Page 121 of The Sound in Silence

Well, that makes this seem better.I meet his eyes in the mirror, pressing my lips together before addressing a major subject matter hovering in the background in the two days since the near-kidnapping. I reported to him what they told me, that they were behind the near car accident too. He didn’t seem overly surprised and called off the investigation he had going.

“Have you heard from them?”

He steps back since I’m done and leads me from our room. “Not directly. They’re in the Bahamas. All our planes are outfitted with trackers; plus, I had their pilot email me whenever they landed. I’ve had men travel there to keep an eye on them; temporarily, until I’m satisfied that they’re settled and won’t do shit.”

I touch his arm, feeling a bit guilty for what happened. “I’m sorry you lost your parents because of me.”

He throws a sad look my way. “I never truly had parents.”

* * *

Hours later, we return and I might have experienced the most stressful, anxiety-inducing,besttime ever. Even if my fingers ache from all the rapid typing on my phone to respond to any questions.

Erico took me to two underground casinos, eight bars, and four nightclubs. I met all the staff in each one—waitresses, bartenders, dancers, whoever—and met many of Erico’s soldiers stationed at each one.

Even got to see Sebastian again. Turns out, he visited his kid nephew over the weekend and had an extra-long conversation with his newly-practiced ASL skills.

My favourite bar was the last one we dropped into, when Erico had a conversation with the bartenders, and one of the waitresses pulled me aside.

“Hope I’m not overstepping, Mrs. Rossi, but thank you for making this trip. You know, in all the years Erico’s father owned this place, we never once met Gia one-on-one, unless she came in for a drink.”

That made me smile. In fact, a lot of the day made me smile to the point, my mouth now hurts.

Erico shoves me right up against the door once we’re inside, and grasps the dress, yanking it over my head. He yanks down my panties next, and the mansion’s temperature makes little bumps rise against my skin.

“Wh-what are—”

Then he drops to the floor, spreads my legs, and spears me with his tongue. After a long, languid lick, he pulls back to respond.

“You, my fucking wife, have had me hard all day watching every one of my men turn to absolute puddles with your introduction. How different would my life be if you weren’t the one who walked down that aisle to me?”

“Sweet, but that doesn’t answer what you’re doing.” My hand sweeps his hair back, fingers slowly dragging through the dark strands.

“What’s it look like?” Fire ignites in his depths. “I’m worshipping at the altar of my queen.”

He buries his head between my legs and certainly worships me until I’m screaming his name over and over.

* * *

The next day by the pool, I send off my final message to Yasmine. There’s a lack of control in clinging to the past, and with Rozelyn and Nico managing her rescue—possible rescue—determining if there even needs to be one, there’s no point in me continuing to call and text. What was a form of self-care now feels silly, since I don’t even know if she has the same phone.

If she did, why wouldn’t she call her sister, Rozelyn, and let her know she’s all right?

Which means…she might not be all right.

“Yasmine, I’m worried about you. I’d do anything to know you’re safe, but I think this might be it. I can’t keep blowing up a phone you won’t answer.”

Reluctantly, I end the call and drop my phone between my legs on the lounge chair.

“Who are these messages to?” Erico’s voice comes up behind me. His hand brushes the back of my neck as he takes a seat beside me, dressed in swim shorts, indicating he’s come to hang out in the pool with me.

“Yasmine,” I answer with a sigh, staring at the phone rather than him. “Yasmine De Falco.”

“The same man who had your mother killed? Who caused all the drama with the Corsettis?” He jerks back.

“The very one. Yasmine’s his youngest daughter. Rozelyn, his oldest, is dating Flynn, Nico’s enforcer. Yasmine’s her younger sister.”

“Which would make her your ex-stepsister,” he concludes, leaning forward, hands clenched between his open legs. “Nico mentioned you not having a positive relationship with them.”

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