Chapter Forty–Seven
Soraya
“SO, HOW ARE WE going to make this work?” Stefano asks, curling a lock of my hair around his finger.
I rub my feet against his on the couch, soaking up his body heat. “That depends on how much you’re willing to compromise.”
“I can…compromise.” His wince and grimace as he squeezes out the word “compromise” makes me laugh.
“Oh, really, Mr. I Want What I Want and I Want It Now Exactly How I Demand It?”
“Well, these are extenuating circumstances,” he says, glancing out the darkened windows.
“It would help if I knew what you actually do. ‘Raya’ was my twin’s assistant with a predictable schedule.
What’s Soraya’s schedule like?” He pauses.
“My cousin Torin tends to disappear or ‘go dark’ for months at a time on ‘missions.’ Will it be like that with you? What, exactly, should I expect?”
If only what I do could be summarized in a single sentence or title. Hmm…
Help build nuclear weapons for billions of dollars? Nope, can’t tell him that yet.
Launch attacks to strong-arm nation leaders into submission? Nope, not that either.
Spend hundreds of hours with the best team of coders in the world developing a powerful super-intelligent AI system that can analyze human data and predict future events, plan and advise attacks, and hack into anything, anytime, anywhere in the world, bring down buildings and planes and decimate entire nations all with the single tap of a button? Nope, too dangerous.
Collect on debts owed and exact punishments when needed? Well…this could work. “I’m a professional debt collector.”
One brow kicks up slightly, as if he knows I’ve fed him the most digestible job description. “Debt collector, huh?”
“Yup.” I let the P pop, and he chuckles.
“But I do have a lot of downtime. Sure, when I’m busy, things can be intense, and yeah, we’ll see each other less in those times.
But it all evens out because there are also really long idle periods for me when things are running smoothly and no one’s stepping out of line. ”
“Or because you’re either in ‘weaponry development phase’ or ‘coding phase’ that requires your well-rested and undivided focus,” he throws out with another knowing arch of his brow.
What? How does he… “What didn’t my dad tell you?”
He plants a kiss on my shoulder and sneaks a hand up under my tank top. “Not as much as it seems. He told me the ugly bits he thought would kill my interest in you.”
Of course he did. “The point is, my duties won’t get in the way of our relationship. Compromise is more about where and how we’ll be having that relationship.”
He rubs the underside of my breasts. “Meaning?”
“Well, obviously, I won’t be living as a dutiful little girlfriend at your villa.
I have a high-functioning team of eighty which I’m responsible for.
” I tip my head to the side, and he understands what I need, pressing a kiss against my skin.
“We live here when the weather is good. I have other compounds in Russia, Sweden, France, the Italian Alps, and Scotland. I’m not fond of America, but.
..I’m not opposed to building a new compound out in the desert. ”
“You’re willing to move?”
There’s surprise in his voice, as though he didn’t think it was an option. Likely because Dad made him think it wasn’t.
“Only if you’re willing to spend two weeks of winter in the Italian Alps and a few months out of the year right here with us. ThreeFours is my team’s safe haven. They won’t be a fan of the desert either, but they’ll endure it for me while I endure it for you.”
He doesn’t need to know yet that I’ve already purchased property in Nevada and have architectural blueprints for a new compound.
Because I’ve wanted this man since the moment I knew he existed, and I never stopped hoping that being with him would become a possibility.
That we’re even having this conversation right now?
Pinch me. If he knew how obsessed I am with him, he’d do exactly what Dad wants and run for the hills.
“Easy. Done,” he agrees without hesitation. “What else?”
Man, I love him.
At the back of my mind is a pesky little voice reminding me of his predilection for powerful women, that maybe that’s what he “loves” about me and not me.
If it is true that he only loves me for power, do I really care?
He came after me, undeterred and undaunted, even before he knew who I was.
And now he’s mine, caught in my web, no getting out.
I’ll be whatever he wants and needs. If power is what attracts him to me, I’ll have no problem filling him to the brim with it. I’ve waited too long for this to let pride get in the way. I don’t need him to love me. I just need him to be mine. And Stefano Castello belongs to me.
~
PIERCING MIDDAY SUNLIGHT forces me awake to an empty bed and an absent Stefano.
We talked ourselves to sleep last night, snuggled up under the covers, making plans for our future. We’re aligned on most things, prepared to face the inevitable pushbacks from my parents.
After freshening up, I head downstairs to the aroma of brewed coffee and a Post-it on the counter.
