Page 37 of Vincenzo's Promise
Vincenzo
It’s him! Motherfucker, I knew it was him.
I focused on the passing landscape to shield Bella from my rage. Adrenaline rushed through me at the same time as I clenched and unclenched my hands while Bella, Angelo, and I continued to make our way to my home to prepare for the engagement party tonight. We all remained silent. Lost in our thoughts. There wasn’t any doubt in my mind her stalker was Dr. Daniels. Everything fit. From the instantaneous hate for me to the challenge in his eyes when I dropped in on her at work this morning. I just needed to see his reaction to confirm some of the information she told me about the timeline of events of her stalker, and the information Angelo uncovered on Dr. David Daniels.
The investigation into Dr. Daniels had already been completed, despite what I told Bella. When I found out she had a stalker, I immediately had Angelo investigate all the male workers at her hospital. Of course, he complained because there were hundreds, but I was confident whoever was stalking her had some type of relationship or close contact with her. Since she only hung out occasionally with her best friend, and only frequented a bar and the gym, it shrunk the possible candidates down to virtually none.
But the stalker at the moment was the least of my worries. He would be handled tonight before the engagement party, and I’d enjoy his demise. My concern right now was how to handle the men who would come not only in good faith tonight to celebrate, but also those who were looking to destroy me.
Someone was definitely out to destroy me, and I believed my engagement to Isabella gave them every reason to do it now, since they couldn’t before. That meant whoever it was had the backing of some of the Five Families of the Cosa Nostra as well as the clans of the Camorra. Hence my meeting with Cyrus and thecapo di tutti i capi,boss of bosses, Antonio Rizzo Jr. this morning, and he assured me he hadn’t sanctioned anything against me and the De Maio clan. Although he was blindsided by the marriage because he knew we would now own a piece of Cosa Nostra territory, he wasn’t opposed to it and welcomed a sit down with me to discuss the details after the wedding.
It was no secret our engagement would become the buzz of the underworld with more negative than good. It was all right with me. The De Maio clan prepared for it. My organization was ready for whatever would happen, and so was Isabella.
“Have you already gotten your dress for tomorrow?” I asked, calming down when she grasped my hand. A sigh slipped from my mouth. “If not, I can have some brought to you.”
It was the craziest shit I had ever experienced. I was still amazed by her uncanny ability to calm me with just her touch. Our time in Belize had been spent with me balls deep between her warm, wet thighs most of the trip because of the shitstorm happening here at home.
Two of my legitimate businesses had been raided within the past month, and I was sure there was more to come. Not only was the FBI focusing on everything connected to me, Interpol was also targeting my counterfeiting operation. The clan’s most lucrative venture. This was how we made most of our money. The millions made from counterfeiting the best product on the market kept the members of the De Maio clan and their families fed and living comfortably. Now, it was all in jeopardy. Clients were questioning whether it was safe to do business with me because of the increased scrutiny, not only nationally, but internationally as well. Despite it all, I couldn’t get enough of the peace that engulfed me whenever she came all over my dick, and I released deep inside her. That shit was addicting.
“Cheryl’s going to bring it when she gets here,” she said. “I’ll have enough time for her to do my makeup and hair.”
“How long have you known Cheryl?”
The smile that blanketed her face was so beautiful. While everything about Bella was captivating, her smile was like no other. Even in my darkest moods, I couldn’t help but feel a little lighthearted whenever she graced me with it.
“Since my freshman year of college. She’s been with me through everything. We’re more like sisters, than friends.”
“I’m glad you have at least one person who can help you through all this.”
“I’ve come to terms with how our relationship started, Zo.” She squeezed my hand, and I raised it to my lips. “Knowing that we are really going to make a go at this, I’ve forgiven all the men in my life, and that includes you.”
“If I haven’t told you before, Bella, you are one remarkable woman. And thank you for your forgiveness.”
I don’t know how many times I’ve apologized for how I went about this thing between us, but I constantly told her I would never apologize for her being in my life. Without a doubt, it was the best thing that’s happened to me in a very long time.
When the car stopped, she looked through the window as we sat in front of my home. Well, I couldn’t really call it a home, but I hoped her presence would change that. Like her father, mine had also loved showing his wealth. I’d inherited this house, and others, when he passed. This being my childhood home, I decided this would be the place I would raise my children.
The car doors opened, and she slid out one side while I stepped out the other. Bella lived a simple life, and I wondered if she could live here.
“It’s beautiful, Zo,” she said, coming to stand beside me.
I wrapped my arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to me, and kissed her on the top of the head. “Thank you. You can change anything you don’t like. I know you don’t like extravagance, and I’m not attached to anything, so you are welcome to do what you like.”
“What woman doesn’t like extravagance?” Angelo asked, laughing as we walked into the house behind us.
“I don’t. It’s a long story, Angelo. But, for me, spending time with Zo in private is all I need. Nothing else really matters.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the look on Angelo’s face. I’d told him Bella was different from any woman we had ever met. That one simple statement flipped his entire world upside down and crushed everything he thought he’d known about women.
“After I show you around, I have a few things to handle,” I said. “Afterwards, Angelo is going to pick Cheryl up from the airport. I might not see you again until it’s time for the engagement party. I want to introduce you to my men first. Are you all right with that?”
“Of course. Just show me to our room, and I will wait for Cheryl to arrive.”
While I hated to leave Bella, Dr. Daniels needed my attention before we could start the rest of our lives.
“Great. Let me show you to our room. Then I’ll get out of your hair.”
* * *
