Chapter 11
“Don’t make me laugh, it really hurts.” I slap Dani’s arm playfully. But I’m serious, my body is aching from head to toe. Geovani wasn’t joking when he said he was going to punish me. It just wasn’t in the way my dirty mind was imagining.
The two hours we spent locked up together in his gym this afternoon was torturous. I knew he was getting a sick sense of satisfaction out of pushing me past my limits. It’s been the same all week. Ever since our night together in his office where I left him hanging.
Until today, he’s kept me too busy and exhausted to sit down with Dani and do some shopping. But she wasn’t taking no for an answer tonight. So here we are on the couch in our pajamas scrolling the internet for what she considers cute outfits. She’s having more fun than me. I’m distracted wondering how I can get Geovani to take me to see the boys. Marco says we’re running out of time before Maddox is sent to Italy, Ricky is forced to marry Elisa and Alessandro snaps and does something stupid. I don’t even want to know what that means.
“Earth to Harley.” Dani clicks her fingers in front of my face, forcing me to blink quickly, trying to focus on the dress that’s on the screen. “I think you could rock that dress. Geovani would jizz in his pants if you walked into work Monday morning wearing something that shows off all you have like this.” She laughs again.
My chest muscles tighten again, but I stop myself from laughing at her. It’s going to hurt too much. I flick to the next outfit on the website Dani has me online shopping with. She’s already forced me to pick out way more clothes than I need. It’s not like we’re ever leaving this place. I’m working, sleeping, and socializing all in the same four walls. I have no one to dress up for. But she seems to think this is all kind of fun, so I let her have it.
“Go get a jacket, Red, we’re going out,” comes Geovani’s voice from behind us.
I jump, my entire body tensing up, not realizing he was right there. How much of our conversation did he overhear? I take a deep breath, wincing in pain. “No, I’m ready for bed,” I mutter, not even bothering to look his way. Not sure what fun he has in mind for us tonight, but whatever it is, I’m not up for it. Besides, leaving the confines of this place sounds all sorts of scary when he still hasn’t located his pa.
A growl comes from behind me, and before I know what’s happening, he is hauling me out of my chair and over his shoulder. The air is knocked out of my lungs as his shoulder presses on my stomach.
“Put me down,” I groan out a protest as he strides from the room with me kicking and screaming.
“Don’t worry, girl, I’ll get that dress for you,” Dani calls with a chuckle, watching us leave. I flip her the bird for not helping me and laughing at my pain.
Moaning out a protest, I try to wiggle free of his tight grip on me. My body is screaming at me in agony with every determined step he takes. “If you’re going to act like a petulant child, I’ll have to start treating you like one.”
“Oh my God. I can tell you and Alessandro are related,” I snap back. “Bossy assholes, the both of you.” I slap his back as hard as I can, trying to get him to release me.
When we’re in my room, he drops me on my bed, and my body bounces as he stares down at me, looking way too powerful and loving it. “You have five minutes to get your boots and jacket then meet me at the elevator,” he warns, a no-shit edge to his tone. I know something has happened since we finished up in the gym. Wherever we’re going, it’s not a fun little outing. This is business. He raises a brow, his gaze darkening. “Unless you want another round in the gym.”
I shake my head. No fucking way will my body survive that again tonight, but I’m not just letting him shove me around and demand I do as he says. “I’m not going anywhere with you unless you’re willing to tell me where you’re taking me,” I snap. So much for us being in this together. We are until he gets in these fucking moods and blocks me out.
“Sometimes I can’t give you details, I need you to trust me. This is one of those times, Harley.”
I sigh, reluctant to move but kind of understanding. Last time he told me it all afterwards. He’s not the Morettis; if he’s keeping me in the dark, it’s for a serious reason. I move to sitting on the end of my bed, reluctantly pulling on my boots. “I wouldn’t be complaining so much if you didn’t destroy my body in the gym this afternoon. I can hardly breathe.”
“You clearly haven’t learned your lesson. Maybe I need to destroy every part of you. Then you might stop questioning me on everything.” The glint of mischief in his eyes as he walks away tells me he’s not talking about the gym this time. He’s reliving what we got up to in his office. He wants to finish what we started.
