Chapter 9 Benjamin
Benjamin
It’s the bajillion thread count on the duvet and the feel of silk sheets underneath, that first reminds me I’m most definitely not at home. My own duvet cover is scratchy and my mattress, lumpy. This mattress is like floating on a cloud of marshmallows.
The second reminder is the godawful décor I’m currently staring at with my bleary eyes. Third…um, third, is a scary blond staring at me with different-coloured eyes from the corner of the room.
“What are you doing in here?” I screech, pulling up the covers until they’re tucked under my chin. I had to sleep nude because I haven’t got my pyjamas.
Cielo looks entirely unfazed by my squawking. He simply continues to watch me from the wingback chair, one leg crossed over the other and his hands resting on his lap.
“I’d thought you’d be awake by now, trying to tunnel out of the house,” he says.
I narrow my eyes. “I won’t be that obvious,” I shoot back, presuming we’re skipping yesterday’s confrontation.
“We need to talk. Get dressed and come to Kevin’s room.”
“Why?” So much for me keeping a low profile and not antagonising him.
He grits his teeth and flares his nostrils. I wait for the acerbic response, but it doesn’t come.
“Please, just do as I ask.” And then he stands gracefully, gives me one last sweeping look, and leaves.
My heart is pounding. I’d like to say it’s from the surprise of finding someone watching me as I sleep, but I’m not sure that’s the reason…
at least not the entire reason. As much as Cielo is a foul specimen of a human being, his stare stirs something in me.
My mind conjures a particular scene in Criminal Casanova.
Dammit, that’s how it starts! The protagonist gets sucked in by the mob king and his sultry looks.
He gets all flustered and starts to feel attraction, even though the mob king is a real piece of work.
Well, I’m not falling for it. Nope! Cielo can do sweepy looks and smouldering eye contact, but he won’t break me.
Satisfied I can keep it in my boxers, I slip out of bed and quickly shower again.
I still feel like I have half an ocean on my skin.
For once, I’m not looking forward to putting on my wool trousers.
After the feel of silk sheets on my skin, I know the heavy material of my clothes is going to be uncomfortable.
Walking to the ugly vanity, I stop and stare. I can’t put my wool trousers on because they aren’t where I left them. None of my clothes are. What the hell?
Turning in a circle, I search for my clothes. Is this Cielo’s childish way of pissing me off? I thought he would be more the finger-snapping and kneecapping type than a stealing-a-guy’s-clothes kind of mobster.
Just as my anger begins to rise, I spot a pile of clothes on a small table next to the wingback chair. Cautiously, and with an air of suspicion, I approach. Neatly folded on it is a pair of dark grey slacks and a ruby-red silk shirt. There is even underwear!
I’m not sure how long I stand there staring, but it must be approaching at least ten minutes. Cielo will probably burst through the door any second and drag me to Kevin’s room, because I am most definitely late.
Did Cielo leave these here? Is he seriously trying to dress me? What kind of control freak does that?
My fingernails dig into my palm as I get more and more agitated.
I do not want to wear clothes picked out by him!
How dare he? But what choice do I have? I mean, I could make a statement and waltz to Kevin’s room in just the undies.
But the idea of Cielo assessing my body isn’t worth the anxiety or other feelings his stare elicits.
Begrudgingly, I slip on the clothes and hate myself for feeling really good in them. The floor-length mirror makes me pause because I don’t look like myself at all. I look… Wow! I look pretty hot!
Instead of the usual neat sweep, I let my hair stay ruffled.
For no other reason than to give my scalp a break from rigorous combing.
It has nothing to do with wanting to look alluring, in any way whatsoever.
But let’s say that was partly the case; I’d be doing it for me. No reason I can’t look sexy for myself.
Batting away my thoughts, I go to leave until I remember I’m barefoot. One quick look and I see a pair of Italian boots…with a heel. I have the stability of a baby giraffe in loafers, let alone heeled shoes. Okay, they’re bad. Maybe an inch? Still, that’s higher than I’m used to.
Letting out a frustrated growl, I stomp over and put the blasted things on my feet. I hate Cielo has dressed me so well. Hate. It.
With my mood trapped between sour and strangely satisfied with the way my body looks, I do my best to walk smoothly to Kevin’s room.
Stopping outside his door, I fix my face into resting bitch mode and enter.
Ignoring Cielo completely, and that bloody smug grin plastered to his irritatingly handsome face, I head straight for Kevin, who is looking at me like I’m an alien.
That is, until he wolf whistles and I want to punch him.
“Whoa, looking good, Benjamin. Wowzer!”
“How are you?” I grit out. I know Cielo has still got his eyes on me, but I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing how much he’s pissed me off.
“No way. We need to stay on topic. What’s all this?” Kevin asks with a sweeping motion up and down my body with his non-injured arm.
“This,” I say, “is a violation of my rights. Yet again.”
Kevin’s eyes dart between me and Cielo. “Um, okay. But as far as violations go, you look great.”
I hear the quiet snigger from behind and choose to be the bigger person.
“Why have you summoned me here?” I ask, turning from Kevin to Cielo. “What more could you possibly want from us?”
Cielo’s hair is back in its tight top knot. Sad, really, because his hair looks gorgeo—
Stop it right now, Benjamin Moss! My inner voice is right. I need to concentrate.
