by H. L. Swan
“No, we got rid of the bodies. Nothing can be linked back to us. But, just to be sure, I hired security to follow you and Ashley around at every waking step.” His face grows serious. “I’m going to be busier than usual, and we need to move. Between the guy that came here and everything that happened, I want us to live some place new.”
I nod, but a frown settles on my face. “Aren’t you sad? You literally just got the place.”
He shrugs. “I don’t give a shit where I live, as long as you’re there.” He looks at me intently.
It melts my insides. Could I live with him?
We make our way onto the patio, into the warm summer air. Aiden grabs two stemmed wine glasses and a bottle, and pours two glasses of wine.
“Giving alcohol to a minor now, are we?” I tease.
He pulls the glass away. “I mean, if you don’t want it.”
I stick my hand out, and he returns the thin stemmed glass to my hands. I take a sip; it’s slightly bitter but sweet. I definitely prefer it to liquor.
He eyes my happy expression. “You like wine?”
“Very much so. This is delicious! It tastes like dessert!” I take another sip.
He tops off my glass. “Just drink it slow, so you don’t get sick.” He gives me a sweet look.
“Aww, such a gentleman.” I gush.
“I don’t want you throwing up on the white rug in our bedroom.” He jokes, planting a lingering kiss on my lips.
“Our room,” I whisper.
Tall buildings and city lights try to dominate the backdrop, but nothing looks as powerful as Aiden as he sits with a glass of wine in one hand and my hand in the other.
“You can stay as long as you like, you know.”
“I’ll have to go back to school eventually.”
He scoffs. “You’re not going back to that school.”
I sit up straighter. “What?” I couldn’t have heard him right.
“You heard me.” He gives an arrogant smile.
“But Ashley–”
“No. You’re not going to sit here and worry about everyone else. Not your mom or Ashley. You always do that. You put everyone in front of you. I won’t allow it.” His voice is firm as he flattens his palm on the table. “With the exception of me of course.” He winks.
I try to speak, but no words come out.
He places his hand under his chin. “What do you want to do with your life?”
I know where he’s going with this.
“Business,” I lie. A random major I chose after seeing the prices of culinary schools.
He laughs, knowing I’m not being truthful. “Don’t lie to me. I see you. I know what makes you happy.”
From the way his green eyes bear into mine, I can tell he can see every inch of me, and all of it is for him. I’m putty in his very capable hands.
He waves his hand in the air dismissively when I stay silent, slouching in his chair. “I already have you scheduled to tour a culinary school.”
He’s amazing but I can’t. “I know my mom’s doing good now. Thank you by the way, that’s freaking amazing of you. But culinary school is expensive. Trust me, it’s the first school I looked for. There’s just no way.”
“About that…” He tilts his head.
“What did you do?” I scoot my chair back, my voice close to a shriek.
“I wouldn’t give a fuck if you didn’t go to school or work but…” He smiles.
I laugh. “You’re not going to be my sugar daddy.”
His eyes darken as he scoops me up and sits me on his lap.
I roll my eyes as his eyes rake over my body. “Aiden, get to the point.” I swat his wandering hands.
“You could stay here and bake for me all day.” He trails a finger down my leg, igniting a flame inside me. “And then you could wait for me to come home and…”
I swat his arm playfully.
He put his hands up in innocence “I need an assistant.”
“Oh? An assistant position would never put me through college. I know what you’re trying to do. Maybe I can waitress at one of the upscale restaurants near my school. Ashley works at one and they pay well. I can keep attending business school, and maybe just take some classes at a bakery.” I sigh, wistfully dreaming of something bigger for myself.
“She quit.” He states.
That is news to me. Why hasn’t Ashley told me?
“She’s planning on telling you tomorrow. She’s thinking of staying here but she wants to get your opinion first. Just don’t tell her I told you.”
It’s hard to concentrate on our conversation when I’m straddling Aiden in a robe with only my panties underneath.
