Chapter 15
HAVEN
Sitting in the backseat with Mom, my heart is still beating a mile a minute.
When I opened my bedroom door and saw Leo, I just reacted and hugged him.
I refuse to admit I’m relieved he’s home, and I’m blocking the fact that it felt so freaking good when he held me.
Mom clings to my arm, her eyes darting between Leo and me, then she whispers, “How’s your hand?”
“It’s okay,” I tell her, but it’s a lie because it’s been aching like hell since I hit Leo’s chest. The man is made of freaking steel.
Mom and I stare at each other, and the world falls away around us.
She wraps her arm around my shoulders and holds me so tight, I feel safe for a precious moment.
“When did he get home?” she whispers.
“Right before we came to get you.”
“Has he said anything about letting you go?”
I shake my head. “He says he won’t.”
She pulls back and levels the back of Leo’s head with a glare. “Let my daughter go.”
Leo takes a deep breath before exhaling, then mutters, “No.” His eyes flick to the rearview mirror.
“I told Haven you can visit each other. While you’re a guest in my mother’s house, you’ll treat her with respect.
She has nothing to do with the choices I’ve made, and she’s just as unhappy with the marriage as you are. ”
“Why is she unhappy? She’s not the one whose daughter is being held captive,” Mom snaps at him.
“She hates the Romanos.”
“Why?” I ask.
When he remains quiet, I assume he’s not going to answer, but then he says, “She thinks Nicolo is responsible for the assassination of my father.”
Holy shit.
I stare at Leo’s side profile while his words sink in.
Damn, I forgot how handsome he is.
I take in the scruff on his jaw, which only makes him more attractive, and when my stomach flutters, I quickly glance at Mom.
“But we don’t have proof,” Leo adds. “That’s the only reason Nicolo is still alive.”
“Haven and I have nothing to do with the mafia. We knew nothing about the shady business Nicolo is involved in until we arrived in Italy. We have people in the States who will ask questions.”
Leo doesn’t respond to what Mom says.
When she opens her mouth to speak again, I shake my head. “Don’t. He’s letting us see each other, and you’re out of that mansion. One battle at a time.”
“Listen to your daughter,” Leo murmurs.
Mom’s eyes drift over my face, then she whispers, “You need to eat more.”
“I will. I just haven’t had much of an appetite.”
Leo turns up a driveway, and I glance at the house that has vines growing up the side of the walls. There are rose bushes and various other flowers and plants, giving the yard a cozy feel.
It looks like something out of a fairytale.
A man stands up from where he’s sitting on a bench, and when he kills a cigarette in an ashtray, I catch a glimpse of the gun tucked in behind his back.
He’s probably a guard.
“It looks pretty here,” I whisper to Mom while Leo gets out of the Porsche.
“Yeah, but now I have to live with a woman who hates us.” Worry tightens her features as she glances over the garden. “Love her roses, though.”
Mom’s always had a green thumb.
“It’s only for a little while. Leo said he’ll get you a house soon.”
Mom’s eyes lock on me. “And you believe him?”
I push the door open while shrugging. “The past two weeks I’ve been alone, and it was absolute hell. I’m choosing to cling to hope right now, or I’ll go completely insane.”
When I climb out of the car, Leo stands right by the door, his eyes drifting over my face. I see worry and something else darkening his brown irises, and it makes something stir in my chest.
It looks like he actually cares about me.
At least he doesn’t have me tied up somewhere.
The thought pops suddenly into my mind, and I realize even though things have been bad, they could’ve been so much worse.
While we wait for Mom to get out of the car, Leo places his hand on my lower back. With him standing right by me, I get a whiff of his addictive woodsy scent, and it has tingles spreading around the area he’s touching me.
Your reaction is only because you’ve been starved for human contact.
As we walk to the front door, his hand gently brushes up and down my back, and it feels as if he’s trying to give me some comfort.
I try to ignore the way my stomach flutters and my skin tingles.
A nervousness that makes me super aware of Leo has me grabbing hold of Mom’s arm. When she looks at me, I give her a smile that I hope looks real.
You’re just overwhelmed because you were alone for so long.
Leo opens the front door, then calls out, “Mamma.” She replies in Italian from somewhere in the house, then Leo gestures at the living room. “Take a seat while I speak with my mother.”
Mom and I slowly walk into the living room that’s decorated with two sofas that are covered in a floral fabric.
Leo’s mom sure loves flowers.
