I felt my face flush pink to which drew a sly quirk of his brow.
A shiver ran through me when he pressed his nose into my hair, rocking his erection into me. When he gripped a handful, tilted my head back, and sucked lightly on the pounding pulse at my neck, I let out a whimper of pleasure, and the pull between my legs increased to a pulsating craving for him to put his mouth right where I ached.
And he did. He flipped me onto my back, slipped under the covers, spread my legs, dragged his tongue from my clit to my ass, and went on to make me relax.
I was floating on a cloud by the time Lexi came charging into the bedroom, plopped herself in between us, and asked if I was spending the day with them. When I told her yes, she jumped up and down on the bed—hooting and hollering and shaking her cute little bottom. We then made breakfast together while Lane showered and made a few phone calls.
Calls that I know had to do with our son.
“I did know that. Pink looks pretty on you both.” He grins again, his innuendo toward me makes me squirm in the sand.
Every part of me is battling inside, this sudden happiness—this strange feeling of belonging. It, in truth, is too much.
I’ve lived inside my mind for far too long. And I’ve leaped right into being touched, loved, and adored.
“I’ll be back. I’m going down by the water with Aunt Ellie, Uncle Logan, and Braxton. I love you, Daddy. You too, Sienna. Thank you for today.”
Right, Ellie and Logan. I forgot they were down here.
My heart stutters, opening as wide as my arms when Lexi hops off Lane’s lap and onto mine. I hold on to this precious girl—affection weaving throughout me, the booming exposure of my ability to love another child trying to wedge in between. I won’t allow that to happen any more than I’ll let my fear of Joseph drag me back down.
“I love you too, Lexi.” Then she kisses me on the cheek, walks away, not having a clue she’s taken me out of my element, breathing a little more life back into me.
Glancing back at Lane, my chest trembles when I notice he’s not looking at Lexi or me.
He’s eyeing the man I catch out of the corner of my eye, standing on top of the cliff.
My father.
Suddenly, my stomach flips as the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I swallow around the giant ball of panic, making it hard to breathe. It grows, and the minute it reaches my heart, it’s going to explode.
What if Luca is dead? What if that’s what they are hiding from me.
Chapter Sixteen
Lane
“I told you to go home, Sienna. What I have to discuss is not something you need to hear.” The non-negotiable tone of Lorenzo’s voice claws at my skin, and my muscles tense with the anger rolling through me.
“I’m not leaving. Everyone here knows what’s going on with my son, but me. I’m a grown woman, Luca’s mother, in case you forgot, and you are way out of line when it comes to me. Discussing my son is not a subject you hide from me. You lied to me that night in your office. Here you are lying and hiding again. You don’t stand for people lying to you, so why should I?” Sienna’s voice brims with resentment and anger. The complete opposite of her posture and begging eyes.
Swear to God watching her try to remain as tough as nails is a hundred times more painful than when I had to shove my finger into one of Logan’s bullet holes a few years ago to stop the rush of blood gushing from his shoulder.
That was a nightmare I stumbled upon. This one is happening right before my eyes, and no matter who tells her, it’s going to end with an endless amount of gut-clenching pain.
I do my best to keep my ass planted in the chair off to the side from where Sienna sits at the edge of the leather couch. Her body bent forward, hands pressed together, resting under her chin as if she were saying a prayer. Lorenzo sits on the wooden coffee table across from her. His appearance is much better than when he broke at the warehouse. It won’t be if the man doesn’t put her out of misery. He’ll be wiring his jaw back together.
“I didn’t lie to you. I saved you from witnessing something I don’t want you to be a part of. You are disrespecting me, Sienna. I don’t take kindly to it. When I say enough, I mean enough.”
Sienna’s head kicks back, her chin trembles, and damn her. She still refuses to cry. Maybe if she did, Lorenzo would see just how shitty of a thing that was for him to say. An uncalled for slap to her face.
Then again, crying in front of him is likely the last she wants to do. It would show him she can’t handle it. And she can, no matter how much it hurts, she can handle it.
