Marcello
As we drive to the Hotel where we have agreed to meet with Lorenzo De Luca, Elsa’s face is nearly pressed to the car window, her wide eyes, taking in the city. It is like she’d never seen shops and restaurants before.
Because she hasn’t seen much of the city lately and she probably misses it.
Guilt settles at the top of my spine, regret weighing heavily on me this afternoon. If I were a normal man, I would have taken her out to dinner, shows. Nightclubs and parties. Everything a girl her age deserves.
But I am not a normal man and our life will always be lived in the shadows. She and our children will need to stick to the estate, as I do, if we were to have any. It is too dangerous otherwise, and Elsa will eventually come to respect my orders without question. I’d never survive it if I lost Elsa.
I wonder whether I have been too lenient in giving in to this appointment today. She insisted that it was this important to her. I had cancelled it last week because I didn’t even have her then. Lorenzo didn’t give up and Elsa decided to get involved when she found out. We have to do this whether now or later. I want to assure Elsa that I am not against her family even though I have completely taken responsibility for her safety. Her stepmother hasn’t stopped fucking her husbands murder and the only thing remaining is moving in with him. Lorenzo De Luca is the only understanding De Luca left that Elsa can rely on. I want her to know that I also respect his concern for her.
Extra precautions have been taken for the outing, including tripling the number of soldiers accompanying us. The car has been swept for bugs and tracking devices as usual, and the route had been secured. While Marco, no longer poses a threat, I still have other enemies. Federico is still out there roaming and taking the thrills out of fucking her rivals wife. I am not taking any chances with Elsa.
Gabrielle’s phone rings, interrupting the silence. He answers and speaks quietly in cryptic sentences, as we always do with our business when using phones. When he finishes, he turns toward me. “It’s nothing. I’ll tell you later.”
Because Elsa is in the car. “Anything serious?”
“No. I had to shuffle people around today while you’re gone and the men were confused.”
“Is this about Marco?”
At Elsa’s question, Gabrielle winces and slowly faces forward, like he is removing himself from this conversation. I angle toward my curious girl. “You know I can’t discuss these things with you.”
“But you were just discussing it in front of me.”
“A good girl would pretend she didn’t hear anything,” I tease, knowing it will make her mad, while I run my fingers along her arm.
She lowers her voice and leans in. “You don’t want a good girl. You’d be bored with her in an afternoon.”
She is probably right. I shift to kiss her, my chest swelling with the magnitude of what I feel for this woman. I love her so fucking much.
I don’t care that the men in the front know I am kissing my girl, not when Elsa’s lips are this eager, her mouth this hot. Her tits are pressed against my arm, her leg moving restlessly along mine, like she is trying to get closer. I slide my hand up her bare thigh, eager to hear her little whimpers.
Then her stomach growls. Loudly.
I pull back to see her face turn bright red. She bits her lip. “Sorry. I didn’t get a chance to eat lunch.”
“Why not?”
“Don’t scowl at me,” she snaps. “Nothing sounded good at the time. It’s not a big deal.”
“This is a very big deal. You have to stay healthy. That should be your role if I am to keep you safe.”
“I’ve got it covered. I don’t need you all up in my business.”
Her flippant attitude does nothing to reassure me. “Your business is my business. Or have you forgotten?”
There is a gelato store a few doors down from the hotel building where we are supposed to meet Lorenzo. I don’t care if he is already in there waiting. I glance at Elsa and come to a quick decision. “Pull over, Mattia.”
Mattia casts a worried look at Gabrielle before glancing at me in the rear view mirror. “But, Don Marcello . . .”
“Here,” I repeat in a sharp tone, the one my men know is an order. I appreciate his caution, but we are well guarded. There was no reason I can’t treat my woman to gelato right now.
Mattia slows the car, guiding us to the curb, then comes to a stop. Elsa peers over my shoulder. “What’s going on? Why are we stopping here?”
I throw open the door and got out. The car behind us has also pulled over, and my men are hurrying onto the sidewalk to offer protection. Gabrielle is there beside me, his keen gaze taking in the street, his body tense and ready. I can hear his phone buzz, but he ignores it.
“Anything?” I ask him.
“No, but let’s make this quick.”
I hold out my hand to Elsa’s and her fingers meet mine. “Dai, andiamo.” I help her out of the big car. “I want to feed you. Let’s get you some gelato.”
“You’re buying me gelato. Right now?” She gives me that secret teasing smile of hers, the one that says she knows how much I love her. I would do anything for that smile.
“There is never a bad time for gelato, no?” I throw my arm around her waist and tug her close as we stroll inside. “I know how much you love it. And I know you’re hungry.”
The shop is empty, so she takes her time deciding, asking for samples of three or four different flavors. By the time she settles on the mint chocolate chip, she is smiling and laughing. Gabrielle and Mattia are waiting outside like a protective wall, so I open the door for her. She waits for me on the walk, then holds up her spoon. “Here, try this.”
“Are you sure?” I grin down at her.
She rolled her eyes but chuckles.
Her happiness sinks into my bones, a balm for all the violence and cruelty I deal with on a daily basis. It is like the dark clouds that loom over my soul have parted just for her, enough to let in her sassy mouth and resilient spirit.
I snatch her hand and bend down for the gelato.
When I lick gelato off my lips, Elsa gives me a sly grin. “You want some now, don’t you? I can see it in your eyes.”
“And what is it you think I want, amore?” I ask, leaning close. My body hums in longing. I haven’t had her since I brought her back home and it has been there days. I have however managed to get her to talk to me and smile. I can’t be sure if things are completely fine if she hasn’t given herself to me again. I have respected her boundaries this time, waiting for her to first recover from the trauma she could have probably incurred during her kidnap.
“Stop it.” She glances back at the gelato shop. “I’m kind of regretting not getting the chocolate, though.”
I kiss her forehead. “Go back to the car with Gabrielle. I’ll go get you some for later.”
“You will?” She feeds me another spoonful of mint chocolate chip gelato. “You are the best boyfriend I’ve ever had.”
I playfully slap her ass right there on the walk. “The only good boyfriend you’ll ever have.”
I intend on never letting anyone again in her life. It will only be me till forever.
Spinning toward the store, I suddenly feel a hard punch to my side, but see no one close enough to hit me. Cazzo, that hurts. The impact throws me back a step, then I drop to one knee. I can’t control my body, the pain is so great.
Then I know what has happened. What is happening. I suppose it has been inevitable.
My brain can’t function but my mouth is still working. “Elsa,” I wheeze, wanting them to get her to safety.
I watch her mouth open in a scream but nothing comes out. My men rush around me, their footsteps silent, as I collapse on the hard ground and blue sky fills my vision. I hear nothing, the pain in my lower half roaring in my mind, my ears ringing. I see Gabrielle, who seems to be shouting at me . . . and then I slip away.