Chapter 7
I’m jolted awake in what feels like the middle of the night to Geovani shaking me gently. “Red. Red. Get dressed, come on,” he encourages me, his voice low.
I try to focus on his face, but it’s pitch black. I can only make out the shadowy outline of his crooked nose. “What the fuck?” I croak, rubbing my tired eyes. I fell into an exhausted sleep just after dinner, but I know I haven’t slept all night yet, there is no way.
Geovani flicks on the lamp by my bed, burning my eyes. He tosses a pair of black tights at me, and they land on the end of my bed, then he follows up with his leather jacket. “Hurry up,” he mutters, glaring at me, unimpressed that I haven’t moved yet.
“What’s the rush? Come back to bed.” I run a hand through my tangled curls as I sit up, watching him pull on some jeans and a dark hoodie over his bare chest.
He pulls me out of bed to standing, the chilly night air sending a shiver over my bare legs. “I’ve been waiting for the perfect moment, and it seems like now is the time,” he explains, like somehow that make sense to me.
“Time for what?” I complain. I have no fucking clue what he’s going on about, but I pull the tights on over my bare legs and force my tired arms into his jacket.
“Can you just trust me on this? It’s important.” He tosses a pair of black boots in my direction, and I tug them on as well. Tightly he clasps my hand, his gaze lingering on me for a fraction of a second longer than necessary. As our eyes meet, a surge of electricity seems to crackle in the air. I blink back at him, waiting for him to enlighten me. “I’ll keep you safe, just promise me you will stay close.”
Wearily, I nod, seeing the seriousness on his face.
He takes my hand, pulling me along with him, rushing through the quiet apartment. When we make it out of the elevator, we find a black Maserati pulled into the first parking slot. It has extra-dark-tinted windows, and I know for sure this is his car. He opens my door for me, shoving me inside with a quick glance over his shoulder, before jumping in the driver’s side.
Like a lunatic, he screams out of the parking garage, the screech of his tires echoing off the concrete walls. I scramble to fix my seat belt in place before I fly through the front window. “Are you going to tell me where you’re taking me at this ungodly hour?” The car clock says it’s two a.m. I can’t for the life of me understand what could possibly be so important we need to do it in the dead of night.
He chuckles dismissively. “Have some patience, Harley.”
In a huff, I cross my arms over my chest, staring out the window, watching the city whoosh by with the two of us deadly silent until we’re on the outskirts of town where the houses thin out to trees. I’m not sure if it’s comforting to be away from the city or scarier that no one will be around to hear me scream if I’m being murdered.
Geovani absentmindedly pushes a button or two on the dashboard. Music pumps through the speakers, breaking the silence, “You’re so Dark,” by Arctic Monkeys. I glance at him, surprised by his choice. He hadn’t even heard of them before I introduced him to their music one night while we were working out in his gym. But he’s purposely avoiding my gaze, staring out over the black of night instead. I feel like he knows exactly what he’s doing. He’s too smart not to. This is a little nod to our time together.
Half an hour later, we pull into the parking lot of a secure storage company in the middle of bumfuck nowhere. He types in an access key then drives the car through the slowly opening metal gates. Once he finds a wall of safety deposit boxes, he pulls up out front, killing the engine and hopping out in a rush. It’s then I notice the gun wedged in the back of his jeans.
My stomach churns uncomfortably, not knowing what to expect next. They had all implied I shouldn’t leave the apartment, but I guess that’s why he’s brought a weapon just in case.
Coming around my side of the car, he holds out a hand for me to take. I look him over, my glare bitchy as fuck, telling him I’m not going anywhere with him. “If you want me to come with you, explain to me what’s going on first.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“I will enlighten you as soon as we’re back in the car, but for now, I just need you to trust me and stay close so I can keep you safe,” he growls out, getting impatient with me.
I offer him my hand, something in his desperation making me curious to see what he’s up to. He slams the door with his boot, pressing the fob to lock the car before wrapping an arm around my shoulders. I’d like to say protectively, but I think it’s more so he can direct me through the lot to the line-up of safety deposit boxes we find ourselves staring at. Even so, I don’t shrug him off; right now I’m grateful for his protection.
He searches diligently until he finds the one he’s been seeking, then he gently guides my hand to press my thumb against the keypad at the front. As I stare at him in disbelief, the small door slowly swings open. My eyes widen. What the actual hell is going on here?
