Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Thank fuck Daniella agreed to stay inside this house. I was not looking forward to her wrath when she found out I was going to go through with tying her ass to a fucking bed if I had to.
Instead, we’re now sitting in the De Bellises’ dining room with a ton of pizza boxes lined up on the table.
The pizza is absolute shit, but I don’t say that.
Instead, I make sure Daniella eats and that her glass is full of whiskey, because I want her to have fun with her friend.
I just want her to have that fun within the safety of this estate.
Elias has been oddly quiet. Rosie is giving everyone who looks her way a mean-as-fuck death glare and Aiden? Well, he’s being Aiden. The life of the party. Keeping everyone entertained with his endless anecdotes and general stupidity. And then there’s Aurelio, who just looks bored.
“Are you having fun?” I whisper into Daniella’s ear.
“I’m always having fun when I’m with you,” she says.
“I meant with your friend.”
“I am. Thank you. Why aren’t you eating?” she asks me.
“Because it’s shit pizza,” Elias says, in Spanish. I only just catch his meaning because my Spanish isn’t the best.
I chuckle. “I’m not hungry,” I tell Daniella.
“What did he say?” Faith points to Elias.
“That his cold-ass heart is feeling… warmer for the first time in forever,” Aiden tells her.
“Idiota.” Elias shakes his head at Aiden.
“Okay, that one I got, and I agree. He is a bit of an idiot, but at least he’s a cute idiot,” Faith tells Elias.
“You think he’s cute?” Elias asks her.
“I mean, in the way you’d think a stray puppy is cute, the kind you’d want to bring home and take care of.”
“If this is your way of asking to take me home, Faith, I’m not that kind of guy. I have a three-date rule,” Aiden says.
“Are you sure? I could take you to my grandfather’s house and introduce you to the cute little pigs he has,” Faith says.
Daniella and Aurelio both laugh, obviously at some kind of inside joke no one else is privy to. The sound of heels clicking against the tiled floor has everyone’s heads turning in the direction of the entryway.
Elias is on his feet, a pistol in his hand, and I don’t miss the way he angles his body in front of Faith. Interesting. Elias is protective of his family, but I’ve never seen him care to protect anyone who isn’t related to him in some way.
I stand and then sit again when I see my Aunt Lailani stroll in as if she owns the place. “Your security sucks, De Bellis,” she says to Aurelio.
“They just let you in?” Aurelio lifts a curious brow at her.
Aunt Lailani laughs. “Let me? They don’t even know I’m in here. Again, your security sucks.”
Elias walks over and hugs our aunt, his gun back in its holster under his jacket. “How was your flight?” he asks her.
“Long. What’s been happening here? I hear you have a knack for making strange men obsessed with you, Daniella.” Aunt Lailani walks over and sits next to my wife.
“I don’t know why,” Daniella says.
“Well, I can’t do much about protecting you from this one.” My aunt points to me. “You already went and married that problem. But the other guy, I’ll be sure to take him out for you.”
“Um, thank you?” Daniella replies, unsure what to say to my aunt’s comment.
“You’re welcome.” Aunt Lailani turns her attention to Faith. “I’m Lailani, and you are?”
“Faith Williamson, Daniella’s friend,” Faith replies.
“I think it would be best if you went home, Faith. Some conversations are best kept within the family,” Aunt Lailani says.
Elias spits out a string of rapid Spanish at my aunt. I have no idea what the fuck he just said, but it did make our aunt look at him quizzically with a small smile on her face.
“Interesting,” she hums.
“Drop it,” Elias tells her, this time in English.
“Okay, I’m not sure if anyone has told you this before, but it’s really rude to speak in a language the entire group doesn’t understand.
I’m sure you’re used to being an A-grade ass and all, but around here, people have manners.
” Faith stands. “It’s okay. I have to go anyway.
My dad wants me at the club tonight. Something about important guests coming in.
Probably some rich assholes with no manners either. You know the type, right, Daniella?”
“I do.” Daniella laughs. “Have fun.”
“Wait! I wanna go to this club of yours. I’m coming.” Aiden jumps up from the table. “Besides, Aunt Lailani’s here. These guys don’t need me anymore.”
Faith considers my brother for a moment before shrugging her shoulder. “Fine, you can come with me.”
Elias silently stands and follows the two of them out the door. “Well, that’s… worrisome,” Aunt Lailani mutters while watching them go.
“Why?” Daniella asks her.
“Because I remember the bloodshed his father caused when he met Evie. The world does not need to see that again.” Aunt Lailani shakes her head. “Anyway, what do you know about this crazy ass who’s out for your blood?”
