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And I hadn't touched her.
Work had pulled me in ten directions. Men needed threatening. Problems needed solving. I was the one handling it all. Someone had tried to screw with one of my father's businesses.
But every night when I closed my eyes, it wasn't business I saw.
It was her.
Her thighs trembling around my head like she couldn't hold herself up.
Honestly, I hadn't been able to think straight since.
She probably thought I was avoiding her. That I had lost interest.
As if that was fucking possible. I was obsessed with the woman.
The truth was, if I saw her again before I cleared my plate, I'd take her, not slowly or gently. Not with sanity, like she deserved. I wasn't sane, not right now.
I'd fuck her so hard she'd forget the name of every man but mine.
So I stayed away.
For her. Not for me.
But today? I needed to see her.
I needed to see her eyes again, to hear her say she missed me, and to remind her who she came for. I needed her in my arms, just her gentleness. Her softness. I didn't want anything but to hold her.
I would go find her myself if she didn't want to see me.
Enzo dropped into the leather chair across from my desk. Feet up, smirk ready, annoying as usual.
"You gonna tell her?" he asked, interrupting my thoughts.
I didn't look up from the report I wasn't actually reading. "Tell her what?"
Enzo snorted. "Don't be dense, big brother. Daria. You care about her. A lot. She deserves to know who you are."
I clenched my jaw. "I know that."
"You don't, actually," Enzo said, pointing a finger at me. "Because if you did, you would've told her already instead of avoiding the conversation like a damn teenager."
I glared. "Since when are you wise?"
"Since always," he shrugged. "Don't act brand new. That's why you love me."
"You're not wise," I muttered.
He raised a brow. "Then listen to me anyway. If you want her, and we both know you fucking do, really bad. It's all over your face. She has to choose this life. You can't keep her in the dark forever."
I hated that he was right.
I hated that he said it out loud even more.
Before I could respond, Jules burst into the room, breathing hard, face pale.
"Boss," he said. "I've got... really bad news."
My whole body went cold. "What kind of bad?"
He swallowed. "First—the good news. I found Daria's mother."
I sat up. "She's alive?"
"Yes. But she's in hiding. Because people are looking for her. Dangerous people."
I exhaled slowly. "Okay. And her father?"
Jules hesitated.
My stomach twisted. "Jules."
He winced. "Boss... you're not gonna like it."
"Who is he."
Silence, he hesitated again.
"Sean Doyle."
My chair screeched as I stood up so fast it almost fell. Rage ripped through my chest like a bullet.
"What?" My voice was a growl. "Sean fucking Doyle?"
Enzo swore under his breath. "Shit."
Jules kept talking, nervous. "It's a DNA match. Ninety nine percent."
I slammed my fist on the table so hard papers flew. "That two-timing motherfucker who tried to buy us out? The one who made deals with the Russians? You're telling me he is her father?"
Jules nodded. "Yes, boss."
Enzo crossed his arms. "This is bad. Really bad. You know the rules."
"I know the fucking rules," I snapped. "I am the rules."
"Papa won't see it that way," Enzo muttered. "He'll say you're with the enemy. You can't marry into the enemy. You can't even touch the enemy's daughter."
"She didn't grow up with him," Jules said carefully. "She has nothing to do with his world."
Enzo pointed at him. "Papa won't care. Doyle is Doyle. Blood is blood."
I dragged a hand down my face, breathing hard.
"Nobody can know about this yet," I said. "Not Papa. Not anyone. We take our time. We stay quiet. We watch her."
Jules nodded. "Yes, boss."
He walked out.
Enzo stayed, watching me.
"You know he'll find out," he said softly. "Doyle will know you're digging. And Papa will know something's wrong. Everyone will know eventually."
"Fuck." I pressed my fingers to the bridge of my nose. "I can't let her go, Enzo."
He didn't smile. He didn't joke.
He just nodded once.
"I know, bro."
