“I sent everything to Soul too. He’ll get Bogey on it and see if we can’t help track down this Bishop,” Hex tells Naz. He gives a simple nod.
31
ALTHEA
These last two days have gone by in a blur. My days have been spent with Vella as we plan my wedding day. I made a few changes she wasn’t sure were considered traditional, but she said it’s my wedding, and has gone along with my plans so far. When we ordered my dress the other day, I picked out the lingerie and shoes I’ll be wearing with a special surprise for the groom. Vella smiled wide at my choices and told me, “You’re going to be everything Enzo needs. I can see that now. Along with the cause of his high blood pressure and rising body count.”
I’ve hardly seen Enzo during the day. He’s been holed up in Eliseo’s office with Nazario trying to track down The Bishop and now, Bash Malgeri, who we’ve learned has also gone missing. There are too many things that don’t seem right about the whole situation. Bash disappearing after he called Papa to report me missing is odd.
What does he have to gain in all of this?
Enzo explained the connection between his father, Sebastian’s uncle, and my brother’s disappearance. But things still aren’t adding up. Why, after all these years, are they trying to take down the Venatti family? After Gianni’s plan failed somiserably, ending in his own death—what’s there to gain for either party involved?
It’s all becoming too much, so I’ve chosen to focus my efforts on the wedding.
It’s strange.
A week ago, if someone would’ve said I was getting married, I would’ve laughed in their face. Marriage was never high on my priority list. Mostly because I’ve never found anyone who held my interest long enough, or who cared about me or my needs above their own. Most men have one agenda when it comes to me, but not Enzo. He seems to know when to push his dominance on me and when to let me stand on my own two feet. He doesn’t try to force me into the role of a dutiful, doting Mafia wife. In fact, my vicious streak seems to be a major turn-on for him.
The last two nights I’ve spent sweat-soaked and sexually wrung out with Enzo in our bed. He knows exactly what I need and doesn’t hesitate to give it to me. When he found me hiding in the room, crying, mourning the years I’ve lost with Annanias—now Daemon—he didn’t mock me or coddle me. Instead, Enzo used his leather riding crop to bring me to the edge over and over again until I agreed to stop holding myself responsible for a sin I didn’t commit. When I finally gave in to the truth, Enzo sent me careening over the edge of bliss so hard I saw stars right before I blacked out.
When I woke up a short while later, cradled against his chest, he flipped me over and made sweet love to me. It was a different feeling from all the other times, and I’m still not sure how I feel about it. His gentleness didn’t scare me this time. In a way, it felt like it was healing me, mending the torn and tattered pieces of my heart no one else knows exist. I don’t know how he does it. I don’t know if he means it. But it means everything to me.
Which is scaring the fuck out of me.
I can’t be falling for him.
You’re going to marry him.
But this isn’t love. This is just really good sex. Right?
Riiight.
This morning it was more of the same, only this time with every thrust, with each kiss, he whispers the wordmineand my heart is doing that twisting thing again. And now I find myself wondering if he really means it.
Hours later, we’re all in the dining room where Vella has had the staff preparing a large spread of a meal for everyone. We aren’t having a rehearsal, but people will fly in today.
Mama is still going to throttle both of us for not allowing her to be a part of my wedding plans. Oh, and Papa will probably make us redo the whole thing so he can walk me down the aisle and make Enzo squirm for stealing his baby girl away.
For now, we do this our way.
Giselle, Enzo’s sister, will be the first to arrive. She’s due here any moment, and for some reason I find myself nervous to meet her. From what Vella has told me, Giselle is the only other person in this world that Enzo has ever loved besides his mother. To say I’m not jealous would be a lie. It’s stupid really. To be jealous of a brother’s love for his sister. But I won’t say it out loud, so it doesn’t count.
I just wish he loved me.
Knowing that Enzo chose not to spend his day hiding in the office today, when he knows Giselle will be arriving, was further proof that she means more to him than me. I know I sound like a petulant child, but I had hoped that what transpired between us these last few days meant something to him. ThatImean something more than good sex to him. More than just the means to end a war.
I know he’s been busy trying to track down his enemies and protect the family, all those made men responsibilities, but I stillfind myself jealous of a woman I’ve never met, who I will never hold a candle to in the eyes of my soon to be husband.
Hex sidles up beside me. I had almost forgotten he was here. He’s been holed up in his room since the first night he arrived. With his arm suddenly slung over my shoulder, he whispers in my ear, “You look like you could use a walk.”
I hadn’t realized how stuffy it actually felt in here or how much I could use some fresh air until he mentioned it.
“Yeah, I could. Let’s go.” I follow him out the back doors, past the patio and onto the path that leads down to the water. “We should tell them we’re leaving. Vella warned me her men would attempt to stop me if they saw me coming this way on my own.”
“You’re not alone. I’m with you.” Hex smiles. He looks different without all his makeup and costume. He’s fucking hot. And those crystalline blue eyes are stunning … and observant.
“Okay. But if they shoot at us, I’m telling them you kidnapped me.”
