Chapter 7

"I know Vince had stuff on Marco. He told me he was keeping an eye on him, but I can't find it and none of our guys know anything about it," Joe growls in frustration as he motions to a monitor in our security room.

"Did we get Bryce's guy on it yet?" I ask, referencing a former hacker friend of the owner of the security firm we use on occasion.

"Yeah, he's trying. Most of the backup methods are with biosecurity, which doesn't work without Vince here. He's running a program that should figure out the backup passcode, but he said because of the level of difficulty of the system, it could take a day or two," he grumbles. I'm a little surprised that my grandfather had such a secure file on a computer.

"Well, keep trying. We need all the intel he had on Marco," I state as I stare angrily at the blank login screen.

"I know. Bryce's guy is trying. I don't want you leaving the compound until we figure it out. The fact that Marco got that close is…well, we've alerted Dino and he's pissed but he also wants him safe. It's a fucking mess," he states as he runs a hand over his bald head.

What Joe doesn't know is that the only reason Bryce Gallagher helps our family is because Vince has been feeding him intel for years. Bryce shares this with his federal agency friends and our family stays out of prison. It's a win-win relationship. But Joe would go crazy if I told him that. The fact that even Bryce doesn't know what's going on with Marco or where he might be concerns me because that means whatever intel is on this drive is not known by any living soul.

"What are you going to do with the girl?" Joe asks as he motions toward the second floor.

"She's not your concern. Leave it," I growl as I turn to go find her.

"And she's your concern? Do you even know her? Can we trust her?" he calls out after me.

I turn and take five long strides, grabbing Joe around the neck when I reach him. "Do not test me. She's clean. Vince wouldn't have spent time with her if she wasn't. She has nothing to do with our world," I snarl as I release Joe's neck and walk away.

"Sorry, man. I just had to make sure. It's precarious times, Rocco. We need to watch our backs," he says as I walk out the door.

I start back up the stairs, contemplating what he's just said. He's not wrong. She's innocent. She's not in the mafia. I should get her home and never see her again. But my head isn't on right, and I need her. In the two nights I've spent eating dinner with her, she's been an escape for me. I need that right now. I need to escape. I curse myself for what I'm about to do. I'm caging the butterfly; I'm picking that wildflower. I just hope that doesn't kill her. I'd never forgive myself.

I pass a few guards as I head toward my wing. Taking a deep breath, I open my bedroom door, shutting and locking it behind me.

I look around. The room is dark, so it takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the moonlight. She's curled up in my bed. I fumble for my remote and put the dim lighting in the crown molding on its lowest setting. I want to look at her.

She's even more beautiful in her sleep. Her long blonde waves fan out over my black sheets. Her thick eyelashes rest on her fair cheeks. I run a single finger over her jawline. She doesn't stir. She must have fallen asleep as the adrenaline wore off. I can't believe how well she's handled everything tonight. Most women in her shoes would be freaked out, but she was stoic. Maybe she could be part of my world. No, it's not possible. Is it?

She stirs as I run my finger down her neck and slowly pull back the comforter to unveil her body. Shit, she's perfect. I allow myself long minutes to trace her flawless skin. I don't deserve her.

Her eyelashes flutter against her cheeks and slowly open. "You're back," she whispers.

"I'm back," I reply as I pull my shirt over my head.

Her eyes scan my torso. There are two scars from a knife fight and a nasty one from where a bullet grazed me two years ago. I work out, so I know my muscles look good. But what she says next surprises me.

Her hand comes out and she runs a single fingertip over a tattoo on my left side.

"What's this mean?" she asks.

I unbuckle my belt and pull it from my pants. She swallows as the belt makes a cracking sound in the silence of the room. I smirk.

"It's the owl of Athena. It stands for wisdom. My grandmother loved owls. I got it the day after she died," I explain. I have many tattoos. Dragons, a griffin, some ancient characters, but she picked out one of the ones that is most personal to me. It's like she can see inside my soul.

I drop my boxer briefs and pants, kicking them off alongside my socks and shoes. I stand before her naked allowing her eyes to take me in.

When her gaze reaches my cock, she swallows nervously. I smirk. I have my faults, but being well-endowed is not one of them.

Normally, I'd pull her to the edge of the bed, spit on her pussy and slam into her, but she's not that type of woman. I want to take my time with her. I always like to make my women scream in ecstasy, but with her…I want something more. I crack my neck, feeling unnerved myself as I motion for her to scoot over while I climb into the bed.

She obliges and I get in beside her, reaching out to stroke her hair. "Are you OK?" I ask, searching her eyes.

She presses her lips together and nods. I pull her to me and cradle her head against my chest, pressing a kiss to the top of it. "I won't let anything happen to you, Lena. I promise," I soothe as I keep kissing the top of her head. I'm not sure if I'm doing this to calm her or me.

She pulls back and looks up at me, bringing her hand to my face where she cups my jaw. "I don't know why, but I believe you," she says earnestly as her gaze searches mine.

"Good. Now, I believe I was getting my dessert before we were so rudely interrupted," I state as I roll her onto her back and settle myself between her thighs.

She blushes. "You had dessert. What about me?" she asks.

"We'll have plenty of time for that later. I'm greedy, Lena," I murmur as I run my tongue down her slit and push it inside her. Fuck, she tastes good. I start licking and sucking, taking what I want from her. Every woman is different, so I try different motions with my tongue and my fingers until I crack her code. It's my little game, and this time, it took less than a minute to bring her to orgasm.

I lay a wet kiss on the inside of her thigh as I keep my fingers buried deep in her pussy, stretching her for my cock. Lena Hawkins might be the death of me, but what a way to go.