He empties the box, hastily stuffing its contents into his front pocket. As soon as he closes the door, he swiftly directs me back toward his car, moving with urgency. We take off before I even have time to do up my seat belt again. We were out of the car for no more than one minute total.
My head spins, and my body trembles so hard my fists clench into balls. “What the actual fuck, Geo,” I yell, louder than I should in the confides of his car. But I’m fucking fuming. He just used me for my thumbprint.
“I’m sorry, Red, but you signed the contract, agreeing to have me help you with your businesses, but first we need access to it. I had the location of your papa’s safety deposit box, and you had the key. Or were the key,” he mutters, offering a half smile in the cheeky way only he can get away with.
A sickening realization hits me right in the gut. “Oh God, this is what your pa was talking about when he said he was going to take what he wanted from me dead or alive.” I stare at my thumb, thankful it’s still attached to my body.
He flinches at my comment, and I know he wasn’t aware just how close he came to that reality. He reaches over, stroking my knee. “You are safe now,” he says, trying to reassure me, or maybe it’s himself he needs to comfort. Either way, his words don’t make me feel secure.
What was my papa thinking setting me up like this? He had to know what kind of target he was placing on my back. Maybe that never crossed his mind. I guess he was thinking I would be owned by Carlo, saving his life, and this box would never be needed.
I touch the necklace Maddox gave me, clasping it in my hand, wondering what he would make of all this. “What was in that box?”
“The blueprint to run your papa’s businesses,” he surprises me by answering honestly.
As I watch him driving, I catch a brief glimpse of his eyes darting toward me. “Why was Alessandro so obsessed with marrying me for my family name, if all he needed was my finger? Carlo obviously knew that was all I’m good for.”
“Definitely not all you’re good for. Enzo likes to run things differently to Carlo; he wanted revenge for what he thought was a bad business dealing. My guess is on the advice of his son who wanted something more from you. He didn’t even know the treasure trove he had in his grasp.”
“Luckily for me. I wouldn’t have put it past him to slice my hand off if he did.”
Geovani laughs, trying to ease the tension.
But I wasn’t kidding. That man hated me. “Don’t keep me in the dark again. If we’re in this together, fucking tell me what’s going on instead of scaring me with all the secrets.”
“That wasn’t about keeping you in the dark, Red. I wanted to keep you safe. Call me paranoid, but I have no idea who’s watching us or listening to us right now. I shouldn’t even have you out of the apartment, except we need to get started on what your papa left behind, so I risked it.” His hand comes to my leg. “Do you get it? I’m not the bad guy here. We’re in this together, you have my word.”
I nod, hearing him. His explanation does make sense, he’s told me everything now. I guess I’m just so used to being kept in the dark that it gets me fired up. “Now what?”
“We go back home to bed,” he answers like it’s obvious, but he knows that wasn’t exactly what I was asking. He runs a hand over his stubbly jaw, and I can’t help but notice the dark circles forming under his eyes. He’s worn out. I guess being so shifty takes it out of a person. Especially when they never sleep.
“Are you coming to bed this time? You haven’t slept in there with me yet, but you said we had to share the room.” I keep watching him, waiting for his reaction.
When our eyes meet, I see a flicker of guilt in his gaze. “I don’t sleep a lot, Harley. If I need it, I’ll catch an hour on the couch.”
I raise a brow. “Or you’ll just stand in the door watching me sleep like a creeper,” I say, calling him out on his bullshit. I’m so sick of it.
He returns the eyebrow raise, but he can’t deny it. I’ve seen him standing there in the doorway when he thinks I’m asleep. He’s always watching me.
“You have to sleep properly sometime. How are you supposed to protect me when your pa comes for what he thinks is his?” I’m not really sure why I’m pushing this issue with him, if it’s just me feeling vulnerable tonight or insulted that he doesn’t want to sleep next to me. Or maybe I’m just fucked in the head and still have some unresolved feelings with him from when I thought he was my hero. Either way he’s not now, and I should be grateful he’s keeping his distance.
Eventually I give up on waiting for him to answer me and turn away, leaning my head into the window and closing my eyes. Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut. I might have just tipped him over the edge with my smart comments.
As the car comes to a stop, my eyes slowly flutter open, only to meet Geovani’s intense gaze. I must have really fallen asleep. Why is he looking at me like that? Before I have a chance to ask him, he forcefully swings open his car door, swiftly exiting the vehicle.
