Finding Beauty in the Darkness
“What are you going to do with her once she’s feeling better?”
“She’s mine,” I blurt out, a myriad of emotions hitting me with those two spoken words. First, regret for saying them out loud. Then confusion for realizing how badly I want them to be true. Frustration at the fact I can’t force her to be mine. Anxiousness when it hits me that once she’s healed, she’s going to leave. And lastly, determination, knowing I’m not going to let it happen.
“Giovanni… you can’t seriously be considering holding her captive.”
I dismiss his statement because that’s exactly what I will be doing if I try to keep her here and I’m not ready to deal with that reality.
I change the subject. “Anything else I should know about?”
“That stripper you lent the money to…”
“Ashley?”
“Yeah. She’s a week late on her payment. Want me to pay her a visit?”
Saw that shit coming. “No, I’ll do it myself. I told Don I’d handle it. Anything else?”
“Benjamin Fields will be arriving tonight to check out the club.”
“Call me when he gets here. I’ll handle his tour personally.” Benjamin and I go way back. He owns a few clubs in Vegas and we run in similar circles.
“You got it, Boss.”
After checking on a few more memberships and replying to several emails, I go back upstairs to check on Aria. Seeing her still sleeping, I go to the kitchen and ask Maggie, my head chef, to make us both lunch and have it delivered. Then I go to the stock room where the playroom toys are kept and find what I need.
* * *
“Good afternoon,” I say calmly as Aria attempts to stretch her arms over her head, lightly flinching when only one arm is able to stretch fully. She squints and blinks a few times before frowning as she looks up at the handcuffs—one handcuff attached to her wrist and the other attached to the thick wooden headboard.
“Good afternoon? What the fuck, Giovanni! Why am I attached to the goddamned headboard?”
“Well, since you’re feeling better, I can’t take the chance of you running, so I figured it was my best option to ensure you don’t try to.” Aria glares at me then tries to rip the handcuffs through the wood. “Please stop before you hurt your wrist. That wood is a good two inches thick. You aren’t breaking it.”
“So, what…you kidnapped me from my kidnapper?” Her furious glare disappears, fear taking its place.
“I wouldn’t call it kidnapping. Weston owed me a shit ton of money. It’s obvious you’re important to him, so I took you since he couldn’t pay up. Now you’re safe. You should be thanking me.”
“Are you fucking serious? I should be thanking you for saving me only to hold me captive? Do you even hear yourself? I’m not collateral. You can’t keep me here because he didn’t pay you!”
“Speaking of which, do you have any idea why he was keeping you in that basement?”
“No, all he said was once I turn twenty-two, he would be getting rid of me.” Hmm…interesting.
“How old are you?”
“I’ll be twenty-one April twenty-ninth.”
“All right. I have my guys trying to find him. Until we figure out why he needs you so badly, you will be safe here.”
Aria’s glare returns. “Un. Lock. Me.” The words come out of her mouth slowly and with such conviction, I have to hold back my grin. She’s cute as fuck when she’s mad. Like a pissed off cat with her claws out.
“Not happening.” I shrug. “For now, and until further notice, you’re mine. Once I know you won’t run, we can work on giving you more freedom.”
“I’m not yours, and can’t you just have one of your goons stand guard?” Not a bad idea. Why didn’t I think of that? Oh, yeah…because the idea of Aria trussed up in handcuffs had my dick twitching.
“I’ll think about it.”
She huffs out in annoyance and this time I can’t hold back my grin.
“I’m glad you find this all so funny. Could you possibly help me to the shower today? I feel so gross. And maybe if you could get me some clean sheets, I can change them. Oh, wait! I’m locked up. You can change them,” she says dryly.
“I’ll have the housekeeper bring up the sheets and change them.” I text Donna, one of the housekeepers, and put in the request. “Why don’t I have one of the women help you shower and once you’re done, lunch should be here. I requested chicken noodle soup and deli sandwiches.”
“You sure you don’t want her to just give me a sponge bath right here in the bed? Then you can keep me locked up.” My dick perks up at her attitude, but I mentally tell it to stand down. Now is not the time to be thinking with the head below.