CHAPTER FIVE
“Where the hell were you?”
My eyes flew open, and I jolted upright, my heart pounding.
Rocco paced near the bed with his phone pressed to his ear.
My chest tightened as a storm of worries crashed through my mind. What had I missed?
Sunlight flooded the room, proof that it was still day, though enough time had slipped by for Rocco to leave our bed and dress in a crisp shirt and slacks. He managed even with his shoulder injury.
“I don’t give a damn. Some assholes uploaded videos of my wife crying on the street,” he snarled. “My wife. Mine… Yeah, and you know I want her protected at all times. That’s why I hired you… Don’t care.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks. It was humiliating enough to cry in front of Judge Colby, but having thousands of people see me do it was worse. I regretted leaving the house without security, but none of us had ever imagined my father would stoop to stalking me.
“I’m the final word. You call me… I know, but if I’m not there, you follow my orders. Adelina will do as she’s told next time.”
My gaze shot over to him. He was speaking about me as if I were a child, and I waited for him to take it back. However, he kept talking.
“Got that, Zane? Good.” He removed the phone from his ear and glared at me. “You are not to go anywhere alone,” he snapped.
“You my warden now, Rocco?” I retorted.
He jutted his chin. “Call it whatever you want.”
I gnawed my lip, torn between pride and regret. Rocco was right. I snuck out to be by myself at the bookstore. If I hadn’t, I doubt my father would’ve approached me there. An unease filled my stomach. Knowing Judge Colby, he wouldn’t give up easy.
Rocco’s phone vibrated, and he snatched it up, turning away as his fingers dug into the back of his neck. “What’s the status? Good. Tear Eric’s world apart. I want him petrified. Take his job, his reputation, everything.”
I tensed. Did Rocco know everything my father had on us? “Rocco?”
His eyes flashed to me.
“We should talk about this.”
His brows pulled together. “No, go ahead, Gunnar.”
I let out a frustrated huff and rubbed my eyes, forcing myself to focus. Each minute Rocco ignored me while on his call, my irritation simmered hotter.
The rich scent of espresso drifted over, drawing my gaze to a tray by the stone fireplace.
I took a moment to remove myself from Rocco’s conversation and see what he had brought me.
Panettone, yogurt, fruit, and a single plumeria bloom on the tray, just like the ones from our honeymoon.
It was a reminder of our escape. Flowers were a fragile peace blooming, even amid chaos, like a lotus rising from the mud.
Beauty came with a mess under the surface.
It had been the same ever since I first stepped into my grandparents’ Westchester home.
With a heavy sigh, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood.
“Stay right there, Adelina,” Rocco barked, his voice rough. He fixed his gaze on me. Naked or not, I stood tall, hands planted on my hips.
“You don’t get to order me around.” Rocco’s tone echoed my grandparents’. I’d made a mistake, but I refused to be ruled again.
“Talk to you later,” Rocco said, ending his call. But I didn’t stop walking, even as he tossed his phone on the bed in front of me. “Where are you going?”
“Away from your yelling,” I shot back, storming toward the bathroom.
He caught up in a flash, his hands gripping my hips, unyielding. “Why didn’t you tell me about your father?”
“When? When was I supposed to tell you—”
“The second you saw me.”
“You just got back. You said you wanted a pause.”
“Not when it comes to someone hurting you.” His voice rose, but he let me go.
I hurried into the bathroom and snatched a robe from the hook. His presence pressed close behind me, and when I glanced back, he leaned against the doorframe.
“You saw the video,” I mumbled.
“Yeah, I did. That’s all you have to say?” he hissed.
I tightened the robe around my waist and pressed my lips together. “What do you want from me? An apology for crying and embarrassing you?”
“That’s bullshit, and you know it. I expected you to tell me, not Gunnar, Isla, and Paul. I protect you. You’re under my protection, Bella.” The agony in his voice ripped my heart, and I understood it wasn’t all about pride, but that he wanted to be the one I could count on.
