by Rye Hart
I felt my temper explode in my chest while I tried to contain my outer demeanor. Rose was slowly rubbing her eyes and searching the bed for me, so I knew I had to make this conversation quick. The last thing I wanted her to think was that she was being followed. That she was in danger because of me.
Even though she was.
“What the hell does that mean?” I asked as I kept my Italian tongue smooth.
“It means I still haven’t paid you back for the death of my cousin, my brother, and my uncle. All the family you mowed down over the years, Camillo. You know what they say about karma.”
“Both sides have seen their fair share of blood spilled, Del Vecchio,” I said. “But no one goes after children.”
“Unfinished business has a way of… prompting desperate solutions. Just know I see you, Camillo. Know you can’t run and you sure as hell can’t hide.”
Chapter Twenty-One - Rose
I woke up to the sounds of Camillo speaking beautiful Italian in my ear, but as I collected myself, I realized he wasn’t in bed. My body ached from last night. My shoulders and my ass screamed out for mercy as a smirk donned my face.
How powerful the air had been between the two of us.
But the increasingly gruff sound of his voice ripped me from my trance. He was speaking rapidly. Forcefully. Almost as if something was wrong. I reached for the nightstand where my purse and phone had been set, no doubt by Camillo after I’d fallen asleep last night. I checked my phone, making sure nothing was wrong with my family, but when I saw no one had called, I started wondering who he was talking to.
I pulled the covers up over my body while Camillo paced the floor, his body shrouded by the darkened corners of his room, even as the sun rose steadily over the mountaintops. I scooted myself back toward the headboard, afraid of the way his voice sounded urgent and angry.
I’d never seen Camillo upset before.
He was a big man, a powerful man. The tone of his voice dropped while the volume of it rose and, soon, his body stiffened as his words shifted from Italian to English.
And what he had to say brought terrified tears to my eyes.
“I will fucking kill you. Do you understand? You touch her and I will exterminate you and your entire fucking family from the face of this planet. That is my vow to you.”
I shook as I bunched the comforter up to my face. He hung up his cellphone and threw it across the room, causing it to shatter into pieces. I yelped against the headboard.
I’d never seen him lose his cool like that before. I always saw the anger behind his eyes, but I never once imagined him being someone who would act upon it. I saw recognition behind his eyes, almost like he hadn’t even realized he’d started speaking English.
His fiery eyes connected with mine as he drew in a few deep breaths through his nose, trying to calm himself down while his hands slowly unfurled from their fists.
“Who was that?” I asked lightly.
He shook his head and turned his back to me.
Suddenly, I felt a rush of tension cascade through the air, the type of tension that signaled to me that I needed to run. I knew this man was trouble. What the hell had I been thinking?
“I want to go home now,” I said as I slid from the bed.
“Please stay,” he said.
“No,” I said as I pulled my shirt over my head. “Take me home now, before I call someone to come get me.”
His silence spoke volumes, so I grabbed my purse and my phone. I scrolled through and pulled up Cassie’s phone number. I strode through his cabin, trying to find my way out. The hallways seemed endless as I hit dead end after dead end and, just before I made it to the kitchen, I felt Camillo’s hand hook into my arm.
“Please,” he said as he whipped me around. “Just stay a little while longer.”
“You’re hiding things and that doesn’t work for me. It’s not just us anymore, Camillo. This isn’t three years ago and you’re not some mysterious, dark prince who’s swept me off my feet. I have a family to protect and take care of.”
“And I don’t?” he asked.
“For a man who tells me he does, you sure aren’t being very forthcoming with your protection.”
I wrenched my hand from his grasp and took a step back from him. He lurched forward, grasping my arms as he led me over to the kitchen table. He sat me down, pulling up a chair before he sat and put his hands on my knees.
His fingertips massaged my skin, bleeding a warmth into my muscles that I wished would just go away.
“I have enemies, Rose,” he said. “Because of the life I used to live. I’m a very rich and very influential man and I thought my riches could hide me. But I’m realizing I was wrong about that.”
“The car you chased after yesterday,” I said.
He nodded.
I turned my eyes away from him as tears rose to them. I didn’t want him to see my weakness. I didn’t want him to see my fear. I didn’t want him to see the pain in my eyes as the fantasy I’d quickly built for myself came crashing down.
There was no way we could be together. Ever.
“They know about Ana,” he said.
“Excuse me?” I asked. “Who knows about Ana?”
“A rival family. One that’s chased after us for decades. That phone call was them, trying to use that knowledge against me. To try and draw me out.”
Nope. No, no, no. This had gone far enough. Now, he was talking about people threatening my daughter and I wasn’t going to stand for this.
