Chapter 19
CHAPTER 19
EMILIANO
I walk through the living room and open the glass doors, stepping outside. My steps echo throughout the greenhouse as I walk up the spiral stairs to check on the flowers. I drop to my haunches, before slipping a cigarette in my mouth and lighting it. Once I spray the leaves of the Cape bushes, I tend to the rest of the plants, taking one of the violets, wanting to give it to Valentina before going to the stairs. I bend my head down to avoid the lavender flowers when I pass them on my way back down the stairs. My eyes widen a fraction when I spot Valentina standing in the middle of the greenhouse, next to the fountain. She’s in a pale blue dress with her hair down, reaching her waist. Her gaze burns my skin as it trails down my body.
“What are you doing here?” I speak around the burning cigarette as I step closer.
“I wanted to know where you went.” She looks around before looking back at me. “You keep surprising me. I didn’t know you were an early bird.” I flick her forehead with my middle finger.
“Don’t run your mouth and don’t go running around my house without asking,” I say, and she fake pouts.
“I’m sorry, master, have I broken the rules?” she says mockingly. I huff out a laugh before grabbing her jaw.
“You like being a smartass, don’t you?” I murmur against her lips, but she doesn’t answer because I seal our lips together and slip the violet into her hair. She reaches to feel it, but I grab her hand. With a small smirk, her hands roam my naked arms before grasping my shoulders. She pushes me back until I stop on the edge of the stone bench, breaking off the kiss and giving me a peck on my lips before sinking to her knees. I swallow and try to calm my breathing when I figure out her intentions. Her eyes flicker to my face as she sinks her teeth in her lower lip and hooks her fingers in my sweatpants. She looks back down at my crotch, her eyes widening a little when she notices my cock pressing against them. My gloved hands fist at my sides.
“Take them off already, or you’re going to burn a hole in them.” I reach to take another puff, pressing the butt of it between my teeth when she abruptly yanks my sweatpants down with my boxers. My hard cock smacks my abs, and Valentina runs her tongue across her bottom lip at the sight.
“I’m going to fuck your face if you don’t stop moving at the pace of a fucking snail,” I say through clenched teeth. She narrows her eyes at my warning before her lips close around the head of my dick. I groan when she swirls her tongue around it before taking more of me in, gagging a bit before continuing.
“Remember, breathe through your nose and take it slow.” I run my hand through her raven hair as I instruct her, tugging a little at the roots. Her moan vibrates through my whole body and her eyes glaze over, tears welling before they roll down her plump cheeks. I swipe my thumb across them, cooing, “You’re taking me so well.”
The humidity clings to my skin and a fine shine slicks my body as I try to hold myself back. I grip Valentina’s shoulders and thrust into her mouth, my cock hitting the back of her throat. My groan is drowned by the sound of my balls slapping against her chin. As my body shakes, I try to hold back my ejaculation.
“Move one of your hands off my thigh and lift your little dress.”
Valentina follows what I tell her, flipping back her dress, showing her little black panties.
“Move your panties to the side and push in one finger.”
More tears roll down her cheeks as she moves her middle finger between her wet folds. Her whimper sends a quiver through my cock.
“Fuck yourself with your finger, but don’t come until I tell you.”
She plunges her finger deeper into her pussy, shuddering as she continues to take my cock in her mouth. My stomach tightens as I watch her choke on my cock.
“Fuck yourself with another finger.” Valentina fumbles to add another finger inside her, the ones still on my thighs sinking into my muscles. My skin sizzles as my hand tightens on her head, my fingers digging into her scalp. She makes a strangled noise at the back of her throat as she struggles to stop herself from coming.
“Don’t come until I tell you,” I growl. My skin prickles as I feel myself getting close. As my breathing picks up, my thrusts begin to get sloppy, and a buzz settles in the back of my head. I give a couple more thrusts before I tense and hold her head in place, coming in her mouth. My head tilted up toward the ceiling, my vision fading.
When my eyes move back to Valentina, I find her face flushed, tears wetting cheeks, and her fingers still buried in her pussy. I pull back and my cock comes out of her swollen lips with a pop, cum dripping down her chin. My thumb swipes it, and I push it back into her mouth. She moans around my thumb, lapping at it with her warm tongue.
