14. Blackmail
CHAPTER 14
BLACKMAIL
R affaele
Cazzo , I feel like absolute shit today. And I must look it, judging by the look on Ricky’s face as I stalk through the entrance of the Valentino penthouse. After I’d gotten the little escapee home safely last night, I opted to sleep the remaining four hours in my car instead of driving all the way to the crappy motel in Queens and back which would have left me with even fewer hours to sleep.
More than the exhaustion after a terrible night in my cramped backseat, I’m pissed as all hell. At that asshole who dared to lay a hand on my client, at Isabella for attempting an escape and most of all at myself for allowing it to happen. And then for losing my shit when it did.
I thought I had a better handle on that rage…
Darkness creeps into the edges as screams ricochet across my skull like a pinball, bouncing off every corner with an increasing frenzy. Blood paints my vision, so much blood it stains my skin, digs beneath my fingernails and remains there for all eternity. Isabella is not her …
“Good morning, Raffaele.” Mrs. Valentino offers a smile over her cup of coffee, jerking me from my murky past. Thank Dio, Luca is already gone for the day. I don’t think I could face the man after my monumental fuck up last night.
If anything had happened to Isabella…
“ Buongiorno ,” I echo back with a quick wave over my shoulder. I’m anxious to have it out with the principessa this morning. Given her intoxicated state last night, I assumed any attempts at a real conversation would be futile. Now, I’ll lay into her for that incredibly stupid move she pulled. She has no idea how fragile life can be, how quickly it can be torn away.
“Isabella is in the gym,” she calls out behind me.
“Great, thank you.” I turn down another corridor of the sprawling penthouse. Despite never having been in the home fitness center, my steps are sure and quick. I’ve memorized every inch of this apartment. And still the little princess got the slip on you . A dark voice echoes across my mind, the deep timbre and thick accent markedly similar to that of my father. He never approved of anything I wanted to do; nothing was ever good enough.
And now every time I fail at anything, that damned voice worms its way into my subconscious, feeding the doubt and prodding the monster.
By the time I reach the gym, my nails are cutting into my palms, and it’s taking every ounce of self-restraint I possess not to rip the door off its hinges. Instead, I suck in a breath and count to ten before opening the door. Loud music seeps through, interrupting my quest for Zen, and I jerk the door open a second later.
Isabella stands in front of a wall of mirrors in a sports bra and yoga pants that leave nothing to the imagination. I freeze in the doorway as she bends down, touching her palms to the mat and giving me a front row view of her perfect ass.
My hands twitch as I stride forward, my palms begging to spank that ass raw for disobeying me last night. Isabella is so damned focused she doesn’t even notice me until I’m right up on her.
She peers up at me, dropping into downward dog. “Do you mind? I’m trying to relax.”
“How can you relax with the music blaring like this?”
“It’s soothing.”
“Like a chainsaw.”
The corner of her lip twitches, but she doesn’t give into the smile. Instead, she continues her workout, completely ignoring me.
I crouch in front of her, getting right in her face so she has no choice but meet my eye. “We need to work on your awareness, principessa .”
“I am aware. Very aware of how annoying you are.” So sassy . She offers a sweet smile before switching positions once again. Cat pose or some shit where her back is arched and her ass sticks up, just begging for me to spank it.
Clearing my throat, I force my scattered thoughts to focus. “I just walked in on you a second ago, and you didn’t even notice. What if I’d been sent to attack you?”
She twists her head to the side, skewering me with those baby blues. “I did notice. I was simply ignoring you.”
“I hope you’re not bullshitting me for your own sake.”
Isabella rolls onto her back and glares up at me, her head nearly between my legs and inches from my hardening cock. Then she lifts her hips into bridge pose and my eyes instinctively chase to her tight-ass yoga pants and the hollow between her thighs. Merda , I can practically see the outline of her pussy. She’s doing this on purpose to rile me up, I’m certain of it.
Dropping back on my haunches, I heave out a breath, squeezing my eyes closed. “When you’re done with your workout, we need to talk.”
“It’ll be a while.” She thrusts her hips up, and fuck, all I can picture is my body blanketing hers, and my cock pounding into her.
