Violet
Exhausted, we sink to the floor. Our clothes are in disarray, body parts are hanging out, we're sweaty and out of breath, but neither of us cares.
Just lying here, leaning against his chest, is heaven.
I'm not sure how I could have missed this so much after only experiencing it once, but this right here feels like home.
I know Marcello isn't a good guy. By all accounts, he's a monster—a monster who just saved me and my best friend. I sigh in contentment against him.
"Is this the moment you tell me you changed your mind again?" His voice is deep and teasing, but I detect a hint of anxiety in it that is so alien to this powerful man that it pulls at my heartstrings.
I shake my head. "I'm afraid the moment to change my mind has come and gone. I missed you too much to ever want to go through that again." And, because he allowed me a glimpse into his vulnerable side, I add, "If you'll still have me."
"Have you?" A light rumble moves through his chest, and his arms tighten around me. "These last few days have been hell. If you hadn't called, I would have stormed down to your apartment and kidnapped you."
Now, why does that sound so hot?
"You can kidnap me anytime."
"Careful, I might take you up on it."
Ah fuck, now more goosebumps are running down my skin.
"Some bad things happened to my mom, I don't know if she'd survive anything happening to me," I confess out of the blue.
"Nothing is going to happen to you." He assures me, and I believe him. No, I don't just believe him. I trust him with my life—with my heart, my body, my future.
"What happened to your mom?" He kisses the spot behind my ear that sends shivers down my spine.
"My father died when I was little, and then our apartment burned down not long after.
We lost everything. She was also pregnant with Sebastian at the time.
I don't know how she did it, but she got us a new home and raised all three of us.
She worked hard, but it was always just her and us. We're a tight family."
A short line of pain crosses his features. Automatically, my hand moves up to cup his rough stubble cheek. "I'm sorry. I haven't even asked yet. Have you heard anything from Sophia?"
His expression hardens, like a wall going up. I realize he does that to mask his emotions so others won't see that something might hurt him. He shakes his head.
"You can talk to me, Marcello. I'm here, and I won't go anywhere."
His lips curl slightly, but his expression remains hard. "I think I know who has her. It's only a matter of time until we find him… " A controlled tremor moves through his body. "He'll regret ever laying a hand on her."
"I'm so sorry," I lean up to kiss him. There are no words to make him feel better, but maybe he can take some solace from my presence. I hope.
Another fear jolts through me, "Will they come after my family too?"
Embers spark in his eyes. I don't like it. He regards me like someone might look at you before they deliver the worst news of your life. "We need to talk about them."
"Oh no." I rear back. "Are they okay? Please, I—"
He takes my face between both of his hands. "They're fine, tesoro, I promise. They're safe. But we—"
A knock on the door has us scrambling up and rearranging our clothes. I wonder what he was about to tell me, but his call of "Enter" stops me from asking. His words that they're fine soothe me enough to be patient until we have time for him to tell me the rest.
Two of the other guards from the hallway enter, led by Alejandro. All of them are laden with bags from the pet store I recommended. Alejandro has the largest cat scratching tree I've ever seen slung over his shoulders.
"Where do you want me to put these?"
"Right here for now is good," Marcello instructs, eyeing the bags. "I expect my fiancée to come home with shopping loot like this, not my soldiers," he remarks with a smirk.
Shudders of bliss run down my spine. Fiancée? I'm sure I heard him right.
As if sensing he's the star of the show, Felix comes waddling in.
Tail up, he greets the men with a small meow.
Felix is the friendliest cat I've ever met; when it comes to socializing, he's more like a dog than a cat.
The vet said it's because I had to feed him with a bottle, but I think it's just his personality.
He's still eyeing Alajandro cautiously, but the big man pulls a small box out of one of the shopping bags and opens it. Out spill ten mice. Live mice!
I screech.
Marcello curses.
Felix pounces.
The mice take off.
"What in the fuck, Alejandro?" Marcello barks.
"Miss Violet said to get him mice."
I break out in loud laughter, so hard that I have to cling to Marcello's arm not to lose my balance as I bend over. Unable to form a word, my body shakes, and tears roll down my face.
