Page 7 of The Devil’s Touch (Obsession #1)

S ilvana

“You know you can tell me the truth, right?” I peered at her through the phone just to make sure she was telling the truth.

My little sister groaned, running her fingers through her messy blonde hair. “You worry too much, Vana. I told you already. I’m fine. No one is drowning me in acid or stifling me with a pillow. All right?”

“ Puoi dirmi la verità, Adele— You can always tell me the truth, Adele.” I pressed, sitting upright on my king-size bed.

“I am fine,” she insisted. “They barely come near me—not even the cute Italian guard at the entrance. They bring me food, drink, and other things I need at the appropriate time. It’s like they are on orders not to mess with me,” she explained.

My heart tightened that I couldn’t be there with her through her recovery process, but there was this little fluff that took root in my heart, knowing that Domenico wasn’t using his power negatively on my sister to make me suffer.

“No fraternizing with any of them.” I said sternly, leaning into my motherly instincts.

“Relax,” she rolled her eyes. “I’m just saying he’s cute.” She giggled.

“How are you feeling now?” I asked.

“The doctor said I’m getting better. I should be discharged in about a week or so.” She shrugged.

I exhaled, rising to my feet. I strolled towards the large window that overlooked one of the gorgeous lawns in the Chateau.

Domenico was an ass. Ever since the complicated arrangement between us took root, he didn’t let me stay at my apartment.

I had been staying at his gothic gigantic Chateau with him.

While I enjoyed the luxury that came with it, it was a little depressing to be stuck in this house with mean, robotic maids and stone-cold guards.

“This is all my fault,” Adele whispered. My eyes swiftly snapped towards the screen, and I frowned at her.

“Don’t do that.”

“You wouldn’t have had to steal from him if he weren’t for me.” It was useless trying to hide the details of my predicament from her. Adele wasn’t just a harmless curious cat. She’d dig to the bottom of the entire thing if I had lied to her. It was better this way.

“Listen to me,” I started, “none of this is your fault. I’m your big sister and I’m obligated to take care of you. I’d do it all over again if I had to. Do you understand me?” I tried to be confident, wanting to hide the quiver in my voice and the tears that blurred my vision, but I failed.

“On the bright side, you are here now. I’m so happy you are safe.” I murmured.

“You are going to make me cry, too, Vana.” Her voice trembled.

I laughed. “I love you, Adele. Now, you get well soon so that you can return to school.”

“Got it, boss.” She smirked. Staring at Adele felt like looking at a younger version of me, only her blonde hair was a few shades darker than mine.

“So, how’s he?” Her eyes took on a mischievous edge. “Is he as bad as they say he is?” Only Adele would try to make being coerced into an agreement with a mafia Don sound normal.

“Adele!”

“What?” She feigned innocence. “I’m just fishing for info.”

“He’s...” I trailed off, looking away from her. “Annoyingly controlling. Very annoying. Look, I don’t know. He’s just bossy.” I rushed the words out, hating that my cheeks felt like they were on fire.

“Sure, that explains why your cheeks are burning.” Her teasing tone made me meet her gaze. “You totally screwed him again, didn’t you?”

My eyes widened. “What? No!”

Adele rolled her eyes. “We both know you did—but it’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.” She sounded dismissive, but beyond the surface, I knew she was just baiting me into talking.

“Maybe a couple times.” I bit down on my lips, suppressing a smile.

Adele squealed like a little girl. “I knew it!”

I sighed.

At first, it was easier to convince myself that I was only attracted to Domenico because of how good he fucks me.

But it wasn’t just that. It was how he looked at me, like he could really see me.

How every inch of me came alive whenever he was near.

How I anticipated his touches even when we were in proximity.

How I felt utterly safe around him even though I loved to cling to the notion that he was dangerous.

“I think I like him,” I confessed, and it felt like a stone was rolling off my chest—it felt like liberation.

Adele didn’t look surprised. Her deep blue eyes brimmed with understanding, a little smile lingering on her lips.

“I have never seen you more alive than you always are whenever you talk about him,” she said quietly, weighing her words.

My breath hitched.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No,” I refuted. “Not yet.” A feeling of melancholy hit me because I couldn’t begin to fathom how I got so wrapped up in his world this much—how I let him get under my skin without even realizing it until now.

“Okay,” she whispered. “I’m drowsy. I think my meds are kicking in. I’ll nap now.”

“I love you.” I grinned and hung up pressing the big red button.

The smile on my face faded, but I instantly knew what it’d mean if I didn’t get out of my room. I’d crawl into that dark hole that I was desperately trying to avoid. I grabbed my phone, slipped my feet into my indoor slides and made my way out of the room.

