“No, I’ve added a lot more security to the house, but I can’t promise you can go outside. I can’t risk your safety out in the open.” She nods, processing it all. I can see she’s nervous, so I give her hand a reassuring squeeze.
The drive to the airport has such a spectacular view that I wish we could have spent more time here together. Looking over at her, I see the smile on her face, and I want it forever, but the danger is real.
I can’t believe I’m taking her back with me, but I can’t stand to be apart anymore. Am I being selfish? I’m still not sure, but she wants to be at my side, and I can’t think of anything better than that feeling of knowing she’s with me.
Giada’s going to have triple the security and of course, I’ll be with her almost all the time.
I squeeze her hand, getting her attention. “You’re going to do everything I tell you, understood?”
“Yes, Santino. I promised you. I obeyed them.”
“Yes, but you know that I won’t hurt you.” Her face drops and I wonder if I’ve upset her by reminding her of the abuse. I know she didn’t give herself to him willingly. She confessed that the shower had been her first orgasm. I’ll do anything I can to show her that I’m not either of them.
“Hold on.” I point a finger out as my phone rings.
“Hello, Mr. Bykov.”
“I have some interesting news for you.” There’s a little humor in his voice.
“Oh yes?”
“Yes, your brother has another wife.” My mouth almost dropped to the floor on that revelation.
“What?” Another wife?
He chuckles. “My men did a little snooping through Dimitri’s things, and an envelope arrived today. He’s married to a Marie O’Conner.”
“His mistress?” I ask, already knowing that’s her name, but mentally, I’m still processing it.
“Well, technically the one that lived with him...”
I cut him off before we aren’t friends anymore. “If you want to live—don’t finish that sentence.”
With a slight pause, he says, “Oh, I see. Understood. As it is, that would make their marriage null and void.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, that’s what Dimitri had been working on. I can’t read his handwriting, but I think it says, ‘not real judge on wedding certificate.’ Whatever that means.”
“Thanks, Bykov.”
“You have been a great help with the police. I will be taking Dimitri back to Russia with me tomorrow. If I do not hear from you, I will speak to you another time.”
“Safe travels.” He knows I’m returning today, but just in case we have someone listening; it’s best to lie about travel plans as best as we can. Dimitri’s just out of intensive care and can’t be traveling for a few weeks at the earliest, but his enemies don’t need to know that. Bykov’s looking out for my mother with the rest of the team which is a godsend.
As soon as I hang up and tuck away my phone, I turn to my woman. This is important information that she needs to hear without hesitation. “There’s something I need to tell you, Giada.”
“What is it?” She looks nervous, and I don’t like it.
“You’re officially not married.”
“What? Did he get a speedy divorce?” She’s smiling now, but I’m sure the next part is going to take that happiness away.
“You were never legally married. His mistress has been his wife this entire time.”
“What a piece of shit!”
“I’m sorry.”
“Why the hell didn’t he just bring her in instead of treating me like...”
“It’s because I found out two days ago that his father was also sleeping with her.”
“Oh God,” she gasps. I see something in her eyes that makes me afraid to ask. Please tell me he didn’t fuck her too.
“Did he share you?” I don’t want that image in my head, but what’s done is done and she’s not to blame for any of it.
“No, but the day you came, Rafael’s father threatened to rape me as punishment.”
He’s a dead man. I’m going to put a bullet in his head as soon as I get to him. “I won’t let them touch you again.”
“I know. Santino, kiss me please.”
“You never have to beg,” I growl, dropping my head down and taking her lips in a deep kiss.
“Um...we’re going to miss our flight.” Yanking my face away from hers, I reluctantly scowl at Joey.
“You’re lucky that I like your ass. I’m ready to put bullets in bodies.” Giada clings to me. “I’ll be putting babies in your body,” I whisper, thinking there’s a possibility I already did.
“I don’t know...”
“He’s probably sterile.”
“I was on birth control.”
“What?” I look at her, feeling shocked. “How did you manage that?”
“Your mother. She’s the one who gave them to me.”
“I had no idea.”
“Yes, what I was going to say is I don’t know how long they take to stop working. I haven’t had them since the night you took me from the house.”
“We’ll have to talk to the doc about it.”
“Did he give you my test results?”
“Yes, he did. Overall you’re clean from STDs and not pregnant, but you were missing key vitamins. He did say with proper nutrition that you’ll be on the way to healthy levels.”
“That explains the super-healthy, colorful meals.”
“That, and it’s not like there are many fast food places on the island.”
“I wish we could have spent more time together on the island.”
“Soon. I promise.”
We board the plane, and I sit her next to me. After another security check, we take off. Joey sits in the aisle across from us and further down. I want Giada all alone. The plane is Bykov’s and he let me use it. Learning that Giada was restless turned me into a caged tiger. I had to get to her before she did anything stupid.
My phone rings, and it’s my office. I have a conference
