And as crazy as it sounded, I needed him.
I hated myself for the electricity that had never ceased, the dull hum in my ears when he spoke. I loathed the way my body reacted when he touched me, the hunger that threatened to consume every inch, pounding my inner core until I was breathless around him. Even now, I wanted him to reach out for me, pulling me into his arms. The thought was crazy, disgusting.
But undeniable.
“Will you tell me more? Will you finally tell me what’s going on?”
He took my arm, leading me toward the front door. “We will talk over dinner. Until then, know that you are safe here. You’ll be taken to a room. I suspect Bella will provide you with some clothes.”
“Bella?”
A smile finally broke across his face. “Bella is the daughter of my father’s former Consigliere. He owns the majority of stocks in the vineyard as well as several processing facilities.”
“Let me guess. Your family owns a portion as well.”
“As I’ve always said about you, sweet angel. You are too smart for your own good. My mother used to call me un piccolo inferno, a little hellion. I believe that suits you.”
Was he trying to make light of the fact he’d kidnapped me, taking me several thousand miles away? I gritted my teeth, pushing against him. “I don’t want to be here, Valentin. Not that it matters to you.”
Just before he opened the front door, he lifted my chin. “I understand you’re frightened and angry with me, but I had no choice but to bring you here. I believe you’ll find it’s not such a horrible place to spend time. In addition, I don’t believe you are who you say you are, which requires me to determine if you’re working for someone.”
“Working for someone? What does that mean?” My God. He really did believe I was some kind of black widow or worse. I was queasier than ever, fighting the anxiety that kept me breathless.
His only answer was a wry smile curling on the corner of his lip.
“Am I a prisoner?”
“Does this look like a prison?”
I threw another look over my shoulder, able to catch a glimpse of several other large buildings in the distance. “It looks a little like paradise, but I’m guessing looks can be deceiving.”
“The vineyard produces several different wines, all of them award winning. In addition, olives are harvested, shipments sent across the world. When my grandfather was a boy, he worked alongside his father for a brutal man who owned almost every profitable winery in the country. He was ruthless in his operations, extorting and blackmailing anyone who dared defy his empire. He truly was a horrible monster, Cassidy, the kind that enjoyed the art of torture while doling out punishment as if it was a requirement on a daily basis. My grandfather made a promise to my great-grandfather that he would do everything in his power to destroy the man, crushing his regime.”
He paused, studying me intently. There was an entirely different look in his eyes, an admiration for his family that he carried with him. “I’m sorry.”
“Do not be sorry, dolce angelo. The lessons learned were passed down through the generations. This winery, as well as many others, is as special to him as it is to the Luciano family. It’s a reminder of the strife we all must go through in order to receive our salvation in heaven.” Valentin chuckled. “Or a throne in the fires of hell. While you are free to roam the space, you are not allowed to attempt to make any phone calls.”
“My parents will worry about me, Valentin. Since you’re such a family man, I would think you’d understand that.”
“No, they won’t, my sweet angel. They believe you left on a plane already, returning to your life in Chicago. In checking your phone records, it does not appear you make regular calls to them. They will not be worried about you.”
Oh, my God. There was nothing that he couldn’t find. I was even more nervous, my heart racing. What if? No. Everything was fine. It had to be.
“You were checking up on me.” Now I hated that he called me angel. It seemed like a barb tossed in my direction by a sulking man who’d fallen for a girl at the wrong time.
“In my business, not knowing my enemies is what brings me to this. Please know that the Lucianos have moved on from their former lives. Their daughter was very small when Giovanni ended his career with my father. Please do not think that you can glean any information that you can use against me. They are God-fearing hardworking people, the salt of the earth. If you mistreat them, I assure you that this will become a prison. Do you understand me?”
“I wouldn’t mistreat them. I don’t know them.”
“They are truly special people, but I’m certain you will make an attempt to secure their help. They will ignore you. They have utter loyalty to me and my family.”
He crowded my space, enough that I thought he was going to kiss me.
“I won’t.”
As he brushed his fingers across my face, his heated breath cascading along my skin, I leaned further in, the longing unacceptable, the hard pull on my mind and soul forcing a chill into my system.
“Let me in, Valentin. Allow me to know your world. I’m not easily broken.”