41. Luxtyn

41

LUXTYN

I 'm woken up to light circles being drawn on my back, the sensation sending a tingle straight up my spine. "Mmm, is it already morning?" I've lost all sense of time now that my sleep schedule is thrown off.

Teo grumbles out a small laugh. "It's 9:00 p.m. You've only been asleep for an hour or so."

I pull back and look at him, but not before placing a sweet kiss on his lips. The short hairs on his chin tickle mine as I pull away. "Weren't you sleeping too?"

"I was, but only for about twenty minutes. Naps aren't usually in my schedule, so my body doesn't care to have them. I'm surprised I even fell asleep in the first place."

"It's because you're just so comfortable around me, you can't help but relax and fall asleep in my arms," I say playfully.

"I think you're right about that," he mumbles as he takes my face in his hand and lowers his mouth to mine. His kiss is sweet and lingers on my lips after he pulls away. With my leg wrapped around his waist, I'm able to feel his cock stir at my bare entrance .

"You have no idea how badly I want to sink back into you," he murmurs as he brings his hand between us. I gasp as he cups me. He made me so sore last night fucking me raw, I'm pretty sure I'd cry out in pain if he slid into me right now. But I also want him so badly that the tears might be worth it.

"This pussy is mine," he says, not making a move to enter me with his fingers or is dick. He continues holding me, and the heat emanating off him feels so damn good. "And I love that you're reminded of that anytime you walk or sit."

His words should probably have me smacking him on his chest, but I can't help but be turned on by them. The pleasure I feel at belonging to him supersedes any pain I could ever feel. Knowing what I know now, I still wouldn't change a damn thing he did to me last night. I could walk stupid for the next week, and I wouldn't care.

My phone dings with a message, which causes me to jump because only two people have my number, and since I'm no longer an employee at Snide's Dive Bar, that could only mean. . .

My widened eyes find Teo's immediately. Pulling his hand out from between us, he sits up, helping me do the same. I grab my phone off the ottoman and close my eyes as I take a deep breath before looking at it.

A text notification from my mom has my heart sinking. My hands are shaking, and I can't seem to process what I need to do next, as my mind is racing a million miles a minute at what the message could be. My phone goes off again, indicating another text has come through, but I find myself in a frozen state. One I can't seem to get myself out of.

I stare at my phone as I grip it in my hands for I don't know how long before Teo slides his hand over mine, giving it a light squeeze. "Here, let me help," he says. The warmth in his eyes is the only thing that brings me back to reality .

My mom.

I shake my head. "No, it's okay. I-I got it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure. I just. . . panicked there for a second. I don't know what to expect when I unlock my phone, and to be honest, I'm scared. I'm scared of the unexpected."

Teo sitting so close, his leg rubbed up against mine, gives the physical support I need, and the softness in his eyes gives me the emotional support. I know that whatever is in these messages I'll get through with him next to me.

Unlocking my phone, I tap on my mom's name to bring up our message thread. My heart drops immediately as I choke out a gasp.

"Oh my gosh."

"Lux . . ." I hear Teo's concerned voice next to me, but I don't respond as I stare at the picture of my mom with her hands tied behind her back and duct tape over her mouth with a newspaper propped up against her. A bruise has formed on her cheek right under her eye, and a wave of nausea crashes into me as I read an address and time that was sent with the picture.

Another picture comes through and it's the same picture, except this time zoomed in to where the newspaper is, showing today's date before another message pops up.

She's alive now, but she won't be unless you show up tomorrow night.

My eyes sting as tears form, and I nearly drop my phone, but Teo grasps it before I do, taking it from me.

He wraps his arm around my body and places a hand on my leg. "It's going to be okay, Lux. But you need to take a deep breath," he says, trying to calm the intense breathing I hadn't even realized took over my body. His tone comes off soft but commanding. As if he's taking charge of the situation but giving me the support I need to figure this out all at once.

Teo peers over the screen with a hardened look. "Giuseppe Silvestri," he mutters.

"What?" I ask, whipping my gaze over to him.

"The address that was sent is one of Giuseppe Silvestri's newest warehouses. I know exactly where it is."

"Giuseppe Silvestri. That's who we assumed did this, right?"

"Yes," he answers, still staring at my phone as if he doesn't believe it. He rises from the couch and pulls on his boxers and pants before pulling his phone out of his pocket. "I'm going to call Enzo over."

Teo paces back and forth while on the phone with his brother. There's something unsettling about his reaction to this. He's normally so collected that nothing could throw him off kilter.

I try to pay attention to what Teo is saying to his brother, but all I can think about is that picture of my mom. Dropping my head between my legs, I take a few deep breaths before letting them out, trying to slow my racing heart and keep the tears at bay. But it does no good as a sob breaks free from my lips and I begin to shake uncontrollably.

All of my emotions hit me at once, causing me to break down as if I'm finally coming to terms with what's happened to my mom and the absolute helplessness I feel from it.