Chapter 17

Adrenaline rolled through my chest as my feet pounded on the pavement, giving me that exertion ache in my calves I craved so much.

I loved this feeling. The steady pulse of my heart beating against my ribs, while the cool morning breeze brushed over my skin. It was freeing and satisfying. But not quite as satisfying as torturing Novalee Ford. Watching her eyes fill with hate while she squirmed underneath me was quickly becoming one of my favorite past times.

Her frustration was addictive. I couldn't keep my hands off her. Her pretty little pussy was personal play thing until well past midnight. She was pissed when I finally rolled over and went to sleep.

I didn't know someone so small could growl that loud. If her hands weren't bound, I probably wouldn't have woken up the next morning. But I did. That was the disturbing part.

Not once did I wake up covered in a cold sweat from the horrors that haunted my mind. I slept through the night. I had a restful sleep. I never did that. I didn't even know the meaning of restful. My dreams were broken images of the past. There was no peace when I closed my eyes. Just death and blood.

Until last night, when Nova was lying beside me.

I rounded the cypress trees at the end of the driveway and jogged up to the house.

All morning I'd been trying to outrun the warmth of her body curled up next to mine. I pushed past my five-mile limit, yet the soft scent of her fruity shampoo was still there. Following every step. No matter how hard I ran, I couldn't escape the sweet flavor of her ecstasy lingering in the back of my throat.

Leaning my shoulder against one of the pillars by the front door, I took a second to catch my breath. I couldn't bring myself to go inside. She was in there. Sleeping in my room.

She should've been in Atlas's old room, but for some reason, I took her to mine. Instead of going left, I turned right. And I had no idea why? I didn't know last night, and I didn't know now.

This wasn't how things were supposed to go. There was time. I could still break her in Atlas's room. Yet every time I thought about moving her, she'd give me a sneer or open her big fucking mouth, and I couldn't do it.

It was almost like I wanted to be around her or something? No, that couldn't be it. I just wanted to punish her. That was it. And that was easier to do when she was right there.

It wasn't like I wanted to keep her or anything. I just wanted to play with her. Novalee was nothing more than a means to an end. A fun little toy I could discard when I was done. Right?

My mind went back to the look on her face when I held up my knife. Complete and utter terror. I loved that shit. Fear was an aphrodisiac for someone like me. But the way Gio looked carved into her perfect skin…

I got hard just thinking about it. I branded her and I wanted to do it again. I wanted to put my name on every inch of her sweet body. May be I did want to keep her?

Fuck.

"Good morning, Gio."

Are you fucking kidding me?

Sighing, I turned my attention to the blonde waltzing around the side of the house. "Carissa, what are you doing here?"

Typically she didn't get out of bed until at least noon.

"I don't know." She twirled her hand dismissively. "There's a meeting or something I guess."

That would explain why Dominic Barone and Antonio Fiore's cars were parked in the driveway. If I hadn't been so lost in my own head, I might've thought more about it.

"That doesn't explain why you're here."

"Can't a wife spend time with her husband?"

I snorted at the innocent sparkle in her eye.

"No." Not when the wife was her. And certainly not when she was wearing a dress like that.

My gaze slid down the side of the red silk material hugging her hip. There wasn't much left to the imagination. The cut in her neckline dipped down so low that the side of her breasts were on full display. The only thing that was covered were her nipples. Not that I was complaining.

"Do you like it?" Carissa slid her palm over her hip. "It's new."

"It's not really something you wear to a meeting?"

She did look good though, I'd give her that.

Unlike some girls, Carissa always took the time to make herself up. She would never leave the house without her hair styled and makeup on. Even after I fucked the shit out of her, she'd disappear into the bathroom and fix herself up again. It was kind of flattering. Like she wanted to look her best for me.

"Dom likes it."

I bet he did.

"He fucked me on the way here."

That made me snicker. "No he didn't."

Dominic Barone was as vanilla as they came. I'd watched him fuck his wife more times than I'd fucked. Carissa got some sort of sick thrill out of being watched. It was kind of hot in a depraved way, but I preferred to be the one putting on the show.

