AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Would you like some coffee, water, tea?”
“No,” she mutters. “I’m fine.”
I show her to the living room, and she eases on the couch and pulls a throw pillow close. Her arm tightens around it while her eyes move around the room.
“What would you like then? I see you’re still shaking. A shot, a sandwich, a warm bath. I can—”
“I’m good, really.” Her voice regains that edge of authority. Her face is less rosy, and it looks like the sharp-tongued Aurora is coming back.
“Okay. I’ll be right back.”
I leave her in the living room and make my way to the security room. I pass through the hallway, and my eyes take in the luxury of my surroundings. I don't entertain guests in my home because this is my haven, my safe place.
Grand paintings were selected for my walls, and plush carpets cover my floor. Everything was expertly decorated to give me reprieve from the world outside.
The security room is just past the kitchen. I enter it and take a seat at my desk where I scroll through all of the cameras that are mounted throughout the house and property. Everything looks secure, so I call one of my men to see if he can figure out why Vulcan wants Aurora.
After a few minutes, he comes back with some intel about a deal gone bad with Jeff. It seems he promised something he couldn't deliver, which pissed off Vulcan enough to come after Aurora.
She was the target.
I thank him for his help and put an extra man on watching their movements. Then head back toward the living room.
I approach and stop to watch her for a moment. She’s tucked in the arm of the couch with her legs curled beneath her. The pillow’s securely in her arms, and she’s staring off. The living room is uncomfortably silent.
I take a deep breath. I want to reach out and touch her, but I’m not sure if she wants me to. Instead, I lean back and look at her with an intensity that I can’t explain.
My heart rate increases, and my body heat rises as I watch her carefully.Her breathing hitches, and my skin prickles with awareness when I’m close to her. The desire that builds in my chest for her is almost unbearable, and it takes everything in me not to touch her.
Aurora shifts and glances over at me and I walk over joining her on the couch. “Why did you save me?”
I’m not prepared to answer this question. It’s not like me to interject myself into another man’s business. The mafia runs under a unique set of rules and if Jeff owes Vulcan then it’s reasonable to expect that anything and anyone attached to him is in jeopardy. This includes Aurora, and the thought doesn’t sit well with me.
Her questioning gaze waits for my response. I make light of the situation instead of telling her the truth about the state of her life thanks to her father.
“Do I need a reason to be kind?”
Aurora shakes her head. Her eyes are holding my gaze like she's trying to see the truth through my eyes. "You weren't just being kind, Tristano. You were prepared. You had a car waiting, a mask on your face, and enough men to take out Vulcan’s men. I want to know why. Obviously, you knew a lot about the operation. Don't tell me you kidnapped me just to get back at Jeff."
I laugh out loud and enjoy the confused look on Aurora's face.
“I’m glad you think this situation is funny. But that’s not an answer.”
“What do you want me to say?” I chuckle. “You really think I’d bother with staging today to get back at Jeff. I’m a busier man than that.”
Aurora’s cheeks flush. “So, how’d you know?”
“I keep all the mafia bosses on surveillance to stay abreast of what’s going on in my city. I got word that he planned to attack your apartment. We tried to get to the house beforehand, but you were at Jeff’s place.”
“That answers how. Not why.”
I chuckle at her persistence. “Because I wanted to.”
The words hang in the air between us, and I feel like I’m standing on a cliff. It’s a dangerous place to be, but I can’t help it. I wanted to protect her, even if it meant risking my own life. She looks away as if she can sense the intensity of my feelings for her.
My hands clench into fists as I fight the urge to reach out and touch her. The desire to prove that she is safe with me is overwhelming, but I resist because it would be wrong for me to take advantage of this situation. Instead, I focus on keeping an emotional distance from her so that our relationship remains strictly platonic.
But when Aurora looks back up at me with those big blue eyes full of desire and curiosity, all my self-control evaporates. All I want is to wrap my arms around her and never let go. To keep her safe from danger andlove her.