Not one bit.
“Take me home. Now.”
“Rose, just listen.”
“I need to know they’re safe!” I shrieked.
I stood up from the chair and backed away from him. His eyes connected hard with me, his body slowly standing tall while the shadows of his home played off his burly features. His icy blue eyes and that beard that had tickled my skin all night. Those beautiful lips I’d probably never kiss again and those rough hands that pinned me down for his own taking.
How stupid I had been to think this could work.
“Let me grab my keys,” he said.
We got into his truck and sped back to my house. The roads were icy, and the snow was still coming down, but not once did Camillo let up. My head was swirling with a million thoughts as I tried calling Cassie again. Had someone come to the house? Did someone have my family? Why the hell was she not picking up her phone!?
“I’m so sorry, Rose,” Camillo said. “I’m sorry I got you tangled up in all this.”
“Tell that to Ana,” I said flatly.
All I wanted to do was get home and make sure Ana was okay. He didn’t even get the truck stopped in the driveway before I barreled into the house. I ran up the stairs, taking them two by two while my purse and my phone tumbled down the stairs.
The moment I skidded into Ana’s room and saw her sleeping soundly was the moment I collapsed into a fit of despair and sobbed.
Suddenly, I felt my body being lifted. I felt something strong and warm against my skin as I was carried out of my daughter’s room. I was being settled into my bed, my body being covered before a warm pair of lips descended onto my throbbing temple.
“Let me go check on everyone else,” Camillo said.
I cried while he checked on the rest of the family. Everyone was sound asleep, the boys in Kevin’s room and the nanny sleeping in Cassie’s. I curled into my pillow and soaked it with my tears. Tears of sorrow and anguish and fear. Tears of embarrassment and anger and weakness. How I lost myself in him again, I had no idea. But I knew I couldn’t do it again.
I couldn’t allow him to bring this sort of danger into our lives.
“Talk to me,” Camillo said as he sat down next to me. “Say something.”
“I can’t take living in fear like this,” I said.
“I will protect you,” he said. “All of you. Your family is my family now and no one is going to get away with hurting any of you.”
“You can’t guarant
ee that, Camillo,” I said. “You’re just one man.”
“No one would dare cross me,” he said as his voice darkened.
“I don’t know what to believe anymore,” I said, sighing.
I felt his arms yank me upright before he pulled me into his body. I could feel him trembling, his own fear taking over, even as he tried to comfort me. I tried pushing away from him. I tried getting away from the beautiful comfort I felt in the arms of this dangerous man. But the more I fought, the tighter he clung and, soon, I felt the whole of me giving way to him as my tears soaked his shirt.
“I will keep you safe,” he said as he pressed a kiss into my head. “That is my vow to you. I will keep you all safe.”
Chapter Twenty-Two - Camillo
I hated involving her in my bullshit. I was a fool to think I could leave my old life and expect it not to follow me here. And, now, I’d put the only family I had in my life at risk. My own flesh and blood. My beautiful, thriving daughter. My innocent songbird who’d stolen my heart and captured my soul from the moment she first popped up onto my camera.
All of it at risk because of my idiocy.
I had to make things right. I had to make sure my family was safe. So long as the Del Vecchio family knew they were here, they would never stop. They would never be safe.
“You’re coming with me,” I said as I got up from Rose’s bed. “Get packing.”
“Excuse me?” she asked.
“I have a private place where you and Ana can stay. You’re coming with me.”
“Not on your life,” she said.
I turned toward her and I could see the wildfire blazing behind her eyes. I could see how confused she was and I realized how absolutely insane I was for ordering her to run away with me. She had a life. A job. A roommate and a brother to take care of.
“Fine,” I said. “They can all come, too. Get them all up. We’re leaving in an hour.”
“We’re going nowhere,” she said. “I’m not going anywhere with you and that’s the end of that.”
“You’ll do as I say,” I said, my voice lowering to command her attention.
“That shit only works in bed and you know it.”
I tried to pull her into my arms, to get her to understand that this was for the best but she fought me. She clawed at my arms and wiggled away from my grasp, tumbling off the side of the bed before she hopped onto her feet. She grabbed the small lamp on her nightstand and held it above her head, ready to attack me if I came after her again.
“I can’t just uproot my life and leave my house,” she said, trembling. “I can’t just leave my job and risk my only source of income because you’re the one that made a mistake.”
“But you can’t stay here,” I said. “Not any longer. They know you’re here.”
“And whose fault is that?”
“I can’t risk you being in danger. I have to handle the men that have threatened my family and I will. But you aren’t safe here. I can get you safe. All of you. But you have to come with me.”
“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 leav
e 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.
