Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

V incenzo

Gently, I gathered Jenna in my arms and carried her into the bathroom. I'd been extremely rough with her, but she'd needed me to be. She might have been a bad girl, but that didn't mean I didn't want her, or that I didn't love her.

The total opposite, in fact.

She was so very special to me and that meant that I would be there to love her, punish her, and take care of her however she needed, whenever she needed.

The fact that she trusted me enough to allow me to punish her the way she needed made my heart swell.

I loved this woman, truly, madly, and deeply, and I didn't care what the world would think. We belonged to each other, and I would burn the world to ash to make sure she was taken care of.

She was mine, and I would keep her forever.

Her body was warm and soft against mine, and she relaxed in my arms, her breath coming in soft puffs against the hollow of my neck. With every step, I felt closer to her, and I hoped that she did too.

"Come on," I said gently, placing her down on her feet in front of me when we reached the bathroom. "Let's get you cleaned up."

I kept my hands on her, keeping her steady as I turned on the tap for the tub, adjusting the temperature until it was just right. The water quickly warmed, filling the room with steam. I glanced at Jenna, who watched me with wide, trusting eyes.

"Climb in," I instructed softly. She hesitated for a moment before stepping into the warm bath. I offered her a steadying hand and she took it.

I grabbed a washcloth and some soap, kneeling beside the tub.

"Lean back and relax, Jenna. Let me take care of you."

As she settled into the water, I gently began to wash her, my movements tender and careful. I started with her shoulders, working my way down her arms, then moved to her back, massaging away the tension with each stroke. She sighed, her eyes closing as she leaned into my touch.

"You're safe with me," I murmured, kissing her forehead. "I promise."

I continued to bathe her, my hands gliding over her soft skin, caressing her with all the love and care I could muster. I wanted her to know that she was cherished, that despite the roughness of her punishment, I would always be there to pick up the pieces and soothe her.

When I finished, I gently rinsed her off and helped her out of the tub. Wrapping her in a plush towel, I dried her off, taking my time to ensure she felt every bit of my affection. Once she was dry, I scooped her up in my arms and carried her back into the bedroom.

She snuggled against my chest, her body relaxing in my embrace. I laid her down on the bed, tucking her in under the covers.

I climbed in beside her, pulling her close. She rested her head on my chest, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on my skin.

"Thank you, Vincenzo," she whispered, her voice heavy with emotion.

"You don't need to thank me," I replied, kissing the top of her head. "I'm here for you, always."

And I meant every word.

A few days later

I'd put Jenna to bed a short time ago after wearing her out with my tongue for a good long while. She was asleep now, her breathing steady and calm beside me. I watched her for a few moments, feeling a mix of protectiveness and love for her, but there was something else too.

I couldn't shake the nagging anxiety that gnawed at the back of my mind.

Carlo Ricci was still out there.

I slipped out of bed quietly, careful not to wake her, and pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I needed to clear my head, and the best way to do that was to ensure the property was secure and that my Jenna was safe.

I found Tony in my office, seated at my desk with a cup of coffee, his eyes scanning the security monitors. He looked up as I entered, his expression a mix of alertness and concern.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, setting his cup down.

I shook my head. "Too much on my mind. Let's patrol the property. I need to get a feel for the place and make sure everything's secure."

Tony nodded, putting down his coffee, standing up and stretching his arms high over his head.

"That sounds like a solid plan. Let's go," he said, his voice all business.

We stepped outside, the silence enveloping the cool night air. Tony fell into step beside me, his presence a comfort despite the anxiety gnawing at me that night.

As we walked the perimeter, I couldn't help but voice my concerns.

"This whole situation with Ricci… I'm afraid it's going to get worse if I don't do something about it," I admitted out loud, and Tony nodded once before he replied.

"Ricci's desperate. He knows you're a threat, and he's trying to destabilize you. But he's making mistakes. The break-in was too obvious. He's getting sloppy."

"Still, it's a mess," I said, frustration evident in my tone. "I have to keep Jenna safe, but I also need to figure out what his endgame is. He's not just going to want me behind bars after I take the fall for him. He's going to want me dead so I can't speak against him ever again."

Tony nodded, his eyes scanning the darkened landscape. "We'll figure it out. But right now, our priority is security. Once we're sure the place is locked down tight, we can focus on what to do next about Ricci."

We continued our patrol, checking every corner and shadow. The night was eerily quiet, but my nerves were on high alert. As we approached the edge of the property, something caught my eye.

"Did you see that?" I whispered, pointing toward a shadowy figure skulking along the fence line.

Tony followed my gaze, his body tensing. "Yeah, I see it. Stay close."

We moved cautiously, keeping to the shadows as we approached the intruder. The figure was dressed in dark clothing, blending into the night, but the way they moved through my property was deliberate and practiced, like they had some sort of training, be it military or private.

