FINLEY
Octavius Genovese always maintained his calm composure. Always so dignified, elegant yet causally cruel all at once, and in this moment, he was anything but calm. From the edge of the bed, I watched quietly as he paced back and forth, tugging on the cherry scrunchie around his wrist before he lit a cigarette.
Dark midnight-black strands of inky locks cascaded down his neck, and framed his face as his dark amber eyes eyes filled with warmth peered at me. Gorgeous, sexy, compelling but he was also lethal, frightening and deadly. A deep gaze that made me feel protected yet I didn't know if it would save me, kill me or break my heart.
"Come here," His low, husky voice murmured, igniting a spark deep down in my belly. I didn't have to be told twice before I arose from the bed, and with shaky legs, I sauntered towards him.
Strong arms corded around my hips, his gorgeous face bent down on par with mine, and I felt the light brush of his lips against mine. "Let him break every single part of me into a thousand pieces, and deny me life but I am not letting of you. Never."
"I—I.." I paused during mid speech, glancing down at our intertwined fingers. Every muscle, and bone in my body was persuading me, screaming vividly at me to flee and I felt consumed by the need to hide from him.
This man would eventually be my ruin, my complete destruction, and I would gladly let him.
"We're not done." Octavius' deep voice tethered me to reality. He always managed to do that. "Look at me, tesoro." He tilted my chin to meet his mesmerizing gaze clouded with a hardened personality he presented to others. Yet it always seemed to soften when we were alone.
His gaze on me was intense, and I couldn't look away. It almost felt as if I was revealing my entire soul to him in this moment. "We're not done until I say so. And right now..." The smell of the smoke consumed my nostrils as he pressed a lingering kiss on my nose. "We are far from done. Do you understand, amore mio?"
"Yes." I answered a little breathless from the effect of his possessive words.
"Good. Give me a kiss, baby." Strong hand clutched my throat, and effortlessly tugged my face to his. In a single instant, our lips met, tangled endlessly, evoking somersaults deep low in my belly.
His possessive, greedy hands raced—engulfed over the curves of my body and I whimpered to his searing lips. His tongue plunged over my lips, and he pulled my frame against him. My breasts mashed to his muscled chest, my fingers curled in his dark hair.
With the taste of his lips, I could feel every single emotion and feeling he was communication that even words could not convey. A flutter that became a tightening in my stomach as he nibbled around the edge of my lips in a slow rhythm before landing a passionate, relentless kiss on my lips.
It was almost as if he was telling me how much he loved me yet he was unable to actually out it into words.
Slowly parting his lips from mine, I felt the warm squeeze of his hands around my hips before he patted it softly. "You're going to go with Silvio, hm?" He gazed into my eyes, lips parting like he wanted to say more but he shook it away with a soft sigh.
"Don't die." I murmured quietly, almost a whisper in the silent room. "Please. Promise."
He shook his head slowly, then I felt it. A fingertip, or perhaps the back of his finger, moving slowly up and down my spine. "I can't promise you that, tesoro. You know I can't. I'll give you anything you want, anything but that."
I almost scoffed at his words because it seemed like he was ready to lay down his life for me. Like he had already decided.
"I wasn't prepared for you, Finley Van Doren. Ever. And now you're this madness inside my head I can't get rid of. And now I can't even breathe without you."
"Good." I teased in a light tone, reaching out slowly and running my fingertips against his scruffy jaw.
His deep, throaty laughter rumbled through the silent room, and sliced through the rotting tension. "Watch it." He tugged on my dark ponytail, making me smile cheekily.
His causal tone dripping with sarcasm was something that only I had access to. It almost felt like I was playing with fire, and I had gotten away with it. Barely.
The knock against the door sparked a jump in my heart, and instinctively I tried to pull away from his body yet Octavius only held me tighter against his chest. Fingers intertwined, chest to chest, our breaths mingled together in harmony. "It's just Silvio. He's waiting for you." His soft yet raspy voice murmured, tracing the edge of my lips with his dark eyes.
"Tell me you love me." His dark amber eyes were beautiful, like ink mixed with warm honey. Shiny, deep and bottomless but when they looked at me, it was the impact of fierce desire they held that sent goosebumps over my whole body.
I inhaled sharply, wanting nothing but to discover everything he had been hiding beneath the three-piece suits. "I love you. I heart you, you big grumpy Mafia man. Mi ami?"