“I was taught to respect people from you. Take a look in the mirror right now, and I guarantee you won’t like the man you see because the man I see isn’t respecting me, he’s condemning me to more hell. You want my respect; then you are going about it all wrong. I’ve bled plenty of blood. I can handle anything you throw my way except you treating me the way you are right now. I don’t need you or anyone else to spare me from watching you torment someone if that’s why you’re afraid. If they had anything to do with this, you can trust I’d gladly kill them myself.” Yeah, no. That’ll happen over any man in this room’s dead body, that I’m positive.
Especially mine.
I grip the back of my head, sliding my hands together to hold back the frustration slamming against my skull. Why the hell won’t he tell her?
I should have told him to fuck off when he made it clear he’d be the one to inform her. It was a command I didn’t take kindly to have to obey. Even though it crushed my heart into a million pieces, I knew then I was in no position to disagree. I didn’t like it one bit that until Sienna was mine in every way, that he held that kind of power over me. He doesn’t anymore. She’s mine to protect, even from him.
“What part of me wanting to shield you when we’re trying to put the pieces together, don’t you understand?” Lorenzo’s back goes straight. He’s on the verge of breaking. I feel for him. I honestly do, but he has blinders on when it comes to looking past the daughter he wants to save to a woman who has a right to know even if it does throw her into a pool of tears.
My gaze shoots between the two, and Sienna narrows her eyes, chin inclined in defiance like she has no intention of backing down. Well, good. She has five more minutes to strengthen that backbone of hers before I intervene.
“You aren’t protecting me. You are breaking my heart. You have me leaning toward holding a heavy grudge against you. Lane should not have to bear the weight of the agony you’ve put him through alone. We’ve grown closer these past few weeks. Don’t make me turn to him for answers. I demand to know what is going on right now. No more excuses. No more bullshit. It is not up to you to decide what I should and shouldn’t know.” Her face turns red with anger.
Beautiful and strong.
I glance at the clock. Four minutes before I come unhinged.
It isn’t the time for my dick to twitch, watching her face off with Lorenzo in the middle of Ellie and Logan’s living room with grit, determination, and a steel spine. Liquid fire shooting out of her eyes. This side of her is what I’ve been waiting on. And, goddamn, does it turn me on.
Sienna’s temper shot up when she saw Lorenzo on the cliff. He gestured with his hand for her to come to him, looking down at us with a glare that would have shot me dead if he could have. He hasn’t spoken a word to me yet. Whatever I’ve done to piss him off between the last time we talked and now, he’ll have to wait to piss his ring of authority around me another time.
Thank God, Sienna lowered her anger to a simmer until Ellie had Lexi in the car. I fell for her a little more after that. At first, Lexi didn’t want to remove herself from Seth’s lap. It wasn’t until I told her Logan and Ellie were going to the airport in Houston to pick up someone. A surprise for Sienna that she jumped down, clapping her hands in excitement.
I’d called Victoria to be here for Sienna in a way I can’t. I knew once she found out about Luca, she’d either break, making it impossib
le for me to glue her back together. Or, she’d rage on the outside while slowly dying more on the inside.
I’m hoping for the last.
Hope. Like Sienna’s, mine in finding Luca is fading with every breath I take.
“Well, that’s good to know that my daughter wants to resent me when I’m doing all I can to save you from more pain. You need to calm down. You know nothing about how we handle things.” With the cruelness in Lorenzo’s voice, the skin on my knuckles turns white as I tighten my fingers until the muscles in my arms shake.
“You’re damn right, I resent you. I have every right to. Again, you are condemning me to more hell. I find it funny that you only hear what you want and then turn around and say what you want. This isn’t about what you want. It’s about Lane and me and our son. Get it through your head that I don’t care how you do things. I am not a weak person, but you sure make me feel like one.” She pushes out a frustrated breath, and her entire demeanor softens when she turns and looks at me.
“I’m as calm as I can be, Father. I know you are stalling because you are scared to tell me. I know you did wrong by expecting Lane to keep something about our son from me. That is wrong on so many levels, even for you.”