My needy pussy clenches at the thought. She didn’t get enough of a thrashing with his skilled hands the other night. Fuck yes, I want the real thing, but on my terms, not his. “Don’t threaten me.” I glare in his direction, burning a hole in the back of his skull, just to make sure he knows where we stand.
I pull on his leather jacket, the smell of his aftershave finding my nostrils and making me pull it a little tighter around my body. Why does he have to smell so damn good. Dani is right, I need a new wardrobe; I can’t keep wearing her hand-me-downs and Geovani’s. It’s fucking with my head wearing his clothes, makes it feel like we’re a couple when I know that is the farthest thing from the truth.
“One minute, Red,” I hear him call from the hallway, and I know I need to hurry, he’s deadly serious.
I leave my room, clutching the locket of the chain Maddox gave me. Part of me hopes we’re going to meet with the boys tonight. Maybe Marco was able to convince him, or Alessandro has ordered a meeting and Geovani couldn’t refuse? That would make sense as to why we’re leaving the safety of these four walls at this time of night.
I find Geovani out by the elevator, and we take it down together, him leaning into the wall watching me and me keeping my distance from him, trying not to look at him for too long and aggravate him any further. Or me dropping down at his knees and asking to suck his cock. I run my eyes down over his low-slung jeans, and I feel my face heat at the thought. Being locked up with him has me horny as hell, but that shit isn’t going to work for me when I’m trying to prove a point. There is no way I need him knowing the effect he has over me.
When we step out, there are already two heavily armed men waiting by his car. Nervousness settles in the pit of my stomach like a lead balloon. Without another word, he motions for me to get in the back seat alongside him. So, I do. The other men decked out in their black suits get in the front. We take off out of the parking lot, the guard driving more cautiously than Geovani did the other night.
He takes my hand in his, pulling me closer into him. “Stay close tonight, Red.”
I meet his eyes. “Is everything alright?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
“Geovani.” I say his name in warning, aware he might not be able to say much in front of his security, but I’m going to need more to go off before I just follow him blindly.
His head drops down closer, and he leans his lips to my ear. “We’re meeting up with someone who has information about my pa.”
I look him over nervously. “Okay,” I agree, hearing the pain in his voice. When he doesn’t say anything else, I lean my head back into the seat and stare out the blackened window.
The drive is deathly silent, and immediately I begin to overthink why we’re driving back into the main part of Ravens Hollow with armed guards. Geovani runs his hand up my thigh trying to calm me while I wring my hands in my lap, running my thumb along the spot where the engagement ring used to sit. It’s become a nervous tick, and I keep doing it as if it’s still there. His hand comes to mine, stopping me, like he knows exactly what I’m doing. He’s watched me so much he probably does.
He pulls me into him, his hand running along my leg, stroking my thigh back and forth. I’m not sure he even realizes he is doing it, but the small movement is setting my body alight. I’m desperate for him to touch me again. Not just delicate movements with a layer of fabric between us. I want it hard and rough, just the way I know he can. Just like it was the first time when we hooked up in his gym.
I glance up, meeting his warm gaze, my anger toward him momentarily melting. I reach up and cup his face, running my thumb over his stubbly jaw to his full lips. He doesn’t stop me, just watches me with fascination. He’s so imperfectly gorgeous. Marked and scarred in so many places that it makes him look like a work of art. Why is he so obsessed with me? I don’t get it. But something inside tells me I’m just as infatuated with him. I have been since I ran into him the night my papa died. My heart kicks up a beat, and I draw back from him as though I have just been burnt. I can’t give in to the crazy pull I have toward him, it’s madness.
Inhaling deeply, I stare out the window right as we drive by the Moretti family casino. My thoughts wander to the boys and what they might be doing tonight. Are they at the casino or Flamingo Hotel? Or is Alessandro out searching the streets for me like Marco implied.
Eventually we pull up at a half-collapsed stone building in a rundown part of Ravens Hollow. Surrounding the area, a sturdy construction fence stands tall, protecting the site from intruders. The sight of cautionary police tape, with its bold yellow, makes me even more anxious. What happen to this place? The two guards get out and scan the fence line, guns drawn.
I sneak a glance at Geovani. “What is this place?”