I stared at the door Daria had walked through days ago. I felt like I was losing her before she even fully belonged to me.
"She's mine," I said. "I'm not letting her go, no matter what her bloodline is."
Enzo sighed. "Then prepare for war, brother."
I already was, but I needed to see her.
Once she agreed to meet me I drove to the café. I didn't feel comfortable with the idea of Daria walking especially with knowing how dangerous her biological father was. At least he didn't know about her yet.
I needed to warn her.
I checked the time on my phone for the fourth time.
She was supposed to already be here.
Five minutes late? Fine.
Ten minutes late? Fine.
But twenty?
Twenty felt wrong, my jaw clenched, and something ugly coil in my stomach.
I texted her again.
Where are you?
Daria.
Answer me.
Nothing.
So, I tried calling.
Voicemail.
My fingers tightened around the phone until the plastic creaked. She never ignored me. That was unlike her.
I paced in front of the coffee shop window, people walking around me like I wasn't seconds away from killing someone.
Something was off.
Deeply, fucking violently off. I opened the app.
Her tracker. I placed it on her phone, yeah she didn't know but it was for her safety. The dot pulsed on the screen.
Not here.
It was moving away from me. Fast. Very fucking fast. My chest tightened.
"What the fuck," I muttered, my pulse hammering in my ears.
The dot turned sharply on the map. That's a car.
She was in a car. I hit call again.
Straight to voicemail again.
"Daria," I whispered under my breath. "Pick up. Baby, come on. Pick up."
Nothing.
Someone fucking took her.
Fuck!
I jogged back to my car, my steps turning into a sprint halfway through. I ripped the door open and tossed myself inside.
My whole body was shaking. I didn't shake, ever.
I gripped the steering wheel so hard the leather whined under my palms.
"She was right here," I growled to myself. "She was right fucking here, and I let her walk alone."
The tracker updated again, the dot moving farther. I needed to follow, now. I slammed my hand against the dashboard.
"NO."
Breathing felt impossible. I dialled Jules, my heart wasn't beating right anymore.
"Boss?"
"WHERE IS SHE?" I roared loud enough for the car windows to vibrate.
Jules inhaled sharply. "What do you—"
"Her tracker is moving. She was supposed to meet me. She never showed. Someone took her."
"What?" Jules gasped. "Boss—"
"I want every camera on this block pulled NOW. I want that fucking car identified in two minutes."
"Yes sir—"
"And Jules?"
"Yes, boss?"
My voice went low.
Deadly calm in the way that scared even me.
"Whoever touched her... whoever laid a single finger on her..."
My knuckles whitened, blood boiling.
"I will cut them into pieces."
I hung up before he answered.
I floored the gas.
The tires screamed as I ripped away from the curb, eyes locked on the moving dot—my girl—being dragged God knows where.
My hands trembled against the wheel.
I hadn't felt fear in years. No. This wasn't fear.
This was rage.
Pure, blinding rage. I knew that Jules would inform Enzo and Angelo.
A minute later Enzo called.
"What happened."
"She never showed." I stared down at her tracker, the dot moving farther and farther. "Her phone's in motion. Someone took her."
Silence. Sharp and instant.
"Send me the location," he said. "I'm coming."
"It's moving fast. North. Warehouse district." My heart was pounding so hard I tasted blood. "Enzo, it's not random. Someone planned this. Someone wanted her."
"Bro, breathe. I'm on my way."
"I can't fucking breathe."
Enzo cursed under his breath. "Shit. Nico, send me the route. Do not lose that dot, you hear me?"
"I'm not losing her."
"You better not. Because if you do—"
"I won't," I snapped. I forced myself to breathe. "Stop talking. Hurry."
I hung up before he could respond.
God help every motherfucker in that car when I get there. Because I wasn't Nico Costa right now.
I was their worst fucking nightmare.
Is Nico gonna save our girl?! Oh lawd!
~
Even when i say i wont write or edit i still do. I'm addicted to making you guys happy ??