As suddenly as he embraced me, he’s gone. Cold air sweeps over my back and I shiver.
Turning, I watch him retreat, then be swallowed up by the crowd. I’m still trying to wrap my head around what just happened. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think Maximo tried to stake his claim on me. That he’sjealousof Enzo.
But I don’t belong to him.
Besides, of all the women in New York, he wouldn’t wantme.I’ve been away too long. My family no longer holds the power they once did since it’s just me and my sister—who married into the Irish mob. I’m a nobody. If he wants to solidify his position by marriage, he should choose anyone other than me.
So why is Maximo Pontrelli, a powerful new don, caressing my skin like a lover and calling mecara mia?
CHAPTER 5
Maximo
My driver took Elena to visit her sister this morning, just as I promised. Even though I know exactly where she is, and that she’s well-protected, I still feel a sense of unease that she’s gone. I prefer her to be close, where I can see her. Last night I made the mistake of letting her out of my sight. That won’t happen again.
Even though I gave her space after the incident with Enzo, I kept a closer eye on her.
Enzo touched her. He tucked that strand of deep red hair behind her ear. As soon as I saw them together my vision tinged a dangerous crimson. If he was anybody else I’d have cut off his fucking hand for caressing her like that. For daring to touch what’s mine.
Unfortunately, he’s the Casella heir. They’re a very powerful family. One I cannot afford to cross. But if he ever goes near her again, I’ll fucking kill him.
Releasing a heavy sigh, I rake my fingers through my hair. Elena’s been in the city for one day and she’s already drawing attention. Of course she is, she’s gorgeous. And since she’s been missing from this society for so long, she has this mysterious air that attracts too many people’s questioning interest.
I need to put a ring on her finger. Claim her in front of everyone so there’ll be no doubt in their minds that she belongs with me. That she’s taken.
Since Elena’s away today, I meander through her bedroom and into her closet. My staff unpacked and neatly organized her belongings.
I notice she has a new purse, a pink Fendi, sitting on the shelf. Plucking it from its spot, I slip a tiny tracking device into the interior pocket, then replace it next to her other purses. They all have similar devices in them. I made sure of that before I left Italy. Everywhere Elena goes, I see her.
Satisfied that I have that angle covered, I add a new cocktail dress to her wardrobe. She’ll be in need of it soon.
Closing her closet door, my gaze scans the rest of her room. I open her bedside table drawer and find a laptop. Why does she need more than a phone? She already has the entire internet in the palm of her hand. Why a laptop?
Sitting on the bed, I wake up her computer and search everything from her files to her browser history.
One of the websites she has bookmarked catches my eye. “What is this?” I murmur as I click the link that opens some type of writing and publishing app.
Scanning the contents, I realize that Elena’s not only a reader of books, but also a writer. This is her work. It appears she publishes on a subscription site. Is she making money with her stories?
Going back to her bookmarks, I find a bank account link and log in with the saved password. Itskat how easy it is to get into her confidential and financial information. Someday I’ll teach her how to secure her data. But… not any time soon as her negligence works to my advantage.
I stare at her bank account balance for several long moments. Is her sister depositing a hefty allowance every month, or… Ireview the transaction history. Most of them come from that publishing app.
My girl’s full of secrets. I had no idea she was financially stable on her own. I didn’t even realize she had a career. This level of income is a damn good career too.
My chest warms. I’m proud of Elena. She’s certainly far more than she appears. Independent. Industrious. Creative.
Switching over to her email, any fuzzy feelings vanish in an instant as I read an email saved in her drafts folder.
Ravenna, I love you, and this is really hard to write. But I have to do it. Hopefully I’ll be able to tell you when I visit, but if for some reason I chicken out, just know I love you.
I’m leaving. More than that, I’m vanishing. So this is goodbye. I can’t live in the mafia world like you do. I’m going to give myself a fresh start. Don’t worry, I have all the resources I need and I’ll be just fine.
No. My fingers ball into fists. She’s leaving?
Over my dead fucking body.
I piece together everything I’ve found on her laptop and suddenly those real estate listings for California make more sense. She’s financially independent, has a source of income, and she plans to say her goodbyes then vanish into a normal life on the West Coast.
