Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Angel
I was in the middle of getting dressed after our last rendezvous in the shower, looking in the mirror, when my reflection catches something else. “Noah,” I gasp as he stands at my bedroom doorway. “What are you doing here?”
“Your captor sent me.” I wonder if it’s because I overheard his video call. Is he feeling guilty? No, the man doesn’t have a remorseful bone in his body, especially when it comes to Fields. Not that I blame him after the past week and Sammy’s death. “Aren’t you happy to see me?” he asks.
“Of course! Come here.” That is without a doubt, but I have a dozen other emotions running through my head.
He comes to me, and I throw my arms around him.
I don’t know what I expected when I hugged my brother, but he feels the same, if not stronger.
I pull back slightly to get a better look at him.
It’s been nearly a week, but it seems like only a couple of days.
“How are they treating you?” His facial hair seems to have grown in a little more.
Did they give my brother some testosterone while he was locked up?
“Good, but not as good as you.” He noisily walks around the room, scoping everything out. “Wow, this is your bedroom.” I nod and blush. Then, the realization that it’s Luca’s room too pings in his head, and his face contorts to revulsion. “Oh, wait—this is your guys’ bedroom. Ew. Fucking gross.”
“Your mouth,” I scold and wag my finger. He’s still a minor, and I don’t need to raise a little brat with a foul mouth. It’s bad enough he’s been arrested twice.
“Come on, I know he says a lot worse.”
“Yes, and he does a lot worse. I don’t expect him to be a role model for you, Noah.”
He scoffs. “Then I suggest we get the hell out of here.”
“I suggest you don’t mention that again, boy,” Luca snarls from the doorway.
Damn, he looks so good in his pressed, light gray dress shirt with the top buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, displaying his tattoos on his right arm.
It’s so enticing that I get annoyed and give him attitude.
“He wasn’t talking about running away, exactly, but that’s what you get when you eavesdrop.” I’m one to talk, especially after catching his chat with his cousin.
He tilts his head with his expression mixed between dark and dangerous, and something closer to lust. “Really? First, Amore, this is my bedroom, so there is no conversation that I can’t hear in this room. Second, I wasn’t eavesdropping, as you put it. I was inviting you both to a private brunch.”
“Private?”
“Yes, I thought you two could spend some time together before we gather for the wedding this afternoon.”
“Wedding, today?” Noah blurts out before I can do the same.
This guy changes plans so fast and often that my head should be spinning, but I’m starting to realize there must be a reason for it, and it probably has to do with Fields.
Everything has to do with him. It’s not like Luca’s in a major rush because he can’t imagine waiting a moment longer to have me as his wife. That’s silly, of course.
“Yes, today.” Luca gives him a strange look, as if there is some sort of secret exchange I don’t know about.
“Now, if you head to our private sitting room, the brunch has been set up.” He comes all the way in and steps between us, pulling me in for a possessive kiss. “I’ll see you later, Amore.”
He steps back and does something that sets my body ablaze with need. He rakes his eyes over my body like he needs to have me this instant, but instead backs up and looks directly at my brother. “Behave,” he warns him and then leaves the room.
“Wow, are you in love with him?” Noah asks.
I whip my head toward him with my mouth parted. “What? No. Why would you say something like that?” Damn it, could I sound more guilty?
“The look on your face. The dude had me locked up in his dungeon as a prisoner, and you’re all gooey eyed for the asshole.”
“Watch your mouth.”
“Whatever. Let’s eat. I’m hungry, and I need to eat before shit goes down and I lose my lunch.” We head into the sitting room and sit in the comfortable chaises. “Wow. Seriously, this is the reason you don’t care where I was. You were living it up.”
“Are you being for real? Was I the one who got us in this mess? I’ve asked him to let us go more than once, okay?
” I want to kick his ass. I wouldn’t have met Luca if I hadn’t rushed to the station in the first place to beg for his release.
“I can assure you the answer was a ‘hell, no’ and ‘not going to happen,’ but with a lot more cuss words, okay?”
“Fine. It’s just he’s a douche and only using you to get his revenge on Fields.
” I’m guessing that Luca or his men haven’t told him about the house yet.
I’m afraid to break it to him. How am I supposed to break the news that our entire life, memories, and everything that was tied to our parents is nothing but ashes?
“That’s not the only reason.”
“You can’t think the guy is in love with you. Aren’t you supposed to be the adult here?” My teeth clench at his insult because it holds some level of truth.
I huff, rise, and stomp my foot, annoyed by the reminder that I’m a means to an end. A marriage of convenience. “Look, you little fucking brat, I know he’s not. I didn’t say that he was. I said that’s not the only reason. He wants a baby, and I happen to be the one he’s picked.”
“Oh.”
My own anger and pain deflate me and I collapse, defeated, onto the sofa. “Oh, yes, so you don’t need to remind me that I’m not loveable enough.”