"Sì." His dark eyes held amusement at my sudden Italian words, almost like he was proud of me, and shocked at the same time. "Always. I only need you, tesoro. Nothing else. Everything is useless if I don't have you. I would gladly give up this world for you. Don't forget that."
"I won't." I couldn't help but smile to myself like a love-stricken idiot.
With a light kiss pressed firmly to my temple, Octavius released me and then called for Silvio to be allowed entrance. The light click of the door alerted me, and I took a step back from the presence of Octavius' warm, muscular body, slowly returning back to the grave reality of the moment. Emiliano—his father—was currently on the way with a single goal in mind.
To ruin everything Octavius had achieved—perhaps even me. I should be running scared, fleeing away from every aspect of him but here I was, basking in his embrace. Unashamed, and proud.
"Here." Silvio pulled the dark gun out of his holster and handed it into my palm. "Just because I'm protecting you, principessa doesn't mean you won't have to defend yourself. Do you know how to use it?"
I smiled cheekily, twisting my fingers around the dark metal before I shook my head no. I had never seen a gun before I met Octavius and I had definitely not held a flipping gun before in my life.
Silvio sighed harshly then raked his fingers through his dark hair. "First things first, don't point the gun at yourself, principessa. Sounds like something you would do."
Hey!
"I wouldn't—" I glanced over at Octavius for moral support but he was busy with the silver tie around his neck, buttoning up the dark grey suit he was fitted in. Almost like he knew I was watching him, his dark amber eyes instinctively met mine.
Maintaining eye contact, his tongue darted out of his mouth, tracing lightly around his lips. Dark pools of golden brown held desire, love and lust all mixed in one, like he wanted to rip the silky satin dress I was wearing, and shove himself snugly into me. And I would gladly let him.
I'm going to jump his bones if he doesn't stop looking at me like that.
Just kidding... I think.
"Focus." Silvio's fingertips snapped in front of my eyes, drawing my heated gaze away from Octavius. My cheeks darkened, and I could feel my face heating up at the thought that Silvio had caught me drooling over his boss. I can't help it. He looks delicious.
"Last chance. Last chance to leave if you want." Silvio told me in a deep, masculine voice. His dark olive eyes melted into mine, the slightest concern shone through his rigid persona.
"You are naive, and innocent, principessa. Too pure for this shit, and there is a lot of things you don't understand yet. Do you want to do this?" He asked, uttering each syllable clear, and loud. So brutal but he was right.
"Yes." I mustered a dark look on my face or attempted but Silvio only chuckled lowly. The warm sound of his laugh clouded the room, and it made me smile to myself.
He was the scariest person I had ever met yet for some reason I felt safe with him. So beautiful on the outside and he only needed love to feel beauty on the inside of him.
"I think we have to work on your poker face first. Do not fire the gun at me." Silvio told me in a stern voice, adjusting the dark gun in my hands and pointed the gun towards himself. "Don't trust anyone. Not even me. Is that clear?"
I nodded firmly. "I still trust you, Sil."
His jaw clenched tightly, dark olive-green eyes laced with realization and he gazed at me with such concern that I had actually questioned if something was wrong. Yet he shook his head to himself. "Non merito la tua fiducia, principessa. Trust no one but yourself. If you ever find yourself in the presence of him, don't hesitate to use your gun. Sì?"
(I don't deserve your trust, princess)
Before I could respond, I turned my head slightly to the side to find Octavius' dark eyes, a little shocked when he suddenly appeared by my side.
Fitted in a dark grey suit, midnight-dark curls that cascaded down his neck and drew attention to the vivid, calligraphy burned into his skin. Suits and tattoos were always his cover and I had always wondered what I would find when I unwrapped him, and I had only just scratched the surface.
"Silvio is right, tesoro. Shoot first, questions later. Sì?" Dark deep set eyes like buried embers prodded into mine, his strong, veined hand gently grasped my hips through the fabric of my dress. It was like he couldn't physically keep himself from putting his greedy hands on me, or any part of my body he could possibly possess.
Even though I knew with no doubt that I would freak out and succumb to my panic attack if I ever got attacked, I nodded in response to the two grumpy man to give them a sense of peace.
"Brava ragazza." Octavius murmured lowly, almost a whisper before he placed a chaste kiss at the top of my head. A small smile drifted to my lips, and I unconsciously leaned into his warm embrace before placing the gun on the dresser.
