“Althea. What are you looking for?” I demand.
“Not what …Who,” she answers, her face scrunching beneath the blindfold. “Annanias,” she whispers softly.
“Who?” I clench my fists, fighting back the red haze of jealousy coursing through my blood. “Annanias who, baby? Who is he?” My words come out through gritted teeth.
It’s not a common name. I’m sure I could find out who she’s talking about before I find the fucker and send him to his grave. But a little more information would make things a lot easier.
Faster. Cleaner.
“My brother.” Her words tear the seams of my jealousy and calm the rage before I have a turn to let it out. Though after everything I’ve seen and heard tonight, I almost wish she had said he was an ex-lover or a stalker. Someone I could let my demons out to play on.
You’re her only stalker.
Which is a good thing. Less cleanup at least.
“Now he’s a Venatti,” Althea slurs.
“Venatti? Who? I don’t understand, baby.” I turn the bullet back on and apply pressure to her clit, not wanting her to fallasleep just yet. Althea’s chest arches up off the bed as much as her restraints will allow. It’s cruel to keep her on edge like this when the meds I’ve given her are pulling her under, but I don’t care, and she won’t remember. Regardless, I need answers. Just a few more minutes and …
Althea’s climax comes over her in waves. Her mewls and moans making it damn near impossible for me not to come in my jeans. If I thought she would last, I’d fuck her hard and fast, but I’m not into somnophilia.
“Who is a Venatti, baby? What did The Bishop tell you?”
“Levanesse took him away from me. Now he’s a Venatti.” My blood turns cold at the mention of my father’s last name. I remember rumors being spread about my father stealing a child when I was just a boy.
It was the night he murdered my mother. There were murmurs around the estate that a child had gone missing. Everyone assumed it was me after what I had done, but it wasn’t. I went outside for air and found myself in the pool room outside to get cleaned up. I didn’t want Giselle to see any more blood than she had to. Especially not from me. I was worried she would already be afraid of me after seeing what I had done to our father, but she’s never brought it up or made me feel guilty for ending the twisted bastard’s life.
How the fuck is he involved in all of this?
“I’m tired.” Althea yawns. Her breathing has evened out. Her body now lies limp on the bed. The medicine has taken effect. She’s sated and sleeping soundly, and I’m left frustrated and enraged.
Time to get her dressed and get us on the plane. I wasn’t sure where I would take her at first, but now, hearing that bastard’s name coming from her sweet mouth, I know exactly where we need to go.Whowe need to see to get answers.
Three hours later, we are on a private jet on our way to Italy to speak to my uncle Eliseo, among other things. I’ve been sitting in the dark on my laptop, watching Althea sleep while I comb the black web searching for any sign of Annanias Drakos. Whoever took him, did a damn good job of hiding his information. The only things I can find are a birth certificate, a death certificate, and an old obituary with a picture of Annanias and Althea holding hands and laughing together.
They aren’t identical twins, but the similarities are still there in the eyes and the bone structure. Althea’s face is more elongated, and her hair now has a few highlights around her face. Where Annanias is all torso, Althea is all long, sexy legs.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I’m quick to answer it. I already know who it will be. I didn’t stop to talk to Nazario before we left. When I texted him, he said he was tied up in an interrogation, and I was in a hurry to get Althea on the road and onto the jet before her meds wore off. The Doc said the pills react differently for everyone, and I didn’t want to risk her waking up too soon. Althea is not only stubborn and determined but also very resourceful. I have no doubt she would have figured a way out of her restraints and escaped The Mansion if I had been held up in meetings.
“Where the fuck are you?” Naz shouts, bypassing pleasantries.Not that I care.
“I’m on the jet headed to Italy. I need to talk to Nonna and Uncle Eliseo,” I explain.
“And a phone call wouldn’t suffice?” He growls. “Where’s the girl? What did you find out? Did you take care of her?”
“She’s with me.”
“Fuck!”
I expected that.
“When I said for you to handle her, I didn’t mean take her on an all-expenses paid vacation to Italy, Enzo.”
“It’s not a vacation. Although, I mean, I need to book a honeymoon afterward.”
“Whatdoes that mean? What are you doing, Enzo? You know something. Tell me.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose and let out a long sigh. “The only thing I can do to protect the family.”
