Page 14 of Ludovico's Vengeance

“Bella, that is exactly what I’m going to find out.”

Nina’s nod is full of frustration and annoyance. I can see the rage in her eyes. When my gaze returns to Milo, he jerks his head toward Danny who takes the gesture as it’s meant, and they both walk into the bedroom for the body.

“Thanks, Johnny.” She shakes her head with her nose scrunched up in a look of disgust, “No, I don’t like that. Giovanni suits you.”

My shoulders shake with laughter as I lead her into my room, Pinhead still held tight to her chest.Lucky fucker.

“Fortunately for you, I enjoy the sound of that name on your lips.” I reply, my voice full of innuendo. Nina’s face turns a shade of pink I’ve only ever seen on the color wheel, and my God, is it gorgeous on her skin.

When we finally reach my room, I guide her inside and she turns to face me, her lips turned downward in a frown.

“Why did you call him Pinhead?”

“Why did you call him Pinhead?” My voice is shaky as I ask the question. My body is still trembling as I try to wrap my mind around what just happened. Someone just tried to abduct me out of my bed.

“He sunk his nails and teeth into that man like he was a pincushion.” Giovanni shrugs. “It felt appropriate, given the circumstances.”

I shake my head at his reasoning, my lips curving upward no matter how hard I try to fight the amusement. Giovanni pulls me flush against him again. The feel of his bare chiseled physique against my body sends an unfamiliar warmth to my belly.

“This is a loaded question, but I’ve got to ask. Are you ok?” He pulls away to stare down at me. His brown eyes stare into my soul as he waits for me to respond.

I choke on a laugh. “I shouldn’t be. Maybe I won’t be tomorrow, but right now...” My shoulders lift and fall dramatically with a shrug. “Right now, I'm oddly comforted by the fact that you didn’t hesitate to do what you did.”

Giovanni nods his head in understanding, then lets out a sigh.

“Nina, can you tell me everything that happened?” The words come across much softer than he’s spoken since I was pulled from my bed. A soft knock sounds at the door and Pinhead leaps from my arms. He crosses the room so quickly it’s a blur of fur until he’s on his hind legs hissing at the doorknob. Yea, that name is totally going to stick.

“Psp psp psp, come here, Pinhead, it’s ok.” I call out for my fur covered protector, “Giovanni won’t let anyone hurt me. We're safe in here, kitty.” He rushes over to me but looks over his little shoulder at the man I promised would keep us safe, like he’s unsure.Dude, he just shot a man to protect us. I think we’re good.If only a cat could read my thoughts.

"Should I be afraid to fall asleep with him in here?” Giovanni asks half teasingly as he twists the door handle and pulls the door open toward him to show Jade with a look of concern on her face and the litter box from my room. Crap, I knew I was forgetting something.

The two of them have a hushed conversation that I can’t make out, so I turn around. My bare feet pad against the smooth hardwood floor as I approach the enormous bed. Damn, this thing is bigger than the one I was sleeping in. This bed is set a little higher than the one in my room, so I have to jump a little to get on to the mattress. Pinhead leaps up next to me and sniffs around as I take a seat, my legs crisscrossed under me as I wait for Giovanni to return.

“Get some rest, sweet girl, I’ll have a cinnamon bun ready for you tomorrow with a hot chocolate.” Jade calls past the opening as she shoves the litter box into Giovanni’s chest. “Don’t make her talk if she’s not ready, Johnny.” He rolls his eyes and closes the door behind her retreating form. He disappears into the connected bathroom where he must leave the litter box because it’s no longer in his hands when he returns.

My eyes roam along the ridges and valleys of his muscular tattoo covered chest as he closes the distance between us. I’ve never seen such a beautiful human in my life, not even on TV. My cheeks flush when I realize he’s standing directly in front of me. I glance up to find him grinning down at me, but he doesn’t call me out for my ogling.

“Ok,Bella. Do you think you can tell me what happened?” He repeats the earlier question from before Jade arrived.

I blow out a long breath and stare down at my hands, laying on my crossed legs.

“I was asleep, so I don’t remember much. I remember feeling as if I were floating and then my chest suddenly crashed into something hard which stole the air from my lungs. That’s what made me open my eyes. When I did, I was staring at a back.” My chest heaves as I fight back a sob. “He made a comment that I belonged to the Barone family and –” my eyes close tight as I try to fight off the memory. I don’t want to say the last part.

“Go on.” Giovanni’s kind voice is closer as I feel the bed dip next to me. His body is so much closer to me now. The warmth radiating from his skin sends a jolt of electricity through me, making me shiver.

“I – I don’t want to say it.” I admit and turn to face him, my eyes shine with unshed tears. He presses his palm to my cheek, and I press into the connection.

“It’s ok,Amore. You can tell me anything.” The confidence in his words should provide comfort, but the words I have to say have me more frightened than when I was pulled out of my home to come here.

I close my eyes again, savoring the warmth of his hand against my skin for just a moment before I speak.

“He said that even if I wasn’t the heir that my dad wanted, he could use me for leverage and payment to have you taken care of.”

Giovanni mumbles a curse under his breath. He takes my face between his hands and. presses his lips to my forehead. I suck in a sharp breath at the connection, my eyes flutter open to take in the man before me.

“Is there anything else?” I shake my head slowly, afraid to move and feeling vulnerable in this position. “I’ll be back in a few minutes, ok?”

“Sure,” It’s only a single word, but when it passes my lips it sounds breathy and full of desire.

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