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I push John off me. Jumping to my feet, I take the gun out of Holly’s hand and tuck her behind me again. “I think you’ve overstayed your welcome,my friend. You should leave.” My voice is calm, while my mind and heart are anything but.
“This isn’t over, Valentino. Watch your back. And hers.” He nods towards Holly.
“Come on, John, even you’re not stupid enough to threaten my wife—the wife of a Don.”
I can see my words sink in when his face hardens. He knows Holly is untouchable unless he wants to start a war. If he were to even consider it, I’d have the backing of the other three families, while he went in it alone.
All five families are allies, but if someone goes rogue and breaks one of our cardinal rules, that someone would be out on their own. Once I see John Junior and his men exit the building, I turn around just in time to catch a falling Holly.
“Fuck.” Scooping her up in my arms, I walk towards the elevator.
“Get those two to the den,now.” I gesture to the men previously tasked with protecting Holly. Gabe, who is holding the doors to the elevator, nods his head in silent agreement—he’ll get it done.
ChapterTwenty-Four
Confusion settles in. Why am I being carried? Why is Theo carrying me? “Stop. Put me down.”
“Not a fucking chance, dolcezza,” he grunts and holds me tighter.
“What happened? I’m fine. I can walk.” I wiggle in his arms, not that there is any use as he maintains his vise-like grip.
Theo looks down at me for only a moment, but I see it. His eyes are stormy dark—he’s mad. Then it all comes back to me… what just happened in the lobby.
But why ishemad? I’m the one who was scared to bloody death.
He storms through his office doors, and I’m mortified. Everyone just saw him carrying me in here. I can feel the tears burning in my eyes. I need to get away. I need to be alone so I can just let them fall.
Theo puts me down on the sofa gently, a stark contrast to how he’s looking at me right now. I watch as he walks over to his bar and fills a glass with amber liquid, downing it before he spins around and pins that icy glare on me. “What the fuck were you thinking, Holly? Do you have a fucking death wish?” he yells, throwing the now-empty glass at the wall.
I’m stunned. I don’t know how to respond to him. He’s never raised his voice at me. I’ve never been afraid of Theo, but right now, he’s scaring the shit out of me. Okay, maybe I was afraid the first day I met him as he invited himself into my apartment. But since then, I haven’t evenconsideredhim any sort of threat. Not to me.
Until now… He’s never looked more like the mob boss he is than right now. I have a sudden urge to get away.
To escape.
I can’t do this.
I can’t do confrontation.
I silently rise to my feet and walk over to the bathroom. He watches me like a lion ready to pounce on his prey. Opening the door, I begin to squeeze through but I don’t get it shut before he’s on me. He pushes his way into the bathroom, backing me up against the counter.
“Stop. Please.” My voice comes out as a whisper—a plea. My hand lightly touches his chest. The fact that I’m terrified of him, yet still reaching out as if I want to jump his bones, is confusing the hell out of me. I want to push him away. I want to escape his unnerving proximity, and at the same time, I want his arms to wrap around me and comfort me like only he can.
“Fuck, Holly, I’m not going to fucking hurt you. I would never hurt you.” He steps back, giving me a little space. His fingers run through his hair, pulling at the tips. I can see he’s trying to rein in his temper, but he can’t hide the fact that he’s mad as hell. I don’t say a word. I just stand there like a deer in headlights, unable to move. “Fuck!” he screams, before charging at me again and slamming his lips down on mine.
His kiss is angry—passionate. I can feel every emotion in the gesture. I close my arms around his neck and pull him closer. I need him closer. There’s something in his darkness that calls to me, no matter how terrified I am of it. Then, just as quickly as he launched himself at me, he pulls away, swinging around and raising a gun at something… or someone.
“Jesus-fucking-Christ, Neo, you almost got your head blown off.” T tucks his gun back into the holster.
“Don’t shoot the messenger—literally. I can always come back later?” Neo raises his hands in surrender.
“No. Did you get what I asked for?” T snaps at him.
“Yep, sure did. But why anyone would actually sign this shit and be stuck with your cheery ass for the rest of their life is beyond me. Holly, blink twice if you want me to get you out of here.” Neo looks past T, to me, with a smirk on his face.
“Fuck off. Give me five minutes,” T growls, before turning around and kicking the bathroom door shut. Theo takes my face in his hands, lifting my eyes to meet his. “I’m sorry I yelled at you. I shouldn’t have lost my temper. Not in front of you.” I don’t know what to say, so I say nothing. I just stare into the dark depths of his eyes and hope to God I’m not wrong about him. That he is good, no matter how muchbadhe’s done. “Dolcezza, you are everything to me. I don’t know what I’d do without you. What you did downstairs…” He takes a deep breath, almost like he’s trying really bloody hard to maintain his composure. “It was careless. You’re not from this life, so I’m sure you don’t understand the repercussions associated with holding a gun to a Don’s head. Why the fuck would you do that?”
“I-I was scared he was going to hurt you,” I tell him.
