Chapter 314

“I don’t know. I think it’s best to assume you are not in the clear. From this moment on, you won’t be anywhere I am not if it can be helped. I don’t want you on the club floor until I know what’s going on and why. You are exposed down there, and when it’s dark and crowded, all it takes is one moment with the wrong guy in the shadows. I can’t lose you.”

My heart sinks at the thought of being a prisoner in this apartment once more, but what can I do. Spies everywhere and down there I’m too accessible on a busy night. He’s right. Security would need to babysit my every move; all it would take is a minute. A poisoned drink, an injection, or even a blade to the right part of my anatomy. These are the means these people use and they have the courage to go after someone in a club on a busy night. They already tried once.

“Santagato, he came to you for help … so it’s definitely not him, or this Carmichael?” I’m almost choking on the words but asking questions is all that is keeping me from a full-blown freak-out.

“No. We have a sit-down tomorrow afternoon, all five families. Whoever this is, they are not known to us. I think someone is moving into the city and trying to display a powerful front. Getting to us close to home, showing they have balls, the means and insider knowledge. This seems a lot like someone trying to make a mark before they move into my territory.” Alexi’s grip on my hand loosens as he turns it over and seems to inspect my dainty fingers in his, running his index finger down the small thumb against his larger one and measuring my small hand in his larger one.

I’ve never understood the mechanics of the old Italian code, but I know that certain things are more of an inconvenience than a declaration of war. Targeting the women who hold no value; Alexi is right. It’s not a call to start a war, it’s an effort at saying ‘Look how cocky and well placed I am. You should consider me worthy’. Someone is trying to piss on their property and show dominance.

I curl up against him instinctively, like a child in need of reassurance, forgetting why I’m even mad at him anymore when my brain is swirling with something this serious and this real. A threat and one aimed at me. It has just dawned on me that the attempted kidnapping was a fail and they might not be done with me yet if Alexi is one of the men on their hit list. Considering how things are between us now, then I would be a very good weapon against him.

He cares … therefore it would be highly effective to throw him off his game. Even I know it would fuck him up if I died.

I tried that, and he admits he panicked and hauled me to a hospital where he stayed by my side until he knew I was ok. If I died, I can’t even imagine what he would do.

Shit

“What do we do now?” I sound feeble, weak-voiced and afraid; he slides an arm around me, pulling me up against him so I can lay my head on his chest and he leans his chin on top of my crown. Close and safe, everything less terrifying when I’m in his arms. Less likely to hyperventilate or cry, or curl into a ball and hide under the sofa.

“We act carefully. You stick with Jackson no matter what and whenever I can, I will have you with me. My apartment is like Fort Knox and has live-in security, a housekeeper and a gardener there all the time. We should think about moving you there and just play safe until I know more.”

I look up, blink at him again, this time in referencing a gardener when he clearly said apartment. A stupid thing to catch on but my head isn’t exactly following a logical thought pattern in my weird shocked state.

I have never heard of any billionaire penthouse apartments which had need of a gardener before, but I curl up again and let it slide, assuming he is making some weird, vague joke. Alexi has an odd sense of humour at the weirdest of times. I don’t even stop to ponder the fact he said he wants to move me to his own home. It’s unimportant and just a measure to keep me safe.

“I have to go for my nail appointment tomorrow morning, it’s a busy salon and the only time they can see me for a month. I can’t cancel, Alexi. My nails are badly in need of an infill. I have other appointments too. I can’t just up and leave here like that, this is my home and my job.”

I’m rambling.

I know it’s such a stupid thing to be worrying about, but all this could be for nothing and last months. I can’t let myself look shit because we are on some sort of code red, and I will go insane with only walls as a view and nothing to occupy my time with. Alexi will stop fancying me if my hair gets three-inch roots and my nails look like I have been gardening in his imaginary whatever without a shovel … trowel? I don’t even know as I have never tended plants in my life.

Okay, so I’m kind of losing my shit.

