21. Chapter 21 - Diego
My fingers tap along the steering wheel as I wait for Madison. She wanted me to drop her off down the block but that wasn’t fucking happening. I dropped her sexy ass right off at the front of her father’s apartment complex. Her sister Mikayla peeked out the front window when we arrived like she had some sort of sixth sense of our arrival. Even though the windows are tinted, I felt her eyes directed on me the entire time.
The playlist I’ve selected has almost cycled through. It’s been about an hour and I’ll be honest. I’m becoming impatient. I’ve already gone through every scenario of how I want to take Madison tonight, and if I keep thinking about her, I’m going to need to cut her little get-together short.
But fuck…I can’t wait…
The feel of her silky smooth skin against mine… the little moans that slip past her lips as I slide into her… how her pussy clenches my cock… fuuuck. It feels like a lifetime has passed since I’ve had her.
My brain doesn’t catch up to my feet until my knuckles are rapping against the door.
Madison is the one to swing it open with wide eyes that turn serpentine .
Fuck. Me. This woman is about to have me dropping to my knees just to worship her right here.
So. Fucking. Alluring.
My hands tremble with the desire to grab her by the neck and kiss her senseless, but the stares of her family have me dowsing that lust real fast.
“What the hell are you doing?” Madison growls low through her clenched teeth.
Mikayla makes eye contact with me, her mannerisms so similar to Madison’s, it’s actually quite scary. She raises a sharp blonde eyebrow before resting a hand on Madison’s tense shoulder.
“Maddy, it’s okay. He shouldn’t have to wait in the car all night. I think Dad would like to meet your new boyfriend. You guys met in Arizona, right?”
The clever little fox tilts her head as she requests my response. Madison looks like she’s about to slap her sister, so I claim her hand in mine, stepping around my girl and over the threshold.
“Sorry to interrupt. I know it’s been an overwhelming and eventful last few days. I just wanted to make sure Madison was alright. I know she’s been so worried about you, sir.”
Maddy gives my hand a squeeze as she pulls me closer to the living room where a woman, who I’d assume is her father’s girlfriend, sits on the couch next to Madison’s younger sister. She tugs me along to the recliner where her father sits. It’s that exact moment when my heart drops to my stomach—and I must admit, it takes a lot to shock me.
I’ve seen it all.
Her father Vinny Marrone—as in Vincenzo Marrone— stares at me with as shocked a face as I. This is what I fucking get for not doing my due diligence like I do any other person I’ve ever been involved with. I didn’t do it with Madison because she is different. I didn’t want to know every detail about her. I wanted to discover those things myself. Like unwrapping a present.
One designed just for me.
Layer by fucking layer.
Of course, I had Selena give me as much detail as possible about her before kidnapping her, but I never once had my men look into her history. There’s no file in my office on Madison Marrone. How did I overlook the last name? Fuck. Fuck. Fuck… This is so bad.
Madison stops a foot away from her father, her hand slightly trembling in mine. I tighten my hold on her to reassure her, but it’s me who needs reassurance right now. To know her father wont whip out his piece and shoot me between the fucking eyes.
“Diego De La Cruz,” Vinny chuckles. Madison stiffens next to me. “Care to explain to me how you of all people are dating my daughter? I heard you were dead.”
“Wh…at?” Madison squeaks, looking at me and then to her father. “You two know each other?” There’s a bite of betrayal to her voice that I don’t like. But damn, Mariposita . A fucking heads up would have been nice.
I clear my throat before speaking. “I didn’t know your father was Vincenzo Marrone.”
“Sweetheart, girls… ” Vincenzo starts, he reaches out his hand to clasp Madison’s. She quickly releases my hand to go to him. “I know you girls may have suspected over the years…that I was part of the Mafia…And you were correct. I never wanted to get you involved. The less you knew the better.” He pats the top of Madison’s hand. “Your old man is an executor for the Italian Mafia. But this has to stay between us. As you know, this kind of information could be extremely dangerous.” The warning is clearly written in his facial expressions.
Mikayla and Madison let out an incredulous laugh while her younger sister whispers, “I knew it.” Vincenzo’s girlfriend doesn’t even blink. Of course she doesn’t. She’s known .
His eyes, so similar to Madison’s, reach mine, prompting my little butterfly to swivel her head over her shoulder to look at me.
“I wasn’t stupid when she was dating Killian. We had a nice conversation at her graduation party about keeping my daughter safe. There was a mutual understanding. Man to man. But you… The Bone Breaker … Never in my lifetime did I expect to see my daughter anywhere in your vicinity. The underworld treats you like a ghost. A rumor. I thought that’s what you were until I saw a picture of you on the FBI’s most wanted list.”
