Amedeo, Her Italian Billionaire (19 page)

Heidi led them to a locker room. “Inside the locker is a robe and flip flops. Take your key with you. Through that door is waiting room. We have teas and water for your enjoyment.”

Heidi left them.

Kalia started to undress.

“Do I really need to wear the robe? I might not fit.”

“You’re not that big Violet. Besides, it’s pretty fluffy and looks comfortable,” Kalia said.

Violet eyed the stuff in her locker, but chose to get into the spirit of it. In minutes they were in robes and giggling in the waiting room. Maybe this would be okay. A woman in a smock poked her head into the room. “Kalia?”

“That’s me,” Kalia said.

“I’m your masseuse.”

Kalia waved to Violet then followed the woman out. A skinny man came into the room, in a robe. With his knees wide, as if Violet wanted to see his junk. She managed to look at everything but the man. At least he didn’t want to talk.

Finally someone named Kendra came out and led her to a room.

“Hop onto the table and lay back. Get comfortable. I’ll be rubbing your feet today. Are you ticklish?”

“No,” Violet said as she struggled a little to get on the massage table. She finally did get up, but she was sure she wasn’t graceful. She laid back, making sure she wasn’t flashing the woman any of her parts.

“I’m going to put a warm blanket on you then I’ll do the foot rub. If anything hurts while I’m doing it, please let me know.”

Violet was so comfortable with the blanket on her she thought she’d fall asleep.

Hour later, she felt so loved by Amedeo that she couldn’t wait to get home to him. That man was going to get laid. Or a blow job or both if he was up to it. She sat in the lounge waiting for Kalia.

Finally she arrived. She looked as relaxed as Violet felt.

“That man of yours is a keeper.”

Violet laughed. She wasn’t keeping him, but it was a thought. “I feel marvelous.”

They sipped lemon water.

“Do we have to leave?” Kalia said.

“Eventually. I’m getting hungry,” Violet said.

“Of course.” Her friend laughed. “Just give me a few minutes to enjoy the afterglow of it all.”

Violet laughed. Her toes and fingers were painted a deep red. Kalia had chosen pink for her nails.

They dressed a half an hour later. Amedeo sent the car for them. Violet lounged in the back seat, ready to thank her man. She thanked her driver then sent him off to drop Kalia home. The women hugged.

“Enjoy the rest of your day,” Violet said.

Kalia just laughed. Amedeo was waiting on the porch. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

“You look so much happier than when I last saw you last.”

“I feel wonderful.” She put her arms around him. “You are an amazing man.”

He chuckled. “I have your dinner ready.”

“I’m hungry, but not for that.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Oh?”

“Yes.”

In this moment, she felt something for him. Affection? Caring? Appreciation. She didn’t think it was love.

“Maybe we should eat first. I don’t need you passing out.”

“I don’t want to eat first,” she said.

She wanted this man naked. It was that simple. She was feeling lust. That would describe the feeling in her loins. Lust. He’d done something nice and she wanted to thank him. The best way she knew how.

He nudged her away from him. “I insist.”

“Then I’m eating naked so you have to see what you’re missing,” she said.

“Let’s just go eat. No need to get naked. We’ll do that afterwards.”

“You’re a guy, don’t you want to have sex?”

“Yes, but I want you to have food in you. It’s important for you and my child.”

She sighed. “Okay.”

She followed him into the dining room where he’d set the table with fine china and candles. She stared at it all for a moment, her heart ready to burst. “It’s beautiful. I’ve never eaten macaroni and cheese on the good plates. I’ve never had a good plate.”

He kissed her cheek. “Nothing but the best for my wife.”

She laughed. “I’m not really your wife.”

“Let’s just pretend for now.”

He pulled out a chair for her. She sat. He served the food with a flourish. She thought it was the best macaroni and cheese with stewed tomatoes she’d ever eaten. He was certainly the best company. He asked all the right questions about her afternoon.

She had never felt more cared for in her life. She knew this was temporary, but she wanted to enjoy this. Even if it was just for today. Amedeo had seen that she was upset and did his best to make it all better.

He was a great man and would make someone a great husband someday.

Too bad it wouldn’t be her.

The Final Chapter

Amedeo left a sleeping Violet in bed. He had some work to catch up on since he’d taken the day off. He played with the ring on his finger. He’d insisted that they do it all. Even if he wasn’t inviting his mother, he wanted it all to seem real to Violet.

He still hadn’t told his mother that he was marrying her. What would she say? He’d have to deal with that at the next dinner. Well, he’d tell the truth. This wasn’t the real marriage. This wasn’t for forever.

Still. For the duration of the marriage, he was going to be as real a husband to Violet as he could be. He wanted her to know that there are trustworthy men in the world. That she should open her heart again and learn how to pick a good guy. Her future husband will thank him even if he doesn’t know why.

Even with losing his father, Amedeo’s life had been a fairytale. He missed having a father around, but Dante had stepped in at some point and been the man of the house. He would be forever grateful to his brother for that.

