Page 81 of A Beautiful Crime

He cocks his head to the side, eyes narrowing. I have no means to interfere with his travels back home. But a dose of fear has never hurt anyone. And it’ll remind him who is really in charge. Seeing the dash of fear in his eyes I then let his hand go.

Not giving him a chance to say another word in edgewise I turn my back on him and signal Pietro to follow me.

As we exit the extravagant restaurant Pietro snickers, “Safe travels.” Opening the door for me he wears an amused expression. “His face was priceless, Constantine. Wish I could’ve taken a picture to immortalize the moment,” he muses. Pietro is far too easy to please. He reminds me of a golden retriever that way. An eager dog who is easily amused by his master. This life, a life filled with blood and shrouded in darkness, hasn’t killed his childish spirit.

“I can always have the footage sent to you if you’d like,” I reply dryly.

His eyes light up but he shakes his head. “Grazie, Constantine, but I’m good. Being there was more than enough.” He then shuts the door for me and quickly gets to the driver’s side. It comes to no surprise to find him still prattling on about the interaction. “Tao Haung cowering to Constantine Donati. And then when you told him about his sister, Meilin? I swear to God himself I have never seen a man so threatened.” After another minute I tune him out.

All I can think about now is how much closer I am to being with Carina.

To smell the intoxicating scent of cherries. To be ensnared by her emerald eyes. And to see that beautiful lush mouth part with the barest hint of my touch.

My beautiful liar can deny us all she wants but even she knows she won’t be able to resist the temptation for much longer.

And while I do admire her fight she’s attacking the wrong person.

She’ll see soon and when she does the world will be before her feet and no one, not even me, will be able to stop her.

Dio mio. I’m getting hard just thinking about it.

The car comes to a smooth stop once we reach my private parking garage. Anticipation getting the best of me I don’t even wait for Pietro to open the door for me.

“I haven’t even cleared the perimeter,” he calls after me, closing the door behind him before locking it.

“Afraid I can’t handle matters of my own?”

“No,” he says. I feel him close the distance as I go through the process of gaining access to my penthouse. “But it takes out all of the fun for me.”

Children. I work with fucking children.

Still, I can’t help but chuckle at his behavior. “Well, it’s good you’re my most trusted soldier, now isn’t it?”

His smile broadens as his eyes turn mischievous. “Sì, Constantine. A great honor and privilege. One I will be carrying out tonight while you have dinner with Carina.”

Her name off of another man’s tongue, even if it is Pietro’s, has me flaring with an unbridled rage.

My mad obsession mixed with my carnal lust and longing has turned me into a crazed man.

I wish I could say I was sorry for it.

“I expect not to be interrupted tonight, Pietro,” I warn him.

He nods his head. “You won’t hear a word from me. I’ll contact Rico if any problem arises.”

I nod my head in return. Pietro turns on his heel still with that mischievous glint in his eyes. And as I enter the elevator I see him prancing towards the newest and custom made Maserati I own. The key to it twirls around his finger as he unlocks the vehicle.

Before the elevator closes I threaten him, “One scratch and it will be your head, Pietro.”

He waves me off with his middle finger before slipping inside the car.

Il fottuto lardo.

The elevator ride up to the penthouse is torture in itself as the anticipation has reached it’s highest point.

And as the elevator doors open with a soft bell chime I have never been more thrilled to be home.

Pietro is right, but I will never tell him. Even the living can haunt you. Carina has haunted me all day. Every minute that passed, right down to the very second, I thought of her.

---