Chapter 13
Laurie
Adriano holds me tightly while I keep my face pressed against his shoulder, trying to calm my breathing.
His palm moves up and down my back, slow and steady, and eventually, my focus drifts from the petrifying panic to the solid warmth of his muscled body.
Everything about him feels incredibly overwhelming.
The tuxedo beneath my fingertips. The amber and leather scent of his cologne. The strength in his arms as he keeps me tucked tightly against his chest.
He takes hold of my chin to tilt my head, but I jerk free before shoving my face against his shoulder again, because I can’t look at him right now.
A deep chuckle rumbles from him. “My little butterfly is hiding. Cute.”
Jesus! He’s deranged.
His arms tighten around me again, all possessive, and he presses kisses to my hair. The tenderness of it feels completely at odds with the terrifying man I saw outside the church mere minutes ago.
Exhaustion creeps through me, and being held by this ruthless man starts pulling me into a strange trance.
When the SUV crawls to a stop and the engine is switched off, I’m ripped out of the daze, and the instant Adriano opens the door, I dart away from him.
The first thing I notice as my feet touch the ground is the guards scattered everywhere like this place is Fort Knox. Seeing machine guns makes more horror pour into my soul.
Then my gaze locks on the mansion towering to the right of me, and my lips part.
Holy crap!
I marvel at the sight of the beautiful terracotta walls and ivy-covered stone. The Mediterranean-style mansion is so massive and elegant it barely feels real.
Turning my head, I see gardens stretching along the side of the mansion. Perfectly manicured hedges frame stone walkways, and deeper between the trees, I spot a pavilion and two equally gorgeous houses.
This property is huge.
Feeling overwhelmed and speechless, I turn to Adriano, but the moment my gaze lands on him, terror tightens every muscle in my body.
He stalks closer, grabs hold of my hand, and starts pulling me toward the front door.
A fresh wave of panic explodes through me, my breaths rushing over my lips and my pulse racing so fast, I can hear my erratic heartbeat in my ears.
As we enter the mansion, I glance over the living room where black couches circle a light wooden table. Tilting my head back, I gape at the stunning sight of the glass ceiling and towering tree.
Adriano stops suddenly, causing me to bump into him, and I quickly rip my hand out of his hold. Noticing my suitcase standing beside one of the couches, the stark reality of what happened today knocks the air from my lungs.
I married a stranger who killed a man in cold blood.
“Try to calm down,” Adriano says, his tone even as if he’s telling me about the damn weather.
Fully on guard, my gaze follows his every move as he shrugs off the jacket, and I hate how stupidly attractive he looks in the vest. As he undoes the top four buttons of his dress shirt, he watches me like I’m some sick form of entertainment.
Maybe that’s what I am to him.
The thought makes my tongue go numb and the dreaded prickly sensation returns, running over my skin as the warmth drains from my body.
Maybe he’s one of those wealthy psychopaths who snatches people up to hunt for fun. Like in that horror movie I watched years ago.
Oh God.
My stomach rolls, and without thinking twice, I run for the front door.
I don’t even hear Adriano move, but when I glance over my shoulder, his arm hooks around me. Yanked sideways, my feet leave the floor, and somehow in this frightening moment, I notice how the fabric of the wedding dress wooshes through the air.
My mouth opens, but no sound comes out as he carries me effortlessly to the couches where I’m slammed down on the soft cushions.
When Adriano crouches over me like a predator and his hand clamps around my throat, I cry, “Oh God! Please! Shit. Don’t kill me.”
“Stop!” he snaps, his voice harsh and commanding.
A shaky sound slips from me as I stare into his dark eyes.
He leans closer, his expression unreadable, and when his lips ghost over my jaw and up to my temple, my heart all but stops dead in my chest.
“I’m not going to hurt or kill you. That’s the last thing I’ll ever do, mia piccola farfalla.
But you need to calm down so I can explain a couple of things to you.
” His mouth moves to my ear, and goosebumps erupt over my body.
“Shh… settle down.” I feel his breath on the sensitive skin of my neck.
“I don’t want to destroy you.” Lifting his head, he takes my wide eyes captive.