I see a bunch of photos standing on a side table, and letting go of Mom, I walk closer so I can look at them.
I see one of a married couple, and assuming they’re Mr. and Mrs. Toscano, I stare at Leo’s father. There’s a dark expression on the man’s face that gives me the creeps, and I quickly put the photo down.
I see one of a teenage boy, and my lips part as I pick it up. Staring at the younger version of Leo, he looks exactly the way he does in the nightmares I’ve been having since he took me.
He looks happy in the photo, and the longer I look at the younger version of Leo, the more something inexplicable trickles into my heart.
Arms wrap tightly around me. “S tellina mia .”
“Haven?”
Mom’s voice rips me out of my thoughts, and rattled by the flashback I just had, I accidentally drop the photo.
“Crap.” I quickly bend down and pick it up. I check that I didn’t damage the frame before putting it back on its place. When I turn to Mom, Leo and his mother’s voices sound up, coming in our direction.
They come into the living room, and I feel a little nervous seeing Mrs. Toscano again.
“Hello,” she greets us, a smile forming around her mouth.
At least she doesn’t look upset like she did at the church.
“Hi,” Mom and I chirp at the same time.
“Leo told me everything,” Mrs. Toscano says, then her expression turns bitter. “Nicolo is a vile man.”
“You can say that again,” Mom agrees.
Mrs. Toscano smiles at Mom again. “You’re welcome to stay with me while Leo makes other arrangements.”
Mom’s tone is super tense as she replies, “I’d much rather prefer your son lets my daughter go.”
“Don’t even go there,” Leo mutters, his tone filled with warning.
“I have no say over what Leo does,” Mrs. Toscano informs us. “Just like everyone else, I live by his rules.”
“Jesus,” Mom whispers.
Taking a step forward, I jump in so things don’t spiral out of control. “Thank you for letting my mom stay with you. I appreciate it.”
Mrs. Toscano’s eyes lock on me, then she comes closer, and her gaze softens a bit. “It’s the least I can do for you.”
It feels as if she’s trying to apologize for what Leo’s done without actually saying the words.
Needing to check with her, I ask, “Is it okay if I visit a lot?”
“Of course.” Her mouth lifts into a smile again. “You’re always welcome here. After all, you’re my daughter-in-law.”
I forgot about that.
Holy crap, I have a mother-in-law.
I haven’t thought much about being married to Leo, but as I stand in his mother’s lounge, it sinks in.
Glancing at Leo, I try to think of him as my husband, but my cheeks flame up at the mere thought.
I turn to Mom. “At least it will be better staying here than with Uncle Nicolo.”
Mom nods, the tension on her face easing slightly. “You’re right.” She gives Mrs. Toscano a tight smile. “Thank you for letting me stay here.”
Mrs. Toscano nods. “Let me show you to your room.”
Mom takes hold of my right hand, and knowing she feels uncomfortable, I walk with them.
When we step into the guest room, I take in the armchair that’s covered with beige fabric that has yellow roses printed on it. The bedding matches, and it has me whispering to Mom, “It’s your favorite flower.”
“You love yellow roses?” Mrs. Toscano asks.
“Yes. They’re the flowers my late husband gave me when we went on our first date,” Mom tells her.
“They’re my favorite, too.”
“You have something in common,” I say, letting out a chuckle that sounds a little nervous.
A few seconds later, the guard we saw outside brings Mom’s luggage into the room.
“This is Riccardo. He’s my guard,” Mrs. Toscano introduces us.
I give him a lame wave while Mom just nods.
“We have to go,” Leo suddenly says from the doorway.
“No,” Mom gasps.
“The doctor is coming at five to check Haven’s hand,” he explains. “You can see each other tomorrow.”
“The doctor can’t come here?” Mom asks.
I can see that Leo wants to say no as he thinks about it, and I give him a pleading look. “Please.”
His features soften, then he nods and pulls his phone out of his pocket.
Wow! He actually agreed.
Today is a day for miracles.
I walk to the doorway and as he brings the device to his ear, I say, “Thank you, Leo.”
The corner of his mouth lifts, and he nods before talking into the phone.
When I move back into the room, Mrs. Toscano says, “I’m going to get started with dinner. Is there anything you don’t eat, Dakota?”
“No.” Mom looks awkward again. “Ah…can we help with anything?”
Mrs. Toscano shakes her head. “Take your time to get settled.”
She leaves the room, and I glance at Mom, giving her a smile. “It’s not that bad.”
