16. Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Sixteen
Rory
Did I mind? Yes, I fucking minded, but what could I say?
I was caught between a rock and a hard place. If I denied her access to her grandfather, she’d want to know why, and I wasn’t ready to tell her my reasons.
I’d kept her from him for months, with good fucking reason.
But he’d appeared on my doorstep with plans to take her away from me. Admittedly, it was only for a week, but I wouldn’t put anything past that fucker.
If she hadn’t been there, I’d have punched him for even suggesting it. I didn’t care how old or who he was.
But against my better judgement, I’d said yes. I’d do anything to keep her happy. So it was settled. In a week’s time, she’d be leaving on his private jet and heading back to Italy. A place I loved but hated at the same time.
I hadn’t it in me to say no to her, as much as I’d wanted to. The week had been spent packing and unpacking her case and chatting excitedly on her phone in rapid Italian with her friends. As much as she’d made friends here, she missed them.
Had I been selfish in keeping her here? Maybe, but I also feared Ernesto would find some reason to keep her in Italy. He’d made his feelings abundantly clear before we left.
Zeke had been a fucking blessing. He’d kept me calm, sensing I was close to the breaking point. I couldn’t let Carlotta see how this was affecting me, so I put a brave face on it, panicking only when I was alone or with him.
I barely slept, and as for work, Lisa had noticed a change in me.
She didn’t know all of my story but knew enough that I didn’t want Carlotta to go back to Italy. When I’d explained she was going back, she suggested doing something that would take my mind off the fact that she wasn’t around.
I wholeheartedly agreed and booked some holiday time with plans to sit around and worry. Zeke was having none of it, and when we discussed the repercussions of her visit, he decided that staying close to her was the best thing to do. Neither of us trusted Ernesto.
On the morning of her departure, I fussed like a mother hen.
“Now you call me if anything happens. Anything at all. Do you understand me?” My worry and frustration were going to be the death of me.
“Papa, you worry too much. I’ll be fine, and I get so see my friends and Isadora. I’ve missed them all.” She hadn’t been this happy in a while. A small part of me felt guilt for tearing her away from the country she’d grown up in, but my decision had been the right one.
Zeke told me he’d spoken to Isadora. She knew the situation and had promised to keep an eye on her. That eased my mind a little. She wasn’t a lady to be trifled with, but more importantly, Mia had trusted her.
Ernesto had sent a car, a silver Mercedes with blacked-out windows.
I’d hugged her tight and made her promise to call me every single fucking day. We’d not told her we’d be close by, and she wouldn’t know any different, but there was no way I was allowing Carlotta there alone.
I was not ashamed to say I cried, and if Ernesto tried any funny business and keep her there, I’d raise an army to bring her back to me.
But there was no time to lose, and the moment the car pulled away, Zeke ushered me back into the apartment.
“Grab your bag. Do you have your passport? We’re already checked in online, so it shouldn’t take us long.”
“I’m ready. Let’s go.” I was so nervous, convinced something would go wrong, but I had to have faith, and I trusted Zeke.
The taxi ride to the airport was silent. I had no words, too concerned with the week ahead. When we arrived, Zeke paid the driver and strode into the building.
I followed him like a docile puppy, letting him take care of everything. He checked in our luggage, and I’ll admit, I had no idea what was in it. He guided me through security, helped me unpack and pack my carry-on bag, then sit me at a table with a promise to return.
Worry sat heavily with me. I felt sick to my stomach and fidgeted with the toggle on my hoodie. Usually a confident man, I’d turned into a quivering mess.
My anxiety was at an all-time high, and I was oblivious to my surroundings.
A packed airport, even this time of the morning, was usually full of noise, the tempting aroma of breakfast, and parents ushering petulant children to Burger King, hoping to keep them occupied, but I neither saw nor heard anything.
It wasn’t until he sat beside me with a coffee and muffins that I finally took notice.
“You okay there, champ? I thought it was a bit early for alcohol.” He bumped my shoulder with his. “Are you sure you haven’t taken anything this morning? You’re properly spaced out.”