I follow him into the elevator, crossing my arms across my chest protectively as we head back up to his apartment. Things between us just got weird. Now I feel awkward and don’t know how to fix it. I didn’t mean to be pushy about him sleeping in bed with me, I was just worried about him. I kind of feel bad. I mean, I obviously stole his bed. Reluctantly, I start climbing the stairs. He doesn’t follow me, and when I glance back over my shoulder, I find him pouring himself a drink. Maybe he needs some space. This place is kind of crowded with us all shoved in here.
I continue up to the room, shrugging off his jacket before sinking back into the plush sheets and pulling up the comforter so I’m all cozy and warm. There is no way I will go back to sleep now, I’m too wired thinking over what just happened.
I’m surprised when the door opens, filling the room with light from the hall. Tonight, instead of just standing in the space, watching me pretend to sleep, Geovani comes inside the room, closing the door behind him before removing his jeans and hoodie. He slips in beside me in just his boxers. I watch his every move, eating up every hot inch of his chiseled ink-covered abdomen. I forgot how insane his body was. But man, he’s a god.
“You’re trouble, Red,” he grumbles.
I can’t help but smile to myself as he wraps his arms around my body and pulls me close to him. I’m tempted to run my hands over his smooth skin, but I refrain. Nothing good can come from me touching him, especially when he’s almost naked. “I still hate you,” I whisper, making sure he’s crystal clear where we stand. Right now, I might need him to make me feel safe in this fucked-up world that I don’t understand, but I don’t forgive him for what he’s done to me. The lies and even using me the way he did tonight.
“I know. I’m still reeling from you taking off and agreeing to marry Alessandro, so let’s just call it even.”
I glance over my shoulder. He’s angry with me? “You know I had no choice.”
As his hand glides down my arm, a shiver runs through my body. My heart kicks up a beat. I like his rough hands on my bare skin, and I greedily want them to keep moving. To touch me the way he did when he fucked me in his gym. He was rough and demanding. I ate up every second of our time together. “Maybe. I also know the way you look at him when you’re together. You’re like that emoji with the love-heart eyes.”
I burst out laughing at the ridiculous image he’s just painted for me. “What? I so don’t.” I continue to laugh, my laughter echoing through the room. “How would you know anyway?” I go to turn in his arms, needing to see his face, but he stops me with a heavy arm coming down over my chest. I stare at the wall on the other side of the room, frustrated.
“The rehearsal dinner,” he grumbles, making it obvious he’s bitter about it.
“That was all a show.” I scoff. “Just a part of his manipulation. To prove to Enzo and you that I was his. Got you all hot and bothered, though, so it must have looked legit.” I dig myself a little deeper. I remember the intensity in his eyes as he watched us carry on like the happy couple. He longed to be a part of it, I could tell.
He chuckles darkly, his laughter vibrating right through my body with us so close. “I tell you what did get me all worked up. Watching Ricky and Maddox finger-fuck you on the kitchen counter. The way you came apart for them was fucking hot.” As he exhales, his breath tickles the back of my neck, causing a shiver to cascade down my spine.
I stiffen. How the hell?
“I have eyes everywhere, Red. I watched you falling for each of them more and more by the day, so you can’t deny it. I know what they all mean to you.”
My heart races like crazy, and I break into a cold sweat. Not because of what he thinks he saw in my relationship with the boys but because of how he saw it. “You have cameras in the Moretti house?” I snap, mortified.
What else did he see? My mind races with everything that happened while I was staying there with the boys. The way they had me locked up, Ricky playing doctor and taking care of me while I was injured. That fucking dinner where Alessandro informed me I was marrying him. The way he got me to agree. Oh my God. He would have seen every mortifying second of it. My cheeks start to radiate heat. I will never be able to look at him again.
His hand runs down my arm again, then his hand slips a little lower, wrapping around my belly. “Time for sleep, sweetheart. Or you’re going to be cranky with me when I wake you up in a couple of hours to train.”
“Sleep?” I shake my head. “That’s not fair, you can’t just drop that on me then tell me to go to sleep,” I complain, needing more information, because now my imagination is running wild. But he doesn’t say another word. Before long, his breathing becomes even and the soft sounds of him sleeping are obvious. I groan, knowing I’ve already lost this battle.