by Hart, Rye
“What do you mean ‘handle’?” she asked, backing away from me.
“Rose…”
“What exactly have you done, Camillo? What is this ‘influence’ you keep talking about?”
I couldn’t answer that question. Not when she was already so frightened of me. The way her body was humming with adrenaline, her fight or flight response was kicking in. I realized in that moment that she was afraid of me.
And it killed a part of my soul I hadn’t known existed until she’d come into my life.
“I will tell you everything,” I said. “I promise. Once this is all over, we will have a long discussion. But right now, the less you know, the better off you are.”
“No. I don’t agree to those terms. I can’t trust you if I can’t understand what we are up against.”
My chest flooded with relief at that one tiny word. That one two-letter word that encompassed the whole of what I’d wanted ever since I’d tracked her down.
We.
“No,” I said. “Right now is not that time. I’m sorry.”
“Then get. The fuck. Out.”
“Rose, you need to—”
“Get out,” she said.
“Rose-”
“Get! Out!”
She threw the lamp at my head, shattering it into a million pieces. People in the house began to stir and Ana started to cry. Rose rushed past me, not giving me a chance to react, and the moment she scooped my little girl up into her arms and turned her back to me, I knew I needed to stop. I needed to stop trying to convince her that my way was the right way.
If I pissed her off anymore, I might lose both of them forever.
“Uncle?” Junior asked. “Everything okay?”
“Good morning, you guys,” Rose said, smiling. “Everything’s fine. Ana’s not feeling too well, and I tipped over the lamp trying to get to her.”
“Anyone up for some coffee?” Cassie asked, groaning. “Because I could use some.”
“I don’t drink coffee,” Kevin said.
“Well, I do,” Mrs. Barker said. “I’ll go start the pot and get breakfast going.”
Rose shook her head. “Mrs. Barker, that’s not necessary. I can—”
“Why don’t you go take care of that beautiful little girl in your arms? Let me handle breakfast, and then we can go from there.”
I looked over at Junior’s nanny and she shot me a look. I’d hired her because of her wonderful background. I’d had her thoroughly checked out by my private detective to make sure she didn’t have any ties to anyone that would want to hunt me down. She didn’t know much about my life, other than the fact that Junior and I were wanting to start fresh, but she did know a fight when she saw one.
And she could tell by the look on Rose’s face that I was no longer welcome.
“I’ll be back tomorrow for your answer,” I said to Rose. “Just think about it.”
“You have my terms,” she said.
“Where you going, Uncle?” Junior asked.
“I’ve got some things that need to be taken care of at the cabin,” I said. “How do you feel about staying here a little while longer?”
I looked up at Rose, secretly begging her to just take the boy in for a while. I needed all of them together if I was going to assess the threat and keep an eye on them. If there was even a small chance that the target would move if I did, then I had to take that chance.
Which meant leaving Junior with Rose, even when she already had so much to juggle.
“Junior?” Rose asked. “You ever had a movie marathon day?”
“I love those,” Junior said, smiling.
“Can I do one, too?” Kevin asked.
“Oh, we’re all gonna do one,” Rose said, smiling. “Right after breakfast.”
I sighed with relief as I made my way downstairs, bypassing Mrs. Barker on the way out the door.
“I take it you want me to stay?” she asked.
“You’ll be compensated well for your time,” I said as I grabbed the door.
“It’s none of my business, but if I were you, I’d tell her whatever it is she wants.”
I looked her square in her eyes and not for a second did she back down. I’d have to run another background check on her, just to make sure she didn’t know more than I felt she was letting on. Mrs. Barker had always been an intuitive woman, with the best intentions in mind, but everyone had a price.
Even her.
I couldn’t sleep that night. I tried going back to the cabin and formulating a plan, but my mind was swirling. So, I packed up some blankets, drinks, and snacks and I parked myself down the road from Rose’s house. I kept thinking of our life together, the mere hope of it keeping me awake while I watched their house. I could see Junior and Kevin running back and forth with one another while Rose bounced Ana in her arms. I could see how frazzled she was already becoming. How tired she must already feel, running after the children like that.
I saw Cassie leave for work and come back with bags of food in her arms while Mrs. Barker tried to take Ana from Rose’s arms. I knew she was trying to get her to slow down. Accept her help. Let her in. But if the fire in Rose’s eyes was any indication, she probably saw Mrs. Barker as an extension of me. I saw her finally give Ana over to Junior’s nanny for just a second. Just so she could get a quick shower.
But then she was right back at it, doing everything for everyone, with no one else giving any regard to how she might feel.
I watched all night for any sign of the Del Vecchio family. I eyed the cars as they drove up and down the street. I was wary of any parked car that sat there longer than ten minutes. I would crank up the engine from time to time and make my way around the block, looking for anything suspicious before taking up my station and watching the house.
And all the while, I was plotting my revenge.
Maybe it was time to stop running and destroy their family at the source.
