“Who can we trust?” I whisper. “I have no choice. I’m sending Olivia to New York.”
Lorenzo drops his head in defeat.
“It’s the only way I can guarantee her safety.”
“Go with her,” he pleads. “Run, hide… just until I find him. We will flush him out.”
“No.” I sip my drink. “I’m staying. He doesn’t even want the brothels. His war is with me. He wants my Ferrara skin for bragging rights.”
Lorenzo drags his shaky hand down his face. He knows I’m right.
My phone vibrates on my desk and an unidentified number comes up. Lorenzo’s eyes meet mine.
“Keep him on the line for three minutes,” he says.
I nod. “Hello,” I answer.
“Hand them over or pay consequences.”
“Go to Hell,” I whisper. “What do you think you are doing?”
“You were warned.”
The phone clicks as he hangs up.
Another threat from Lucky Lombardi. It’s the third this week.
I stare straight ahead, and anger rages inside of me like a wildfire.
This time in my life is supposed to be exciting. Announcing my marriage. Planning for a baby.
What I am is stressed beyond belief.
“We’ll find him. You have my word,” Lorenzo says from his seat beside me.
“He’s in hiding.” He shakes his head in frustration. “But he can’t hide forever. When he shows his face, he’s a dead man.”
My buzzer sounds. “Mr. Ferrara, I have Sophia here to see you.”
I roll my eyes. Fuck, this is the last thing I need now. “Give me five minutes,” I say to Lorenzo. I push the intercom. “Send her in.”
The door opens and the beautiful Sophia comes into view.
“Hello.” I stand, smile, and I kiss her cheek.
Lorenzo kisses her in a greeting, also.
“What do I owe this pleasure?” I ask, trying to act calm.
She clutches her handbag nervously. “I’m being followed.”
I frown. “By who?”
“There’s a man. He’s been following me for three days now.”
“What man?”
She looks around nervously. “I don’t know who he is. I saw him the other day when I came out of my apartment, and now I keep seeing him.”
“Are you sure he’s following you?”
“Positive.”
“Lorenzo, organize some guards for Sophia, please.”
“Of course.” He stands. “Can you describe him for me?”
“He’s outside right now. He’s… he’s downstairs,” she stammers. “Blue suit. White shirt.”
Lorenzo’s eyes meet mine. “Get Sergio and take care of it,” I order.
Lorenzo rushes from the room as Sophia runs her fingers through her hair. She’s visibly upset. “I don’t know what to do. What if I’m next?”
“You’re not.” I take her into my arms and hold her. “It’s all right,” I whisper into her hair. “You’re safe now.”
“I haven’t felt safe since you left me,” she whispers against my neck. I feel her breath on my skin.
She lifts her hand, and the gold bangles that she always wears rattle together.
It’s a familiar sound-one that evokes memories. I feel an unwelcome wave of arousal seep into my body. I instantly release her from my grip and take a step back.
When Sophia fucks, the sound of her bangles hitting together echoes throughout the room. The harder she fucks, the louder the sound.
Fucking her is like a game a child would play to hear the sound-to make it louder. It’s the ultimate aphrodisiac. A goal that drives a man wild. Anytime I hear bangles clang together, I have a physical reaction. I clench my jaw as I try to chase away the memory.
“I miss you,” she whispers.
“Don’t.”
She steps forward and takes my hand to place it over her heart. “How can you push me aside so easily?” Her eyes fill with tears.
“Sophia.” I don’t like seeing her like this.
“I love you, Enrico.”
“Sophia,” I whisper. “You need to understand that I’m with Olivia now.”
“Why do you think it has to be me or her?” Her eyes search mine. “You can have me, too, my darling.”
Our eyes are locked as the air swirls between us.
“You can be married to her and you can love me, too.”
We stare at each other.
“We need each other, Enrico. We need each other’s bodies.” She smiles softly despite her tears. “I can’t come without you. Nobody fucks me like you do.” She lowers my hand to her breast. “Nobody can get the job done. I need your body. No other will do. How could I go back to another man after having you?”
Memories pass between us. Nothing is off the table with Sophia. There’s no denying the woman is on fire in bed.
No.
I take a step back from her. “Stop it.”
She reaches for me. “I know you want me.”
“You’re wrong. I want Olivia.”
“No. You love Olivia. You want me. Your body wants me. You can have it. You don’t have to choose between us, Enrico. Why would you choose when you can have the best of both worlds?”
I glare at her, my anger beginning to escalate. A vision of my pathetic father and grandfather with their mistresses comes to mind. “Just stop it.”
“Give me two hours a week to please you. I’ll do anything you want, my darling,” she whispers seductively. “We could meet on your lunch breaks. I can satisfy you, keep you sated and happy. You can go home to her every night, and nobody will ever know. You have needs that I only I can meet. She won’t get hurt because she will never find out.” She takes my hand in hers again. “Enrico,” she whispers. “Baby, come back to me.”
I get a vision of my Olivia at home with our child. “Sophia!” I snap.
She rises up onto her toes and kisses me. I pull my face away as I lose control of my anger. “Get out.”
Her face falls. “What?”
“Get the fuck out,” I growl. “If you ask me for sex ever again, you’re fired. In fact, just get out now.” I grab her arm and drag her to the door. “Do you fucking understand me?” I open the door, push her out, and I slam it shut. My heart is racing, I’m so angry.
Red is all I see.
I go to the bar, and with a shaking hand, I pour myself a glass of scotch.
I’m rattled that the sound of her bangles affected me physically.
Weak.