Page 47 of The Devil's Heir

Jarek

We've been here for three days and have yet to catch the fucker who came after me. Rossi never returned to his villa like he was scheduled to, which tells me he had a hand in it. He's the one who put out the hit.

Meanwhile, Joey was discharged from the hospital the day after being admitted. The bullet got him in the side, just barely missing his liver and kidney. Another half of a centimeter and his liver would have gotten it. That was two days ago, and he's already up and moving around against my orders.

"Come on, Jarek. You know damn well that you wouldn't be able to sit still either if you were in my shoes," he says to me as we get into the back of the town car.

"It doesn't matter what the Don does, bambino !" Lonzo growls from the front passenger seat. "You won't be much good to him if we get into a jam, will you?"

Joey shrinks back just a little from getting chastised by his father, but that doesn't mean he will listen.

I turn my head to look out the window so my friend doesn't see the curve to my lips.

I know he hates it when his father treats him like a child in front of others, and as their boss, I should stop him from doing so.

Unfortunately for Joey, I like seeing him suffer; it's payback for all the times he annoys me with his antics.

"So, what do we do now that Rossi isn't back—wait?" Joey asks, ignoring his father's lecture.

"Rossi won't come back until we're gone," I reply. "He has too many connections here—people who tell him who is coming and who is going. The little weasel won't come out of hiding while we're still in the country. No worries, I'll find another way to get to him."

We're on our way to the warehouse I own here. I want to ensure our latest shipment is still secure and make new arrangements for it to be sent elsewhere. Rossi will not be getting another weapon of mine from here on out.

It's a dreary afternoon as we step out of the car and walk a few feet to the building. I glance around to be sure no one else is in the vicinity. After the attempt a few days ago, I'm not taking any chances. Lonzo has already been on my ass about leaving this place because of it.

"You're too important to risk staying, young Falcon."

It's what Lonzo had said when I told him I wasn't leaving yet. I would love nothing more than to return home where I can bury myself inside Liliana, but I must take care of business first. I don't want to have to leave her like this again, at least not for a while, anyway.

There's a light mist that sprays my face as the breeze from the sea blows it in our direction. I don't mind it so much. It helps cool me down while I endure the dreary weather's humidity.

Koval meets me at the door, holding it open for me and the others. I sent him ahead to ensure the area was secure. When he gave the all-clear, we left the hotel and came straight here.

Wiping off the little bit of water the mist left on my suit jacket, I ask Koval, "How's the shipment looking?"

"Everything is as it should be. The containers are still sealed up tight," he responds pulling his pocketknife out, ready to open the seal for me.

I nod, and he slices through my emblem in one smooth stroke.

He does this to all five crates and then steps back for me to inspect them.

I lift the first lid and look inside. Everything looks as it should, so I move to the next container and then the next.

Once I'm satisfied, I give another nod and Koval gets to work on sealing the crates back up.

"Lonzo, will you contact Amato and find out if he's interested in buying Rossi's shipment?"

"You do realize that Amato and Rossi are at war with each other, right?" he asks with a raised brow and a smirk.

I return the gesture and reply, "Why do you think I chose Amato for you to contact? It's fitting for Rossi to have the weapons he ordered turned on him, don't you think?"

Lonzo shakes his head, amused, and reaches for his phone. Just as he does, mine buzzes inside my pocket. Curious, I pull it out to find a message from Lily. A smile tugs at my lips, and a rush of elation courses through me--it feels so good to see her take the initiative .

PAUPER: Goodnight, Jarek.

ME: Sleep well, little pauper. Were you a good girl today?

PAUPER: Always =)

ME: That's debatable.

There's a brief pause and just when I think she's done texting, and I'm about to pocket my phone, it buzzes again.

PAUPER: Will you be coming home soon?

ME: Miss me already?

PAUPER: Kind of…Yeah.

A feeling I've never felt before enters my chest when I read her words, and I can't help but feel a victory on the horizon. I had hoped that I could win her over, and it seems I may be doing just that.

My phone buzzes again…

PAUPER: I have no one else to quarrel with. It's getting a bit boring.

I narrow my eyes even though I know she's just messing with me, and she can't see me doing it anyway.

ME: I believe you just earned yourself a spanking when I return home, little pauper.

PAUPER: Don't tease me with a good time if I have to wait for you to deliver.

The little minx has my dick stirring. Is this really my Liliana? I like her like this, and now, I'm definitely cutting my stay short.

ME: Trust me, darling. I don't tease…I deliver. Be a good girl and get to bed. You're going to need your energy for when I return.

PAUPER: Goodnight, Sir.

Still smiling, I put my phone away and turn toward my men. They're all standing there grinning at me.

"What the fuck are you all staring at?" Lonzo and Joey continue to grin while the others scurry to busy themselves.

"How's Liliana?" Joey asks.

"She's fine. She just wanted to wish me goodnight."

"That was a lot of typing for a simple goodnight," my friend teases.

"Do you want me to add another bullet to your gut?" I scowl.

He scoffs. "So, how soon are we leaving?"

"Tomorrow—just after lunch," I answer before turning to his father. "What did Amato say?"

"He's good. I told him we will have it delivered this afternoon."

I nod. "Good. Now, let's get the fuck out of here."

