Chapter 11
The moment Arturo closed the door behind him I felt like I could breathe again.
What the hell was I thinking?
One second I was angry beyond all belief, the next I couldn’t stop thinking about the feel of him touching me. I pulled my towel back on and sat gingerly onto the bed, wincing slightly.
I despised that bastard with every fibre of my being.
So why was I so desperate for him to kiss me?
The moment he decided to leave I felt relieved, he wasn’t going to spank me.
But as soon as he opened the door, something took hold of me and I couldn’t stop myself.
I wanted him to stay. I needed him to put his hands on me.
And truth be told, I hadn’t hated it… Far from it.
What Arturo had just done had felt more intense than anything I had ever felt.
Each time his palm collided with my skin I felt more and more alive.
And when it was all over, I wanted nothing more than to have him touch me all over.
That new but familiar ache surfaced again making me shiver.
No, what had just happened was a blip, nothing more. And it would never happen again.
“Bells, you dressed?”
Fuck… Tyler and his timing.
“One second.” I called, chucking off my towel. I pulled on some underwear and a pair of jeans which irritated the handprints I was sure now decorated my ass. I threw on a plain white t-shirt before opening the door.
“You’ve been ages, what have you been doing?” He smiled as he flung himself on my bed.
“I lost track of time.” Liar.
“Right, well dry your hair. I’m starving,” Tyler rubbed his tummy with a fake groan.
Tyler was three years my junior, he had just turned twenty-two and was as much of a younger brother as Andre was.
He was Red’s son, the result of a one night stand.
According to Emmet, Tyler was apparently dropped on our doorstep one evening, with a note to say that Red would make a far better parent than his mother ever would.
And that was the last anyone had heard from her.
Not that this information bothered Tyler.
He viewed my mother as his own and she treated him as such.
He and Andre may have been best friends but Tyler had been my shadow since as early as I can remember.
“I can dry my hair later, let’s go,” I smiled, ignoring my burning skin.
“You’re the best,” Tyler jumped up from the bed just as fast as he’d thrown himself onto it.
To my annoyance, he was as involved with the mafia as his father was.
Despite my many, many, MANY warnings, no amount of begging was going to make him stop.
Tyler adored his dad and his only interest was protecting this family.
In fact, as soon as I had told him yesterday that I was set to take over, he vowed to stand by my side until the day it was time to hand over the reins to someone else.
Cute, insufferable, loyal kid that he was.
“Yo! So are you ever gonna tell me who the hell that dude is?” He asked as he followed me out of my room towards the kitchen.
“Like I’ve already said, he’s just the guy my dad hired to make sure I’m ready to take over.”
“What, you mean like teach you how to kill people and that?” His tone was nothing but curious.
“Ty!” I jogged down the staircase and made my way to the kitchen. “It’s not like that. He’ll be, you know… training me how to fight at another level while also protecting me.”
“Oh really… Is that all?” I frowned at his tone.
“Yes, that’s all!” I knew where this conversation was going, and it was one I didn’t want to have with anyone, let alone Tyler.
“Fine,” he chuckled. Leaping onto a worktop and swinging his long legs. “But if you don’t climb that fucker like a tree, someone else will.”
“Who’s climbing who like a tree?”
Well, shit…
“Nobody is climbing anything, Papa.” I smiled sweetly as I met my father’s irritated gaze the moment he stepped into the kitchen. “Unless Tyler plans on climbing the one in the garden and throwing himself off it.”
“I can’t deal with you two, honestly you give me a damn migraine,” he said, while glancing at my appearance. “You know what, I don’t even want to know, come on, I want a word in my office.”
“I was about to have something to eat,” I interrupted.
“I’ll bring you something, Isabella.” I froze as a very familiar voice came from around the corner.
Sneaky fucker!
“Thank you, Arturo,” my father grinned. “Now, Bella, let’s go,”
What is it with everyone throwing their orders around today?
I followed my father to his office at the other end of the house as butterflies swarmed in my stomach. My senses told me it wouldn’t be good.
“Shut the door, and sit down,” I promptly did as I was told, but the moment I dropped into the seat I winced.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I just worked hard in the gym, that’s all.” Oh, and your newest employee spanked me.
“Then whatever he’s doing is working,” he smiled, leaning back in his chair. “He’ll be working on target practice next week, he wants to break you in slowly.”
I bet he does.
“What was it you wanted, Pa?” I sighed.
“Your mother and I have decided to hold a ball next month with our alliances, to make the announcement that you’ll replace me when the time comes.”
