Kingpin(35)

He’s in a dark suit like every other time I’ve seen him. His size has always been so intimidating, and so is the way he looks at me. I’m pretty sure he wants me. I may not have been with a man or have a lot of experience, but I can see it in his eyes. They follow me.

Or so I thought. Now everything starts clicking together. Oh my god. Maybe it’s not that at all. Maybe he’s the reason the Castellos know so much about me. He’s been following me to learn about me for this family. Why does that hurt a little? A small lump that shouldn’t be there forms in my throat. I should be happy that he isn’t really some guy who was stalking me and wanted me. I know I’m only lying to myself. I might have run from him every time I saw him, but I was always looking for him. Sometimes I’d get disappointed when I didn’t see him.

“Emma.” He takes my hand without me even offering it. He has to lean down to do it.

He doesn’t shake it, though. He rubs his fingers along my hand, and my breathing stops as I stare up at him.

“I couldn’t help but overhear,” Gio says, his eyes still trained on me. “The contractors started early on my remodel. Looks like I need a place to stay until they’re finished.”

“You don’t even have to ask, Gio. You’re always welcome here,” I hear Thea say.

Gio keeps caressing my hand as he leans just a little closer for only me to hear. “Guess you won’t have the wing all to yourself, Dollface.”





Chapter 3





Giovanni





These past ten days have been utter hell. I always thought that when I found the woman that I knew would be mine, it would be easy. I would scoop her up and take her home. I’d waited for her for years. Fucking years. I’d even had a home built and finished it a little over a year ago. I wanted to be ready. I thought after the first sight, she would fall into my arms and that would be that.

I didn’t know how wrong I would be.

I’ve been chasing my doll all over the place. Okay, maybe not exactly like that. She doesn’t seem to go anywhere. She stays around the hotel that’s close to the hospital, something I think she did on purpose. It kills me that this is how she lives. That she doesn’t have a place to call home.

I followed her regularly. Even had a hotel room next to hers. I couldn’t help myself. I hated the idea of not being close to her. The first time I watched her walk into the hospital, I panicked, thinking something was wrong with her and I couldn’t follow her in. When she’d gotten on the elevator, she’d gone to the maternity floor and that one is kept on lockdown.

The thought of her being pregnant tore through me, but I didn’t give a fuck. She was going to be mine either way. A small part of me hoped it just had to do with her job, but I knew she didn’t work in a hospital, so I was pretty sure she was pregnant. I hadn’t found any trace of a man around her when I went digging, but who knew. Maybe she had an untraceable one-night stand, but she didn’t seem the type. I pulled some strings and found out what was going on.

Whenever she had free time, she volunteered at the neonatal intensive care unit. She was what they called a “cuddler.” She cuddled babies whose parents couldn’t come during the day or ones who had left them there due to drug addictions.

Could she be any fucking sweeter? No wonder she was running from me. I may wear a suit every day, but there is no denying the deadly air that hangs around men like me. She’s a saver, and I’d killed someone not even a few weeks ago.

I stroke her soft skin, enjoying my first touch of her. She’s even softer than I thought she would be. I didn’t even know something could feel so soft and delicate. I should look down and see if my rough hands are hurting her skin. But those fucking eyes have me transfixed. I swear they could hold my stare for hours and I’d never look away. The world could fall down around us and I wouldn’t notice.

She pulls on her hand when I tell her she isn’t going to be staying alone. Her eyebrows furrow together in confusion. While I’ll take any look she gives me, I’d do anything to see those dimples while she laughs for me.

“It’s probably a good idea anyway, Emma. We should have someone in that wing of the house with you. This place is really big,” Thea says.

I smile down at Emma, thinking I’m going to have to give Thea a big hug later if Sal will let me.

“Let’s talk, Gio,” Sal says.

I nod, then bring Emma’s hand up to my mouth. I place a kiss there, breathing in her warm vanilla scent. She gasps as I pull back and lick my lips, wanting to see if I can taste her. My gut tightens knowing I’m going to have to step away from her. I finally have her in front of me and I have to walk away. This is going to kill me.