Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Ana
I woke up, and he wasn’t in bed anymore, but I was okay with that because I needed a moment alone. Stretching my body long and wide, I let out a loud yawn and a big smile. “Looks like you enjoy sleeping alone.”
I let out a shriek, pressing my hand to my chest that pounded. “Oh my goodness, you scared me.”
“Sorry, Cara mia. I didn’t mean to startle you.
I was just about to wake you. There is a lot to do this morning, so we need to get you some food and then head out for some fittings,” he stated with a hot cup of coffee in his hand.
The smell of my liquid speed hit my nostrils, and I wanted to snatch the mug from his fingers.
“I could definitely use some coffee,” I sighed, staring right at the dark blue ceramic vessel. It was the only thing that kept me going for weeks when I had to work both jobs on the same day.
“You can have that after you eat.” I raised my eyebrow, wondering why when he was clearly drinking a cup right in front of me.
“That’s cruel,” I pouted.
“No, it’s not. You need to eat. I kept you quite busy last night.
” Oh, yes, he did. My entire body remembered the amazing things he did to make me scream with ecstasy.
The desire from last night returned, and I couldn’t take my eyes off his broad chest. He wasn’t fully dressed in a suit.
His white dress shirt had the top two buttons undone, showing that thick, muscular neck, and his sleeves were rolled up.
I understood the attraction to a man’s forearm.
Pure corded muscle that he used to toss me around, grip me tight, and dominate me.
“Trust me, if you are as exhausted as I am, you’ll need food to replenish yourself.”
“Did you eat already?” I sighed. An unexplainable upset feeling came over me. We never shared a meal, and we only met yesterday. I shouldn’t care that he ate without me.
He sat his cup on the small table near the window and then came over to the edge of the bed. “Yes, unfortunately, I had a meeting this morning, and I needed you to rest.”
“Oh, so can I have a sip?”
“I don’t believe you’ll like it.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s to my liking, which is very different from yours.”
“How would you know? Let me try.” I climbed up onto the bed, letting the sheet fall as I got to my knees, and I forgot I wasn’t wearing any clothes.
“Oh my goodness.” I scrambled for the sheet.
“Don’t cover up on my behalf. I’ve seen and loved every inch of you.” He licked his lips and reached down to adjust himself. “Better yet, please do. I need to let your sweet, sore pussy recover, and we have too much to do.”
I smirked and let out a tiny laugh that bit back. “Oh, you think it’s funny?”
“A little.”
“Yeah, we’ll see about that. Now get your pretty ass covered up and your breakfast will be brought up.”
“Breakfast up here?” His bedroom was way too nice to eat in.
“Yes, I don’t want your food waiting any longer and growing cold while you shower.”
“But I wouldn’t want to risk spilling anything in here.”
“Amore, I just spent the night dirtying these sheets, and after they’re changed, I plan on doing it again.
Still, none of that matters because nothing is more important than taking care of you.
” Damn it, Elio was proving too sweet and overwhelming.
He pulled out his phone and made a quick call and spoke quick Italian before hanging up.
I frowned even though I didn’t mean to be upset.
“Soon you’ll learn some Italian. I’m surprised you never learned it growing up, considering your father was born in Italy.” He shook his head disapprovingly, but he was mistaken.
“No, he wasn’t.”
“Yes, he was,” he insisted after I attempted to correct him.
“Actually, you need to speak with Joey, so he’ll be taking us shopping today.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. Apparently, there are things you don’t know about your family that he has to discuss with you.”
There was a light knock on the bedroom door. “Well, it can all wait because your food is here.” He tapped his palms on his thighs, and then walked to the door and opened it. He came back with a tray and brought it to me. “Here you go.”
“I can sit over by the table,” I offered.
“Would you be more comfortable?”
“Yes,” I admitted.
“Okay.” He carried the tray over to the small table and then pulled out the chair for me.
“Thank you,” I said, wrapping the sheet around me before walking over and taking my seat. He pushed in my chair and then bent down and kissed the top of my head.
“I need to make a couple of calls, but I’ll only be in the other room. If you need anything, please just call me.”
“Where is my phone?”
“I put it on the charger. The battery was dead last night. It’s been powered down. Were you expecting calls from anyone?”
“My bosses and well…”
“I was hoping to hear from my father. It’s been so long and I’m worried.”
