Chapter 28
CHAPTER 28
ALISON
B eautiful and sunny California contrasted with the hell I just stepped out of. I’d fallen for Max’s erotic trap only to be left with a bitter taste in my mouth and another shaming label. Dirty.
I let the golden afternoon sun bathe my skin as soon as we stepped out of that goddamn plane. I slept myself to sobriety after what seemed like the worst nightmare I’d ever had.
I was still dumbfounded by how quickly things had escalated and how I had allowed it to go that far. Try as I might, my mind was still trapped in the same loops of what-the-fucks.
But I had asked for it, right? I pushed where I already knew it would strike a spark, and I didn’t cease to poke further until I saw it hurting like a bitch. I craved his pain because it was the only thing Max let slip past his armor. The only thing that showed me there was a possibility that he cared for me, too. Or maybe it was just possession.
Truth? My pussy was still aching. His fingers had been magical but very far from what I wanted and needed. That’s why I pushed him until he had no fight left. Another truth? He would not lay a fucking finger on me ever again.
My demons followed me into my restless sleep and haunted my dreams yet again. I dreamt about that cold shower in contrast to the warm proximity of Max’s body. About his anger and demanding touch. About the way he possessed me like he owned me.
He was right. He had branded me, but he had broken me further, too. I was conflicted and hurt and angry. I had fallen for someone who couldn’t find it in him to fight for me. Instead, he was handing me over like a fucking used trophy he had no shelf for. Delivery included.
Max was a huge asshole, and still, I craved him like water in a fucking desert. Of course, leave it to me to want what I couldn’t have. I had Jackson, I had Victor, I had Vincenzo, and all I could think about was fucking Max. Literally fucking Max.
And how he had fucked me. Raw and bare. I made a mental note to get Plan B today as soon as possible. With my current luck, there was no way I wouldn’t end up pregnant after the way he exploded inside me. There was so much cum I could still feel it leaking from my pussy as I walked down the airplane’s steps. A harsh reminder of what just happened and shouldn’t.
My party of four and I strutted out of the airport, and I couldn’t wait to get out from under their watch. Jimmy and the Fabs followed close while Max lingered behind, his ear glued to his phone the entire time. Hopefully he was asking my brother for someone to replace him. A week with him in paradise would quickly turn into hell. It already had, and we had barely even landed.
Vincenzo was waiting for us, leaning against a huge black SUV, impeccably dressed in a dark gray suit with his cane in hand. His smile broadened as soon as we came into view, and I couldn’t help but feel like I’d seen that smile before. Something about it made my stomach flutter.
He seemed genuinely happy to see me, and I was pleased to see him again, too.
“Buonasera, Nessa .” He said in a deep, calm voice. “Welcome home.”
“Buonasera, Vincenzo.” I smiled back. He was looking much better, fully recovered, his eyes sparkling with that mischievous and boyish glint I’d seen in them when we first met.
“I trust the flight went well?” Vincenzo asked, looking straight at the Fabs, who promptly replied with a unison of “Si, Signor” before his eyes were back on me.
“As best as it could.” I faked a small smile, leaving out the part where Max had fucked me in a damn airplane and left me in a puddle of shame.
“Good. Shall we?” Vincenzo asked, placing a hand on the small of my back, directing me to the car.
“She’ll be coming with us. You can lead the way, Don… Massimo,” Max practically grunted from behind me, his words fully laced with disdain.
“Well, Max. Here, you don’t call the shots. I do. Remember? But I’ll leave it to my future wife’s consideration. She can make her own choices. Her recent history tells me she chooses wisely.” Vincenzo didn’t even try to hide the shit-eating grin on his face as he spoke about my choices. The choice I had made to marry him.
Was he simply stating his dominance on his territory or actually helping me get away from Max’s grip?
They both looked at me, waiting for my decision. Somehow, it seemed like I was deciding much more than just a simple car ride. It was as if I was stating my preference between the two of them.
“I’m going with you. Goes without saying,” I said, placing my hand on Vincenzo’s chest and placing a kiss on his cheek, glaring back at Max before getting into the car. It took him a while to follow me into the vehicle, but soon enough, he did, and we were pulling away from the curb.
“I hope you didn’t mind my small intrusion back there, but after the hospital, I thought you might welcome the distance.” I smiled at his remark and thanked the thoughtfulness. All I needed was, in fact, distance. But still, I could take care of myself.
“Thank you. I appreciate it, but I know how to deal with Max. He’s here to provide me security and nothing else,” I assured him, or maybe just myself. He smiled back at me but didn’t reply.
I had to be careful around Vincenzo. He was a sly fox. His eyes saw way beyond the fake facades people put up, and that was a weapon I’d be good to avoid.
“My queen has finally arrived at her kingdom,” He sighed, looking out the window, a content expression on his face.
