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< Surprise Visit
ve Points
Surprise Visit
Cruz looked at Presley sideways as they sat in the back of an SUV worriedly.
“You didn’t have to come.”
“It’s me he is threatening.” She rubbed the leather upholstery of the bench seat they were on. “This is nice. Maybe having to be driven everywhere won’t be so awful if I get to sit on buttery leather, have a hot driver and you in the backseat.”
He turned his torso to face her pursing his lips in annoyance, “hot driver?”
“Cruz look at him,” she whispered mockingly to the man on the other side of the glass partition. “Your security team found me a guy bigger than you! It’s my type.”
“You’re not his. He likes men.”
“No way.”
“You think jacked up guys can’t be gay?”
“Yes, they can but not him. He looked at my ass.”
“When?”
“When I was getting into the car. I saw him checking me out.”
He shook his head and frowned, “you’re trying to get me going.”
“Am I?” she made wide eyes at him.
“Distracting me because of where we are going.”
“Well, you’re squeezing your cell phone so tight I’m surprised the screen hasn’t cracked.”
“He’s such a condescending prick.” Cruz gritted out. “There is a reason I was emancipated at eighteen and it’s
all him.”
“I’m really going to enjoy telling him to go f**k himself.”
They’d been back in Vancouver for a full week now, taking the time to get to know one another better. Technically, she was still on vacation and Cruz was working minimally, using their time in Vancouver to bolster his PR image. So far, they’d been photographed jogging on the seawall, a photo she was not thrilled with considering now red and sweaty she’d been, dining at an upscale restaurant, and shopping at a novelty store and buying a whip and a set of leather strapping similar to what Narnurs wore on the cover of her book. The whip now hung proudly in Cruz’s home office from a bookshelf which mocked her every single time she went into the room. He grinned as he recalled the night before while she cooked dinner stepping into the straps and surprising her. The way she laughed until her legs were weak and slid to the floor made him smile. “What are you grinning for?”
“Thinking of dinner the other night.”
She snickered, “still can’t figure out how you squeezed your balls into the pouch.”
“I’m certain I still feel the strap on my asshole. I loosened the thing as far as it would go.”
< Surprise Visit
“Your asshole?”
He flicked her forehead, “the strap.” He shook his head at her. “Never a dull moment.”
Points
“For me it was when the saleslady told us it’s mostly bears who buy such things and you didn’t know what it
meant.”
Both his and her phone buzzed at the same time, and they exchanged curious glances as they both viewed
their screens.
“What the hell?” Cruz grumbled.
“Belkin wants to see us?”
“He’s here in Vancouver.” Cruz was stunned and then a feeling of dread filled him. “I swear if the motherfucker was released I’m killing someone.”
“Breathe Cruz. Your father will have to wait. Let’s go meet Belkin now.”
He felt rage simmering in his chest at the idea Belkin didn’t give him a heads up and simply showed up on damn Friday morning out of the blue and expected them to drop everything and go to him. He knew it wasn’t because of the audacity of the demand. No. He was pissed because he knew Belkin wouldn’t do something which demanded immediate meeting in person unless he was delivering the worst f*****g news possible.
His fists curled around his phone as he leaned forward, tapped on the glass, and then instructed the driver to take them to the location Belkin ordered. “Motherfucker giving me orders like I’m his lackey.” Cruz mumbled under his breath.
“It has to be serious.”
“He could have called. What if Bartoli is loose? If Belkin is coming from where he is coming from it means Bartoli could be out and already stalking you and we had no warning.” A million different scenarios were running through his head and all of them ended with this beautiful woman sitting next to him dead. Panic seized his chest as he sent out an order to his new head of security to make sure he met them at the new location and ensured Presley was completely protected at all times.
“Cruz. We don’t know anything. Stop creating drama in your head. For all we know he’s here and wants us to tell him about the best restaurant in town. You heard Algernon last night at dinner with Sloane,” they both shuddered as they recalled how he fed Sloane her entire meal from his lap with his fingers, “Belkin is a demanding individual and when he wants something done, he simply gets it done. Algernon did say Belkin was jealous of Algernon’s recent free time.”
“Not buying it. Also, if the fat asshole knew last night something was up and didn’t tell us, I’ll gut him.”
“You are becoming incredibly violent.” She grimaced distastefully.
“If I needed to rearrange your security last night because the bastard is on the loose and we wasted hours,” he let his voice fall away as he considered all the ways he was going to punch Algernon into the ground.”
“Relax Kong.” She patted his knee in a patronizing manner. “Your imagination rivals mine.”
“Why are you all smiley?” he growled at her as he took her hand off his knee and kissed her knuckles before holding her palm against his chest. He was finding the best way to calm his rage as of late, a feeling he wasn’t familiar with before but was now almost a constant companion, was to have her touching him.
“I’m excited, I hope Belkin has Rami with him. My brother from another mother.” She quipped with wide eyes.
< Surprise Visit
“You talked to him for two hours yesterday.”
40 Points
“He’s asking me for tips on how to woo Mina. It seems she was not happy to learn he found her ex and beat him into the dirt. I think it was romantic, but she felt different. He needs to makes up ground.”