His voice is as velvet as the wine. “Besides, why waitress and deal with a shitty boss and horrible hours just to take a few electives when you can work for me? I’ll pay for any school you want.”
“True. But still, I won’t just let you put me through school. I mean, how can I move here when my whole life is there.”
“Your life is not there, Emilia. I’m here.” He states. The way he says my full name makes me smile. “Besides, you don’t have family near that school. I definitely don’t want you around the fucking idiot of an ex-boyfriend anymore.”
“I’ll think about it.” I hold up a finger when he smiles. “But I’m going to look for my own job.” He sighs, grabbing my thighs. “Only because I know you’ll pay me unfairly and treat me better just because I’m…”
He lifts my chin. “Just because you’re what, Emilia?” His voice is husky as he slides my robe off partially and kisses my bare shoulder.
I take my bottom lip between my teeth and shrug, wanting him to say it.
“So many things I can call you.” He slides a hand up my thigh.
“My girlfriend?” He trails a long finger up my inner thigh, torturing me with his teasing.
“My fuck toy.” He growls, sliding my panties to the side and slips his finger in.
I wrap my arms around his neck, whimpering as I rock my hips while he slowly pumps it in and out of me.
“But I prefer mine.” He growls, carrying me inside. He holds me tightly as I keep my legs wrapped around him. We’re insatiable, neither of us can keep our hands off each other. “No more questions tonight, understand?”
I moan as he fingers me while he carries me. So strong and effortless.
I melt in his arms as his husky voice rumbles in my ear.
“All I want is to fuck you senseless tonight.”
Nineteen
Istretch lazily against the silk sheets. I get up in a daze and pull on my robe. My eyes slide to the clock on the nightstand. Nine twenty-two. Aiden left for work hours ago. I feel guilty I didn’t get to see him off. But I’m so thankful we had some one on one-time last night, it’s always so perfect when we become tangled in the sheets together.
The elevator chimes as I stumble into the kitchen to get some water. Assuming it’s my bodyguard, I walk over to greet him. His back is to me as he stands rigid in the elevator.
“Sir?”
He doesn’t respond.
Puzzled, I reach out tentatively, shrieking when his body falls back and thumps against the hard floor. I stare into his lifeless eyes, blood oozing out from a hole in his head. My stomach clenches.
Terror courses through me when a smiling Lucio Matarazzo steps over the prone body and waltz through the doors.
Didn’t Aiden kill him? He shot him in the chest. Did he wear a vest?
Oh my God.
No time to think, I spin around and run for the bedroom. My eyes dart around in search of my phone, but I don’t see it. Hearing his heavy footsteps coming for me, I rush into the bathroom and lock the door.
I’ll hide in here until Aiden gets home.
My hope vanishes when I hear wood creaking. No, not creaking. Breaking, and snapping. My eyes widen as the heavy wooden bathroom door dips in, forced opened with brute force.
Lucio stands in the doorframe, laughing. With quick
movements, he makes his way to me.
I tremble in fear, but I can’t move. He brings a greasy hand to my throat, lifting me off the cold bathroom. I tremble as he tucks a stray piece of hair behind my ear, a smile taking over his lips.
“Oh, sweet girl.” His words are heavily accented; his Italian features dark and sinister.
A shimmer catches my eye and I look down. A sharp blade sits clenched between his hands. Fear courses through my veins. Not for me, but for Aiden.
“Please, just kill me. Don’t hurt him,” I beg. The words are distant, everything feels distant.
He laughs in my face. “Oh, that’s what I plan on. Killing you and sitting by your dead body until your lover arrives home to find you bled out on the floor.” He smiles.
I clench my fist to hit him, but before I can move, he plunges the long knife into my abdomen. The feeling of the metal slicing into my skin makes me shriek in terror and inexplainable pain. I look down as he twists the knife inside my stomach. How have I not passed out from the blood loss and pain? Shock halts me as I stare in disbelief, watching as blood pools and stains my robe. A blood-curdling scream echoes throughout the room, begging for him to take it out.
