Chapter 333

I want to wait for him, but I think it’s probably a better idea to get in bed and wait there instead. He has an equally huge tv up there positioned for optimal viewing from the bed and maybe if I head up then this huge furry beast will stop sitting four foot away and stabbing me with those eyeballs. The dog is creeping me out and he will eventually get right up beside me and then God knows what. Chew off my leg? Lie on me and crush me to death? He is hardly small.

He is literally silent and still, much like his master as he bores those hauntingly similar eyes right into your skull in the most intimidating way and doesn’t even blink. The dog is a master of making you uneasy.

I have still not decided if it is sizing me up as possible supper, or a chew toy. It’s not a dog you can get a read on. I mean he could be either the most nervous and sweet animal just sussing out if I mean him harm, or like Alexi, a crazed psycho who sits behind a calm demeanour as he works out the best way to torture you just for his own amusement. Just because he can.

It is still really odd to me that Alexi has a pet dog that he raised from a young age and obviously cares a lot about. It’s just another little titbit of showing me a completely different man. One capable of loving an animal and having the empathy to save him from destruction because of what he was. Kindness in that soul of his.

I saw what it gets fed, and it’s all good quality raw meat and hand prepared food. The dog is a freaking king in this house and very much Mr and Mrs Capone’s baby. The old man was covered in licks and slobbers upon appearance and gave the dog a treat from an inner pocket he must carry around all the time.

Weird.

I give up on the film which is giving me way too many panty warming thoughts about Alexi in a tux and get up, grabbing my bottle of water and head to bed. Resigned to the fact that maybe sleeping away the hours is better than nervously awaiting his return and working myself into a horny mess, now BOB is eternally defiled.

I only get to the foot of the stairs when the cold, wet nose of that beast touches the back of my naked ankle and I yelp in fright. Recoiling in horror and blink back down at his questioning expression. Big head cocked to the side, trying to look harmless. I’m not completely fooled.

“What the fuck is it?” I half yell at it as I turn on it sheepishly. Nerves rising a little at his perseverance to stick by my side. Stomach a little tied up in knots already with things simmering in the back of my mind and this dog is just adding to it.

“You’re creeping me out. It’s not cool!” I stare at it imploringly, but it just sits its butt on the floor and stares right back, silently, in that same unemotional way his lord and master has. Not even a tail wag from the lanky thing.

I’m starting to think Alexi is just a reincarnated wolf and this pooch can sense his brother or long-lost relative in him.

Fucking weird mutt.

“He likes you, Miss.” The voice comes from the top of the stairs, startling me with her sudden appearance as Mrs Capone makes her way towards me carrying an empty glass. She’s dressed in slippers and a housecoat and I guess she needs a fresh drink. I sigh with relief at seeing another human, and I hope the dog will now follow her down the stairs once more.

“I’m not sure I can extract ‘like’ from how he is behaving.” I point out, moving to let her pass and edging away to escape those eyes.

“Lync is a good boy but very reserved about who gets affection from him, much like Mr Carrero. They are a good match. You give him time to figure you out and this puppy will roll up in bed with you.” She fondles the dog’s head in passing with her free hand and gets a lick in return and a thump thump as his wagging tail hits the floor a couple of times. He stays rooted to the spot though with that fixated gaze on me.

I eye her up as she descends, thinking about what she said and smile absentmindedly as the thought of Alexi curled up in bed with me pops into my mind’s eye. Warmed by her observation that is pretty accurate. Heart filling a little with just how much I have come to depend on him.

“Well, I’m going to bed to wait for Lexi, so the dog can stay here.” I point out commandingly, trying not to sound fazed by it and turn to leave, hoping she lassoes him or something equally efficient to take him with her.

“Unfortunately, Lync can open doors, so Mr Carrero gave up on banishing him from the bedroom. You can try though.” She smiles softly, knowingly, with a hint that relays slight smugness under a beaming affection for this crazy creature, and I just exhale heavily. Resigned to the fact he may just come to sit on the bed and intimidate me for the next God knows how long before Lexi comes home. I get the vibe it’s his intention and wonder if Lexi trained him to do just that. I wouldn’t put it past him.

“Okay…whatever. If he mauls me to death, then so be it.” I flick my hair over my shoulder sassily, turn on my heel and flee up the stairs quickly. I’m hoping he is too distracted by Mrs Capone to follow but I’m wrong, and he passes me on the top step speedily before leading the way to the open bedroom door. Full stride and bounds ahead of me with that clumsy wagging tail.

Ugh.

“Fucking dog,” I mutter under my breath and try to ignore his presence. Not overly happy with the fact I have earned myself a new stalker, but what can I do? He’s a persistent pain in the arse; much like his daddy.

The room is neat and tidy with no visible sign of anything that is mine at all, nor our earlier antics and bed messing, and I take a minute to look in the cupboard doors to check. See where all my belongings have disappeared to.

Alexi has a lot of storage, all concealed in this space and I can see all his suits, shirts and such neatly lined up inside the far end. Shoe rack, tie rack, belts, trousers. It’s all contained in less than half of the space even though he has an impressive amount of clothes, whereas mine is less than that on this side and looks practically empty.

Moving around all the time meant I have not spent a lot of time gathering belongings, shoes and clothes. Every time I fled, I got rid or sold what I could, and it has been a slow build to a decent wardrobe again. My things look sparse, but all accounted for. I guess more closet space is an advantage though, there’s room to grow and three sets of shoe racks crying out for some Louis Vuitton additions should I end up here for the long haul. I close the cupboard and turn to walk to the bed, pushing it to the back of my mind, stopping in my tracks as I spy Lord Lync sprawled across the foot of it as if he just owns this space.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” I mutter agitatedly. The dog is worse than the master, in that he is a relentless stalker who won’t take a hint. Even Lexi isn’t as dense as the damn mutt.

I do my best to pretend he isn’t there and climb in, glad the bed is big enough for me to do so without disturbing him, hauling the tv remote with the bed covers and switch it on. As soon as the screen lights up, the dog lays his head down right at the base of my feet and closes his eyes.

A little weird, but at least he isn’t staring at me anymore and I resign myself to my new bedmate. A grudged one. If he isn’t going to eat me, then he better not be a snorer. I may throw him out the window if he is.

I scan the menus for a new movie and press on one that doesn’t take much intellect to watch. Some cheesy chick flick, before snuggling down in bed to get comfy and try to stop obsessing on when Lexi will make an appearance.

He’s seeing his men, then having a sit down with the other families. He could be gone all night. I remind myself that if he is, then I won’t make a fuss, and I won’t accuse him of all sorts when he comes in if he’s stinking of cheap perfume and looking to head straight for the shower. I remind myself to trust him, trust in what he feels for me and learn to let things go.

I check the bedside clock and sigh heavily when I realise it’s only 9 p.m. It’s been a monumentally long day with a shit ton going on, and I can’t believe it’s only evening.

It’s been the longest week of my life since that shoot-out and I honestly feel like it’s been weeks with Alexi pursuing my heart, instead of only days.

It feels like days ago they chased me into that alley, not hours, and I shudder at the memory of it all, so dreamlike yet disturbing. I push it down and close my eyes as that knot tightens in my stomach. Apprehension returning to prickle across my skin and I thank some invisible force all over again for guiding him to me in time—my hero.

Alexi will never let anyone hurt me or get at me ever again. I just need to stop being such an idiot and fighting him all the time. He’s right; I do rebel and I do disobey him. But he needs to learn a better manner of delivery other than bossy shit telling me what to do.

I need to lighten up though and accept there are some things he can’t change about him, but he’s trying. I can see it and I should try too.