“Aunt Lailani, seriously?” I groan. “She doesn’t know anything. She’s never even seen the guy.”
“Are you sure?” My aunt pulls out her phone. After tapping on the screen, she holds it up to Daniella. “Do you know him?”
Daniella’s face pales slightly and her eyes go wide. “That was one of my professors at uni. He’s not a cartel prince.”
“He is. He’s also an academic. Go figure.” My aunt shrugs. “His father called him back to Mexico. He wasn’t too happy about leaving but, you know, when your father is a crime lord, you do what he wants.”
“Okay, how close did you get with this professor, Daniella. He’s not the one you had a thing with, is he?” Rosie asks.
“You had a thing with one of your professors?” I ask.
“Not him. He always creeped me out, to be honest. I didn’t really ever have a conversation with him. I was only ever in two of his classes. Why would he be obsessed with me?”
“From what I’ve learned, he saw you first in Vegas, followed you back here. And, well, became besotted,” Aunt Lailani explains.
“Where is he now?” I stare at the image, implanting the fucker’s face in my mind.
“That’s the thing. No one knows. His father put a bounty on his head,” my aunt says.
“Nice family,” Aurelio grumbles.
“Well, they can’t all be as awesome as ours, right, CJ?” Aunt Lailani nods her head in my direction.
“Sure. That why they sent you here?” I ask her.
“Obviously, who else is going to save all your asses?” My aunt reaches over and picks up a slice of pepperoni pizza. “I’m starving.”
“Okay, well, you enjoy the pizza. Daniella and I are going to bed.”
“I had the guestroom made up for you. Dad’s orders,” Aurelio tells me.
“Thanks.” I take Daniella’s hand when she stands and lead her out of the room.
“You’re not sleeping in a guestroom,” she whispers.
“I know, but I don’t need to tell your brother how I’m going to have my cock buried inside you within the next five minutes,” I tell her.
“Really? Five minutes? That’s ambitious of you, Mr. Bianchi.”
Bending at the waist, I pick Daniella up and throw her body over my shoulder.
“Don’t you dare drop me, CJ!” she squeals, her fingers gripping the back of my jacket.
“I would never,” I tell her.
Taking the stairs two at a time, I walk into her childhood bedroom and shut the door behind us with a foot. Then I deposit her on the bed and stand at the end. Her blonde hair fans out around her like a fucking halo.
“You are so damn beautiful.”
“Thank you.” Daniella smiles up at me.
“Now strip. I want you naked in the next two minutes.” I start removing my own clothes.
Just as Daniella sits up and reaches the hem of her top, there’s a knock at the door. “Daniella, you in here?” Rosie calls out from the other side.
“Yeah, hang on.” Daniella stands. “Don’t go anywhere,” she tells me before opening the door and stepping out into the hallway.
I throw myself down on the bed, landing on my back. So much for my five-minute goal. A groan leaves me but the vibration of my phone from my pocket has me sitting up.
When I pull my phone out, the name Gio De Bellis flashes across the screen. “Mr. De Bellis,” I answer.
“Get the fuck out of my daughter’s bedroom,” he grunts.
“You do know she’s my wife, right?” I remind him.
“I don’t care. My house, my rules,” he growls down the line.
“Okay.” I push off the bed and step out of the room, looking around everywhere for where the fuck he has cameras. Then I spot one. In the hall. I smile up at it. “You got any news on where this asshole is yet?”
“Yes. Which is why I’m calling,” he says. “He was spotted in Melbourne. My brothers are all on their way over, with their families. It’s going to be a full house. I need you to keep your eyes on her, CJ. I’m trusting you to not let anything happen to my daughter until we get this fucker.”
“I will protect her with my life,” I promise him, because I will.
“I know,” my father-in-law says. “There’s a room, in the basement, a safe room that no one knows about.
Not even the family. Turn left when you get down there, head to the end of the corridor.
There is a brick wall. Count ten bricks down, then five across, and push on that brick.
It’ll open up. At the first sign of any trouble, I want you to get both of my daughters to that room. Understand?”
“Understood,” I tell him. “I won’t let anything happen to her.”
“I have to go. I’m heading home now, but until I get there, don’t let her leave that house, CJ.”
“I won’t.” I understand his worry. I get it. I’m fucking concerned. I couldn’t even imagine not being in the same house as her.
I walk over to the door next to Daniella’s. I can hear her and her sister talking in Rosie’s bedroom. I lean against the wall and wait.