Chapter 2
TWO
Lissia
Gazing at the robust city beneath my prison walls, I blew out a frustrated breath. Being a hostage for the third time in two months was not how I saw my life going when Marchello rescued me from Danny.
But here I am. A prisoner. Trapped with a man I couldn’t figure out if my life depended on it.
I propped my feet up on the coffee table and shook the nail polish bottle. At least Marchello had the decency to bring all of my stuff from the safe house to my new residence.
What I wouldn’t give for a day at the spa. It had been weeks since I had a haircut, my eyebrows waxed, my nails manicured, and a facial. Highlights. I missed those. I ran my hand through my hair, longing for a deep conditioning treatment.
The allure of being Marchello’s hostage was wearing off.
Although, my cranky mood had nothing to do with not being pampered. Well, maybe not being pampered had a little to do with it. But the real problem was the way Marchello treated me.
I didn’t care that he was rude and grumpy—I had gotten used to that after a week in his presence. I was upset because he wouldn’t allow me to express my feelings toward him. Anytime we got too close, he pushed me away. Even before I disobeyed him and escaped, he’d cut me off or change the subject. Now that I had betrayed his trust, his distance was worse.
I only had myself to blame.
If I had any hope of fixing this problem between us, I would have to give in and obey him. Could I do that? My mouth had a way of getting me in trouble.
Marchello came into the sitting room dressed in one of his expensive suits. He glanced at my feet on the table. “What are you doing?”
“Painting my toenails.” I dipped the brush in the bottle and leaned forward. “I need a real pedicure.”
“You told me you could do it yourself when I bought you all those supplies.”
“I thought I could, but now I’ve changed my mind.” There was no chance he was going to unlock the fortress and let me out to get my nails done. “It’s not the same.”
“You’ll have to manage.” He pointed at me. “You’re in no position to ask me for anything.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?” He came closer to me. “What do you mean okay?”
“I mean it’s okay. You said no, and I have to listen, right?”
Abiding by his rules was the only way I could show him that I was being serious. I had to play his way.
“What are you up to?”
“Nothing.”
The bewildered look in his eyes was new. I had provoked a lot of emotions from him, but baffled wasn’t usually one of them.
“Are you going out?” I asked.
“I have to go to the dealership for a few hours,” he said. “I’ll be back in time for dinner.”
“I don’t like when you leave me.”
“I don’t like when you leave me either.” He glanced at his phone, but the meaning of his words were not lost on me. Was he ever going to let my little escape go?
“Try not to cause any problems today,” he said. “I don’t have time to deal with any issues.”
“How can I? I don’t have anyone to talk to.” I stroked the brush across my big toe, covering my nail with a shade that reminded me of watermelon bubble gum. Cool .
“That’s by design.”
“Where is Ricardo?” I had wanted to ask since coming to the penthouse, but the guilt of what might have happened to him because of me was too much to accept. “Is he alright?”
“Now you’re worried about Ricardo?”
“I’ve always been worried about Ricardo, but I didn’t think you would tell me anything about him.”
“You’re right.”
“Marchello, did you hurt him?” I twisted the cap back on the bottle and set it on the table. “Can I talk to him?”
He scrolled on his phone.
“Can I see him?” I asked.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I said so.” He put his phone in his pocket. “I have to go.”
“Wait.” I got up and moved closer to where he stood. “Tell me Ricardo is safe.”
“Do you think your father would have spared Ricardo’s life if he worked for him?”
“You’re not my father, and Ricardo didn’t work for him.” A knot of dread settled in my stomach. “Just tell me where he is.”
“Where was all this concern for your friend when you were manipulating him into letting you use his phone?”
I looked away.
“That’s right, brat.” He swiped a strand of hair from my face. “I know what you did, and you should be embarrassed.”
“I didn’t want you to hurt him.”
“Is that why you told him to lie to me?”
“He told you that?”
“He tried to take the blame.” Marchello laughed. “As if I didn’t know you were the mastermind behind your absurd plan to get your father to come for you so you could negotiate a truce.”
“I thought I could do it.”
“You were wrong.” He stroked my cheek, but his touch offered no comfort. Maybe it was the vacant gaze in his eyes. “If negotiating a truce was that easy, do you think I would be in this fucking mess?”
How did we end up arguing?
“I used Ricardo, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about him. I told him the truth—I wanted to help you. He wanted that too.” I reached for Marchello’s hand. “He cares about you and your family.”
