His secret sin, p.17
His Secret Sin, page 17
“Are you going to tell me what is going on?” Diego asked.
“Durante is not an easy man to please, but he’s an easy man to piss off. If he hears anyone talking about his girl being an outsider, he deals with them the only way he knows how. If Belle is pregnant, you can keep her as your mistress.”
“No.”
“It’s a solution. I don’t see you making any other agreement with Durante that will make The Boss happy. There are always sacrifices to be made. You know this. You’ve been aware of them for a long time. You can’t have everything you want in life without consequences. For now, I think you should focus on dealing with Angelo. He’s our main problem. Then you can deal with whatever problem Belle gives you.”
Diego didn’t say another word. He wanted Belle to be pregnant. If she was, he’d find a way to make it work.
****
“I want to go and see my dad,” Belle said the moment Diego made his presence known. She was in his bedroom, and she had tried to explore her surroundings. A lamp had paid, along with a few pictures she believed. She wasn’t entirely sure, but she had tried to be as careful as possible.
Even though it was mind-numbingly boring, she had sat on his bed, waiting for his return. She missed the freedom of being in her apartment, listening to her books or at the very least, movies.
“It can’t happen. Not yet.”
“He’s my dad. Please, why can’t I go and see him?” The bed dipped beside her. Diego took her hands.
“I can’t trust you.”
“You can’t trust me? I’m not the one that lied to you.”
“I’m talking about the cops and your new potential allies.”
“I wouldn’t try to talk to the cops. Please, Diego. I just want to know my dad is fine.”
“He is.”
“Ugh!” She pulled her hand away, sliding as far as the bed would allow. “This isn’t fair. I’ve done nothing to you, and yet you’re keeping me as a prisoner.”
“You could have died on me.”
“My dad still could die, and I don’t even get to hold his hand.”
“The doctor told me is stable. He’s not out of the danger zone, but he’s holding his own.”
She released a breath, slowly.
“I can’t deal with this right now. I can’t even think. You’ve got me trapped in here. I can’t do anything. I can’t even move. I made a mess of your room.”
“I see you took the life of my lamp.”
“I don’t want to be here. I promise you I won’t say anything. I just want to go back to living life without you.” For a split second she had hoped she’d gotten through, but no such luck.
“Not happening. You want to go for a walk, we can do that.”
The bed moved again, letting her know he was up on his feet.
“What are you doing?”
“I’ve got men posted all around the house. You’re not going out naked, and you do need some fresh air.” She gasped as he pulled her to her feet. He started to put clothes on her, making her step into a pair of shorts, lifting her head up to put a large top on her. “I’m going to need to buy you some clothes. There’s just no way to stop your tits from looking incredible.” He stroked a finger against the side of her breast, and he chuckled as she went to swat him away. He was the one in charge, not her. Each time she tried to take that power away, he showed her just how far she was under his spell.
She found it really freaking annoying.
With his hands on her hips, he stood directly behind her as he walked her out of the bedroom. This time, as they were going downstairs, he actually stood in front of her and told her to get up.
“What? You’re going to give me a piggyback?”
“Why not? I’ve never done one. It could be fun.”
“Hell, no. I’m not doing that. What if we fall? What if you drop me?”
“At this rate it’ll be time to go to bed so it doesn’t really matter. Come on, Belle, live dangerously. Stop being such a scaredy-cat.”
“I’m not scared.”
“Prove it. Jump on up and prove me wrong.”
She gritted her teeth, wanting nothing more than to push him downstairs. Instead, she gripped his shoulders, not wanting to hurt him or cause him any real damage. She let out a squeal as he lifted her up, his arms resting beneath her knees.
“What the hell?” she asked.
“How do you feel?”
“Like you should put me down.” She screamed as he nudged her up.
“Just checking to make sure you’re secure.”
“How old are you?” she asked.
“Forty years old. You?”
“You know how old I am. Right now, you’re acting like a child.”
“Come on, baby, this is a lot of fun.” He began to move downstairs, and she wrapped her arms around him, not wanting him to let her go. She couldn’t stand for him to do that. “You’re going to need to learn that I’m not going to drop you or let you go.”
“This is so crazy.”
“It’s not crazy. You need to get downstairs, and I want to hold you. Simple as. I love that you rely on me.”
There he went talking about the love word, a word she couldn’t trust coming out of his mouth.
“I really wish you’d stop saying that.”
“Love? I love you. I want to be with you. I want to love you for the rest of my days.”
“What about your fiancée?”
“I don’t love her. I don’t want to marry her. I want her gone, and I want to be with you. Only you. Always, you.”
“You’re infuriating.”
“I think, Belle, you’re not used to having someone tell you that they love you.”
“I believe, Diego, you’re saying it a little too much. I don’t think you love me at all. I think you think you love me.”