“He’s lamenting because he f****d up, a feeling I can appreciate,” he winked at her before kissing her fingers. again as his breathing slowly resumed normal pace.
“At least you recognize it. He still thinks he did nothing wrong.”
“He should try therapy.”
“You’ve been to one session, and you think you’re the guru.” She mocked him openly.
“It really helped though! I found my homework insightful.”
“Yes. It I’m sure you did.” She rolled her eyes.
“It did. To sit and write down all the things,” he wasn’t allowed to call them pranks any more after the first therapy session, “we did to you as kids and write at least one way in which it could have caused ongoing trauma to you was probably the most impactful thing I’ve ever done.” He wasn’t lying. He’d cried harder writing out his list than when his mother passed away. Looking at the list in black and white was a stark reminder of how callous and cruel they’d been to Presley, his Ladybird, while she was young. It also emphasized to him how wondrous her heart was because she was sitting beside him and again the rush of gratitude at how forgiving she was, filled him. He closed his eyes and inhaled. “I’m so grateful for your forgiveness.”
She leaned sideways and kissed his cheek. “If you’re this affected by one session, I can’t wait to see what happens after ten.”
“All I want is to be able to love you the best way possible. If I get nothing else out of any of this, it is to learn to love you the way you deserve.” He meant it. He would spend the rest of his life making sure this woman knew she was valued, special, and most importantly loved. He’d put her on a pedestal and worship her there
forever.
“This is a sketchy part of town,” she made a face at him as she noted the graffiti painted wall.
“It sure is. Did you think Belkin was going to meet at the Fairmont? The man is an animal. I’ve seen him eat and it’s harder to watch than Sloane and Algernon.”
She giggled at his words.
Exiting the vehicle at the agreed upon spot, Cruz was aware of the number of people watching the vehicle but more importantly, the number of men waiting for them. “What is going on?” He frowned as they were quickly escorted into a dilapidated apartment complex.
“I don’t know but this is creepy.”
They entered a room at the very back of the building and Cruz grunted his irritation when Presley saw Rami in the distance and flew to him. He was certain she flew because her feet didn’t touch the floor once as she crossed the room and jumped into his open arms to be swung around.
“Do not shoot my cousin,” Belkin requested from where he walked to Cruz with his hand outstretched to shake it. “It is family affection. He’s not after your girl.”
“No s**t. He’s hot after Mina. Begged Presley to help him yesterday. Worst conversation I ever listened to.”
< Surprise Visit
+ Pants >
“He mistakenly told the woman about putting her ex in the hospital. The man might not make it. I think it was a legitimate beating.” Belkin gave a hapless shrug.
“Why are we here? Who is the nervous man in a suit? I’m not here to watch you kill a judge or something, am
1?”
Belkin laughed. “No. No. There was a pressing matter which needed to be addressed right away. Presley,” he called over his shoulder, “we need to talk.” He motioned to a round table.
Cruz watched as Presley extricated herself from Rami and easily moved to sit at the table. It was uncanny how much she trusted this group of men. She fit in with underworld mob bosses with flair.
Once everyone was positioned, Cruz noted the entire room was set up in a way to protect her. Every man was standing at attention, their eyes trained for any possible danger. Windows were blocked, exits were covered, and men were armed to the teeth.
“What’s going on?” she asked Belkin curiously.
“Liborio Bartoli was sentenced to death for his crimes against you.”
Cruz watched Presley nod, no flicker of emotion to coat her features.
“What was the reasoning?”
“When Estrella was taken back to Sicily, we made a stop at the location where you were supposed to be taken. He set up rooms, staff, and” Belkin cleared his throat, “it was clear it was a prison for you until you capitulated to what he wants. He kept doctors on staff and the amount of sedation and,” Belkin tugged at his collar, “medications such as aphrodisiacs and mind–altering medications were too numerous to count. He truly intended to train you to be his wife.”
“Holy s**t. He was nuts.”
“He’s dead now.” Belkin nodded. “I personally delivered the sentence. He showed no remorse. He was still of the belief he would be released, and you would willingly join him. He said you being with him was God’s repayment to him for taking his mother and sister from him. Delusional to the end.”
“Idiot.” She grimaced.
Cruz rubbed her shoulder wondering if she might feel even a hint of sadness but there appeared to be none. “Then as we always do, we were getting ready to divvy up his assets and his will was brought out. He left everything to you.” Belkin motioned to the man seated. “This is the lawyer who represents the syndicate, I, Liborio and three other men created to help victimized women over the world. Liborio named you the sole and complete beneficiary of his entire fortune, which is massive, and as director of all his operations. You, with no Italian blood in your veins are now, the Donna of the Bartoli family.”
“f**k off,” Cruz spat the words out in horror. “He made her the head of his family?”
“He did. The question is, Presley,” Belkin looked to her with a smile tugging the corner of his lips, “the lady who let herself be used as a human shield to protect my men and my family, what do you want to do with your newfound power. We have an empty seat at our table in our syndicate with Liborio’s absence. After talking with my crew, they feel strongly that you have what it takes to sit at that table. Are you willing?”
Cruz wondered what it said about him as he almost jumped on the table to cheer.
