by Nyx, Angel
“Non. We have our own…security. They can go places la polizia cannot.”
Carmella patted my hand and I sighed. “Maybe you’re right.”
“Of course I am. Now, let’s not worry about such things. Today is about relaxing. You go take a nice, hot bath. I will keep an eye on Eli.”
I could have argued with the older woman, but the thought of pampering myself, even a little, was too tempting. I knew Gio wanted me in his room, but I’d picked one of the guest rooms that had a nice tub in it. I’d been a little surprised to find bath oils waiting, until I checked the other guest bathrooms and found them equally stocked. I didn’t know if that was Gio’s doing or his mothers, but my money was on Carmella.
The hot water, accompanied by the relaxing scent of jasmine, soothed aches I didn’t even know I had. I reheated the water twice before I finally, reluctantly, climbed out. My skin was wrinkled from the long soak, but I felt better than I had in a long time.
Gio, once again, cooked for us after Carmella and the children left. Later, I was tucking Eli into bed, and stretched out next to him. As he snuggled into the covers, I sang softly to him. It was a nursery rhyme I’d written when he was a baby and it always soothed him when he had a hard time sleeping.
When the day is almost done, when the sun is all but gone, go to sleep, go to sleep.
When your pillow’s fluffed up right, when your blanket’s tucked in tight, go to sleep, go to sleep.
When your bed is soft and warm, when your dreams are filled with with calm, go to sleep, go to sleep.
When the night wind, calls to you, when the night birds sing to you, go to sleep, go to sleep.
When the moon is in the sky, when the stars come out at night, go to sleep, go to sleep.
When the day is almost done, when the sun is all but gone, go to sleep, go to sleep. Go to sleep, go to sleep.
Once I was certain he was asleep, I pressed a gentle kiss to his brow, tucked the covers around him, and exited the room. I left the door cracked open for him and turned to find Gio watching me.
“That was beautiful, Tesoro. Where did you learn it? I don’t think I have heard it before.”
“That’s because you haven’t. I wrote it for Eli when he was a baby. When I know he’s having a hard time sleeping, I sing it to him and it always relaxes him.”
“You are full of surprises. Will you let me hold you tonight?”
I should have said no. That wasn’t what came out of my mouth. “I’d like that, Gio. But it has to be in the guest room. If Eli wakes up, he’ll come looking for me.”
“I don’t care where we sleep, Bella, as long as I can hold you in my arms.”
Doors were locked, lights were turned off, and once we’d both changed for the night, we crawled into bed together. Curling up next to Gio felt like the most right, the most natural, thing in the world. I felt like right here, in his arms, was where I belonged.
Chapter Forty
Gio
Three days. That was how long it had been since Carly got the flowers from her stalker. Just when I started to think the fucker had given up, another bouquet arrived at the club.
Beautiful Lola,
I’ve warned you about being with him. Soon you will be at my side, where you belong.
~A
The card had her shaking and it made me want to throw something. As of yet we still didn’t have a lead on who ‘A’ was.
“Find this fucker. Now. He’s threatening my woman. He’s got her scared. That’s not acceptable.”
“I think we might have a lead.”
I looked over at my brother. I’d given Deo a chance to prove himself by putting him on the video surveillance there at the club.
“Talk to me, Deo.”
“You said the delivery guy from Carly’s apartment was vaguely familiar but you couldn’t figure out why. I’ve been looking at surveillance form the club and I found him. The delivery guy.”
I moved to where Deo sat in front of the computer. When he zoomed in on one of the customers I swore. “Cazzo. Si, that’s him.”
“Yeah. He’s at the club, a lot. And if I zoom out...it’s pretty obvious he’s watching Carly.”
“We’ve got him. He has to be the guy.”
“What do you want us to do, Boss?”
I looked over at Luciano. “We’ll wait for him to show up and grab him when he leaves. He’s going to regret stalking my woman.”
“Just one more pezzo di merda to feed to the swamp.”
It would all be over soon.
Chapter Forty One
Carly
Gio was driving me crazy. I understood his concern, really I did, but he was being so overly protective that I could barely go to the bathroom without him at the door. I’d given him the card that had come with the flowers, after I tossed the roses in the trash, and tried t put it out of my mind. If I let it consume me I wouldn’t be able to do my job.
I made my way into the dressing room to find it in turmoil. “What’s going on in here?”
“Oh, thank god, Carly. My outfit for the next set has a tear in it. I was going to run out to my car to grab the extra one I keep in there, but I don’t have time.”
I gave Chablis a look. “Give me your keys. I'll go grab it for you. You owe me.”
“Yeah. Sure. Thanks.”
She handed her keys to me and rushed out to the front of the club. Something seemed a bit…off, but maybe I was just projecting. Shrugging it off, I headed for the employee entrance. I’d be right back, I saw no reason to get someone to escort me out to her car.
I was just closing the trunk when a shadow moved behind me. Arms wrapped around me and a rag was put over my mouth and nose. The last thing I saw before darkness claimed me was the face of one of Chablis’ regular customers.
