We’re in a war with two families who used to be allies, protecting the rivals and their entire family.I can’t blame my father for going a little fucking berserk.Even Leandro and my other
brothers were skeptical at first, but they know I’ve never steered this family wrong.It took a heated argument and some convincing on my part, especially to bring my father over to my side, but when all is said and done, he’s always going to stand by his blood.The Roselli boys are all in when it’s their family, and this is no different, even if it’s messier than fuck.
Tomorrow, we’ll go over what the soldiers learned and decide what needs to be done, but I can guaran-fucking-tee that we’re not going to take this lying down.Whoever sent those fucks to our house are no better than rats.I don’t care who did what.It’s as though my younger brother reads my mind.“You know what happens to rats.”Gino says.
But looking at Sophia, at the amber light still burning bright in those beautiful dark eyes, I will do whatever it takes to find out the truth, make this right, and protect her and her most loved family member from the monster I’m learning Barcelo Gallini to be.
Sophia’s eyes meet mine and she gives me a small tilt of her lips.No matter the reality of our war, we’re in this together, for better or for worse.Destiny has brought us together and I dare any fucking man to try to take what’s mine.She may think she’s going to be with me for a year, at least that’s what the contract says.But I already know at the end of this year there’s no fucking way I’m giving my kitten back.Deal or no deal, she’s mine for good.
8
Sophia
The fact that they speak so freely in front of me, a rival from another family for so very long, is surprising, even to me.I don’t know why it’s surprising.I watched Massimo put his own fingerprints on that gun so that all evidence would point to him instead of me if ever found.Not that it will be but still.His feelings for me have to be as real as mine are for him.He doesn’t have to say the words, I feel them in every action and move he makes.But still, it surprises me that he speaks so freely around me.Maybe it’s because Papa did not.
I curl myself into the couch as they talk, sipping on the cup of coffee that has long since cooled, but soothes the dryness of my throat as they talk about plans to ensure nothing about that fateful night on the yacht comes to light.Especially for me and Massimo.
Even though the bodies are under the sea, who knows if any day something could float to the surface, some piece of yacht that didn’t fully burn with the explosion, or fingerprint that traces to me or Massimo, or someone who saw something that they shouldn’t have seen.Loose ends.
If it had been my father, he would have ordered them to kill me, right then and there and let me burn with the yacht, divesting themselves of the worry about what might come back to bite them in the ass.It’s how we were all trained growing up.Maybe old man Roselli felt the same way.He was sure mad enough when he came to Massimo’s estate that night, but I’m still here, and I have no doubt it’s only Massimo and perhaps Leandro to thank for that fact.
Massimo looks to each of his brothers.“We go about our business as though nothing has happened for now.The minute all the intel is in, we’ll put it together, and only then do we hit back.We have all the pieces first, capisce?No misinformation, unexplained connections, nothing that we can’t solidly explain.Then and only then do we go after the bastards.Our acts will be fully justified.”
Leandro nods in agreement, and Gino slowly comes around, thoughtful for a moment.And when I glance up, all three dark-eyed brothers are looking at me.“You good?”Leandro asks.He may be gruff, but he’s proven kind to those that he cares about, and clearly anyone his brother cares about is treated well too.
“More than good.Thank you all.I put everyone in this position.I’m so sorry.”
Massimo’s eyes grow dark.“You did what you thought would save my life, and you didn’t know I had bullets left or that I had the shot.You saved my life.Don’t ever doubt that.This family will all stand behind you, no matter what the polizia and others bring to our door.Not only did you take those shots to defend me and yourself, but you are also a Roselli now after all.”
My eyes meet his, shining with emotion I just simply can’t hide.His eyes take on a little light, a brief glimpse of brightness from the otherwise troubled and dark waters of his thoughts.My chest tightens with the knowledge of all that lies on his shoulders, the entire Roselli family enterprise, all of his brothers, his mother and father and the issues between he and his dad, and all the rivals who would love nothing better than to take what his family has built all away.Survival of the fittest, but you have to fight to stay on top every single day in this life.
I take his hand in mine, simply as a gesture of comfort but I know it’s more than that, my heart is already impacted.Massimo Roselli has managed to worm his way right into my heart, and no matter our promises, or the time duration, there’s no denying that I give a real damn about his feelings and what happens to the man who protects me from anyone who dares to come near.