“I’m fucking obsessed with you, Laurie. I want to own every single part of you. ”
He’s giving me the same vibes as Joe from You. The psychopath who stalked women, became obsessed with them, then ended up killing them.
I guess I should take some comfort in the fact that Adriano married me, because he’ll be the main suspect by default if the police find chopped up pieces of me scattered all over Long Island.
My voice is scratchy when I say, “Y-you sound a little insane right now.”
The corner of his mouth lifts. “That’s because I can’t think rationally when it comes to you.
There’s this overwhelming need to keep you close, to consume every part of you, to own all your smiles and tears…
” He shakes his head slowly, looking at me like I’m something sacred he wants to ruin and worship at the same time.
“You’ve possessed me, and I’ll kill anyone who tries to take you from me. ”
For a woman who’s spent her whole life being ignored and walked over, I have no idea how to deal with this volatile situation.
No one has ever looked at me as if their world would end if I disappeared.
Okay, Laurie. Panicking, begging, and running aren’t cutting it. Change tactics.
My hand trembles as I lift it to place my palm against his jaw, and feeling the rough bristles makes unwanted tingles shoot up my arm.
“Okay.” I catch my breath and force a smile to my face, hoping he buys I’m done fighting him.
Set him at ease.
Lifting my head, I hesitate for a split second before I press a kiss to his mouth. When I pull back, Adriano’s features soften and the crazy-dangerous look in his eyes retreats.
“Let’s talk.” He hauls me into a sitting position before slumping against the back of the couch and letting out a sigh.
I move slowly, scooting an inch away while my eyes remain glued to him.
Adriano sits still for a moment before he gets up and walks to a black marble-topped liquor cabinet on the far right side of the living room.
My gaze latches onto the gun tucked into the waistband of his pants, and it makes a shiver crawl up my spine.
He pours two tumblers of amber liquid before returning and handing one to me.
“Drink. It will help settle your emotions,” he orders, and instead of sitting down, he goes to stand in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, the view of the garden exquisite.
I take a sip, but the alcohol is way too potent, and I set the tumbler down on the coffee table.
“I’m one of five capos in the Cosa Nostra.” His voice rumbles like thunder, and turning around to look at me, he asks, “Do you know anything about mafia or organized crime?”
Swallowing hard, I shake my head. “Only what I’ve seen in documentaries and movies.”
“The Cosa Nostra consists of five families. Rizzo, Falco, La Rosa, Torrisi, and Vitale. I’m the head of my family.”
That doesn’t explain much to me except that there are more people like him I might have to worry about.
Adriano studies me for several long seconds before downing the whiskey in one go. He comes closer and sets the tumbler on the table, then taking a seat, he turns his body to face mine.
The intense look of power burning in his gaze is extremely unnerving.
“The Cosa Nostra has existed for generations. The five families control different parts of businesses across the world. Shipping, construction, gambling, nightclubs, medication, and medical supplies.” His eyes remain locked on mine, and I swallow hard as I process the information.
“I control shipping routes from Europe to the East Coast. Mostly counterfeit goods, stolen merchandise, and high-value contraband.” He pauses, giving me the impression he wants the words to sink in, and boy, do they.
“If authorities inspect a shipment, one phone call makes the problem disappear. We own politicians, judges, FBI agents, and cops all over the world.”
That’s how he was able to get the marriage license.
“Clubs like Fallen Angels exist because powerful men like to be reckless behind closed doors.” Adriano’s jaw tightens slightly. “Secrets are worth more than money. Once someone’s weakness is exposed, they’ll hand over anything to keep it buried.”
There’s no emotion in his tone. He’s not bragging but stating cold, hard facts.
“If a person dares to betray or steal from the family, they’re killed.” My heart beats faster and faster. “If someone becomes a threat, they die.” A vicious darkness creeps over his face. “Nobody asks questions because they know it will cost their lives.”
Jesus.
I struggle to contain the crippling fear coursing through my veins.
“I killed Benedict Castellano last year for trying to poach one of my clients,” he admits to committing murder with zero remorse. “Antonio was hotheaded today, and I’m sorry you had to see that. The Castellanos aren’t known for their brains.”
The man mentioned Adriano killed his brother. Now it makes sense.
I remain frozen on the spot, too afraid to move.
