CHAPTER TWELVE
VINO
The way my woman had casually mentioned twice in one day that she would kill for me spun my world off its axis. It was the kind of devotion I never expected but felt in my bones. And it rattled me, because soon I’d have to tell her everything. The truth about Angelo. About how far I’d gone just to be close to her.
Once we were home, settled into our world, I’d come clean. No more secrets. Tell her I was obsessed with her and had to have her.
As we stepped into the garage, Claire’s eyes sparkled with excitement at the fleet of off-road vehicles lined neatly in front of us. She immediately pointed to a sleek red ATV.
“I rode her yesterday,” she giggled.
“You rode her?” I chuckled, amused, as I paused by the wall of keys.
Claire hopped onto the vibrant red four-wheeler, her face glowing with delight. “Yeah, she’s powerful. I could feel she could rip up any field or trail.”
Seeing that smile, the one I’d put on her face filled me with a warmth I hadn’t felt in a long time.
I nodded appreciatively. “You’re right. She does have some serious kick and practically glides over the grass.”
Claire winked playfully. “Told you.”
I grabbed the duffel bag loaded with weapons and snatched two sets of keys from the wall, heading toward the sturdy green six-wheeler. Claire jogged over, palm open and waiting. I dropped the keys into her hand.
I secured the duffel bag into the storage compartment on the back of the vehicle, twisting the knob firmly. “Let me show you how it operates.”
She pointed toward my six-wheeler. “Show me on yours.”
“All right.”
Her fierce independence tugged at something deep inside me. She’d managed so much on her own over the years without barely any help from a man, and it hurt me a little to see that. She couldn’t just call her dad or brother and ask either of them to fly to New York to put together a dresser. Sure, they could guide her over FaceTime, but it just wasn’t the same. Claire had to protect her family, and I suspected Gia had even arranged a security detail for them. Something they didn’t know about. Otherwise, Ivan might have tried to kidnap or even kill one of them to lure her. I definitely owed Gia a thank you in person.
Swinging a leg over the six-wheeler, I patiently explained the controls and buttons. Claire laughed softly, shaking her head. “Good thing I managed to drive straight out yesterday. I had no idea the ATV had a reverse button.”
My fingertips grazed her soft cheek. “You could’ve gotten hurt.”
She shrugged casually. “I figured your guards would’ve come to rescue me.”
Before I could respond, she straddled my lap on the six-wheeler, gripping the bill of my baseball cap and leaning close. “You’re rugged, handy, and incredibly sexy in a baseball cap.”
I arched a brow, a crooked smile forming. Her fingers tangled playfully in my dark curls as her eyes sparked mischievously. “Maybe later, I’ll ride you instead.”
My hand squeezed her ass instinctively, desire roaring through me. “Fuck, yeah.” I tilted my head to the side and slipped my tongue past her lips. Claire locked her arms around my neck, deepening our kiss. She pulled me under her spell, just like that.
After a moment, I pulled back hesitantly. “If we don’t get out of here right now, I’m going to flip you around and fuck you right here.”
She smiled coyly from beneath her hooded eyes. “Yeah, I’ll wait for that later,” she purred seductively.
“See if you can catch up,” I yelled as I revved my engine and tore out of the garage.
“Hey!” she shouted in the distance.
Gripping the throttle, I sped across the property. I stole a glance over my shoulder to see Claire wearing a scowl on her pretty face as she clutched the throttle, speeding after me. I looked ahead and increased my speed. The sound of her engine grew louder as she closed in.
My brows lifted as I glanced to the right.
Claire grinned. “Catch you later,” she called out, throwing two fingers in the air in farewell as she strode onward, the wind playfully tousling her hair.
Damn, she was incredible. A fearless little speed demon who left my heart racing.
Half an hour later, we pulled up behind the garage and came to a halt.
Claire jumped off her ATV, her smile radiant. “Woo hoo! That was amazing!” she shouted joyfully.
Throwing the duffel bag over my shoulder, I cupped her beautiful face in my hands. “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.”
At that moment, she appeared so effortlessly free.
“Me too,” she replied.
“You’re the light in my dark world,” I murmured against her lips.