She is laying into him while he sits there and takes it. Good, I hope it sinks in.
“You have it backward, Father, you are disrespecting me. I know if someone didn’t tell you the truth, you would either have them killed or punish them in another way. What makes you better than me?” Her tone hardens. Still, I hear the panic welling up. She needs to tuck it down before he catches on.
My thoughts drift to how the mafia build themselves upon a law of honor. All members must abide by them. They set their own rules. But when the kingpin himself breaks them, everyone is expected to let it slide. At least that’s what I’m taking from Sienna’s statement. I took the same thing away from my phone call with Gabe this morning too. He told me to stand down once again and to keep quiet.
When it comes to business, I get it. Personal, those rules should not apply.
Lorenzo knew it was getting harder for me to keep this from her. I’ve been on his ass for days to tell her. Told him time and time again that the guilt was stretching me thin. Every time I called him, he said he would when he returned from New York. A trip he expected me to keep to myself. I have. I’ve kept it all bottled inside of me.
He betrayed me in a way that if I didn’t trust Gabe when he told me Lorenzo is slipping due to the stressful worry, I wouldn’t get past it. Still, it pisses me the hell off that he shoved betrayal in my face, then turned around and stabbed Sienna and me in our backs.
Worry or not, thank fuck I knew he was returning today because Sienna’s razor-sharp eyes caught onto the fact I was hiding something. I was ready to tell her the second Lexi was asleep tonight.
I glance at the clock again—two and a half minutes.
“I’ve had it with you. Do you hear me? I’ve had it up to my ears with excuses. You’d better tell me everything you know about Luca right now. Test my patience one more time, Father. By all means, do it. I’ll be the first person to walk away from you and never look back. What is wrong with you?” She’s losing it. I can see her legs shaking, her hands trembling, her eyes clouding over with agony.
I feel her crushing ache inside my chest. So powerful, it nearly steals my breath.
“Test your patience? The last bit I had left flew out of the car window when Gabe told me you were out in public today. It’s worrisome enough, allowing you to step out of the house to where I can’t see you. What the hell were any of you thinking?” Lorenzo’s body shifts toward mine.
And there it is, his beef with me.
Blood rushes to my ears. My heart batters against my ribcage. What the hell does he mean? If he thinks I’m going to lock her in a cage, he’s mistaken. She’s been in one for the last ten years.
I don’t know what possesses me to glance at Seth and Rocco. It’s another vibe that strikes me. One that has me checking them out from head to toe. Their faces are red, eyes crazed and focused on the front door, bodies stiff as a board. They look like they want to run through it and kill someone. And whatever, more like whoever they found is where they’d rather be. I’d bet every penny I have that person is at the warehouse in Houston with Aidan.
“I trusted you with my daughter’s safety. You betrayed me once again.” The accusation coming from Lorenzo should hurt. Right now, I don’t have it in me to care. Instantly, I flip my attention back to him. His eyes are full of cold, burning rage. I’ve seen it before; it didn’t intimidate me then. It doesn’t now. It’s how he shows dominance and conveys someone should fear him. The thing is, the more I study him, the more I see his stalling tactic for what it is. He’s not afraid Sienna will crumble, he knows she will. It’s him who is dissolving. The man who always serves fear like the emotionless dish it is doesn’t want his daughter to see it in his eyes.
He is scared. That’s a good thing. He just doesn’t see it that way because he’s used to being the enforcer. The man with the upper hand and he doesn’t have it.
Tough goddamn shit. Behind the strength Sienna is building is his daughter, and she has overcome and harnessed some of her fear. And he needs to himself.
Whether or not he wants a shove in the right direction, he’s getting it. It won’t be tactful, and it won’t happen here. It’ll be with a good old heart to heart.