“Don Fusaro has agreed to collect your parents,” he says.
A rush of air leaves my body. Oh, thank God.
“They will arrive later today.”
“Thank you,” I reply tersely. I want to throw myself at him and hug him to death for doing this for me. Honestly, I didn’t think he would pass on my demand.
He gives me a small nod. “We have decided that for your safety and that of your parents, we must return to Sicily. Our villa is the most secure of all the family properties.”
Um…what?
“Hang on a second. You can’t just take us out of the country. We have lives… homes… Pets!” I argue.
“You have no pets, Mr Moss,” Cielo calmly states.
“That’s not the point… I… You… I refuse!”
He’s doing that thing again, where he grits his teeth and flares his nose. I understand now it’s his way of stopping himself from launching whatever scathing comeback is sitting on the edge of his tongue.
“If your parents agree, will you come willingly?”
This new, calmer Cielo is throwing me off balance. “They won’t, so it doesn’t matter.”
His eyes are steely. Not in colour, but in determination. “If they do, will you?”
I huff, “Fine.”
There is no way either of my mums will go along with it, so it’s a moot point.
Another small nod. His attention turns to Kevin. “Don Fusaro is happy for you to go home, if that’s what you want.”
Yes! Kevin can get help. Why on earth is Lorenzo letting him go? It’s clear from the crease between Cielo’s eyes this isn’t his decision. Rightly so, because Kevin will bring the full force of the law—
“I’m not going home. Where Benjamin goes, I go.”
“Kevin,” I begin, shocked he’s being so idiotic.
“That’s my decision, Benjamin.”
“So be it,” Cielo replies. “Brian will be in shortly to tend to your wound.” Cielo’s hands curl into fists. “I…I’d like to apologise for that,” he says, gesturing to Kevin’s shoulder. His arm is strapped across his chest, but apart from that, he looks fine. “I shouldn’t have—”
“Shot my best friend,” I scoff. “No, you shouldn’t have. In fact, you shouldn’t have done any of this. So save your apologies. They mean nothing if you still intend to keep us against our will.”
Cielo’s eyes turn to me. His heterochromatic irises twinkle as a ray of sunlight passes through Kevin’s open curtains.
“None of this was my decision. Trust me when I say you are not worth the headache. However, Don Fusaro has requested you’re kept safe, and that’s what I’ll do.
Maybe it would be wise for you to stop being so indignant and see the situation for what it is: A way to save your boring life.
You will be back at your cosy bookshop soon, going home to eat your sad microwave meals, with your even sadder wool clothes for company.
Don Fusaro may not have gone about this in the right way, but his heart is in the right place.
Whether you like it or not, he is your kin and will treat you as such. So stop your whining and grow up.”
“How dare—”
“You are being taken to a luxury villa in Italy. You and your parents will be kept safe whilst enjoying a life of pure comfort. I will take care of the people who are hellbent on hurting you and then you can go home.”
“People are after me because of you and this wretched family,” I shout. “You brought this on me and my parents, so don’t start trying to pass yourself off as some sort of hero. You’re a criminal!”
“That may be so. But I’m the only one who will stop you from getting a bullet in your head!”
A thick silence descends on the room. Kevin’s hand on my arm snatches my attention from Cielo, who is shooting fire from his eyes.
“He’s not wrong, Benjamin.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I growl, “stop thinking with your dick, Kevin. Brian is hot, I get it, but he’s a bloody criminal too.”
Pulling his hand back, Kevin sits up. “I’ll forgive that outburst because I know you’re stressed,” he begins.
“My reason for agreeing with psycho over there has zero to do with Brian and you know it. I was high as a kite last night on some pretty great painkillers. Brian is lovely, but I’d never bet your life on a pretty boy. You know that, because you know me!”
My shoulders sag as I deflate. Of course I know that, and I feel bad for snapping. “I’m sorry, Kev. This is all…”
“Too much. I know. Believe me, I’m scared too.
But the fact remains, there are people who want to hurt you.
Going home out of sheer stubbornness not only endangers you, but also your parents and everyone around them.
Think of the trip to Sicily as a holiday, okay?
We’re going to go spend some time eating great food and drinking wine in a gorgeous country. ”
“We do have excellent wine,” Cielo murmurs. I shoot him a look that clearly states he needs to butt out. His response is an eye roll.
My thoughts are no longer a picture of organised bliss. “What about work? Clive will—”
“He has been informed of your absence and compensated accordingly. There is no issue in that regard.”
“Of course you’ve already called my boss,” I sneer.
“We’re on a tight schedule, Mr Moss. Are we all on the same page now?”
Running my hand through my hair, I weigh up the options. Everything in me wants to rebel against Cielo. Sod Lorenzo, he’s the one who pisses me off, and the thought of doing anything he wants makes me break out in hives. I have to think of my parents and Kevin, however. Their safety comes first.
“Fine,” I say, but I’m not done. I take a step toward Cielo. When I’m forehead to chin, I look up. My voice is low, so only he can hear me. “But if you touch my things again without consent, I will gut you in your sleep.”
His eyes flash and his pupils dilate. He looks down at my lips and back up. His tongue sneaks out and delicately traces his bottom lip.
“Duly noted… Benjamin.”