“Do you have any questions?”
My tongue darts out to wet my lips before I ask, “So…so you’re a mafia boss?” When he nods, I feel braver to ask another. “Have you ever been to prison?”
He shakes his head. “No, people like me seldom serve time. If we can’t get rid of a charge, we have men who turn themselves in to take the fall. Worst-case scenario, there’s a new identity waiting and an escape plan.”
Right, because money buys anything.
Am I really having this conversation right now?
“With all of that being said,” He raises his arm, and I have to force myself to keep still as he cups my cheek, “you will go nowhere without Marco and Paulie. More men will be assigned to your protective detail, but you only need to know Marco and Paulie’s names.”
Protective detail?
Adriano notices something in my expression, because he says, “Your safety is my priority, Laurie. If someone harms a hair on your head, I will end them.”
Part of me swoons a little, but common sense fears the promise of death in his voice.
In desperate need of comfort, I wrap my arms around myself and turn my head to stare out the windows.
Silence falls like a heavy blanket over us while I try to make sense of this violent and deadly world I’ve been dropped into.
I’m married to a mafia boss who has no problem ending a life, and he seems to be unhinged as hell.
“Laurie.” His tone is soft, almost gentle.
When I don’t respond, I hear him move, then he takes hold of me and pulls me against his chest. His arms engulf me, feeling unbreakable, like there’s no force on earth capable of prying me out of his grip.
He rubs his cheek against the side of my face before saying, “Talk to me.”
“About?” My voice sounds hopeless.
“Anything.” His hand settles behind my head, and once again, his scent fills the air I breathe while I’m hyperaware of every inch of his muscled body pressing against mine. “What are you thinking?”
I don’t have the energy to lie and mutter, “How fucked I am.”
As if I said something funny, a chuckle rumbles from Adriano.
He brings his hands to the sides of my head and forces me to look at him before saying, “It’s quite the opposite.
” His eyes lock with mine, dark and dangerous.
“I know how you’ve been living, Laurie.” Brushing his thumbs over my cheeks, he shakes his head.
“I saw you take the train fucking late at night. I followed you to that house where the piece of shit was asleep on the couch while you cleaned up after him.”
My heart stutters and my mouth grows bone dry.
“I watched you doing dishes at midnight and take out the trash alone.” He shakes his head again, his expression so dark, shivers rush over my body, and the tiny hairs stand up on the back of my neck.
“You were so fucking vulnerable and such an easy target. There were many times I could’ve grabbed you. ”
Jesus.
“You didn’t even eat.” Realizing Adriano is angry, I try to move backward, but his hand shoots to my neck and he forcefully holds me in place.
“You were barely surviving,” he snaps before his voice turns into a threatening growl, “You will never take another train, never come home exhausted just to clean up after some worthless piece of shit who doesn’t deserve a masterpiece like you… ”
He sucks in a deep breath and visibly calms himself before he continues in a softer tone, “You will sleep in silk, eat whatever you want, and wear diamonds worth more than everything that fucker can ever hope to own.”
Leaning in, he presses a kiss to my forehead, and I feel his lips brush against my skin as he vows, “You belong at my side, Laurie. Spoiled. Protected. Worshiped.” Pulling back, his eyes take mine captive again. “You will never want for anything again.”
My God, he stalked me!
That’s what the sensible part of me focuses on.
But… he really seems to care.
That’s my stupid, love-starved heart, because I’ve never had anyone putting me first.
Adriano stares deep into my eyes while brushing his thumb over my skin, his hand still wrapped around my neck. “I only want the best for you, mia piccola farfalla.”
I don’t know why it only occurs to me now to ask, “What does the Italian mean?”
“My little butterfly.”
Oh my word, that’s so sweet.
Adriano instantly picks up that I just swooned, and a smile spreads over his face. “I’m glad you like it.”
That’s when I realize this man, who’s known me barely a week, can read me like a book.
Feeling very confused and utterly overwhelmed, I take hold of his wrist as my eyes drift shut. “I…” Letting out a sigh, I look at him again. “I’m going to need time to think about everything.”
“You can think all you want, as long as you understand this is your life now.”
Yeah, I’ve kind of figured I don’t have a choice.