The moment the morning sun started creeping above the trees, I pulled my truck up into Rose’s driveway. I made my way to the front door, knocking relentlessly until I heard someone stir behind it. The door flew open and my eyes looked upon a haggard Rose, the bags underneath her eyes heavy with exhaustion and her eyes bloodshot from crying. Her shoulders were slumped over and she was in her clothes from the day before, her skirt crooked upon her hips and her tattered shirt still boasting of the bra she’d slept next to me in.
This was my doing. This was my fault. She was up all night, crying and worrying over the shit I’d brought into her life. I’d thrust another child upon her, desperate to keep them all underneath my gaze, keep them safe, and not once did I give any thought as to what this would do to her.
I was selfish and I was instantly disappointed in myself for allowing this to spiral so far out of control.
I was the one who needed to worry, not her. I was the one who needed to protect the family, not her. I was the one who needed to provide the money, not her. I was the one who needed to work all hours of the night, not her.
I was the only one who could remove this burden from her shoulders. I was the only one who could make this problem go away. I was the only one who could scoop her up and give her the relaxation and the devotion she deserved after putting her entire existence on hold for the same family I now loved.
The same family I now wanted to protect.
She looked up at me with her peridot eyes and, in an instant, I knew what to do. Even if she still said no, they had to come with me. Even if she was still against it, I had to find a way to make her see that this was the best way.
I had to convince her that I’d be able to keep her safe. Keep her fed. Keep her healthy. Keep her happy.
I’d lost her once three years ago and I wasn’t going to lose her again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - ROSE
I opened my door and saw Camillo standing in front of me. I took in his disheveled appearance, digesting what he looked like for the very first time. I’d never seen him this way, wit
h his clothing rumpled and his beard amiss. His eyes were tired and his hands were trembling, making it clear he had been up all night.
I stepped aside without saying a word, letting him into my kitchen while everyone else slept. I’d called Kevin out of school and Ana out of daycare. Then I’d called out of work and told them the entire family had come down with the flu. I wasn’t too scared of losing my job just yet, seeing as I never took time off when my boss asked me to. But that still didn’t mean I could just run off with this disheveled man that had taken a seat at our kitchen table.
No matter how much trouble we were in because of him.
I shut the door and no sooner had the door latched than my back was against it. Camillo’s lips were on mine, pressing feverishly into me as my hands immediately clung to his wrinkled shirt. His tongue forced its way between my lips, pulling a groan from my throat while his pelvis ground against mine. I could feel his cock rising, pulsing against me with its massive girth as his knee pinned itself between my legs.
But I had to push him away, even though his tongue tasted like honey and his lips swelled perfectly against mine.
“The kids are here,” I said. “We can’t.”
He grunted, hesitantly pulling away from me. I could see the disappointment in his eyes and I had to admit that I was disappointed, too. Even with the danger looming over our heads and even with so many unanswered questions, there was a part of him that commanded everything about me. The way he looked at me with his stern, icy eyes. The way his rough hands traveled along my body, punishing me but never truly hurting me. The way the warmth of his body tugged at mine and the way his cock pried my body open and brought me to heights of pleasure I could’ve never dreamed existed.
But I had to face the facts, even when my body didn’t want to.
“Have you packed?” he asked.
“No,” I said plainly.
“Why not?” he asked.
“Because I can’t just run off with you on some vacation. The kids have school. Ana has daycare. Cassie and I’ve got work. That’s not how it works. Not in the world we live in.”
“Those things aren’t important when your safety’s at risk.”
“And again, whose fault is that?”
“At this point, fault isn’t what matters,” he said. “Getting my family safe is what matters to me.”
“I have to work, Camillo. Don’t you get it? If I don’t work, none of this gets paid for.”
“That’s the thing,” he said as he grabbed my arms. “You don’t ever have to work again. Not with me. I have enough money to keep us in luxury for the rest of our lives.”
“What?” I asked.
“You’ll never want for anything again, Rose. Not with me. And school? It’s almost winter break. The kids can spend the holidays in the tropics. What would be better than a family vacation someplace warm?”
“This isn’t some kind of paradise, Camillo,” I said as I shrugged him off. “This isn’t a luxury vacation. We’d be on the run. From trouble you brought with you.”
I dipped my head toward the floor and squeezed my eyes shut. I wanted all of this to go away. I wanted to rewind back two days. Back to when Camillo was whispering salacious promises in my ear and using my body for his own pleasure. Back to when we were in the darkness of his cabin and he was teaching me how to please him.
I wanted those times back. Not these.
I felt his finger crook underneath my chin and pull my gaze to meet his. My eyes fluttered open, my weakness dripping down my face in the form of tears. I could see the hurt behind his eyes while he studied me, his intense gaze slowly slipping into one of regret.
That was when I realized he understood what he’d brought into our lives and just how badly he felt because of it.
“I’ll do my best to make it a vacation,” he said. “To give you a break from working so hard. To give you a break from struggling to support your family. I’ll deal with this problem behind closed doors while we give this family the vacation they deserve—the vacation you deserve—and after it’s all said and done, we can talk about where we go from there.”
I felt myself weakening for him, even as I continued to shake my head no.
“I’ll still want you to stay, even when the danger is no more, Rose. I need you to hear that.”
His grip on my chin tightened, commanding my attention as his stern gaze slowly settled back onto my face.