“What? No. I can’t believe I’ve allowed this to happen. Why am I letting my daughter walk into the lion’s den? On her fucking own.” My voice rose as I realised the error of my ways.
“Hey. Calm down. Everything will be fine. I have eyes and ears in the villa, and she will be well protected.”
“You mean Isadora.” She’d always been an ally of sorts.
“I mean Isadora. There’s a lot to her you don’t know about.”
“And how do you know these things? You only met her recently. I’ve known her for years.”
He sat quietly and swirled the coffee in his cup. There was something he wasn’t telling me; I was sure of it.
“There are things you don’t know, Rory. Things I don’t know how to tell you, but please trust me when I say Carlotta will be okay.”
“Things like what? Why can’t you tell me? She’s my daughter, and I have a right to know. I deserve to know.”
“I will tell you, but not now. Some things are best left until we’re in private.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” People turned to look, and Zeke’s gentle touch on my arm helped to calm the rage bubbling inside me.
“When we get to Italy, I’ll explain the best I can. Right now, it’s difficult to do that. You need to trust me, Rory. Can you do that?”
His intense look bored into me, and for some godforsaken reason, I trusted him, both with my life and Carlotta’s.
A blanket of calm covered me, and for the first time in a while, I relaxed.
I sipped the coffee and nibbled on the blueberry muffin, my stomach growling as if to remind me how hungry I was.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d eaten anything substantial. The only meal I’d partaken in was one taken with Carlotta. Everything else was left untouched and discarded. A complete waste, but my stomach had been in knots since Ernesto’s visit.
“I trust you, Zeke, but if you’re lying to me, I’ll not be responsible for what comes next. She is my world. Don’t fuck with me.”
Unexpected bravado from a man drinking a latte and picking at a muffin.
“You need to eat, Rory. Don’t think I haven’t noticed you throwing your food away when you think no one’s looking.”
“How can I eat? I’m a bundle of nerves and will be until she’s back at home where she belongs and nowhere near that man.”
“She will be, but you need to keep your strength up. You’re no good to her or me otherwise.”
“I know. I’ll try to be more upbeat.”
“You’re worried. I get it, but she’ll be within reach, and if anything happens, which it won’t, Isadora will contact me immediately. The villa I’ve booked is a few miles away from Ernesto’s. We can be there within twenty minutes and have her home on the next flight.”
He was right, of course, and even though I hated Ernesto, he wouldn’t harm her. Her long dark hair, her eyes, her face, they reminded us both of Mia. And he’d loved her. As overbearing as he was, he would care for his granddaughter.
Before we could say more, the flight was called, and we squeezed into our seats, me by the window and Zeke in the middle seat.
His bulk took up much of the space. Fortunately, the aisle seat remained vacant. I said as much as we taxied to the runway.
“I bought the seat.”
“Why would you do that?”
“I like my space.”
“But you’re virtually plastered to my side. There is no space.” Zeke was sitting so close the sunlight coming through the small window highlighted dark auburn strands in his hair. I’d never noticed that, but then I’d never been quite this close to him.
His eyes dropped to my lips. “Fancy joining the Mile High Club?”
I barked out a laugh. “No! What makes you think I want to do that?”
“Made you smile, though. Now keep that on your face and enjoy the flight. We’ll be there in a couple of hours.”
He faced the front and closed his eyes as the aeroplane took off. I watched through the window as the ground fell away until it all but disappeared, to be replaced by the cotton candy clouds.
The flight didn’t take long, barely a couple of hours. Zeke woke as they brought around food and drinks. He ordered us champagne despite the early hour.
“It’s five o’clock somewhere.” He shrugged, but it didn’t matter anyway. Zeke was right. I needed to chill. Calm the fuck down. I could no more predict the future than fly solo.
Several glasses of champers later, I relaxed back into the seat and closed my eyes, feeling more at ease than I had since Ernesto had shown up at the apartment.
