26. Damian

26

Istorm through the front door, clenching my jaw in fury. Invicta's attack already left me on edge, and now this news from the head of security only stokes the fire burning within me.

"Sir, there's a situation," my security chief reports with a grave expression. "Your Uncle Vincente was allowed into the house and crossed paths with Ms. Alexis. He was able to speak with her before one of the guards rushed her away."

Fuck. My blood boils at the same time my heart clenches with fear. How the fuck did this happen? I had ordered stringent security protocols specifically to prevent unauthorized access, especially where Alexis is concerned. How the hell did Uncle Vinny manage to bypass those measures?

"I thought I made it clear that Vincente Iacopelli is not to be allowed access without my express permission!" I roar, the familiar scent of a rat in the air. Someone has betrayed my trust, and I'm going to find out who.

I clench my fists, fury coursing through me. "Find the person who allowed my uncle into this house!" I roar at the head of security. "I want to see the footage where he spoke to Alexis."

The security chief nods quickly, scurrying away to retrieve the requested footage. I need to see this footage, to understand exactly what transpired between my uncle and Alexis. This is a direct threat to everything I hold dear.

Moments later, the security chief returns, cuing up the hallway footage on a nearby monitor. I step forward, eyes locked on the screen as the scene unfolds.

I watch the footage intently, my body tense as I see Vinny approach Alexis. The way he speaks, the look in his eyes—it sets off every alarm bell in my head.

"How unfortunate," Uncle Vinny says, his tone dripping with false sincerity. "I was so looking forward to getting to know you better, Maria."

The emphasis he places on her supposed name sends a chill down my spine. It's clear he doesn't believe her cover story for a second. My heart races as panic starts to set in.

Edo places a hand on my shoulder, trying to calm me. "Relax, Damian."

Nat chimes in, although she too looks a bit worried. "Alexis knows her story backward and forward. Plus, she really does look like Cousin Maria with the dyed hair. Vincente never paid much attention to Mom's side of the family, anyway."

I whirl around, glaring at them both. "Don't you see?" I hiss. "He knows. Uncle Vinny isn't buying her story for a second. This is a direct challenge. He's toying with me, with us."

"Even if he doesn't buy her story," Edo says, watching as Alexis is hurried away by a guard, "he has no reason to suspect who Alexis truly is."

Turning back to the screen, I watch as Uncle Vinny's gaze lingers on Alexis, a predatory gleam in his eyes. My fists clench at my sides, knuckles turning white.

This is exactly what I feared, why I did not want my uncle to be allowed to wander my home without my controlling every step.

"We need to get Alexis out of here. Now," I growl, already formulating a plan of action. We have other safehouses across the state, and I can stow her there until it's safe to bring her back.

I won't let Uncle Vinny lay a single finger on her, no matter what it takes. He may not know who Alexis really is, but he's suspicious, and a suspicious Vinny is never good.

Edo and Nat exchange a worried glance, clearly sensing the panic and fury radiating off me in waves. But I don't care—all that matters is keeping Alexis safe, no matter the cost.

I waste no time in seeking out Alexis, my mind racing with the implications of Uncle Vinny's visit. As I approach her in her room, I'm surprised to see Biscotti at her side, curled contentedly next to her.

"Alexis," I say, trying to keep my voice even despite the turmoil swirling within me. "We need to talk."

Her voice has a slight edge to it as she responds. "Yes, Damian, we do need to talk."

She sets Biscotti down, the dog letting out a disgruntled whine at the disruption.

"What did my uncle say to you?" I demand, my tone brooking no argument. "And why didn't you stay on the top floor like you normally do?"

Alexis's eyes flash with irritation. "I'm sorry, I thought I was allowed full range of the prison—I mean house."

"Alexis," I growl, but she ignores me.

"I'm so sick of your keeping secrets from me, Damian," she bites back. "Why didn't you bother telling me about your uncle and his connections to The Brotherhood?"

My brow furrows. How the fuck does she know that? "Who told you that?" I ask sharply.

She throws her hands up in exasperation. "That's the point I'm trying to make!" she exclaims. "I'm always on a need-to-know basis with you. But this is my life that's at stake here. I deserve to know what's going on!"

Alexis steps closer to me, her gaze unwavering. "Stop keeping me in the dark, Damian. My life depends on your being honest with me."

I stand my ground, my expression unwavering. "I understand your concerns, Alexis, but you need to trust that I'm doing what's best to keep you safe. That means staying close and letting me handle things."

Her eyes narrow as she glares at me. "That's exactly the problem, Damian! You're treating me like a child, keeping me in the dark. I'm not some fragile doll you can just lock away."

"This isn't up for debate, Alexis!" I say firmly. "My uncle is dangerous and he wants to hand you over to The Brotherhood. I can't have you wandering around where I can't protect you."