“Don’t be worried. We’ll get down to finding him soon. I promise.”
“Thank you.”
As he left the room, a twinge of pain entered my chest. Would I always be so needy around him? Mesmerizing. He was mesmerizing.
I ate my food in silence for a moment, but then I remembered my phone. I should probably check it and call my bosses. “What was I going to say?”
“Tell them you moved away and you won’t be coming back to work,” Elio answered, stepping back into the room.
“I thought you had calls to make.”
“I do, but I needed this.” He came over and pulled me into his arms and planted his lips on mine. “God, I needed that,” he growled against my lips as he lightly pulled back.
“I did too,” I uttered, clinging onto his dress shirt with my lips grazing his chin.
“Finish eating or you’ll forgo breakfast and I’ll fucking forget we have plans this morning.”
“Can we?”
“Are you trying to stall getting married?”
“I don’t even know when we’re getting married.” I huffed and moved back to my plate tray, taking a long drink of my juice.
“I’m sorry. I suppose you would like to know we’re getting married tonight.”
“Tonight?” I gasped. “So soon?”
“It’s as good as any other.” That’s right. I’m just a pretty prize for a debt. “Unless you want to wait.”
“No, let’s get on with it,” I replied with the best smile I could manage. As attracted as I am to him, I need love. Maybe one day he’ll feel that for me, but until that time I was a perfect wife who killed two birds with one stone.
“So where is this wedding?”
“We’ll be going to the courthouse in just a few hours. That is why you need to get a move on.”
“What am I going to wear?” I asked him, standing up in just my sheet.
“As sexy as you look in that, I’d rip a bastard’s eyes out for even looking at you like that. Besides, I don’t think your uncle would appreciate seeing you in such a delectable state.”
“Should I pick something I brought?”
“No, I’m taking you out after you get dressed. Then we’ll head on over to the courthouse.”
“Wow, you’re not wasting any time.”
“As I told you yesterday, we wasted enough time. I don’t want a soul to stand in my way. We have an appointment at the county courthouse that closes at five.” We weren’t in Chicago, so I had no idea how many shops there were or anything, but a part of me was nervous about all of this.
“Now, as much as I want to stay and admire your beauty, I have some important things to do before we leave.” I nodded and went back to my phone. I powered it on and saw I had several messages from a number I didn’t recognize.
Hello, you stupid bitch. You think you can run, but we’ll find you soon. You have a choice. You can come back, or we will get you. If we have to, we’ll kill everyone you care about, including that alcoholic father of yours and your dear uncle. Not to mention those bastards who helped you escape.
It was Perez. I dropped the phone and tried not to panic.
They probably already killed my father, but I couldn’t take that chance.
How was I supposed to go back there, and why did he want me to go home anyway?
I already knew what he wanted, and my stomach lurched at the idea.
The disgusting image of another man touching me after Elio made me sick.
I had to figure out a way to flee and keep my family safe.
I sat the phone down and headed into the bathroom.
Elio would be back in the room to check on me.
Quickly, I turned back around and snagged my phone off the table.
I didn’t want Perez or Calhoun to call and Elio to see, or for him to check my messages.
My phone was password protected, but it didn’t stop someone from seeing the beginning of a message or answering a call.
As soon as I was in the bathroom that could be in a fancy ad for pure luxury, I stood near the shower, trying to figure out how it worked.
It took me a minute, but I managed to get the temperature right.
Snagging a fluffy towel, I set it within reach and stepped inside.
The warmth felt incredible on my skin, sliding over my sore, tired muscles. Elio was right; I needed this.
When I looked over at the shampoo, I had to do a double take.
There were several bottles of shampoo and conditioner with different scents and types.
All of them were unopened and made for long, thick hair.
Although Elio had thick, Italian hair, it wasn’t that long.
He only had length on the top. A knock on the door startled me.
Elio didn’t enter all the way, but peeked from the partially open door.
“It’s only me, Ana. I just wanted to say that we need to get moving, and we didn’t know which one you used, so I had them pick up several kinds.
I hope you at least can manage with that. ”
“It’ll work. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
“Good.” I hurried through my shower and then came out in the fluffy towels, one for my body which swallowed me whole and one for my hair which nearly caused me to tip over it was so large. Maybe I needed to see if he had some smaller ones.