“Take your fingers out and get on the bench.” I take my thumb out of her mouth and watch her as she pulls her two small fingers out of her wet cunt.
She slowly gets up to her feet, her dress falling to cover her pussy. I steady her when she sways, and turn us, pushing her onto the stone bench. Valentina wipes the rest of her tears off her cheeks, trying to dry them as she watches me lift my boxers and sweats up. I tug at her little dress, exposing her dark brown nipples.
I kneel, placing my knees on each side of her thighs. Her nipples are hard, looking so beautiful, and I tease one with my finger before slipping one in my mouth while twisting the other. As I swirl my tongue around her peaked nipple, a whimper slips from her lips. I love how she’s so responsive to my touch that a mere nipple teasing can turn her into a moaning mess. I bite her nipple before running over it with my tongue.
Her back arches, pushing them farther into my face, another moan leaving her lips. “Oh, God.”
I speak against her. “Asking God for help won’t stop me from fucking you.” I run my tongue over her nipple one more time and then kiss her lips. She bites my bottom lip in a teasing manner, causing me to growl in her mouth. Valentina giggles before sealing her lips to mine, kissing me with a desperation I’ve never seen from her before. It turns me on even more, and I kiss her back with increased hunger. When I pull back, watching her tear-stricken face, disappointment flashes in her honey-colored eyes.
“Pull the skirt of your dress up,” I command.
She swallows, her hands moving to comply. My hand snakes forward, ripping her black panties off, earning a gasp from her swollen lips. Her gasp turns into a moan when I thrust two fingers inside her.
“You’re so fucking wet. You want my cock, don’t you, ragazza?” I swallow the moaned response, grazing my teeth across her little chin as I pull back.
“Do you feel yourself drenching my fingers? You enjoy fucking the man who took you from your family? You like being my dirty little whore?”
Her nipples rub against my chest due to her chest rising rapidly, and she clenches around my fingers. An amused breath leaves me like a sigh, feeling her soak my fingers even more.
“Do you enjoy being called my dirty little whore, hmm? Tell me, ragazza mocciosa,” I demand, our lips a breadth away from each other. Her tongue peeks out and demands entrance to my mouth as I tease her clit with my thumb.
“You’re my good little fucking whore, and you’re going to come on my fingers, aren’t you?”
“Oh, God, yes...” she whispers. “Yes.” Her lips hover over mine, parted as her pussy tightens around my fingers. Head rolling back, her hair falls off her shoulders. My other hand grabs the back of her neck.
“Eyes on me, Val. I want you to be looking at me when you come.”
Her hooded eyes come to my face, her sweet breath fanning my lips as she rides my fingers for her orgasm. I run my nose down her neck, nibbling on the sensitive spot behind her ear. She presses her lips to my neck, softly kissing and giving me goosebumps. When I pull my fingers out of her wet pussy, her soft moan echoes in my head. I slowly kiss my way down her neck, her breasts, flicking her nipples with my tongue before moving down till I’m on my knees between her legs.
I push her thighs open and lap at her wet folds, pressing my fingers into her thighs to urge her to bring her eyes back to mine. Valentina pulls her bottom lips into her teeth as I slip my tongue inside her, her eyes meeting mine again as she moans. Her second orgasm comes quicker, and she digs her fingers into my skull as she cries out, her thighs clenching around my head. I continue to lap at her wet folds until her legs separate and her breathing slows.
I quickly rise and kick off my sweats and boxers before positioning my cock at her entrance. Digging my fingers into her hips, I thrust inside her all at once. Her body jerks as she whimpers, but her cunt swallows me whole, strangling my cock.
“Fuck. You feel like mine.” Thrust.
“My woman.” Thrust.
“Fucking mine,” I growl.
She nods frantically, and one of her hands grips my shoulder while the other grips the back of the stone bench. Her long black hair tumbles back as her head tilts backwards, tits jiggling from the powerful rhythm of my thrusts. As she arches into me, my lips find hers. My arms circle her waist, pressing her into my chest. I bite her neck before running my tongue over the sensitive skin.