He wraps me up in his arms. “Look, Angel, I’m sorry. I didn’t say that. I just think he’s a dick, and you deserve someone amazing who sees you for who you are. Besides, what’s with all the cursing?”
“He’s not a great role model,” I tease with a choking sob. We both start laughing, and I have to wipe the tears from my eyes.
“Why the fuck is she crying, boy?” he growls.
“Because you’re a dickhead, and she doesn’t want to marry you.” Luca’s face hardens, and he walks right back out of the room.
“Why would you say that?” I swat his arm.
“Because it’s the truth.” I clamp down on my lips because I’m not sure I agree. “Isn’t it?”
“I’m not sure that’s true.”
“Are you serious? You were here for a few days, and you’re all crazy over him. That’s nuts.” He slaps his hands on his head and then in the air in a frantic motion.
“No, I’m saying that. I’m not in the position to just go home.
So, what are my options? I can struggle being a stripper, or marry a man who treats me good even if he doesn’t love me.
” I want to tell him about the house, but not before the wedding.
I need to speak with Luca before I do. I don’t want him to be upset any more than he is.
My brother drops his head into his hands, and then looks up at me with defeat in his brown eyes. “Damn, I’m sorry I put you in this position.”
I wrench his clenched hands apart and take them in mine. “No, it’s not your fault. None of this is your fault, and I’m not unhappy about this.”
“But are you happy?”
“It’s hard to say. I’ve missed you and I’m not quite free, but I have moments where I feel alive and content.” I can’t tell him that there are moments when I’m so damn happy that I want to burst.
“Oh.”
We talk, and he tells me that they’ve been holding him in this luxurious version of a prison cell in some sort of basement, but they blindfold him to and from the place. It isn’t far from where we are. He also received a lot of clothes and a suit for the wedding.
“That’s great,” I cheer. I’m grateful that he’s not being treated poorly, which was my biggest fear.
“Yeah, I suppose,” he sighs. He’s holding something back—that’s obvious—but what it is makes me nervous.
“You could be in jail right now.”
“I could be dead. That fiancé of yours wants me dead, and if it wasn’t for you, he would kill me.” He has no idea that Fields is no better. I want him to understand that Luca isn’t the bad guy, or at least is the lesser of two evils.
“You’re being a bit overdramatic.”
“Am I?” I know he’s probably not, but I hope that he won’t harm my brother for my sake. Noah, it seems, can be a lot to handle, but he’s just a kid.
“I suppose you’re not too far off.”
His face scrunches up, and the temper is back. “And you’re okay with that?”
“I’m not okay with that. Of course not, but what do you want me to say or do? You framed a mobster, Noah.”
“It was an accident.”
“BS. Don’t lie to me. I’m not going to believe it, and neither does Luca. I don’t trust Anthony Fields and I never did, but if they have a big rivalry and somehow you ended up at the center of it, it wasn’t by accident. He used you just like he tried to use me.”
He stands up and stares me down. “So you know that he’s married?”
“I found out after. I didn’t sleep with him, if you were worried.”
“Thank goodness for that.” He drops back in his seat.
“So why would you go and get yourself mixed up in all of this?”
“May forced me to do it.”
“May?”
“The woman who was in the back of the Uber car. She works for some guy.” He runs his hands through his curly brown hair.
“I was supposed to do my job and tail D’Antonio, but that was it.
” He shakes his head and laughs. “Then I accidentally hit the cop car. I had no idea May and Fields knew each other and that they were working together.” He leans in and whispers, “They got something going on about double crossing someone named Tommy, but I don’t know who that is. ”
There’s a knock at the door, and then Marco walks in. “Excuse me, but it’s time to get ready,” he interrupts.
“Get ready, already?” I ask, checking the time on my new watch that Luca’s stylist let me pick. They were all gorgeous, but this is my favorite. I thought it matched Luca’s the most. It was foolish, but when he saw it, he smiled and said, “Nice, Amore,” and then he kissed my hand.
“Yes, the wedding is soon. Boss wants you dressed and ready to go. I need you to come with me, Mr. Scott.” We don’t get to talk to each other because Marco quickly moves my brother like he doesn’t weigh a thing and says, “Sorry, but Boss’s orders.
” He smiles politely before escorting my brother out.
Before I can take a breath, there are three women meeting me in the sitting room. “Good day, Mrs. D’Antonio. We’re here to do your hair and makeup. A wedding gift from your mother-in-law.”
“Oh, um. Thank you.”
“Oh, they’re here,” Luca’s mother says, entering the room swiftly, looking flustered with her dress in a bag and appearing a bit disheveled.
“Yes, I appreciate the gift.”
“It’s all my pleasure, dear.” She sets everything down and rushes to me with her arms wide open and immediately gives me a big hug. Mrs. D’Antonio has made this so much easier for me.
“You’re going to make a beautiful bride,” my mother-in-law gushes.
The woman with the curling wand in her hand grips my shoulders and says, “You’re so correct, madam. She’s absolutely beautiful.”