Chapter 8
JAYLIN
“Thank you so much for answering my questions,” I tell Rita. “Your floral shop is stunning. I’m so glad Renzo suggested I come here and talk to you about the business side of things.”
The older woman with salt-and-pepper hair nods and gives me a warm smile. “I’d do just about anything Renzo Salvatore asks of me.”
I suck on my bottom lip and try to come up with a response. I didn’t think about how this entire strip mall is on Salvatore territory, so she’s probably obligated to do whatever they say. “I suppose the Salvatore family is very powerful.”
“Indeed. However, I meant that I’d do whatever Renzo, specifically, asks of me. He’s a good man who has helped my family out over the years. Renzo can be intimidating, but underneath all of that, he’s a better man than his father or brother ever were.”
My eyebrows lift up in surprise. I still don’t know Renzo’s past, but I want to. I just need to figure out how to ask the right questions. Maybe I can get a few answers from Rita before I talk to Renzo. “They died?”
“Mmhm,” she confirms. “But it’s not my story to tell.” Rita winks at me, which makes me blush. “You must be pretty special if you have the head of the Salvatore family wrapped so tightly around your little finger.”
“I don’t think Renzo could be wrapped around anyone’s finger,” I deflect.
“Ah, don’t sell yourself short. When I talked to him on the phone earlier, he sounded absolutely smitten.”
“Smitten?” I laugh a little at the thought of such a powerful man being smitten over anyone.
“I’m serious. He’s… how do I explain it? He’s lighter now. As if you took the heaviness in his soul and set it free.”
I gasp at her beautiful words. “He’s done the same for me.”
Rita reaches across the counter and squeezes my hand. “You have no idea how happy you’ve made me. Take care of each other.”
“We will,” I promise before making my way out of the store.
Before I reach the front door, Rita calls out. “I’ll be doing the flowers for your wedding, right?”
“Of course!”
Rita’s laughter follows me out onto the sidewalk, and I can’t seem to stop smiling.
Will we really get married? Is it crazy to want that after only knowing him for a few days?
Does he want a lavish wedding or a quiet, private wedding?
I don’t care as long as he’s the one I’m walking down the aisle to.
The air around me shifts, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. A shiver runs through me, and I feel like I’m being watched. I look over my shoulder, then across the street, but I don’t see anything out of place.
Still, I walk a little faster toward my next destination. After a morning discussing small business and floral shop ideas with Rita, I’m ready for a sugary coffee drink. Renzo said he’d meet me at a cafe down the block as soon as I finished up with my meeting.
I’m probably just being paranoid, but the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach grows stronger with each step. Looking over my shoulder again, I notice a sleek navy blue Lexus, the same car my father drives.
Surely, it isn’t him. There have to be dozens if not hundreds of similar cars in this city.
Besides, I haven’t heard a word from either of my parents since I left for the auction house a few days ago.
I just assumed they went on another vacation and I’d deal with their questions later, when I had my own place and didn’t need anything from them anymore.
“Jaylin Carlisle, get in this car right now,” my father’s voice booms. It’s dripping in venom and anger.
I freeze as panic sets in, overriding my fight or flight response.
I can hardly breathe, let alone run away.
Glancing at the car again, I see my father in the back seat with the window rolled down.
He’s smoking a cigar, and when I lock eyes with him, he points the glowing orange tip at me to punctuate his words.
“Get. In. The. Car.”
“No,” I protest weakly.
A cruel laugh bellows from my dad, and he throws his door open in dramatic fashion.
I flinch when he wraps his hand around my arm, gripping me tight enough to bruise.
He drags me to the car, and I desperately look around for anyone to stop this.
Even though the streets in Chicago are busy, no one looks up from their phones or even glances in my direction.
“Trust me, Jaylin. You don’t want to make a scene. Things would end very badly for Renzo, and you don’t want that, do you?”
I sigh in defeat and shake my head. While I don’t know the specifics of the deal my father made with the Salvatores, I know it’s going to make everyone rich and happy. I can’t screw that up for Renzo just because I don’t want to face my dad.
I’m tossed into the back seat of the car, my shoulder slamming against the seatbelt buckle and causing me to hiss in pain.
“Oh, daughter. That’s the least of what you deserve after embarrassing me.” He joins me in the car and shuts the door before nodding at the driver. I knew Conner was a yes man who loves kissing my father’s ass, but being an accessory to kidnapping is on another level.
I scoot away from my father, needing as much distance between us as this car allows. He doesn’t let me get too far before grabbing my chin and wrenching my head so we’re face to face. I swallow back tears, not wanting to give him the satisfaction.
“Ungrateful little bitch,” he spits out. I’ve seen my dad angry before, but the unfiltered rage in his dark eyes sends a shiver down my spine. “How could you disrespect your mother and me like that? Putting your… virginity up for auction.” He chokes out the words in disgust.
“How did you…?”
“How did I find out? You don’t think I have connections everywhere, Jaylin? Did it even cross your mind that I have business partners there who would recognize you? Clearly, you got the attention of one of them, but there were several others who called to inform me of your poor decision.”
“Are you bragging about knowing multiple people who attended the auction? Why is it okay for you to do business with them and not me? I may not be the son you always wanted, but I ended up brokering an incredible deal.”
I’m panting by the time I finish my rant. I’ve never spoken to my father like that, never stood up for myself or dared to push back on anything he says. I know my newfound confidence is all thanks to Renzo.
My dad is stunned into silence, and I won’t lie, seeing his wide-eyed confusion is quite satisfying. He blinks away his shock, morphing it into fury.
Snarling, he bashes my head against the window, sending excruciating pain exploding across my head and neck. My father has been forceful at times–gripping me a bit too hard or shoving me occasionally if I annoy him–but he’s never unleashed this kind of abuse.
Tears form and fall in an endless stream as my head throbs, and I try to hang on to consciousness. I watch my father’s mouth open and close as he yells and curses at me, but I can’t seem to register any sound other than the ringing in my ears.
“Jaylin! Jaylin! Don’t fucking ignore me, you slut!” He sounds like he’s at the far end of a tunnel, his voice coming in and out and echoing around my brain. “Why aren’t you more ashamed? How could you not see how this reflects on the Carlisle name?”
“I…” I gasp for air and squeeze my eyes shut. What is he going to do to me? Will Renzo think I left him? Will my dad end the deal with the Salvatores even after he gets rid of me?
“Sir,” Conner interrupts.
“Not now,” my dad snaps.
“But sir,” he insists. “We’re being followed. Shit! We’re being run off the road!” Conner maneuvers the vehicle as best as he can, but he seems to be struggling.
“What are you doing? Lose them already. What the hell do I pay you for?”
“Yes, sir, but–”
The entire car lurches forward and then spins around once before coming to an abrupt stop.
I claw at the door handle, using the opportunity to escape.
My dad tries yanking me back inside, but I twist out of his punishing hold and kick wildly in his direction.
My foot hits something solid, and he yelps in pain. Serves him right.
I shove the car door open and climb out, only to have the world tilt as my vision goes blurry. Right before I hit the ground, I’m enveloped in a warm, familiar embrace. Renzo’s leather and bergamot scent fills my lungs, and I know I’m going to be okay.