“Oh my God, Eli. Don’t stop. Please, don’t stop,” she begs, and my thrusts turn animalistic, her pussy tightening. The sound of skin slapping on skin so loud I’m sure it can be heard from outside the greenhouse.
It doesn’t stop me as I slow but deepen my thrusts, her moans getting louder and more frequent. She pulses around me, her teeth sinking into my shoulder as she comes with a shudder taking over her body. Her hard nipples scrape over my chest as my hips push harder into her thighs before I come in her warm pussy.
I rest my slick forehead against hers, our breathing loud and chests moving in sync. She winces as I move to pull out of her, my cum dripping. I gather it with my forefinger and thrust it back inside her, and she moans before swatting my hand away.
“Don’t do that. It’s embarrassing.” She pulls her panties back on before lifting her neckline back to cover her chest. I watch her, amused, as she smooths her hands over her hair.
“What’s embarrassing about shoving my cum back inside you, where it belongs? It’s my pussy, remember that, or have you forgotten that it’s mine?” I tease, and her face reddens, but she doesn't say anything as she adjusts herself. My phone rings in my pocket, and I reach my hand in and take it out. She watches me pick up the call without looking away from her.
?“You want Giuseppe for my daughter back?” Fuck, it’s her dad. Her eyes narrow as she takes in my tense shoulders and the frown that has settled over my face.
“Yes, I want Giuseppe to give you your precious little daughter back.”
Hurt flashes across her flushed face before she smooths her hand over her dress one more time, then quickly moves to leave the greenhouse. My hand twitches to grab her, but I watch Valentina’s retreating back, shaking off the regret that settles in my gut.
“Fine, where do you want to meet?” he asks. I press my eyes closed. This is about our revenge. Mine, my family and the Camorras. Not about her.
“I’ll have the details sent to you.” I end the call and slip the phone back in my pocket. I watch the greenhouse door for a beat before heading out after Valentina. I debate whether to go and check in my room, but instead I go to my office.
Opening the door, I find Dominico sitting behind my desk, a vicious, smug smirk across his face. I close the door behind me and walk to the edge of my desk.
“What the fuck are you doing in my chair?” I ask. My tone makes him throw his head back and laugh, the sound hollow and wrong.
“Good to know that you’re still the asshole you are, even after fucking the enemy,” he says. My eyes pinch at the corners, and my jaw clenches.
“Get out of my chair and you’ll do good to mind your own fucking business,” I warn. He moves around the desk and plops down in one of the chairs in front of my desk. “Why are you here?” I sit in my chair and lean into my elbows, looking at Dominico.
“Why can’t I come see my cugino and Capo?” he asks. I raise an eyebrow, and he shakes his head as he huffs an amused sigh. All his movements seem off, as if he’s playing a role. “Fine, that's a lie. I came here because I wanted to ask for permission to get revenge.”
I slide my palms over the mahogany wood as I lean back.
“On who?” I know who, but I’m just stalling to turn it over in my head and see if it’s worth the risk of more bloodshed in my territory.
“Cut the shit, Eli. You know who. My wife’s fucking dead, and I was in a fucking coma for three months, and the Camorra couldn’t do shit about it.” His face twists in a snarl as his hand lands on my desk.
“Watch your fucking tone, Dom. I’m still your fucking Capo. Sharing a last name won’t stop me from gutting you.” My threat causes his nostrils to flare, but he leans back in his chair.
“All I want is permission to pursue my revenge on the Terranovas.”
I search his face, the scar on his left cheek more pronounced against his pale face.
“No,” I say. His lips curl, and I put my palm up to stop him from speaking. “Dom, I'm speaking as your cousin, not your Capo. I can’t allow you this.”
His jaw ticks before he growls. “You can fucking go after your revenge, but I can’t. Honestly, I thought you, of all people, would understand.” He stands to his feet, wincing as he moves his injured arm.
“I understand, Dom, I do. This isn’t only my revenge. This is the Camorra’s revenge not only for my Pop, but my soldiers who lost their lives and families,” I say, and his shoulders tense as his face turns blank.
