Chapter 3 Renzo
RENZO
We reach the Salvatore compound around midnight. I’m exhausted and flustered and feeling all kinds of confusing, new sensations. It’s overwhelming, and I sense a migraine coming on.
The guards do a double-take as we drive past the iron gates, no doubt shocked that I have a woman with me.
I’ve never taken a woman home, and hell, now that I think about it, I can’t remember the last time I was with a woman in general.
Close to a decade, if I had to guess. I don’t have time for relationships, and I’ve never been a one-night stand kind of guy.
The driver pulls into the circular drive that wraps around the front garden of my mansion and parks near the front door.
He makes a move to get out, but I grunt and shake my head.
I can’t explain the sudden possessiveness coursing through me.
It’s like an adrenaline rush, only ten times more powerful.
I don’t want anyone to open her door or even fucking look at her.
She’s mine now, and I’ll be taking care of her every need.
The woman lifts her head from where it was resting on my shoulder, and she lets out a little yawn before stretching.
She blinks her big, sleepy eyes up at me, and Jesus, how is she adorable and sexy as hell at the same time?
I don’t even know her name, and yet my obsession with her is already out of control.
I climb out of the car and then hold my hand out for the woman to take. The driver quickly schools over his surprised expression, instead staring straight ahead. Good man. There’s a reason I pay him so well.
Only after stomping my way up the porch steps do I realize my little prize isn’t standing next to me. I look over my shoulder, watching her scurry to keep up with me. I’ll have to remember to go slower from now on. She has to take two steps for every one of my long strides.
The woman hops up the final stair, tripping slightly and bumping into me.
“Oops!” she exclaims before laughing at herself. The sound is so innocent coming from her lips. It shouldn’t make me want to strip her down and shove my dick between those juicy lips, but Christ, it’s all I can think about.
I grunt, clearing those thoughts from my head.
Pressing my thumb to the lock pad, I make a mental note to add her to the security system.
The door clicks three times, disengaging the multiple locks I have in place.
One can never be too cautious in this line of work.
Now that I have someone precious to protect, I’ll need to add a few more precautions.
Opening the door, I lead the shivering woman inside and head toward my bedroom to get her a fresh pair of clothes to change into. Not that I don’t appreciate seeing her curves on display in the pink bra and panty set adorned with black bows, but it can’t be comfortable.
Actually, I think I hate those scraps of clothing.
They’re a reminder that everyone else in that room saw my girl, a reminder of the reckless decision she made tonight.
I still need to get to the bottom of why she put herself at risk, but for now, we both need sleep.
I have no idea what my next move is, which is another new and terrifying feeling.
Hopefully, things will make more sense in the morning.
“Christmas is a week away,” the woman says from behind me. I furrow my brow, wondering why the hell she’s bringing that up. Is it December already? I suppose the below-freezing temps and snow outside should be a good indicator. “You don’t have any decorations,” she points out.
I huff out a dry laugh. “I don’t think I’ve ever decorated for Christmas.”
She gasps as if I just ran over her dog. “Not even growing up?”
I shake my head no. I literally cannot imagine my father hanging ornaments on a tree or stringing lights outside for a warm, festive glow.
“No time for Christmas around here. My job is very… demanding.” How am I going to tell her that I’m a fucking mafia boss?
I guess I’ll add that to the list of things to figure out tomorrow.
“Still,” she persists. “There’s always time for Christmas.”
We reach the door to my room, and I open it, heading straight for my dresser.
I mostly wear suits, but I have some gym clothes that might be more comfortable for my guest. I dig out a pair of sweatpants, a t-shirt, and even an old hoodie I don’t remember purchasing at any point in my life.
Nonetheless, I’m glad it’s here for her to wear.
“If you tell me to honor Christmas in my heart and keep it all year ‘round, I might throw up,” I inform her.
She giggles, and I turn to face her. The beautiful woman is standing in the doorway, not sure if she should come in any further. She’s silhouetted by the hallway light, her brown hair lit up like a halo.
“I knew you liked Christmas!” she exclaims.
“Do not,” I growl. It sounds more like a pout, even to my own ears.
“If you can quote A Christmas Carol, you like Christmas.”
I snort. “Holiday bullshit seeping into my subconscious from decades of overexposure doesn’t mean I feel any certain way about Christmas or any other day of the year.”
“Whatever you say, Ebeneezer,” she teases. Fuck me, I want to kiss that smirk right off of her lips.
“Actually, my name is Renzo.” I decide not to give her my last name in case she connects the dots. I don’t want to hide anything from her, I just want to be able to break the news to her in my own time, when I’m ready. “What’s your name?”
“Jaylin Carlisle.”
“Carlisle?” I choke out. There’s no way…
I knew I recognized her. I must have seen Jaylin during the several business meetings held at her father’s house. Her father.
“Allen Carlisle…?”
“Is my dad,” she finishes for me. Her eyes dart to the ground while her hands twist in front of her in a nervous gesture.
“And you know who I am?”
“Yes,” she confirms, her eyes solidly locked on the ground.
The revelation of her identity hits me square in the chest, making it hard to breathe. My world has been spun and flipped for a second time tonight. How the hell can I reconcile the unquenchable lust for Jaylin with the fact that I need to keep her father happy to secure our deal?
Furthermore, what is someone like Jaylin Carlisle doing at an auction like that?
It’s not like she needs the money. Her father is wealthy and only getting wealthier thanks to our mutually beneficial real estate deal.
