LEO
What the fuck am I doing?
I keep asking myself that question the entire drive to Klodian’s house, where Massimo is waiting for me.
Every second I spend with Haven makes me feel more and more aggravated because I have no idea what it is about the woman that made me take her.
She’s right. I’m fucking insane.
Sure, Haven is breathtakingly beautiful, but that’s no reason to force her to marry me.
Gesù Cristo, am I really going to go through with the wedding?
What if we can’t learn to get along, and she drives me up the wall? Fuck, I really don’t want to tie myself to a woman who’s going to make my life miserable.
The memory of when I pinned her to me in the kitchen flashes through my mind.
Every time I touch her, the urge to grab onto her and not let go surges through me.
What the fuck is it about Haven that has me doing things that are entirely out of character for me?
When I saw her cowering beside her mother in Nicolo’s house, the words that I’m taking her left my mouth before I could even process the thought.
I almost shot Mattia because he backhanded her.
And now you’re holding her prisoner.
Fuck, I’m never going to know a moment’s peace in my own home again.
I bring my Porsche to a stop in front of Klodian’s house, and it pulls me out of my thoughts. When I get out of the vehicle, I can hear Carlotta weeping, and it makes my heart clench in my chest.
Sucking in a deep breath, I walk to the front door and let myself in. Carlotta glances over her shoulder from where she’s standing in Maurilio’s embrace. Massimo is sitting on a couch, looking exhausted as fuck.
Giving her a remorseful look, I walk closer and place my hand on her shoulder. “I’m so fucking sorry, Carlotta.”
Lost sobs shudder from her, her eyes swollen red and drowning in sorrow.
I tilt my head and promise, “I’ll always make sure you lack for nothing. You have my word that we’ll all take care of you.”
She begins to sob uncontrollably again, and it has Maurilio holding her tight in an attempt to comfort her.
Locking eyes with him, I ask, “Will you stay with her for a few days?”
He nods while rubbing his hand up and down her back. “I’ll help make the arrangements for the funeral.”
Carlotta lets out a wail, and her legs give out beneath her. Luckily, Maurilio has a tight hold on her. He moves her to a couch and helps her to take a seat.
The sight of Klodian’s widow crying her heart out isn’t easy to watch, and it makes the need for vengeance surge through me.
My eyes flick to Massimo. “Any word on whether Luciano survived?”
“He’s still alive,” my right-hand man mutters as he stands up.
“Cazzo,” I snap while I turn around and walk out of the house. I should’ve made sure I killed the fucker instead of getting distracted by Haven.
I fucked up today.
Massimo joins me in the front yard, and giving me a confused look, he asks, “What are you doing, Leo? Why did you take the girl?”
“Woman,” I correct him. “She’s twenty-three.”
“Seriously?” he snaps at me. “What the fuck is going on with you?”
Shoving my hands into my pockets, I shake my head. “I have no fucking idea.”
“Why did you take her?”
I shrug as I meet his eyes and give him the only answer I have. “I can’t place my finger on it, but there’s something about her that draws me in like a moth to a fucking flame.”
Massimo lets out a sigh, his gaze boring into mine. “Are you really going to marry her?”
I intend to say no, but it’s not the word that leaves my mouth. “Yes.”
“Gesù Cristo, Leo. Are you fucking with me right now?”
Turning away from my right-hand man, I head to my car. “I’m going to check on Raffaele and Andrea.”
“They’re fine. I’ve already checked on them. They’ll be back at work in a week,” he informs me. I hear his footsteps behind me, and as I open the car door, his hand grips my shoulder. “Leo, talk to me.”
Letting out a sigh, I glance at him. “What do you want me to say, Massimo?” I turn my body to face him. “I took Haven, and I’m going to marry her.”
Looking as confused as I feel, he asks, “Why?”
“I have no fucking idea why.”
He shakes his head, worry tightening his features. “You’ll tie yourself to Nicolo.”
I know. I don’t like the idea one bit.
I suck in a deep breath and glance over the yard before I meet Massimo’s concerned gaze again. “Arrange everything for the wedding. The sooner the better.”
Massimo stares at me for a tense moment, then he nods. “Send me a photo of her passport.”
“Okay.” I open the car door and climb into the cab. Glancing up at him, I ask, “Have you heard anything about Vito or Sebastiano?”
“They’re both missing in action. I have men searching for them.”