I pull myself out of his arms to twist and turn and look at him, placing a palm on his chest to keep myself upright and he runs his fingers up my wrist and arm until his hand cups my face gently. Soothing me instantly and I return to calmer, less erratic thoughts. He pulls me close and kisses me softly on the mouth, stilling my manic panic.

“Then Jackson is with you every second of the appointment. He’s ex-military, highly trained and won’t let anything happen to you. I can meet you after, as I still have plans that we never got around to. I’m not done with convincing you to stay with me.”

I blanch. Jackson hardly seems like a stealth weapon, but then I guess he must have hidden talents if Alexi trusted him to be my shadow all this time. I guess I never even connected Jackson with anything terrifying because to me, he is an oversized puppy dog; Alexi would never have chosen him if he wasn’t the best at protecting me, now that I think about it. Of course, he would choose his best because he loves me, but I just cannot see it.

“So, until future notice, I have to live up here and not work? How the hell am I going to survive that? I don’t do being caged up and bored very well. This may kill me all by itself.”

Alexi’s heavy sigh matches mine, and he brushes the hair back off my face in that affectionate little way of his. Another reminder of yesterday and I know I’m completely lost, back under his spell.

“I’m sure we can find something to fill your time. Use this temporary phase to spend time together.” He pulls me into his lap properly so I end up straddling him, stretching my dress, which luckily has a high Lycra content or else I would be billing him for a replacement. I nuzzle down comfortably on top of his strong, wide thighs, fully aware that this could be an ultimate horn pushing position if I wriggled enough, but he strokes my face instead and all thoughts of sex flutter away, doused by trepidation.

His body and mine seem to fit together so naturally like this, but it doesn’t move the heavy weight of anxiety from deep within me. Even if I do automatically check him out with both eyes and hands, smoothing over his shoulders and hook behind that tanned tattooed neck. Coming to rest on the eyes of the devil and finding only peace.

“Hmm.” I don’t sound convinced but deep down I know that this is inevitable.

Women are dead. It may be a coincidence, or it may not. Either way, I have no choice but to let him do what he does best. Protect me in any way he sees fit. Trust his instincts and obey him for once. He has never steered me wrong in the past when it was for my protection. I can rely on him for that.

“Let’s go to bed.” Alexi breaks into my thoughts, a wave of exhaustion overtaking that handsome face and he runs his hands up my sides and under my arms to lift me off his lap, the touch tickling me, so I flinch and giggle involuntarily.

“Together?” It’s out before my brain engages, and as he pulls me with him to a standing position he sweeps in and floors me with a semi-passionate kiss. That stubbly face and warm lips devouring me immediately and pushing all refusals far away. Moaning lightly with the overwhelming sensations he ignites any time his lips meet mine. Kissing me senseless. He pulls back but keeps me close, a hand on my jawline, his nose pressed to mine as we share air and space, inhaling how good he always smells.

“Why not? I like sleeping beside you. It feels right and makes me happy.” He doesn’t wait for my answer, turning me and tugs me with him dominantly, abandoning tea and coffee as the machine percolates in the background and he leads me to his room instead. No hesitation when he knows what he wants. My dominant pushy arsehole of a man.

I wouldn’t really change it if I’m being honest.

“You know I still don’t want to …” I pause by his door, tugging back to stop him as we near the room. Nerves rising inside me as I eye up the dark interior and that black sheeted bed that has seen plenty of action. The tremor of doubt still inside me.

“I promise, I’ll keep my hands to myself. I just want you beside me. It’s been a long day and you have a way of making me forget everything.” He leans in slowly and gives me another soft kiss on the mouth, this time grazing warm firm lips against mine in a feather-light burst of eruptive tingles, silencing my doubts, and then gently pulls me into the room before breaking away.

I don’t object and let him lead the way.

I’m not over my irritation from earlier but the lure of sharing his bed and sleep is calling me, knowing the sense of secure and safe he gives me is more powerful than the tug of being naked with him. There is no sense in denying myself that kind of completion as I already know I’m weak as hell when it comes to this man.

I mean, I was contemplating leaving the bugger until he came home and touched me. I really have no willpower against him.

I’m pathetic.