Page 15 of Blood and Penance (The Puglisi Crime Family #1)

Chapter Fourteen

Phoenix

Although Gianni tried to hide his anxiousness from me about this visitor, he couldn’t. I’ve known him long enough to realize when something’s off with him. Not only did he want me to lock myself in his bedroom, he also did not want me to come out unless he’s the one to come for me.

This can’t be good.

Gianni has always been a complicated man. He’s the oldest child and has always wanted to do right by his family. It’s one of the reasons I’ve loved him for so long. He always put me first until he decided to end it.

Our relationship has never been easy or perfect.

One of the reasons is because Giovanni always interfered like he’s trying to do now.

He thinks Gianni should have blind loyalty to him, which most of the time he did, except when it came to me.

And because of that, our relationship just added to his already complicated life.

However, I was willing to go through it all, carry some of his burdens just to spend the rest of my life with him.

He didn’t want that.

My heart aches just thinking about all the times we promised each other the world, promised each other forever.

I’m running from my husband with my son, the man I will always love is a priest, and his father is going to try to take my son way from me.

I’m starting to regret my decision to come back.

Fuck! I shouldn’t have come back.

When Sergio told us his father wanted to meet Giancarlo, red hot fury raced through my veins.

Of course, he didn’t ask because Giovanni Puglisi doesn’t ask for shit.

He demands it. But it will be a cold day in hell before I let him anywhere near my child.

I’m not the Phoenix of old. I’ve survived my time with the Devil.

Nobody, not even the great Giovanni Puglisi, scares me anymore.

“Too many memories.” I sigh, rubbing my hand down my face. “And too many enemies.”

I gaze at the rose gold watch on my left wrist, its diamonds catching the light of the fluorescent light fixture overhead.

It’s one of the many gifts Gianni gave me throughout our relationship.

But this one is special. He gave it to me the night before we left for Belize.

I wasn’t able to part with it after our split no matter how angry I was at him because it reminded me of the good times before everything went to shit.

“There’s no use in dwelling on the past.” My head is pounding and I’m ready to see my son. “He’s moved on and so have I. Where are you Gianni?”

When I told Gianni I’d give him thirty minutes, I meant it. I can’t spare any more than that. Hearing Lio is in the States has rattled my nerves. I don’t want to be away from Giancarlo any longer than I have to be.

My son is my priority.

My muscles tense, every hair on my body stands on end as footsteps approach the bedroom door. When they stop in front of the door, I hold my breath. My heart is pounding so hard against my chest.

What if this isn’t Gianni?

I made sure not to make a sound. If it isn’t Gianni, I need to make sure they don’t know I’m in here.

The doorknob rattles, then a sharp rap sounds against the heavy wood. “It’s me,” he says, and I let out a breath of relief.

I rush to the door and unlock it. I step aside to let him in.

“Who was it?” I ask, praying it wasn’t his father. “Was it Giovanni?”

He swipes his hand over his buzzed haircut that accentuates his strong jawline.

His deep, tanned skin glows with natural warmth.

His eyes are a smoldering hazel that carry a confidence I’ve never seen on any other man.

And despite the priest uniform his sculpted physique he can’t hide.

He commands attention without even trying.

While I waved off that kiss to appease the look of horror plastered on his face, the touch of his lips against mine done more than I would ever admit to him. He’s a priest and I’m just his past. He’s made that perfectly clear.

“No. I wish it was. At least I’d know how to deal with that situation.” He sighs. “It was your husband.”

Goddamn it!

Panic surges through me. “Okay,” I say, nodding. “Okay. I’ve got to go.”

“You can’t.”

I glare at him. “What the hell are you talking about, Gianni? Lio is here. There’s no way in hell I’m not going to get my son. We can’t stay. If he found you, it's only a matter of time he'll find me and Giancarlo.”

“He’s our son, Phoenix.”

I take a deep breath and release it, trying to calm my nerves and my anger. Of course, I know he’s his son, but that doesn’t matter right now. Lio D’Amico will hurt Giancarlo just to get to me because he knows that he’s my world.

“I know that, Gianni. But that has nothing to do with me not taking our son and leaving. I will not let Lio hurt him.”

When I try to step around him, he moves in my path. Fury blazes through me and I glare at him.

“Get out of my way, Gianni,” I say as calmly as possible.

“Phoenix, listen to me.” He grabs my shoulders. “If you leave now, you’ll lead Lio straight to Giancarlo. He’s not a stupid man. He’s got eyes on this place now.”

“Goddamn it!”

He’s right. If Lio came here, there’s no way he didn’t leave someone to make sure I didn’t turn up. I’m shocked this wasn’t the first place he looked for me. He knows all about my relationship with Gianni and he knows he's a Puglisi.

I’ve got to stay here, but how do we get to our son?

“Okay. What do we do? We have to get to Giancarlo before he does."