“I’m going back to New York. I’ll be dealing with the men down there to prepare everyone for the return of the family.” He flicks a piece of lint off his jacket before heading to the door.
“Dom?” I call after him. “I’m glad you’re back.” He pauses with his grip tightening on the doorknob, but doesn’t turn to face me.
“Yeah…it’s good to be back.” The door shuts behind him with a click and the silence settles in each corner of the room like a blanket. I close my eyes, trying to clear my thoughts and focus on one thing. The clock on the wall behind me ticks the minutes away as I bite the inside of my cheek. I run my palm down my face and decide to text both Matteo and Romiro to come to my office.
I tap my pen against the table as I wait. It doesn’t last long, and I get bored, so I drop my pen on my desk and move to my window. Fuck. Dominic had a full view of Valentina and I in the greenhouse from here. Of course, the fucker said what he did when I walked in. The possessiveness over her makes me want to go and gauge his eyes out for looking at her. Even if it was from afar. I run a hand through my messy hair. After I’m done with Romiro and Matteo, I’ll probably go back to my room. There’s a knock on the door before it swings open.
“What’s up, fuckface?” Romiro says. He places his hand on my shoulder, standing beside me.
“Go sit the fuck down, Romiro, you too, Matteo,” I order. Matteo shakes his head at Romiro’s antics, and Romiro gives him a shark-like smile before taking a seat next to each other as I settle back at my desk “Moretti has agreed to our terms.”
I regard my brother and best friend. Matteo’s face stays passive and his eyes as blank as they usually are, but Romiro’s smile slips off his face.
“Romiro, set up a meeting spot that’s secured and ready to go. Matteo, send the Outfit the address, also monitor the area on surveillance, and make sure that they aren’t going to try an attack on us.”
Matteo nods his head once.
“I’ll send them the location before you guys get there in an hour. I’ll also have the place set up for any attack they might try.”
He gets up and looks to Romiro, but Romiro stays sat, staring at me.
“You go ahead, Matteo, I’ll be out in a bit. I need to speak to the Capo first,” Romiro tells him, and Matteo looks between us before shutting the door behind him. I lean back in my chair and cross my feet at the ankles while I study Romiro.
“So, you’re sending Valentina back to the Outfit.” He’s not asking, but stating a fact. I search his face, trying to figure out what his thought process is. He already knows the plan.
“Yes. Is there something I should know about?” I ask. He leans forward and shrugs. A twinkle enters his eyes.
“I just thought you were more of a Matteontic than this little shitstorm.”
I narrow my eyes at him before shaking my head.
“Cut the shit, Rom. I don’t get what you mean.”
He gives me a wink and leans back into his seat, looking relaxed.
“Come on. You don’t actually think we didn’t know you two were fucking like rabbits.”
I rub my temple as my eyes close for a second.
“What do you mean by ‘we’?” I ask, and he shrugs.
“Me, Mara, Matteo, Lucio, and now Dom,” he counts off. I lean forward and cradle my head in my hands. “Dom texted me before you did. Real classy, fucking in the garden’s greenhouse.”
“Does Ma know about this?” I ask him with a groan. My eyes flick to his face, and he shakes his head.
“Her poor, conservative heart won’t take it,” he finally tells me.
I roll my eyes at his stupidity.
“Shut up. We both know that’s not why she’ll be pissed.”
“Whatever. She’ll be pissed, regardless. But now she won’t know because Valentina is going back to her family, and everything will fall back in place.” He shrugs. A nagging voice at the back of my head tells me that no, everything will not fall back in place. Valentina and I have gone too deep and now we’re completely and utterly fucked.
“Yeah. I guess that’s true. Don’t you fuckers have something to do?” I say, and he pushes to his feet.
“Aww, I know you love me.”
My face wrinkles in disgust at the absolute audacity of this man who considers himself a fucking Camorrista. He laughs, shaking his head before turning to the door.
“Just don’t forget yourself as Capo, and we’ll all be with you in all the decisions you make.” A knowing look passes over his face before he nods once and slips outside. Instead of staying in my office, I head to my room to talk to Val. ?