This wasn't a random trespasser. This was someone important.

As we got closer, Tony motioned for me to hang back. He crept forward, silent as a shadow, his Navy SEAL training evident in the way he slunk through the yard. I watched, my heart pounding, as Tony closed the distance. I followed, but I kept my distance. For now.

Just as Tony was about to grab the intruder, the figure spun around, throwing a punch that caught Tony off guard. The two of them crashed to the ground, and I sprinted in their direction.

The trespasser was surprisingly strong and agile, landing several blows before Tony managed to get a solid grip on him.

They grappled in the dirt, a flurry of punches and kicks. The fight was intense, the sounds of grunts and impacts filling the night air.

The intruder managed to break free, pulling a knife from his belt and slashing at Tony. Tony dodged the blade, countering with a swift kick to the man's chest that sent him sprawling to the ground.

The trespasser managed to get up, scrambling to his feet and lunging at Tony again.

Tony caught the man's wrist, twisting it until the knife clattered to the ground. With a powerful punch, he sent him reeling, then followed up with a knee to the stomach. The man doubled over, gasping for breath, but still tried to fight back even though he had clearly lost the fight.

With a final, decisive move, Tony pinned the intruder to the ground, his knee pressing into his back.

"Stay down!" he growled, his voice filled with authority.

The intruder struggled for a moment longer before going still. Tony kept him pinned, glancing up at me just as I reached them.

"We need to find out who sent this guy," he said, breathing heavily.

I nodded, adrenaline still coursing through my veins. I fisted my hands at my sides and glared down at the man pinned on the ground.

"Let's get him inside. We need answers. Now."

Tony hauled the intruder to his feet, keeping a tight grip on him as we made our way back to the house.

This man was going to talk, whether he wanted to or not. Tony and I would make sure of it.

We reached the basement and tied the intruder to a sturdy chair in the center of the room. I stepped forward, leaning in close and getting my first good look at the culprit's face.

The man had a lean, wiry build. His dark hair was just long enough to reach his shoulders. His face had a youthful appearance, and I guessed he was no more than twenty-five. Despite the dire situation, a smirk played on his lips, as if daring us to break his silence.

Fucking cocky bastard.

"Who sent you?" I demanded, my voice low and dangerous.

The intruder sneered, refusing to answer. Tony didn't hesitate for even a second; he delivered a sharp punch to the man's gut, causing him to gasp for breath.

"Answer him," Tony growled, his eyes blazing with intensity.

The man spat blood onto the floor, his defiance still clear. We were going to have to step it up a notch if we wanted answers.

"I'm not telling you anything," he replied curtly.

I felt a surge of frustration and anger, but I kept my cool, instead reacting with the kind of smooth calmness that had terrified many men in the past when I was back in the mob.

"You will talk," I said, pulling a knife from my pocket and flicking it open. "Or I'll gut you like a fish, filet you open, and pull out your guts inch by inch until you scream for mercy and tell me what I want to hear anyway."

The man's eyes widened slightly, but he still said nothing. Tony grabbed his hair, yanking his head back, and delivered another brutal punch to his face. Blood spattered, and the man groaned in pain.

"Who sent you?" I repeated, my patience wearing thin.

The intruder laughed weakly, blood dripping from his nose down to his mouth.

"You think I'm scared of you?" he spat, his voice starting to waver just a little bit.

We were finally getting somewhere.

Good .

I pressed the knife to his throat, feeling the tension in his body. His breath caught and I smirked, knowing it was only a matter of time.

"You should be," I hissed. "Talk, or this will get a lot worse."

He struggled against the bindings, but Tony held him firmly.

"You don't scare me," the intruder said, his voice shaking slightly.

Tony smirked, delivering another punch to the man's ribs. Honestly, he probably should have hit him a little harder.

I would have.

"Maybe not, but pain has a way of loosening tongues," Tony grinned. He was enjoying this. That much was clear.

The man gasped, his defiance finally beginning to waver. I could see the fear creeping into his eyes. I leaned in closer, the knife still pressed against his skin.

"Last chance. Who sent you?" I snarled while Tony gripped his long hair in his fingers. The man grimaced and I pressed the blade against his throat just hard enough to draw a single drop of blood.

There was a moment of silence, the only sound the man's labored breathing. Finally, he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Ricci. It was Ricci."

"Why were you sent here?" I demanded.

The intruder hesitated, and Tony twisted his hair harder, eliciting a cry of pain from the man. I cocked my head and stared into his eyes.

Eyes were always so expressive.

The man's brown eyes, once defiant and calculating, now flickered with raw fear. His pupils dilated, the whites of his eyes stark against the darkness. Sweat beaded on his brow, his breath coming in shallow, rapid gasps. He was terrified.

I'd missed this.