When my eyes opened, and I couldn't see, it took longer than it should have for me to realize I was blindfolded. I lifted my head and a wave of dizziness assaulted me even as my head began to pound. As my foggy mind began to clear, panic set in. Not only was I blindfolded, but my hands were bound.
That wasn't the most troubling part, though. No. The most troubling was the draft of air on skin that should have been covered.
"You're awake. Good."
A hand touched my face and I jerked my head, smacking it on the solid surface behind me. I could only assume it was a wall. The action intensified the headache and made my stomach roil with nausea. A groan escaped me and I panted in effort to keep from being sick.
"Tsk, tsk. You really shouldn't move so fast. Chloroform tends to leave a nasty headache behind."
"He's going to find us, you know. And when he does you'll regret it. He's seen all of the notes you've sent me, you sick bastard." The chuckle that escaped my kidnapper sent a chill down my spine. "What's so funny?"
"He'll be chasing the wrong trail. It was quite fortuitous, you having a stalker. It focused all of Marchetti's attention elsewhere and made this so much easier."
Fear threatened to overwhelm me but I couldn't let it. I needed answers. I needed to know who he was and what he wanted with me.
"I can't say I blame the poor fucker for stalking you. You are a beautiful woman. And that body? It's what a boy's wet dreams are made of. It's too bad I have to change that."
"What? What are you talking about? Why are you doing this?"
He was suddenly close enough I could feel his breath on my skin. I swallowed back my revulsion and refused to cower in front of him.
"You fucked with the wrong woman. You really should be more careful about the enemies you make."
Chablis. When I got out of here, I was going to make the bitch pay.
"Let's see how much he'll want you after I carve up that pretty face. But first."
Even knowing what was coming, I couldn't stop the sound that escaped me when the last remaining scraps of clothing, my bra and panties, were cut from my body.
Part of me hoped he would just rape me. How fucked up was that? The first slice
of the blade across my skin made me whimper. The next made me scream.
Chapter Forty Two
Gio
The club was packed tonight. We kept our eyes out for Carly's stalker. I knew he would show his face eventually.
An hour after opening, I realized I hadn't seen Carly since we'd arrived at the club. Making my way to the bar, I leaned over to speak to Tony. "Hey, have you seen Carly?"
"Not yet, Boss. She's probably in the dressing room."
"Yeah. Probably."
I couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong. Fuck it. I was going into the dressing room. It wasn't like I hadn't seen it all before
"Have any of you seen Carly?"
"Not in a while," one of the girls replied.
One of the newer dancers approached. "I saw her go out back a while ago. When she didn't come back to the dressing room I figured she just went to her office. Is something wrong?"
"Carly has a stalker. She knows she's not supposed to go anywhere alone. Cazzo." The stubborn woman was going to be the death of me.
The second I was outside, my phone rang.
"He just walked in."
"Grab the fucker. Carly's missing. I want to know where he took her." I would torture the information out of him.
An hour later, I was certain the bastard had no idea where Carly was. He had the audacity to beg me to let him help look for her. He actually thought I was going to let him live? Not a chance in hell. I ended him quickly and called the clean up crew in to take care of the body.
We were back to square one. My woman was missing and we had no idea who'd taken her. I’d given my brother the chance to prove himself, he was the one in charge of surveillance there at the club, but so far I wasn’t impressed.
"Deo. I need you to pull up the surveillance from the employee parking lot. That's where she was taken from. Find me something. Anything. NOW."
"I'm already on it, Gio."
"We'll find her."
I looked over at Tony. He'd handed bartending duties over to his assistant. Carly was famiglia, she was more important. "We better."
"We will, Boss, and when we do the bastardo who took her will pay."
I was going to make him suffer. Once I got my hands on him, he would beg for death before I was through with him.
"I think I found him. I was able to get the tag number off the car he was driving. It took a little bit of work, but I hacked into the street cameras and tracked him to a warehouse. It's in 39'ers territory."
"I don't give a fuck where it's at. I want the address." If they tried to stop me from getting my woman I'd kill them all.
"If you give me a damn minute you'll have back up. I don't think the pezzo di merda is a 39'er. I didn't see anything indicating he was affiliated with them."
"And how are you going to get me backup?"
"I know a guy, all right?"
I stared at my brother. "Cazzo! Do you have any idea how dangerous that is, Deo? Being associated with them could bring la polizia right to our doorstep."
"I know what I'm doing, Gio. It won't bring them to us. Got it. You'll meet four men outside the warehouse. I was right, they have nothing to do with it."
I kissed the top of my brother's head in gratitude before I exited the club with Tony on my heels. Luciano and Cesare followed close behind. "When we find him, he's mine."
"You got it, Gio. Let's go get your woman."
Just hold on, Bella. I'm on my way. I sent a silent prayer out for her as we sped through the streets of New Orleans.
Chapter Forty Three
Carly
At some point, I passed out from the pain. When I came to, it was to the unmistakable sound of fighting. It hurt to even move my head and the blood loss made me weak. Every time I tried to call out, the pain took my breath and I slumped against the table I was bound to. Please let it be Gio. Please let him have found me.
