Page 24 of Vincenzo's Promise
He ended the call and navigated me around the broken glass out to the awaiting blacked out Audi.
“Get in,” I said. “I’ll have Mario grab your luggage, clean up the mess, and lock up. We’ll be ready to go in a few minutes.”
I nodded, and he brushed a gentle kiss against my forehead before shutting the door. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I’d let my guard down after those long months of terror I’d experienced before everything suddenly stopped. For years, I’d looked over my shoulder, and gradually, my fear subsided. Now it was back in full force.
He’s back.
I jumped when Vincenzo closed the door to the car after sliding in the car. I was so caught up in my thoughts, I hadn’t realized he was sitting beside me.
“You care to tell me what the hell is going on?” he asked.
I really didn’t want to get into it right now. We were supposed to be enjoying a vacation where we could learn about one another, now this. I guess it was time for him to learn about one of the most difficult and dangerous times in my life.
“Why is someone threatening you and me?”
The anger in his voice and the deadly glint in his eyes sent a shiver down my spine. This was Capo De Maio. Not Vin or Zo. He was out for blood.
Here goes nothing.
“A couple of years ago, I had a stalker.”
“Did your father know?” he questioned.
“He did. Somehow, the guy could get around the security my father had in place. He’d even been in my home. The only way I knew he’d been there was the note he placed on my pillow saying no matter how much security I had around me, he would always get to me if he wanted. He terrorized me for almost a year, sending me letters and watching me before it suddenly ended. After that, I moved.”
“Has anything out of the ordinary happened since?”
“No, nothing. I thought maybe he just moved on, or my father had taken care of it after he told me not to go to the police. That he would handle it. But I guess I was wrong.”
“Do you have any idea who this could be?”
“No. I don’t have much of a social life. Outside of work, the only place I go is to the gym, and I occasionally go out with Cheryl to our favorite bar.”
“Cheryl’s your best friend, right?” he asked.
I nodded.
“What’s the name of the bar?”
“Raven’s Nightlife.”
He grew silent.
I sat beside him, trembling. Why was this happening all over again? I thought I’d left this in the past. How did he find out where I lived?
Vincenzo wrapped his arm around me and pulled me into his body. I enjoyed the comfort he provided. His scent and warmth eased my fear.
“I need you to tell me everything, and I need to inform your father once we get settled,” he said.
“My father’s going to be livid.”
“As he should be. So am I.”
“Zo, I’m sorry about all this,” I said. “I know you have a lot going on with business and everything. My issues shouldn’t involve you. If you want to stop this whole thing between me and you, I understand.”
Vincenzo tilted my face towards him, his fingers under my chin. His eyes held so much promise. Without any words, I knew he would protect me against whoever this was.
His eyes drifted to my lips, then back to my eyes. My mouth felt dry, and I licked my lips as his mouth slowly descended to meet mine. It was divine ecstasy, his soft kiss sweeping me away from all that was wrong in my life. It was slow and thoughtful; the opposite of how I’d pictured my first kiss with Vincenzo. I expected dominant, forceful, but this was sweet and tender. Comforting.