Before long, we were approaching Naples airport. We disembarked, collected our luggage, and headed for the exit. As we stepped into the open air, I inhaled deeply. There was something about Italy I loved, and despite our reasons for being here, it was good to be back.
We hailed a taxi and settled in for the hour’s drive to the villa, which was set on the outskirts of a small village in the mountains. The views were spectacular, almost as good as the view from Ernesto’s.
I dumped my bags and threw open the glass doors leading to the terrace.
I stood gazing out over the impressive vista, my hands resting on the stone balcony.
“Do you know if Carlotta has arrived yet?” I asked as Zeke handed me a cold bottle of beer and clinked it with mine.
“She arrived safe and sound and is currently taking a dip in the pool. Maybe we should go visit. I could do with a cold swim right about now.”
Carlotta was like her mamma in that respect, a fish that loved to swim, be it in a pool or the sea. I preferred dry land.
“Do you think she’ll be okay?” I put my beer on the table and turned to face him.
“Don’t worry. She’ll be fine.” With firm hands, he turned me back around and massaged my shoulders, bringing some much-needed relief to my taut muscles. “Try to relax. You’ve been wound like a spring this past week. Let’s try to enjoy our time here.”
This wasn’t a holiday. What was he thinking? But every thought I had left my mind as he kneaded the knots in my neck and shoulders.
“That feels so good.” He had magic hands.
“Do you know what else would feel good?”
I didn’t, but I had an inkling where this was going, and I wasn’t sorry. Carlotta was safe for now. Maybe it was time for a change. For the past twelve years, probably more actually, I’d cared and looked after Mia, then Carlotta, with no time ever for myself, especially since Mia had died.
“Tell me.” My voice was barely a whisper.
“Remember that time in the kitchen when I told you I was going to strip you naked, then touch and kiss you all over? There’s no one around to interrupt us.”
My cock stood to attention, becoming hard at the thought of Zeke’s tongue lapping at places that hadn’t been touched in at least two years.
Warm hands went to my waist and untucked my shirt. He slipped it over my head and, with deft fingers, undid the button of my jeans. He unzipped them and slid them down my legs, leaving me in my boxers, my cock straining to be released.
I made no attempt to stop him, desperate for his hands to explore my body. I stepped out of my jeans, and before he could do it, I removed my boxers and stood naked on the terrace, the warm autumnal sun heating my skin.
“Your turn,” I said and faced him. His eyes roamed over my nudity, and that same growl I’d heard before left his mouth.
“You are beautiful.” Soft hands ghosted across my skin, goosebumps erupting in their wake. How had we got here? From stalker to almost lovers, me standing naked before him, eager for his touch.
My attraction to him had grown gradually. I had slowly noticed things about him I found immensely attractive. Not just his looks but also the way he’d dropped everything for my daughter, chased down her kidnappers, and then spent time with her.
All these actions had culminated, leading us to this moment where I’d happily bear my all to him, not just my body.
“I think it’s unfair that I’m the only one undressed. Maybe you get rid of those clothes.”
He’d forgone the leather today, much to my displeasure, but he looked equally good in his jeans and the form-fitting T-shirt I’d grown to love.
In a flash, he was standing before me in all his glory, and glorious he was.
I’d never seen a man look so appealing, so edible, so fuckable.
“Where do we go from here?” I asked.
“We can take this inside, or I can fuck you right here over the balcony. I’ll admit that sounds fucking amazing.”
Unsure I was up for fucking yet, I’d happily do anything else he wanted me to, but I took a moment to take him all in.
Muscular, tanned thighs, neatly trimmed pubes, and a cock bigger than I’d ever seen. Not that I’d seen many, but he was certainly well above average.
A smattering of dark hair covered his chest, and his brown nipples stood erect. He was even more beautiful nude than he was fully dressed. At least now I could gaze without fear of being caught.
Cheeky fucker knew it too if his smirk was anything to go by.
“So what’s it to be, Rory? I’m not sure I have the restraint to wait much longer.”