“City home.”Massimo puts his arm around me and pulls me protectively to his side.There’s really nothing to say at this point.My father could be dead or alive and we both know it.It’s the world we live in.Now, we wait as the others do their job in the warehouse.
He holds my hand as we get out of the car and walk upstairs.Theminute we’re in the bedroom he sits on the large bed fully dressed, draws me to his lap, and just holds me.My face nuzzles into his body’s warmth andprotection and finally I allow myself to cry.
Massimo doesn’t say a word, just allows me time.We’re comfortable in the silence and it makes my heart swell with love for him that he’s given up so much tonight to stay by my side and to allow me what I need, even at a very personal cost to him.
“I’ll be okay if you want to goto the warehouse, Massimo.I’m not naive and I know how much you must want to be there.”
His dark eyes capture mine.“Leandro and the men will do as I ask.What I need is to have you by my side, safe.And to have faith in my brothers and men we pay to do a job.That was my father’s downfall.I won’t second guess nor micromanage Leandro.He’s the best underboss on the streets.We’ll know when he and his men have something to tell us.Right now, I’m going to run you a bath and wash every bit of this night away one lick at a time.”
20
Sophia
Massimo draws a warm bath and peels the layers of clothing from my body, slowly, taking his time as though we didn’t just spend all last night getting reacquainted with the other.He strokes the tips of my nipples, making them strain into his touch, then his fingers slide against my pussy, making me anxious and ready for his heat.
He takes my hand and leads me into the oversized whirlpool tub before he undresses and slides in behind.I lean against his muscular chest and lay my legs on top of his as his arms tighten around me, keeping me safe and protected.“I’m sorry I left you alone and didn’t take your calls or talk to you.”
I sigh.It’s not okay, but I understand to a certain extent.“We’ll find a way forward.Our life is never going to be a safe place, but I’m far safer with you than without you.Can’t you see that?”
He doesn’t answer and I know it’s going to take time for him to forget the gruesome experience his mother went through.“I saw what happened.My eyes are wide open to the possibilities and this life.Nothing will ever be your fault.It’s my choice.”
Massimo tilts my head and kisses the sensitive skin of my neck.He gathers my hair and fastens it with a pony holder from the ledge of the bathtub and then lathers the washcloth and begins soaping my neck, arms, and breasts before heading south.By the time he’s done there’s not a spot on my body that he hasn’t cleaned.This man would let me go to keep me safe and cherishes me with everything that he is.I feel it, just like the magnetic attraction to him that very first day.It’s as though we were meant to be.Enemies or not, we were drawn to each other, and I am not letting him go.
Massimo Roselli belongs to me, and I dare anyone, even him, to try and keep us apart.Because this Cassone has said her vows and I’m not taking them back.No matter what the original deal was.I lean back against the solid chest, safe in the knowledge that we’re together again, no matter what it took to get here.“Are you going to give me a bath every time we fight or every time we go out to battle?”I ask as he rinses me with the handheld shower sprayer.
“Spread your legs kitten, I’m ready to play.”
21
Massimo
The next night, I leave my kitten to dry off after making her squirm on the end of my dick until we both found our release.I’m getting dressed for dinner when the shower turns off and Sophia comes out of the bathroom wearing only a wraparound towel.My cell rings.I feel Sophia’s eyes on me as I listen to Leandro’s update for a moment, my jaw tightening with what I have to do.“Thanks, Leandro.”
Sophia’s keen eyes take in my suit, and she watches as I finish with my tie.I close the distance between us, needing to feel her next to me as I tell her the news.I stroke a finger down the side of her face and push a wayward piece of hair behind her ear.“Get dressed kitten.They found your father.”
Her voice cracks.“Alive?”
My heart tightens for the pain I’m about to inflict, and I take her in my arms.“Your father didn’t make it, love.”
I hold my kitten as she sobs for the son of a bitch who could have prevented it all.Made a deal with Barcelo to keep his territory running in exchange for his daughter.His blood.I swear on everything holy that it will be different for my daughters if we ever have them.They won’t be used as a commodity or pawn in the family business.I won’t fucking allow it as the boss.
Right now, though, I have to give her the closure she needs, although I know in my heart, closure is an illusion in a world such as ours.There’s always someone lurking around the corner who wants what you have and will do anything in their power to take it, if you’re weak and allow it.They can come, because I fucking won’t be.No one will take what’s mine.
Sophia gets dressed.She moves slowly and I watch her carefully for any signs that shock may be setting in.She’s been through so much in such a short time, and I’m not looking forward to seeing her in any more pain, but there’s nothing I can do about the choices her father made and deals he signed with the Gallini devil.All I can do is make sure that the devil pays.
Jimmy has the car pulled around when we get outside and already has the back door open for us.Sophia slides into the heated leather seats and I move in beside her, buckling her belt as she stares out the window into the night, preoccupied with her thoughts.Jimmy knows where he’s going and stays unusually quiet on the drive into the city and across town.No one expected Barcelo to crack so easily, but at one point or another, you know you’ve lost the game.It’s just a matter of how much pain you want to accept as the consequence for the life you’ve led and what you’ve done to others along the way.
Barcelo Gallini will deal with my father, me, and Leandro for what he did to our mother, but first, I take care of Sophia.She looks up at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.“I should have known we wouldn’t find him alive, but I hoped.”
“I know, kitten.I hoped we would find him alive for you too,” I tell her.It’s not a lie, although he and I would have probably come to blows over what he allowed his daughters to go through if he had survived.“He’s in rough shape, Sophia.Are you sure you want to see him like this or wait until the funeral?”
She contemplates my question for a moment.“No, I need to see the violence, I need to let what this monster did to my family seep into my veins.”
My jaw locks tight.Exactly the answer I didn’t want to hear.I don’t want any of the darkness touching her at all, taking her light, but it’s not my decision to make.She’s right about that.She’s a grown woman and it’s her right as a Cassone and now a Roselli to be part of whatever she wants to be part of, as long as she is safe.And that’s my job.
Keeping my kitten safe while protecting her from herself is not always going to be easy.It took almost losing her to learn that the hard way.
Jimmy pulls up at the warehouse.An out of the way one we’ve known the Gallinis owned for years, and checked earlier, before Barcelo must have moved him.The fucker was smart playing shadow games with his own prisoners and warehouses.He kept our men on their toes, I have to give him that.A worthy opponent, although one who will be dead as soon as he’s been made to pay.
