I watch the three dots appear. Disappear. Appear again.
Remove the cameras, Salvatore.
I don't respond.
Where are you?
Does it matter? You're just going to spy anyway.
I don't want to have to pull up the feed from the entire estate. I have security for that. Just tell me where you are.
A pause. Then:
What do you want, Salvatore?
What do I want?
I want you underneath me. I want your nails in my back and my name on your lips. I want to hear you scream and beg and break apart while I'm buried so deep inside you that you forget to be a smartass.
I want my cock inside that pretty little mouth of yours. I want to ruin you in ways I've never ruined anyone before. I want to make you want to stay.
Valentina, I want to know that you're still here, so I don't have to burn this whole fucking town down to find you.
But I don’t any of that. Instead I take a deep breath and respond.
Dinner tomorrow night with my family. 7:30. Don't be late.
You didn't have to spy on me for that.
See you later, gorgeous.
She wants me to remove the cameras? Not a chance in hell.
I call Nico, who picks up on the first ring. "Boss?"
"Nico, the book she was reading when your men drugged her." I lean forward, getting to the point.
"Sorry, Boss. I was trying to find an angle, but I knew she'd put up a fight—"
"That's not why I called. Do you have the book?"
"I can get it."
"Good. Get it to Rosa to put in her room. Tonight."
"Done." “Oh, and one more thing, go to her library I need you to get something for me.” I send him the details and the answer for Rosa who finally calls me back. But the fact that Valentina texted me has already put my mind at ease, at least a little.
"Hey, Mr. Vitale. I'm sorry, I called you back as soon as I could."
"Where's Valentina?"
"She’s not in her room?”
“No.”
“Ok. She's been finding her footing a little, so I've given her some space to do that. She's either in the library reading or the garden writing."
" The library. I should have gone there first. Instead, I checked her room three times like a fool." I disconnect and head to the library.
