Chapter 3 #2
I’d heard the line in movies and read them in books, but they fell flat on me. Actually, the assumption pissed me off so much I reared my hand back to deck the man. He was too quick for me, snapping his hand around my throat.
A sudden whoosh and Alex was yanked backward, tossed against the same brick wall.
Only much harder.
“The lady said she wasn’t interested.” Another gruff voice.
One with an accent.
An Italian accent to be exact.
“Would you stop following me,” I told Donatello.
“I already told you, little witch. I can’t do that.”
Ordinarily, a Capo within the family’s regime would never be allowed to get away with using pet names. However, he’d been more like a part of the family for years, which afforded him certain rights that others didn’t have.
Just another reason the man irritated me.
The banter allowed Alex to regroup and fire off a punch.
The direct hit to Donatello’s jaw brought a frown to my face.
In addition to weapons training that I could swear the Italian had received from the military, he was also a martial arts expert.
Which meant before I could blink three times in rapid succession, Alex had been hit, kicked, and knocked to the ground.
Donatello didn’t hesitate, ripping out his weapon, crouching down and holding it in both hands in front of him. And in front of Alex’s face.
“Would you stop that,” I insisted.
Donatello barely gave me a look before turning his full attention to my date. Not my date. The man who’d pretended as if I belonged to him.
“Now, I don’t ordinarily provide anyone with love or life advice, but I’ll make an exception this time,” Donatello began.
“If you dare lay one finger on that woman.” He held up his index finger.
“I mean a single finger, including your pinky, I will know about it and I will return and cut off your hand. You’re a surgeon, right? ”
“He’s the attorney,” I gritted out, folding my arms and pacing back and forth.
“Ah, okay. There were so many, you can understand why I got them mixed up. Still, most attorneys need both hands, although you might find a way of getting around it. Entirely up to you.” He stood, keeping the weapon out but buttoning his jacket. “Are you ready to go, Emme?”
He over enunciated my name on purpose. Knowing him, it was just to get under my skin.
Seeing his eyebrows arched, I could tell he wasn’t taking no for an answer. Poor Alex was still down for the count, but he’d heard the warning loud and clear.
I walked past both, heading toward my car, doing everything I could to ignore being followed.
When Donatello fell into step with me, I resisted giving him a single look. I’d gone an entire block before blasting him. “How dare you do that.”
“Do what? Protect you?”
“From an attorney? Come on. So, he was a little handsy. You know better than most men know I can take care of myself.”
“And you should know better than anyone that some men aren’t who they say they are.”
Huffing, I rounded a corner, taking very long strides. I hadn’t been this infuriated in a very long time. “Do you honestly think one of our enemies scoured Bourbon Street on the off chance of finding a vulnerable Prince family member?”
“It’s possible.”
“Jesus.” The single look I gave him as we were walking had me even angrier than before. He was enjoying tormenting me, his grin as wide as I’d ever seen it.
Thankfully, I was close to my car, now grabbing my keys from my pocketbook.
“He was a little prickish, but I was handling him and it’s my right to do so.”
“He was manhandling you and that’s not allowed and won’t happen on my watch. Ever.”
“One last time, Donatello. It’s not your job to watch me. I’m a big girl and I can do that on my own.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” His entire tone had changed, becoming almost despondent.
“Meaning what?”
“Meaning it is my job. I follow orders and they were to do everything in my power to protect you. Including with my life.”
The heaviness of his admittance hit me harder than almost anything had in a long time. I knew what he’d just said he meant. He’d lay his life down for me. That was the story of my very existence, one that was both amazing and completely debilitating. The same one that was suffocating me.
I don’t know why his answer caused me to spin around to face him. Perhaps his tone. Perhaps the huskiness in his voice that brought a wave of electricity tickling all the way down my spine.
Or perhaps because we’d tormented each other on several occasions over the years. But when I did, my heel caught on the sidewalk and in a classic rom-com moment, I was pitched into his arms.
He caught me, his massive six-foot four-inch body not moving a single inch even with the centrifugal force.
With one arm low around my back, the other sliding under my long hair, he involuntarily pulled me against him. Excessive heat splintered between us, fracturing the moment and the discourse from before.
Still, I was out of breath, gasping through my mouth as he held me steady. Even before I realized what I was doing, I had one arm draped over his shoulder.
The closeness was as oppressive as it was exhilarating.
He was much taller and I tilted my head, studying him the same way he was doing with me.
For a few seconds, a series of images floated into the forefront of my mind, naughty and very dirty.
My brothers would call them forbidden or against the rules, but I’d never been one to follow them very easily.
With his head lowered, our lips were almost touching. And for a few amazing seconds, I was certain he was going to kiss me.
Maybe I was even hoping he would.
I licked my lips, the hard thrum of his cock keeping my pussy throbbing.
Donatello cocked his head, his nostrils flaring. I could tell he was thinking the same thing.
Thankfully, we both came to our senses at the same time. I pushed away, giving him an evil look.
The frustration was building all over again. I raked my fingers through my hair before smoothing down my dress that had crawled up my thighs by one too many inches.
“You’re right, Mr. Giovanni,” I managed as I flicked the unlock button on my key fob. “You’re not to blame for this. My brother is. I’ll take care of the situation in the morning so you’ll never be bothered by such a trivial command ever again.”
As he shoved his hands into his pockets, I threw open the door.
“Whatever you say, Miss Prince. But you should know protecting you isn’t trivial. It’s an honor.”
Was he being sincere? Not a chance. “Uh-huh. And don’t you dare follow me home.”
His smirk was just as sexy as every other expression. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” Being the Italian playboy that he was, he decided to close my car door, then backed away, maybe so I wouldn’t consider running him over.
After starting the engine, I revved it, taking a deep breath before pulling away. I constantly checked the rearview mirror to ensure he hadn’t jumped into his vehicle.
He remained where he was, watching me as I drove away.
When he was out of the line of sight, I finally took a deep breath. At least he wasn’t following me.
As soon as I made a turn, a flash caught my attention and I glanced into the rearview mirror again.
Only to see my original bodyguards following me in their big, black SUV.
I had to laugh. Donatello was good at his job.
Damn the man.