“The old Ravens Hollow theatre,” he replies, but he’s not paying me any attention for once. He’s watching the guards, his eyes narrowed in concentration. I can tell he’s on edge, just like he was last time we left the house together. Whatever we’re doing tonight must be worth risking both our lives.
The guards return and give Geovani a nod. He swings open his door, and I slide out the same side, taking his outstretched hand and sticking closely to him. I’m not scared to be out of the house, but until his pa’s been located, I’m not all that happy about it either. I wouldn’t have the strength to run for it if I had to, with how sore my body is. I can hardly lift my arm, let alone fight off an attack. For once I rely on the safety of his protection, and I’m grateful for it, knowing he would do anything to keep me safe.
“Send her in as soon as she arrives. Any sign of trouble, take care of it and bring them in to me,” he instructs the guards.
She? I wonder who we’re meeting, but I don’t have time to ask him. With a solemn expression, he firmly grasps my hand and urges me to follow him. We navigate through a narrow opening in the fence, and the sight that unfolds before us is a scene of utter devastation. The heavy wooden door creaks open under his forceful push, revealing the remnants of a once-beautiful old theatre. The center of the room bears the brunt of the destruction, with the lower seats completely demolished. As I look up, I can see the gallery above remains untouched. Rows of red velvet-lined seats, weathered and damaged, are neatly arranged, facing an empty stage and a gaping hole in the ground. As I stand there taking it all in, a sense of unease washes over me. This place looks like it’s about to crumble down around us at any second.
“What happened to this place?” I wonder out loud, dodging a plank of wood half jutting out from the wall.
“Rumor has it Enzo destroyed the place in a rage of jealousy over the star performer of the last show ever to be seen here.”
I take the place in with fresh eyes after that little history lesson. “What the fuck? Did Valentina use to be an actress?”
He shakes his head, not moving further into the space, clearly not wanting to entertain my curiosity. I wonder what he was talking about.
Stepping over a pile of loose sandstone, I follow him. “Why did you bring me here?”
“I recently acquired this place,” he mutters, pulling back the faded stage curtain and inspecting it, before taking center stage, looking out over what would be the crowd, his face lighting up.
“You needed me for the site inspection for marketing purposes?” I glance up at him, puzzled. “Why would you buy this place?”
He laughs, and I know he’s seeing exactly what I am. “Perfect location for my next fight.” His grin widens as he imagines it, but all I can see is the mess and danger of holding an underground fight in a place like this. One knock of a support wall and the entire place will crumble to nothing. “Then we fix the place up and sell it.”
I scan the space, imagining it all glammed up again. He could make a small fortune if he does it right. “You know those cameras you have on the boys? Could you get some watching Enzo?”
“Maybe, what you thinking, sweetheart?”
“I want to know everything about him. How else do you destroy the man who knows everyone and has most of the city on his payroll. I need to find his weakness.”
“Elisa,” he calls, jumping off the stage and moving toward the door before I can really get my answer.
I turn in the direction he’s looking. There standing in the doorway is the very same raven-haired beauty Valentina pointed out to me during the rehearsal dinner. His little sister. What on earth?
Her long sleek hair fans out behind her and she runs toward Geovani. She is followed closely by another young girl. Her friend’s short, platinum-blonde hair is cut into a pixie style, showing off her sharp jawline and high cheekbones. She’s got a laid-back vibe about her in ripped jeans, sneakers, and an oversized hoodie. They both look nervous, the blonde twisting her hands in front of her before shoving them in the front pocket of her hoodie.
Elisa throws her arms around her brother in a tight embrace. “Ian,” she cries, “thank you so much for meeting me. I know how dangerous it is for you both. But I had to see you. This isn’t a conversation I wanted to have over the phone.” She speaks with a stifled and desperate tone, as if struggling to hold back tears.
“Are you okay?” He keeps her at a distance, examining her carefully. She has red eyes, as if she has been crying, and there is a noticeable dark bruise forming under one of her eyes. She looks shaken up and frightened. What the hell, who’s been hurting her?
She lowers her face out of his scrutiny, trying to hide in the shadows. “He’s back,” she says with an edge of panic.
Geovani stiffens and looks straight at me with an expression I don’t see on his handsome face too often—pure fear.