(Good girl)
Octavius spoke to Silvio in a hushed, low voice that I could barely hear. "Give us a minute. Abbiamo pochi minuti prima che si spengano le luci."
(We have a few minutes until the lights turn off)
With a firm nod, and a stern look directed towards me, Silvio sauntered out of the bedroom which left Octavius and I. Alone. I should have known, I felt and smelled it the moment Silvio stepped out through the door. Like how the prey caught a whiff of their predator and bolted. I should have bolted.
A startled gasp left my lips as his pair of large veined hands grasped both sides of my hips, and effortlessly flipped me over so that my back was facing his warm chest. His big, muscular body pressed firmly to mine, thick beard nuzzling the edge of my silky shoulders, and his tatted fingers absently found mine and endlessly intertwined with mine.
I could feel him everywhere, the hard bulge pressed against the small of my back and I quickly remembered how evidently clear it was that Octavius was big everywhere.
Especially the throbbing pain between my thighs that was a reminder of the moment before Silvio had interrupted.
A tattooed hand was now inside my panties, cupping my core and gently rubbing softly. "Hm." His husky, sex-laced voice murmured as I whimpered softly, tattooed arm latched around my waist possessively. "You were waddling, tesoro. Silvio noticed as well. Does it hurt down there?"
Turning my head slightly, I gazed at him through half-lidded eyes, watching the intense, smoldering look simmering in his dark eyes. "No.. not really." I didn't want to tell him that I could barely even walk after earlier.
"Don't lie to me, Finley." His deep voice was heavy, lined with deep regret and it was thick—too thick to even digest. I felt the gentle caress of his scruffy beard nuzzling my skin as he rained light kisses along my bare shoulders. "Does it hurt, tesoro?"
For some reason, I could feel my cheeks heating up, and my face flushed with embarrassment. "Yes, a little."
The illicitness of his scent kept me locked into place, imprisoned without the bars. "Hm? Was that so hard after all?" He let out a low, husky laugh that tickled the skin while his tattooed hand gently rubbed my clit.
For all intent, and purposes, I had decided that this man was dangerous to all homosapiens. Much too dangerous.
"Daddy will make it better, sì?" Octavius had already decided, judging by the fact that his thick, blunt finger had started gliding between my folds and he rubbed his thumb gently against it. "That feel better?"
I could barely respond with actual words but the fervent shake of my head got the point across. His hand then slipped out of my panties, the gentle kiss pressed firmly against my jaw. Strong hands hunted for the feel of my curves then slid under my dress, cupping my breasts over my lace bra.
"Relax. You're so tense, baby." Low voice whispered into my ear, nibbling on my earlobe. When he pulled down the thin fabric of my bra and squeezed my bare flesh, I whimpered with delight.
His big body pressed against mine, his hands fisted around my ponytail and he jerked my head backward to meet his lips. His tongue teased my mouth open, and smoke wafted around us, a blend of both our exhalations.
He tasted exactly like he smelled—exactly like I had always hoped. Like mint and smoke and desire. He pulled away, tugging his lips from mine before it got out of control, and pressed a kiss to my nose.
My panties were wet with proof of everything I wanted. The kiss hadn't alleviated the craving, but rather made it worse. An ache now settled on my still-damp lips, tingled my tongue and burned through my throat.
"Still a bit tense, tesoro." He groaned, low and heavy. My nickname rolling off his tongue was like a thumb pressed to my clit—I flooded with moisture thinking what else his tongue might be capable of making me feel.
Bad Finley! How could I be thinking about that when his father was only a few minutes away?
He jutted a cigarette between my lips; Eyes glinted with laughter as Octavius flicked the lighter, the small flame not near as hot on my skin as his breath. Then he lit the cigarette that was already pressed between my lips, his gaze meeting mine.
"Inhale. Slowly. Slowly, Topolina." He instructed with a stern voice. My stomach lurched again at the sound of his voice, this time sending a wave of heat through my chest and straight down to my clit.
I inhaled slowly but deeply, and blew the smoke out into the silent room. I could feel a release through my whole body, a knot that had unraveled deep inside my chest.
"That should take the edge off a bit." His hand reached out, gently brushing my cheek, and my body erupted in flames. "That's enough. Don't want my good girl getting addicted, hm?" He plucked the lit cigarette from my lips, and wedged it between his lips, inhaling deeply.