“That’s a lot of thinking.”
“Where are we?” She had been so focused on the conversation she hadn’t been paying attention to where they were going.
“We’re about to enter the kitchen. No one is here. The cook left early as she always does. Food is already in the oven, waiting to be eaten. Now, we’re outside.”
She didn’t need for him to tell her the last part. The slight breeze on her face felt incredible.
“What time is it?”
“It’s four in the afternoon.”
“How long have I been with you?”
“A couple of days. Not too long.” He took several steps into the garden.
“Is this the same place you took me to before?”
“No. Don’t talk about that place. I don’t make a habit of sharing where all of my places are.” He continued to walk down a straight path.
“You can put me down. I’d like to walk.”
“I will. There’s too many rocks around. The garden has a lot of features. Once I pass the maze, I’ll put you down.”
“You have a maze?”
“Yes. It was a design feature my mom liked.”
“Oh. You live with your dad?”
“I don’t live with him. We share a place, that’s it.”
“So, he was capo before you?”
“Yes.”
“And you took over from him.”
“He handed it down to me. It’s my duty to keep this city belonging to The Boss, and as head capo, all decisions come to me.”
“So why do you need to get married?” she asked.
“I’m getting older. I have to have a male heir to take over from me.”
“What if you get a girl?”
“She will either marry who I decide or marry who she chooses.”
“She can’t take over from you?”
“No. Only men take over.”
“Sexist.”
He chuckled. “It is what it is.”
“And women are only good for marrying and baby making.”
“You have many additional qualities. In my world, they are just not as important as the men.”
“I don’t like your world,” she said.
“It’s one of the many reasons why I tried to keep it from you.”
“You didn’t succeed.”
“No, it would seem when it comes to you, I do nothing but fail.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. The time we’ve shared before you knew the truth was the best time of my life.”
Belle gripped him a little tighter. “It was?”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t find it a joke?”
“Why would I find it a joke? I enjoyed being near you. I enjoyed doing the same things normal people do. It’s why I kept so much of who I am a secret from you. I didn’t want to spoil what we’d made with each other. I would have continued with it as well, if I could have.”
“Nothing ever lasts forever.”
“I like to believe everything lasts forever so long as you’re willing to give it a try.”
“You’re an optimist.”
He burst out laughing. “No, not even close. Before you, I didn’t believe in happy ever after or miracles. I believe in you and in what we have.”
He came to a stop and lowered her down until her feet hit the ground. He helped to steady her with his hands on hers.
“What we had was based on lies, Diego. How can we have … anything?”
She heard his heavy sigh, and it upset her to know she was the cause.
“I didn’t intentionally lie to you, Belle. I omitted the truth of who I was.”
“You’re going to try and defend your lies now?”
“No. I’m telling you that I didn’t want to lie to you.” He stroked her cheek. “I would never do anything to hurt you.”
“I don’t think I can talk about this right now.” Her thoughts and emotions were confused. He’d messed with her head. Their time together wasn’t just special to him, but meant a great deal to her. However, it was now tainted with the lies he spilled. She didn’t know what was truth and what wasn’t. How could she know? He’s completely abused that kind of trust.
“One day, I know you’re going to find it in your heart to forgive me.”
“And if I don’t?”
“You will, one day. I’m a patient guy.”
“You’re persistent.”
“That I am too. See, we’re on the same page.”
“I don’t think agreeing to patience and persistence is the same thing.”
“It’s close. Come on, let’s not argue for another moment. Can we just find some common ground? Some peace?” He kissed each of her inner wrists. The action was so sweet that it took her by surprise.
He had this way about him that was always taking her by surprise.
“I don’t want to argue anymore.”
“Good, neither do I.”
“I don’t want to be kept from my father, Diego.” She heard him sigh again. “I know you’re tired of me asking about this, but he is my father and I love him so much. If he’d not come to see me, he wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”
“It’s not your fault he’s hurt.”
“Yes, it is. If I’d stayed at home and just accepted I needed help, none of this would have happened.”
He let her go but only so he could hold her face. He was so close she felt his breath fan across her face.
“I’m not going to let you go. You should know that. Having you in my life, that is what I want.”
She was talking to a deaf man. Whatever she said to him, he wasn’t taking notice. There was no way they could be together, but he seemed determined to make it work. She chose not to argue with him.
Everything he spoke about, she wanted just as much, and it hurt her to know she would never have it. Another woman would be with him. Someone else would get to have his baby, wear his ring, and call herself Mrs. Leoni.
Pushing her pain aside, she held his arm, walking across the smooth grass. The feel of it beneath her feet helped to relax her.
Diego didn’t speak, and she didn’t try to start an argument. Neither of them needed the added stress, and nothing good could possibly come from arguing.
“After dinner, I’ve got to head out,” he said.