“Fucking rats,” I growl while pulling the door shut. I let down the window, then mention, “I have a meeting with the alliance tomorrow, and I’ll be at home. Keep me up to date with what’s happening.”
“Will do.” Massimo places his hand on the roof and leans down. “Take some time to think about what you’re doing with Haven Romano.”
“Yeah-yeah,” I mumble before starting the engine. My eyes flick to him again as he takes a step away from the car. “Get some rest, Massimo.”
He nods. “You too.”
Driving away from the house, I take a deep breath before letting it out slowly.
I better stop at my mother’s place and tell her about the wedding. Fuck, she’s probably going to have a lot to say about it as well because she hates the Romanos as much as I do.
I replay the day’s events in my mind during the trip, and by the time I park the Porsche in front of my mother’s house, I feel even more aggravated.
Usually, I’m calm and collected, but Haven’s appearance in my life has shaken me up so much, I have no fucking idea what I’m doing.
Getting out of the car, I give Riccardo, my mother’s guard, a chin lift. He’s sitting on a bench having a smoke break.
“How’s everything here?” I ask on my way to the front door.
“Quiet as usual.”
Letting myself into the house, I call out, “Mamma?”
“In the kitchen.”
I find her putting the leftovers from dinner in containers.
Mamma gives me a loving smile. “This visit is unexpected. Is everything okay?”
I lean down and kiss both of her cheeks before I take a seat at the wooden kitchen table. “It was a crazy day.”
Her eyes flit over me. “Did you get hurt?” When I shake my head, she asks, “Do you want coffee?”
“No, thanks.” I pat my hand on the table. “Come sit.”
The loving expression fades, and worry creeps into her gaze while she takes a seat. “What’s wrong?”
Locking eyes with her, I say, “I’m getting married.”
Shock flutters over her face, and she gapes at me. “What? I wasn’t aware you were dating! Who are you marrying?”
I brace myself for one hell of a strong reaction from her. “I’m marrying Haven Romano. She’s Nicolo’s niece.”
An unhappy frown instantly forms on Mamma’s face. “A Romano! Why?”
“It’s for business,” I say, playing the only card I have in my hand. Mamma never interferes with anything mafia-related.
“But, Leo!” she exclaims. “This is marriage we’re talking about. Why arrange one with a Romano?”
Clenching my jaw, I shake my head. “I’m not going to talk about work with you.”
Mamma is visibly upset as she stares at me. “When are you marrying the woman?”
“As soon as Massimo makes all the arrangements. It will be a small and quick wedding.”
She shakes her head, leaning back in her seat while crossing her arms over her chest.
Just like Haven, Mamma’s easily half my size. She’s almost sixty, and the difficult life she lived with my father shows on her face.
I make an effort to soften the expression on my face. “Haven’s from America. She’s beautiful.”
She lets out a heavy sigh. “I didn’t want an arranged marriage for you.”
“I know.” I get up from the chair and move around the table. I wait for Mamma to climb to her feet, then pull her into a hug. “I just wanted to tell you about the wedding and to get the ring.”
I never thought the day would come when I’d ask my mother for the wedding ring that’s been passed down for four generations in my family.
Mamma pulls away from me, and I follow her to where the wall safe is in her bedroom. She keys in the code, and when the door clicks open, she removes the tiny box from the safe.
I watch as she opens the box, and for a moment, she stares at the ring. “I hope it will give your bride more happiness than it brought me.”
“I’m sure it will,” I say.
She places the box in my palm before her eyes lift to mine. “Are you sure, Leo?”
No. Not at all.
Lying to my mother, I nod. “Yeah.” Tucking the box into my pocket, I lean down and press a kiss to her forehead. “I have to head home.”
As we walk toward the front door, Mamma asks, “Will I meet Haven before the wedding?”
I shake my head. “I’m too busy right now.”
I can see Mamma’s not happy with my reply, but she doesn’t push the subject.
Lifting my arm, I give her shoulder a squeeze while pressing kisses to both her cheeks. “Have a good night, Mamma.”
She watches me from the front door as I walk to the Porsche, and when I start the engine and drive away, I’m overly conscious of the wedding ring in my pocket.
I have the meeting with the other alliance members tomorrow. Other than that, I can take some time to get to know Haven better.
I need to find some clarity on the matter before Massimo is done making all the arrangements.
Yeah, maybe I should take a couple of days off.
