Chapter 23
The scent of garlic and basil mingled in the air as I added the finishing touches to Anastacia’s dinner, wanting to make sure she ate something to regain her strength.
I had gotten used to seeing my wife with such fire and that spark I’d grown to enjoy.
Seeing her the way she was now killed me inside.
Although she said she was fine, I knew she was anything but.
I planned on making Chad pay for what he inflicted on Ana. I wouldn’t rest until he was tortured, killed, chopped up, and disposed of. However, he could wait until Ana was better. She would be my sole focus before anything or anyone else.
“Boss!” Red burst into the kitchen, his expression uneasy. “Ana’s locked herself in your ensuite. She won’t open the door.” He seemed panicked, rightfully so.
The dishes clattered on the tray when I dropped them. I was ready to race up the stairs. “Red, finish that for her. She needs to eat.” I instructed as I hurried out of the kitchen, doubling my strides until I climbed the staircase and reached my bathroom.
“Ana, open the door,” I called out, but there was no response.
I pressed my ear against the cold wood, only hearing the sounds of running water.
My mind raced with possibilities of what was happening behind the locked door, each one more terrifying than the last. Desperation clawed at me, and I felt a deep, unwavering need to be by her side, to be her comfort and support, whether she realised she needed me or not.
Without hesitation, I kicked the door in as the wood splintered beneath the force. The room was a stark contrast to the warmth of the kitchen as my eyes automatically fell on the shower. My heart stopped. There was my wife, crumpled on the shower floor, violent sobs leaving her.
My heart clenched in my chest as I crossed the room in two strides and entered the shower stall with her. I dropped down beside her, the ice cold water coming down on me. Her body trembled, and her lips were blue.
“Ana,” I whispered.
“I c-can still f-feel—” She struggled to breathe through her tears as she clawed at her skin. I realised she was trying to scrub herself clean, trying to erase the abuse of Chad’s men.
“Stop. Please, stop.” I took her hands in mine, pulling her drenched body into mine as I shut off the water. “I’m here. Nobody will ever hurt you again.” I shushed her, holding her close, not letting her feel as though she was alone.
I never thought I’d ever see her so vulnerable. There might have been a time I would have loved to see her broken, but seeing her this way made me realise it was never truly what I wanted. All I ever truly wanted was her, I was just too stupid and closed off to see it.
I held her tightly, pressing a kiss to her temple. “I’m sorry, so fucking sorry,” I whispered into her hair, but she didn’t reply.
I didn’t know how long we sat there for, but it was long enough that my embrace stopped her shaking, stopped her clawing at her skin and calmed her breathing.
“I’m going to take you out of here, okay?” I said gently, which was new for me. I had stepped into unfamiliar territory andrealised she’d be the only one I’d ever do that for.
She replied with a nod. I scooped her into my arms. “Please stay with me tonight, in this room or yours, but I don't want you to be alone.” I set her down on the edge of the bed and retrieved a towel.
“Can I stay here? I don’t feel safe in there…” she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes again.
“We can.” I cupped her face, wiping the tear that fell with the pad of my thumb. “We can stay anywhere you want.” I placed the towel on the bed, her eyes meeting mine. “I need to get you out of this dress, okay?”
She nodded, looking away from me. “Okay.”
She raised her arms as I slipped off her dress, goosebumps covering her bare skin. My eyes dropped to the bruises that covered all parts of her and my blood simmered beneath the surface. My wife took everything they gave her, and it made me sick.
What sort of fucking person could hurt her like that?!
I composed myself internally, not letting my inner rage rattle her. I replaced her lace lingerie with a pair of my boxers before covering her with one of my T-shirts that drowned her slender frame.
I lifted her onto the vanity chair as she watched me with wandering eyes. “What are you doing?” she asked, a little of that spark I enjoyed rearing its pretty head.
“You can’t exactly sleep with wet hair, can you?” I smiled, retrieving and holding up the hairdryer my mother left earlier. “So, if it’s alright with my wife, I’d like to dry her hair.”
And there it was, the first smile I’d gotten since she’d been home.
The first of many.
I laid back in bed as Anastacia nestled into the crook of my arm.
This was new for me, and to be honest, I kind of liked it.
