Page 28 of Devilish Prince

I push my finger into his chest and his expression shifts. “You fucking did this. Where did they take my brother!” I’m screaming now, pounding his chest with my hands but he simply grabs my wrists and pins them against my body.

“I’d be careful how I act, Miss. Mr. Gatti doesn’t like when people rebel against him.” He says it so quietly I know he’s trying to hide his words from his buddy in the other room.

“Mark my word, Mr.—” I glance at his name, embroidered onto his shirt “—Thatcher, I will have your fucking job.” I spit in his face and yank my hands away from his grip, then shove him hard enough for him to back up a few steps. He chuckles as if I’ve merely annoyed him, but I can’t waste time on him at all.

I know exactly where they’ve taken Calvin and I can only pray that they’ve been gentle with him and his nurse. I can onlyassume she’s been taken too, as Lorenzo wouldn’t have the first clue how to care for a paraplegic.

I step past the dirty cop and march back up the hallway past the second officer who looks shocked. “Your buddy is dirty. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll request a new partner.” I glare at him as I stumble over some broken furniture and move toward the door.

He lets out a breathy grunt and I ignore him. This apartment and the belongings inside of it mean nothing to me without Calvin. The landlord will close up and fix the door again, but my focus has to be getting my brother back. Jen is right. We can’t stay here. Even if I have to move to Los Angeles or even another country, I have to get Calvin and get out. There will be new trials, new drugs. Hell, I may be able to keep him in the trial with an alias and by letting his nurses do all the transportation, but one thing is for sure. I have to leave New York now, or Lorenzo will kill us both.

18

LORENZO

The room is perfect, the natural sunlight illuminating it brightly enough the lights aren’t even on. It’s midday. I’m waiting for Sofia to get the call that her brother is missing, her home ransacked. And the nurse is quite pleasant with me, thankful and appreciative the medical equipment we’ve secured for Calvin is state of the art. Her tight blonde curls jostle on top of her head as she nods and smiles at me.

“I knew Sofi was dating you but I had no idea how generous you are. She’s so lucky to have you here to provide for her and Calvin like this.” She’s a bit older, mid-fifties maybe, and has the look of a mother. I can see why Sofia approves of her for caring for Calvin, who is sleeping soundly, also thankful for my care.

“I do my best to take care of things, yes.”

“Well, I think the news reports have you all wrong, Mr. Gatti. You have such a big heart.” As she speaks she organizes Calvin’s clothing into the sleek modern dresser that matches the entire bedroom suite. Norm went all out, replacing everything in the room with brand new furniture. Sofia will stay with me, but Calvin has a very nice spread here and I completely approve. Heeven prepared the nurse’s room too, since we will hire round the clock care for him now.

“I think I hear our guest of honor coming now,” I tell her, winking. I back into the hallway as I hear the front door open and Sofia lay into Norm. Shutting the door after me, I leave the nurse to her organizing and walk down the hall to the living room.

Norm stalks behind Sofia, whose shoes squeak on the marble. She’s angry and I knew she would be. I have violated her in the most severe way without laying a hand on her body. Her heart is now putty, ready to be molded to fit my demands and I have plenty of them.

I don't even have to speak to Norm to have him move out of the way. His sixth sense of my presence kicks in and he steps to the side as I approach. Sofia is there, dressed in her dark blue slacks and cream-colored blouse. Her lab coat hangs open in the front. She is damp with sweat, cheeks flushed in rage, and hair disheveled.

“Sofia, so good of you to join me.” As I stalk toward her she backs into the room. She knows my touch is her addiction and I know when she’s captive to her own anger she’s pliable.

“You sick bastard, what did you do to my brother?”

“Calvin is fine, sleeping peacefully.” I catch a glimpse of Norm standing in the doorway again as I walk over to the sofa and sit down.

Sofia darts at me, bringing her fists down on me in a rain of fury. I hold my arm up, letting her assault me and see Norm tense and take a step toward me too, but I shake my head, holding himoff. He is right to feel protective, but Sofia can’t hurt me. These blasts can only do so much before her hands hurt.

When she ceases her attack, I pat the sofa and smooth my hair down. “Come sit. Let’s chat.”

“Take me to him,” she growls and rounds the end of the couch. She’s cute when she’s angry and I am getting aroused thinking of how much fun it will be to stamp this anger out of her yet again.

“Sit.”

“Fuck you.”

“Sit. Down. Now.” I straighten and glare at her and she looks away, crossing her arms over her chest. Feisty rebellious sex is one thing. Open defiance will earn her a place in the hot seat and she doesn't want to be there. “Now, Sofia.”

Her jaw tightens but she sinks onto the far end of the couch and keeps her arms folded over her chest. “You destroyed my home.”

“This is your home now.” I angle my body to face her and she scoffs.

“I will never live with you.” The words roll off her tongue laced with malice and every ounce of hatred she can muster, but I see the look in her eye. She likes the idea of being my toy.

“You will sleep in my bed. Fuck me every night. Eat breakfast with me when I wake, and greet me when I return home every evening.” I stand now, ready to make my message loud and clear.

“You think you own me? You think I’m going to play house with you?”

“No, you’re going to marry me. And I am going to have a lineage with you that spans the ages…” Her eyes, still hazed over with hostility, look up at my face.

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