Page 33 of Let Vengeance Be Mine

“You look real sexy when you're working out.” She stares at me from the other side of the room like a vixen, then abandoning her mat she moves to sit on the weight bench beside me. I love how happy she looks when she leans back on one arm and the hand from her other strokes over her bump. Placing my weights back on the rack I position myself in front of her, taking her jaw between my thumb and finger and forcing her eyes to look up from her stomach and onto me.

“Do you like being pregnant?” I ask. Of course, there are things she moans about, but every now and then I catch her acting all dreamy, the way she is now.

“Surprisingly, I do,” she nods back, almost seeming confused by her answer.

“Good, because I intend to knock you up many, more times. It looks too fucking good on you, for me not to.” I lean down to kiss her, and when she glances toward the door, I see Demitri there, and I can tell from the look on his face that he hasn’t come with good news.

“Can I get a word, boss?” he asks, gesturing his head to the hall.

“I’ll be right back,” I promise Aria, finishing that kiss I was giving her before I follow him out.

“What is it?” I ask once we’re alone.

“The girl’s father. He’s here in L.A.”

“What the fuck’s he doing here?” His words come as a shock and I can already feel my heart starting to beat far too fucking fast.

“I don’t know exactly. I got eyes on him. We’re watching his every move. But I think we can pretty much guarantee that it’s got something to do with her. The risk of him showing his face in your fucking city is too great for it not to be.”

“What am I supposed to do?” I rub my hands over my face, exhausted from all this shit, just when things get back on track and I start to relax, something else creeps up on me.

“Like I said, boss, I got eyes on him, there isn’t much else I can do.”

I need to think straight and all this is far too pressing. I need to put some distance back, between me and Fucchini, and there's only one way I can think of to do that with the discretion I need.

“Have Marco get the jet ready. Tell him we’re heading for the island.”

“Theisland?” Demetri stares back at me in utter shock.

“Yes, Demitri, last I checked there was only one fucking island that would be any use to me.”

“But you haven’t been there since your dad–”

“I’m well aware of that,” I march away from him and back to the gym room, where I find Aria on her knees with her back arched and her arms above her head. She must pick up on my sudden change of mood because she instantly looks worried.

It reminds me to find my calm again, I can’t have her getting worried or stressed. It’s bad for her and the baby.

“Is everything okay?” She stands up on her feet.

“Everything’s fine, great in fact. We’re going on a vacation,” I announce, managing to smile.

“A vacation?” She seems completely startled by the idea. “Matteo, isn’t that a little risky? You worry about us leaving the house to go to the doctor's office.”

“Are you doubting me?” I snap back at her far too quickly, and when I notice her bottom lip start to pout, I quickly take her hand in mine, stroking it with my thumb and lowering my tone. “Where I’m taking you is secure, and very remote. You will be perfectly safe. Both of you.” I assure her resting my hand on her stomach.

“I’ll have Anita pack your bags for you. We’ll be leaving in a few hours.” I go to walk away but she pulls me back.

“All this seems very hasty, it's not like you to be so spontaneous.” She creases her forehead.

“Everything is fine.” I cradle her head in my hands and kiss the top of it, before leaving her and heading for my office. I shouldn’t be around her when I’m on edge like this. Aria is very good at picking up on people’s energy. The last thing I want is this one rubbing off on her.

Once I’m in my office with the door closed, I let my anger unleash, punching my fist at the wall and imagining it’s Stevan Fucchini’s fucking face. Demitri is right, he does know. I killed all those people on the list and left myself as the only suspect. I don’t regret that, I wasn’t going to allow people with any intent on harming Aria to roam out there, free. But now, there's a new threat. The threat ofhim. I slick back my hair and pull myself together before opening my door and calling out for Demitri. He’s never far away, so he’s with me almost instantly.

“Marco will meet you at the hangar in an hour,” he assures me.

“Your contact, the one you had in Fucchini’s house. I need you to get in touch, find out if they know why he’s here, and how many men he’s brought here with him.” I can hear the panic in my voice, and realize I have to calm the fuck down because Aria thinks we’re going on a fucking vacation.

“I haven’t heard from my contact in weeks.” Demitri hangs his head.

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