Chapter 13
Chapter thirteen
Darkness surrounds me.
Lips touch me.
Pleasure fills me.
What the fuck did I do?
My eyes fly open and I feel the multiple layers of blankets pressing against my body. Pain sears through my scalp and I’m drenched in sweat.
It takes me a minute to realize that I’m in my bedroom and the brightness is the morning sun shining behind the curtains.
Pushing back the covers, I sit up, wincing as I take in the space. My emerald dress is draped across the chair, heels are scattered, and panties are on the floor.
His mouth. His hands. His body against mine.
A soft ache between my thighs reminds me it wasn’t a dream.
My hands fly to my mouth.
Dammit Cipi. What the fuck did you do?
I take a deep breath.
It was the champagne, Pinot Noir, Malibu Bay Breeze, and whatever else I drank.
Yes. That’s what it was.
But it would be a lie.
The reality is that I wanted him and I let it happen.
I’m an idiot. Why would I do that knowing there is no future between us?
After fifteen years of not speaking and how he broke my heart, I should have kept my guard up.
Instead, I let him devour me knowing I’d starve after.
But this isn’t entirely my fault.
Dominic started it.
For someone who supposedly hates everything I stand for, I would have never known with the way he ate me up last night.
I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and wince as the stitches pull. Moving slowly, I put my robe over my pajamas. I need to take something for this headache and my pain.
I’m halfway down the stairs when the doorbell rings. Looking at my phone I see it’s Lucia.
“Buongiorno, Principessa.” Lucia invites herself inside and walks directly to the kitchen, holding a box in her hands. “I brought you some pastries. I had a feeling you’d be too tired to cook breakfast.”
She turns on the stove and grabs the moka pot. “I’ll make you some coffee, you need it. You look like hell by the way.”
I groan. “What I need is some Motrin for this headache I have.”
Opening the cabinet, I grab the tiny bottle, then sit down in the breakfast nook. The scents of vanilla and chocolate cream fill my nose as I open the box and find an assortment of Italian pastries.
“Thank you.”
“So how was the party?” Lucia sits down across from me.
“It was a lot of fun. Dominic was hired for a new case. Oh, and you’ll never believe who I ran into at the gala. Valerio Neri.”
“You’re kidding.” Lucia gasps.
I shake my head. Then I tell her the whole story.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he is behind this. He’s wanted our territory for years. Someone on our team could be working for him. Maybe one of the guards.” Lucia gets up to check the coffee. “What time did you get home last night? I waited up for you, then fell asleep.”
“That was my plan, I snuck back into my house when I knew everyone was asleep.” I go over to the sink and fill a glass with water. Then I pop the pills into my mouth and drink.
Lucia’s eyes grow wide. “You slept with him, didn’t you?”
I almost choke on the water. “What?”
“I knew those panties would come off.” Lucia is practically dancing with delight. She loves winning bets.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Luci.”
“I’m your best friend. I can always tell when you get laid. You have a glow about you right now and your hair looks like a man was running his fingers all through it.” She giggles.
It looks like there’s no getting out of this.
“No, I didn’t actually sleep with him.” I take a plate from the cabinet and walk back to the table.
“Well?”
I sit down and open the box of pastries. “He ate me out in the limo.” I grab a Sfogliatelle and put it on the plate.
Lucia squeals. “Cipi!”
I take a bite so I don’t have to reply.
“I don’t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing,” Lucia squeals. “I’m happy you got laid, but I also don’t want you to get your heart broken again.”
I hold up my hand. “I know it wasn’t a good idea, but we were drunk. It won’t happen again.”
Just then the front door opens and I hear Nonna calling my name.
“In the kitchen,” I reply.
Nonna enters with a suspicious look on her face. “Who dropped you off last night? I saw a limo leaving the compound.”
“It was a business meeting.” I shrug, surprised at how easy the lie rolls off my tongue.
“You shouldn’t be conducting business after the incident.”
“Nonna, I’m still the boss. Work doesn’t stop just because I got shot.
