He had to make a decision to either let her go or tell her the truth. She wasn’t used to their way of life and truly, he didn’t believe she was ready to know everything.
Tapping a finger against his lip, he contemplated what to do. He suddenly turned and caught the bat before it hit him. Ellie’s growl filled the air. “Get the fuck out before I call the cops.”
“Shit, Ellie, it’s me,” he said, holding the bat even as she tried to tug it from him again.
“Antonio?” She didn’t let go.
He flicked the light on and she blinked.
“I thought you were a burglar. Why didn’t you call me? Wait, how did you get into my apartment?”
Another little detail he’d noticed about his woman. She never referred to their apartment as home, or hers, or even theirs. It was merely a place to her.
She rubbed at her eyes, and he noticed her nightshirt.
“I thought you were having a girls’ night.”
“We were, but Casey got a call and she had to leave.” She’d let go of the bat and sat down on the sofa. It was threadbare. She grabbed a pillow and hugged it.
“Why didn’t you call me?” He sat down beside her, wanting to hold her, to breathe in her scent.
“You said you were busy with work. I don’t mind being on my own. I had to throw out some cheese and milk, though. They’d gone bad. We ordered pizza but I ate most of it because it arrived after she’d gone.”
He stroked her hair back from her face. She let out a yawn. “How was work?” she asked.
“Tiring.” He pressed his face against her head, breathing her in.
“It’s warm.”
“I know.”
“You can stay here if you want.”
“This place has no air conditioning. Come back to our place. You’ll feel more comfortable.”
“Too sleepy to move. Maybe later.” She snuggled up against his side.
He kissed her head and she went to sleep. She was the first woman to fall asleep on him. Even though he’d caused them some problems, he wondered if, deep down, she felt safe with him.
Stroking her hair, he wanted to hold her. After lifting her in his arms, he carried her through to the bedroom and slowly placed her on the bed. She let out a little moan. He quickly stripped out of his clothes and returned to the bed.
Pulling her against him, he kissed her shoulder, breathed her in, and held her. He’d never taken the time to just hold her like this. After sex, she curled up against him, but not like this.
He’d never needed anything like this before in his life.
Raphael’s warning went through his mind.
Antonio had killed that man’s family tonight because it was his job. He had to keep the message that if you fucked up, your family paid the price as well. It was their way, Romeo’s way to keep people in line to know they were responsible for the safety of their family.
Up until tonight, he hadn’t cared about the rules. Only now, he wondered if Ellie would be in the line of fire for any of his mistakes. Once she learned the truth of who he was, she wouldn’t get the pleasure of walking away. She’d have to be kept within the fold or killed.
Chapter Six
Two months later
“I’m not getting rid of my apartment.”
“You don’t need it.”
“No, you think I don’t need it, but I don’t know, it’s important to me.” Ellie tried to find her clothes. They’d been together for nearly three months now and she didn’t know why it was so important to her to keep her apartment. There were many nights when Antonio didn’t return and if he did, which was in the early hours of the morning, he was dressed differently. New clothes and no reason as to how they got on his body. It was as if they magically appeared, which she knew was bullshit.
He was quiet about all aspects of his life, always using the excuse that he needed privacy in his line of work. Complete and utter crap. She wasn’t going to go and tell anyone. Casey avoided her like the damn plague, and she didn’t have any other friends.
“Where are you going?”
“To make myself something to eat because then I won’t have to deal with you.” She tried to pull on her panties but gasped as Antonio grabbed her around the waist and hauled her back against him, as if she weighed nothing.
The fight didn’t leave her. She tried to wriggle her way out of his hold, but again, Antonio was the one with all the strength while she was useless against him. He pressed her hands above her head, and she glared at him.
“Anyone ever tell you how sexy you look when you’re angry?”
“No, but they like for me to be far away from them so I don’t explode with it.” She tried to wriggle away, he was the one in control, like always. “This isn’t funny.”