Her hair decorated the pillow beside her as her head rested on my chest. It must have sounded so cliché, but she fit perfectly against me.
Almost as if she was the missing piece of the puzzle.
Maybe what happened between our fathers was meant to happen, maybe it was fate’s messed up way of making her mine.
My T-shirt had slipped slightly, allowing me to trace patterns on her bare shoulder, my touch gentle yet possessive.
“Ana, tell me what happened,” I whispered as I felt the warmth of her breath on my chest. “I need to know.”
I felt her stiffen slightly as her eyes flicked up to meet mine. “Just a few punches, that’s all.” Her voice was steady as her lips turned up into a soft smile.
“That’s all? You say it as if it’s nothing.” I sighed.
“The punches were as hard as the ones Miles gave me as a kid during play fights. It’s no big deal. Just drop it,” she said sternly while smiling.
I knew she wasn’t telling the truth. All the telltale signs were there, but I couldn’t push it. I wouldn’t, not now, anyway. She’d tell me more when she was ready.
Her eyelids fluttered shut, and her lips parted slightly, releasing a soft breath.
She looked so serene lying against me, her face a picture of tranquility, that for a fleeting moment, I almost forgot the depths of my own failings—the harshness, the mistakes I'd made with her.
Yet, the weight of those memories was something I'd never be able to shake off.
Her breathing gradually settled into a gentle rhythm as she slipped into the realm of dreams. And what did I do for most of the night?
I watched her, my eyes tracing the delicate contours of her face, refusing to surrender to sleep myself, in case she had a nightmare or needed me for any reason.
I had been mistaken about my wife. To outsiders, she might have appeared as nothing more than a mafia princess, with her poised demeanour and elegant attire.
I, too, had been guilty of underestimating her.
But she was so much more than that superficial image.
Beneath her refined exterior was the heart of a warrior, fierce and unyielding.
Many, myself included, had failed to protect her, but that was a mistake I vowed never to repeat.
As long as there was breath in my body, I would ensure she was never left unprotected again.
My arms tightened around her, simply holding her close, hoping I’d be the one that helped her sleep soundly.
“Maybe one day you’ll forgive me for the bastard I was,” I whispered, placing a kiss on her head as she stirred a little.
“I’m sorry it took that ordeal happening to realise just how special you are and how amazing our marriage can be.
” I knew she couldn’t hear me, but that didn’t stop me from saying it out loud for the first time.
I’d make sure I’d repeat it as many times as she needed to hear it.
I left Anastacia asleep the following morning, but not without leaving her a note to let her know I’d be in my home office all day. Gino rearranged my meetings and Red slaughtered anyone that wasn’t happy about it.
“Boss,” Finn started. “Can I just say you seem different this morning?” He smiled. “Would that have anything to do with your wife being home? And the fact that you’re no longer wanting to kill one another?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, Finley, but I do feel a hell of a lot better since we found her.” I relaxed back in my chair, waiting for the next comment or question.
“How’s she doing?” Red asked, settling into one of the chairs opposite me, his voice laced with concern. He hadn’t told anyone what had happened last night. The only ones who knew were myself, Red, and of course, Ana.
“She says she’s alright, but I know it won’t be easy to overcome.
” I sighed. “She won’t even tell me what they did…
What that little prick did,” My stomach churned, and my chest tightened, thinking about Chad’s hands touching her.
“But listen, I’m thinking of taking her to Sicily for a long weekend, just the two of us.
” I strummed my fingers on the desk as they failed tohide their amusement and excitement.
I hadn’t quite worked out which it was yet.
“Finally!” Emmet beamed, lighting a cigarette.
“I don’t want us to be disturbed, alright? I will deal with Chad when we get back, but until then you all keep him alive,” I ordered.
“Boss,” they all said in unison.
“You can all go. Except you, Red. I need a word.”
Red remained where he was as the rest of the team exited the office. He shot me a glance, already knowing I planned on asking him something.
“What do you need, mate?” He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs.
“I need you to see if Anastacia will open up to you.” I leaned back, closing my eyes for a second. “She told me she took a couple of punches, but I’ve seen her body, Red. It was more than a few that did that to her.”
“Please tell me you’re not thinking what I think you are.” His eyes narrowed as he spoke.