by Carina Blake
Ignoring his reference to Giada, I chuckle hard. “Giada’s a beautiful woman. It’s hard not to stare at young pussy that looked like a little lost puppy ready to suck my dick. Nevertheless, brother, I haven’t had pussy in two years. Getting my dick wet sounds fucking great, but I’m not going to get leftovers from you. I don’t want a woman no matter how beautiful with someone else’s kid or some damn disease. Speaking of diseases...are you still visiting that hooker?”
“What’s it to you?” he snarls.
“I’m just saying. Maybe you should ask her. Don’t you guys have cameras at the compound? Maybe she’s a little jealous.”
“We do, but they malfunctioned last night. Besides, she was with me last night.”
“Convenient. Look, I’m not in the mood to deal with your problems. I’ve got enough of my own. I’ve been dealing with company matters since I visited Mom and Dad. So if you don’t have anything nice to motherfucking say, I’ve gotta go.”
“Sorry, Tino. I just figured I’d ask. I can understand you’ve been through hell. I’ve got other girls if you’re interested.” I’m ready to fucking vomit when he makes that suggestion.
“I want a good girl, Rafael,” I say.
“Well, then I can get you one of those,” he persists. I’m not interested in anything he has to offer.
“I’m keeping my nose clean. So, I’ll do it the old-fashioned way, but if I get desperate, I’ll give you a call.”
“Suit yourself. When are you coming back to visit?” I bet he wants to know for sure.
“I don’t know. I’m sure Mom misses me, but like I said, I’m getting my company back and there’s so much shit I’m trying to catch up on.”
“Let me know when you do, and we can chat it up. Now I need to find that bitch and ring her neck before tossing her around to the crew.”
I control the rage in me because it doesn’t do me any good to lose it. “Nothing’s changed, I see.”
“Nope. The dumb bitch is infertile. That pisses me off more than anything. A wasted virgin. I should cap her parents for selling me damaged goods.”
I look up and see Giada staring at me with tears streaming down her eyes. Shit, she must have overheard me. “Good luck. I’ve got to go. My lawyer’s on the other line.” I hang up and look at Giada. She walks into my office and closes the door.
“You didn’t lock the door,” she remarks. I left her door unlocked because I hoped that she wouldn’t run out.
With Rafael calling, there’s no guarantee that one of his men isn’t lurking around. I can’t have her roaming now. “I don’t want you out of the room. I thought I told you that.” I march her ass straight upstairs to our room and slam the door shut. “Keep your ass in there until I’m done. Then we’ll talk.”
“If you don’t want me, then why the fuck am I here?” she shouts through the door. Fuck, I want to go in there and take her right now, but he’s onto me. Game changer.
I MAKE A CALL TO MY lawyer to act like I really just spoke to him just in case they manage to double check. Our call is short and just as I hang up, my cell phone rings. “Hello?”
“We got people creeping around the house,” Joey says.
“Good. Call the cops. I don’t want anyone snooping around my property. When you’re done, come into my office and report to me.” I hang up, seething with rage. What I have to do is going to kill me, but I have to do it.
When Joey comes in, he’s brought an officer in with him. “Hello, Mr. Marchetti. I’m Officer Burton. I was informing your man here that I can’t arrest the people in the vehicle for loitering, but I warned them to stay away and waited for them to pull off. If they should return, then you can call again and we’ll treat it as stalking.”
“Who the hell was lurking out there?” I question.
He looks at his notes and then says, “Faustino Milan.” One of my father’s goons that was at the house the day I was there. This changes everything. I won’t be visiting my father’s ever again. I can’t believe that they were so bold. They must not understand the monster they created.
“Okay. I see.” He hands me a copy of the report he filled out for my records.
“Thank you, Officer.” I shake his hand and walk him to the door, staying there until he drives away.
“In my office, now.” My teeth are grinding as I think about the chance that they could have spotted Giada. There’s only one vantage point that would allow it, and I’m hoping that they didn’t see it.
“Sorry. I tried to get him to leave, but he wanted a word with you before he could file a complaint. Besides, without letting him in, it would look suspicious.”
“I’m not pissed. It’s smart, but I have an idea. I’m going to need you to visit some family in Ireland.”
“I don’t have family there,” he remarks, looking at me with suspicion.
“You do now.” Understanding my meaning, he listens as I continue to explain my plan.
After everything is set up, I say, “I’m going to speak to her.”
I stand up and walk out of my office and upstairs. Unlocking the door, I see her sitting on the bed watching television. I lean on the mattress and grab the remote, clicking it off. Closing the distance, I hover over her, grabbing her by the hair and tugging her head back so she can feel how much she drives me nuts. “Now, it’s time we talk about that mouth of yours,” I say as I skim my lips over her jaw.
“Whatever. Just another Marchetti male.” She knows exactly what she’s doing.
“Watch what you say. Don’t make me do this the hard way, because trust me when I say that’s not what you want.”
“I knew you were no different. Sold me a lie and then trapped me.”
“Oh, you’re mistaken, and I thought I made that perfectly clear. I want you here, and I want you in every damn way imaginable, but I’m not going to tell my brother that.”