“I’ll still want you,” he said darkly.
“You’re still acting like this is just a little problem,” I said breathlessly. “It’s a death threat, Camillo. Against our daughter.”
But then, I saw something switch behind his eyes.
He released my chin and stepped behind me before he threw the door open. I followed him into the living room as he stood at the bottom of the stairs, his voice barreling up to the second floor as he yelled for everyone to get up.
“Kevin! Junior! Get up! Pack your things! We’re going on a vacation!”
“Camillo, stop,” I said.
“Mrs. Barker! You’ve got some time off! Take it through the holidays! I’ll call you later!”
“Camillo!” I exclaimed.
“Cassie! You, too! Get up and pack! I’m sending you on a fun vacation!”
I threw my hands up as I stormed away from Camillo. I heard everyone rising up from their beds, and the boys ran around throwing their things into bags. I heard Camillo stomp up the stairs as Cassie came stumbling down, her eyes wild and her hair matted to her face as she found me in the kitchen.
My cellphone rang just as she opened her mouth to ask questions and I held up my hand to her while I answered the phone.
“Hello?” I asked.
“Hello there, bestie,” Crystal said.
“Hey there,” I said breathlessly.
“Well, don’t sound so excited. Listen, I’ve got Rockette tickets. I want you guys to come in next week so we can go.”
“Wait, what?” I asked.
“Yep,” she said. “All of you. Cassie, Kevin, Ana, and you. It’s gonna be so much fun. We’ll see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and we’ll skate on the ice outside. We’ll walk around town in the snow, drinking hot chocolate and listen to the carolers on every corner. Come on, Rose. It’s time you took a vacation.”
“I don’t think that’s gonna be possible,” I said.
“And why not?” she asked.
“Because I think we’re going out of town.”
Cassie’s eyes widened as the boys stumbled into the kitchen. Kevin had a small suitcase packed and Camillo assured Junior that his bag was already in the truck. Camillo was holding Ana, her own bag packed full of her things while I clocked all the stuff Camillo missed. I saw him whisper something to the boys before they ran outside and jumped in his truck and realised I’d been defeated.
“Rose, what’s going on?” she asked.
“So much,” I said as tears welled in my eyes. “So much, Crystal.”
“Then take a deep breath and talk to me. Is Ana okay? Is something wrong with Kevin?”
“No, nothing like that,” I said.
“Then start from the beginning.”
I sighed heavily as I turned my tired eyes toward Cassie.
“What if Cassie came to see you?” I asked.
I watched as Cassie’s eyes lit up with happiness.
“Cassie’s always welcome. That girl can throw back some tequila.”
“Interested in spending the holidays with Crystal and the Rockettes?” I asked her.
“Uh, of course,” Cassie said. “Tell Crystal I’m packing my things now.”
“Now, why is Cassie coming and not you?” Crystal asked.
“Because Ana’s father’s in town and a lot has happened since then.”
Silence descended upon the phone and I could feel her shock through the receiver. I looked over at Camillo, his eyes filled with relief as I rolled mine at him. I walked through the house and started up the steps to go pa
ck my own bag and it wasn’t until I started folding my clothes that Crystal finally spoke.
“The dark prince is back,” she said.
“His name’s Camillo and yes. He’s apparently moved into town with his nephew, living the simple life despite the fact that he’s rich.”
“Holy fuck,” Crystal said.
“Yeah. And those rumors about being tied to the mob?”
“Yeah?” she asked.
“Also, true.”
“Wait, what? Are you guys okay? Have you guys been threatened?”
“Honestly? I’m not sure what I can tell you and what I can’t. All I know is that we’re packing up to go on a vacation, even though we’re actually kind of running.”
“Holy shit,” she said. “Yes, Cassie can come here. Ana and Kevin going with you?”
“Yep, but I still don’t know if it’s a good idea.”
“A good idea to what?”
“To go with Camillo,” I said.
“Why not? He being a dick or something?”
“You mean, besides bringing all this trouble into our lives?” I asked. “No.”
“Oh, I know that tone of voice. The chemistry’s still there, isn’t it?”
I zipped up my bag as memories of our night in the cabin came flooding back to my memory.
They flooded back so quickly, in fact, that my nipples rose to painful peaks behind the three-day-old bra I was wearing.
“Yes,” I said breathlessly.
“Honestly, I can’t believe you told him that Ana was his,” she said. “How did he react?”
“Well, it’s kind of unmistakable. Ana looks just like him.”
“So, when are you guys supposed to leave?” she asked.
“Wait, wait, wait. I tell you that some rich-ass mobster that fathered my child is back in town, and the only thing you want to know is when I’m leaving with him?”
“Look, I don’t know all the details of what’s going on. Clearly, I need to call you more since you never pick up the phone to call me. We’ll talk about that later. What I’m saying is, if you guys are actually in danger, then Camillo’s the only one that can protect you.”
I turned my gaze toward the door and saw Camillo looming in it. His eyes were focused on my packing and the way my fingers danced across the zipper of the suitcase while I tried to jam all my toiletries in the front pocket.
