by Penelope Sky
He kissed the back of my shoulder, his hard dick smothered right between my ass cheeks. He slightly ground against me, telling me he was going to fuck me at some point before we went to sleep.
“You seemed to have a good time. You won, like, a bazillion dollars.”
He didn’t say anything in response.
“How did you get so good at poker?”
“I’ve played for a long time. And I have a face that’s impossible to read.”
“I can read it,” I countered, knowing exactly when he was angry, aroused, and playful.
“You’re the only person who really knows me. You know me better than Ronan.”
I stared at the other wall in the darkness, my breathing changing because his words were surprisingly sweet. He confided his personal thoughts to me, sharing more than just his vast wealth. “You know me better than anyone else too…” My family knew me well, but Bosco knew me in the most intimate ways. He had a piece of me that no one else would ever have.
He kissed my neck. “I know, Beautiful.” When he smothered me with his affection, I knew there was no place I would feel safer. Even when that terrifying man stared at me, there was nothing he could do because Bosco was there, flanked by guards all across the casino.
“That man with the scars…do you know him?”
Bosco flinched at the question, his hand gripping my arm a little tighter than usual. “You noticed him?”
“Well, he was staring at me the entire time. Ronan told me not to worry about it…”
He propped himself above me but said nothing, letting the silence grow in intensity. “He was right. Don’t worry about him.”
“He’s a bad man, isn’t he?” Judging by the way both of them dismissed him without giving any information, they were protecting me from something.
“He won’t look at you again. I took care of it.”
“Then you don’t know him?”
“I know all my members. But I don’t associate with all of them. They call him The Butcher.”
“Oh…what a wonderful name.”
“But like I said, he won’t bother you. So don’t worry about him.”
Regardless of who that man was, he was powerless against Bosco. There was nothing he could ever do to either of us. “Alright.”
He rolled me onto my back and gazed down at me, looking possessive because of the delicate nature of our relationship. He positioned himself on top of me, separating my thighs with his muscular ones.
I didn’t take off my shirt, and he only pulled down the front of his boxers. When he was this close to me, I couldn’t smell the cigar smoke on his breath the way I used to. When he came home from work, it was sometimes potent if he didn’t brush his teeth. “When did you stop smoking?”
He halted on top of me, our bodies close together. His cock rubbed against my clit, stimulating me with his hardness. He looked down at me with a slightly bewildered expression. “A few weeks ago.”
“Oh…good.” Smoking was so unhealthy. I wanted Bosco to live for a long time, so I was glad he quit the terrible habit.
He kept watching me, like he saw something in my eyes. “You don’t remember.”
“Remember what?” My head rested on his pillow, and I sank into the mattress, his weight pinning me underneath him.
“You’re the one who asked me to quit.” His hand moved into my hair, and he cradled my face close to his. “You said you wanted me to live as long as possible…”
I didn’t remember that at all. “Oh…” But then again, I said a lot of stupid things I should keep to myself. I admitted most of my secrets to him because I couldn’t keep them bottled inside. Since I didn’t remember it, it must have happened the night we had pizza and beer at the dining table. I drank too much, and the rest of the night was a blur. “Well…I’m glad you listened to me.”
He rubbed his nose against mine. “And I’m glad you asked.”
A storm hit Florence, so it rained for three days straight.
I still went to work because the shop needed to stay open, but customers were scarce. On the third day, I considered closing early because not a single person had come in all day. My arrangements were placed in the window, and the front door was shut because the streets were flooded. Hardly any cars passed.
I wondered if Vanessa was having the same luck.
I stood behind the counter and stared at the pouring rain, watching it drip down the windows. My shop was on the corner, and the walls were made entirely of glass. I leased one of the newer buildings in the city so my flowers could be on display everywhere. It was the best way to get customers to walk inside right off the street.
The street was pounded by the raindrops, and the clouds were so thick not a single ray of sunshine could pierce through. I didn’t mind the rain, but when it drove all my customers away, it was a bit of a strain on my business.
I was tempted to go home and get back into bed with Bosco. Warm and dry, it was the most comfortable place in this city. I hadn’t been to my apartment once since I’d moved out. I had no idea what kind of shape it was in.
Just when I decided to close up for the day, I grabbed my bag and umbrella and put all my essentials in the safe in the back. I returned to the front of the store and grabbed the keys off the counter. Bosco’s men didn’t need to be notified that I was leaving, because they would show up the second I walked outside.
I walked to the front door with my key at the ready. Something made me look up, whether it was to check the rain or something else I saw. My hand froze on the door because I spotted his shadow right away. Lurking like a gargoyle, he stood on one of the balconies of the apartment across the street, staring down at me with complete disregard for the rain. His clothes were soaked, but he remained absolutely still, not caring that my eyes were on him. He held my gaze with the same expression he wore the other night.
With the same six scars on his face.
The memory of my attack in the alleyway came back to me. I felt helpless then, but I felt even more defenseless now. This man was stalking me, obviously because he hadn’t stopped thinking about me since he saw me at the casino a few nights ago. He didn’t care about Bosco’s men. He didn’t care that I would tell Bosco I’d spotted him.
