Chapter 17
SEVENTEEN
Marchello
Suppressing my murderous intentions long enough to tend to Lissia’s scrapes and cuts wasn’t easy, but taking care of her was just as much my duty as it was to run this empire.
Work-life balance.
“This isn’t necessary.” Lissia dangled her feet off the kitchen island. “It’s a couple scratches.”
“Do you want them to get infected?” I dabbed the cuts on her cheeks with an antiseptic. “Or scar?”
“Shit! Do you think they’ll scar?”
“Language.” I stroked her neck. “They’re not that deep. The gravel in the driveway probably pegged you in the face. That happened to me when my mother… You’ll be fine. You were lucky.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“No.” I gently kissed her lips, pushing back the thought of the reality I could be facing if she had been in that car when the explosion went off.
“Marchello, the thing you feared the most almost happened today. I think we should talk about it.”
“The thing I fear the most didn’t almost happen today, but someone did use a weakness against me.” I lifted her chin and checked to make sure I hadn’t missed any cuts. “That infuriates me.”
“Because I’m your weakness?”
She wasn’t a weakness, but my enemies didn’t see it that way. I had to show strength by making an example of Angelo.
“I thought by marrying you, I was keeping you safe. I didn’t think anyone would come for you because you’re an Accetti.” I grossly miscalculated. “I made you a target.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“Then you’re not paying attention.”
“Someone came after us today,” she said. “But I’m still standing.”
“That’s what they wanted.” I slammed my hand on the counter. “You don’t need to worry about this. I’m going to handle it. I don’t want you to be afraid about getting in a car either. I’ll have guards on your car at all times, and they’ll do regular sweeps.”
“I’m not afraid.”
She meant that, and she was more fearless than most men I knew. But that tough attitude could be a detriment in the wrong situation.
“There is something I need to tell you.” She took my hands in hers. “I don’t know if it’s useful information or another bluff, but you should know.”
“Is this about what you wanted to tell me about Angelo?”
“He wasn’t happy when he showed up here and my father’s things weren’t in his study.”
“Did he threaten you?” I tightened my grip on her hands.
“Yes.”
“Fuck! I shouldn’t have let you come here without me. This whole day was a fucking disaster.”
“You can’t keep me locked away.”
“You don’t think?”
“Do you want to know what Angelo said to me?” She let go of my hands and slipped off the counter. “Or are we going to discuss all the ways you’ll make me a hostage?”
“What did he say?” I grabbed her wrist, holding her in front of me. “What did he want?”
“He wanted the laptop and the files, but I told him you already took them. He was mad, but nothing he said until he was ready to leave bothered me.”
“What did bother you?” All of my muscles tensed as I braced myself for what she was about to tell me.
“He knows I’m going to Miami with you.” She held up her hands and waved them when she talked. One of her only indicators that her sturdy armor was about to crack. “Maybe he heard me telling my mother before she left. I don’t know.”
“I see.”
“You see?” More hand waving. “He said it like a threat. His tone was menacing. It was as if he was telling me something. I would have dismissed it because… Well… I didn’t want…”
She looked away from me.
“You didn’t want to tell me because you were afraid I wouldn’t let you come to Miami.”
“Uh-huh.” She bit the corner of her lip. “But I changed my mind, and I swear I was going to tell you as soon as I was at the dealership.”
“It’s about time.” I circled my arms around her waist and brought her close to me.
“What?”
“You told me the truth without something blowing up in our faces.”
“Are you kidding? Something did blow up in my face. My car!”
“Well, that was going to happen whether you told me about Angelo or not.” I kissed her, taking my time to celebrate the milestone of her honesty. “You told me the truth. No crazy impulses, no waiting until shit hit the fan. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for that?”
“Since the day we met?”
“Yeah.” I laughed.
“I guess since I’m being totally honest, I should tell you that I did consider not saying anything, but only for like five minutes. I promised no more secrets that could get me killed, so I made the decision to do the right thing.”
“I would have been concerned if you didn’t have an internal debate with yourself.” I rested my palm on her thigh. “But I’m glad you told me.”
“I understand why I can’t come to Miami with you. I know it’s too risky. You were right.”