“Goddamn it. That asshole should be terrified to cross me. And what are you doing going out alone? It’s not safe for you. What on earth possessed you to ‘sneak out’ without telling Zane where you went?” he demanded in a sharp tone.
I glanced at him and lowered my head. “I…I went to the bookstore…to buy you a poetry book to help me express how much you mean to me. Because the love I feel for you is bigger than what I can say,” I choked.
Rocco charged across to me and pulled me into his arms, holding me tight. “My sweet Bella,” he said, his tone softening. “I’m upset because I was thousands of miles away, and you were crying alone.”
“I know,” I said, my voice shaky as I sniffled.
“It all happened so fast. Zane appeared on the street and took us to the airport to fly to Florence. I haven’t even talked to Cass or my family yet about the video, and I’m sure they’ve seen it.
I just wanted for us to be happy together alone, even for a little while. ”
He rubbed my back as I breathed deep, letting the tension drain away. Once I steadied myself, I confessed. “I wasn’t just hiding things from you. I was going to-to get a restraining order. I just wanted to talk to Ian first.”
“I had Gunnar order one, and he had it hand-delivered to the judge who married us. He will sign it.”
“That fast?”
“That’s right. Your father is not allowed to contact you, but that’s not enough. I need his fear. Why the hell isn’t Eric scared of me?” He walked us to the edge of the bed, and we sat down. I turned to face him, and from his earnest expression, I could tell he was anxious for answers.
My brows knitted as I thought about it. Judge Colby was often overly confident. “Maybe because he got away with so much before. He has all our family secrets.”
Rocco’s expression was even. “Yeah. Tell me what you think he has.”
“He has copies of Luca’s emails asking to buy me—”
“That was a sting operation with the feds. Let him try that one; he’ll be a social pariah. Anything more?”
I hunched my shoulders. “My…mother’s prostitution.” The pain of not seeing it coming still cut deep. Would Mama have left with me if I had? She was like ice under the sun’s heat, so easy to break.
He reached under my chin and lifted. “No, Bella. He should be ashamed. You hold your head up high. He forced your mother against her will; that’s illegal trafficking.”
My heart warmed at hearing how much empathy he had for my mother, and I went on to discuss something we both knew about me but had never discussed in detail before.
“On that day you and your grandpa met me, he beat my mother. He tried to sexually assault her in the motel, and he told me I was next. I hit him with a chair at first to stop him, but I-I wanted him dead. Mama had to pull me away. It was so violent. The police have photos of me that night with blood on me, but my grandparents covered everything up. I think he has copies of the photos.”
“God, Adelina. I had no idea you’d experienced such trauma.”
“I was so scared. So…desperate,” I whispered.
“You were brave.”
“I couldn’t see it that way at the time, but I agree now.”
“He won’t get away with his attempts at blackmail, Bella. We’ll handle it. Don’t worry.” He took my hand and rubbed the back with his thumb. “I remember that night at the lake. You were so tiny. I wanted to pick you up and take you away.”
“You offered me money…”
“I thought maybe you’d get a hotel and eat until I figured out something.” He pushed his hand through his hair. “Sounds dumb now.”
“It was dumb then. I was only fourteen,” I teased, a smile tugging at my lips. Somehow, he always made the impossible seem within reach.
“Come here,” he said and tugged me closer, placing his arm around me. “No more hiding. I don’t care what the public thinks. Let him bring it all out.”
I tilted my head toward him and scrunched up my face. “It’s not that simple.”
His jaw ticked. “It is. We simply refuse to be blackmailed.”
“But can our families handle a big scandal? With everything going on with the will, your movie studio, and Luca’s legacy, it’s too much heat—”
“I don’t give a damn,” he said simply and shrugged.
I frowned. “You should care. It’s your name, your life. Let me handle the fallout. I’ll take the bad press.”
He clasped my hand. “The press doesn’t work like that. Besides, you’re not alone. You’re my wife, and I love you.”
I peered at him. “Everything’s fine because you love me?”
