Page 72 of Taking His Heart

“Are you sure?” My aunt pulls out her phone. After tapping on the screen, she holds it up to Daniella. “Do you know him?”

Daniella’s face pales slightly and her eyes go wide. “That was one of my professors at uni. He’s not a cartel prince.”

“He is. He’s also an academic. Go figure.” My aunt shrugs. “His father called him back to Mexico. He wasn’t too happy about leaving but, you know, when your father is a crime lord, you do what he wants.”

“Okay, how close did you get with this professor, Daniella. He’s not the one you had a thing with, is he?” Rosie asks.

“You had a thing with one of your professors?” I ask.

“Not him. He always creeped me out, to be honest. I didn’t really ever have a conversation with him. I was only ever in two of his classes. Why would he be obsessed with me?”

“From what I’ve learned, he saw you first in Vegas, followed you back here. And, well, became besotted,” Aunt Lailani explains.

“Where is he now?” I stare at the image, implanting the fucker’s face in my mind.

“That’s the thing. No one knows. His father put a bounty on his head,” my aunt says.

“Nice family,” Aurelio grumbles.

“Well, they can’t all be as awesome as ours, right, CJ?” Aunt Lailani nods her head in my direction.

“Sure. That why they sent you here?” I ask her.

“Obviously, who else is going to save all your asses?” My aunt reaches over and picks up a slice of pepperoni pizza. “I’m starving.”

“Okay, well, you enjoy the pizza. Daniella and I are going to bed.”

“I had the guestroom made up for you. Dad’s orders,” Aurelio tells me.

“Thanks.” I take Daniella’s hand when she stands and lead her out of the room.

“You’re not sleeping in a guestroom,” she whispers.

“I know, but I don’t need to tell your brother how I’m going to have my cock buried inside you within the next five minutes,” I tell her.

“Really? Five minutes? That’s ambitious of you, Mr. Bianchi.”

Bending at the waist, I pick Daniella up and throw her body over my shoulder.

“Don’t you dare drop me, CJ!” she squeals, her fingers gripping the back of my jacket.

“I would never,” I tell her.

Taking the stairs two at a time, I walk into her childhood bedroom and shut the door behind us with a foot. Then I deposit her on the bed and stand at the end. Her blonde hair fans out around her like a fucking halo.

“You are so damn beautiful.”

“Thank you.” Daniella smiles up at me.

“Now strip. I want you naked in the next two minutes.” I start removing my own clothes.

Just as Daniella sits up and reaches the hem of her top, there’s a knock at the door. “Daniella, you in here?” Rosie calls out from the other side.

“Yeah, hang on.” Daniella stands. “Don’t go anywhere,” she tells me before opening the door and stepping out into the hallway.

I throw myself down on the bed, landing on my back. So much for my five-minute goal. A groan leaves me but the vibration of my phone from my pocket has me sitting up.

When I pull my phone out, the name Gio De Bellis flashes across the screen. “Mr. De Bellis,” I answer.