The tension in the air wrapped around both of us, wove between the mere inches that separated our faces. He engulfed my small hands with his large, tatted hands, lightly tracing over my knuckles with so much love, and tenderness I could almost cry. "After all of this, how does a nice trip sound?"
I couldn't say anything but nod because I knew if I even attempted to speak, it wouldn't be words. I would bawl my eyes out, and cling to him like a sloth, sobbing about the fact that I didn't want to even leave him. Like the big baby I was.
His dark eyes tightened at my reaction, pink lips parted softly and he used our intertwined fingers to pull me against his flush body. Fingers threading through the soft hair by my nape, my teary face pressed against the fabric of his dark grey suit and I wrapped my arms around his waist.
"Sh. Such a greedy girl." A soft kiss against the edge of my ear. "Looks like I've caused my baby to develop separation anxiety."
"Not funny." My voice cracked into a million pieces as I clung onto his waist, burying my face into the crook of his neck. If this man died, then I would willingly give up my life as well. End of discussion.
The lights suddenly started flickering on and off, and I couldn't help but shut my eyes tightly, clinging onto Octavius to fight off the impending panic I felt.
"You're going to go with Silvio. He'll protect you. After I'm done, I'm going to find you, and I'll take care of you. Hm?" His voice was breathy, thick with love yet filled with determination.
I nodded slowly, my fingers tracing over my tattoo over the curve of his neck. "I love you." I whispered softly, pulling back from his neck and gazed into his deep eyes swimming with desire, and longing. "If you die.. die, I'll smoke.. every single day and I'll refund you." I mocked the same words he had told me back them.
I refuse to sell my dogs and cat.
His dark amber eyes held laughter, and a bit of mischief as he placed a chaste kiss against my eyelids, then the crook of my nose, and finally my lips. "I love you, tesoro. So fuckin' much."
"Language." I teased with a soft giggle, leaning into his warm kisses.
"Principessa." Silvio's deep, masculine voice called out from the doorway, and I exhaled a soft sigh. Time to go.
Sighing harshly, Octavius released me but not before grasping me into a warm bear-hug, nearly squeezing the living life out of me. Soft kisses rained down the side of my jaw, and against my collarbones, claiming my body as his.
"I'll see you soon, amore mio." Octavius told me, grabbing hold of the dark gun and placed it into my palm before he nudged me against the door.
My brown eyes still fixated on his, watching as he firmly grabbed his gun—guns and latched it into his holster. Before I could say anything, I caught a quick glimpse of his warm amber eyes before the lights flickered off permanently and Silvio grasped my arm in a vice hold. "Shit. Come on, principessa."
"But... but.. Octavius." It took all of my resolve to walk away from the door.
"He can protect himself. You can't." Silvio growled in a low voice, tugging firmly on my arm as he led me past the stairs and down the dark hallway. I could barely see anything and tripped over myself as I followed Silvio and I wondered how Silvio could even see.
We sauntered down a dark corner and I stumbled against my feet, slowly falling to the ground till Silvio's gloved hands grasped my hips to steady me, quickly adjusting to my waist.
"Can you walk or do I have to carry you?" My lips parted softly as I was about to respond but he shook his head. "Don't answer that."
I gasped lowly as Silvio's pair of gloved hands grasped the backside of my thighs, and he lifted me into the air like I weighed nothing and drew me firmly into his arms.
"Guard the principessa, they said. It'll be simple. Fucking liars." Silvio grumbled darkly under his breath as he hunted down the stairs in quick, long strides. "Stop looking at me like I'm going to fucking take advantage of you. He would kill me if he knew I was doing this."
"I—I know. I trust you. Thank you, Sil."
"Stop thanking me. Tutto per la piccola principessa."
(All for the little princess)
I smiled widely, clapping my hands to myself. "I understood that!" I told Silvio in a excited voice, then quickly gripped onto his shoulders to steady myself from falling. "I-I knew what you.. you said!"
"Congratulations." He responded in a dry tone. I couldn't clearly see his expression but I knew Silvio was probably stifling a smile or perhaps he meant for me to understand his words.
We walked wordlessly engulfed in the dreading silence that warped around us. I didn't know what I expected honestly from Emiliano. Was there going to be gunshots? Blood? God, not blood. I heard the sharp ding of letters as Silvio pressed the keypad, then I was instantly rewarded by the bright light that flooded my brown eyes.
