19. Salvatore
nineteen
Salvatore
The music in the club is too loud for my taste. It has been a long time since I’ve enjoyed places like this. Maybe before I took over La Cosa Nostra. I have been coming here for the last two weeks every night when I wasn’t on a hunting spree, only to avoid the woman at home.
Twenty-Seven was one of the first businesses I opened after I got my business degree. It was something I did despite my father's wishes. I wanted to prove myself to him and make money that had nothing to do with him. And I did, I made him proud, but the truth about the real monster my father was made me turn my back on this place, a bitter reminder of the truth.
Two weeks ago, I was reminded what I’d been avoiding for years after I killed my father and decided I wanted to be a different man.
“You can be both. You just need to find the balance,” Gabriel said to me after he dragged me away from Isabel two weeks ago.
I need to find that balance because I am the don of La Cosa Nostra and they need a leader to lead them onto a better path. I need to do that and not be my father's son.
Leaning back in a leather seat, I try to concentrate on the conversation between the men sitting with me around the table in the middle of the VIP section, my eyes roaming the place.
This seat was designed for me and my guests, so I can see every inch of the club from here.
My eyes catch the figure of a woman entering my club, her long legs wrapped in a cream knee-length skirt with a slit up the side, a nude blouse, and dangerously high heels.
I stand and take a few steps toward the railing. I lean forward and watch her hips moving as she walks, catching the attention of every man in the club.
My wife has made her presence known in my club.
When I spot Valentino behind her, I let out a breath of relief knowing she isn’t here alone. I’ll need to talk with him about this later. If they plan to come here, I need to know so I can check if there is any threat to her around.
The whistle beside me drags my attention from my wife to a tall, good-looking man, one I’ve never seen here before.
“That’s one hot piece of ass,” he comments, his eyes never leaving her. “I wonder...”
“Don’t,” I growl at him and grab him by the neck. His eyes bulge out in fear. “That piece of ass is mine, and I suggest you never look at her again if you plan on walking from here with your sight and tongue intact. As a courtesy to my wife and because I need to take care of her, I will give you a chance to walk away and never come back. If you do, you will regret it.”
I push him and he stumbles as he runs away. I smirk. Pussy. I would have fun clawing his eyes out and cutting out his tongue.
Now, back to my wife. She is standing in front of the dance floor, searching like she’s on a mission. I take the stairs and walk down to where she is standing. I walk around the corner and behind her, nodding at Valentino so he can step aside.
I stand an inch behind her and wrap a hand around her waist, pulling her to my chest. Her scent fills my nostrils, and I close my eyes for a second, savoring it. Her body stills under my touch. I exhale and my lips find her ear. “You shouldn’t be here, Bella.”
Her body relaxes and shivers all at once.
She turns in my hands, trying to take a step back. I keep my grip on her waist. She leans in so she can speak over the music. “We need to talk, and since you’re avoiding me, I came to you.”
I nod and take her hand, leading her through the crowd toward my office.
I close the door behind us and lead my wife toward the red leather sofa. I used to spend plenty of time in this office with different people, doing all kinds of things. None of them fit so perfectly as she is right now, which irritates me even more. I put my hand in the pockets of my slacks just in case I get any crazy ideas and lean on the edge of the dark brown oak desk.
“What is so important that you came here?”
She crosses her long legs and turns slightly toward me. “Have you spoken to my father since our wedding day.” Her voice trembles slightly, reminding me I still need to find out why the mention of her father bothers her.
“I did. He isn’t convinced an alliance is good for him. He can’t reach Sabatini to get his side of the story, therefore he put the alliance on hold.” A chuckle escapes me, and I shake my head. “He wasn’t even concerned when I said you were shot at.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Why would he be concerned? If you think you can manipulate him with my ‘safety’…” She makes a quotation sign with her fingers and rolls her eyes. “…Then all your plans are for nothing.”
“So, you don’t matter to him? Is that what you’re saying?”
“No, I do matter, but not like you think. I am a pawn. A very precious one. Like a queen on a chessboard.”
“But without a queen, he is vulnerable as a king. Why wouldn’t he care that you could have been shot?”
“Because he can’t control me. Someone else has his queen. You. And he can’t control you . He could control Sabatini, and in return, he would have his kingdom after he dies. But there is a catch.”
“What’s the catch?”
“He would only get his kingdom, and only as executor, until I provide him with a male heir.” She leans back in her seat, exhaling. “I wouldn’t say he doesn’t care for me. He does in his own way. If he can control me, use me as his pawn, then I’m a good daughter. But I’m not that now.”
“I see.”
My legs move on autopilot. I walk to my dartboard that hangs on a wooden wall. I take the darts and walk back. I need to think.