The door opened and the light that came through it had me blinking. I wasn't sure what hurt worse, the cuts that continued to trickle blood or the light hitting my eyes, making the headache I had throb.
"Carly? Gio, in here!"
Seconds ticked by and then. "Oh, grazie de Dio. Bella."
I knew the exact moment he saw what had been done to me. "He is a dead man. We're getting you out of here. I'm so sorry, Tesoro. I'm sorry it took so long to find you."
His voice was choked with emotion. I tried to keep the whimpers in as something was wrapped around me and Gio gently picked me up. I started to speak, or try to, and he pressed a finger to my lips.
"Non, Bella. Let me get you to a doctor. You need to be bandaged up. We can talk later."
I knew more than a few of the cuts needed stitches. How was I going to explain this to my son? How could I tell him a psychobitch had me kidnapped and tortured?
"Eli." His name was barely a whisper.
"We will tell him there was an accident and you were hurt."
How did he know that was what I was worried about? As if he could read my mind, Gio answered my unspoken question.
"I know you, Amore. You're worried about what to tell him because you don't want to scare him. Rest now, Bella. I've got you."
I let my eyes close and trusted Gio to get me to safety. Whispers reached my ears just before I felt myself lowered to the back seat of his car. I only caught bits and pieces but it almost sounded like they were talking about torturing the man who'd kidnapped me. Surely I was mistaken. It had to be the delusions from the blood loss talking.
The next time my eyes opened, I was being carefully lifted from the back seat. "Where...?"
"We're at the doctor, Amore. He'll take good care of you."
I could feel myself frowning, just a little. We weren't at the hospital and I didn't know of any doctor's office that was open so late at night.
"Just trust me, Bella."
A tear escaped my eye when he pressed a kiss to my forehead.
"I knew you'd come. He didn't believe me, but I knew you would find us."
"I will always find you, Amore."
We were met at the door by whom I suspected was the doctor. His words confirmed my suspicion.
"Put her on the table. What's her name?"
"Carly."
I flinched as the light above me was turned on. The brightness hurt my eyes.
"Don't worry, my dear. I'll fix you right up. Do you know your blood type, Carly?"
I swallowed before I answered him. "It's O negative."
"Of course it couldn't be easy. You've lost a lot of blood and I need to give you a transfusion."
My eyes kept trying to close on me and I had to force them to stay open. "'Kay."
"Use mine."
I only heard the beginning of the doctor's response before blackness claimed me again.
I awoke sometime later to the feeling of pressure on my skin. It took longer than it should have for me to realize I was feeling the pressure from being stitched up.
"Easy, Bella. He's almost done. Just a few more stitches."
I could feel Gio's hand gripping mine as a lone tear slipped out. I could see the bandage that covered the left side of my face from just below my eye to my jawline. I knew what lay beneath the bandages. There was a smaller bandage on the right side as well.
"Shh. It's going to be all right, Amore."
Love. I wasn't sure when he'd started calling me that but I liked it. More than I really should.
"I need to…" I felt really groggy and I realized the doctor must have given me something for the pain. The last thing I remembered, before sleep claimed me, was Gio picking me up off the table and carrying me out the door.
Chapter Forty Four
Gio
When I'd seen what that fucker had done to Carly, I wanted to rip him to shreds. The pain in her eyes made me feel like I'd failed her. I should have found her sooner.
I was grateful to the Doc for giving her something for the pain. After what she'd gone through, she needed to rest.
Watching her sleep, my hands curled into fists. I wanted to hit something. No. I wanted to hit someone. The bastardo who'd hurt her. I itched to make him suffer for his crimes. I craved it. But right now, Carly needed me. The pezzo di merda would have to wait.
A light tap at my bedroom door had my head turning in that direction. Mama stood there motioning to me. With a heavy sigh, I leaned over, pressed a kiss to Carly's brow, and left.
Neither of us spoke on the way downstairs to my office. I wasn't surprised to find Pop waiting for me.
"Talk to me. What happened?"
"Carly was taken from the employee parking lot at the club. She had a stalker and we, I, thought he was the one who took her. When he showed up at the club, I assumed he was trying to make it look like he was innocent. I wasted an hour of precious time questioning him."
"Who is he, this man who took her?"
"I honestly don't know, Pop. Not yet. When we tracked them down, all I could think about was getting to her. He carved her up, Pop. The Doc had to stitch he up. I lost count after 100. She'd lost so much blood she’d needed a transfusion."
"We will find out why he did this. You focus on Carly. Help her heal. I will personally see to it he suffers greatly. He will beg for death."
"I want to be the one to end him, Pop."
"Si, you will, mio figlio. His death is yours."
"Grazie." Pop could have denied me but he understood why I needed to be the one to do it. Carly was mine and that bastardo hurt her. It was my right to watch the life drain from his eyes.
"Let me know if she needs anything, mio figlio. She will have it, like this."
Mama snapped her fingers and I smiled, just a little. "I will, Mama. I'm going to go curl around her so if she awakens, she isn't afraid."
I kissed Mama's cheek, shook Pop's hand, and headed back upstairs to my woman. I knew Pop would make sure the house was locked up tight when he and Mama left.