Even the police, even when what they may piece together could send me to prison for the rest of my life.Maybe there was a time I could have claimed self-defense, but how would that work now after not coming forward, covering up the truth and outwardly lying, at least that’s what they’ll say, when they came to ask.No, I just have to hope the police let it lie, let the families work it out ourselves, and that when all the dust settles the Amortes don’t come out on top.Not after what they are trying to do to the Rosellis and me and my entire family.
I’ll give it a day or two, then see if Massimo will let me call Anna again.Once or twice a week is just never enough.As much as he wants to protect us from those who may be listening, I need to hear my sister’s voice.Even when the words out of her mouth are cryptic and don’t tell me exactly what I want to know.It soothes my worry about my older sister just to hear the softness of her voice.I wish I could ask her about the pregnancy, about how she’s feeling or anything about my future niece or nephew.But I just can’t risk information getting out that someone may not know and can perhaps be used against her in the future.
The depth of Massimo’s voice changes causing me to glance over at the men still huddled by the window talking.His eyes meet mine across the room, and I don’t have to be told that the conversation somehow has turned to me.I stand, gathering a few of the cups onto the silver tray for Elsie and excuse myself from the room.
It’s enough that Massimo didn’t ask me to leave, like my father used to do.It’s not a woman’s world, we don’t want you to have to hear anything that goes on.No, just let my mother worry herself to death because she wasn’t told a thing.At least Massimo knows he can speak freely around me and even seemingly feels comfortable.I guess he probably feels there really is no point though.If I were going to take him out, that would have happened a long time ago.
The gaze of his eyes on my ass as I walk toward the door heat my skin right through the thin material of my dress slacks.I scrunch the sleeves of the sweater up to my elbows and my diamond ring flashes in the light.I turn and give him a wink, and head for the bedroom, because all thoughts of whatever conversation he was having have now gone by the wayside.Something else is on my mind.
Massimo has done so much for me to make me feel comfortable in his home, make me his wife, and try to get his family to accept me all while almost forcing them to protect their rivals.And not one of those things did I ask.He’s doing it because the feelings for him that squeeze my heart and make my blood run cold when he’s in any type of danger, he feels it too.I’d put every penny I have on it that his feelings for me are just as real as mine for him.
Weekslater it comes to me.Maybe instead of telling him, of whispering words of love, I’ll show him with something special.The thought of his threat a couple months ago about torturing me in his lower level brings vivid images of spanking benches and the like to my mind.The wheels begin to spin and before long I’m back in our bedroom, rifling through some of the little nighties he’s purchased, some heels, and a sleek blackish-gray colored tie that will look especially good with this little ensemble.
I stuff it all in one of my oversized purses with my phone and head downstairs.It’s high time that I check out the machines, implements and torture toys that he has in his lower level.The elevator behind the closet takes me past the main floor and to the lowest level of the house.When it opens, the lights immediately come on and to my surprise, the entire space, a very large open space, is completely devoid of anything at all, so unlike I had imagined.
The bare walls are the starkest white I’ve ever seen, like a pristine splashing of snow.My brows knit with confusion.He threatened to take me down here and torture me.There has to be a secret room, a panel somewhere.I walk along the floors that are dipped in a special coating that looks like marble.Hell, the families are so loaded it could be marble but the sound of it underneath my feet tells me it’s not.Perhaps something with a little more give for the lower level.There has to be a secret room, a playroom, or something.
The single door on the backside of the room catches my full attention but then gives me pause.I could seriously find any number of things behind that door.Do I really want to go wandering into territory where I have no right to be, or see things that weren’t meant for my eyes?Get into some awful trouble for seeing something that could get a person killed?But my curiosity gets the best of me, and even though it should, the warning in my mind still that doesn’t stop me.
I reach the door and ease it open.If it contained a deep dark secret then maybe it should be locked.The sound behind me causes me to halfway jump right out of my skin.“What the hell!”I exclaim.
Massimo’s intense dark eyes capture mine, making it impossible to look away or even breathe.“You’re the one snooping around like a little cat, not the other way around.What are you looking for down here, kitten?”
I exhale a breath.“I was going to surprise you, but ….”I’m hardly ever shy, but what I had planned is just hard to say when he’s looking at me that way.