After the wedding, I have to focus all my resources on finding Vito Santoro and that fucking rat, Sebastiano.
Feeling better now that I have some kind of plan, my aggression lessens during the drive home.
I park the car in the garage, and getting out, I enter the mansion through the kitchen entrance. As always, silence greets me.
There’s no sign of Haven, so I take the stairs to the second floor, where I’m met with a shut door. I suck in a deep breath before I knock.
It takes close to a minute before I hear movement, and Haven comes to open the door. Her features are tight with caution and fear, so I keep my tone as gentle as possible when I say, “Give me your passport.”
Her eyes widen. “Why?”
I’m not used to being questioned, and it has annoyance flare up in my chest. “Just get your passport.”
With a frown on her forehead, she walks to the bed and digs her passport out of her handbag.
I pull my phone out of my pocket, and when she hands me the book, I open it to the page with her details and take a photo.
Done, I hand the passport back to her. “Come join me in the living room so we can talk.”
It’s clear she doesn’t want to be around me, but at least she doesn’t put up a fight. After she shoves her passport back into her handbag, she follows me down the stairs.
When I take a seat on the couch facing the foyer, Haven sits on the one across from me, which gives her a clear view of the ocean through the floor-to-ceiling windows situated behind me.
She doesn’t lean back but remains perched on the edge, her hands clamped together on her lap. I take in how tense she is and realize I don’t like seeing her so terrified.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” I say, hoping it will set her at ease.
Her eyes dart to my face, and a flicker of hope ignites in those light brown irises of hers. “Will you let me go?”
Letting out a sigh, I lean forward and rest my forearms on my thighs. “The wedding is going to happen, Haven. I just want you to know you’ll be safe here, so you’ll stop being scared of me.”
She turns her head and stares at the large foyer. “I’ve known you less than a day, and you shot my cousin twice.” Her gaze swings back to me. “You pointed a gun at my mother’s head and gave me no choice but to come here with you.” An incredulous look blends with the constant fear on her face. “Then I find out you’re the head of the Italian mafia and you want me to trust that you won’t hurt me?”
“Luciano survived,” I mutter.
“You shot him!” she practically shrieks. Panic flares over her face, and she presses a hand to her chest. “I don’t want anything to do with the mafia. Just let my mother and me return to the States, and you’ll never hear from us again. I promise on my life we won’t tell anyone about you.”
I stare at Haven’s beautiful face, taking in her high cheekbones, full lips, and button nose. Her long, brown hair hangs in waves down her back, the strands looking soft as silk.
My gaze moves lower to her slender neck and glides over the top she’s wearing. The fabric doesn’t do shit to hide her hard nipples, and when she realizes what I’m looking at, she pulls the cardigan she’s wearing tightly around her and turns her head away from me again. Her shoulders curl forward as if she’s trying to make herself a smaller target.
She’s so fucking petite and feminine, it calls to my predatory side, making me want to sink my teeth into her skin while I make her writhe with pleasure beneath me.
I couldn’t explain why I took such an interest in Haven, but as I stare at her, I realize the answer is simple. I want to own her. I’ve never seen anything more beautiful than her. She’s a fucking work of art.
Up until now, I’ve poured all my energy into work, but for the first time in my life, I’m going to be selfish. I’m going to force her to marry me, and with time, she’ll warm up to me.
I want Haven Romano because every inch of her calls to me.
A faint red blemish on her jaw draws my attention, and it reminds me of when Mattia backhanded her.
“I apologize for my man hitting you. It will never happen again.”
“I just want to go home,” she whispers, her voice hoarse and making it sound like she’s close to tears.
I struggle to keep my tone soft as I say, “Stop asking me to let you go. That’s not going to happen.” Again, I glance over the open space of the foyer before settling my attention back on her. “The sooner we get to know each other, the better. You can ask me anything.”
Haven refuses to look at me as she mutters, “I seriously don’t want to know what’s your favorite color and whether you enjoy walks on your private beach that’s covered with the bodies of your enemies.” Her jaw clenches. “I don’t want to know anything about you.”
Gesù Cristo, she’s going to make me work my ass off just to get to know her, never mind winning her over.
“What’s your favorite color?” I ask the first question that comes to mind.
She shakes her head before her eyes settle on me. A stubborn expression ghosts over her face, and I expect her to refuse to answer me, but then she replies, “Pink.”
