Reign of a Billionaire : A Dark Mafia Enemies-to-Lovers Romance

Chapter 41Kingston

Something had shifted—altogether steadily and slowly—over the past week. Or maybe I could pinpoint it to when I first saw Liana saving those women from the shipping container in D.C. Either way, it was confronting.

Liana Volkov had me in knots. I ached for her. I craved her presence all the fucking time, and that was unacceptable. Maybe this—whatever this was—was an ingredient for a happy life.

She wasn’t supposed to be the one for me, but for whatever reason, I couldn’t even go an hour without seeking her out. Our paths had converged, and we’d both been left fighting this sizzling attraction. If I wasn’t sure before, I certainly was now. Our little foray across enemy lines just about set the fucking island on fire.

It was wrong; I knew that. But damn had it felt good.

I took a deep breath and took a seat in my office, staring out at the ripples in the sparkling water. Louisa always dreamed of a secluded place, somewhere warm with a beach all to ourselves. She never got it, but her twin did.

It wasn’t fair, but I had neither the energy nor the courage to fight it anymore.

My phone buzzed and I flicked a glance at the screen. “Hello, Winston,” I said into the speaker.

“You doing okay?”

“Shouldn’t I be?” I retorted dryly.

“Consider this a heads-up.” My shoulders tensed. “Illias Konstantin reached out to Byron. Apparently the Thorns of Omertà want your location.”

“Who specifically?” I gritted. The underworld could always get in contact with me, but they never could locate me. It was by design—trust was a bitch that got you killed.

“Enrico Marchetti.” Fuck, I knew he wouldn’t let it go. The moment he learned Sofia had a daughter, he wanted to get his paws on her and make her pay for the torture his wife had endured.

Yes, I worked alongside the Omertà. Yes, I killed with them and for them. But I wouldn’t allow them anywhere near Liana.

She was mine and mine alone.

“Tell him you have no way of getting in touch with me,” I deadpanned.

“You got it.” I could almost hear the smirk in his voice “How’s my plane?”

“I had to take it apart.”

“What?”

“I’ll have it in shape before it’s returned.” Obviously I knew she’d never be able to fly a plane, but I wanted her to see for herself how futile working alone would be. And maybe I wanted to teach her a lesson at the same time, sue me.

“She’s quite the woman, huh?”

“She is,” I agreed, then steered the conversation away from Liana. “Any chance you know of someone who’s capable of DNA tracing?” I asked, changing subjects. “That sliced finger I left in my freezer back in D.C. I want to know who it belongs to.”

“Hmmm.” Silence thrummed over the line for a moment. “I might. You okay if I have someone grab it from your penthouse? I’m in Paris with Billie.”

Billie was my brother’s wife, and considering the two had just spent six years apart, I understood his reluctance to leave her.

“How about I have it delivered to you once I’m back in the States?”

“Better that it goes directly to my friend Tristan Bennetti. He knows of an excellent forensic pathologist.”

“Send me the address.”

Once the call ended, I pulled up the surveillance and found Liana in bed, asleep, and a book pressed against her chest. I zoomed in and read the title: Sex on the Beach.

I got to my feet and made my way to her room, pushing my way in soundlessly. I found her in the fetal position, her brows furrowed as if she battled demons even in her dreams. A cool breeze swept through the cracked window. The moonlight cast a faint glow across her face, and my chest stirred at the sight. Her lips were slightly parted, and her breaths came out even and shallow.

I dropped to my haunches next to her and watched her sleeping face.

I used to tell the twins I could spot the differences in their facial features. I could no longer say that.

I skimmed a thumb across her cheekbone, glad to see the meals I’d been preparing for her were filling them out a bit more.

I stepped away and dropped into my usual seat in the corner. I knew it was wrong, but there was no way I could go back to sleeping alone. Not when I knew she warmed the sheets just doors down from me.

Whimpering noises dragged me from my slumber.

I blinked, adjusting my eyes to the dim room, and spotted the sun barely below the horizon. A crick in my neck and the stiffness of my spine told me I fell asleep in a chair. Again. My head groggy, I leaned back into the seat and adjusted so I was on my side, closing my eyes once more. It was when another whimper sounded that I jolted my eyes open.

At first, I couldn’t find her. The bed was empty, but I could hear her sharp breaths. My eyes darted around, and I made out a body curled up in a ball on the floor. I sprung into action, taking the five steps to close the distance, then crouched over her.

Another whimper.

Her body shivered and her shoulders spasmed, her delicate hands wrapped around herself for protection. Her blonde mane blocked her face from my view.

“Please… No…” she whimpered. I pushed her hair aside to find her eyes screwed tightly shut. “N-not again.”

“Liana.” She didn’t even stir. “Liana, wake up.”

Her eyes fluttered open, but it was almost as if she looked through me. She was stuck in a trance, unseeing.

“Please,” she whimpered. “Stop… Please stop.”

“Shhh…” I whispered as my protective instincts shifted into place. “You’re safe.” I ran my fingers through her hair, combing her soft, golden strands. Her eyes found mine, but they were still glassy. “Shhh, I got you. No one’s going to hurt you.”

The startling realization of how sincere those words were hit me square in the chest. I slid my arms around her back and scooped her up. She snuggled into my hold, her body shaking as she continued to murmur her pleas.

I tucked her beneath the covers, and as I went to move, a whimper tore from her lips, her hand grabbing mine.

“Don’t leave me.” I froze. “Please.”

“I won’t,” I promised. Her body relaxed and a reassuring sigh left her lips as she fell back asleep.

I climbed onto the other side of bed, resting atop of the covers, and laced my hands behind my head.

The more I got to know this woman, the more puzzled I became. It felt so natural and effortless to be in her company.

Don’t leave me.

Those were the very same words I’d whispered to Louisa once upon a time. Unaware, Liana had struck a nerve, her words etching into my mind like the scars her mother had etched into my skin. Such a simple phrase, but it cracked my already broken chest.

I shouldn’t get close to her, no matter how hard she pulled me into her orbit. It was a betrayal to Louisa, to myself… and to Liana. She deserved better.

So then why did my numb heart bleed at the thought of giving her up?