Page 31 of Twisted Obsession

I moved away from the table and made my way to the door leading to the stairs that would lead me up to my bedroom. At the foot of the stairs, I paused and did the same thing I’d done every time I’d passed the same spot over the past few days. I halted and turned my head towards the entrance to my grandfather’s rooms. Placing my fingers to my lips, I kissed them lightly and then blew my love to him. Tears began to blur my eyes as I put my feet on the bottom step, and once again I forced them away. Suddenly, movement in my peripheral vision made me falter and determinedly I turn my head.

Salvatore appeared through the door, which was being held open by Ricco, my nonno’s right hand man. Ricco, my bodyguard Lorenzo’s uncle. The same bodyguard I knew was reporting back my every movement.

‘Gi.’ Salvatore gave a half smile when he saw me. It wasn’t the normal smile he would greet me with, and I cursed the circumstances we had been placed under. If I hadn’t known before, I was certain then that he would have been more than happy to escape the confines of our family home without encountering me. Whereas, only a week before, he would have actively sought me out above all the others. That thought only added to my sadness.

‘Salvatore.’ I smiled weakly at him, unable to offer him more.

I saw the second he read my emotions, and it was then I comprehended that it was his hardness as well as his empathy that would make him a great Don, one who would step into the large shoes our grandfather was almost certainly going to leave behind him. My papa would never have come up to the mark. Gulping down a sob at that thought, made an incoherent noiseleave my mouth. Salvatore’s large, dogged strides brought him next to me in seconds.

Against what my anger demanded, my feet turned until I was facing him. When he opened his arms to silently comfort me, I leapt off the bottom step and eagerly accepted the invitation.

‘Giovanna,’ he whispered to me, like he was talking to a small child, as he brushed a hand gently over the back of my head.

‘Have you found him?’ I questioned hopefully.

‘No.’ He said the single word with disgust. This was his first trial as the future head of the family and because of it, I had some idea of how much pressure he was under. And my brother was a man who, because of his history, needed to keep the women in his family safe from harm. ‘I understand how what I’m requesting is hard for you.’

‘It’s hard for all of us… Including you. I see how you nearly always put yourself behind what others need.’ I stepped back, feeling him stiffen, and out of his hold. ‘But it has to be said, I feel totally useless here.’

‘Here, you are safe.’

‘Unlike my brothers,’ I added.

‘We’re all doing what we were born to do. We will see this through.’ He nodded at me, trying to push his point across. ‘And while there is the slightest chance you could be in danger,youwill remain here where you’re safe.’

‘Safe… Is this rule only for me?’ I saw his eyebrow lift at my tone, which was being stoked up by the anger I seemed to continuously feel.

‘I’m not going over this again.’ He moved instinctively to the side to let me know without words that he was about to leave.

‘Even my sister-in-law, your wife, is allowed more freedom than I am. Surely, hers is a bigger scalp than mine?’

I heard myself, and I wasn’t proud.

‘Giovanna.’ His voice grew in force and his tone reprimanded me with one word.

‘I know.’ I held up my hands. ‘I’m sorry, I take that back. I’m not wishing anything on her. I want her well and unharmed. I also understand that Serafina is a doctor and it’s only fitting she cares for her sister.’

‘Exactly that.’

‘I bet you wish you hadn’t come across me today?’ I hung my head in shame.

‘I would never wish that.’ Salvatore turned to face me and once again his arms opened wide. Willingly, I moved back into them and accepted the comfort he was offering.

‘How did you find Nonno today?’ I changed the subject to one that was closer to my heart than the anger I was dealing with.

‘He is fading fast,’ he admitted. ‘I think he is only hanging on until we get our revenge for Mia, and then he will let go.’

‘I wish I could see him.’

‘His wishes stand, bella. You have no need of watching him turn more skeletal as each day passes.’ I could hear the pain in his words. ‘He wants you to remember him as the first man who ever loved you, the first one who held you in his strong arms. Not the shell of the man that’s being left behind.’

‘Please tell him I love him.’

‘I will… although, that isn’t something you need to say. He has never been in any doubt of your love.’ Salvatore looked down at me and using his thumb and forefinger moved a long tendril of my hair to the side of my face. ‘And nor have I, and that’s a beautiful gift you have, Gi. The ability to see love where others can’t.’

‘Is it wrong to want this over, and not, at the same time?’

‘I’m not a man who has a lot of experience with feelings, Gi. You know that. But for someone as beautiful inside as you, I would think it’s very normal. I do however understand aboutloss. Losing someone is hard. You’ve never lost anyone before, have you?’

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