Did her father send her my way to spy on me?
No, there’s no way he could have known I’d bid on her.
Then again, crazier things have happened, especially in the criminal world.
Fuck. I don’t know if I can trust her. My head is screaming at me to kick her out of my home, while my gut is twisted into knots at the thought of her leaving. And my heart? That fucker has never been of any use to me in all my thirty-nine years.
My temples pound with the migraine I’ve felt coming on for a while now. It’s all too much information, too much to handle, too much to think about right now. I need her out of my room and out of my head.
“Here.” I shove the clothes in her direction without making eye contact. “Cover up.”
Jaylin’s shoulders drop and she curls in on herself. I have the strangest urge to… hug her? Comfort her? I don’t fucking know. I didn’t mean to hurt her, I just need her gone so I can come up with a plan. She’s too… distracting. And complicated. And beautiful. And enchanting… Fuck me.
“Your room is across the hall. You’ll find a bathroom inside, stocked with everything you’ll need for a shower.” Jaylin nods once and starts to turn away from me. “Don’t get any ideas about leaving. I’ll hear you,” I add for some reason.
“Are you kidnapping me?” Surprisingly, she doesn’t sound scared. Interesting.
“You’re free to go,” I tell her, though the words taste bitter on my tongue.
She looks like she’s considering it, and a shiver of panic runs up and down my spine. I’ve never felt anything like it. Why is my heart trying to break out of my ribcage at the thought of her leaving?
“I… don’t have anywhere else to stay,” she admits, her gaze firmly locked on her feet.
“Good,” I grunt. “Then it’s settled.” I feel like I can breathe again now that she’s staying. I can’t keep up with the rollercoaster of emotions bubbling up, and I want nothing more than to crash into bed and close my eyes.
Without another word, I slam my bedroom door closed, leaving Jaylin standing out in the hallway.
I spend a few restless hours in bed trying to shut my brain off.
Rolling on my side, I take a deep breath and count down from one hundred.
I get to ninety-six before an image of Jaylin flashes across my mind.
Lust, concern, confusion, and frustration swirl in my chest. I rub the heel of my hand over my heart to ease the tension there. What the fuck am I supposed to do now?
Something pierces through my chaotic thoughts, putting me on high alert. I’ve learned to trust my instincts over the years, and something isn’t right. Another sound cuts through the otherwise silent house, this one louder and almost sounding like a whimper.
I’m on my feet in the next instant, grabbing the gun I keep in my bedside table drawer. Easing my door open, I peer to the left and to the right, scanning for the source of the noise.
An agonizing cry comes from Jaylin’s room, and I burst inside without a second thought. Who the hell snuck in? If they laid a finger on her, I swear to God I’ll–
The fury drains from me in an instant, replaced by the urgent need to get to Jaylin. She’s in the midst of a nightmare, her face stained red with tears as she chokes out a sob.
I set my gun down on the dresser and rush to her side, crawling on the bed so that I’m right next to her. “Jaylin,” I call out. “Jaylin, it’s just a dream.”
She shakes her head no and pushes me away. God, it hurts watching her fight her way through her fear. Moving on instinct, I gather the terrified woman into my arms, cradling her against my chest.
“Stop! Please,” she begs.
“Wake up, Jaylin. I’m right here. Wake up, baby.”
I’m not sure where the endearment came from, but it’s working. She freezes, then jolts awake, her wide eyes filled with fear.
“You’re safe,” I tell her. Again, words of comfort are coming from some hidden place inside of me reserved only for her. “You’re safe with me.”
“R-Renzo?” she stutters out. “What…?” More awareness floods her face as she blinks away the haze of her nightmare. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry. Did I wake you up?”
“It’s okay,” I say softly as I stroke her back. “What were you dreaming about?” Jaylin goes stiff in my arms.
“Um… nothing.”
“Try again,” I tell her firmly.
She sighs and readjusts herself in my arms. I guide us so we’re lying down, though I keep a tight hold on Jaylin. She seems to need my touch, and fuck if I don’t need hers after finding her the way I did.
“I was just overreacting,” she says weakly.
“The truth this time.”
Jaylin rolls her eyes, which soothes something deep inside. She still has that fire and sass, even after the night she’s had. My girl is a fighter, that’s for sure.
“In my dream, I was back on that stage,” she whispers. My jaw tightens, but I stay quiet. “Only I was totally… naked. The person who, uh, won the bid wasn’t… he wasn’t a nice man. He wasn’t… gentle.”
I can barely hear her by the end, but she doesn’t have to say any more for me to know what she’s talking about.
I bundle Jaylin even closer, pressing my lips to her forehead as I try to quell the rage building up inside.
Thank fuck I was there tonight. Her nightmare could have very well been a reality, but I have to stop thinking about that before I go back to that vile place and shoot every motherfucker still there.
“You know I’m not like them, right?” I whisper against her soft skin. I hold my breath as I wait for her answer.
“I know. Thank you.” It’s so quiet, I have to strain to make out her words, but when I do, my nonexistent heart swells with pride.
We stay wrapped up in each other for a few minutes, and then I silently turn Jaylin so her back is pressed against my front. I curl my massive body around her smaller one, engulfing her in my strong embrace. She snuggles deeper into me as I wrap an arm around her waist in a possessive hold.
I wait until her breathing evens out and her body goes limp, then I close my eyes and follow her into sleep.