He glanced down at our joined hands and his scowl softened.
“He told me about what happened,” I said.
“What did he tell you?”
“About your mother.” I swallowed hard and prepared myself for the anger that was coming my way. “He’s grieving too, and being close to your family helps.”
“He had no right to discuss any of that with you.” He let go of me.
“You’re right.” I placed my hand on his bicep. “You should have told me.”
“I should have told you what?”
“That you watched as your mother was murdered.” A hint of doubt invaded my overly daring inquiry. I’d taken this too far, but if he opened up to me, maybe we could work from there.
“I didn’t have to tell you anything, and Ricardo shouldn’t have either. As if I wasn’t already furious enough at him.”
“He didn’t do anything wrong,” I said. “I asked, and he opened up because he’s hurting too. If I had a phone, I would have looked it up myself, or if I wasn’t your hostage, I could have asked my mother and she would have told me what happened.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“I’m glad I found out from Ricardo. It’s his story to tell too.”
“Why? Because his father didn’t have control of the person he was guarding either? If he hadn’t let my mother manipulate him the way you influence everyone around you, maybe she would still be alive today.” Marchello clenched his fists. “Control your impulses and maybe I can keep you alive.”
“Oh,” I whispered as I realized what this was really about. “Do you blame yourself for your mother’s death?”
“What? No.” He stepped away from me. “We’re not talking about this. Ricardo is an idiot. The only reason he’s on the payroll is because my father felt sorry for his mother and her kids. He vowed to take care of them, and now Ricardo is my problem.”
“Your dad did the right thing.”
“You don’t know anything about my family.”
“Because you won’t tell me anything.” I turned but he grabbed my arm and brought me to him.
“I beat the shit out of Ricardo when I found out he was responsible for your escape.”
I sucked in a breath, holding back the tears that threatened to fall over the pain I had caused my friend. Why didn’t Ricardo just pretend he didn’t know what I was up to?
Even as I asked myself the question, I knew the answer. Ricardo was too honorable for that. He would never lie to Marchello.
“I would have shot him if Milo hadn’t reined me in.” Marchello tightened his hold on my arm. “Do you see what your disobedience does to me?”
“Where is he?”
“Recovering at the main house.” All the muscles in Marchello’s face tensed. “Because of his incompetence, you could have been killed.”
“That was my fault, not his,” I said. “You made your point. Please don’t hurt him anymore. Please don’t fire him. If he’s of no use to you anywhere else, let him keep me company.”
“Like I’d make that mistake again.”
“He doesn’t have to be my guard. You could have someone watch us both if that makes you feel better. Let him come here and stay with us.”
“No.”
“I could use a friend.”
“What?” He tugged me closer to him. “You want me to bring another man here to give you the things I can’t?”
“No…well, yes, but Ricardo is my friend, and I hurt him. I need to apologize.”
“I’ll make sure you never see him again.” He backed me up to the couch and pushed me into the cushions. “There is nothing he can give you that I can’t.”
I wanted that to be true.
He sat down next to me and cupped the side of my face. “I was too easy on you yesterday.”
I didn’t argue because I had triggered his foul mood. Calling to his darkness was something I was becoming quite good at. I craved it when he looked as if he wanted to devour me, and I welcomed his wrath.
“You can say no.” He gripped my pants and tugged them down my legs along with my panties. “I’ll always give you a choice.”
As brutal and scary as he could be, I knew that was true.
“I won’t say no.” I kicked my pants off my ankles and spread my legs. “I’m yours.”
“I can’t be gentle right now.”
“I don’t want you to be gentle.”
My heart raced when he took off his jacket and dropped it on the floor. He kept his gaze between my legs as he undid his belt and unbuttoned his pants.
“Come here.” He curled his finger. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to do.”
“What is it?” I crawled over to him.
He tossed me over his lap.
“What are you doing?” I glanced over my shoulder just as he raised his hand in the air. “Oh!”
“When I couldn’t find you, I swore I’d make sure you couldn’t sit for a week when I did.” He struck my backside with a powerful force. “I’m fulfilling that promise.”
His palm connected with my backside again.
“Ouch!” I tried to squirm off his lap.
“I’m not done. Brats who can’t behave suffer the consequences of their actions.” He hit me four more times, each time harder than the last. “Something you’re unfamiliar with.”
“I get it!” I screamed when his hand slapped my raw flesh again. “Stop!”