I force a smile to my numb lips. What the fuck do I say? Her father isn’t me, but damn he’s got quite the reputation in his section of the underworld. The Italians treat him like a king because he is one in his own right. He may not be the leader of the syndicate, but he sure as shit holds just as much honor and respect as Lorenzo Caruso.
“So… you didn’t meet in Arizona?” Mikayla adds sarcastically. Her father shoots her a knowing look.
“No. We didn’t,” I sigh, running a shaky hand through my hair. Fuck . I’ve never ‘met the parents before’. Not only is this new to me but her father is Vincenzo fucking Marrone. “Mind if we sit?” I ask him, eyeing the space on the couch next to the recliner.
He nods. “Mikayla, do your old man a favor and grab Mr. De La Cruz here a glass of my Pappy Van Winkle.” My brows raise, appreciating his taste in bourbon.
“Straight up son, or neat?”
“Neat. Who would want to water down such a beautiful bourbon?” I relax my shoulders, letting out a chuckle.
Vincenzo offers a small smile while rubbing his gray chin hair. “I still want to hear the entire story, but I’m starting to approve, Madison,” he laughs, wincing and holding a pillow to his chest. I could tell he tried to avoid showing his weakness in front of me, but fuck, his ribs were sawed open and wired shut. Any man would be wincing .
Me included.
An hour later, I am shaking her father’s hand. Respect is written all over his face. Vincenzo’s girlfriend Diane drove Madison’s little sister home, allowing us to talk more candidly about our past events. I left nothing out. Admitting my original plan in kidnapping Madison, to us falling in love in the most exhilarating way, to me faking my own death. Madison added her own thoughts and perspective as her father and Mikayla listened along carefully.
There were a few moments I was slightly worried her father would have me executed the second I stepped foot out his front door. Especially when we told him we had gotten married. Vincenzo remained relatively quiet. Eerily quiet if you ask me.
My mind eased a bit when Madison explained her account of my proposal and our wedding. That’s when her old man started chuckling. Both our eyes remained glued on her, admiring how her eyes lit up and cheeks reddened while she explained our connection.
I place a kiss to Madison’s temple. “I’ll meet you in the car. I have it warming up.”
She leans into me, placing a brief kiss to my lips before blowing a kiss to her father one last time. “Goodnight, Daddy.”
“Goodnight, sweetheart. I’m glad we sorted this out. Don’t let me see you with any more stitches or bruises again, you hear me ?” He’s talking to her but looking at me.
“As I told you, I handled it, and then Diego really handled it. Anyways, I’m glad you are on the road to recovery, Dad. I need you around to watch the grandkids one day,” she says gleefully.
It’s as if a weight has been lifted off her chest. She’s free. Free to continue being mine. No secrets. No lies. It’s all out in the open. And goddamn . Hearing her talk of having my children has me ready to get back to the hotel so we can practice.
I’ve got one more thing I need to do before we leave. And this one is strictly between me and her father .
“Slow it down there. I just heard about your wedding today. Give me some time before you start announcing babies.” Vincenzo holds a hand to his chest.
Madison laughs some more on her way out. She lets the screen door slam, announcing her departure. I turn to her father, taking a deep breath.
“I know I didn’t do it the right way in the past, Sir. I would like to remedy that. I want to do it the right way. I am asking permission to remarry your daughter. I promise to always protect her, to encourage her goals and dreams. I love your daughter very much. She is an incredible woman. I’m a very lucky man to have been given her trust and love in return.”
He remains silent, studying me behind his glass of water before taking a sip. He reaches out his hand to shake mine. I place my hand in his firm grip. He tugs me close. Maybe I misjudged his lighter mood?
“You have my blessing, Diego. However , there is one thing I need you to understand. No matter how much she may hate you, no matter how much it will ruin everything you’ve created with her… If the feds come to take you down, you leave her the fuck out of it. I don’t want her being dragged into this. I know they usually don’t pull wives into it, and having a good attorney will prevent that as well. But if by some freak chance they come looking for you... You do what you did in the past. You protect her reputation and future first. My daughter will not be dragged through courts and prison because of you. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And I shouldn’t have to mention it, but if you hurt her… I end you. Capisce ?” He releases my hand as I nod and start to walk towards the front door.
For once, I am actually speechless. This man has invoked the fear of God into me.
All because of who he is to Madison.
“Oh, and Diego?” Vincenzo rasps .
“Madison seems smitten with you. I’ve never seen my daughter this happy before. Even with Killian’s brother. She’s glowing and confident. It’s absolutely refreshing to see.” Pride filters out of him.
“Your daughter is extraordinary. Her drive as a woman, a sister, a friend… a spouse …inspires me every single day.” I tap the molding next to the door before leaving.
Well…that went exceptionally well.
As I round the driver door, I hold my breath. Now would be the perfect time for a sniper to take me out. I get in and shut the door, releasing that breath and grinning from ear to ear.
Looks like I’m still alive.