“You have a lot of things backward, Lorenzo. I didn’t betray you. I took care of the woman who means everything to me. I’m doing what I can to bring life back into her—focusing on what she needs while you took off without a word, knowing full well I wasn’t comfortable with keeping shit from Sienna. If anyone is disloyal, it’s you. A member of our family is missing. Meaning, your loyalty lies with Sienna, me, my brothers, and yours. I took her out today so she could breathe. We’ve been out for walks while Lexi rides her bike. I will take Sienna out tomorrow if I damn well please. You will step back and let her live.” Stretching my jaw, I keep going.
“You are going to tell her the truth. You are going to suck up not wanting to hurt your daughter, and you are going to go home, rest, drink yourself until you pass out. I don’t care what you do, but you will not keep what we know from Sienna any longer. She’s dying inside, no matter if she knows or not. While you cue her in, you might as well spill what you found out in New York. She said no more bullshit, she meant it.”
My brain clicks into place. Either someone has spotted Joseph. There’s been a threat or worse. That’s the reason why he’s bringing up going out in public. Otherwise, he wouldn’t say a damn thing about it knowing security is within an arm’s reach of Sienna. I’d take a bullet to my chest to save her.
The fuck does he think I’d put Lexi in danger too? He and I will be having words.
“You’ve been to New York?” Sienna’s eyebrows pinch in confusion. “Oh, God. Is, is Luca dead? Is that what you’ve been keeping from me? He can’t be, I would know. I would feel it. Please, someone, tell me. Is my son dead?” A soul-crushing screech escapes her trembling lips. It’s a scream that attaches to every bone in my body and makes me want to curl into myself and die.
“No, La Mia Vita, he is not dead. I would never keep something like that from you, no matter if God himself asked me to.” There was nothing I could do except let time stretch and slow-crawl as I get out of my chair to be by her side only to have Gabe haul me back by gripping my arms and twisting them behind my back when Lorenzo starts to tell her everything.
“He is not dead. Luca has been with a couple of men known as XYZ. They—”
“No,” she screams again. It pierces me like a knife. “I know who they are. How can this be?”
She sobs into her hands. As much of a relief as it is to hear her let it out, it’s tormenting when the tears drip between her fingers, and I can’t wipe them away. Her breathing becomes ragged, gasping as her body trembles and shakes.
Shit.
I want her in my
arms with her eyes on me. She needs me.
“Let me go, goddamn it.” Her pain rips through me, tearing into my muscles.
“No, you let him finish this, son. He needs it to get back to the man he is. You’d do anything for your brothers, the same as I would for mine. Lorenzo needs to break in private with Sienna. You back down and give him his moment of weakness.”
He isn’t going to in front of her. Jesus Christ, am I the only one who can see that?
My heels dig into the floor, my eyes never leaving her wilting frame when he drags me out of the room, into the kitchen and through the back door to where he releases me.
“Fuck!” I growl. Kicking a chair clear over the side of the deck. My body pitches forward, hands resting on my knees. “This is killing us all from the inside out. What the hell did you find out? What did Lorenzo mean by he has been with XYZ? If you tell me my son is dead, I won’t…” I’m losing my mind—sanity tumbling down a black hole of helplessness.
“He is not dead as far as we know. This is hard when a child is involved. Everyone loses their minds. It’s hard as hell when you can’t be here to take care of your own.” I glance at the man who’d taken care of my brothers and me when we needed it the most. Gabe is a cold-blooded killer with a heart bigger than most. To look at him, you’d never guess he slit people’s throats.
“I’m doing okay, old man. Sienna is too. Trust me on that.”
“And you’ll continue to do okay. Don’t sell yourself short, Lane. You keep on doing what you’ve been and leave the rest to me. There’s no man on earth prouder than I am right now. That was hard on you to let her go against Lorenzo. Get your emotions in check before I tell you what we found out.”
I straighten when Seth and Rocco come through the door. Tension dripping off their posture.
Unease settles in my gut.
“No news is good unless Luca is home safe.”
“True, but having the last two members of XYZ brings us closer to finding him. Until we do, Sienna nor Lexi leave your house. That’s an order Lorenzo handed down that you will not betray. It’s up to you to make sure Sienna obeys.”
Abrupt Page 18