Miss you, Sleeping Beauty.
Come find me.
Smiling, I pour some coffee in a travel mug and check the surveillance feeds on my tablet. Ah, he’s at Blue Court.
A warm flutter stirs in my belly as I head out, girlishly giddy at the thought of seeing him, touching him, smelling him.
Down on the plains, I find Wren—my right-hand man—lounging on a bench, leering lecherously at White’s backside. White, his husband and my second-in-command, is off in the distance maneuvering a drone with meticulous focus. Wren doesn’t even notice me approaching, too entranced by the view.
“You’ve been married to that ass for seven years,” I say. “Shouldn’t you be bored of it by now?”
Wren twists around. “Oh, hey, boss.” He jumps to his feet, careful not to spill his shitty green juice. “And nope, I’ll never not be obsessed with that fine ass.”
“Walk with me.”
He falls in step beside me. “No sparring today, I take it?”
“Unless it’s with Castello’s dick, no.”
He laughs. “The guys will be thrilled to hear that.”
“Bunch of pussies.” I sip my coffee. “How long has Castello been down here?”
“A few hours. He’s been making the rounds, talking to people, showing respect, being decent. You put him up to it?”
“Me?” I laugh. “You know damn well no one can put that bullheaded man up to anything.” Blue Court comes into view. “I don’t get why he’s trying to make nice, though. It’s not his style. He thrives on being hated.”
“Because he loves you?” Wren suggests, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “He’s doing it for you. Probably thinks it’ll be better for your relationship if he gets along with your team.”
I shake my head. “Still weird.”
Wren chuckles. “No, Ray. That’s what it’s like to have someone love you so much they’d do anything for you.
” He stops walking and pivots to face me.
“You know I’m no fan of his. But, with all due respect, you’re a little slow on the uptake.
That man would move heaven and earth for you.
And that’s all we want, Ray. For you to be safe and happy with someone who’ll swallow his pride and bend to your needs.
Who’ll kneel for you. If he hadn’t proved himself worthy to Pavlov, he wouldn’t be here.
Some of us might not like him, but we damn sure respect him. ”
“Hm. I hear you, Wren.” I punch his rock-hard bicep. “You can go back to ogling your husband.”
“My favorite pastime.” He flashes me a wink and turns to leave.
“Oh, wait,” I stop him. “Tell Holly to stock my fridge and pantry with some bougie snacks for Stefano. He’s being a diva.”
Wren laughs. “Chocolate Almond Butter?”
“Especially that, yes.”
He throws me a thumbs up and jogs off.
As I walk into Blue Court, conversations halt and chairs scrape across the floor, everyone rising to their feet. My searching gaze sweeps across familiar faces until it lands on Stefano.
He’s up at the bar, back to me, texting on his phone while Rodney pours him a drink.
With an absent flick of my wrist, the room exhales back to life as everyone settles back into their rhythms. I hop the steps up to the raised bar and slide onto the stool next to Stefano. “So... waking up alone was fun.”
He turns, and my heart stutters when his eyes meet mine. That soothing softness that floods his eyes whenever he looks at me…it never fails to steal my breath.
I’m lifting my coffee for a sip when he gently nudges my hand aside, leans in, and kisses me. Slow, tender, and all too brief.
My lips quiver for more when he pulls back.
“You were dead to the world,” he says. “I spent over an hour being deliberately noisy around the room. Bumping and shaking the bed. Your ass didn’t budge.”
That yanks a laugh out of me. “Yeah, it’s like that sometimes, when I’ve had a long day of sparring. My body demands extra hours of sleep to recover.” I sip my coffee. “Plus, I skipped my ice bath yesterday…due to someone’s unexpected arrival.”
“Don’t imagine moonlighting helped much either, huh?”
Another laugh. “Nope.”
He reaches out and fiddles with the ends of my hair. “You’re beautiful.”
Kiss me again...
Rodney drops something behind the bar and Stefano’s attention shifts to him.
Look at me. Only me.
Stefano’s phone buzzes on the counter. Before I can get a peek, he snatches it up, angling it out of my view as he reads the screen. He straightens and tucks the phone in his pocket, then holds his hand out to me. “Come on.”
No questions asked, I slip my hand in his and slide off the barstool.
Conversations fall quiet and bodies rise from chairs as Stefano leads me out.
Once we’re several feet away from Blue Court, he says, “You know, your dad and I got into it when I called him an archaic, egotistical megalomaniac for making people stand every time he enters a room...”