His mother had been a rock and they’d all grown up to be successful. She’d taught them to work hard and to reach for their dreams.

He leaned back in his chair, still swirling the ring around his finger. He decided maybe he could entertain getting married again, but he’d be sure of what he was getting into this time. No Tory. No one who was high maintenance. Someone who appreciated what he did.

“You look like you’re solving the world’s problems,” Violet said from the doorway. She leaned against the doorjamb, a fluffy robe wrapped around her.

He smiled at his pregnant wife. The sight of her, carrying his child inside of her, filled him with joy. He was going to be a father. He was going to make his father proud. “I’m not.”

She pushed off the door then came to sit the chair opposite him. “Then what?”

He shook his head. “I need to have some secrets.”

She laughed. “You have as many as you want. I just hate to see you so concerned.”

“I’m not, really. Just reflecting on the day. How are you feeling?”

“Still pretty boneless from the spa. Thank you again for that. The whole situation was made better by Kalia being there.”

“I’m glad you two had a good time. Not to be a buzzkill, but any more messages from your stalker?” he said.

She shook her head. “Nothing since the flowers. The length of time in between the threats is making me a little crazy. I’m not sure if I should be worried or not.”

“Not worried. Cautious.”

She nodded. “Right.”

She rubbed her tummy absentmindedly. His eyes were drawn to her burgeoning belly. His child. Inside of her. He’d been a little fascinated when Gwen had started showing. This time it was more personal. This was his child. Half his DNA.

He pondered what the child will look like. He will love it no matter what, he was sure.

“I’m going to ask Salvatore to look into the message and the florist. He can track down who did it so we know for sure who the threat is.”

She nodded. “I’m sorry.”

He waved a hand. “It’s done, Violet. You’re not a child who has to be scolded. We all make mistakes.”

She snorted then looked down at her stomach.

“This baby is not a mistake. It’s a surprise, yes, Violet, but please don’t refer to our child as a mistake.”

She nodded. Her hand stilled in one spot on her abdomen. She got a faraway look.

“What’s wrong?”

He stood, striding over to her. Was she in pain? She grabbed his hand then put it on her stomach. He felt something underneath his palm.

“The baby’s moving,” Violet said.

Amedeo’s heart couldn’t have been any fuller at that moment. For him, this was his first meeting with his child. He knelt down and put both hands on her stomach. “Wow.”

“The baby’s been doing that for a day or so, but I wasn’t sure so I didn’t say anything.”

Amedeo kissed her stomach. “Hello, little one. I’m your dad.”

He looked up into Violet’s shimmering eyes. She smiled despite the tears. “That’s so sweet.”

He kissed her on the lips, overwhelmed by the play of emotions across his heart? Did he love her? Or was he just caught up in the moment of feeling his child move. He didn’t know, but he deepened the kiss.

She grabbed his shoulders, then ran her hands down his naked chest. His body came alive. Her breath came out in pants when he released her lips.

“That was amazing,” he said. “Thank you.”

Then he stood, grabbing her hand.

“Where are we going?” she said.

“Back to bed.”

“Uh, I need food.”

He laughed when he turned around to look at her. She had her bottom lip stuck out. “Okay, I’ll find something for you to eat, but then I want you naked.”

She smiled. “Feed me and I’ll follow you anywhere.”

He led her to the kitchen and found some leftovers to heat. She ate them happily. He thought about his child. How his life was going to change. How much he thought he wanted Violet in it.

Or did he? Was he too wrapped up in the emotion of the situation? Could he separate out his feelings? He couldn’t imagine that he’d fallen in love. He’d wanted to see Violet again after that night, but he hadn’t been thinking anything long term. Just another roll in the hay.

“You’re doing it again,” she said.

“What?”

“Looking as if you’re solving the world’s problems.”

He rubbed her arm. “I’m not. It’s all good, Violet.”

She nodded, then put her plate in the ink. “Take me to bed, Amedeo.”

***

Violet had been so careful and had done what Amedeo had wanted, but she got tired of the driver as her constant companion. He was also a bodyguard and not inconspicuous because the man was huge.

Sometimes when she was out for a walk, she’d run into him when she turned around. She was sure he was good at his job, but she became frustrated when he was in the way. Weren’t they trained not to be in the way?

She didn’t try to get away from him when she was shopping. She knew better than that, but suddenly he wasn’t there. As much as she’d bitched to herself that he was in the way, her heart fluttered in her chest when she couldn’t see him.

She spun around in the store but Jeff her driver was not to be found. Shit. She didn’t know what to do. Had he gone to use the restroom? Had he gone outside? He’d never left her without telling her where he was going.

The whole situation was odd.

The saleswoman approached her. She must look like a wild-eyed freak.

“Can I help you?”

“I came in here with that big guy. I can’t find him.”

“Husbands often wander off.”

She chose not to explain that he wasn’t her husband. Too complicated. “Did you see which way he went?”

“I think he went out the front door. Text him. I’m sure he’s close. Was there any merchandise I could help you with?”

