11. Giovanni
ELEVEN
GIOVANNI
J esus Christ.
I would have killed anyone else who’d provoked me like she had. She had the nerve to not only shoot me but to shoot my brother . That was unforgivable and she deserved to die for it. Yet somehow, the idea of her lifeless body had my stomach coiling and my chest tightening.
Because there was one thing I knew for certain. Liana deserved to thrive and shine, not fight and hide.
This woman had a hold on me. It was a foreign, visceral need, the kind that I couldn’t explain and didn’t even understand. A hunger that roared in my chest and bled into my veins.
And then there was the recognition of the danger she represented for me. Every second she spent in my grasp, my obsession grew and spread like a fucking cancer.
The woman tripped me so effortlessly that I knew the wisest thing would be to get rid of her. Take her to Louisa, drop her off at her doorstep, and never see her again.
But I wouldn’t.
Why?
Because I was a fucking idiot. Maybe I was just as reckless as my brother, and I was eager to stir up trouble or start a damn war. There was no doubt that Kingston Ashford would come for her.
Yet here I was, steering a course from Venezuela, away from Europe and her twin. Why? Because I wanted to explore my fascination with this woman. I’d take a roundabout way toward Boston, stop at every known island and conduct business, then maybe even get lost at sea for a bit just so I could spend time with her and explore this peculiar attraction I felt around her.
When she was close, all I could focus on was the smell of wildflowers and temptation. I had never—fucking ever—been fascinated with someone in this way.
Ironically, deep down, I knew Liana wouldn’t hesitate to end me if given the chance. She’d proven that, and now she’d found my weakness. She’d done it effortlessly too, which proved exactly how dangerous she was. This woman would prod at it, make me lose control. Just as my mother always made her husband lose his.
Fuck!
I gave my head a subtle shake, clearing my mind as I made my way to check on my brother while a mixture of fury, regret, and bitterness burned in my chest.
“Let me guess…” Romeo’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. “You went to visit your little captive.”
“There’s nothing little about her,” I muttered. The woman had an aura about her that made her appear larger than life.
“But you are holding her captive,” he pointed out. “Why are you so fascinated with her?”
I shrugged. “Probably for the same reason that you’re a pain in my ass.”
He flashed me a smile.
“It’s what you love about me, and what drives Mother crazy. So I’ll continue being a pain in the ass.” I rolled my eyes. My siblings liked to either ignore her or spite Julia. Well, except for Cristiano. He was still on the fence between his feelings for her, but it was only a matter of time before he saw her true colors. “Speaking of Mother, she keeps calling me.”
“And you keep answering?”
He scoffed. “Right? I keep sending it to voicemail where she’s leaving screeching messages.”
“About?”
“Nonsense. You. Business. It’s seriously getting annoying. Can’t you call her?”
“There’s nothing to tell her,” I deadpanned. “She’s not to get involved in any Tijuana, Agosti, or Omertà business.”
He sneered. “I don’t think she got the memo.”
“She refuses to accept it. It’ll probably have to be dealt with eventually.”
“You’re going to end her?”
It was tempting, but Julia was our mother, and killing a woman didn’t sit that well with me. “No, but I’ll make it clear that her involvement in anything business-related will not be tolerated. I don’t want her meddling in any business affairs.”
“Good luck with that one. I hate to see her reaction when you bring Liana to family reunions. You know how she is about competition.”
I let out a sardonic breath. “Julia can’t compete with Liana.”
“Maybe, but Julia’s more sneaky. I don’t like your captive, but somehow I don’t get the sense that she’d stab you in the back. Our mother, on the other hand…”
He wasn’t wrong about that. Julia would step on a child with her five-inch-heels to get what she wanted.
“How are you feeling?” I asked, changing the subject.
He lifted a shoulder and turned to me.
“Not bad for being shot by a woman.” I chuckled, and we made our way down to the lower deck and toward the kitchen to get a food tray. “What? Don’t tell me you’re okay with the way that savage woman got you.”
“She won’t get another chance.” Then I got straight to business. “Have you arranged for the shipment to Kian Cortes?”
“It’s already en route.”
“Good.”
I owed him for getting me to Liana before Emory’s family got to her, but knowing the DiLustros, this wouldn’t be the end of it. They would come for her, and so would the others. There was no way that Liana would be able to fight them all by herself.
The best thing that could protect her was to get married to someone powerful.
Someone like me , my mind enticed. Fuck, I liked that idea more than I should, but considering her actions—and the fact I failed to protect her eight years ago, much to my shame—it seemed the only viable option. Besides, I’d be a fool not to realize this girl was so much more than met the eye.
Now how could I convince the woman that had been through hell thanks to the men in her life of my good intentions? Maybe I could offer to help her find the woman on her revenge list? Or mediate some kind of a relationship with Amara by striking a deal with the girl’s biological parents and the DiLustros.
It was a sound plan, if I might say so myself.
And then if all else failed, I’d bring up the Marabella Agreements.
I found Romeo frowning at me when I looked at him. Did I miss something?
“What is it?” I questioned.
“You’re up to something, Giovanni.”
“Aren’t I always,” I muttered as I contemplated ways to keep the wild woman tied to me.
Obsession sure was a bitch.