“What do you like to do in your spare time?” I ask another question.
She glances down, rubbing over her forehead with her fingertips, and it makes me realize how slender they are. Her hands are probably half the size of mine.
I wonder if the ring will fit.
I hear her suck in a deep breath. “I’ve already told you I like to read.” Lifting her head again, she looks tired. “Can we not do this? No matter how much we get to know each other, it won’t make me trust you. We’re complete opposites and from different worlds.”
“You’ll get used to my world,” I mutter. Suddenly, a thought pops into my mind, and I ask, “Do you speak Italian?”
She lets out a huff. “Very little. When you talk fast, I don’t understand a thing, so you don’t have to worry. I have no idea what you and the other man were speaking about earlier.”
“That’s not why I asked. My housekeeper doesn’t understand English.” I lean back against the couch and stretch my legs out, crossing them at the ankles. “Her name is Sofia. She comes in on Tuesdays and Fridays and only works until three pm.” Haven glances at the scenic view of the ocean, not commenting on what I just said. A few minutes pass before I ask, “Can you cook?”
She lets out a sigh. “I can make the basics, so if you expect me to cook for you, you better be okay with grilled cheese sandwiches.”
I let out a chuckle, which has her eyes snapping to my face. “When I’m home, I’ll make the food. I just don’t want you to starve when I’m busy or away for work.”
She sits up a bit straighter. “Are you away often?”
“Yes.”
When there’s a flicker of relief on her face, I wonder if I should give her space to adjust to everything.
“Are you an introvert or extrovert?” I ask.
Haven goes back to looking uncomfortable with all the questions I’m asking. “I’m a little of both.”
For a moment, silence fills the air while I just stare at her, taking in how fucking exquisite she is.
Wanting to know more about the fucker who cheated on her, I ask, “So you dated an idiot for four years? What was the relationship like?”
A frown forms on her forehead, and I can see she doesn’t want to answer me, but when I continue to stare at her, she gives in. “It was like any other relationship.”
“How did you meet?”
She lets out another huff. “We met at school. He was busy with his second year studying business. Once he graduated and started working, he met someone else and they hit it off.”
Haven wraps her arms around her, giving me the impression she’s cold.
“Is the aircon too cold for you?”
Her eyes flit to me. “Your house feels like a freezer.”
I get up and walk to the panel that’s situated on the wall behind Haven. While I adjust the temperature, I ask, “And before the idiot? Do you have other exes in your past?”
When I turn around, it’s to find her eyes locked on me, the guarded and fearful expression back on her face. “One, but we only dated for a few months my senior year.”
Instead of heading to the couch I was sitting on, I move around the side of hers and take a seat, leaving a few inches between us.
Haven scoots as close to the armrest on her side as she can, her body wound tense.
The corner of my mouth lifts. “I don’t bite, principessa.”
Her gaze lowers to my lips, and even though she’s shit scared, desire makes the brown of her irises look like melted caramel.
The slight smile on my face turns into a smirk, and I tilt my head. “Like what you see, principessa?”
Her gaze widens, and she jumps to her feet. Before she can dart away, I grab hold of her wrist and tug her back down onto the couch. She ends up right beside me, her lips parted with breaths rushing over them.
When I lift my other hand to her face, and my fingers skim over her cheek where I saw the dimple the night of the party, she freezes and holds her breath.
I lean closer, and it has her squeezing her eyes shut. My hand lowers to her neck, and positioning my fingers over her pulse, I feel how fast her heart is beating.
She’s fucking terrified of me.
I let go of her wrist, and placing my arm around her shoulders, I gently pull her against my chest. “Calm down, Haven. I said I won’t hurt you, and I meant it.”
I brush my other hand over her hair, realizing it’s as soft as it looks.
Cazzo, she smells sweet like a dessert, making my mouth water for a taste of her.
When I press a kiss to the top of her head, a sob sputters from her, and she actually leans into me.
“Today was a rough day for you,” I murmur, my tone gentle. “I promise it will get better. I’ll protect you from the violence in my world, and I never bring work home. The mansion will be a safe space for you.”
She pulls away from me, and this time I don’t hold her back when she climbs to her feet. Without saying anything, she heads toward the staircase and goes to her bedroom.
I let out a sigh as I relax against the couch and stare at the view of the moonlight reflecting on the dark waves.
Did I make progress with Haven or not?