I couldn’t help the eerie feeling that crept up my spine. It was all just so… permanent.
“Your brother was adamant that you were to stay at a hotel and not at my estate. It’s a simple request that I don’t have any problem to acquiesce. I’ve reserved the master suite at one of my best hotels, right above Laguna Beach,” Vincenzo continued, now looking straight at me, studying my expression. I already had my suspicions this would be the case .
Before I came, Matt practically gave me a 101 crash course on how to deal with a shady mob boss, as he called him.
He didn’t trust Vincenzo, and I could see how much it gutted him that he had put me in this situation and not be here for damage control. Francesca couldn’t fly, and I’d never allow my brother to leave her side at this moment.
But still, I felt like I was where I was supposed to be.
“Maybe you’d like to freshen up. I’ll have a driver pick you up, and we can have a late dinner together?”
“Yes, that sounds perfect.”
Once we arrived at the luxurious Resort and Casino, I was amazed as Vincenzo walked me through the enormous foyer up to the reception. It was exotic yet extremely classy. Wealth and exuberance were carved in every painting, every vintage rug, every singular piece of furniture that made up a perfect ambiance of comfort and indulgence.
“You said this is one of yours?” I asked, not masking the mesmerized expression plastered on my face.
“It is. Soon it will be yours, too. You can change whatever you don’t like, Nessa .”
I smiled and nodded absentmindedly as I took in the extreme opulence and beauty of this enchanted place. “I… I love it all.”
“There’s a casino on the other side if you would like to try your luck. The house will grant you a hundred thousand if you want to have some fun.”
I chuckled at the way he spoke about that exorbitant amount of money as if it was nothing but change. I came from money, from privilege and abundance. Money was never a problem for us, but by the looks of it, for Vincenzo, it was just paper, and he had a lot to burn .
As soon as we reached the counter, the receptionist handed Vincenzo the key card to my room and three others. Max and Jimmy were on high alert, their backs towards me as they studied all the entrances, escape routes, and blind spots. I knew the drill. I had seen them do it when they were with Matt.
“This one is yours, Nessa . Top floor master suite. Whatever you need, you just have to dial your private room service number, which will be by the phone,” Vincenzo explained, handing me the key. “Max, these two are for you and your fellow soldato . And this last one is a copy of Miss Battaglia’s key. Protection is not an issue in my hotel, but I’d rather be safe than sorry. If this key is used, my men will be alerted immediately.”
Max took the keys from him and kept them in his pocket, never uttering a single word, his face a clear mask of derision.
“I’ll leave you to rest. My driver will be here around nine.”
Vincenzo placed a kiss on my forehead and left.
“I’ll take the elevator with Miss Battaglia. You can check the stairs,” Max practically barked at Jimmy, handing him his key card.
Jimmy barely nodded and took off for the stairwell as if knowing exactly what this was about. Protocol stated they were both obliged to stay with me, together.
Something was up.
After walking across the grand hall, we waited for the elevator, staring at the steel doors in awkward silence, Max one step behind me. My thoughts were racing a thousand miles an hour in all possible directions, and every single one of them had Max as the main character. Damn him .
How do I shut him out?
Finally, stepping into the small space, Max followed my lead but paused with his feet right on top of the door rail and reached for something inside his pocket. His eyes landed on mine while his hand retrieved the two cards Vincenzo had given him. One to his room and the other the security copy to mine.
Max crouched down and dangled them just above that little gap between the cabin and the outside wall, staring up at me as if waiting for me to dare him.
“What are you doing?”
“Eliminating options.”
“Don’t you–”
“Ups.” Max dropped both of the cards, and I watched them disappear into the abyss below us before he stood back up, stepped into the elevator, and pressed the button to close the door. “Lost my key. Seems like I’m gonna have to crash with you.”
I couldn’t believe the nerve of this man.
“No fucking chance,” I grumbled.
With half a wide stride, Max was caging me against the wall, his face an inch away from mine.
“I wasn’t asking, Princess. ”
Max was so close to me that I could taste his damn cologne. His darkness spilled from every pore and onto me like a blanket. So heavy. So fucking divine.
“I’m not sleeping with you,” I warned.
“Relax. There’s a couch.”
“How do you know?”
“Umm, it’s a master suite. Of course it has a couch.” Something about that question had Max caught off guard, making him step to a more comfortable distance. One that didn’t have me craving those full lips on mine. “Vincenzo is trying to flash his wealth in your face to impress you. I’m sure it has a rooftop pool, too. ”
I knew I didn’t want him on this trip. I knew this was a fucking bad idea. What I didn’t know was just how much my stomach would flutter and my heart would pound at the thought of having Max sleeping in the same space as me.
And fuck, was he right.
There’s a damn pool, too.