling them that this would be a wonderful Christmas.
“All right, boys,” Cassie said. “Who’s ready to go swimming?”
“Me, me, me!” the boys chanted.
“Go get your bathing suits on, then follow me,” she said. “I’ve got something fun to show you guys.”
I looked at Cassie and sent her my silent thanks before she nodded back to the table. Rose was still sitting there, her plate untouched as she stared off into the kitchen. I looked over at the chef and he shot me a worried glance, his head shaking to confirm that she had, in fact, not been eating.
I walked over to her and bent down, taking her hand within mine and bringing it to my lips.