Just then, a knock sounded on his door. “Come in.”
“Mr. Mannetti, I just got a call from the guy watching your place. Says Ms. Moore walked out. He’s behind her now, but he doesn’t want to scare her. Do you want him to intercept?”
Rhys’s anger and frustration rose. “What the fuck is she doing?”
“Rhys?” Beverly asked before standing. Her husband Isaac was by her side. Just looking at the two of them, they didn’t seem like they would fit. Isaac was a tall man, firm jaw, blue eyes, scarred hands, and bulky. He spoke gruffly and didn’t mince words. Beverly reminded him of his Hyacinth. Sweet. Soft. Loving. Protective of those she cared about. He only hoped Hyacinth could see herself by his side for thirty-plus years.
“Bruno, please take care of Mr. and Mrs. Moore and get them back to my home. Tell Tito to follow Cin, but not to stop her. I’ll have Carlos take me to her.”
“Yes, Boss.”
He tried not to allow his family business to interrupt his time at the restaurant, but there were times like this when that was impossible. Grabbing his phone, he came from around his desk to exit his office. “I’ll meet you at the house once I grab Cin.”
“Do you need backup?” Isaac asked.
While he appreciated the offer, he also knew Hyacinth would never forgive him if he started using her father as one of his hired guns. The man would soon be his father-in-law, so he needed to be treated with a certain level of respect. There were some old school ideals he still held on to, even though he had forged his own path.
“Not this time,” he said with a half-smile. “I’m sure she’s just tired of being cooped up in the house while we’re looking for whoever messed up her apartment. Appreciate the offer.” Without another word, he walked past them and toward the front of the restaurant.
Rhys called his guy that was following behind Hyacinth. “Where is she?” he snapped as he climbed into the waiting car. Carlos must have picked up on his urgency, because he got in the car quickly and pulled off. The glass partition was open, so he called out. “She’s at the sandwich shop we ordered from the other day. Let’s meet her there.”
As the car sped off, Rhys was tempted to call Hyacinth and ask what the hell was she thinking? Since they were still unsure about who was after her, it was still safer at his house. Inside. Not outside. It was foolish of her to be walking around as if she didn’t have a care in the world.
Maybe she needed another lesson in doing what she was told. Rhys smiled as he thought about all the ways he could punish her, his dick thickening in his pants. “Fuck, I got it bad for her.”
“Hey Carlos, I need you to go faster.” He could feel the car pick up speed.
“Yes, sir.”
With a few minutes before they arrived at their destination, Rhys picked up his phone and dialed the one person who would understand his complete and utter obsession with his brown-skinned beauty.
“Papà, ho trovato il mio.” Dad, I found my one.
Chapter 19
Hyacinth knew Rhys would be on his way. If there was one thing she’d learned about her man during these past few days, it was that he did not like being disobeyed. He was very clear about what he wanted from her.
Stay inside.
Be safe.
Wait for him.
Don’t do anything to give him a heart attack.
Yeah, all of those flew out the window today.
Why?
Because she was done with waiting. All morning, she’d had a feeling that something was going to happen. She knew Rhys had men watching her. They were there for her protection and she would allow them to do their jobs. On the other hand, she also wanted this entire situation over. Although Rhys had an amazing home with everything she could want, she no longer wanted to be a prisoner.
Whoever the motherfucker was that chose to target her had clearly picked the wrong person. If they wanted her, then she’d give them what they were asking for. She didn’t have her weapon on her, which was probably stupid, but she wasn’t sure if the person would come out in public to get her. Plus, if Rhys got here first and he found a weapon on her, that would result in too many questions. When her parents had dropped off a P99 to her this morning before running an errand, she’d been tempted to strap it on. She’d chosen not to and placed it on the table on the side of the bed where she slept.
In plain view, Rhys would know that she wasn’t hiding it from him. But he also would realize that she wasn’t new to this game.
“Hi Hyacinth.”
Her blood ran cold at the voice. Glancing up, she noticed Kenny standing off to the side near her table. She was sitting outside since the weather was so nice. A decision she now regretted.