Her shoulder lifted in a casual shrug. "Can't blame a girl for fantasying. Life can be so boring."

"And you thought you thought you'd find some entertainment here?"

"Maybe?"

She was baiting me. The fluttered her lashes told me that. Part of me was tempted to give her what she wanted. Carissa understood me in a way that no one else could. And she wasn't a Ford.

Carissa stepped up to me and ran her hand down my arm. "I bet you could think of something entertaining to do."

Oh, I had a few ideas. But she was Darry's mom. I already had a hard time looking at him.

"Won't Dom be looking for you?"

"They're in the middle of negotiations."

That meant he's be busy for a couple of hours. My father wasn't an easy man to negotiate anything with.

"You don't want to leave here all alone." Carissa purred while sweeping her hand over my chest. "We don't have to do anything. We could just talk."

I brushed her hand off me and crossed my arms. "Go read a book if you're bored."

Her lips pursed out in a pout. "There was a time when you used to like talking to me."

That was true. There was a time when I told her everything. When Atlas died, she was the one person who made me feel better. The only one who understood. At least that's what I thought.

‘I'm sorry about your brother.'

It wasn't what Nova said that bothered me. It was that she meant it. She wasn't playing a game. Or trying to push my buttons. Nova felt my pain. I hated her for that.

"Is something on your mind?"

"No." I lied.

Carissa let out a sigh. "Gio, I know when something is bothering you."

I couldn't argue that. I'd told her things that I would never tell anyone. But this… my confusion about Nova… that was mine. I didn't want to share it with her.

Her bright eyes narrowed as she straightened up. "It's that girl isn't it?"

"That girl is none of your business."

"I can't believe your father's making you marry her. It's absurd."

"It won't get that far."

Nova would fuck up sooner or later, then I could end her. I could snap her neck and move on with my life. There was only one problem with that plan… I didn't know if I could do it.

"It shouldn't have been suggested, Gio. That girl's brother took something from you." Carissa sneered. "And now your father is making you marry her. How is that right?"

It wasn't, but one could argue it was kind of my idea. Yes, it started as a job. And I figured out how to solve it without death and bloodshed like my father wanted. I just didn't expect this.

"Why are you listening to him? Has he ever shown any interest in you?"

"Carissa," I sighed and scrubbed a hand down my face. "This is just how things work."

"I was there after Atlas. I saw you went through. And now your father is making you relive it."

She had a point. Carissa was there through all the tears and where was my father? Where was he after my mother? When did he ever take an interest in me? I was his son too, not that he ever acted like it.

He didn't see me. If he took one look at me, he'd see I was just as good as my brothers. I was the son of the don, a Mancini, and just as capable of leading as Romeo. One day, I'd prove that to him.

"I'm just worried about you, Gio."

When she lifted her hand, I grabbed her wrist before she could touch me.

"Don't be. I don't need your pity. I'm son of the don, and you're just a bored wife that no one wants to use anymore."

"I don't know what's more sad. The fact that you want her," she yanked her wrist out of my grasp and sneered up at me. "Or that you can't admit it."

"Fuck off." I snarled and reached out to open the door.

Her next words made me stop cold.

"Atlas is rolling in his grave, right now."

"What the fuck did you just say?" My hand was around her neck before I could think about what I was doing. "You don't know the first thing about my brother!"

Her light eyes rolled up to mine. "I know he wouldn't want you to be with her."

"Shut up." I growled and slammed back against the wall.

"That's it, Gio. Take your anger out on me." She grabbed my other hand and pushed it up under her dress to sweet spot between her thighs.

The warmth of her bare pussy enveloped my palm in a comforting familiarity.

"This is what you need." She pushed my finger between her slick folds. "Not that girl."

Was she right? God damnit everything was fucked up. I missed the days when enemies were enemies and I didn't get jealous over a fucking shower head. Carissa was the only thing that was the same. Maybe she was the answer too?

