Page 98 of Crazed

"Please, Daddy!" I scream, my body quivering and walls spasming.

He stops moving and palms my cheeks, locking his gaze on mine. "I take care of you, dolce. If you have a problem, you come to me. No matter who it's with, I'm the one to whom you disclose the truth."

The longer we stay in silence, eyes pinned on the other, the more the sensations fade away. A wave of emotion overpowers me, and this time, it's not from sexual acts.

He knows about Leo. There's no doubt.

But what does he know?

"Do you understand what I'm saying?" he questions.

I blurt out in a sob, "You can't save me."

His eyes turn to slits. In a firm voice, he replies, "I will. No matter what's going on, I promise you that I will."

I shake my head, wanting to believe he can but knowing the extent of the Abruzzo wrath. Their power is unlike any I've ever seen, including the Petrovs', which I would have thought was impossible when I was under Ludis's roof.

The turbulence dies down, and everything turns calm, except for the tension between us.

More determination fills his expression. He claims, "I will kill anyone who threatens or harms you."

I blurt out, "But you haven't." As soon as the words leave my mouth, I regret them.

He freezes, and the color drains from his face.

"Massimo, I didn't mean—"

He lurches over me, unlocks the handcuffs, and jumps off the couch. Before I can move, he picks me up and reaches for the microphone button, turning it off.

I wrap my arms around his shoulders, embracing him tightly and saying, "I didn't mean it. Forget I said it, please."

He says nothing, takes me into the bedroom, and puts me under the covers. He leaves the light off, slides in next to me, and then tugs me into his arms.

Blood pounds between my ears, matching the hard thumping of my heart. I place my hand on his chest and find his heart beating as fast as mine. For several moments, I take deep breaths, reprimanding myself for saying that to him and wondering where it even came from.

Not once did I ever think it was Massimo's responsibility, nor did I believe he was even capable of killing Leo. There are too many men surrounding him, watching and protecting him against all enemies. Massimo is capable of murder, but getting to Leo is another story. Anyone who tries ends up dead. The last thing I want is Massimo to be Leo's next victim.

In a calm, low voice, Massimo states, "I will kill Leo. It's only a matter of time. And Ludis is already dead."

Goose bumps flood my skin. I shiver and blurt out, "What do you mean?"

Massimo kisses the top of my head. "Ludis was killed a few years ago. I didn't know. I was searching for him but just recently got confirmation of his death. I wanted to kill him and Leo together."

"I-I don't understand," I admit, wondering how that could even be possible. I try to process that Ludis can no longer get to me. Then the realization hits me that I've been living in fear not only of Leo but also of Ludis someday trying to get me back. I swipe at the new tears that escape my eyes.

Massimo sniffs hard, confessing, "You can never repeat this."

I nod. "Okay."

He flips on a wall switch. I blink several times to adjust my eyes to the soft light. He holds my chin so I can't avoid him and questions, "Can I trust you, dolce?"

"Yes."

"But you've been hiding things from me."

I bite my lip, trying to stop the tears, but it's pointless.

He adds, "Things about the Abruzzos."

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