Page 24 of Blood and Penance
“You can’t.”
I glare at him. “What the hell are you talking about, Gianni? Lio is here. There’s no way in hell I’m not going to get my son. Wecan’t stay. If he found you, it's only a matter of time he'll find me and Giancarlo.”
“He’s our son, Phoenix.”
I take a deep breath and release it, trying to calm my nerves and my anger. Of course, I know he’s his son, but that doesn’t matter right now. Lio D’Amico will hurt Giancarlo just to get to me because he knows that he’s my world.
“I know that, Gianni. But that has nothing to do with me not taking our son and leaving. I will not let Lio hurt him.”
When I try to step around him, he moves in my path. Fury blazes through me and I glare at him.
“Get out of my way, Gianni,” I say as calmly as possible.
“Phoenix, listen to me.” He grabs my shoulders. “If you leave now, you’ll lead Lio straight to Giancarlo. He’s not a stupid man. He’s got eyes on this place now.”
“Goddamn it!”
He’s right. If Lio came here, there’s no way he didn’t leave someone to make sure I didn’t turn up. I’m shocked this wasn’t the first place he looked for me. He knows all about my relationship with Gianni and he knows he's a Puglisi.
I’ve got to stay here, but how do we get to our son?
“Okay. What do we do? We have to get to Giancarlo before he does."
Chapter Fifteen
Gianni
“You’ll stay here tonight.” It’s the most logical plan now that we know for sure Lio D’Amico is in the States looking for her. It won’t be safe for her to leave. At least, not tonight. “I’ll take the couch, and you can have the bedroom. I need to make some calls and take a leave of absence.”
“I can’t stay here, Gianni.”
I thought we were on the same page, but the panic in her voice is unnerving. However, it’s the only way I can make sure they’re safe. If she leaves, they will both be in danger. At least right now Lio doesn't know where Giancarlo is.
My brows dip in confusion as her comment breaks through my thoughts. “Why? He’s not going to attack the parish, Phoenix.”
I try to give her some reassurance. Lio D’Amico is not a stupid man. If he was, he wouldn’t be as high up in the Camorra as he is. He’ll be methodical in his planning. He’ll snatch her or Giancarlo when we least expect it. That’s why I think it’s best she stays here tonight, so we can come up with a proper plan.
“That’ll draw too much attention to him,” I continue. “You’ll be safer here. Giancarlo will be safer wherever he's at.”
She doesn’t answer my question but after a few moments my features soften as understanding dawns on me. My fingers, calloused yet gentle, trace the curve of her cheek, and she closes her eyes, melting into my touch.
“It won’t be easy for me either,amore mio. But it’s necessary to keep our son safe. You can’t leave.”
I understand her hesitation. I’ve got the same reluctance with her being under the same roof as me. It’ll be hard being this close to her without it dredging up memories that are way too inappropriate for a priest. The way she smells. The way her body writhes under me when I fuck her or the way my hand fits so perfectly around her slender neck when I push her over the edge as she whispers my name like a prayer when she comes. Although she doesn’t know it, I battle all those memories of her every day. The permanent stripes on my back are my penance for when my thoughts and dreams have strayed to places they have no business going as a priest, and the cock cage that digsinto my sensitive skin even now is also a testament to my will power being weak when it comes to her.
However, I would rather deal with the temptations of the flesh than her leave and lead Lio to Giancarlo. I’ve made a vow to God, but I’m not sure I can live up to that vow if anyone hurts her or my son. The Gianni of old will surface and no one, not even God will be able to stop me.
When she opens her eyes, my heart clenches inside my chest. The war raging in them no doubt mirrors the war brewing in mine. This is and will be the only woman I’ll ever love. And now she’s off limits, untouchable because of the vow I’ve made to God. And this is the first time in a long time I’ve had the thought of how the God I serve can be so cruel.
“Okay. I’ll stay, but I need to call, Sera.”
I let out a relieved breath. I don’t know what I would have done to get her to agree but if it took me tying her to my bed, that’s what I would have done to keep her here, at least for the night.
“I need to make sure Giancarlo is alright and update her on what’s happening.”
I haven’t seen Seraphina in years. While I’ve struggled with the decision, I made all those years ago, knowing Phoenix has her little sister in her life as well as Giancarlo, some of the anger and regret dissipates. At least they still have each other.
“Do you have security at your home?” I ask.
