Chapter 10
Gina
There’s a knock on my bedroom door, and I set the book I was trying to read down on the bed. I say ‘trying’ to read because I’ve mostly just been staring at the pages, thinking of Tommaso.
Getting off the bed, I walk across the thick carpet and open the door to find Davide standing there. He’s been different since the episode in the kitchen, like he’s been assigned as my personal bodyguard. Is he doing that as per Tommaso’s order? And if so, why does Tommaso care?
The hot and cold way he acted the last time I saw him is more than a little confusing. And he hasn’t sought me out in the days since.
He stormed into my life, protecting me from my father when I had first arrived. The intoxicating way he pulled me in had me drowning in the ocean of his crystal-blue eyes. Then, the tumultuous turnabout with how he acted at Caffè Amore. And after that…nothing.
All he did before he left me was tell me to behave and that he’d see me soon.
And ‘I love you, Gina Caruso,’ the na?ve, hopeful part of me reminds.
Tommaso Santoro does not love me. He only said that in a flippant way. He didn’t mean it. I mean, how could he? We don’t even know each other.
And yet, he’s in my head constantly. In every waking moment. In my dreams.
My body has been awakened, and I’ve started touching myself, making my breath snag and my toes curl, not understanding how the hell I’ve been missing out on this.
I’ve brought myself to orgasm multiple times in the past few days.
Like my body realizes what we’ve been missing out on, and it wants to be touched constantly as impure fantasies of Tommaso run through my head.
My release wasn’t like what I’ve read about in the romance books I’m secretly reading, but that’s fiction, and this is real life, so I don’t expect it to be. But regardless, holy shit, girl, am I making up for lost ‘play’ time.
But right now, I push all impure thoughts of the dangerous, unfairly gorgeous Don that I’m an idiot to fantasize about and focus on Davide.
“Yes?” I ask, looking behind him but seeing no one else. Mom had gone to bed an hour ago, and my father is out doing whatever he needs to do to advance up the food chain in the Santoro organization.
Davide looks me over, not in the too-friendly way he had when I first arrived here, but as if he’s checking for something. He nods and says, “You might want to grab a jacket; it’s raining a bit.”
“Jacket?” I ask, confused. “Why? What’s going on?”
“I’m to take you to the gates.”
My heart starts galloping like wild horses have just been spooked and are running rampant. “Why?”
Please let it be because Tommaso is here.
But then dread sinks in. What if it’s Vincenzo?
He’s been a perfect gentleman—that’s not what makes me uncomfortable.
It’s that my father insists I entertain him in a city I know nothing about, while Emanuele is busy doing ‘Don’ stuff.
Vincenzo is Emanuele’s heir, the next in charge; surely, he has his own business and tasks to do in the meantime?
I can’t imagine Tommaso just sitting around, twiddling his thumbs, waiting for his father to die, expecting to transition smoothly into leading.
And it begs the question, why are they still here?
Are they planning on trying to take over Tommaso’s territory?
Do they do that in the ‘Ndrangheta? I’m honestly not sure as it’s never been my place to know; plus, my father isn’t that high up in the hierarchy for me to know, accidental or otherwise.
But I wouldn’t put it past my father to bite the hand that feeds him if he thinks there’s a more beneficial offer on the table.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“Tommaso said you’d—”
“Tommaso?” I interrupt.
Davide gives me a knowing smile. “Yes, Don Santoro is here.”
“To see me?” My voice is nearly a squeak. But then I frown, remembering I’m pissed at Tommaso for his hot and cold behavior and how he ghosted me. Plus, why is he at the gates instead of coming to the house?
Davide seems to see my questions. “Grab your jacket, and you can ask him yourself.”
I do just that, ignoring his smirk. We walk quickly down the stairs and then to the door.
The air is brisk when we exit, and I pull my jacket tighter around me, worrying as we walk toward the gates that I should’ve changed.
I’m wearing sweatpants, and my hair is up in a messy ponytail again.
My mother would have a coronary if she knew I’ve left my room, let alone the house, looking like this.
My father would… Well, screw him and what he’d think or do.
The sun is just setting, and I can see Tommaso as we walk toward the gate.
He’s talking with Salvo, the head guard here, looking at ease and comfortable around his men.
Not holding himself above them, but as one of them.
As we get closer, I hear him ask Salvo about his wife and newborn son, Gabrielle.
I don’t hear Salvo’s response because when Tommaso turns his head in my direction and looks at me, everything else fades into the background, and he’s the only thing that exists.
He’s sucking me into the whirlpool of expressive emotion in his eyes. He’s pulling me into the dangerous depths of everything he is—both the man and the Don.
And I’m powerless to resist.
“There’s nothing like a child to bind your love for all eternity,” he says to Salvo without taking his eyes off me. He steps toward me, reaching out his hand. “Hello, il mio sole.”
I stop short of touching him, remembering I’m still angry. Crossing my arms over my chest, I try my best to glare at him. “And what do you want?”
“The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,” he cheekily quotes Shakespeare.
And I have to fight a smile.
Damn him.
Damn him for being so charming, for being so impossibly handsome.
I’ve never thought of myself as a woman to fall so easily for a good-looking man, yet here I am. Falling. Hard.
And surely bound to get my heart shattered.
However, when he keeps his hand outstretched to me, I take it. “What are you doing here, Tommaso?”
