Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

N ico

“I know it’s very late, Ms. Carter, but I know Alexandra will very much appreciate the effort you’ve gone to in order to allow her to finish her stellar year.”

Likely the only reason the Georgetown administrator had called me was that I’d left her three messages. She knew I wasn’t going anywhere.

“Anything for a family providing such a generous donation. I assure you the money will come into tremendous good use.”

When she started to tell me how, I gritted my teeth. “I trust you’ll use the money wisely, Ms. Carter. When can I anticipate receiving a link for the exams?” I drove into the estate, waving at one of my soldiers. I’d already contacted the security person I trusted and who’d installed my limited system. He was set to arrive in the morning. Just in time.

I doubted the bastards from America would figure anything quickly, but I wasn’t into wasting additional time.

“I’ll provide the link tomorrow afternoon after talking with her professors.”

“And she’ll have a few days to complete them?” I figured the woman would hesitate. What I was asking was more than just out of the ordinary. However, I used my heavy authoritative voice, the one most people knew better than to ignore.

“Why… Yes. Yes, of course.”

Good girl.

“Excellent. I appreciate your help, Ms. Carter, and please have an incredible rest of your night.”

“I will. Please share with Alexandra my condolences for the loss of her father.” I pulled into the garage, glad to be home. I wasn’t necessarily a homebody, but right now, it felt good.

“I will.” Perhaps it was blasphemous to tell such a white lie, but usually deaths in the family brought more sympathy than if I’d shared with her that her prized student was running from some dangerous men and a horrific crime.

I hung up and took a deep breath before exiting the vehicle. It had taken longer for our meeting than I’d wanted. Plus, there’d been unusual traffic that had held me up as well. At least there was still some sun in the sky. I wasn’t entirely certain what to do with her for dinner. I hadn’t arranged a schedule with my chef. Perhaps going out was the best thing to do.

I laughed as I climbed out. Alexandra was in adorable shorts and a way too tight tee shirt that looked as if it had been washed one too many times. I wasn’t making fun of her. Just the opposite. She hadn’t asked for anything, hadn’t spent a dime from the bank account I’d established when she was eighteen.

She’d often worked two jobs at a time, saving every penny except for food, gas, and utility expenses. She’d grown to be quite a little miser.

It was time for her to learn she could have nicer things and I planned on ensuring she had them.

As I walked into the kitchen, I listened for any sounds. I half expected she’d found my music system. I took a few seconds to pour a drink before heading through the house to find her.

After searching the bottom floor, I wondered if she was napping, which would make sense. I ran into Marlene as she was getting ready to leave for the night.

“You startled me, sir,” she gasped.

“I’m sorry. Do you know if my guest is upstairs resting?”

“I… don’t believe so, sir. She asked me for help in finding shops for her to purchase online and I knew she spent some time doing that. Afterwards, I noticed her outside, but that was well over an hour ago. Did I do something wrong?”

“Of course not. Have a great evening.” I waited until she’d opened the door before running up the stairs. Alexandra’s door was wide open, no evidence that she’d been inside. Where the hell had she gone? Maybe she was outside, although I hadn’t noticed her.

I ran back down the stairs, more than a moment of trepidation kicking into my system. After making certain I had my weapon, I headed outside, searching the area. I couldn’t tell if she’d spent any time here. Which meant one thing.

Our ridiculous banter, or what Alexandra would call my repulsive behavior, had pushed her into wanting to defy me even more. I had no doubt in my mind she’d walked to the stables, catching Romeo before he left for the day.

I was blistering angry, spots of red in front of my eyes. No, it didn’t make any sense because I’d convinced myself she certainly would never belong to me, but I also didn’t want anyone I knew to have her either.

I’d never had a jealous bone. I continued thinking that as I headed back to my Ferrari, not eager to walk the few miles to find her. Besides, it was obvious we needed to clear the air. She was far too defiant and I was more than stubborn. It wasn’t a marriage made in heaven.