In the past few weeks since I had been here, I already knew my way around the Chateau—a few important places, at least—so I wasn’t exactly scared of getting lost. I took the large dim hallways that had their floors lined with deep red carpets, leading me to the huge vintage spiral staircase that sprawled outward to the vast, opulent living room.

Maids trooped in and out of the space that was dominated by ivory color and different tones of brown. Their presence used to make me uncomfortable, but right now, all I wanted to do was grab a book from the library and curl up to read on one of the royal-like couches.

Confusion slashed my features, and my steps rolled to a stop as I noticed a familiar masculine frame leaning against the luxurious bar counter.

“Dom?” I called, my voice barely above a whisper, but he heard me.

My heart skipped multiple beats when those eyes landed on me. Antarctic blue orbs seized me captive on the spot, lazily dragging over my frame clad in jean shorts and a scandalous black top that left my belly button and cleavage on display.

I swallowed.

His lips slowly quirked in an amused smirk, almost sadistic. I instantly knew something was off.

“You are back early.” I rasped. “I thought you wouldn’t be coming home until later tonight.” I gave in to my nagging gut, approaching him.

He was silent, bringing his glass of wine to his lips and taking a slow sip with his eyes on me the whole time. It was incredibly odd. I had never seen Domenico take wine.

I stopped before him, slowly assessing him. His black tee clung sensually to his ripped upper torso, tucked in black slacks.

“Aren’t you a sight?” he murmured huskily.

“You are not Domenico.” My voice hardened once it hit me that I was standing in front of an imposter.

He grinned. “And you are really hot.”

The doors harshly swung open, both our gazes snapping to the door.

There he was.

Frosty blue eyes. Deep scowl that only made his chiseled features more pronounced. Tousled messy hair. Crisp white shirt that was lazily buttoned up with its sleeves rolled to the elbow.

Him. Mine. All mine.

“Hey, Dad.” Those words casually rolled off the lips of the imposter before me, knocking my breath out of me.

“Dad?” I screeched.

I couldn’t even process it.

“ Levati dalle palle, Luciano— Get the fuck away from her, Luciano . ” It was bizarre how Domenico strode from the door to where we were standing in what seemed like a second.

A strong, masculine arm looped around my waist possessively and I was flush against a hard chest. Musky scent overtook my senses, convincing me that I was safe. With him.

“Chill out, Dad.” He raised his hands in mock surrender. “I didn’t know she was yours.”

“You can’t disappear and show up as you like. This is still my house.” I had never heard Dom sound so cold.

Luciano smirked. “I’ll be out of your hair soon. I just came to pick up some things in my wing.”

The resemblance Luciano and Domenico shared was uncanny. It was hard to reconcile that Domenico was a father, and he had a son who looked like he had his own thing going on too.

Although the resemblance was striking, the difference was majorly in their eyes. Luciano’s blue eyes were warm in a way that screamed, psycho, sinister, sadistic . Domenico’s eyes were flat out harsh and unwelcoming.

It wasn’t hard to notice the strain between the two of them even though Luciano hid beneath his psychotic facade.

“Take what you need and get out.” I stiffened at the frostiness of his voice.

“Gladly.” Luciano grinned. “Why don’t you do me a favor and tell your dog to stop following me?” The grin on his face dissolved as quickly as mist, leaving something dark, edgy and unsettling.

I could tell that it struck a nerve because of how rigid Dom’s body felt against mine.

“That dog is much more reliable than you,” Domenico spat.

It was swift. If I had blinked, I’d be certain that I imagined it. Luciano’s eyes flashed with something along the lines of hurt.

“Right,” he smiled, but it wasn’t mischievous like his previous smiles, it was fake. The kind you use to cover up hurt.

He shifted on his feet, then slowly closed the distance between him and his father. The two men didn’t exchange words but the tension between them crackled and burned wildly.

“I’ll see you around, Dad,” he murmured, slowly backing away. And then he spun on his heels, heading for the door.

“Luciano,” his father called, his voice monotonous.

Luciano stopped.

“Don’t come back.” It gutted me even though it wasn’t directed at me.

I didn’t have to look in his direction to know that he stormed out of the house.

“Baby,” I whispered, turning to him, not wanting to dwell on the fact that I just called him a pet name.

Domenico sighed, his shoulders slacking with exhaustion. At that moment, I could see how much he was carrying. Not just the weight of being a mafia don, but also his emotional scars and burdens.

“It’s not important, Mia Cara. ” He pulled me close, breathing me in.

“He’s your son,” I said, quietly.

“Luciano will be okay.” He shrugged it off with a coldness that made me note that he wasn’t ready to talk about it.

I had so many things I wanted to say but I refrained. I let him have this moment. He pressed a kiss to my forehead so gently, I drowned in the softness.

“Sei tutta la mia vita, Mia Cara— You are my life, Mia Cara . ”