Why is he twisting it? Why is this happening to me?
“Get it out!” I scream.
He laughs maniacally, before pulling it out and plunging it into my side.
“Get it out!” I cry.
I close my eyes, not wanting Lucio to be the last thing I see before I die. I think about Aiden, his smile that he reserves only for my eyes. How his serious demeanor changes when I walk in the room.
I gasp as I feel the knife being pulled out before it finally plunges into my heart.
Then, everything goes obsidian.
Aiden
∞∞∞
My wandering thoughts screech to a halt when the morning’s quiet is shattered by Em’s blood curdling scream. I flick the lamp on.
Emma is trashing against the sheets, yanking at the material over her stomach. “Get it out!”
What a nightmare she must be having.
I straddle her, pinning her arms to her sides so she doesn’t hurt herself, whispering soothing words as I urge her to wake up.
“Get it out!” She screams.
Steeling my voice, I order her to wake up.
She listens, but her eyes remain tightly shut. “Please, Lucio. Please stop.” She sobs quietly, her body limp under mine.
“Baby, it’s me, Aiden.” I croon to her calmly. I wrap her in a hug, pulling her onto my lap.
Her cries slow down and her breathing soon regulates.
“Does that happen a lot?”
She nods.
I throw my head back. I’m even fucking up her sleep. I hate myself. “I’m sorry.”
She buries her face into my chest, shaking her head furiously. “Don’t apologize. That one was just really bad.”
I think back to the other night at her mom’s house. She had stirred in my arms, a scream escaping her lips. I pulled her close and managed to calm her down.
Fuck. I should’ve known.
Smoothing her hair, I keep my voice strong and calm. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
She sighs. “I didn’t think it mattered.”
I roll my eyes. “Emilia, if anything ever bothers you like that, I need to know. What…what happens in your dreams?” She begins to cry again, and I almost tell her she doesn’t need to tell me. But I wait patiently. I need to know so I can help her.
“It’s...it’s different every time. But Lucio, he…” Her breath catches. “He stabbed me.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose in an attempt to rid my brain of the visual. “He’s dead, baby. Ricky checked every lifeless pulse in that warehouse, just to be sure. No one will harm you,” I assure her. But she continues to shake in my arms.
“I want you to see someone for me, baby.”
She lets out a small laugh. “What? Like a shrink?” She lifts a brow.
I nod.
“Aiden, you can’t be serious.” She pulls away, rolling her eyes.
“I wasn’t asking, Emilia.”
She doesn’t put up a fight and instead crawls on top of me.
Being a little late to work won’t hurt anyone.
I kiss her collarbone and rub my thumb against her perfect pout, before carrying her to the bathroom to draw her a bath. I’m thankful my bathtub is large enough to fit two. Once the tub is mostly filled, I undress the both of us before depositing Emma into the warm water.
I smile when her rigid body visibly relaxes as the warm water and bubbles envelope her. I wish we can do this every morning.
“You’re so fucking perfect.” I rub her feet, my eyes glued to how beautiful she looks in the morning. Her messy hair and sleepy eyes.
She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
“Hey look.”
Her eyes dart to my face.
I bring the frothy bubbles to my chin and make a foam beard, eliciting a giggle from her. What the fuck is she doing to me?
She needs peace of mind. She trusts me enough to come back with me.
I have so much shit to do to ensure she’s as safe as possible. I’m going to be busier than usual.
This girl, with her smile and slight attitude. Her courage and her beautiful looks as well as her smarts. She is the most important thing in my life. I don’t want her to feel anything less than happy at all fucking times.
I don’t give a fuck about myself.
But, her?
She is everything.
Twenty
Aiden surprises me when I step into the kitchen.
His suit is tailored perfectly to his lean frame, and the dark as night material looks perfect against his tan skin. I kind of wish I took his offer as his assistant so I could see that all day. But I need to do this on my own.