“But I’m everything you said you didn’t want.”
“Yes, part of that’s true.”
“Get away from me. I can’t, Santino.” She pushes my chest, and that’s when I see the sparkle on her finger. Snarling like a wild beast, I stare at the rings she has on.
“What the fuck are you wearing?” I grab her fingers and yank the rings off. I want to melt these fuckers down and sell them for scraps.
“Hey! Those are mine,” she exclaims.
“The hell they are. You. Are. Mine. Don’t wear another man’s gift again—especially from him.”
“You’re an asshole.”
“Do you really want to go back to him?” I question. She’s hurt, so she’s trying to retaliate, but that’s not going to work.
“No.”
“Then don’t ever play that fucking game with me again.” I wave the rings in front of her face.
“I hate you.” She crosses her arms, but I’m betting it’s to hide her pebbled nipples. She’s turned on, and it’s all in her expression.
“Well, that’s too fucking bad.” I crush my mouth to hers, then pull away quickly. “Goodnight.”
I walk out of the bedroom, hoping that the next time I come in there, she’s sleeping. I can’t have her fight me on this next step. It’s going to kill me to let her go, but I’m expecting a raid tomorrow.
Chapter Ten
Giada
I don’t know what came over me other than to say I’m fucking losing my mind. I want him, and yet—I shouldn’t. I shouldn’t have said what I did to Santino, but I did.
The thought of him hating me cuts deep, so much that I blurted out my pain in the form of anger. The way he looked at me with such sadness in his eyes when I said I hated him broke me. I cried for two hours, thinking that I’d gone too far.
Finally calming down, I prepare for bed and watch some television. I’m addicted to The Office. By the time I turn it off, it’s well past midnight and he’s not here in our bedroom where he should be. Two days and I let him into my heart. How could I have been so naïve?
He’s just like his brother: c
old, cruel—a total bastard, but then why do I want him around?
I lay in bed and sob until I’m too tired to keep my eyes open.
“IT’S FOR THE BEST,” Santino whispers as his lips kiss my forehead.
“How can it be?” I plead. My heart’s breaking in my chest, pain radiating through every inch of my body. He squeezes my ass and then kisses me goodbye.
“You’re too much trouble for damaged goods.” He shakes his head, staring at me in disgust, and walks away.
“No!” I scream, startling myself awake and into a sitting position.
With a sigh, I wipe the sole tear that slid down my face. I reach out for him, but Santino’s not there. Looking around, I’m not in his room anymore. Was the dream real? Shit. The sun’s shining through a large window, but I’m not sure where I am.
“Ms. Giada, good morning.”
I nearly jump out of my skin when I stare at a large man standing in the doorway. “Oh my goodness. Who are you? Do you work for my...Rafael?” I scooch back on the bed, bringing the covers to my chest.
He rolls his eyes. “No. I don’t. I work for Santino.”
“Where is he? Where are we?” I ask.
“We are safe away from New York.” This is the game he wants to play? I’m going to bombard him with questions until I get the answers I want.
“Where’s Santino? I want to talk to him,” I demand, trying to gain some backbone.
“Right now isn’t the best time.”
“I don’t understand. Is he busy?”
He shrugs, ever so annoyingly indifferent. “I’m not sure, but he’s not here.”
I’m here alone with some guy I don’t know? Shit. “Oh God, you kidnapped me?” I’m searching the room for something I can bust him over the head with. There are a couple of things, but by the size of this guy, I’m betting it’s not going to work.
“No. I didn’t kidnap you. I’m here to watch over you. You can roam around the house and the beachfront, but I’m afraid the ocean is off limits.”
“I’m confused. Are we like on the Jersey Shore somewhere?”
“No. Things are complicated.” He rubs his head. “Just treat this as a getaway. This is a very lovely beach house and the sand looks spectacular. I’ll prepare a meal for you. Then I must leave you to it.”
I stand up, and I’m dressed in the same clothes I went to bed in. Santino sent me away. Maybe I’d become too much trouble.
“You’ll find your closet is full and your necessities can be found in the bathroom.” He leaves me standing in the middle of a large bedroom that’s almost completely white. The four-poster bed has a gauzy white canopy that gives the room a romantic element. A large television is the centerpiece of a wall full of bookshelves. The room is something I would love to have on any other given day, but without Santino, it feels empty.
I exit the room and find that the rest of the house is as equally beautiful with gray accents to match the almost all white décor.
A cool breeze blows across my arm as the patio doors open and the guy in the suit walks back in. “Sorry, I hope I didn’t startle you.”
“No, but I don’t even know your name,” I tell him.
“It’s Joey. Santino said that he’ll call in a couple of days. For now, please enjoy this place. I’m going to walk the perimeter.”
“Why isn’t he here?” I have to know why he’s not with me.
“He has a company to run.”
“Why didn’t he just dump me somewhere?” I’m not only pissed, I’m hurt.
“I don’t know. Just enjoy. Is that really so damn hard?”
“You’re not very nice.” I can see I’m working his nerves. Maybe that’ll get him to bitch to Santino and then he’ll just let me go. Then what am I going to do? It’s not like I have anywhere to go, and I sure as hell never want to be anywhere near Rafael again.
