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CHAPTER SEVEN

Violet

The ride back to Vincenzo’s penthouse at the hotel was long and quiet. I rode with Matteo in the same SUV as before while Vincenzo insisted the doctor and Mili ride with him. Mili, of course, protested, wanting to ride with me and the doctor instead, but Vincenzo wasn’t having it. I don’t know if he was just being an ass because he’s the boss or if he was worried about leaving us on our own with the doctor.

Vincenzo Parisi is a very controlling man. He brooks no argument and pulls no punches. It’s his way or … well, there’s only his way.

As we pull into the parking garage, Matteo speaks to the men up front in Italian. When he turns his gaze to meet mine, I glare and raise my brow at him, reminding him of how rude he’s being. He gives me a sheepish grin and shrugs.

Ass.

Our doors are opened for us, and Matteo ushers me to the elevators. Mili is grumbling profanities at Vincenzo, who is now carrying her bridal style to the elevators to meet us.

“Put me down, you overbearing, pigheaded son of a bitch.” She gasps and winces, and pain is etched on her face.

“Stop fussing at me and be still,” Vincenzo orders. “You’re going to further injure yourself and, in doing so, piss me off. So, cut the shit, Gattina.”

Whoa.

His eyes have darkened, his jaw is clenched. He looks ready to murder someone. If I had to guess, my friend is sitting at the top of his list.

“Would you prefer I carry her, boss?” Matteo offers. Vincenzo cuts him a glare. Matteo’s hands go up in surrender. He gives a slight nod to Vincenzo and the bell dings alerting us to the open elevator. I don’t hesitate and scurry my ass into the waiting lift.

Matteo, Vincenzo still holding Mili, and the doctor all climb into the elevator along with me. The doors close and the only sound is Mili’s short, raspy breaths. I know the moment she gives up fighting with Vincenzo because she lays her head on his shoulder and her whole-body sags.

Vincenzo leans his head closer to hers and whispers something I can’t make out to her. It’s such a strange contrast to the gruff, hard man I’ve come to know. He isn’t all orders and condescending remarks. Vincenzo has a soft side, though he only shows it to a select few and only when the moment requires it. Like with his son and Carter or the women he’s helped, like Skyler and myself. But to anyone else, Vincenzo is the head of the Parisi empire and he rules with a cold, hard heart and an iron fist.

We reach the floor, and the doors open to the large expanse of the penthouse. He could house ten people in their own rooms and they’d never cross paths to use the bathroom up here. Hell, each room probably has its own restroom, anyway. The place is huge.

“Follow me, doctor. Matteo, get with the staff. Let them know Ms. Dupree and Mr. D’Angelo will be our guests for the evening. They are to see to anything Violet may need,” he orders. “Give Violet the tour and show her to her room.”

“Violet,” Vincenzo says my name in a low tone that has the hair on my arms standing on end.

“Yes?”

“You are not to leave the penthouse for any reason. If you need to call and check on your son, Matteo will give you a phone to use. But otherwise, stay off the internet. Do not use your phone, and you are to tell no one your location or that you are with me.” Vincenzo spins on his heels and whisks my friend away.

“Wait,” I call out, but Vincenzo doesn’t stop. “Where is he taking her?”

Matteo squeezes my shoulders. “He’s taking her to the master suite where the doctor can better care for her. It’s the largest room and the furthest away from the noise of people coming and going as they do their daily duties around here. I promise you, it’s the best place for her.”

“But I want to stay with her. I should be in the room with her in case she wakes up and needs anything, like help to the bathroom or something.”

“I’m certain the boss will see to it. Dr. D’Angelo has everything she needs and the best care she could ever ask for,” Matteo says. His words are meant to soothe me, I’m sure, but they’re doing nothing of the sort.

When Kayce and his men picked me and Carter up from our rendezvous point after I left my husband, Mili stayed by my side and nursed me back to health for a week. She even played card games and watched mindless cartoons with Carter to keep him occupied and calm while I rested.

