War of Hearts

That sounded kind of lonely. “What about his mother? Doesn’t he have any siblings?”

Joseph’s expression shuttered. “That’s for Marco to tell you, if he wants to.”

I wanted to ask why it was such a secret, but deep in my heart, I understood. I didn’t want people knowing about my estrangement from my mother, either. It was so much easier to plaster on a smile and talk about what a great surgeon she was, how proud I was of her achievements. When in reality, all I felt was resentment and abandonment.

“Oh. Okay.” I let the subject drop, but I’d never ask Marco about it. I didn’t want to be anywhere near him, much less have heart-to-hearts about our families. Besides, I wasn’t sure if Marco even had a heart.

When we got to the kitchen, Marco was nowhere to be seen. Two perfect, fluffy omelets were plated and waiting on the marble-topped island. Joseph pulled out one of the barstools for me, treating me with the same gentlemanly consideration he’d always shown me when we were together in Cambridge. It seemed that part of him had been genuine.

Last night, he’d said he wanted to protect me and make me happy. I believed him, even if my mind was still reeling from the revelations about his lifestyle. It would take time for me to fully accept that my sweet Joseph was a criminal, but the fact that he’d tried to escape and make a new, better life for himself made it easier to swallow. If we just waited until the danger passed, we could go back to Cambridge together, and he could start over. I could go back to my life, with Joseph at my side.

The knowledge made it much easier to accept my situation. Marco might have kidnapped me, but I wasn’t a captive here. Not really. Joseph was just trying to shelter me and keep me safe. It would be foolish to reject his protection.

And I wasn’t certain that he would give me the option to reject it. A part of me recognized that the dynamic between us might be very different if I’d continued to defy his decision to keep me here.

I remembered the way he’d wrapped his hand around my throat, pinning me down and kissing my desperate tears. I’d never seen that side of him before. It made my stomach drop and my pulse race.

“I guess Marco already ate,” Joseph said, breaking into my dark thoughts. He touched two fingers beneath my chin, redirecting my gaze to his. “You okay, angel?”

“Yeah,” I answered, and it was the truth. When he was looking at me with soft concern, touching me with such gentleness, I couldn’t be frightened of him. “I’m just hungry.”

He grinned. “Then we’d better eat before it gets cold.”

The eggs had already cooled to a lukewarm temperature while we’d lingered in the bedroom, so I ate them quickly before they got rubbery. The omelet really was delicious, just the right consistency and stuffed with bacon and cheese. Apparently, Marco really did like to cook. It seemed like a weird hobby for a ruthless criminal, but I supposed even mobsters had to eat.

Although, given the opulence of his mansion, I suspected Marco’s family could afford a live-in chef.

I shrugged off my curiosity, deciding I didn’t really care what Marco liked to do with his free time, when he wasn’t intimidating people and committing horrible crimes.

“Do you want to see the rest of the grounds?” Joseph asked when I set down my fork, my plate completely cleaned. It really had been delicious.

“Sure.” It would be nice to go outside. I’d spent most of yesterday sleeping, and when I’d woken up, it had been dark. Before my futile attempt to discover a tablet to access the internet and get a message to Jayme, I’d checked out the window as a possible escape route. Floodlights had illuminated the brick walkway below, at least a two-story drop. I’d definitely break something if I attempted to escape that way.

Other than that, I hadn’t been able to make out much more than a grassy expanse that disappeared into darkness.

I no longer intended to escape, but I’d still like to check out my surroundings. If I couldn’t leave this place, I might as well become familiar with my gilded cage. Because no matter Joseph’s pure motives in keeping me here, I was still restricted to the confines of this estate for the foreseeable future.

I shook off the thought before the sensation of being trapped could set in. This wasn’t a cage; it was a refuge.

Joseph took my hand again, and all my worry melted away. I walked with him out of the kitchen, across the foyer, and out the front door.

It was a chilly autumn day, and goosebumps instantly broke out on my exposed skin. I was only wearing the thin camisole Joseph had bought for me, and my peaked nipples pressed against the fabric in response to the cold.

To my surprise, Joseph frowned and rubbed my arms, his eyes focused on my face rather than my breasts. He was more concerned with my comfort than checking out my tits. The knowledge that he cared more about seeing to my needs than satisfying his own lust for my body made warmth flood my chest.

“I’ll get you a jacket,” he said. “Wait here.”

I hugged my arms across my chest when his heat receded. A light shiver wracked my body in the minute it took for him to return. He held his leather jacket, and he stepped behind me so I could slip my arms into it. The leather was heavy on my shoulders, the jacket far too big for my much smaller frame. It smelled like Joseph, and I breathed in deeply as he zipped it up to keep me warm.

“Thanks,” I smiled up at him, completely content in this moment with him. When he took care of me like this, I couldn’t worry about the dark events unfolding around me. I knew he’d do more than keep me safe; he’d cherish me. The knowledge was heady, and pleasure flooded my system.

He traced the line of my jaw, staring down at me with open admiration shining in his eyes. “You are so beautiful,” he murmured before he pressed a quick, sweet kiss against my lips.

I flushed as my pleasure intensified. This was more than the physical ecstasy that his touch elicited from my body; this was a soul-deep satisfaction that I’d only ever felt with him.

Despite everything that was happening—despite the horrible truths I’d learned about him—I was still infatuated with him. I wasn’t ready to fully trust him yet, but my heart still yearned for his affection.

I kept the love locked in my chest, not willing to voice it aloud yet. I needed to know more about the real Joseph before I could fully open my heart to him again. Trust had never come easily for me, and he’d violated it by hiding his past from me. It would take time for him to earn it back.