Page 44 of The Beast

I glare at him pointedly and note the resignation in his eyes. He can’t back away from his own words and I take great pleasure in looking directly at Winter and smiling softly. “Yes, our flight leaves in the morning.”

“Our flight?” Allegra looks at me sharply and I nod, dismissing her with a bored expression.

“Mrs. Delauren will accompany me to Canada. We have unfinished business to attend to, and I will be gone for three months.”

Nonna raises her eyes to the heavens and looks despairingly at her husband, who just nods as if this was his plan all along.

“It is true.” He concedes to the furious Don beside him. “Alessandro has three months to finish what he started and then return to take up his position by my side. He will be ready to accept what that involves. Isn’t that right, my boy?”

His stern warning is noted, and I nod. “Three months, grandfather, as agreed.”

I pointedly ignore his question and, taking that as my cue to leave, I stand and toss my napkin on the table before saying to Winter, “Mrs. Delauren, I believe we were about to make the necessary arrangements. If you will excuse us, we really should be getting back to business.”

Turning to Allegra, I nod politely and relish the rage clouding her narrowed eyes before I turn to our guests and nod with respect and then walk from the terrace with Winter hot on my heels.

CHAPTER24

WINTER

Ialmost have to run to catch up with him, and as Alessandro strides as far away from the terrace as he can, I cast my mind back on an extremely uncomfortable meal. It was as if I was a cuckoo in the nest and I detested every minute of it. I understood immediately what Alessandro’s grandparents were doing, and I hated them for it.

As we turn the corner, I’m surprised when Alessandro pushes me roughly against the wall and wastes no time in kissing me like a man on his way to the gallows. I’m guessing he feels that way and so I return the kiss with every ounce of emotion I have.

The passion is raging between us, and it’s taken me by surprise a little. Why do I crave him so much? It’s as if this kiss is a long time coming and I’m convinced if we were alone in a bedroom, we would both be naked by now. It’s as if he possesses every fiber in my body and fills my heart with his image, scent, and mind. Alessandro Majerio owns me, and I think he always has.

He breaks away and my lips feel fuller, swollen even, and yet the taste of him on them is the sweetest one in the world. I am so happy, and I’m surprised when he growls, “It’s time to end this shit.”

“What do you mean?”

I’m a little worried about that and he sighs heavily.

“I always believed the hardest part would be to bring you back to me. Unharmed and willing to pick up where we left off.”

“But that happened. I’m here and I want this. I want you.”

He strokes my face lightly and stares deep into my eyes and whispers huskily, “I want the whole of you, baby. I want the woman I fell in love with, and I want the innocent girl who dreamed of love. I want to give that to you, but there is something standing in our way.”

“What?” I’m almost fearful of his answer and he growls, “Your husband.”

“But he can’t hurt me now. You told me he is as good as dead.”

He touches my lips lightly with his and it calms me in a heartbeat and then he whispers, “He may be able to help us.”

“I don’t understand.”

He pulls me close and kisses my forehead lightly. “You have lost your memory. It’s hurting you; I can tell that.”

I nod, a lone tear splashing onto his fingers as my voice breaks. “I only know what you tell me. I have feelings that are guiding me, but there is something I’m missing that’s making me on edge. It’s as if I need to see the whole picture to be truly happy again. I have a great fear of being punished and I’m worried about that. Is there someone coming for me I have forgotten about? Was it really my husband, or somebody else? I kind of think there is another person involved in my story, and I’m scared, Alessandro.”

“Do you trust me, baby?”

He strokes my face so tenderly my lip trembles as I nod. “Of course.”

“Then I have someone I would like you to meet. The person who may just light the spark that brings your memory back.”

“Who?”

“Your husband.”

---