Beautifully Brutal ( Cavalieri Della 1)

“I am.” Rising, I head toward the hallway. Suddenly, a dizzy spell hits, and I feel strong arms holding onto me. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“Perhaps too much wine or you’re in need of a long sleep,” the deep voice murmurs, and I’m scooped up, bridal-style, and carried up the stairs, down the hall to my room. Sergio sets me on the bed. The soft mattress beneath me fee

ls like a cloud, and my head hits the pillow.

He murmurs something I can’t make out, but I’m almost certain it sounds like soon, we’ll be away from here, and you’ll be mine.

Giuliana

The heat of the sun streams through the large bedroom windows, warming me while I lounge in bed. I woke up an hour ago, my mind warring with itself as to what I’m doing here.

My father must know I’ve escaped by now, but there’s been no inkling in my gut that tells me he’s looking for me. Generally, my intuition is great, but this time, I have a feeling something’s off. Last night, when I looked at Sergio, a thought flitted through my mind, wondering if he could be working for Arthur.

I don’t know why my father would have someone like him take me in, make me comfortable, but if he is working for Daddy, then I’m in more trouble than I thought. Shoving off the bed, I head into the bathroom to get ready for the day. I want to get a burner phone and try contacting one of the Cavalieri. It’s the only way I’ll be able to talk to Lance and possibly find out what my father’s plans are.

I feel like I’m being pulled back and forth. Nothing makes sense, and I have to blink away tears. I hurt. Not physically. Emotionally. Being alone in the world is not easy. All I want are answers as to why he decided I’m not worthy of him. I need to know why he no longer wants to be with me.

Even though I enjoyed my dinner with Sergio last night, I can’t let go of the past. Can love really keep you captive like that? Can emotion be so brutal, yet beautiful at the same time?

Our relationship was never perfect. Even from the start, I was far too young for him, and my father would never have let us be together. That’s something we both knew. Perhaps we’re just star-crossed lovers. And we all know what happened to the last set of forbidden lovers.

A knock on the door startles me. My feet move, taking me toward the sound, and when I pull open the door, I’m met with the dark eyes of Sergio.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” he greets me, smiling down at me. His gaze raking over my tank top, and I realize I don’t have a bra on. Even though my breasts aren’t huge, he can probably see my nipples through the white cotton.

“Sergio, good morning,” I offer with a small grin.

“I wanted to know if you’d like to head out to the mall? I have a meeting, and it seems Jezebel isn’t home. At least, she didn’t come home last night.”

“Oh? Perhaps she’s met someone,” I tease, laughing, but the moment the words leave my mouth, Sergio’s lips purse and anger burns in his dark eyes.

“I hope to God she isn’t with the asshole I’m guessing she’s fucking around with,” he bites out. The anger in his tone is palpable, causing me to shiver. There’s a menace in his voice, in his words, and I wonder if he would kill whoever this man is. “I’m sorry. I don’t approve of the man she’s got her eye on. Victor is bad news.”

“Aren’t most men bad news?” I smile, hoping to lighten the mood between us.

The corner of his mouth tilts upward, affording me a view of a deep dimple which appears when he grins. His full lips are a dusky pink as he leans in and presses a kiss to my cheek.

“If only you knew, sweetheart,” he murmurs in my ear before stepping back. The heat of his kiss is still tingling on my skin when he turns away. “Be ready in an hour if you’d like to head to the mall.” With that, he saunters down the hallway, leaving me staring at the way his shirt ripples over the corded muscles of his shoulders and back.

Shutting the door, I take a long breath, lifting my fingertips to trace the place where Sergio kissed me. It’s been so long since anyone has done that. It feels strange. Not in a bad way, but I don’t know if I want him to do it again.

I shake my head, hoping to clear my thoughts and focus on my future. I quickly head into the bathroom and turn on the shower. This works out perfectly. I can buy a new burner and call Seth. He’s one of the only men who works for my father that I trust. He and Lance are close, and I know if there’s anything he can do to help me, he would.

I just hope he hasn’t changed his number. I remember calling it a long while ago when Lance’s last number was disconnected. Seth informed me that Lance had been on a job, but I didn’t leave a message. I felt stupid for even trying to contact him. That was the last time I spoke to anyone other than my father.

The only thing that concerns me is, if my father finds me, I know he’ll want retribution, and that’s worrying. He won’t just lock me up in a convent this time. I’m sure he’ll end up shutting me in the dungeon under the Tabella Della Morte headquarters. And then I’ll probably end up being tortured until I give in to whatever plans he has for me.

In an attempt to rid my mind of the anxiety riddling itself through me like a poison, I’m back in the bedroom pulling on a pair of jeans, along with a black top that hugs my slight frame.

As much as my mind is in a whirl of confusion, fear, and dread as to what my future holds, I paste on a smile and open the bedroom door. I know I’ll never be able to set foot inside my childhood home without Arthur’s wrath raining down on me, so I have to plan what I’m going to do over the next few weeks.

I find Sergio in the living room. He’s on the phone, speaking in a low, angry tone, and I wonder if he’s talking to Jezebel.

“Get it done.”

He hangs up as I near him, offering me a smile. His demeanor shifts from tense to relaxed as if a switch has been flicked. The man is a contradiction in his actions, and even in words he utters.

“You ready, sweetheart?”