"Protect me?" Alexis scoffs. "Or control me? Because that's what this feels like. You're more concerned with maintaining your grip on the situation than actually keeping me safe."

Irritated, I open my mouth to retort, but she cuts me off. "No, Damian. I'm done with the secrets and demands. If we're going to get through this, we need to be partners, not adversaries."

My jaw clenches as I consider her words, the tension palpable in the air. Finally, I let out a long sigh, my shoulders slumping slightly. "Alright, fine. No more secrets, no more demands. We'll figure this out together."

As she stands before me, I can't help but be captivated by her beauty. The way her cheeks flush with a hint of pink, the way her ebony curls bounce as she moves her head—it all serves to stoke the heat building within me.

I find my gaze drawn to the expressive planes of her face, the way her full lips part ever so slightly as she speaks. There's a rawness to her in this moment, a vulnerability that only makes her all the more alluring.

I can feel the familiar stirrings of arousal as I drink in the sight of her. Alexis is a force to be reckoned with, her spirit and strength igniting something primal within me. The way she challenges me, refuses to back down, only serves to make her all the more captivating.

My eyes trace the curve of her neck, the slope of her shoulders. I know I should be focused on the task at hand, on the threat my uncle poses, but at this moment, all I can think about is how badly I want to pull her into my arms and lose myself in her.

The tension crackles between us, a charged energy that seems to hum in the air. I can feel the pull of it, the desire to close the distance and claim her as my own. I know I need to maintain control, to keep a level head, but Alexis makes it increasingly difficult to think about anything other than the way she makes me feel.

My cock hardens painfully, and I feel the need to touch her, to feel her beneath my hands.

The tension builds to a fever pitch as we stand facing each other, the air practically crackling with pent-up desire. My control is slipping, my gaze drawn inexorably to the curves of her body, the way her soft lips part ever so slightly.

Unable to resist any longer, I surge forward, capturing her mouth in a searing kiss. Alexis responds with equal fervor, her fingers tangling in my hair as she presses herself against me.

Somewhere in the periphery, Biscotti lets out a curious yip, but I pay the dog no mind. All that matters in this moment is the feel of Alexis's body against mine, the taste of her on my lips.

Reluctantly, I break the kiss, my breathing ragged. "We can't do this here," I murmur. "I can't have my baby girl watch me have sex, Alexis. That's just wrong."

Without another word, I scoop Biscotti up, depositing the confused dog outside the room and closing the door before pulling Alexis close once more. My mind finds hers in a hungry, desperate kiss as I back her toward the bed, intent on putting as much distance between us and the rest of the world as possible.

She melts into my embrace, her fingers deftly working the buttons of my shirt. I growl low in my throat, my hands roaming her curves as the last vestiges of my control slip away.

The rest of the world fades away as we tumble onto the bed, clothes removed, our bodies tangling together in a frenzy of touch and taste. I know I should be focused on the looming threat of Uncle Vinny, but with Alexis in my arms, all rational thought seems to slip away.

For now, there is only this—the urgent press of our naked bodies, the desperate clash of our lips. Everything else can wait. At this moment, I'm consumed by a single, all-encompassing desire to make Alexis mine, in every sense of the word.

I massage her breasts slowly as we kiss. Alexis arches and reaches a soft hand to touch me. Her grip is tender and smooth and feels so good that I'm nearly immobilized.

As I exhale with pleasure, I mount her to kiss her again. This isn't like our other moments. This is something intense that makes my heart race in a way it hasn't before.

I gaze down at her beautiful body, and Alexis smiles at me, her eyes soft as she strokes my cock nice and slow. She spreads her legs wide for me and fingers her clit twice so I can see how wet I'm making her.

Leaning forward, I set my hands beside her head. Alexis holds onto my wrists and forearms while I position myself to enter her. We both moan as I slide into her, and her grip around my wrists tightens. She bites her bottom lip as we gyrate together.

I move against her with long, controlled thrusts. God, she's so fucking beautiful. I could do this forever.

Alexis slides her hands down from my wrists to my hands, and we lock fingers. My heart is pounding and I feel reborn. Sex has never been this good, this pleasurable before.

I pick up the pace of my thrusts, kissing Alexis wildly. Every kiss of hers makes me hungrier for the next. Keeping one hand locked with hers, I guide my other hand down onto her round ass and give it a firm slap.

Alexis moans but then pushes me away, and I slide out of her. She leans up on her elbows, her breasts heaving in tune with her breaths.

I look at her questioningly, my dick throbbing as it screams to keep fucking her, to enter her wet pussy and fill her up.

She smiles at me before rotating her body, planting her face between her elbows and raising her ass into the air.

My lust for her becomes primal.

I force away any thought outside of the beautiful body I've got in front of me and how much I want her.