The door to my living room opens without a sound, and I step in. The silence is deafening, as if there isn’t anyone in here. As I step inside, I scan the room. Nothing seems out of place, but I know in my gut that it’s too empty and she’s not here.
I reach my room door in three strides and pause in front of the door before twisting the knob and flinging it open. Empty. I don’t know where the fuck she went, and I really don’t understand why she isn’t in here. Unless… No, fuck no. She’s been desperate to go home for the last couple of days, as if she’s a psych patient. And she did try to run the first time, but this time, she won’t be able to get away. There are guards everywhere, surrounding the perimeter, so if she tries to even leave through an exit, they’ll bring her back to me.
I sigh and close my bedroom door behind me. This is for the best. She can stay wherever the fuck she is, and I’ll stay the fuck away until it’s time to give her back to the Outfit. I head into the bathroom, my clothes hitting the floor on my way to the shower.
The steam from the shower slowly fills the bathroom and the boiling water pummels against my back. I stare off at the tiles as I wash my hair. I close my eyes as I imagine what would happen if…if I don’t go through with the revenge.
I’d keep Valentina, we’d get married here in the back garden. I can see her walking down a pale green carpet, wearing a simple white dress, holding a colorful bouquet with the most gorgeous smile on her face.
Romiro, Dom, and my brothers stand beside me, while my sister, Alessia, and Ma stand on the opposite side. Everyone’s eyes are on Val as she floats like an apparition down the aisle.
Then, after we marry, we’ll go on a honeymoon somewhere she’ll love. And a couple of years down the line, maybe a family of our own. Val, me, and our kids, a dream.
A knot finds its way in my throat as the vision slowly fades.
* * *
The last two days passed in a blur as I’d hurried myself in getting everything ready to move everyone back to New York. Valentina and I had managed to avoid each other. She’d spend time with my family during breakfast, lunch, and dinner and spend the rest of her time in my ma’s guest room. Today’s going to be a different routine, however. Because today is the day we’ll be completing the plan. The knot that had wiggled its way in my throat a couple of days ago has only managed to get bigger with every minute that passes. ?
I find Valentina, Mara, and my ma all sitting together in the living room, making something. I ignore the curiosity at what they’re doing. Rounding the back of the couch, I come to a stop beside Mara, who’s next to Valentina. Mara looks up and narrows her eyes before deciding she’s tired of fighting and gives me a small smile. The girl has always reminded me of a ray of sunshine, even when she’s pissed. Valentina ignores me as she concentrates on the task in her hands. I clear my throat, but only Ma and Mara are the ones who look at me.
“Valentina,” I say. She slowly turns her head around, and she has her best poker face on, but her expressive eyes betray her. She’s upset. Upset and pissed. I ignore the voice begging me to comfort her. “Get up, we're leaving,” I order. She presses her lips into a tight line, her eyes wandering to the side before they flicker to my sister and ma.
She gives them both a weak smile and hugs them tight. They hug her back, Mara and Ma giving her a squeeze and whispering something in her ear before letting her go.
The room is quiet and something heavy settles over us as Valentina steps away to come with me. Ma gives me a look that tells me she knows about what’s transpired over the past couple days. I ignore it and walk ahead of Valentina, listening to her quiet steps behind me.
She’s wearing another pair of sweats, this time a pair of purple sweatpants with a purple hoodie. We head toward the hallway she was staying in when she first got here. I open a door and step in, holding it open and waiting for her to walk in. As she does, she avoids looking at me. It irks me, but I leave it alone, not wanting to argue with her. Especially not when this will be the last time I’ll see her.
I’ll never see her again.
My throat tightens at the thought, but I ignore it.
There’s a large table in the middle of the room with six chairs around it. On the table, there’s a box placed on the edge closest to us. We both stay quiet as I open it. A replica of the dress she was wearing on the night of her kidnapping is in the box. Her eyes flicker with recognition when I hold it up, and her jaw clenches as I extend it toward her.
“Change in here, I’ll be out there. Be quick,” I tell her.
She snatches it out of my hand, and I don’t wait for a reply as I slam the door.