Chapter 15

15

Luca

After she came, I pulled up her pants, then hauled her into my arms and kissed her until she slumped. I carried her up to our room and put her to bed. Then, I sat in the chair near the bed, content to watch her as she sleeps.

Her cheeks are flushed, and she's so still I've leaned over a few times and placed my finger under her nose, just to make sure she's breathing. When was the last time I was so concerned about another person? I wasn't close to my mother. Even as a young child, I understood she was weak, that she couldn't withstand the abuse my father doled out. I wanted to help, but didn't know what to do about it.

My father was too distant, and I was wary of him. Michael? I suppose I adored my older brother, but when he left for university and didn't take me with him, I was angry with him. Then, my father turned the wrath of his anger on me and Seb, and all I could focus on was trying to survive the daily beatings. Nonna was around, but she did little to stop it. That's when I lost respect for her. Oh, I loved her; she was the only constant caregiver in my life. But she never stepped in to protect me, and that changed the dynamics of the relationship for me.

As I grew, so did my anger, and I channeled it into my hate for my father, envy for my oldest brother, and my need for power. Until I met her. She's strong, feisty, and can hold her own against me, yet there's a core of her that's so innocent, I want to protect her; so pure, I want to sully her; so… confident, it's a clarion call to break her down and put her back together in a way that assures I've put my mark on her.

The phone in my hand vibrates, I take in the message on the screen.

Downstairs.

I rise to my feet, pull the cover up under her chin, then let myself out of the room. After calling my brothers, I expected help to arrive. Just not this soon. I shut the door behind me softly. Then, buttoning my shirt, I walk down the stairs and into the pub. I glance at the counter, remembering how she fell apart under my fingers and my tongue just a few hours ago. Awareness buzzes under my skin, and I tear my gaze away from the bar and toward the woman who rises up from the chair at the far end of the pub.

I draw closer and she holds out a hand. "Luca? I am Karina Beauchamp."

I shake her hand. "You're Axel's friend?"

"We've collaborated on projects in the past. I run my own security agency, based out of LA and London. When Axel started his own security agency, he approached me for help. We've been in touch since. So, when one of his brothers needed help?—"

"He asked you to swing by." I prop my palms on my hips.

"You can trust me." One side of her lips kicks up in a smile. "My brother is Nikolai Solonik."

I stiffen. "The head of the Bratva?"

"The very same. He's one of your allies now, I believe."

"I still wouldn't trust him, so if that was meant to be reassuring?—"

She laughs. "It was meant to show that I understand what you're dealing with here."

She grabs a paper bag I hadn't noticed before and hands it over. "That has clothes for the two of you, as well as money, passports, and everything else you need to leave the country."

I peer into the bag and spot the passports. "That was quick."

"You're Axel's brother." She pulls out a phone and holds it out. "It's a burner; no one can trace you through it."

I accept it. "Thanks." Then a thought strikes me. "How did you get into the pub? Weren't the doors locked?"

She laughs. "I have my ways."

"Karina?" A man walks into the pub through the front door. "There you are." He walks over to her, wraps his arm around her, and pulls her close. The two kiss and keep kissing.

"We do have rooms upstairs," I point out.

Neither of the two heed me.

Gesü Cristo , all this loving in the air; it's nauseating.

"Thanks for your help." At least my disgust doesn't show in my tone; that's something.

I turn to leave when Karina calls out, "Sorry, Arpad and I haven't seen each other for nearly two hours." Her tone is self-deprecating. "Hence?—"

I pause, then turn to face him. "You're Arpad Beauchamp, one of the Seven who own 7A Investments?"

"Have you invested with us?" He scans my features. "Have we met before?"

"I don't think so." I turn to Karina. "Appreciate your coming through for us."

"If there's anything else I can help with…"

I hesitate.

"You can tell us. Any friend of Karina's has my full support," Arpad chimes in.

Not sure he'd be saying that if he knew the identity of my father. I shove that thought aside.

"We need to return to Palermo as quickly as possible and without attracting any attention."

"So commercial flights are out?" Karina narrows her gaze on me. "Whoever is after you?—"

"Why do you assume someone's after us?"

She glances around the pub. "You're in a room above a pub, just far enough from any town that it's a deterrent to tracking you down, there are blood specks on your shirt—" I glance down at my sleeve and spot the drops of red. She continues, "And your brother just asked me to issue you fake passports." She arches an eyebrow. "Also, the woman standing behind you doesn't seem too happy with you. Not that it's connected to your question, but thought you should be aware."