Grabbing hold of each of her hips, I slip my dick back inside her. We both moan as I thrust quickly, and her knees start to shake.

"Oh, Damian," she groans.

Fuck, the way she says my name almost makes me come right then and there. I put one hand over her pussy and rub rapid circles along her clit. Her toes clench and my shoulders tighten. The bed frame creaks as I pound my cock into her.

I explode in an orgasm, filling her to the brim.

Alexis's thighs fold inward, and she brings a pillow in front of her face, screaming in ecstasy. Each inhale and exhale she makes is muffled by the pillow.

Catching my breath, I run a hand through my sweaty hair and roll onto my back. I extend an arm out to Alexis for her to snuggle against, and she does so. I normally don't do this, but after everything that's happened today—from Invicta to Uncle Vinny—I want to be close to her.

We lie tangled in the sheets, our bodies still humming from the intensity of sex. I press a kiss to her hair, breathing her in.

I can't believe how much this woman has come to mean to me in such a short time. As I lie here with Alexis in my arms, I'm overwhelmed by the depth of my feelings for her.

It's terrifying, if I'm being honest.

I've never been one to open my heart, to let anyone get this close. Even Scarlett was never truly able to breach the perimeter of my heart. My world has always been about control, about power and influence.

But Alexis has a way of slipping past my carefully constructed defenses, making me feel things I never thought possible.

The way she looks at me, the way her touch ignites a fire within me—it's intoxicating. She's become an integral part of my life, my very being, in a way no one else ever has.

And the thought of losing her, of something happening to her—it fills me with a fear I can barely comprehend.

I've always prided myself on my ability to remain calm, to think clearly in even the direst of situations. But with Alexis, all of that goes out the window. She has a way of stripping me bare, of rendering me vulnerable in a way that should terrify me.

Yet, somehow, it doesn't. Because when I'm with her, when I'm wrapped up in her warmth, in her gentle caress, I feel more alive than I've ever been. She completes me in a way I never knew I needed.

"Alexis," I say softly, my fingers tracing idle patterns on her bare skin. "There's something I need to tell you."

She turns to face me, her brown eyes searching mine. "What is it?"

I swallow hard, suddenly feeling uncharacteristically vulnerable. "I… I care about you. A lot. More than I ever thought possible."

Her lips curve into a small smile, and she reaches up to gently caress my cheek. "I feel the same, Damian. You've become so important to me."

The words are on the tip of my tongue, those three little words that hold the power to change everything. But I hesitate, suddenly unsure of how she feels, of whether she's ready to hear them. I can't bear the thought of laying my heart bare, only to have it shattered.

But something else is niggling at me, and I can't help but shake the feeling that something else is weighing on Alexis's mind.

Gently, I reach out and brush a stray curl from her face, my fingers lingering on the soft contours of her cheek. "Alexis," I murmur. "Is there something else you want to say?"

Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I swear I see a flicker of something unspoken in their depths. But just as quickly, it's gone, replaced by a small, reassuring smile.

"No, it's nothing," she says, shaking her head. "I'm just… happy, that's all."

I nod, but I can't quite shake the nagging suspicion that she's holding something back. There's a guarded quality to her expression, a subtle tension in the set of her shoulders that tells me all is not as simple as she's letting on.

I want to press her, to coax the truth from her lips. But I know Alexis, and I know that forcing the issue will only serve to push her further away. She'll open up to me when she's ready, in her own time.

I just have to be patient.

The next day, my phone rings. Glancing down, I see Uncle Vinny's number flash across the screen. Tension grips me as I answer. "Uncle Vinny. What is it?"

"I was hoping you could join me for lunch at Basil and Olive today. I've got something important to discuss with you," my uncle's smooth voice crackles in my ear. "You can always bring Maria if you'd like."

I feel a chill run down my spine at my uncle's words, but I quickly reject the suggestion. "Maria is heading home after spending some quality time with family," I lie. The last thing I want is for Alexis to be anywhere near my uncle, not when I can sense danger radiating from his words.

"What a pity," Uncle Vinny purrs. "I was so looking forward to getting to know her better."

My mind races. I want to refuse, but I can't without raising suspicions. Steeling myself, I agree to a lunch at Basil and Olive, making sure to bring Nat with me as backup.

As Nat and I approach the restaurant, I can feel the weight of my concealed weapons, the reassuring heft of the guns giving me a small measure of comfort. Edo and my best guards have been tasked with keeping a close eye on Alexis in my absence. I'll be damned if my uncle gets his hands on her.

Walking through the doors of Basil and Olive, I immediately spot Uncle Vinny seated at a table, an unfamiliar woman beside him. Squaring my shoulders, I approach, Nat a silent shadow at my back.

"Ah! Damian! Natalia!" Uncle Vinny greets us, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Please meet my friend. This is Emma Carter, Alexis Hartley's foster sister."