He smiled. “Yes, it is. Our lives are complicated; we both knew that wouldn’t change.
But what has is that I love you, and I want you safe.
I saw you, so terrified and crying, and I wasn’t there.
” His voice grated with anguish, and my heart rose to my throat.
I snuggled into him, and he hugged me tighter as he spoke.
“The only way to handle a bully is to be willing to go further than they do. Who cares what people think? We give him nothing. All right?”
I blew out a sigh. “Fine, but let me call my family first.”
“The crisis team and my lawyers are already in motion. This bell can’t be unrung.” Rocco’s meaning was clear: nothing would stop him now.
“Please? They deserve a heads-up. It’s only right.”
He rubbed his chin. “To be honest, it’s too late. Once I’m upset, I plow ahead.”
I grinned. “You let your passion take the wheel.”
“My passion for you, Bella,” he said with a tenderness that swelled my heart.
I smiled and nodded. “Okay, I’ll tell them we’re not backing down.”
He kissed me. “You do that, and we’ll face it together as a family.
We won’t cower to him.” His phone beeped, and he tensed.
“Damn. I meant to wake you for brunch. My mother said you skipped eating on the plane. I’ve got a mountain of work, but…
want to come with me?” I could feel how much he hated the idea of leaving me alone.
I squeezed his arm. “I’m in Florence with a team of security. He’s not coming here. Go on.”
He kissed me hard on the lips. His phone beeped again.
I waved at him to go. “I’ll be fine.”
He frowned. “How can you be?”
My heart fluttered at how much he cared about my feelings. I lifted my chin and sat taller. “Judge Colby caught me off guard. He won’t again.”
“No, he won’t,” he snapped and stood. “You tell me everything first. No secrets. Got that, Bella?” His voice was rough with fresh anger.
He wasn’t letting this go, and with so much already on his shoulders, I couldn’t add the truth about Olivia and Luca’s will.
Not yet. Ian needed to prepare the terms first. But Rocco waited for my answer, and I gave him what he needed most.
“I will tell you first. I promise.”
Rocco leaned down and pressed his lips to mine, and I stopped chewing my lip. He gave me two more kisses on both cheeks and opened my robe.
I gaped at him and closed it. “Rocco.”
His smile was impish. “I’m not mad anymore, and you’re still naked.”
I laughed.
His expression softened, and my heart swelled.
“That’s what I want. You happy, my dear wife?
” He kissed me once more, then slipped out and closed the door.
I collapsed onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.
Rocco was set on destroying my father, and part of me loved him for it.
But how would he survive the storms ahead?
Would his family, their fame, or even his awards be tainted by the fallout?
I didn’t want to be the cause. Still, I couldn’t let my father control the story.
I left the bed, picked up my phone, and texted my best friend, Cass, first.
Adelina: Sorry. I flew to Florence right after you left.
Cassidy: Don’t be. I only want to know if you’re okay because I’ve got a ticket on standby.
My heart swelled at the thought of Cass dropping everything to be by my side. I wanted her here, but I could never forgive myself if she sacrificed her hard-won college dreams. I texted her back.
Adelina: I’m better. Rocco’s with me. May travel soon. So much to talk about.
I had to admit I’d kept the truth about my father from her. She always saw past the headlines and straight to the heart of things.
Cassidy: Yeah, and I hate phones, boo. FaceTime?
Adelina: When are you free?
Cassidy: After Friday’s exam, around 3 p.m. your time?
Adelina: Yes, let’s talk then.
I exhaled in relief, ready to sit down for brunch, but paused. Should I call Mama? She used to be the first person I’d reach out to about my father, though those calls had rarely ended well. Her pain always took center stage, while mine was left unheard. I never felt valued.
“You do that, and we’ll face it together as a family. We won’t cower to him.”
And yet Rocco puts me first.
His priority, despite his full life. And because of that, resilience was my armor. But even stone could crack under enough pressure. I wasn’t infallible. However, delaying wouldn’t help Mama, so I drew a deep breath and dialed her number.