Some things never get old.
I throw the first dart. Treble. Second dart. Bull. Third dart. Another bull.
I don’t hear Isabel walking toward me until she is standing next to me. She reaches for the red darts and throws one. It hits the wooden wall, and then it falls to the floor.
“You need to throw harder,” I say, amused.
She takes the second one. This time it hits number one, just above the scoring area. On the third dart, she bites her lip, scrunches her left eye closed, and throws. I let out a chuckle when it hits the wall beside the board.
She turns toward me. “I’ve never played before. You made it look so easy.”
“I have years of practice.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Is this where you’ve been for the last two weeks?”
“Mostly.” My mood changes immediately at the reminder of what I did that night. I take a step aside, trying to avoid her, but she stops me, blocking my way out.
“You don’t get to walk away this time,” she snaps. “You made this mess, and I gave you time to work things out. God only knows I need time too, but you don’t see me running away. I don’t know what happened to you that night. All I know is you need to work your shit out.”
My anger simmers, even if I forced her into this. She did something that night. She made me feel something I avoided for years. Something I never wanted.
I grab her upper arm and spin us around, backing her against my desk. As her ass hits the edge, her lips part and her eyes widen.
“I am working my shit out,” I bite out. “What I did was not acceptable. But you don’t get to tell me what to do. It’s better this way. I need to fight my demons alone.”
Her eyes look deep into my soul when she asks, “Why? What are you afraid of, Salvatore?”
I close my eyes and exhale. If only she knew what I want to avoid. If only I could tell her my darkest secret. However, nothing ever came from if . Just empty dreams. Dreams I never get to live.
I raise my hand to her face, and the backs of my fingers trail down to her neck. My eyes follow my fingers. “Nothing you should be concerned with.”
She grabs the lapels of my jacket and pulls me toward her so we’re face to face. “Tell me something. Lie to me. Just don’t leave me alone after you dragged me back into this world.”
I did that, and I was selfish. But I will do one thing no matter what it costs me.
“You always will be safe, that I promise. No matter what it will cost. I don’t know what you’re afraid of, but I will keep you safe, even if I’m not here.”
She doesn’t say anything, but her soulful eyes filled with trust do. But do I really deserve her trust?
We move together, my lips slamming onto hers. My tongue parts her lips, meeting hers, devouring her. I lift her skirt until it’s bunched just around her hips, high enough to spread her legs then push her onto the desk, so her ass is sitting on the edge. I grab her thighs and part her legs, making a space between them for me, leaving only the thin material of her panties between me and her pussy.
This time, I’m in control.
My fingers entwine in her hair, and I fist it, pulling her just slightly away from my lips. She gasps as I expose her neck and I place my lips on her throbbing jugular. My tongue darts out, and I lick it before sucking the skin on her neck.
Her hand finds its way into my hair, pulling me to her. A moan escapes her, and my body screams with need.
Need to have her, need to show her what I am. What I’m hiding under my mask. And most of all, I need to fuck her.
With one swift swipe of my hand, I dump the contents of my desk on the floor. Papers fly to the floor, and I push Isabella down to lie on the desk. I tear her blouse, not caring that the buttons fly all over the place, her lace-covered breasts teasing me. I work the straps, pushing them down her upper arms just a little. The action restrains her arms slightly. Her breasts spill out and I cup them in my palms. They are big enough that they spill from my grip. I lean in and wrap my lips around one of her buds. Her breath and moans fill my ears.
I’m in heaven.
Her legs wrap around my waist, pressing her heated pussy against my hard cock.
I let go of her breast and take her hands by the wrists and move them above her head, holding them in one hand. I wrap my other hand around her neck, squeezing slightly.
“You shouldn’t have chosen me.” I brush my lips over hers, her breath quickening. “You should have chosen to go back to your father,” I murmur against her lips before I pull her bottom lip with my teeth, biting it until a coppery taste fills my mouth. “You should have stayed away from me tonight.” I lick the blood from her lip. “I will give you one last chance to say no.” I stare at her wide eyes filled with confusion, angst, and lust. “From the moment you stay, you are mine. I own you. You will be mine to use as I want, whenever and however I want. I will control you.” Her breaths are irregular, and her eyes unfocused. I push my pelvis toward her warm pussy, squeezing around her neck just a little more.
She lets out a soft moan. My forehead drops to hers, and I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. When I open my eyes, my blues plead with her browns.
“You sure you want this?”
She stares at me for what feels like hours, like she’s looking deep into my soul. But she doesn’t answer. Instead, she fights against my grip around her neck and slams her lips on mine.
That’s it. That’s all I need before I show her the monster hiding inside
me.
The monster I tried to hide.