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“Nobody. Looks. At. My. Woman!” Each of his words is punctuated with blows to the guy’s face. He stops for a moment, only to scream like an angry bull, “Nobody even breathes in her direction!” Still holding him by his collar, Elio’s nose is now almost touching his, “BECAUSE SHE’S MINE! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?”
When he lets go of him, the guy’s body goes limp, flattening on the floor. To my shock, Elio still doesn’t let go. He puts his right foot on the guard’s chest, pressing, making him groan andmumble incoherent words. With his foot still in place, he bends down over him and roars into his face, “MINE ONLY!”
My breath catches as the realization hits me; I don’t know who this man is or what he’s capable of. But right now, he’s here, soaked in someone else’s blood, primal fury enveloping him like an animal from the wild.
“Stop!” The word tears from my throat as loudly as possible.
Elio’s fist freezes mid-air, his head snapping toward me. His eyes find mine, and in that moment, I can see everything. The rabid anger, the possessiveness, the dominance. The only emotion I cannot find is guilt.
He doesn’t feel that what he’s just done is not only wrong but inhumane.
The man between us writhes on the ground, moaning weakly. Elio’s fists knead, then hang limp at his sides, dripping with blood that pools at his feet.
My hands move instinctively to my stomach. It’s as if the reality of this−the marriage, our relationship, whatever it is−just now fully dawned on me.
This man standing before me, covered in blood, would forever be bound to the tiny life growing within me. The irony is not lost on me. I have always been a firm advocate for law and justice. But turns out my child’s father is a criminal mastermind, a murderer.
But one that would kill for YOU!
At the realization, I don’t know whether to scream, cry, or run. The air around me feels too thick to breathe. My chest is thudding wildly, especially from fear.
He takes a step toward me, and I flinch, taking two steps backwards to keep the distance between us.
“Elio,” I whisper, my voice trembling, breaking, “what have you done?”
His mouth opens, but no words come out. Just silence that stretches across the room, wide and endless, threatening to swallow us all.
Chapter twenty-five
Elio
The door to my office in one of my high-end casinos bursts open.
Cortez strides in, taking long steps towards me, a wide beam on his face. His grin is boyish, almost breathtaking, as he raises his hand into the air, waving his phone.
“Capo, it’s done,” he announces, showing me a headline on his phone. “The convict has been found guilty. The evidence was substantial enough to pin that guy. There’s definitely going to be no doubts, even in the nearest future.”
Relief washes over me as I lean back in my chair. “Good! It was a great idea to have his wife testify against him. The judge would never fathom foul play in such witnessing,” I say, exhaling deeply. “Send the money to his family, as we agreed. Make sure they lack nothing.”
Cortez nods, already scribbling notes in his little notepad. “Consider it done,Capo.”
As he turns to leave, I stop him. “Wait.”
He turns around to look back at me, curiosity lifting his brows.
“This news,” my hands reach out for the buttons on my jacket, sealing it closed as I rise to my feet, “it’s arrived on a day of celebration. You’ll need to start making arrangements for my wedding.”
Cortez freezes, then slowly turns back, his expression shifting to what I think is disbelief. “Your wedding? With Aria?”
“Yes.” That is the only word that makes it out of my mouth as I walk towards the window to stare out at the bustling street.
He moves to a chair, lowering himself into it like he needs a moment to process what he’s just heard. “Capo, I have to admit this feels strange… you and a woman −andcommitment? I never imagined you would think of marriage. I mean...you’ve never really valued women as being anything beyond temporary objects of pleasure. Ever.”
My head jerks over my shoulder so I can take a good look at him. “It’s just business, Cortez. Fake. Nothing more.”
“Nothing more?” He raises an eyebrow. “You’re actually marrying her. That’s a bit more than business.”
“It’s a calculated move.” This time, I turn myself around completely towards him. “A move that would benefit both parties involved. That’s all.”