“Is there anything else I should know?”
Edward has been like a father to me since my own died when I was a young man. He was there to care for me when the death of my father sent my mother into a deep depression she was never able to claw her way out of. He was there by my side when they lowered her casket into the ground next to my father. Edward, above everyone, deserves an explanation, but I’m not going to give it to him. Not yet.
“I want dinner brought to my office,” I say before I turn on my heels and walk in that direction.
He doesn’t follow me this time or stop me to ask more questions. If there’s one thing I can trust, it’s that he will carry out my wishes, no matter what they are. Including firing the entire staff of the house and hiring new people at a moment’s notice.
When I get to my office, there are phone calls I need to make. There are two shipments this week, and I need to make sure my men are at the docks waiting with plenty of cash to pay off the harbor inspector.
It wasn’t until I was eighteen that I was handed the reins of the family business from my uncle. He ran the operations without my knowledge until I was old enough to step into it. He died in the Busy Beaver’s champagne room last winter, or he’d be the one handling this drop.
For a Mafia family, we’re a small operation but one of the most powerful in the country. I only employ those that are necessary and cut those that are only there to steal from me. With my father and my uncle gone, all the decisions fall on my shoulders.
I send a text to Marco and tell him where to meet the guys and how much to pay off the inspectors. Once that’s done, I have a few of my other guys come in for meetings. Since last week, I’ve been spending more time at home, so as much as I hate the guys coming here, it’s necessary.
“You sure you’re good, boss?” Ryan, the guy that’s over my money laundering, seems to be genuinely concerned. “Some of the boys and I have been worried about you.”
“No need to worry,” I tell him as we stand from the table. “As you can see, I’m in good health. I’ve just got business here at home for a while.”
“Of course.” He nods as we shake hands. “I’ll run the numbers and get them back to you next week. Same time?”
“Perfect,” I tell him as he exits my office.
Edward appears at the door to walk him out, and the new housemaid comes through to clear the dinner dishes. I can’t remember her name, but I thank her as she leaves. She almost drops the plates in the process, and I roll my eyes. She’s way too skittish to be working in a mob house, but I’ll talk to Edward about that later. I don’t have time for it now.
“Are you finished for the night?” Edward asks when I walk out of my office.
“Yeah, I’m heading to bed. But make sure Watson is on standby. I need that contract signed."
“I’ll see that it’s done,” Edward says and tells me goodnight before he heads to the kitchen.
I take the stairs to the east wing, which is entirely mine. It’s basically a house within a house with a living room, a space to eat, and a bedroom and bathroom. During the worst parts of my life, I would spend days here without leaving. Once I got better, it felt like a cage. More recently, it’s been a place I can’t wait to see every day, and the anticipation is almost too much.
I step through the doors and close them behind me before turning the lock. I kick off my shoes at the entrance and then hang up my jacket in the closet nearby. I’m loosening my tie as I walk across the carpeted floor, and the scent of fresh roses fills the room. I have them changed every day whether they need it or not. Just in case.
Turning down the hallway, I get to the bedroom door and see that it’s slightly ajar. My heart is racing as I step inside and, like always, the sight of my very own sleeping beauty greets me.
Jema is in the center of the bed with her eyes closed, resting peacefully. She’s been this way since she fell, but I know one day soon she’s going to wake up. And when she does, she’s going to discover she’s mine.
Chapter 3
Jema
The sound of beeping slowly starts to wake me. I can't tell if it's close or far away because everything is so hazy. I try to lift my arm to turn off the alarm, but it's too heavy. That’s when a hand grasps mine, and my eyes pop open.
The light is blinding, so I have to squeeze them shut, but I see the flash of a man standing beside me. A very big man.
"Lights, dim fully," a deep voice says. It makes my stomach clench. "I've got you, kitten. You can open your eyes for me."
The voice turns softer as he coaxes me to listen. Slowly, I do what he says, but I have to blink a few times before my vision clears. When I see the man standing over me, I notice how his dark eyes are filled with possession. It has me trying to scoot away from him, but there’s nowhere to go.
Everything about the man screams danger. He’s dressed in all black, and a dark aura surrounds him. My reaction is biological, like when an animal sets their eyes on you. I’m the prey, and he's the hunter. The man's size isn't helping him appear less lethal. His build is thick, and he towers over me.
"How are you feeling, kitten?"
A smile turns up the corner of his mouth, and his eyes soften. His relaxed demeanor makes me relax some as he leans closer. I open my mouth, but instead of saying something, I cough. He mutters a curse before grabbing the water next to the bed, then brings it to my mouth so I can use the straw.
"The doctor will be here shortly to check you over." He offers me the straw again, and I take another grateful sip. "Drink more," he orders, and I do. “There you go.”