As I pulled out of the garage, my thoughts drifted to my father’s request for marriage and heirs and all I could do was laugh. The feisty woman was likely the best candidate to date, a person my father would love, and she was off limits.

How ironic life was.

I floored the accelerator, knowing the roads leading through the property like the back of my hand. If Romeo had taken her riding when he knew she was inexperienced, I might fire the guy. I couldn’t head to the area fast enough.

The moment the fenced-in area of the corral came into view, I cut my headlights so as not to scare the horses, but I’d seen enough. She was bending down toward Romeo and if I didn’t know better, it was an intimate stance. My, oh my. When the cat was away, the mice did play.

I couldn’t believe he’d defy me that way. I was furious and ready to beat the shit out of the man. I didn’t slow down until I was close, stopping just in time. Both of them jerked their heads in my direction and he helped her off just as Sadie reared up.

Yeah, that was my fault, but there was often no controlling my anger when it raged on this way.

I was just inside the gate and for the first time since I could remember, Romeo flew at me equally as pissed. “What is wrong with you, Mr. Marciano? You could have gotten either Alexandra or Sadie hurt or worse with your antics.”

Later I would realize how much I overreacted, but without thinking, I threw a punch.

Alexandra not only screamed in anger, but came at me, pummeling me with her fists. “You are crazy. Crazy. You don’t have any right to do this. All I wanted was to sit on a horse and Romeo was nice enough to take me for a stroll around the pasture. You’re a madman, horrible. I hate you.”

“Hate me all you want.” She was fairly strong, but I grabbed her wrists, glaring at her.

She jerked away from me, shaking her head. “I’m sorry, Romeo. Thank you for your kindness. At least I know not everyone in Italy is a motherfucking asshole.” She stormed off and I had no idea how to react.

I glared at Romeo who wasn’t backing down. I had to give him credit for standing up to me in his way. After a few seconds, he trotted after Sadie.

Yeah, I was an asshole, but Alexandra was mine.

The thought, the realization hit me harder than almost anything else had in a long time.

“I wouldn’t touch her, Mr. Marciano. I am a man of honor,” Romeo insisted.

“Yeah, I know that. She’s simply a firecracker.”

“And I know that. I know it’s not my place and I mean no disrespect, but if you can, give her some time. From what she told me, which wasn’t much, she’s hurting from the huge changes.”

The aggressive side of me was prepared to react badly, but he was right. I’d pushed her too hard already and she’d just gotten here. “Thank you, Romeo. I’ll keep that in mind.”

I turned, expecting she’d be waiting by the car. She was nowhere to be seen. Talk about rebellious. She was going to push every button until I broke. I left the corral, trying to figure out where she’d gone. Twilight was settling in, and even if she’d traveled from the estate to this location twice in one day, at night things were completely different. I needed to find her before true darkness settled in. That wasn’t long.

With no indication of where she’d headed, I took off jogging at first, trying to crisscross my way through the vineyards before reaching the olive trees. I wouldn’t put it past her to hide if she knew I was close. I’d sparked more than just defiance in her. I’d unleashed her full anger. I’d had no idea just how spunky the girl was, but the more I got to know her, the more I realized she was very much like her father.

Adventurous.

Refusing to follow rules.

Even now as I picked up speed, I reminisced about his death all over again. Maybe I shouldn’t have stopped looking for his killer or the reason why he’d been targeted. What if the situation she was facing was only partially due to what she’d accidentally seen? What if once the Greeks had figured out who she was, they’d been determined to finish the job?

Or had they realized and embraced another opportunity given how powerful my regime was?

I’d kept Alexandra hidden on purpose, hiding as much about her as possible. I’d done a damn good job, all but erasing her existence. Of course she could be found if someone was looking, yet there’d been no reason. She’d been a tiny baby when the horrible act had been committed.