“A ball? Can’t you just hold a meeting?” I questioned.
“No, Isabella. This is a massive deal, it deserves to be celebrated.” He smiled a pearly white smile. “Your mother wants to take you out, treat you to a new dress, since this is a big night for you, little diamond.”
“Can I wear my boots?”
“Isabella, it’s one night, swap the Timberlands for heels just this once,” he pleaded, his eyes twinkling.
“Just this once, and it’s only because it’s you asking, Pa.”
There was a firm knock at the door, and I already knew who it was: Mr. Tall, Tricky and Tattooed, likely carrying a plate of something my Mama had made.
“Come in,” my father called..
“Apologies for the interruption, but I said I’d bring something for Isabella to eat.” Arturo placed the plate on my father’s desk in front of me before heading towards the door again. I grit my teeth together.
“Arturo, stay a moment, I’d like to discuss Isabella’s training.” Fuck’s sake.
“No, I’ll go.” I stood with a sharp breath, clutching the plate in my fingers. “I can eat lunch with Mama, and talk about getting a new dress.”
“You worked her hard today, Arturo,” my father beamed.
“Yeah. Somethin’ like that.” They shared a chuckle as I slipped out of the office.
I hated that guy.
I relaxed on the bed, as Theo came bounding into my room, his usual smile brightening the darkness.
“Auntie Bell!”
“There’s my little man, how was kindergarten?” I beamed, sitting up as he snuggled into my lap.
“Great! We were learning about caterbillars today!”
“Caterpillars, eh?” I ruffled his hair. “They turn into bees, right?”
“No, silly Auntie B. Butterflies.” He laughed. “Oh, and look at this. I can write the whole albabet now.”
“My little genius.” I smiled, giving him a squeeze. After a moment, Theo let out a deep sigh. “What’s wrong, sweetie?”
“It’s not the same. Why can’t you pick me up from school?” He looked up at me with watery eyes.
“Oh, Theo, but it’s nice for you to be with your Papa though. He’s missed you so much.” His blue eyes, so much like Peyton’s, filled with guilt.
“I know, but can you come tomorrow, please? Papa won’t mind,” he pleaded. I heaved a sigh.
“I’m sorry, Theo, I don’t know if I can,” I started and was immediately interrupted.
“Your auntie can collect you tomorrow.” Arturo leaned against the door frame, a black t-shirt moulded to his muscular body, grey sweats hanging low on his hips, his tattooed feet on show. “I’ll make sure of it.”
“You mean it?” Theo jumped to his feet, sprinting towards Arturo who smiled wide.
“If it’s good with your Papa, I’ll drive Auntie Bella myself to collect you.”
Theo looked as if he was starstruck, fuck knows why. He raised his hand in the air as he high fived Arturo’s waiting palm.
“I’m going to ask Papa right now!” He sprinted from the room, toppling a lamp in his hurry.
“Isabella.”
“You’ve done your good deed, London boy, you can go now. I’ve got nothing to say to you,” I swung my legs off the edge of the bed and stalked towards the bathroom.
“You sore?” I turned back to frown at him. To my surprise, his face seemed somewhat concerned.
“Don’t pretend like you give a shit.”
“What makes you think I don’t?” He leaned against the wall, folding his arms.
What was he trying to do?
“Just leave me alone, Arturo.” Before I could breathe, he was in front of me.
“And where would the fun be in that, huh, mi princesa ?” He leaned into me, his lips brushing my ear.
“I don’t know how many times you need to be told.” I snapped, slamming my palms on his chest. “Just, leave me alone! I don’t want you in my room.”
“Why are you so angry, Isabella?” He frowned, cocking his head to one side.
“Because of what happened earlier, or because you enjoyed it?” My breath stuttered to a halt.
He couldn’t possibly know how I felt, because not even I did.
The air in my room warmed as we stared at each other.
The longer I gazed at him the more his pupils seemed to pulse, and it was doing strange things to my body.
An ache I had never felt before started humming between my thighs and my lips tingled.
The urge to put one of those large, veiny hands on my body was strong and it took everything I had to resist it.
What was happening?
Swallowing, I reached up onto my tip toes and leaned in to whisper against his lips, “If you so much as touch me again, I’ll make sure you end up with a bullet in your skull.”
“I’ll take that as a yes,” he laughed. The sound stroked over my raw emotions making the tiny hairs on my neck stand on end.
“I think you know where the door is.” I whispered before ducking under his arm and kicking the door wide open. He turned and tapped his lips with two fingers.