“Are you sure you want me to stop?” He smoothed his palm along my angry cheeks. “Because I haven’t gotten what I wanted yet.”
“What do you want?” I sucked in a breath.
“I think you know.” He swiped his fingers along my backside and between my legs until he reached my slit. “Should I fuck you or give another round to your ass with my hand?”
I jumped when he pushed his fingers inside me and swirled them around.
“I already know your answer.”
My body hummed with lust as he fingered me. I stretched out my hands and gripped the arm of the couch, circling my hips, then sliding down onto his fingers.
“Marchello,” I moaned.
“What am I going to do with you?” He glided one hand along my back while the other strummed my clit. “You’re such a filthy girl. Taking such pleasure in your punishment.”
“I need you.”
There was no shame in admitting that to him. I wanted him to have every part of me, and I wanted all of him. All of his flaws, all of his demons, and eventually, all of his love.
He demanded my obedience, but that was a small price to pay for his heart.
“You’ve had enough.” He withdrew his fingers.
“No!” I breathed out. “I need more.”
“You’ll get more.” He lifted me off his lap and leaned me over the arm of the couch.
My nipples swiped against the soft material of my T-shirt as I waited for him to give me what I desired. He rustled behind me, and my legs quivered. When his thighs grazed my legs, I scooted forward.
“Are you ready?” His stubbled grazed my shoulder. “I’m not holding back today.”
I turned to look at him. The anger in his expression wavered, but that didn’t last long. He grasped my hips and slammed into me so hard that if he wasn’t holding me tight, I would have tumbled off the couch and onto the floor.
I wasn’t getting away that easily.
“Fuck!” He thrust his hips forward. “Why can’t you just do what you’re supposed to do?”
Something told me he wasn’t searching for an answer to his question. I gripped the armrest and let him plow into me. I didn’t exactly hate it.
“Why do you make my life so difficult?” He moved his pelvis faster, giving me more with each motion forward.
When he raised me up, slamming my back into his chest, I shivered from the angle change. He slithered his hands up my stomach and squeezed my breasts.
“You may be a brat.” Teasing my nipples with his fingertips, he kissed the side of my neck. “But you’re mine.”
He continued his rough assault on me, stretching me and giving me all of him. I took everything. His callous words, his rough touches, his brutal kisses…all of it.
This was my penance for leaving him.
“I have to keep you here.” He trailed his hand to my throat. “I’m not letting them take you from me.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” I tried to swallow against his tight hold.
He squeezed harder.
“Marchello!” I panicked because I couldn’t breathe. “Please.”
I tried to push his hand from my neck. Would he lose control and strangle me? Had I finally tipped him over the edge?
“Do you trust me?”
I nodded.
“Then relax.” He slowed his pace inside me, giving me a second to regroup. “Let me lead.”
Once I controlled my breathing, his hold on my throat wasn’t as tight as I thought. The pressure was subtle, but I felt his commanding presence. Each time he thrust into me, he gripped my neck, squeezing enough to exert his power over me.
Without him pounding into me, my muscles relaxed and my mind quieted. It was just our breathing now, slow and heavy. I closed my eyes and concentrated on his long, leisurely strokes.
In and out, back and forth, push and pull… I teetered on the edge of insanity.
“Come for me.” He pressed his fingers into my windpipe as his breath swept along my neck. “I own you.”
With a violent shudder, I released a low, breathless moan.
“That’s my girl.”
He throttled my throat, intensifying my orgasm. Am I coming again? God!
As he propelled his hips forward, a stream of warmth sprayed inside me. He released my throat and glided his hand down my stomach to my center, rubbing my clit while he still moved inside me.
“Marchello.” I rested the back of my head on his shoulder. “We’re seriously messed up.”
He gently kissed me before pulling out and getting off the couch.
“I’m late.” He scooped his jacket off the floor. “That’s your fault.”
“Isn’t everything my fault?” I rested on the couch, wincing when my backside brushed against the cool leather.
“I’m probably going to be later than I thought.” He handed me my pants. “Get dressed before the guards come in.”
I got off the couch and shimmied past him with my pants draped over my arm.
He grabbed my wrist before I could get away. “You might want to adjust your attitude.”
“Why’s that?”
“You’ll know why when you can’t sit tomorrow.” He tugged me to him. “I won’t hesitate to do it again.”
“You keep doing your worst.” I kissed his cheek, breathing in his spicy scent. “I’m here for it.”
Hostage or not, I was in love with him. I just didn’t realize how dangerous that could be.