Violet eyed her for a moment. “No. I need to find him. Thank you.”

She returned the dress she’d been looking at to the rack then hurried outside. Once on the sidewalk, she still couldn’t find Jeff. She reached for her phone when a hand grasped her arm, guiding her along the sidewalk.

“Just keep walking.”

It wasn’t Jeff. Violet moved to turn around, but the hand tightened. “Just walk.”

“Who are you? What do you want? My wallet’s in my purse.”

“This isn’t a robbery. Now shut up and do what I say. Or I’ll kill you.”

Violet’s heart went into her throat. Her breath became ragged. “Okay.”

If she weren’t pregnant, she might have punched the guy. Life was approached every differently when you have another human you had to think about. The man dragged her into an alley then into a car. She braced her feet. If she got in the car, no one would see her again.

“Bitch.”

He punched her in the head. While she was recovering from a daze, he shoved her into the car. She landed on her side on the seat. He climbed in after her and closed the door. He shoved a hood over her head and the smell of smoke overwhelmed her.

She hadn’t had any morning sickness during the whole pregnancy, but now she was nauseated by the smell. She willed the bile not to come up into her throat. She doubted the guy who had manhandled her would feel any remorse about her vomiting in the hood.

She strained to listen to what was going on around her, but the car might have been soundproof. No one in the car spoke and she had no idea who was here and where she was going. She wished she could get to her phone. She could text blind, but her purse was in the other foot well as far as she could tell.

Damn. She’d been so good about her bodyguard.

She wanted to cry, but refused to give into the fear. Finally the car stopped. She was yanked to her feet then led into a door. Someone slammed her into a chair then tied her hands to the arms. The hood was ripped off of her head and she took a few gulps of air.

A tall, thin man stood behind a desk, observing her.

“Do you know who I am?” he said.

“No,” she croaked out.

She coughed the cleared her throat.

“I’m Papa Juliano. You hacked into my system and now you’re going to do me a favor.”

“Why would I?”

“Because the alternative is having that baby in jail.”

He wasn’t wrong. What she’d done was illegal even if she didn’t change anything. She had hacked into his system.

“I didn’t see anything.”

He came around the desk, making her strain to look up at him. “I don’t care. You’re going to help me with something.”

“What?”

“There’s a bill in front of Congress that I don’t like. You’re going to hack into several senator’s emails and find incriminating evidence that I’m sure is there.”

“Those are on government servers,” she said.

A capital offense if she got caught.

“I know. Guess we’ll see if your skills are that good.”

“I don’t have my laptop,” she said.

“We can arrange that, but I think we have plenty of computers for you to use here.”

Her brain searched for a way out of this, but her purse wasn’t in sight. “This could take some time.”

“I can be a patient man. You just better be able to prove to me that you’re making progress,” he said.

The warehouse was dark except for the light shining over them. She had no idea if she was in the middle of the building or near the side. Even if she got loose, she’d be running blind. And pregnant, which put her at a disadvantage.

“Can you understand code?” she said.

“No, but I have people who can so you won’t be able to just write garbage and expect me to believe you. I need this done in the next few days.”

“You don’t think anyone will notice that I’m missing?”

He snorted. “You’re a pregnant black girl. A dime a dozen. And that billionaire you got hooked up with? He’ll forget you in a while. You aren’t as important to him as you think.”

His words hurt, but she refused to cry in front of him. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

“When do I start?”

***

Amedeo looked up from his laptop to see Violet’s driver standing in front of him. The man had an ice pack to the back of his head. That didn’t bode well.

“I lost her.”

Amedeo’s heart seized. “You lost Violet?”

The man looked at his own shoes. “I was jumped and knocked out. All I wanted to do was check out the back of the store. I like to know all of the exits in a place.”

Amedeo pressed his lips together. The man had been doing an exemplary job up until now. “Where?”

“At a maternity store downtown. She was involved in something and I’m not sure she heard me when I told her that I was checking out the back. When I came to, I couldn’t find her. The saleslady wasn’t any help. You know how they are in those high end places. Snooty.”

“Damn, Jeff. Go home. Get some rest.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Killiano.”

“I know.” Amedeo watched the man shuffle out. Shit. He pulled his phone out and called Salvatore.”

“Hey bro.”

“Violet is missing. We think she’s been abducted.”

“Slow down. Violet’s gone? She didn’t run away?”

“No, her driver slash bodyguard was jumped and when he came to, he couldn’t find Violet.”

“Okay. I’ll be over in fifteen minutes and we’ll draft a plan.”

Amedeo hung up, but he couldn’t concentrate on work. If this was the work of Papa Juliano, then Violet might be in real trouble. He couldn’t sit still. Madge found him pacing his office, muttering under his breath.

“Salvatore is on his way up.”

“Thanks.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Violet’s been kidnapped.”

“Ransom note?” Madge said.

“No, not yet. I’ll pay whatever they want. They’d better not hurt her,” he said.