I don’t need the other families getting suspicious.
This life waits for no one. There will always be someone ready to take everything from you if you don’t stay on top of things.
You should know this better than anyone and you know not to ask questions. ”
Nonna clicks her tongue and mutters in Italian. “You better be careful. I don’t like all this. First you, now Bruno. There’s a rat among us.”
“That’s what we’re trying to figure out, Nonna,” I give her a kiss. “I have my best men on this.”
“Fine.” She grumbles. “Make sure you’re careful. I have to go. I have bread in the oven.” She walks back out the front door.
“I have to go too,” Lucia replies. “We aren’t finished with this conversation. I want all the details later.” She follows after Nonna.
I wait for the front door to close before I get up. Running a hand through my hair, I walk over to the foyer and check to make sure everything is locked.
A chime rings from my phone signaling that someone is at the back porch.
Making my way back to the kitchen, I stop short as I see Dominic behind the glass.
Why is he here? I haven’t even thought about what I would say when I see him next, especially after last night.
Maybe I should go hide.
Crap he’s already seen me and he can’t stay out there, someone in the compound will see him for sure.
My fingers fumble with the latch and I yank the slider open. “What are you doing here?”
He shrugs. “Are we not working on a case together? I figured you wouldn’t want anyone to see me. I caught a rideshare and had them drop me off on the opposite side. Then I went through the woods and hopped the fence.”
Why is he acting normal?
I turn away from him because I have a strong urge to leap into his arms if I stand any closer.
“Well, that sounds like quite a quest.” I open the box of pastries.
“And you’re right. I don’t want anyone to see you.
I need to learn not to give my family keys to my house.
” I pause. “Keys. Of course. My family has access to my house which means I have access to theirs. That’s how we get in.
Whenever Mama and Nonna leave, we will use the key to enter and find the chess set. ”
“That’s going to have to wait.” Dominic holds up a manila envelope. “I think I got a lead.”
“Really?”
He still hasn’t mentioned anything about last night.
Did I dream it?
My body tells me no.
“I remember you told me how a truck driver handed that package to Lucia. I checked the warehouse camera footage and traced the license plate to the trucking company. Then I got access to their delivery logs and found the driver’s name.
Rafael Longo. After doing a criminal data search, his record is clean and he supposedly doesn’t have any mafia connections.
I figured if we can find him and talk to him, he can tell us who paid him to deliver that shipment and drop off the box. ”
I stare at the cannoli on my plate. I don’t know how to reply. I should feel relieved that we appear to be getting somewhere with this case, but I have a tornado of emotions running through me.
Why is he acting like nothing happened between us?
Like he hadn’t had his face buried between my thighs less than twenty-four hours ago.
Was he that intoxicated that he doesn’t remember?
I don’t know if I should be happy or offended.
“Also I found something interesting as well.” Dominic’s voice brings me back to reality. “The owner of the trucking company who delivered the packages is Madeline Toma.”
“I knew Madeline was the killer, her and her stupid grandson,” I mutter.
“It’s way too early to be passing judgement or thinking of getting revenge.” Dominic places the envelope on the table. “I have some photos from the camera footage that I enlarged to get a better view of the driver.”
It’s then I remember I never looked in those boxes that were delivered. I have to get down to the warehouse. There is another shipment arriving soon and I have to make sure the tables are all in order.
“Rafael Longo’s truck is at a rest stop in the next town over. I’m going to go over there now to try to talk to him before he leaves.”
“I’m coming with you.” I close the box of pastries.
“Why? You’re still healing. This could be dangerous.” Dominic hesitates.
It could also be very dangerous being alone with him after last night’s adventure, but he seems to have forgotten all about it, so fuck it.
“I’ll heal faster when I find out who did this to me and I need to do this for Bruno too.” I head to the stairs. “Just give me a second to change.”
Dominic doesn’t argue with me. He sits at the table and opens the pastry box. “Take your time, I’m not going anywhere without you.”