Chapter 15 #3
She burst out laughing. The fighter from earlier, sitting on one of the benches close to the door, gives her a curious glance as we leave.
“You don’t have a tolerance level.” Her smile is so cute as she jests.
“I do with you,” I joke back, wrapping her hand securely in mine as we make our way to the VIP section.
“ Mio figlio, you look…relaxed.” Marcello's words make Sienna blush while I brush him off and sit on one of the armchairs opposite him, pulling Sienna onto my lap as I do.
Alessandro’s eyes stray to my rainbow’s thighs, which, in this position, are now on display. She tugs on the hem, only revealing more of her cleavage. This dress I both loathed and loved.
Lucy laughs as I eye Alessandro, who shrugs his shoulders and then looks away with a smile. Fuck him. Tomorrow, I will redirect one of his cocaine shipments. Maybe divert it to his rival's territory.
“Here. I heard you like this.” Lucy hands Sienna a glass of Rosé Dom Pérignon while Marcello dips his head towards a server standing nearby, a whiskey on a tray ready for me.
It would be the good stuff, at least. Marcello stocked only the best.
While I intended to stay for only one drink, Sienna started relaxing with the first genuine smile since The Reaping. Getting out and socializing seems to be doing her good. Perhaps I was wrong to presume she wouldn’t want to come tonight.
While I was glad she was here, I couldn’t shake the tension, constantly wondering if her stalker was nearby. I knew Bob was lurking somewhere in the shadows, watching us. Once they saw she was with me, Jordan and Kai returned to Sienna's place to continue their investigation.
We had no leads at this point, which was disturbing, to say the least. My guys were excellent, so whoever was behind this was very good at hiding their trail.
That meant we either had to wait for the stalker to make the next move or that whoever was behind the videos would contact me again.
Neither of them was appealing, as they both meant Sienna was involved.
“If you need help with…whatever is going on,” Marcello says quietly, his hand pointing to Sienna's neck, “you must just ask.”
Marcello has a sweet spot for Sienna. And not just because she is mine. Something about her intrigues him in a non-sexual way. Perhaps she reminds him of his first wife. I heard him talk about her years ago, how innocent she was, considering the dark world she married into.
Whatever it was, it left Sienna in a favorable position, having the mafia on her side. Perhaps I would enlist his help.
“I will let you know soon. Thank you.”
Marcello smiles and nods his head before taking another puff of his cigar.
Three drinks later, Sienna is more than tipsy. Her red cheeks and animated storytelling allude to this, but everyone at our table is enraptured.
“I think it is time for us to go,” I say as she finishes her current glass of champagne, helping her to stand as I do.
“Thank you so much. I had a lovely time.” Sienna hugs Lucy, then Marcello. Alessandro is luckily on the other side of the table, so she just gives him a small wave.
I shake Marcello’s hand, his parting words to let him know what I need, luckily not heard by Sienna.
She grasps my hand tightly, using me to steady herself as we descend the stairs to the floor below.
Bob is waiting at the front door by the time we get there and has already done a sweep outside to ensure it is all clear.
Bob drives while Sienna and I sit in the back seat.
She doesn’t last long before her eyes are closed, and there is a peaceful expression on her face.
Fuck, I wish it would stay this way. But we had to talk about everything.
All the demons driving me to the ring night after night.
I know she wanted answers, and I couldn’t keep avoiding the truth.
When we return to my building, Bob disappears once we are inside. I carry Sienna’s sleeping form all the way upstairs. Jordan is waiting for me at the door to her place, no doubt watching our arrival on one of the cameras.
Once inside her room, I gently place her on the bed before removing her boots. Getting her dress off is another story, but I succeed. The hardon I rubbed out earlier looks like it needs a round two. I pull the covers over her to save my sanity while she snuggles into their warmth.
I run a finger softly over her face.
“Damon?” she mumbles, half asleep.
“Shhhh, we are home.” I keep my voice low, afraid she might wake up .
“Don’t leave me. Please, Damon.” Her voice pleads with me quietly, the alcohol in her system making it come out a bit slurred.
“I’m not going anywhere, rainbow.” I stroke her hair, a small smile on her face.
While her previous words may have been slurred, her next ones are crystal clear and land with a thud in the silence around us, rooting in my dark heart and blooming like a moonflower answering to its namesake.
The blood surges around as my heart beats faster, the weight of her words like a fucking vice.
“I love you, Damon.”