Chapter 8
LEO
When it’s almost lunch time and it’s clear Haven’s going to hide in her bedroom as much as possible, I head up the stairs.
Knocking on the door, I say, “Come eat something.”
It takes a few seconds before she opens.
My eyes drift over her T-shirt and the words ‘ Not friendly. Do not touch .’ printed in bold letters on the gray fabric.
Finding it funny, I let out a chuckle, which has Haven darting past me. When she walks down the hallway, I get a spectacular view of how fucking tight the light blue jeans she’s wearing sit on her.
Cazzo.
My teeth tug at my bottom lip as I shamelessly stare at her sexy ass all the way to the kitchen.
I’ve already prepared pastrami and cheese on ciabatta rolls for a light lunch.
Haven sits down on the same stool as yesterday and immediately reaches for the glass of orange juice I’ve poured for her. She almost downs it in one go, and it has me muttering, “You can help yourself to anything when you’re thirsty or hungry.”
I take the seat across from her as she picks up the roll, and I watch as she focuses all her attention on eating.
I’ve decided to give her some space, but as I stare at her, all I want to do is ask questions until I know everything about her.
When Haven drinks the last of her orange juice, I set my glass down in front of her so she can have it, then continue to stare at her.
Her face is pale, and it makes her look even more feminine.
She probably didn’t sleep much. The lunch will help her feel better.
After she takes the last bite of her roll, she lowers her head, and her hair falls like a curtain around her. Her body tenses as she swallows the food, then she asks, “Please, let me go.”
Not answering her, I stand up, and gathering her empty plate and the two glasses, I take them to the sink.
I hear the stool scrape over the tiles, and when I glance over my shoulder, it’s to see Haven looking at me with the saddest expression I’ve ever seen. The instant I feel a glimmer of compassion for her, I stalk out of the kitchen.
“Leo,” she cries, then she surprises the fuck out of me by coming after me.
I head for the sliding doors so I can leave the house, but suddenly Haven grabs hold of my arm. “Please, Leo,” she begs as she darts in front of me. “Let me go.”
The second my eyes lock with hers, she lets go of my arm and takes a step backward. My hand darts out, and gripping the back of her neck, I tug her closer to me.
Haven lets out a startled gasp, her gaze widens with fear when her face stops an inch from mine.
Slowly, I tilt my head as my gaze burns over every inch of her before stopping on her parted lips.
The urge to kiss her so I can taste if she’s as sweet as she smells almost overwhelms me.
I lean closer until I’m able to draw my nose along the curve of her jaw. “Cocoa, sugar, creamy mascarpone, vanilla, and coffee,” I murmur, desire deepening my voice. “You smell like my favorite dessert. Tiramisu.”
Haven trembles severely, and when I let go of her, it’s to see terror tightening her features.
Grabbing and sniffing her didn’t do me any favors.
“Stop asking me to let you go,” I say with a firm tone while I step around her and let myself out of the mansion.
I walk across the veranda, the air cool because of a storm that’s brewing in the distance. It eases the heat of desire burning beneath my skin.
When I take the stairs down to the beach, I glance over my shoulder. Haven is gone, and knowing she’s returned to her bedroom, I glance up at her balcony.
As I come to a standstill on the soft sand of my private beach, I keep staring at the shut balcony doors, and only when lightning hits the choppy waters to my right do I return to the mansion.
After I pull the sliding doors shut, my phone vibrates with the reminder I’ve set for the meeting with the alliance.
I walk to the couch, and once I’ve taken a seat, I go into the link Dominik sent.
It takes a few seconds to connect, then the screen shows the boardroom on the island, with Santiago and Dominik sitting at the desk.
“Hey,” Santiago says with a grin. “It’s been a while. How are you?”
I shrug as I relax against the couch, crossing one leg over the other and resting my ankle on my knee. I prop my hand on my thigh so I won’t get tired of holding the phone, then say, “Things are busy on my side. How are you?”
“I’m good. Ciara is due any day now.”
A smile curves my lips. “Are you looking forward to becoming a father?”
Excitement fills Santiago’s face. “I’m like a kid on Christmas morning.”
“I can see that.” My attention turns to Dominik. “And you?”
“Kristian and Nina are keeping us awake twenty-four-seven. I might die of sleep deprivation.”
Dominik has a one-year-old son and a newborn baby girl. I don’t know how he and Grace do it.
“Don’t talk shit,” Santiago says with a playful tone. “Evinka babysits the kids half the day. You get plenty of sleep.”
“Not everyone can survive on four hours,” Dominik mutters while shooting Santiago a glare.
The screen downsizes as Cassia, the head of the Greek mafia, joins the call, and a few seconds after her, Enzo, who runs a syndicate in Portugal, appears.
Where Cassia is sitting in her office, that’s situated in Athens, Enzo is in his car and on the move.
Fuck knows where in the world he is right now. The man is always working, but it’s paying off because he’s made quite a name for himself.
Enzo would’ve killed the Romanos without a second thought. He wouldn’t have fucked up like I did.
Dominik waits for everyone to exchange pleasantries, then he asks, “Cassia, how are things with the bratva?”
“Much better. They haven’t given me any more trouble.”
“Enzo,” Dominik says to get his attention because he’s looking at the road while driving, “How are things in Portugal?”
