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She blinks away the tears and surprises me by crushing her lips to mine and, just like that, my heart is right back where I want it to be.
I don’t believe my lips leave hers for the entire journey. It’s not even sexual, not this time. It’s a promise, a declaration and a desperation that I have passed on to my wife. Everything could change because of one man, and I have never felt so vulnerable, but I’m an Ortega and we don’t let shit happen without putting up a damned good fight.
* * *
We reachmy penthouse back in New York and as soon as we step inside, I turn to Abi and say gently, “You’ll be safe here. Settle back in, sleep, eat and rest. I won’t be long.”
“Where are you going?”
“The club.”
“Please don’t leave me.” She looks panicked and inside I share that emotion but outwardly I remain calm and say firmly, “Nothing can hurt you here, princess. This is a gold lined fortress and is the best place for you now. Nobody will come in and nobody can get out. I have security measures set up, and my soldiers will protect you with their lives. Stephanie is down the hall and if you need company, I’m guessing she would appreciate it. Just stay here until I return. I won’t be long.”
I pull her toward me with an urgent need to feel her lips on mine, just one taste before my mind sets to business.
I’m not afraid for Abi, not here in my home because I have done everything possible to make it impenetrable.
She clings onto me as if she can’t bear to let me go and I sigh and pull away, smiling my reassurance.
“A couple of hours tops, then I’ll need to unwind, and the best place for that is my dungeon.”
I wink, loving the flush on her face when I remind her of a place we have yet to experience and the desire that lights in her eyes makes me smile. Yes, my girl is a lady on the outside and a whore inside, and I still can’t believe how I got so lucky.
CHAPTER38
ABIGAIL
I’m not sure what to think anymore. Things changed in the blink of an eye when Matteo received that text and the speed of our exit left me breathless. I can’t even imagine what startled him so much, but it was as if a bomb detonated in the room.
I’m still reeling from seeing my parents and what they told me. They have been hiding secrets from me my entire life and I wonder if I would ever have discovered them if it hadn’t been for Matteo.
I wander into the apartment and stare through the floor length window at a view I will never grow tired of. My entire world has changed, and it’s because of one man. The hardened criminal who I fell head over heels in love with. I am not thinking straight at all where he is concerned and yet something is telling me he has more honor in his pinkie than my parents have in their entire bodies combined. He puts me first, which is something they have never done, and it hardens my heart against them, bringing my loyalty firmly down on his side.
A small movement behind me makes me spin in surprise, and I see Stephanie hovering nervously in the doorway.
“I’m sorry, I’ll…”
“No.” I smile away my concern. “Please, come and join me. I could use some company.”
She smiles nervously and heads into the room and I say with a grin, “We should discover what passes as a kitchen in this place. I could murder a coffee.”
“It’s through there.” She points to a door leading to a hallway. “Come. I became familiar with this place when you all left. I’ll fix you a coffee and something to eat if you like.”
I nod and follow her out of the room and stare with interest at a space that is much bigger than I first thought. The hallway leads to another large landing where a staircase heads down and at the bottom is another one with rooms leading off it.
I love this place. It’s so chic and elegant but has a cosiness that appears at odds with what I know about Matteo and as we head into a large modern kitchen, I stare around me in wonder.
“This is impressive.”
Stephanie nods. “It is. This whole apartment is amazing. I’ve had a good poke around and I never want to leave.”
I stare at her with a burning curiosity. “Tell me about you and Cesare.”
At the mention of her man, her whole face lights up and as she reaches for the kettle, she sighs wistfully. “I met him at Mr. Ortega’s club where I worked after college. I found him scary but he had something that appealed to me.”
She grins, making me laugh out loud because I definitely recognize that appeal and she grins as she sets about her task. “I never dared speak to him or to any of them. We could look but never approach, unless bringing them drinks or at their request. I looked a lot, though. I found it impossible not to, and Cesare was the man I looked at the most. He was so dark, so dangerous, and closed off to everyone around him. Almost as if he was in his own head space and withdrew from the shit that surrounds them all.”
“Shit?”
