Marcello
The next day…
Violet's breaths are even and deep. She's still out.
A small smile curls my lips. I thoroughly fucked her last night until she begged me for mercy.
According to my last count, I made her come five times, until she was so exhausted, she fell asleep.
I wipe a strand of her hair from her face.
Gentle has never been something I've ever been, but with her…
she makes me want to be a better man. For her.
At some point during the night, that damn cat of hers came marching into the bedroom and jumped up on the bed as if it owned the place.
"It's my bed," I'd informed it, keeping my voice low so as not to wake Violet. Unperturbed, the fleabag had curled up next to Violet, emanating deep purring sounds.
Fascinated, I'd watched Violet reach up, pull the thing closer to her, and tuck it into the crook of her arm. The cat glared at me with a victorious snarl between its whiskers, and I shook my head. I wasn't about to compete with a fucking cat.
"Accidents happen," I'd mumbled, rolling over and putting my arm around Violet.
When I woke this time, the damn thing had its paw—actually a very soft paw—on my hand, gently kneading while moving its claws in and out, as if in warning.
"Go ahead, I dare you." I challenged it, but it only purred louder.
Now I'm wide awake, watching Violet sleep, and the damn cat is still curled up next to her. The sun is coming up, and I contemplate closing the blinds to let Violet have her rest.
It was a long night, and after her harrowing near kidnapping, she probably needs it, but there are things we need to discuss. One of them being her father.
Luciano texted me more information a couple of hours ago.
Supposedly, Enzo is the most powerful capo in Vegas.
Apparently not powerful enough to keep his wife happy, but hey, we all have our challenges.
All men have weaknesses, and mine appears to be lying in my bed.
And I'll do anything to keep her safe, even kill a Vegas capo and risk a war I can ill afford.
Because for her…
Yeah, there's nothing I wouldn't do for her. She's mine, and I intend to keep it that way.
My phone vibrates. Sophia's name pops up.
"Yes?" I answer with a quick bark because I don't dare hope it's her. Preparing myself to hear Raffael's voice taunting me, I hold the phone tightly and step out onto the balcony so as not to wake Violet.
"Hey, big brother," my sister's voice greets me. It sounds low, like it's an effort for her to speak.
"Sophia? Where are you?"
"I'm okay. I'm sorry I worried you," she says, still sounding like she's in pain.
"If that bastard touched you—" I nearly yell, knowing even as I do that it is a useless waste of my breath.
It's more important to find where she is.
I put her on speaker so I can activate the Phoenix Signal, an app invented by our tech guru, Luca, that is installed on all our phones.
It doesn't work if the phone is off, which Sophia's has been until now.
I'm sure by now he's got a hit on it as well and should be calling Luciano.
I'm surprised to see her location ping here in the city.
"I'm coming to get you," I promise.
"No, Marcello, don't. Wait. Stop." She sounds a bit more forceful. "Things happened. Things I can't talk about right now, but I'm fine. I'm with a friend. I just needed to let you know so that you can stop worrying about me."
"What the fuck is going on?" I demand. "You know you can tell me anything. I'll help you."
"I know. I swear to you I'm fine and safe. I will explain everything to you. Just not now. Okay?"
"Nothing about this is fucking okay, Sophia."
"Ti amo," she says and hangs up.
"Sophia!" I yell uselessly.
The balcony door opens, and a sleepy Violet turns to me, concerned.
"Did she call you?"
She steps over and puts her arms around me. I want nothing more than to kiss her right now, but I need to work fast. With one arm, I press her against me, and with the other hand, I call Luciano.
"I'm on it, boss. She called from a park not far from here. Four men are already on their way, and ten more are getting ready." Luciano greets me.
At least my organization is working seamlessly, if nothing else. I let out a deep sigh. "Find her."
"If she's still there, I will," Luciano promises. "But she turned the phone back off."
I disconnect the call, "Fuck."
"What did she say?" Violet asks.
I run my hand through my hair. "That she's okay, and that she'll explain everything later."
"Do you think somebody forced her to?"
"It's possible," I allow, my mind working a million miles an hour.
I'm not used to sharing my thoughts with anyone besides Luciano, but the way she presses into my embrace feels so natural and perfect that I think out loud.
"But no, I don't think so. There is nothing to be gained from allowing her to call me just to ease my mind.
They know I won't stop looking for her until I have her back. "
"To play mind games with you?" Violet theorizes, making me smile at the effort she's putting into helping me. It's sweet and… soothing. My usually hot temper is not nearly as hot as it would be.
I shake my head. "No, wherever she is, she's there of her own free will," I conclude.
"Okay." Violet nods, and I realize she just manipulated me into coming to that conclusion and saying it out loud. It's more effective that way. She's right, too. I'd be driving myself nuts right about now if I hadn't said it out loud.
"You're amazing."
"I try," she smiles up at me.
We grin at each other like idiots until my phone rings. "She's not here," Luciano tells me what I already know.
"Okay. Then back to the other issue. Bring the family here, we need to have a meeting."
Violet arches a brow at me. "We need to talk," I tell her.
"Oh, why does that sound so bad?"
"It's not. Not entirely," I try to assure her, but the truth of the matter is that I have no idea how she might feel about what I'm about to disclose to her.
I wish I did. I wish we had been given the time, like a normal engaged couple, to get to know each other better.
But we aren't, and I'm not a person to keep wishing for something that isn't. I will remedy it in the future, but for now, we are where we are.
"Oh shit," Violet wiggles out of my arm. Alarmed, I try to hold her back, pull her behind me, but then I realize it's the damn cat. Felix. About to explore the veranda.
"He loves the outside," Violet tells me, while she's slowly making her way over to the cat.
"So let him," I don't see the problem.
"He'll jump on the railing and fall," Violet points at the glass enclosure that is about chest high for her.
And good riddance, I think, but out loud I hiss, "Sssshh."
Startled, Felix runs back into the penthouse. Violet sends a glare at me that's somewhere between wanting to strangle me and gratitude. I follow them inside and close the door.
"I'll have the railing raised, so he can't jump up," I promise.
"You'd do that for him?" She sounds breathless.
"For you," I clarify, "I'd do anything."