Damn it, Raf, stop that . I’ve never been so turned on by a female I found so irritating. In an effort to keep my sanity, and my job, I reach for my phone and start scrolling funny cat videos. Nothing like hilarious kittens tumbling around to keep your mind off forbidden pussy.
As I pretend to watch the videos, I keep one eye on her at all times. It’s not even on purpose; my duty has been ingrained so deeply it’s second nature. And it’s not even because of how badly I want to fuck her either.
A never-ending hour passes before she finally stands, reaches for a towel and wipes the beads of sweat off her forehead then slowly runs the terrycloth down her chest and across her tight abs.
There is no doubt in my mind that this woman is testing me.
Because what better way to get rid of me than telling Daddy I made a move on her. I’m impressed by her last-ditch effort. Today is the deadline to accept the residency in Rome after all.
“You ready to talk?” I grit out.
She huffs out a frustrated breath and plops down on the weight bench. “What do you want now, Raf?”
“We need to talk about last night, and all the reasons why it will never happen again.”
“I learned my lesson, okay? I promise never to sneak out when we’re in Rome.” A smirk tugs up the corner of her lip and with those rosy cheeks and the glint of perspiration on her skin, she looks goddamned radiant.
“ When ?” I bark once I’ve stopped staring at her like a damned lovesick teenager. “You’re out of your mind.”
“I am not.”
I stalk closer, arms pinned across my chest. “I already told you I’m not going to Rome.”
“Oh, but you are, or I’ll tell Papà about last night.”
My pulse skyrockets as she innocently nibbles on her bottom lip. “You’re going to blackmail me into this?”
“If that’s what it takes.” Her eyes lock on mine, a hint of mischief streaking through the ocean blue. “I told you I always get what I want.”
“So tell him, and I’ll get fired, big deal. There are tons of spoiled little girls out there in need of protection.”
Her eyes flash, and a satisfied smirk crawls across my face. Only a few weeks with Isabella, and I know exactly which buttons to push. She’s so easy to read, it’s child’s play really.
She rises, slowly unfolding to her full height, which is still a full head shorter than my own. But the way she glares up at me, you’d think she was twice my size. “Not only will you get fired, but Papà will make sure you never work in private security again. He has more connections than the freaking mayor, and no one will ever hire you again. If he allows you to live that is…”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I growl. “He can’t?—”
“He can, and he will. You’re a smart man, Raf. I’m sure you know what my father is capable of.”
“This is bullshit, principessa .” I whirl on my heel as fury fills my gut. I stomp around the gym, looking for the punching bag before I lose my shit. The red canvas bag flashes across my peripheral vision, encroaching on the blooming darkness. I march toward it and let my fist fly. One punch, two, three, four. I lose track of the hits as it wobbles from the dangling chain. Why the hell did I take this job?
I broke my own damned rules, and now I’m being punished. Figures.
A soft hand on my shoulder stills my arm and stunningly quiets the rage. I spin around, chest heaving.
“It’s only temporary, okay? Once the summer is over, you’re free. It’s not like I want you in my life any more than you want to be in it.”
“You swear?” I hiss.
“I swear to Dio .” She crosses her heart as her eyes remain fixed to mine. “I need this Raf. I need it more than anything. I swear I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“Somehow, I’m not sure you even know what that means.” I blow out a frustrated breath because I’m so damned close to caving. Not just because of the threats, but because a tiny part of me actually feels bad for the mafia princess. That’s how stupid I am.
“I’ll follow all of your crazy rules and do everything you say while we’re there.”
“And you’ll let me train you in some basic hand to hand combat?”
“I already told you I’ve been taking martial arts for years.”
“Not from me you haven’t.”
She rolls her eyes so hard my palm twitches. “Fine, that too.”
I mull over what I’m about to agree to for a long minute. I haven’t been back to Rome in ten long years. Not since I walked out on my birthright. Fuck. The last thing I ever wanted was to return.
“Please, Raf.” Isabella inches closer, pushing out her pouty bottom lip. “It’s three months. What could possibly go wrong?”
She had to say it, didn’t she?