“What was that?” I smirked. “Can you say that a little louder?”
“You were right.”
When she smiled, I lost my breath. If I could take her home and keep her in my arms forever, I would, but right now, I had business to deal with.
“About Miami,” I said.
“I’m going to stay here and stay out of trouble.” She shrugged. “Mostly.”
“Of course.”
“I won’t leave the house. Ricardo can stay with me. We can shop online, watch movies, and order in.”
“Baby…”
“I’m trying to tell you that I’m going to behave.”
“I appreciate all of this.” I brushed my lips along hers. “The fact that you put this much thought into keeping yourself safe makes me proud.”
“You’ll only be a couple days, right? I can manage.”
“I can’t.”
When she gazed into my eyes, a flicker of confusion sparked in hers.
“I’m not changing our plans.” For all I knew, whatever Angelo was threatening might have been a tactic to get me to leave her behind, vulnerable and unprotected. “You’re coming to Miami with me. I need you with me.”
“Really?” Her confusion switched to elation. “We’re going together?”
“There isn’t anywhere else I need you to be.”
“Oh good, because I couldn’t really promise that I wouldn’t have followed you.”
“So much for your maturity and growth.” I laughed. “But thank you for trying.”
“I promised you I would try.” She ran her fingers through my hair. “I’m glad I didn’t get blown up today.”
“Me too.” I backed her against the counter and pressed my lips to hers, speaking against them. “I can’t exist without you.”
“Show me.” She slowly licked the seam of my lips. “Kiss me.”
“I want to do a lot more than kiss you.” After lifting her onto the center island countertop, I settled between her legs and tangled my fingers in her hair. “I want to show you how much I love you. I was so full of rage on the car ride here.”
“I saw it in your expression and in your body language as soon as you stepped out of the car.”
“I forced myself to suppress my fury before I got here because I wanted to console you and be who you needed.” I kissed the corner of her mouth. “I wanted to be here for you.”
“I only need you to be who you are.” She trailed her fingers along my jaw. “That’s who I fell in love with.”
“There’s something you need to know.” I hated having to tell her this, but how could I expect her to be honest with me if I couldn’t do the same with her? “I told you I would tell you things about my business if I thought you needed to know them.”
“What do I need to know?”
“I lost track of Collins.”
“Oh.” She frowned. “It was probably him who planted the device.”
“I can’t be sure about that, but I have a feeling Angelo was sent as the diversion for whoever planted the bomb.”
“What are you going to do about Angelo?”
“I’m going to handle him, but that’s not anything you have to worry yourself with.”
I brought her mouth to mine, kissing her with the force I had wanted to since learning about the device inside the car. She hitched her leg around my waist, pulling me on top of her as she rested her back on the countertop.
Letting go of her hair, I ran my hands up her sides and to her breasts. She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed my jaw, making me harder than I should have been in the middle of the kitchen of her dead father’s house.
“Lissia. Not here.” I pulled back, but she tightened her hold on me.
“Let’s go upstairs.” She slowly swiped her tongue along the seam of her lips. “I’ll remind you why you keep me around.”
“You’re so twisted.” I scooped her off the counter and hitched her legs over my hips. “Why do I allow you to tempt me?”
“Hell.” Milo cleared his throat. “Are you going to have sex right now?”
I turned and glared at my brother who stood in the doorway.
“Not that I have anything against kitchen sex.” He joined us by the counter. “It’s convenient if you get hungry.”
“I’ve always said your timing sucks,” Lissia said as I lowered her onto her feet.
“That’s probably not the only thing that sucks.” Milo smirked.
“Don’t.” I growled.
“I’m happy you’re okay.” Milo tugged on the ends of Lissia’s hair. “But now I have to talk to my brother.”
“As his brother or his second?” She stared between us.
“Need-to-know basis, remember?” I took her hand and brushed her knuckles along my lips. “Give us some privacy, please.”
“Since you said please.” She kissed my cheek. “My dress got dirty from the explosion. I have some clothes upstairs, so I’ll go get cleaned up.”
“See you soon.” I grabbed her wrist before she could get away. “Don’t leave this house.”