Silvio gently placed me on the ground, and shut the metal door. "Take a seat, principessa. We wait."
"Wait?"
"Hopefully the boss walks in, and if not... then we go down fighting." Silvio explained in a light, casual tone, his dark olive-green eyes fixated on me. "You look like you're going to pass out. Breathe."
I shook my head slowly, grabbing a fistful of my dress. "I'm fine."
"Sit down." He demanded in a stern voice, gesturing to the chair behind me. I instantly did as he had asked, hunched lowly as my arms wrapped around my legs and I tried to calm my heartbeat down, slow enough for me to concentrate.
"Damn it. Breathe, principessa. Slowly." I wanted to simply breathe but it was much easier said than done. It felt like there was a weight that inhabited my chest—the weight of a hundred gorillas collapsed in my chest. Like a lock in my throat, making it hard to breathe.
A little less air got through, my organs rebelling against and my chest tightened like it would explode any second. Then I started crying because it felt like everything would disappear in the blink of an eye including me and no one seemed to realise it.
"Finley. Look at me." Through blurry eyes, I could see Silvio hunched over in front of me. "What's... damn it.. what's your favorite color?" He asked, his tone low and quiet.
His cheeks tinted with a soft pink like he was embarrassed of asking such a causal question. Then I realized that he was merely trying to distract me from my mind, and pull me into the present.
"I—what? Blue.."
"That's also mine." His soft voice whispered like he was terrified of scaring me. "It signifies harmony and peace. A sense of relaxation, and tranquility. It represents safety. Did you know that?"
I shook my head slowly, inhaling deeply in and out of my nose like Octavius and I had practiced several times until I could feel my heart rate trending down to its normal rhythm.
"Good." Silvio murmured to himself as he watched me practicing my breathing until I completely relaxed. "You're part of this family, remember that. Don't be intimidated by Emiliano."
He said I'm part of the family, aweeee.
I couldn't help but smile at his words. "Is he scary?"
"Well.. not exactly scary. You've seen the boss when he's angry.. or at least a fraction?" Silvio asked me, and I shook my head slightly. "You've never had a reason to be scared because he's never shown you that part of him, and that's good. Emiliano taught him how to kill.. how to be cold, how to be ruthless in every aspect of his life. And of course, it had to come from somewhere. Think the boss but deranged."
I couldn't say anything but digest the intensity of Silvio's words. I wasn't an idiot, I knew that Octavius Genovese was dangerous, possibly the most lethal man I've ever met. He had a habit of dragging darkness everywhere he went.
He could crush me, break me apart effortlessly and I would let him. And he covered that under three-piece suits, and tattoos. Instead of reveling in the aggression like many men, Octavius maintained a calm composure and that control, and silence was even petrifying.
"Why.." I cleared my throat so that my words could actually sound clear, and unaffected. "Why is he.. he doing this? Is this because of Gia?"
Silvio snorted lowly, shaking his head in amusement. "Emiliano could care less about his dead wife. It's the chase. He wants everything Octavius has. He wants him to respect him as his father, as the Don, and kneel before him. And you.. you're the gateway to that."
"Okay.. cool.." I laughed shakily, and Silvio gazed at me like I had grown two heads. "That's... definitely not disturbing at all."
Silvio responded with a low, deep chuckle that clouded the room, his hard, muscular face relaxing slightly, and a soft look settled on his face. "You'll be fine, principessa. I have no doubt in the boss, and Cosimo and Beast will be there to help. Besides, very few people know about the bunker."
"Okay." I mumbled, still unsure of his words. I couldn't stop thinking of every bad scenario in my head to make up for my lack of knowledge.
Silvio and I sat in silence, wordlessly—and even though we had words, neither of us knew what to do with them. I had never been in such a situation, and I hated myself for feeling such anxiety, and panic but I also missed my man. He was right. I had developed separation anxiety. Oh well, I could only think of a cure. And that was him.
Behind the door, I could hear footsteps walking past the bunker, and Silvio suddenly shot to his feet. I could barely decipher anything that was happening, or even see but I could make out his mouthed words. Shut up. Or was it be quiet? I was awful at reading lips.