I pivot around as Jeanne approaches us. She draws abreast and levels a look filled with curiosity at the couple. "Everything okay?" she asks.

"Everything's fine." I put an arm around her and pull her close. To my surprise, she melts into my side.

"And you are—" Jeanne prompts.

"Karina, and this is my husband, Arpad." The couple shake hands with her.

"Karina is a friend of my brother, Axel. She runs a security agency in London and has given us everything we need to leave the country." I raise the paper bag.

She glances at it, then at my face. "So, we can return to Palermo?"

"We can have a private plane fueled and ready for take-off from an airfield an hour away," Arpad adds.

"Or, you could first come to our place and freshen up." Karina glances between us. "When Axel called me and explained you needed help, we were at Arpad's country house, which is a forty-five-minute drive away. You're welcome to return with us and get some rest before you leave."

"It sounds like an improvement over the room we're in, but I want to return to Palermo. The faster I can get back to my rehearsals, the more confident I'll be for the premiere of my musical."

"You're an actress?" Karina glances at her with interest.

"A jazz dancer, actually, but when this opportunity came up, I couldn't refuse."

"Which musical are you starring in?" Karina asks.

" Beauty and the Beast . Have you seen it?"

"On Broadway, a few years back. Will you be touring the West End?"

"Maybe. If the response from the audience is good enough." Jeanne smiles. "Thank you so much for your help, Karina." She grips Karina's hand. "I truly appreciate it."

"Let me know when you're in London next." Karina gestures to the phone in my hand. "My numbers are keyed-in."

True to their word, the Beauchamps drive us to the airfield, and we are on Arpad's private plane and airborne within the hour. Before we get on the flight, I destroy the phone and SIM card I'd purchased at the service station as a precaution.

Now, I lean back in the plush seat and stretch my arms above my head. Next to me, Jeanne glances out of the window. It's still dark outside, but a silvery hue lights up the horizon.

"You okay?" I ask.

"I'm tired." She leans back into the chair with a sigh. "You do realize, this is going to spoil me for flying economy now."

"You won't need to again. Once you're my wife, we can use the Sovranos' private jet whenever you have to travel."

She stills. "So, you still want to go ahead with the whole marriage thing?"

"Why would you think otherwise?"

"Now that we are safe and on our way back, I just thought?—"

"That I'd forget about the deal we made?"

"Something like that." She smooths her palms over her jeans. "You could find so many other women who'd be interested in playing the role of your wife. Why does it have to be me?"

"Because you owe me."

She whips her head in my direction. "So that's what this is about? That's why you offered to find a way to bring me back in time for my premiere, so you could use it against me?"

"When you hold something over a person, you have power."

"And power is the most important thing to you?"

"Yes." I hold her gaze. "My entire life, all I've ever wanted is to be the person who holds power over everyone else in the room. I want to be the person who never has to bow my head in front of anyone."

"Yet, you didn't have a choice but to accept help from Karina and Arpad."

"And I owe them, and will make sure I return the favor when they need it most."

"So that's how you build your connections? By this constant give and take?" She scowls.

"That's my life."

"It's transactional," she huffs.

"It's black and white. Makes it simple. Ensures I never find myself again in situations where I am not in control."

"Again? You've been in situations where you are not in control before?" She searches my features.

"If you're asking whether I've been in love, then the answer is a no."

"But you have been in an emotionally messy situation?"

"That's none of your business," I retort.

Her face falls. She purses her lips and glances away. A hot sensation hooks into my chest. I know I've hurt her, but that's for the best. The last thing I want is to open up more to her or keep up the flirty banter, which I admit, came as a surprise. I'm not into emotions, and definitely not into romantic overtures. I've been acting out of character. It's probably the surprise of being kidnapped, then waking up in a cell and finding myself alone with her that's responsible for it. It's going to make the situation more complicated. It's best to keep this entire arrangement straightforward by not bringing feelings into it.

"You do realize, if we have to pretend to be getting married, then we have to show some level of intimacy with each other," she says in a low voice.

"That's why I gave you those orgasms at the bar. Now, we're both comfortable with each other physically. Enough that no one will suspect we only met a few days ago."

"That's no replacement for showing we have an emotional connection."

"Well, we don't and we never will."