If I fucked someone else maybe, I'd stop craving someone I had no business craving? Maybe I could get Novalee Ford out of my mind?

"Enjoy your run, Little Brother?"

We both turned to see Romeo standing at the end of the wrap around porch.

Carissa frantically pulled my hand away from her cunt, as if Romeo hadn't already seen what was going on.

Grumbling under my breath, I released her neck and took a step back. "It was fine."

"I can see that." Romeo lit up a cigarette and leaned against the side of the house.

Carissa shot me a look then quickly smoothed down the skirt of her dress. "Gio and I were just talking."

I rolled my eyes. That was the best she could come up with?

"Uh huh." Romeo blew out a cloud of smoke. "Must've been an engaging conversation."

We both knew what he meant. Carissa was an idiot if she thought he didn't know what was going on. While I was thankful for the interruption, I tired of Romeo sticking his nose in my business. What right did he have to suddenly play the brother role?

He looked at her, she looked at me, and I just wanted them both to leave.

After a few seconds, Carissa cleared her throat. "I should go and find my husband."

"You do that." Romeo said. "Oh and Carissa," he called out when she turned to leave. "If you come near my brother again, my father will be the least of your worries."

Carissa remained quiet, but I noticed the stutter in her step when she walked away.

I watched her leave then turned to glare at my brother. "I don't need your help."

"Is that why you had your fingers in her cunt?"

"What I do with my fingers is none of your business."

"It is when it Carissa Barone is involved. She's bad news Little Brother."

So he kept saying. Romeo was such a hypocrite.

"You had no problem going down that road."

"I fucked her twice." His brow arched. "How many times did you fuck her?"

A lot more than twice.

I forced down the lump of guilt rising in my throat. If Romeo hadn't shown up, then I might've fucked her again. And why? So I could prove a point. Was my desire really that wrong?

"What would you have done if Dom walked out here instead of me?"

"I'd have told him to fuck his wife better." If Carissa was satisfied then she wouldn't go looking elsewhere.

"Is that what you'll tell Darry? That his father should've fucked his mother better?"

I grit my teeth against the ache rising in my chest. "Darry will never find out."

"Yes he will." Romeo let out a breath and flicked the ash off his cigarette. "You'll tell him."

"Why the fuck would I do that?"

"You're a lot of things Little Brother, a liar isn't one of them."

The past four years would argue with that statement.

"You might be surprised how he takes the news." Romeo said, making me shake my head.

He didn't know anything. Darry would hate me if he ever found out. I would. Either way, this was not a conversation I was going to have with him.

"Shouldn't you be getting back to your meeting?" Romeo was the underboss after all. "Or is that something else that doesn't concern me?"

It wasn't as if I was ever included in family business. Mob or otherwise.

"Actually, it did concern you. It was about your omtreá."

What?

My eyes snapped over to my brother as he lifted his chin and exhaled a stream of smoke. "He's actually letting me take it?"

"Of course he is. You're his son."

He sure didn't act like it.

Sighing, I looked back up at the window on the second floor. "I'm going to have to marry her, aren't I?"

"Yes."

One thing I knew about my father was that he never did anything without having a reason. So, why did he add marriage to the agreement? What was he up to?

"This is about more than keeping her sister quiet?"

That much I knew.

Romeo's lack of response was all the answer I needed.

"I don't suppose you'd fill me in?"

"You'll know when you need to."

My eyes rolled. Not sure why I expected anything else.

"Besides, I think you have other things to worry about."

I snorted. "Like what?"

"Like the cute dress your fiancé was wearing when she left thirty minutes ago."

What!

"What the fuck do you mean, she left?"

I looked around and noticed her truck was gone.

Romeo shrugged and tossed his cigarette. "She said she had to go to work."

"And you just let her go?"

What the fuck was the point in having a house full of armed men if people could just leave?

"Don't worry, I sent Tony with her."

Motherfucker.

Romeo let her go off in that goddamn dinner dress with fucking Tony. That asshole was going to be all over her.

I ran into the house to take the world's quickest shower before going to the diner to beat Nova's ass.