I found a few affordable colleges in the area. It may be a quick judgment to move my life here, but Aiden is right. I have nothing in Corvallis. Ashley is here. It’s not like I loved my school and, as a bonus, there are more opportunities here.
I’m also seeing someone about my nightmares. The medicine is helping and talking to someone is nice but what I really need is for Aiden to be home. His late nights are starting to take a toll on me.
I smile as I head towards him. “I thought you left while I got ready.”
He smirks, placing his warm hands on my hips.
The fabric of my dress does nothing to mask the perfect heat that radiates from his touch. I’m wearing a form fitting, navy blue dress I borrowed from Ashley a while back. I have an interview for a baker’s assistant position today and needed something that screams “hire me”. I straighten my hair for a more sleek, professional look. A little makeup and I look alive.
“I wanted to make sure you got there okay. I’m riding with you.”
I look over at my guard, standing near the door in his black suit. His salt and pepper hair lays perfectly combed on top of his head while he stares forward. He looks like the British soldiers that stand in front of the castle for hours on end and don’t laugh when people jump in front of them. I’m tempted to wave my hand in front of his face, but I refrain.
I lean in close to Aiden, and whisper, “Does he have to come?” I gesture my thumb over to the giant statue.
He smiles, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “Even if everything didn’t happen, I can’t allow you to leave the house looking like this.” His eyes leisurely take in my body. “Without some form of protection.”
I laugh. “Right.” I kiss him. “But can he follow while you drive us? I don’t want my new boss to think I’m some spoiled girl who has a driver.”
He gives me an amused look. “You’re not some spoiled girl who has a driver.” A smirk crosses his face. “You’re my spoiled girl who has a driver.”
I swat his arm. “Seriously. I don’t want them to judge me.”
He leans against the counter. “Why do you give a fuck what your
boss thinks? I should be your boss.”
I see the shimmer in his eyes and have to refrain from melting. “Be nice.”
He scoffs, stepping towards me. “I shouldn’t even allow another man to tell you what to do.”
Mint and smoke invade my senses, making me dizzy. I look to the side and take a deep breath. “The application says the owner and chef is Avery. She’s a girl.” I retort, giving him a confident look.
His body relaxes and he nods. “I’ll drive you.”
My guard follows close as we walk outside. I roll my eyes “Why don’t you have a guard?” I look pointedly between us and my guard.
Aiden shrugs. “Don’t need one.” He pulls back his black suit jacket slightly to reveal a pistol strapped to his waist.
I swat his arm and hurriedly close his jacket; afraid someone will see. “Aiden!” I shake my head. “You know, you could just do business properly and we wouldn’t need all this.” I gesture to where his pistol sits.
He kisses my forehead. “I’m trying, baby girl.”
∞∞∞
I take in the modern detail of Aiden’s Mercedes along with the middle seat that I can’t slide into and sigh. Aiden looks at me with a raised brow, but I shake my head.
Knowingly, he tilts his head and smiles. “You prefer the Challenger?”
I smile and agree.
He nods his approval, pushing a button on the dash, the sleek car quietly comes to life and we take off down the road.
I point out the directions as my guard follows in a black SUV. I’m beginning to feel guilty for complaining about having a bodyguard, but this is all so weird to me.
“I’m sorry I may be working over here and your detail has to come with me everywhere.” I frown.
He slides a warm hand on my thigh, his eyes still on the road. “No, I’m happy. I want you to live your life however you see fit. You won’t even notice he’s there.”
Aiden parks out front and opens the door for me. I climb out with his help and he plants a kiss on my cheek.
“Do you need me to come inside?”
I laugh. “Absolutely not. Get to work. I’ll ride back with British soldier guy whenever the interview’s over.”
“He’s American?” Aiden says, giving me an odd expression. I realize what I said. No time to explain, I shrug and kiss him on the lips to say goodbye before turning. He grips my arm firmly and yanks me back into his firm body, he has a serious expression.