With trembling hands, I grabbed firm hold of my gun, pointing it towards the door and Silvio did the same. The metal door instantly clicked open with no warning, and I whimpered quietly before Silvio's big, muscular body injected in front of me.
He covered my frame, pressing a finger over his mouth as a warning for me to stay quiet. Despite the panic that curled deep in my belly, I forced myself to be quiet and commanded my body to stop shaking.
Since my vision had failed me in this moment, I tried to listen. Listen carefully to the rushed commands in Italian, the sound of masculine voice yelling loudly, and I concentrated on the heavy breathing of the man in front of me, and the warm haven he provided.
"Shoot, principessa." Silvio demanded all of a sudden, and though I couldn't see anything, it didn't matter. I pointed my gun in front of me, and released the trigger, still holding my breath. It wasn't after I heard the collapse of a body and I was finally able to release my breath.
Then I didn't hear anything. Once again, I was flooded with the lethal silence that conveyed more than anything I've ever heard. "Sil?" I called out softly, walking slowly by putting one feet in front of another yet I couldn't see anything. "Sil? You okay?"
His low, pained groan blessed my ears, and I turned my head to the side on the hunt for him. Before I could take another step, pair of strong hands reached out and grasped my arm in a tight, excruciating hold.
"Not a word. Be quiet." The low, masculine voice instructed me, than he grabbed the dark gun out of my hands before I could attempt to do anything. Oh god.
Still soaked in the dark, my feet walked on its own accord, following as the man that held me commanded my body like a rag doll. I inhaled deeply, trying my absolute best to remain calm but I couldn't help but wonder if Silvio was okay... or was he even alive?
My lips trembled as the man's steps became more urgent, as if he was in a hurry to reach his destination.
"No, no." I struggled against his touch, twisting my arm from his grip. "Let go of me! No!" I screeched loudly, unsure of how loud I could actually get. Clawing at his skin, I dug in as deep as I could, scratching and fighting against his repulsive touch yet it was all futile. The man was much larger, and fitter than I had ever fought against.
He brought one hand across my face, landing a swift slap on my cheek. "Quiet." His face was almost unreadable, there was no fear, no smile, no sinister smirk. Nothing. Just emptiness. "You're gonna shut your mouth, sì?" I didn't respond, my fingernails still fighting with no command. "Such a pretty face. I would hate for anything to happen to it."
"Please don't." I whimpered, my voice two octaves higher than it had ever been. "Let go, let go. Don't touch me!"
"Shh!" His raw voice, brutal against my ear. I struggled against him, my balled fist colliding with his cheekbones, my action took him by surprise but my movements were far too slow.
In a spilt second, the man seized my hands, trapping them to my sides and pushed me roughly against the wall. The agile gesture almost caused me to stumble upon the tiled floors. "I'm supposed to deliver you safely but you're making that awfully difficult." He whispered in hushed tones, a fingertip tracing the strap of my dress.
I could hear my heartbeat, every single pound in my chest, getting louder and louder, threatening to break out of my chest, I could feel the hairs on my arms stand to attention as a militia of chills marched down my spine and paralyzed me to the spot.
"You calm?" The man asked in a irritated voice. I almost chuckled because the question was worded strangely. Was I calm after being caught by the enemy? No, I was not. Yet I nodded slowly. "Good. If you try that again, I will shoot you."
I nodded firmly once more, no doubt in my mind that he could do that.
Somehow, I had managed to calm down as he continued to drag me down the hallway. He would stop every few seconds, wrapping his arms around my waist to make sure I didn't trip over myself in the dark, or make an attempt to talk to me.
I tried to remind myself that my situation could be worse, and I could have been haunted by my worst nightmare or I could be dead in a ditch but none of this helped.
I want Octavius.
Glimmer breads of sweat lingered upon my forehead, my lips trembled the same way they would whenever I was anxious. "Here she is. The pretty lady." The man spoke in a teasing voice, tugging my body towards the living room, and I was engulfed by the bright lights that flooded my eyes.
A heartbeat later, his repulsing presence was at my back, hand at the small of my back. He stood there, hovering over me, the close contact summoning heat that simmered off his body onto mine.
Then I caught a quick glimpse of him. Emiliano. Jesus Christ, he looked just like Octavius but nothing at the same time. Dark tattoos that covered his arm., dark midnight-black hair with a stands of sliver that cascaded down his back—even longer than Octavius but his dark eyes were a dead giveaway.