Her hands slid up my chest, warm and sure. “Am I now? That sounds... intense.”
“I’m obsessed with you, baby.”
She smiled against my lips. “Good. Because I’m obsessed with you, too. I’m glad we met.”
Then came the question I knew would eventually rise.
Her brows lifted as she said, “That reminds me, were you really at my studio for a modeling audition?”
I pecked her lips once more, then stepped over to the table, unloading the weapons one by one. “I saw you at a fashion show. And I had to find a way to meet you. So yeah, I showed up at your studio, and you thought I was auditioning. I went with it.”
A crooked smirk tugged at my lips, but inside, guilt churned like a storm.
It wasn’t a stretch. I knew everything about Claire, but I hated the thought of lying to her, of making myself seem like nothing more than a liar, which I wasn’t.
Her arms slipped around my waist from behind. “My sexy undercover underwear model,” she teased.
We both laughed, but my stomach twisted. Would she still be smiling after I told her the whole truth?
“Headphones and safety glasses,” I instructed, needing to shift the mood. “Time to train.”
She slipped them on without hesitation. “Okay, what’s the first thing I do?”
“Check the chamber. Always.”
“Empty,” she confirmed.
“Good.” I guided her into position, our hands overlapping as she raised the Glock. She pulled the trigger and knocked down the first can.
“That was good,” I stated.
“With your help,” she said, grinning.
I stepped back. “Now it’s all you.”
Her aim was decent. She nailed two out of five cans. Not bad for a beginner.
“It’s okay,” I reassured her. “We’ll keep practicing.”
And she did. Claire wasn’t a quitter. Her determination was fucking sexy. Eventually, one by one, the entire row of cans clattered to the ground.
She threw a hand in the air. “I did it!”
I clapped. “You crushed it. Time for the next weapon.”
After taking her safety precautions, Claire placed the Glock on the table. My heart swelled with pride.
“This,” I said, grabbing the AR-fifteen, “is my weapon of choice. Especially for long-range targets.”
I hit a button on the wooden post and metal targets popped up from the ground.
Claire’s eyes widened. “Oh my God. You have pop-up targets?”
I laughed as I raised the rifle and squeezed the trigger. Each bullet struck the target with precision heart, shoulder, head.
She blinked. “Okay... wow. You’re good.”
“Your turn,” I said as I placed the rifle in her hands. “Get ready for the kickback.”
I kept hold of her hands as she fired off several rounds. It was important that Claire learned to handle herself in any situation.
“It’s all you now.” I stood behind her as she took aim and shot by herself. Although she missed the targets a few times, she persevered. Eventually, she hit the target in the head, heart, and shoulder.
“Good job,” I commended her.
“We have a shooting range in our basement, so we’ll keep practicing your headshots,” I stated.
“Sounds great,” Claire replied with a smile.
“I assume Lexis is skilled at shooting?”
“She is. Her headshots are perfect, ten out of ten. Don’t worry, we’ll get you to that level.”
Claire grinned. “I love that she’s a badass black woman who knows how to take care of herself.”
I kissed her cheek. “Soon, you’ll be able to do the same.”
Her smile was stunning. For the first time, she didn’t seem anxious about Ivan coming after her. Now, she felt confident that she’d be able to defend herself if he did.
“Claire, let’s work on fighting techniques.”
She nodded. “Let’s do it.”
We ducked low as the helicopter blades roared above; the wind slapping at our clothes while we moved across the tarmac. My men were already in position, patrolling the perimeter with AR-fifteens and AK-47s, eyes scanning every inch of the land like hawks ready to strike.
Claire’s throat bobbed as she swallowed hard. “They’re ready to shoot to kill?”
“Yes, gorgeous,” I said, my tone low but steady. “This is what it looks like when we’re at war.”
She nodded, eyes sharp despite the weight of our reality. “Does our enemy have any weaknesses?”
I flashed a devilish grin. “He does.”
“Are you and Vince exploiting them?”
I turned to her, grinning. “You know we are, baby.”
She gave a firm nod, jaw tight. I had a mini gangster on my hands.
When we reached the patio, she turned in place, taking in the vast estate that stretched into the trees. “Did you… buy half the block?”