"Little… plush… mice…" I manage.
Marcello stiffens next to me, before he too breaks out into loud laughter. Nonplussed, Felix chases after two of the mice who have been unlucky enough not to find a hiding spot yet.
"I'm sorry," Alejandro's face turns red in embarrassment. The two guards snicker. "I don't have pets." Alejandro tries to apologize, but the way he pronounces pets sounds like he's talking about rabid beasts.
I'm still hanging on to Marcello, and to my utter humiliation, I snort, because… real-life mice! It's just too funny. I can't wait to tell Pippa. She'll have a ball.
"Did you just snort?" Marcello asks, amused.
"I.." I do it again, and all four men break out into laughter.
The squeak of a mouse stops me. "Oh no, Felix. No." I rush from Marcello's side to save the white furry animal that Felix has cornered and is moving around with his paws.
"Ten bucks the mouse is dead in a minute," a guard says.
"He looks wily. He'll get away, you're on," Marcello chips in.
I grab Felix and pick him up.
"Hey, not fair," the man betting ten dollars says.
"I'm not going to watch a cat and mouse fight," I shake my head.
"That was entertaining." Marcello grins. "Next time, bring more mice."
"Let's not," I use my sternest nurse voice.
"Alright, party is over. Everybody out. Alejandro, find some mouse traps or call an exterminator or whatever." Marcello orders.
"Yes, boss."
"Humane traps," I throw out. All four men look at me as if I'd spoken Chinese.
"What the fuck are humane traps?" The betting guard asks.
Marcello hits him over the head. "Be respectful."
"Ouch, sorry, boss."
"Traps that don't kill the mice," I explain.
"Humane traps," Marcello shakes his head, chuckling. "For mice."
The men leave, and it takes Marcello and me a good hour to set up Felix's things.
His scratching post, three cat beds, two cat litters, several cans of cat food, and an ungodly number of toys are all completely ignored by Felix as he stalks the penthouse like a predator, until he decides to make himself at home in one of the boxes.
"Don't worry, I'll remove any bodies I might find in the morning," Marcello promises.
"You better," I mumble, ignoring what could be the double entendre of his words.
"Will I be able to get to my apartment tomorrow to get some of my things?" I ask during a quick dinner of leftovers that Zia Rosa, thoughtful as ever, had stocked the fridge with.
Marcello puts his fork down. His expression turns serious. "We need to talk about that."
Uh oh. That doesn't sound good.
"Okay," I fold up my napkin and lean back in my chair.
"There is only one way to make sure you're fully protected, and that is to make you my wife."
That, I didn't see coming. I open my mouth, but no sound leaves my lips. I don't have any words. Too many emotions run through me. Marry? I hardly know this man. I've barely come to terms with dating a mobster. Do mobsters date?
Of course, marrying me would protect him, too. As his wife, I couldn't be coerced into testifying against him—yes, I know—avid Law and Order watcher here.
My ears rush as a panic attack tries to take me under. I thought I'd come to terms with this whole mafia thing.
"Easy, Violet, breathe." I didn't even notice Marcello getting up from his chair, but he's kneeling by my side, holding my hands and looking concerned at my face.
"I'm okay. I'm good," I assure him, but my voice is quivering.
"You don't look okay." His voice is laced with worry.
I turn my hands in his grip so I can squeeze his. "I'm okay." I reiterate, looking him fully in the eyes. "Really. It was just a bit of a shock."
His head tilts to the side, and his gray eyes pierce mine.
"Stop looking at me like that." I try to laugh. "It's okay. I'm okay."
His eyes keep probing mine, and he must read my determination in them. He nods and rises. "I'll be right back."
My gaze follows him as he walks toward his office, where he disappears for a few seconds before returning to my side. Kneeling back down, he takes one of my hands. "I know we're doing this all ass backward, but… " He presents a small, velvety black box.
"What's this?" I breathe, even though I have a pretty good idea what it is.
"Violet Meade, it would be my honor and privilege to call you my wife. Will you marry me?"