I spend the night in my room, going over more business reports. Sometimes I think my legit businesses are more of a pain in the ass than my illegal ones. Unfortunately, if I want to keep the feds away, I must keep up my pretenses of being a good, abiding citizen.

I may own most of Rushwood, but I don't own the government, at least not all of it. Yeah, I have a lot of agents in my pockets, just like other crime bosses, but not all government officials are corrupt.

Joey's spending his last night out at the Discoteca, or what we Americans call a nightclub. It's just down the street from the hotel, but I still ordered him to take a few guys with him. If he's going to be stubborn and not stay and rest, then he has to have protection while he's out .

Lonzo had the right idea and has already turned in for the night. I follow shortly after midnight. I make sure to text Liliana first before finding my pillow. Tomorrow can't come fast enough.

I haven't slept well since leaving home, and I blame Lily for it. She has me addicted to having her body pressed against mine while I sleep, and nothing else will do.

Pulling myself out of bed at five in the morning is the end result of not getting much sleep. I might as well start my day. By nine, I'm already packed and ready to head out. Now, I'm just biting at the bit, watching the time go slowly while I wait.

There's a knock on my door, and Lonzo calls out to me before using his key card to enter. "It looks like you and I have the same idea." He chuckles when he sees my belongings packed and ready to go.

"Where's Joey?" I ask, figuring he'd be with his father.

"He's already left for the airport to check on the jet. He said he wanted to make sure everything was ready by the time we arrived."

It's not the first time my friend has done this, so I nod. "Maybe we should just head out then. No sense in sitting around with our thumbs up our asses."

"I'm already packed," he states with a grin.

I text Joey to let him know we're leaving earlier than expected and he texts back letting me know the jet is ready. This is the first time I've ever been in a rush to get home. The anticipation of seeing my pauper has me feeling giddy like a fucking schoolgirl.

We're an hour from landing when I hear a banging coming from the guest bedroom. Joey's been in and out of it, saying his stomach hasn't felt right. When I look at Lonzo, we share the same look. Something isn't quite right.

I get up, walk over to the door, and knock, but I don't wait for an answer. Opening the door, I stop short when I see the pretty brunette with her hands tied to the bed. Joey is on the floor, holding his injured side, but he hurries to stand before I can say anything .

"Let me explain before you freak out, Jarek."

I cross my arms in front of my chest and glare at my best friend. I've taken women hostage before; I'm not a newbie when it comes to abduction, but I've never taken a woman and smuggled them across the border. I smuggle weapons, not women.

"This is Zita. I ran into her last night at the club," Joey explains, but that doesn't tell me what the fuck she's doing here on my plane. "I've known Zita for a while. We hook up whenever I'm visiting."

I raise my brow, still waiting for the most important question to be answered, and he knows it. I hear Lonzo sigh heavily before turning and walking away while cursing in Italian.

"I thought it would be fitting…" He leaves it at that like I'm supposed to know what the fuck he's talking about.

"You have ten fucking seconds to tell me who the fuck she is and why she's on my plane!" I snarl at my best friend.

Joey slaps his forehead. "My bad. This is Zita—Zita Rossi."

My head jerks toward the woman tied and gagged on the bed, and that's when the recognition hits me. This is Rossi's only daughter. He's got two sons, but she's the only girl and—the apple of his eye.

A slow grin makes its way onto my face, and I begin to relax my stance. "Well, it looks like you found yourself in a little bit of a pickle now, didn't you?"

The beautiful woman glares at me as she starts yanking at her hands, trying to free herself. Her mumbling is unintelligible, but she continues as she fights the ropes.

Joey goes to her, trying to soothe her. "Come on, Zita. I had to. Your father is the one who sent the fucker who shot me. You won't be hurt; you know I would never hurt you."

I lift my brow at my friend. I've never heard him talk to a woman this way. It's amusing. At the same time, I can't afford him to get all lovesick over a hostage, either.

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Joey," I say in a more menacing voice. "Miss Rossi is now my captive until her father turns himself over. She will not get any privileges."

My friend snaps his head to me and glares. He then walks over and stares me down.

"Can I have a word, Jarek?"

Smirking, I turn and walk out of the room with Joey on my heels. The moment we are away from the guest cabin, he starts in.

"She will not be harmed—"

I hold my hand up, cutting him off. "You don't tell me what will happen, Joey. Have you forgotten who you work for? I give you leniency because you're my best friend, but don't push it."

"I understand, but I thought I was helping you out by bringing her, but I never meant for her to be hurt in the process," my friend states before running his hand through his hair.

"Have you ever known me to hurt a female hostage? I'm not into hurting women unless it's with my fucking cock, but if you tell her that she will be safe, then what's the point in keeping her? We need her scared if we ever need to show proof of life to her father."

"You're right—fuck!"

"Stop thinking with your dick, Joey." He may not like that, but it's true; he always lets his cock talk around pretty women. "Next time you get a wild hair up your ass and want to abduct someone, let me know before you bring them onto my fucking plane."

"Sorry. I was just excited to be able to do this for you."

I shove his shoulder playfully. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. You wanted to bring her with us because she's a good fuck—admit it."

He gives me a cheesy grin. "Well, there's that, too."