He pulls me close, but not close enough for our bodies to touch. “Taking you away from here.”
My heart, the stupid thing, kicks in my chest. “To where?”
His smile is secretive and a tad bit sinister. “You’ll see.” Then he says to Salvo and Davide, “I’ll have her home by midnight. As far as Caruso is concerned, Gina is fast asleep in her bed.”
They nod, not questioning his order or that he’s taking me from here. Nor are they batting an eye that I’m going willingly.
Tommaso opens the car door for me, then gets in on the other side, and we’re driving away.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“You’ll see.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“I know.” His hand moves from the gearshift to take mine, intertwining our fingers together.
All protest or thoughts of any kind fly right out of my head like I’m a pathetic bimbo, perfectly content because a good-looking man is paying attention to me. Holding my hand.
But I don’t pull away. He only lets go to change gears before he intertwines our fingers once again.
We leave the residential area and travel through the city until it almost seems like we’re leaving it behind. The sun has set now, as we drive along a deserted road until it curves, and the dark ocean opens up before us.
Tommaso turns off the road and into a small parking lot. We’re the only vehicle here, and he hops out and comes around to my door. I let him open it for me, taking his hand as I get out.
He pulls me closer, almost close enough for our bodies to press together, but leaves an infuriatingly small amount of space between us. With being so close, I need to tilt my head back to look up at him.
His eyes are riotous with something, like he’s fighting an internal war. He’s a dangerous, deadly man, capable and responsible for dark things. I shouldn’t be here with him at all, least of all, alone, in a place where it’s like we’re the last two people in the world.
But the only thing I can think of is how much I want him to kiss me. To give me my first kiss. To take my first kiss.
A stirring deep in my core awakens as I think of Tommaso taking what he wants.
Me.
There’s no doubt in my mind that he wants me.
For what purpose or how long remains to be seen. I’m an intelligent woman…this should be sending up all sorts of red flags.
Self-doubt pushes in as I remember all the perfect mafia princesses that I went to school with.
They’re the kind of woman Tommaso should want, the type of woman he’ll end up with—not a nobody like me.
I have nothing to offer a man like him; he’ll marry for power and to benefit and grow his kingdom.
I have nothing to offer in terms of bringing him more power, wealth, or reputation.
“Gina?” His brow pinches as he stares down at me, like he can read my mind.
I step back, and he lets me go. My doubt reminds me of how I look in sweatpants and a ponytail. I smooth the flyaway hairs that have escaped being tied back, feeling more self-conscious than I ever have in my life.
“Why am I here, Tommaso?”
His jaw works as he studies me before he takes my hand again. I try to pull away this time, but he’s having none of it.
“Would you prefer me to toss you over my shoulder and slap your ass while we go to where I want to take you?”
“No.” The single word is breathy as exhilaration rips through me.
What…what is happening?
His words and the dominating tone have heat flushing through my entire body.
Do…do I like that? Want that?
“Where are we going?” I ask again, trying to sound in control.
“I’d rather show you than tell you.”
“Are you taking me somewhere to keep me captive?”
I really shouldn’t have sounded so…hopeful. Honestly, what the hell is happening to me?
If I thought his smile earlier was slightly sinister, then it’s definitely sinister right now. “Would you like that, il mio sole?” I can’t even speak, let alone formulate a clear thought. “Would you like me to keep you locked away? To keep the sun all for myself and my dark soul?”
“No?” I’m finally able to formulate a thought. But it’s a question, not a confident answer.
His large, scarred hands lift and gently frame my face. “You feel it, too, don’t you?” He steps closer. “You feel what cannot be explained, understood, or even rationalized, don’t you?”
“Yes,” I whisper.
“Don’t fight it, love. You don’t have to understand it; you just have to trust it.”
“Will you break me?” My voice trembles slightly as my heart races so fast it might explode.
“Never,” he promises. “I’ll ruin you, that I promise.” My core tightens and tingles, imagining what he might mean by that. “But I will never break you or harm you. You have my word or my life.”
My hand falls to his chest, feeling the solid muscle, and my other cups his cheek.
He bends his tall body to lower his head and touches his lips to mine, not asking for but taking my first kiss.
My lips part on instinct, letting him take control as I revel in the feel of his lips. I startle when he swirls his tongue with mine but quickly become accustomed to the invasion and happily learn how to dance mine with his.
The roughness of his scruff on my soft skin assaults me with thoughts of what they do in the romance novels.
I want the feel of that scruff all over my body.
On my breasts, brushing over my nipples.
Between my thighs. My hand curls to grip his shirt—I’m not sure if it’s to pull him closer or to rip the offending garment off.
He growls into my mouth and bites my lower lip. Slowly, he releases it and pulls me fully against him. It feels like a lead pipe presses into my stomach.
Leaving me with no doubt of what that lead pipe actually is.
“I will ruin you, Gina.”
God, yes.
“But not right this moment.”
No… You bastard.
He laughs, and I realize I said that out loud.
“Come on, love. There’s a spot I want to show you.”
“Il mio sole,” I say, preferring his pet name for me, and he smiles down at me.
“Il mio sole. You truly are my sun. My light. And soon, my queen.”
I’m struck speechless. He takes my hand, letting me process his words, and leads me to the dark path off the side of the parking lot.