“Where are you going?
“I’ve got to hunt for Angelo. He’s out there, and while he’s a risk, he needs to be taken care of.”
“Angelo? Like the restaurant?”
“Oh, Belle, I own the restaurant where you work.”
“You do?”
“Yes, I’m the boss. It’s why Tanya didn’t have a problem with me sitting next to you.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.”
“So, you own a lot of businesses?”
“I have to.”
“Do you own everything?”
“Not everything.”
“There are actually things you don’t own?”
“Yes.”
“Great,” she said. This was just another element of his control.
“Don’t be angry about this.”
“Why should I be angry? I’m finally learning the truth. I don’t always like it, but it’s the truth, nonetheless.” She rubbed at her temples, and her stomach started to growl. “I’m hungry. Can we go and eat?”
“Sure.”
Diego picked her back up and carried her back to the house. She wanted to demand he put her down, but she just wanted some food and space. If she was eating, they weren’t talking. Their biggest problem seemed to be the moment they started to talk. When they entered the dining room, Diego let her know that his father and Richard were already sitting down eating.
“Do you really think she should be eating with us?” his father said.
“She’s not a prisoner.”
“Chained up is the best way to deal with her. She will try to escape.”
“She’s not going to escape.”
“I’m not going to stop her if she does. It would serve her right getting run down, and doing us all a favor.”
She jumped as someone slammed their fist down hard on the table. Her heart raced, and she didn’t know what was going on.
“Enough,” Diego said.
“I’ve lost my appetite.”
“I don’t want to cause a problem. I can eat another time,” she said.
“You will both eat, and he will fucking deal with this. You’re not going to be chained up in a room like an animal. You’re a human being.”
“Anyone want to scream tension,” Richard said.
No one else spoke as the table went silent. She ate as much as she could stomach, but with her nerves, that turned out to be very little.
“Do you want me to take you back up to my room?” Diego asked.
“Yes, if that’s okay?”
He helped her out of the dining room and she said her goodnights to the room. No one spoke back, but she didn’t expect them to.
“I don’t want you to get into an argument with your father over me,” she said.
“He thinks he knows what is best. He doesn’t, otherwise he’d still be capo.”
“He loves you.” Diego snorted. “You’re his son.”
“I’m a commodity to him. We’re not people in this world. We’re things to be used as they see fit.”
“I don’t think that’s entirely fair,” she said.
“Then you don’t get it, and you never will.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “Try to get some rest. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Much to her surprise, she heard the door close but not the actual lock flicking into place.
She was free to roam around. He didn’t want her feeling like a caged animal. This was crazy.
Stepping up to the door, she placed her hand on the wood. Slowly, running her fingers across it, she found the door handle and waited as patiently as possible. Diego wouldn’t linger at his home. He had too much work to do in finding his cousin.
Opening the door, she stepped out, closing it as quietly as possible behind her. Heart racing, hands clammy, she knew she was going to fuck this up, but still, she kept on moving. With both of her hands and her chest pressed to the door, she took a side step, then another. Her pace was slow, but she knew she had to change walls because of where the stairs opened up.
Keeping her back to the wall, she reached out her hands and took a couple of steps, finding the other wall. She continued her journey toward the stairs. When her hands finally found the corner of the wall, she took a deep breath.
Freedom was just a couple of steps, and possibly death away. She didn’t know who he would have on watch keeping an eye on her, but she was more than willing to take that chance.
Gripping the banister, she slid her foot across the carpet until she found the edge of the step.
She moved down, and did the same, keeping a death grip on the banister as she did this. Another step down, and she started to gain a little more confidence. By the last step, she ran out of banister and there was nothing but air. Halting her steps, she clenched her hands into fists. She couldn’t turn back now.
Not after getting this far.
She took a step, holding out her arms, and when she found the wall, she ran her hands down until she felt the banister. Taking it a step at a time, she came back to air. The ticking of the clock let her know she was at the bottom of the staircase, and there was no current risk of breaking her neck during a fall.
“You got this, Belle. You can do this.”
She walked slowly forward until she reached the front door. With her hand finally on the handle she was about to twist it when she heard someone clear their throat.
It wasn’t Diego.
“Leaving so soon?” his father asked.
“I’m just admiring this woodwork.”
“You’re a terrible liar.”
She didn’t like having her back to him, and even though she couldn’t see him, she wanted him to know she wasn’t afraid.
In fact, she was really fucking terrified, but she kept her cool, refusing to give in to the fear of his presence alone. If she was afraid now, how would she feel if she saw him?
“I want to go and see my dad.”
“It doesn’t matter what you want. When my son is able, he’ll take you.”
“He’s not the boss of me.”
His father burst out laughing. “Girl, every single woman has a boss. They just don’t realize it yet.”
“No, we don’t.”