So empty, bottomless and definitely not amber. Not like the soft, warm amber that always sought mine, burying me in their depths. Emiliano's eyes was a dark gray color that resembled a washed blanket that had been overused, tainted with sin, and infidelity.
The corner of his lips quirked at my sight as he absently twirled the rings around his fingers. "Pretty." His dark, raspy voice rumbled. "È sicuramente una vista da guardare. I can see why Gia felt threatened. How old are you, sweetheart?"
(She's definitely a sight to look at)
"Don't answer that." Octavius' deep, gruffly voice demanded out out nowhere. His dark amber eyes never looked at me—not even to spare a glance—they were fixated on his father, his jaw clenched painfully and he slowly inhaled a puff of the lit cigarette hanging between his lips.
Legs crossed, silver tie tugged from his neck, Octavius was... calm.. or at least he appeared to be. He didn't look like someone who was in danger, or even running from his father but I wondered if it was a ruse. He didn't look at me.
Stop being a baby.
"Let me guess. She's twenty-one?" Emiliano chuckled deeply, gesturing with his hands for the man to bring me closer to where he sat. "Ah, your mother's ring. Things are getting serious, I suppose. You know I didn't believe it when I first heard you found yourself a girl. An outsider. Does the pretty girl talk or not?"
Octavius' breathy, raspy voice commanded. "Don't. Say. A. Word." Pools of warm amber met my gaze for a spilt second, enticingly beautiful. Taunting me with the darkness I had fought to flee from. They filled with a hint of wanting as they fixated on the arm the man held in a vice hold.
Without as much as a word, Octavius grabbed firm hold of the cold metal from his holster and fired a lethal shot in the middle of the man's head. The same man who held me. I squirmed quietly, muffling the sound of my scream by biting down on my lips as the crimson blood splattered on my face and stained my satin, rosy dress.
Oh my god. Oh my god.
"Figlio. He was one of my most loyal men. He did nothing wrong." Emiliano spoke with a low laughter, shaking his head to himself with amusement sparking in those gray eyes.
"He touched what is mine. That was wrong enough." He whispered aggressively with absolutely no trace of remorse. "Sit down, tesoro." His irritated, dark voice murmured yet with such softness directed towards me. I didn't have to be told twice before I obeyed, instantly sitting down on the couch across from Emiliano.
I inhaled sharply, my chest heaving as I attempted to clean the splattered blood on my face, feebly clawing at my skin.
"Tu la ami sicuramente, non lo sai. You sound... soft." Emiliano mocked in a voice filled with hatred then slowly swallowed a glassful of vodka as his gray eyes hunted my frame. "You should see the look on your face, figilo. Like it's taking everything in you to not kill me, Nicolo."
(You definitely love her, don't you)
What?
"It is. And that's not my fuckin' name. That's the name you gave me. Not the name Mamma intended." Octavius spoke in a rather calm voice yet full of authority. So moderately polite, every bit of a gentleman until he wasn't. "Don't talk to me like we're old friends catching up. I'm still the son you hate, and the man who threatens your power."
"Ah. I see." Dark gray eyes flickered over to me, a taunting smirk at the edge of his lips. "Is your little bride all right? She looks a bit... nauseous."
He exhaled a sharp sigh, and stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. Octavius' dark eyes traveled to mine, and they flooded with concern, tenderness and warmth. Everything colliding and crashing at the same time.
"Tesoro. You have to breathe, baby." He demanded lowly with a flick of his fingers. Warm amber eyes, sweet like liquor, sweet like heroin. My personal hit of dopamine. "Breathe, Finley."
For the first time ever since I left the bunker, I inhaled deeply, feeling the warm rush of air hit my lungs and my chest followed the motion before I exhaled slowly yet steadily.
Emiliano smirked lightly. "Luciano." He called out with a wave of his fingers, gesturing to the masked man behind me. "Nicolo, you know how things work in our world. Marrying an outsider is forbidden. Will you take care of it... or shall I grant Luciano the pleasure?"
"Emiliano."
"I guess Luciano shall take care of it."
"Cosa vuoi che faccia?" Octavius asked instantly, his voice low, pained—almost tortured.
(What do you want me to do?)
"What do you want? If you want the title, then you can fuckin' have it. You want New York, take it. You want me to fuckin' beg? I'll beg. Do you want me to fuckin' kneel, then I'll kneel." He growled out thick, and heavy, then I watched quietly as he hunched down on his feet and bent down. Knees pressed firmly against the ground.