"Tell him!" Tony demanded.

"I was supposed to plant evidence," the man said, his voice breaking. "To frame you. Make it look like you were running guns to North Korea."

I glanced at Tony, our suspicions confirmed. "And your name?" I demanded.

The intruder looked up at me, defeat in his eyes. "Luca Moretti," he said. "But most people know me as the Phantom."

"What kind of evidence were you going to plant?" I demanded, my voice cold and unyielding.

Luca swallowed hard, his gaze darting nervously between Tony and me.

"Ricci wanted it to look like you were involved in arms trafficking," he admitted, his voice shaky. "We were going to plant documents, forged contracts, and manifests showing shipments of weapons. There were also going to be photos of supposed deals with North Korean operatives."

I clenched my fists, rage boiling inside me. "And where were you going to plant this evidence?"

"In your office, your restaurant, and your home," Luca continued, the words spilling out in a rush. "We had a whole plan. We were going to make it look like you were the mastermind behind an international arms trafficking ring. The evidence would have been undeniable. Ricci made sure it was enough to put you away for life."

Tony's grip tightened, and he delivered another punch to Luca's gut, causing him to double over in pain.

Luca gasped for breath, his fear now fully evident. "Please," he begged. "I was just following orders. Ricci threatened my family. I didn't have a choice."

"You always have a choice," I said coldly, stepping closer.

Luca's eyes filled with desperation.

"I'll do anything," he pleaded. "Just don't kill me. I can help you. I know things about Ricci's operations, things that could bring him down."

I exchanged a glance with Tony, considering Luca's offer. "Talk," I said finally. "And make it good."

Luca nodded frantically, the fear in his eyes mingling with a glimmer of hope.

"Ricci's been expanding his operations," he began. "He's got ties to corrupt officials in several countries, and he's been using them to smuggle weapons and drugs. He's planning something big, something that could shift the balance of power in his favor. But I know where he keeps his records, his safehouses, his most trusted men. I can give you everything you need to take him down."

I stared at him, weighing the sincerity of his words. "If you're lying, you'll wish Tony had killed you tonight," I warned.

"I'm not lying," Luca insisted. "I'll prove it. Just give me a chance."

I nodded slowly. "Fine. We'll see if you're telling the truth. But know this, Luca—you betray me and there will be no mercy."

Tony released his grip slightly, allowing Luca to breathe more easily.

"We'll keep him under watch," Tony said, his voice hard. "And if he tries anything, we'll deal with him."

"Wait, there's something else," Luca said softly.

"What is it?" I demanded.

Luca licked his lips nervously, glancing between Tony and me.

"Ricci… he's not just framing you for the arms dealing. He's actually started dabbling in it himself. He's been making deals with North Korean operatives himself and moving large shipments of weapons through his network."

My eyes narrowed. "Why would he do that? He's already got a tight grip on his current operations. Why risk expanding into something so dangerous?"

"Power," Luca replied, his voice trembling. "And leverage. The deals with North Korea give him access to advanced weaponry and technology. It's not just about money; it's about having the upper hand over his rivals and securing his position at the top."

Tony tightened his grip on Luca's shoulder, but he let him speak. Luca took a deep breath and continued.

"Ricci's working with the FBI. He's feeding them information, but it's all part of his plan to set you up. He's making them believe that you're the bigger fish, that you're the one running the arms deals when it's really him all along. They think they're getting a major criminal, but in reality, Ricci is using them to take you down while he consolidates his own power," he continued.

I felt a chill run down my spine.

"He's playing both sides," I muttered. "He's using the FBI to eliminate me as a threat while expanding his own empire."

Luca nodded frantically. "Exactly. Ricci's smart—he knows how to manipulate the system. By the time the FBI realizes they've been duped, he'll have already solidified his position and removed you from the picture."

I exchanged a grim look with Tony.

"Why tell us this now?" I asked, suspicion creeping into my voice. "What's in it for you?"

Luca's eyes widened with fear and desperation. I would have felt bad for him, but with my daughter and Jenna at risk, I didn't.

"I just want to keep my family safe," he pleaded. "If Ricci finds out I've betrayed him, they're dead. But if I help you take him down, maybe you can protect them. Please, I don't have any other options."

I stared at him, weighing his words, and trying to decide whether or not to trust him. It was a risky gamble, but Luca's information was invaluable. If we could use it to turn the tables on Ricci, we might have a chance to end this once and for all.

"Alright," I said finally. "You give us everything you know about Ricci's operations, his deals with North Korea, and his contacts within the FBI. In return, we'll do our best to protect your family. But if you betray us, you won't get another chance."

Luca nodded fervently, relief washing over his features. "I'll give you everything. Just please, protect them."

Tony released his grip on Luca, but remained close, ready to act at a moment's notice.

"Start talking," he said, his voice hard.