He rubs the bridge of his nose, clearly annoyed. “I’m sorry, but I’m not going to give you the answers you’re looking for so you might as well stop asking.”
“What would be great is my freedom,” I remark as I roam around the main living area. It’s an incredible beach house. Too bad I’m not interested in being trapped here. A prisoner in paradise.
“Take it up with the boss when you talk to him, okay? Until then, I’m going to do my job.”
Flipping him off, I go out to the porch facing the ocean. Leaning up against the railing, I watch the waves crash onto the beach. The water’s fairly clear, so I know we have to be somewhere south of New York. I’ve never traveled, but I’ve seen the travel brochures for getaways.
I decide to take a walk in the sand. As my feet hit the warm, grainy surface, I feel a hint of sadness. I wish I met someone who cared for me. I wish it were Santino, but that’s pointless.
DAY TWO INTO MY NEW damn prison, and I haven’t heard from Santino. I’m starting to think that I’m doomed to be forever locked up. We’re in a very isolated location. The cook is in the kitchen, and I’m not allowed to be in there when he’s working. Still, I sneak inside there.
“Hello.”
“Um...good morning, ma’am.”
“So do you need any help with anything?”
“No, thank you.”
“Giada,” Joey barks at the kitchen door.
“Excuse me. I think I’m in trouble.” I wave him off and follow Joey’s stalking form. “What’s wrong now?”
He grabs my arm and leads me into the little office there. “I told you not to talk to the employees.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m trying to keep you from being discovered. Can’t you just act like your life is in danger?”
“Um...what life? I’m just going through the motions.”
“Ugh. I’m going to need a raise after this.”
“Whatever. I’m going to watch some television. If that’s okay, sir,” I sneer.
“That’s perfectly fine.” He leaves and doesn’t come back for a long time, so I get curious and look for him. He’s on a ladder installing cameras around the perimeter of the beach house. All I have to do is push the ladder from under him and then run, but I don’t know if I have it in me. Besides, it’s not a big fall and he’ll probably catch me before I get far.
I go back to the living room and put on a movie. When he comes back in, he says, “Hey, it’s good of you not to knock me down.”
“No problem.” How did he know I was there?
“Your reflection.”
“Damn it, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
“You didn’t. I can read it in your eyes.”
“Well, next time I’ll have to be sneakier.”
“You can try.” And I will.
Chapter Eleven
Santino
It’s been a full two days since I drugged Giada and put her on a plane, sending her away from me. The pain in my chest feels like it’s getting more intense with every hour that passes.
She probably wants to punch me in the dick for this latest abduction, but it was for the best. She wouldn’t go willingly because she doesn’t trust me. I felt it after our fight. Seeing her again is all I can think about, but it’s not safe for her until I deal with my family and their inquisition.
A friend of mine in law enforcement sent me a text about an hour ago, but I’d already expected the Marchetti family to not let up.
Rita, Jasper, and Martin help me prepare for the visit I know is coming. We clean the house and show no signs of Giada’s presence. The gate buzzer rings. I hit the screen on the security system, opening it when I see it’s my lawyer.
When he comes in, we shake hands. “It’s good to see you. I’m assuming there’s a reason you summoned me so early.”
I pat his shoulder and lead him into the living room. “Come on, let’s have a seat. Do you need something to drink?”
“Yes, a cup of coffee would be great.” Rita goes to make us some coffee while we sit down. “So? What’s this about?”
“It seems
I’m about to be visited by the sheriff’s office with a warrant any minute now.”
Tilting his head, he asks, “For what?”
“They’re under the impression that I kidnapped Giada Marchetti.”
He knits his brows and tilts his head. “Your brother’s wife?” I hold back the growl, swallowing back the bile that pools in my throat. The less people know the truth, the less people who have to lie for me. Although, he’s a lawyer so he’s probably a fucking expert at it.
“That’s what they believe.” My tone even strikes me as gruff, and he eyes me suspiciously. I can’t reveal my secret just yet. I trust Dimitri because he’s one of the people instrumental in securing my freedom, so I try to ignore the visible tension running through him.
“Why?” Dimitri stammers on the word, and I can’t let go that something’s bothering him.
Staring at my friend, I ask, “Are you okay?”
The sound of footsteps stops him from replying. He takes the coffee that Rita brings in, setting it on the table next to him. “Thank you, Rita.”
“You’re welcome.”
She hands me my cup and then excuses herself. “So you were about to say?”
“Yeah, nothing that should worry you. It’s just this Russian asshole called me this morning.”
“I’m sorry. Anything I can do?” Shit. That’s probably what’s got him shaking. He looks squirrelly today.
“No. It’s okay. So, the warrant?”
“Listen, I don’t know how they got it, but I’m guessing the judge they got to sign the warrant is in their pocket because they don’t have any evidence that I took her.”
“Really? I’ll do all the talking.” As my lawyer, he’s not going to let them get away with it.
“Good. I’m not in the mood for this.” I drink my coffee with a frown.
“How do you know they’re coming?”
“A little birdie told me.” Seconds later, the squad cars pull up to my house. “Let the show begin.”