I owe her.

“Come, Dolcezza. Let’s call Carter. Let him know you’re all right. I’m sure he’s worried about you.” Matteo hands me a burner phone and leads me down the hall in the opposite direction of Mili’s room. He stops in front of a large, dark wood door. When he opens it, my jaw drops. The room is gorgeous.

There’s an enormous dark oak bed in the center of the room with a dark blue velvet comforter and white ruffled pillows on top. My duffle bag is laying in the middle of the mattress.

There are two gray velvet cushioned chairs by the window, which has long thick curtains that match the bed covers. I notice red roses in vases around the room on the nightstands and atop a vintage vanity off to the left.

“Holy shit.”

Matteo chuckles at my reaction. “Yeah, the boss has good taste.”

I’m at a loss for words.

Matteo hands me a phone. “Call your son. Take a shower. I’ll let you know when dinner is ready.” Then he leaves the room, shutting the door behind him.

I know I should call Carter and let him know I’m safe, but my son will have questions and although he may not mean to, he could slip up and tell Declan where I am and who I’m with. I can’t risk it. So, I dial Skyler instead.

“Hello.” Skyler picks up on the first ring.

“Hey. It’s me.”

“Holy shit! Violet, where are you? What’s going on? You have everyone worried.” Her words come out like rapid fire.

“I know, and I’m sorry. I had to go … home … to take care of something. It’s a quick trip and no one can know.” I tell her the truth in a way I know she’ll understand.

“Oh, fuck. What happened?” There’s chatter in the background, but it sounds like Skyler is on the move. “Hold on. Let me get to the bedroom. I just got back from taking Carter to Declan’s house for the night. Ethan should be right behind me. I don’t know how long we have. Now. Spill.”

“A friend was hurt badly, and I owed it to her to be here.”

“How did you get home?” Skyler asks. I’m certain she knows, but I tell her anyway.

“Our favorite Italian uncle gave me a ride.”

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” she hisses. “What did a favor like that cost you?”

“We haven’t settled on a payment plan yet.”

“Declan is going to lose his shit when he finds out you left town, and with who.” Skyler sounds like she’s freaking out which makes zero sense since I’m the one who is standing in the penthouse in Baron’s Edge while she’s safe at home in Oakridge.

“He can’t find out, Sky,” I plead. “Declan can’t find out anything about this. Who I am or where I came from. Vin—our uncle said he would help keep those things hidden from certain prying eyes.”

Skyler lets out a long sigh. “And how does he plan on doing that?” She gasps, “Shit! Sadie!”

I don’t confirm or deny because I don’t honestly know, and I’m certain the less I know the better off I am at the moment.

“What are you going to tell Declan, then? Because he and Ethan were both pretty worried when you left and didn’t give anyone a heads up. You sort of left a note and a kid behind, Vi. That’s not going to be explained away easily.”

“I don’t know yet. I figure I’ll get back to town and deal with Declan then.”

“Yes, but what are you going to tell him?” Sky pushes.

“I’ll tell him I’m the next of kin for a friend and had to pick her up after she was in a bad accident or something.”

“How badly hurt is she?” Skyler asks. “What happened, Vi? The truth.”

“She was … jumped … and she’s stable, but in pretty bad shape. She’s getting medical attention now and then we’re going to head home. She’ll have to come home with me for a while because she can’t be left alone. Which means I’m going to need some time off.”

“Don’t worry about work. I’ll talk to Ethan. Everything will be fine here for a few days,” Skyler reassures. “Shit. Ethan’s home. I have to go. Be careful, Vi.”

“I will. Thank you, Sky.”

We hang up and I’m left sitting on the bed to ponder everything alone. Bad things like this don’t just happen. People who want to send messages to others rarely give up on the first try. Especially if they want to be certain their message was received.

Which leaves me to wonder, what’s next?