He didn’t care about anything.
My palms were sweaty, and my heart was racing. He was too far away to do anything, and it didn’t seem like he wanted to shoot me. He just wanted me to know that he was there—that he was watching me.
I couldn’t stay inside the shop forever, so I stepped out into the rain, locked the door behind me, and thankfully, the black car appeared to take me home. They opened the back door for me and ushered me out of the rain before they took off.
I was surrounded on all sides as I was taken away from that psychopath, but my heart still wouldn’t slow down.
I felt like he was still watching me…even when I was miles away.
My heart hadn’t slowed down. Blood pounded in my ears during my rise in the elevator. I wanted to get into Bosco’s arms as quickly as possible because that was the only place in the world I would be safe.
I’d known there was something wrong with that man. I’d felt it the second I looked at him.
How long had he been watching me? Had he been there every single day that week? And I just didn’t notice him until now?
The elevator doors opened and I stepped inside, my feet finally hitting the hardwood floor of his apartment. “Bosco?” I couldn’t hide the fear in my voice. It erupted so naturally because I couldn’t keep myself under control. This was worse than the alleyway. This man was specifically seeking me out. I didn’t take the wrong turn at the wrong time.
“Beautiful?” His voice sounded down the hallway. His feet thudded against the floor a second later as he came toward me. He appeared around the corner, his hair still slightly damp from the shower he’d just took. He was in only his boxers, his powerful legs looking thick under the fabric. Once his gaze settled on me, he knew there was
something wrong. “What is it?”
Now that we were in the same room together, I moved into his chest and clung to him, finding comfort in his strong chest and broad shoulders. This was my safe place, the only place in the world where that man couldn’t touch me.
“Carmen, you’re scaring me.” He grabbed my shoulders and pulled me back so he could look into my face. His eyes shifted back and forth as he looked into mine, reading all the warning signs my body was emitting. “I’ve never seen you like this.”
My hands held on to his arms, and I found strength in the power I could feel in his pulse.
“What is it?” he demanded. “Tell me.” His tone showed his impatience. I was taking too long telling him the problem, and he didn’t like to wait.
“I was closing up the flower shop when I saw him. He was standing on one of the balconies of the apartments across the street. He was just standing in the rain…watching me without blinking. He didn’t care that I saw him. It was like he wanted me to see him…wanted me to be scared.”
His arms slowly lowered to his sides, and he stared at me with a look of rage I’d never seen. “Who?” The vein in his forehead was throbbing. The cords on his arms were tightening. His entire body tensed as it prepared for the battle about to ensue. Instead of comforting me, he moved away because the fury was too much for him to control. “Who did you see?”
“That man from the casino…with the scars on his face.”
Bosco heard my answer, but he kept up his stare like he hadn’t. His chest rose and fell at a quicker rate, and redness flooded his face. He moved back from me again, his hands forming fists. He didn’t ask any other questions, but his eyes lit up like small bombs went off in each one.
I stayed quiet as Bosco wrestled with his rage. I didn’t know what else to say. I didn’t want to calm him down because I was still losing my mind. I was scared, and I didn’t have the pride to pretend I wasn’t. Seeing that man stand in the rain and watch me like prey was one of the most disturbing moments of my life. I couldn’t keep Bosco calm when I was this terrified.
He didn’t ask me if I was certain of what I saw. He took my word for it right away. He stepped away and pulled his phone out of his pocket. He called someone and pressed the phone to his ear. “Double the perimeter around the building. I want twelve more guys for the next shift. The Butcher is stalking my woman, and I want him shot on sight if he gets within a mile of this building.” He hung up then made another call. “Ronan, stop what you’re doing because we need to talk. The Butcher is stalking Carmen.” He paused as he listened over the line. “He was sitting on the balcony across from her shop—in the pouring rain. He was watching her.” He listened to his brother before he responded. “I have no idea how long this has been going on. Carmen just noticed him. The second he walks into that casino, I want to know about it. He’s going in the ring—and I want to be the one to do it.”
He lay beside me in bed, the sheets pulled to his waist. His boxers were on because I wasn’t in the mood for sex. I was still terrified by what I’d witnessed.
His anger had started to fade a few hours ago. Now, he seemed more concerned about the way I was feeling. His fingers ran through my hair, and he kept his gaze on me the entire time. “I understand you’re unsettled, but there’s nothing to worry about.”
“He was just standing there in the rain…”
He tucked my hair behind my ear before he trailed the backs of his fingers down my arm. “He’s going to be dead soon.”
“When he saw me look at him, he knew I would tell you. So he’s not gonna show his face again.”
“There’s nowhere for him to hide. I have every criminal in this city by the balls. When I put out a notice to find someone, I always get them within twelve hours. This will be no different. He’ll be dead by this time tomorrow.”
Until that moment came, I wouldn’t be able to relax. I wouldn’t be able to sleep even with Bosco beside me. That psychopath was out there, and he wanted me—with terrible intentions. He was no different from the men in the alleyway, except he wanted to be the one to enjoy me. A man who had no problem pissing off Bosco Roth either had to be crazy or more powerful than he let on.