The oppressiveness of the trees captured my attention, the shadows likely playing tricks on the girl.

“Alexandra. You will get lost. Just call out and I’ll find you.”

I heard the rustle of trees later and a laugh. She thought this was a game. She was perhaps the most frustrating woman I’d ever met in my life. “I will find you. I’m a damn good hunter.”

“Bring it.”

The strange thing about the night settling and the denseness of the foliage was that there was no clear indication of where her voice was coming from. A grin popped across my face, ridiculous or not. She was making this a game. So be it. I took off running, weaving through the trees. My big advantage was knowing every inch of the forest.

After a couple of minutes, the chase, the hunt started to become fun. Maybe I wasn’t thinking rationally, but my entire body was tense from need. Even worse, my cock was throbbing. A damn day. It had taken a damn day and I couldn’t imagine not owning her. What did that say about me?

Nothing good.

My father would laugh first before applauding my awakening desire. I moved deeper into the forest, stopping to listen. The single crack of timber brought a smile to my face. “You won’t get away from me.”

She laughed again and I realized I’d made some headway. The question remained furrowing in my mind. What would I do when I tracked her down? And I would.

There was no easy answer even if my body told me what would happen. She’d learn what kind of man I really was.

I moved more stealthily through the trees, stopping every few seconds and listening. It would appear she was doing the same thing. But I gathered a whiff of her perfume, a dead giveaway. After moving forward by a few feet, she made the critical error of either tripping or getting tangled in briars. Her moan indicated her frustration.

And it was close.

She was close.

So much so every muscle in my body tingled with anticipation. I wanted her more than I cared about decency. I’d question my motives later, but not now. Right now, I had two things in mind.

Bringing her back to safety.

More important? Making certain she knew her status in my household. It had been a long time since I’d been blindsided. I felt damn good. Something to covet.

To need.

The shadows were deepening, but I noticed just a slight flash as she sprinted the other way, running faster that I’d thought she could.

Yet it wasn’t long until I’d caught up with her, easily able to wrap my fingers around her arm.

“No!” she snarled and whipped around, not hesitating to crack her hand against my face.

The force she used hurt like hell, but it also excited me.

When she attempted to repeat the move, I grabbed her wrist, holding it midair. “That wasn’t being a good girl.”

“That’s part of the problem. You’ve mistaken me for a good girl.”

Of course she was playing her own game. She was perhaps one of the best people I knew. Her ethics were not to be challenged, her work habits unheard of. But here, around me, another side of her prevailed.

I liked the other side of her, one that had no issue letting go, and it spurred me on.

She tried to kick me and I blocked it easily. Using her left hand, she ripped at my shirt, doing nothing more than yanking it from the waistband of my tight trousers.

“You like to play rough?” I asked, the tone of my voice entirely different than I was used to.

“I don’t like anyone to think they’re stronger than me. I’m a fighter.”

That she was. The conviction in her voice was strong, more so than any female I’d come into contact with, my sister included.

“And so am I.” There was no excuse for my behavior of the entire last few hours, but now, this was a delicious game and nothing more. She’d instigated it and I was enthralled with just how far she’d go. I had no intention of forcing her to do anything. I had my questionable qualities, but insisting a woman do something against her will? I would never stoop that low.

With Alexandra, it would seem she’d brought out another side of me. It was one my family wouldn’t recognize. Hell, I didn’t.

But damn if it wasn’t fun.

The hunt.

The capture.

The hunger.

Almost instinctively, I wrapped one hand around her lovely, long throat, driving her step by step against one of the largest olive trees. I had no idea how the woman would react. At first, she shoved her palms against me, hissing as if I’d crossed every line in every book.

I was certain I’d need to let her go, which I was prepared to do. But her next action was one I would never forget.

Even if it could drive us both into some level of purgatory.

Using both hands, she ripped my tee shirt, exposing my chest.

And she laughed as if she was the one in charge.

She’d soon learn otherwise.