“Considering we’re being held against our wills,” Mom mumbles while she looks around the room. “It sure is pretty, though.”
I walk to where Riccardo left the luggage and open a bag. While I begin to unpack Mom’s belongings, I say, “At least we can see each other. I’ll visit a lot.”
“Is he getting to you?” she suddenly asks.
Holding a pair of slacks in my hand, I frown at her. “Why would you ask that?”
“You seem to be okay with Leo keeping us captive.”
I lock eyes with Mom and shake my head. “I’ve been alone the past two weeks, Mom. I’m just happy to be around people finally…to be with you. I need this good moment.”
Her features instantly soften, and she comes to give me a hug. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. You’re right.”
When she pulls back, our gazes meet again, and I say, “If he doesn’t let me go, I’ll have no choice but to make the best of the situation.”
“I wanted so much more for you,” she whispers, heartache flitting over her face.
“We can’t change our circumstances, so let's make the best of it. Okay?”
Mom nods as she brushes her palm over the side of my head. “Okay.”
As we unpack Mom’s belongings, I just soak up being near her. We’ve talked about everything there is, so a comfortable silence wraps around us.
When we’re done, I sit down on the side of the bed, and Mom comes to join me. I lean my head on her shoulder and cradle my left hand against my chest because the pain is getting worse.
“How’s your hand?” Mom asks.
“It hurts a lot because I hit Leo earlier.”
She leans forward to see my face. “What did he do to make you hit him?”
“He never told me I could’ve visited you over the past two weeks.” When Mom’s lips part with surprise, I add, “I was allowed to leave the mansion all this time, and I didn’t know.”
“Oh,” Mom breathes. “So, he isn’t holding you captive in the mansion?”
“Apparently not. We’ll see what happens when I try to go out on my own tomorrow.”
“Yeah. Actions speak louder than words.”
Leo appears in the doorway again. “Dr. Caprino is on his way. Let’s sit in the living room.”
We climb to our feet and follow Leo to the front of the house.
The framed photos draw my attention again while Mom sits down on a sofa.
When I walk closer to the table, Leo comes to stand beside me.
I gesture at the photo of him as a teenager. “You look happy.”
“I was,” he murmurs. When I glance up at him, it’s in time to see a flash of sorrow.
“I’m sorry about your father,” I whisper.
Leo shakes his head. “He was a bastard. Everyone is better off with him six feet under.”
His harsh words make shivers rush down my spine, and I go to sit beside Mom.
When Leo takes a seat across from us, his eyes lock on me. For the next few minutes, he proceeds to stare at me, clearly not caring that Mom is in the room with us.
Finally, his intense gaze shifts to Mom. “What was Haven like growing up?”
Mom gives Leo a look filled with disdain. “My daughter is amazing, and I can understand why she’s caught your attention, but what you’re doing to her is wrong.”
Leo leans forward and rests his forearms on his thighs. With the sleeves of his black shirt rolled up, it makes the veins pop beneath his skin.
Come on, Haven. Now is not the time to check him out.
Leo and Mom get caught in a stare off, the air tensing more and more by the second.
His tone is unforgiving when he finally breaks the silence. “Let’s get one thing straight, Dakota. I don’t care what you think. The more you annoy me, the less you’ll see Haven. I’d try to get on my good side if I were you.”
“Don’t speak to my mother like that,” I snap before I can censor my words.
His eyes flick to me, and with utter surprise, I watch as he visible reins in his temper.
“I’ll make you a deal. For Haven’s sake, let's at the very least be civil with each other. There’s nothing on this fucking planet that will make me let her go.
I’ll give her a life every woman dreams of.
That’s the only guarantee I can give you. ”
Mom continues to stare at him for a moment before she says, “Promise me you won’t hurt her.” Her features turn pleading. “Don’t force yourself on her.”
Chills spread over my body as my eyes snap to Leo.
He seems to calm down more, his expression softening. “I promise.”
Mom lets out an audible sigh of relief, then a knock at the front door interrupts the tense conversation.
Leo climbs to his feet, and as he walks to the door, my gaze follows him across the room.
There’s no way I can ignore the confident way he moves. The way his suit fits his muscular body does things to my abdomen that have me feeling overly conscious of him as a man.
As I listen to him greet someone, I realize this is my life now. I’ve been taken by the head of the mafia, and I’m married to him now. There’s no escaping the unexpected direction my life has taken.
Somehow, I’ll have to find a way to accept it.