Control was an integral aspect of his life, Octavius had never strayed far away from the calm, quiet composure he always maintained. And now, he was on his knees begging. Begging for our love.
Silvio told me earlier that Emiliano wanted his son's respect, for him to kneel in front of him. Octavius had never kneeled before anyone else but here he was. Kneeling.
Emiliano's dark gray eyes widened with shock. "For her? Tu tradiresti la famiglia per lei."
(You would betray the family for her)
A quick glimpse of gingerly, red hair caught my eyes, and I turned my head slightly to the side. Beast. He pressed a finger against his lips, demanding for me to be quiet as he stalked in slow strides towards the living room.
I couldn't help but feel a rush of happiness burst through my heart at the fact that Octavius had a plan. He planned everything but did that include this? Him kneeling?
"You." Emiliano called out as he gazed straight into my eyes. "Do you wish to pay with your body or will you fight to the death?"
"Please, father." Octavius' raspy, masculine voice growled out with such darkness, and filled with hatred. I could tell it was taking almost every muscle and bone inside of him not to rush over to me, and engulf me into a bear-hug.
Emiliano let out a deep chuckle, and Luciano stepped forward, pressing the dark gun firmly against the side of my head. I whimpered softly, my fingers grasping fistful of my dress as I watched Octavius gazing at me from beneath his thick eyelashes, stern brows drawn low in a forbidding expression.
I had never seen him so distraught, broken, his dark amber eyes shattered with tears—heart-wrecking tears I had never seen. My wickedly passionate, fiercely dominant man—who loved me too much to ever really hurt me— was crying.
"Close your eyes, baby. Close your eyes." He instructed me. The angles of his face were hard, his jaw sharply defined yet cleaver with anger, and he held his beautiful mouth in a harsh line that attempted to harden the full curve of his lower lip trembling but couldn't quite manage it.
Firestorm clouded his eyes, and he kept his eyes on me even though I could hear his father speaking. Almost reassuring me with the tales of his eyes. Quieting my fears with the warmth that they held.
"I think I'll have to choose for you after all. She'll have to pay with her life." Emiliano's clear words rang through the room, and I instantly shattered into broken pieces—collapsing against the couch as the dark gun wedged into my skin.
My throat tightened, my skin burned to the touch, and the energy pulsing through my veins spiked so fast my vision blurred.
I couldn't see anything, I couldn't move. I couldn't process anything that was going on. I couldn't breathe. Everything felt suspended in motion, my breath lingering in the air as I inhaled deeply. Or struggled to.
All I could see was red. Everything was clouded in a red mist. The sound of Italian profanities in the air, crimson blood splattered over the pure white of the curtains, the sound of bodies collapsing against each other and the sharp, lethal sound of gunshots lingered in the air.
My trembling body was pressed snugly against a hard, muscular chest; Dark olive-green eyes I instantly recognized gazed down into mine, and I succumbed to the welcoming warmth of his body.
His large hand wrapped gently around my arm, and commanded my body towards the door, almost demanding for me to leave.
"I.. no... I can't!" I sobbed helplessly into the fabric of Silvio's shirt as he swept me into his arms effortlessly and carried me down the hallway. "Please. Please. We have to go.. go back. I-I need him. Please, Sil. Please let me go."
"Principessa. Breathe. Relax." Silvio murmured softly as he attempted to help me relax yet to no avail. I was hysterical, and I only needed and wanted one person. Octavius. My Octavius.
With trembling hands, I wiped the tears the dripped down my cheek and past my chin. "W-we.. we.. we can't leave him. We can't. Please, Sil. Please. P-please."
Silvio didn't say anything but tightly grip my body against his chest in case I would attempt to run away. Through blurry eyes, I glanced down at my arm, finally noticing the cherry scrunchie hung around my wrist—the same scrunchie I had given him. And I couldn't contain it anymore.
I had finally succumbed to the darkness that flirted with me, taunting me with numbness, calling to me with emptiness. And it felt like I was falling, falling down some bottomless pit with no point of return.
Octavius Genovese had ruined me. And I let him.
author's note:
happy thanksgiving in advance, loves. I'm thankful for every single one of you <3
the last chapter is the next one :(
all my love,
dee