Chapter Seventeen
Roselyn
T he following week, I’m so bored out of my mind that I do some housework. Some of the maids fuss at me because, as the woman of the household, I shouldn’t be doing their job, but Devious didn’t tell me what I should do, and I’ve painted enough canvases and read enough mangas from the library to last me a lifetime.
As I head to the living room, Devious walks in wearing an all-black suit. The thread count is fine and expensive, and his perfectly dark hair is a mess. He has a five-o’clock shadow. His gaze rakes over my body, then my lips, and he licks his.
“Come with me. I’m taking you to go see your nonno.”
Guilt eats at me. I feel so selfish for not being able to check on him while I’ve been trapped here. Has he been getting his medication? Are the nurses doing their job? Who is his new nurse? Has someone been taking him to his doctor’s appointments? Sweat beads my forehead.
Devious strokes my cheeks, and I flush and pull away. I hate it when he acts gentle toward me because it makes me confused. I nod, and Devious tells three guards to follow us as we head out of the door and get into the car.
Hopefully, Nonno is getting proper treatment and his medication. My hands are jittery with excitement and nervousness. Butterflies dance in the pit of my stomach, and I control my breathing.
Once we’re in the car, Devious rests his hand on my thigh, and I flinch, but I don’t remove his fingers. My eyes narrow on him, and he appears carefree and boyish. Sometimes, I wish he looked like Shrek so I wouldn’t be sexually attracted to him.
Devious taps his thumb on the side of the door while he hums a song.
We stop in front of the building at the old penthouse. Maybe he needs to stop by and get something before he takes me to my nonno’s house?
Devious strides over to the back and opens my door, and we head inside the building. When we walk into the penthouse, my eyes damn near pop out of their sockets and roll onto the floor. Nonno is perched on a recliner, and his dull eyes land on us.
“It’s Draco’s son,” Nonno says, then glances at me. “It’s Rose Bug.” A smile dances on his face. Nonno is always excited about seeing new people.
Devious moved him out of the Lower East Side and moved him up here in the Upper East Side. My heart leaps inside my chest. I want to hug him, but I keep my feet glued to the floor.
“Sit. Sit.” He points to the couch. Devious sits on the couch, and my throat clogs with emotion as I hug Nonno.
“What’s wrong with you?” Nonno asks, letting me go.
“I miss you,” I murmur.
“I miss you too. You need to visit more often. And your parents too.”
“He says this every time I visit him,” Devious murmurs, resting his leg on his thigh.
Shooting him a peculiar gaze, I perch on the couch next to him. “You visit him?” I ask in disbelief.
He nods. “Three times a week.”
Shock swallows me whole. “Why? It doesn’t matter. You will not use him as a pawn to control me.”
“I wasn’t planning on it, but if you try to tell me what to do again, I’ll give your little ass a spanking,” he snaps.
I sink into the couch, folding my arms across my chest.
A male nurse who I’ve never met comes up to Nonno. “It’s time to get changed.”
I’m particular about who I want to take care of Nonno. He’s my best friend, and I don’t want anyone thinking they can abuse him.
“Who are you? What is your name? I don’t know you,” I tell the nurse.
He frowns, eyeing me suspiciously. “Donald. Mr. Cayden hired me.”
Nonno gets up from the couch, placing his hand on his hip. “Don’t you two go anywhere. I want to tell you stories about your nonna.”
Donald beckons Nonno to the bedroom, and I hear the door shut with a thud.
Irritation grows inside me like a weed. “He has a lot of medical bills I have to pay off. He can’t afford this penthouse. You’re putting him in more debt.”
“Roselyn, calm down.” He rolls his eyes. “I’m handling it. I paid his debt and his medical bills. I’m paying all his household bills. A thank-you would be nice.”
“Thank you,” I exhale. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
Irritation paints his face. “You’re my wife, Roselyn. I have to take care of you.” He glides me onto his lap, and he rests his palms on my hips, but I wiggle my butt, trying to break free from him. “I’m having a shitty day, and I want to hold on to you. Don’t worry, I won’t eat or fuck your pussy unless you’re begging me to.”
“I’ll never beg,” I snap.
“You will.” He smirks.
God, his ego is the size of the Earth.
He kisses my neck, and I push his chest, but Devious holds my hips tighter.
“What have I told you about fighting me?”
Electricity jolts through my body. Immediately, I stop, and he continues to kiss my neck.
“That’s what I love to see.” Nonno’s voice booms, and I jump out of Devious’s lap so quick you would think my ass is on fire, then I sit next to him.
“Two lovebirds. It’s rare to see this in the mafia. Which is why I love to tell my stories to other couples.” He sits back in his recliner with a leather photo album in his hand.
I listen to Nonno tell us the story about how he met Nonna. He goes on to tell us how he fell in love with her.
“Now, Cosetta. You need to forgive my son for all the things he does. I know you don’t like hearing it, but he has a good soul. It’s my fault he is the way he is.”
“Nonno, I’m Rose Bug. She’s not here.”
He eyes me again. “When did you get here?” he asks, setting the photo album down on the table. “It doesn’t matter. You want to stay for dinner?”
“I don’t know. Maybe you should ask my controlling-ass husband.”
Devious whispers in my ear, “You’re going to get a spanking when we get home for your behavior, Mrs. Vitali.”
Shaking my head, I stand up. “I’m going to set the table, Nonno.”
I waltz into the kitchen and grab a few crystal plates from the cabinet. Devious snatches them from my hand, and I follow him to the dining room.
“I really appreciate you taking me to see my nonno and taking care of him. I really do, but please, this is my safe haven— he’s my safe haven. And I don’t want to feel like I owe you. I don’t want to feel like if I don’t do what you say, you’re going to hang his health and safety over my head. It will hurt me too much. You’ve already hurt me, and if you do anything to harm him, it will break me, Devious.”
“Why would it break you?”
“Because in this world, Nonno makes me feel safe. When I would run away from home, this would be my place to stay. Nonno and Nonna treated me like a daughter. When I wanted to get away from the abuse, I called my nonna to pick me up, and she would. He is my home.”
I gave him the weapon that could destroy me, so what will he do with it? It might have been a stupid move on my part.
He sets each plate on the table, and for a while he doesn’t say anything, but I can tell he’s thinking things through.
When his lovely eyes bore into mine, my heart skips a beat. “My goal was never to break you when I married you.” He stomps up to me, and his chest rises and falls as he breathes. “It was to protect you, and honor you. I plan to keep that goal.”