“Fine,” Enzo mutters, only sparing his phone before returning his attention to driving. “Why did you call a meeting?”
“I’m taking a break for the next six months so I can focus on my family. If any of you need weapons, you’ll have to deal with Evinka. That also counts for any help if you’re attacking someone or being attacked. Evinka will take my place until I return.”
Once Dominik is done talking, Santiago says, “I’ll be taking off a month once Ciara gives birth. Pedro will carry on with business in my stead.”
“Okay.” Enzo glances at the screen again. “Anything else?”
“I’m looking for two men,” I mention. “Vito Santoro and Sebastiano Caprino. I’d appreciate it if you could all put out feelers.”
“Send any information you have on the men to the security team,” Dominik replies.
I nod, then add, “I’m getting married. It’s going to be small and quick, so I’m not sending out invites.”
Santiago’s eyebrows lift. “Who are you marrying?”
“An American. She’s related to Nicolo Romano.”
“That’s one hell of a surprise. Last I heard, you and Romano didn’t get along,” Cassia says.
“We don’t.”
“Congrats, Leo,” Enzo jumps into the conversation. “Is there anything else to discuss?”
“No, you can go,” Dominik replies.
Enzo ends the call, leaving the four of us.
“Does he ever take time off?” Cassia asks.
“No. He’s a workhorse,” I chuckle.
Dominik gets up from his seat, drawing our attention to him, as he asks, “Do you just need help finding the men, Leo?”
“Yes. Dead or alive. It doesn’t matter.”
“I have another meeting. Good luck with the kids and enjoy your vacations,” Cassia says. “All the best for your wedding, Leo.”
“Thanks,” we all mutter before she ends the call on her side, leaving me with Santiago and Dominik.
An incoming call from Massimo grabs my attention. “Talk to you at a later stage.”
Santiago and Dominik nod, and I exit the meeting before accepting Massimo’s call.
“What’s up?”
“I’ve made the arrangements for the wedding. I had to grease a few palms to expedite all the relevant paperwork.”
“Good. Is Father Esposito on board with everything?”
“Yes. I made a donation to the church, he couldn’t refuse.”
Climbing to my feet, I walk toward the stairs. “When is it happening?”
“Whenever you’re ready.” Massimo’s voice tenses. “Are you sure about this, Leo?”
No, but I’m still going to go through with it. The sooner, the better, because Haven might change my mind with that sad expression of hers that turns me soft.
“Yes, don’t ask me again,” I mutter as I take the stairs up to the second floor. “Contact Nicolo and tell him to meet us at the church in an hour.”
“The fuck!” Massimo gasps. “What’s the fucking hurry?”
“Massimo, I’m marrying Haven today so that we can focus our attention on work. Get Nicolo and Haven’s mother to the church. One hour.”
“Okay,” he finally relents.
“Get a white dress for Haven. She’s the same size as my mother.”
He sounds disgruntled as fuck. “Now I have to go wedding dress shopping?”
I soften my tone as I say, “Please, Massimo.”
“Fine. I’ll get everything done. See you at the church.”
We end the call, and I dial my mother’s number while I pull my keys out to unlock my bedroom door. I’ve kept it locked because I don’t want Haven going through my personal belongings.
“Hello,” Mamma answers.
“Hey, Mamma. The wedding is happening in an hour. Father Esposito will marry us. Have Riccardo take you to the church.”
“Why so soon?” she exclaims.
“I have other work to attend to and can’t be distracted with a wedding. See you in an hour,” I say before ending the call.
A weird urgency fills my veins as I change out of my clothes into a black three-piece tuxedo.
When I’m ready, I tuck my gun into my pants behind my back and shove my phone into my breast pocket.
Leaving my bedroom, I lock behind me before I go to knock on Haven’s door.
When she opens for me, her eyes widen at the sight of me dressed in a tuxedo, and for a few seconds, I see the attraction in her caramel-colored irises.
“It’s time, principessa .”
“Time for what?” she asks, and when her gaze moves over me again, intense fear tightens her features as she realizes why I’m dressed so formally.
She swings around to run away from me, but I lunge forward and wrap an arm around her middle. When I lift her off her feet, she lets out a cry and starts to struggle in vain to get free.
With no time to waste, I haul her over my shoulder and walk toward the stairs.
Haven’s fists connect with my back, and the moment I feel her take hold of my gun, I yank her back down my front. Without any effort on my part, I wrench the gun from her hand and level her with a look of warning.
“Do you want your mother to die today?”
“No!” Tears stream down her face as she stares up at me, desperate breaths bursting over her lips, and her hair a wild mess.
Except for the terror in her eyes, she looks like she’s just been fucked.
My voice is deep and rough as I mutter, “Then you’ll behave and carry out every order I give you.”
Her features tighten with a pleading expression. “Please. Don’t do this.”
Still holding my gun, I use it to gesture toward the stairs. “We’re wasting time, principessa . You don’t want to keep our mothers waiting at the church.”
Her eyes widen again. “My mother will be at the church?”
“Yes.”
Haven swings around and hurries down the stairs.
As I follow her out of the mansion, my conscience starts to niggle at me, but for the second time today, I harden my heart.
Cazzo. I’m really doing this.
I’m going to force Haven, whom I know very little about, to marry me.
Yep. I’ve lost my mind.