I shrugged. “Yeah. It’s better knowing who’s moving through the woods behind my home. Plus, I like tearing through the trees on an ATV. Hearing the leaves kick up around my tires? It’s like therapy.”
Claire grinned. “You’ve got me hooked on the four-wheelers.”
I leaned in. “Wait until I teach you how to back the jet ski off the yacht.”
Her eyes lit up. “Can we go out on the water next month?”
“Absolutely.”
Inside the house, she halted, her eyes sweeping over the modern kitchen. “This kitchen is huge.”
She turned to look at me, her brow arched. “Gray and gold, huh?”
“You don’t like it?”
Claire reached up, her fingers brushing my stubbled jaw. “Were you in a dark place when you chose the color scheme for this kitchen?”
I would’ve been lying if I said I never thought about settling down when I took the throne. I just hadn’t come across the one. Now I had her.
My eyebrows rose in surprise. “Is it really that bad?”
“It’s the black floors and countertops, the gray and gold stools. You need bursts of bright color.”
I leaned down and playfully nibbled on her lower lip for a beat. “You’re here now. Change it up.”
Claire smiled.
“After the war is over,” I told her.
“I can plan and prepare everything in the meantime.” Standing on her tiptoes, her lips found mine.
Then her voice lowered. “I’m scared, Vino. I don’t want to lose you out there.”
My heart clenched. “And I don’t want you caught in my war.”
“It’s our war now, Vino. He’s coming for my soon to be husband. Which means he wants me to light that ass up.”
“Fuck, baby, keep saying shit like that and I’ll have you bent over the dark countertop.”
Claire pulled her lower lip into her mouth. “Yeah?”
“After the tour, I’ll give you the dick.”
“Okay,” she purred.
As we strolled through the living room, I could see Claire’s mind at work; it was clear that interior design was her passion.
“We’re going to brighten up this mansion,” she declared as we entered the atrium.
Her mouth fell open. “Now this is breathtaking,” she said, her eyes marveling at the mural on the ceiling. “You literally brought the sky into your home.”
The swirling blues and whites depicted the perfect spring day.
“I work with a lot of darkness, so I need to step into the light at least once a day.” I winked.
“The sky really makes your beautiful blue eyes pop. This is the centerpiece of your home.”
“Our home,” I corrected her gently.
“Our home,” she echoed.
We continued our tour. I led her to my office, where she admired the built-in mahogany bookcase stretching along the entire wall and the velvet, navy tufted sofa. The only thing she mentioned adding was a white rug.
Interlocking our fingers, I led her down the hallway and said, “Open that door,” as I pointed to the right.
She looked at me, curious, then turned the knob. The second the door swung open, she gasped and dropped to her knees, tears spilling from her eyes.
“What is this?” she whispered. “Vino… what is this?” she asked again.
Had I overstepped by creating a private fashion studio? Even if I had, I didn’t care. She’d learn to accept it. I lifted her to her feet and pulled her up into my arms.
She clung to me. “You really care about me. If there was any doubt before, there isn’t now,” she cried.
“Claire, I told you this is your home.”
She held me tighter. “I’ve never experienced anything like this before.”
“You never will again. Because you’re mine, Claire. Fucking mine.”
She looked up, fire and tears in her eyes. “I am yours.” Then her lips met mine, her kiss laced with need and adoration.
I devoured her lips like I couldn’t get enough, because I couldn’t.
She finally stepped into the room and ran her fingers across the state-of-the-art sewing machines, cutting table, mannequins, and the open wooden closet space meant to display her designs.
“This is a designer’s dream. I could start a whole purse line in here.”
Nothing but the best for my woman. And yet… guilt twisted in my gut.
She didn’t know I was Angelo. Didn’t know I was her benefactor, the one who upgraded her design studio in secret.
We moved into her office next. “You can design this space anyway you like,” I told her.
She tapped her finger on her lower lip. “I have a vision.”
After I gave her a tour of the entire home, she fell onto the bed.
“This place is massive,” she remarked.
“I’ll make dinner, but first, I need a nap,” she said with a yawn.
I had worn her out this weekend. That was the plan. Looking down at her, I smiled, knowing that soon she’d be carrying the heir to my throne.