“You don’t have to tell me that.” She took her time leaving the room, making us wait to start our conversation.
Milo checked the hallway.
“She’s not listening,” I said. “We’ve come to an understanding.”
“Right.” He shook his head. “Like I believe that.”
“What do you have for me? Other than marriage counseling.”
“We picked up Angelo, and they’re bringing him here.”
“I’m trusting they were discreet in the abduction?”
He nodded. “Two of our best extractors handled it. I also called Dad.”
“I was going to do that,” I said. “I just wanted to make sure Lissia was okay after the car thing.”
“I figured that.” Milo loosened the knot on his tie. “Dad is concerned for both of you.”
“We’re dealing with it.”
“You have permission to do what you have to do.”
“Thanks for calling him.”
Taking out men like Gian and Angelo couldn’t be done without following specific rules. My father may have left me in charge of the territory while he was away, but the order of eliminating Angelo had to come from him.
“We both know Lissia is your priority, especially after what happened today. Both Dad and I were shaken too.” Milo gazed out the window, probably lost in a memory of our mother. “It was pretty fucked up.”
“It was a message,” I said. “One that has to be answered. We can’t let the way the message was sent throw us off our game. That’s what they want.”
“We’ll answer it.”
“Get a crew in the basement.” I glanced around the room. “I’m not doing it in Rosalie’s kitchen.”
“The plastic and bleach are on the way.” Milo checked his phone. “I have an unregistered gun for you too.”
“Sounds like you have it all under control.”
“I got your back.” He patted my shoulder. “Always.”
“We’re going to get what we need from this piece of shit, then I’m going to make him suffer for any part he played in hurting Lissia.”
Taking out Angelo would knock Collins down a notch. Without Gian or Angelo, he wouldn’t have many allies left, especially with my father bringing down the sex trafficking operation. It would be only a matter of time before Collins ran out of options.
“What do you want to do with Lissia?” Milo asked. “Do you want her to stay here, or do you want me to have her taken back to the main house?”
“I don’t think she should be here when Angelo gets here,” I said. “But the thought of having her leave without me so soon after what happened doesn’t sit well with me. If I went that route, I’d only feel comfortable if you escorted her home.”
“I appreciate your confidence, but I’m not leaving you.”
“I can do this job on my own.”
“Chello, you’re a bit emotional right now. I think it would be best if I were here when you did this job.”
“I’m professional enough not to let my feelings get in the way. I can get the information we need before taking Angelo out.”
“He knows why we’re bringing him here. He’s got nothing to lose.” Milo ran his hand along his jaw. “Angelo won’t go down without a fight. It won’t be a physical fight, but he will play games with you.”
“He won’t get to me.”
“I’m not leaving you,” Milo repeated.
He was right to insist. I needed him to be the cooler of the two of us in this situation. Lissia had a way of fucking with my head even if she didn’t mean to. I had to trust Dom to take Lissia home and protect her until I got there.
“Lissia goes,” I said. “I don’t want her here when Angelo gets here.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Lissia stormed into the kitchen like the fucking tornado that she was, wearing black stretch pants and a tight white sweater. She had pulled her hair into a messy bun on top of her head, and her feet were bare.
“Chello,” Milo said. “We don’t have time for this.”
“I know.” I extended my hand for Lissia as I spoke to Milo. “Go and make sure everything is in order.”
Milo nodded. “Lissia, please do what your husband tells you to do.”
As he walked away from the kitchen, he muttered in Italian.
“That was rude,” Lissia said. “I think he called me an omen.”
“Actually, he said demone , which means demon, but you were close.”
“You’re going to let him get away with that?” She placed her hand on her hip. “Seriously?”
“Forget Milo.” I leaned against the counter, guiding her close to me. “I need you to do something for me.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
“It’s only for a couple hours.” I squeezed her hand. “I’ll be home as soon as I can.”
She pursed her lips, and I knew she struggled to get her impulsive nature in check.
“I have to take care of something, and I don’t want you here when I do it.” I caressed her face. “There are some aspects of my job that I would rather never taint you.”
“We’re in this together.” She gazed into my eyes with bold determination. “Ride or die, remember?”
Will she still feel that way when she sees exactly who I am?