When I didn’t say anything, Bosco cupped my face. “Beautiful, look at me.”
“I am…”
“Really look at me.”
There was a haze in my eyes because I kept thinking about that gargoyle in the rain, ready to feast on my flesh. I concentrated on the man blanketing me with affection and security, trying to forget about the monster that wanted to prey on me.
“I would never let anything happen to you.” His thumb softly grazed my cheek. “My men wouldn’t have let anything happen to you. He would have to go through all my security and me before he came anywhere near you. Those are impossible odds. I would die before I’d let that happen.” It was a sweet confession, something that would touch my heart if I weren’t still disturbed by what I’d witnessed that afternoon.
I stared at his handsome face above me, seeing the concern burn in his eyes. My fingers felt his powerful shoulders and his thick arms, remembering that this man had complete control over the city. Regardless of what trick that horrible man had up his sleeve, he wouldn’t be able to overpower Bosco. “I know…”
“Then stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?” I whispered.
“Like you’re scared.” He kissed the corner of my mouth. “Where’s the fighter in the alleyway? Where’s that woman?”
“I am a fighter,” I said quietly. “If someone comes after me, I’ll hold my own. But that’s not what happened, Bosco. That man perched on a balcony and stared down at me like a bird preparing to swoop down on his prey. He’s stalking me. He’s obsessed with me. He wants me—and he wants me to know that. They call him The Butcher for a reason. He’s a psychopath, unpredictable and impossible to understand. He was like an animal playing with his food. Yes, I’m scared…and no one would judge me for being scared.” Fear was a survival instinct, and my body was telling me this was serious shit. “Maybe I should call my father…” My family managed to overcome everything. Maybe I should get them involved.
His gaze saddened as he listened to me. “Do what you want, Beautiful. But I promise you, he’ll be dead within twenty-four hours. There’s no reason to get anyone else involved. There’s never been an enemy I couldn’t defeat with the simple wave of my wrist. This guy is no different.”
“Then why would he blatantly act that way? He’s obviously not afraid of you.”
He tilted his head slightly as he tried to think of an answer. “This man is different from most. They say he’s out of his mind. His actions can’t be predicted because there’s no logical motivation. He clearly has mental issues. He probably acted on instinct without understanding the full consequences of his actions. Ronan discouraged me from admitting him to the casino, but I didn’t listen. I just wanted his money—and that was a mistake.”
“Great…so he really is a psychopath.”
“A psychopath that will be dead very soon.” His fingers touched my chin. “I’m a man who keeps his promises. I promise you he’ll be dead within a day. You can see the body yourself. Do you trust me, Beautiful? Do you believe me?” He gave me a desperate look, like he wanted me to place all my faith in his hands. He wanted me to feel safe, to believe in the reputation he’d built for himself.
This was the same man who’d asked for compensation for saving my life, the same one who’d showed up at my shop and my apartment. He cornered me then asked for more, securing me for three months. It would be easy to say he was a dangerous man, but that didn’t change anything. I trusted him more than anyone else on this earth. “Yes…I trust you.”
I stayed at the penthouse the following day, not going to work even though my shop was supposed to be open. It was raining anyway, so there probably wouldn’t be many people stopping by for a visit.
Bosco stayed home with me, doing all his work via his laptop
and the phone.
The Butcher hadn’t appeared yet.
Bosco said he would be dead in twenty-four hours, and the deadline was fast approaching. I was concerned that he hadn’t been located yet, that this monster had managed to slip through Bosco’s men posted all over the city. I didn’t mention him as the day passed, not wanting to talk about the freak that loomed over me in the rain.
I could only assume he wanted one thing from me.
And I didn’t want to think about what that one thing was.
Bosco and I sat on the couch together, his arm draped over my shoulders as a blanket lay in my lap. We hadn’t had sex since I’d come home yesterday because I wasn’t in the mood. All I could think about was the moment that man would finally be dead.
Bosco’s phone rang, and he fished it out of his pocket. “Ronan, did you find him?”
Ronan’s voice was audible because the phone was close to my face. “He just walked in.”
Bosco was quiet for a few seconds, clearly shocked. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. He just hit a poker table.”
“And he’s pretending everything is normal?”
“Seems that way,” he responded. “What do you want to do?”
“Grab him and throw him in the ring. Don’t start until I get there. Who else is on the waiting list?”
“That guy who stole a few million from one of our members. Can’t remember his name. But he has a tattoo of a dragon on his chest. Beefy guy.”
Bosco seemed to know exactly who that was. “Good. The Butcher won’t stand a chance.” He hung up.
I was relieved this was finally over.
“Get dressed.” Bosco left the couch and headed to his bedroom.
“Wait…what?” I stayed in my spot, my blanket wrapped around me.
“You’re coming with me.” He turned back to me. “I want you to see the body. It’ll help you sleep tonight.”
“But he’s not dead yet…” I didn’t want to be in the same room with him while he was still breathing.