He wasn’t in the room again, but I grabbed my suitcase and quickly dressed in the nicest outfit I had. When I was done, he came back into the room and I immediately looked around the corners for hidden cameras.
“What? What’s going on? Did you see a spider or something?” he asked.
“No, you just seem to know when to come into the room.”
“Bellissima, the right time to come in would have been when you were still wrapped up in your towel.” He ran his hand down between my cleavage and then licked his lips. “There are no cameras in our bedroom. I can’t make it any clearer to you that I’d kill someone for looking at you unclothed.”
“This is all so intense and new.”
“I’m a man of my word, so please trust me.”
“For what it’s worth, I do.”
“Do you really?”
“Yes, I need to tell you something.”
“What is it? You can tell me anything.”
“The men I mentioned yesterday.”
“Yes,” He nodded.
“Well, they left me a nasty, threatening text message.”
“May I listen to it?” I pulled it up and played it. His face tightened as he listened to Perez’s violent threats.
“You don’t have to worry about any of this. They aren’t getting you back and they aren’t harming anyone. Do you trust me to make sure of that?”
Although I couldn’t explain it, I was sure I could trust him to keep me and my family safe. I nodded. “Yes.”
“So on the brighter side of things, your uncle will be joining us while we go shopping today.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. Now, let’s go, beautiful. I have to take you shopping and get you tied to me in every single way.”
Twenty minutes later, we were in the back of a luxurious SUV, and I was sitting beside two men whom I respected.
In the front, Marco was driving and Gio was in the passenger seat.
The air was a little stuffy with all of them when I truly wanted to be alone with Uncle Joey and Elio. There was a lot to say.
“Uncle Joey, thanks for coming with us today.”
“It’s my pleasure to see you married, sweetheart.” A scoff came from one of them in front, and I didn’t miss the sudden tension in Elio’s body beside me. Other than one of them being rude, which seemed to be Marco’s sense of humor, I didn’t see why he would be upset.
“Don’t piss Elio off. Remember what happened to Frankie when he insulted Miss Rose’s beauty,” Gio said.
“What happened to this Frankie person?” I asked.
“I stabbed him in the gut, and he deserved it. He survived, but he won’t be allowed around you because he can’t be trusted.” He gave them what I could only describe as a warning look. I wasn’t touching that conversation with a ten-foot pole.
“Frankly, you should have twisted the knife. It was barely a scratch. The doc was able to patch him up and give him some painkillers yesterday.”
“Damn it,” Uncle Joey grumbled.
“So where are we going?” I asked, wanting to change the heavy subject. Elio was a mobster, and I already knew that. Marco warned me the moment we met that Elio wouldn’t tolerate disrespect toward me, and he apparently meant it.
“You’ll see.” Elio held my hand the entire time, making tiny circles around my wrist. I was starting to get the feeling that my soon-to-be husband might actually be obsessed with me, and instead of terrifying me, I wanted more.
A calmness fell over me, and I rested my head on his shoulder, needing that strong, unspoken comfort he brought to me. We drove on in mostly quiet areas that reminded me of home. The light traffic kept us moving, and yet I didn’t want to get out of the vehicle.
“So what time is everything?” I asked.
“We’ll see how everything plays out.”
I lifted myself off his large frame with pouty lips and a glare. “Are you intentionally being evasive with me, Mr. DeSalvo? Is that your way of getting me to trust you?”
He just smirked at me with an air of confidence that I should have seen coming a million miles away. “Maybe.”
“Ugh.” I rolled my eyes.
“Maybe I just want everything to be a surprise.” He kissed my temple and then my hand, dragging me up against his side again. “By the way, you look adorable when you’re annoyed with me.”
“Just remember that later.”
He leaned in and cupped my chin, tilting it to bring our lips close. “I will, and I know just how to get you nice and unannoyed.” He then gently nipped on them. I let out a soft whimper, and he quickly pulled back with an annoyed grunt.
“What’s wrong?”
“It seems I’m going to need to remind you of some other things later.” He winked and sat back.
“So do you have any plans to return to school now that you’re here?” my uncle asked.
That diffused one tension and created another. Before we could discuss it, we arrived. We pulled into a parking spot along a small town where several boutiques lined the street. “Let’s start here,” Elio said as we stopped in front of an elegant woman’s clothing store.