Guarded: Worth the Risk

Chapter 13

                                                                                            Nico

            Loss of self-control.

            Is all I can think about as I lean my back against my bedroom door and go over what just happened.

            The feeling of her skin against my hands, the softness of her lips against mine play on repeat in my mind. How can something so wrong feel so right.

            Get a f*****g grip Nico, she’s your boss. I sit on the edge of the bed and close my eyes, remembering how her breath hitched as I gripped her waist and pulled her close to me. It took every ounce of my being to walk away from her tonight, to not hold her and comfort her. Kiss her so hard till she forgot tonight ever happened.

            I’m a f*****g i***t, but I have to be careful. She made it clear tonight that she doesn’t trust me, heck I’m not sure I trust her yet. There’s so much I don’t know about her yet, about this Orlando fellow and until she opens up, I have to be on my A game.

            I pull my shirt over my head dropping it on the floor next to the bed. When I go to unzip my pants, I can’t help but notice the bulge begging to be set free. The desire to sit her on the kitchen island and devour her a midnight snack was evident. There’s no denying the attraction between us- but I swore to myself I wouldn’t cross that line. Be professional. Simple enough right? Focus Nico, you can’t protect her if all your thinking about your head buried deep between her legs, tasting her p***y.

            Fine, it is settled. Ground rules have to be put into place in order for me to do my job.

            No partying with Natalia.      

            No late-night conversations, tea, and hot coco.

            And most importantly, no personal stories unless it pertains to this Orlando guy.

            There’s no way I can hook-up with someone who doesn’t trust me. Heck, my trust in her is still questionable. I can’t sit on the side lines knowing she’s hiding something from me about her past that has her so scared, but I want to be there for her in ways I haven’t wanted to for anyone else before. What confuses me most is why I’m having such strong feelings for someone who likes to keep secrets.

            Secrets destroy a person’s truths and I f*****g hate them.

            I grab my phone and scroll through f*******:. Even though I was never a big social media person I decided to get one to keep in touch with everyone back home. I decide to type Natalia’s name in the search bar to do some research of my own while I wait for whatever Chase could dig up. I’m curious if she even has one, and if she did would this Orlando guy be on her page?

            First result is her profile, her picture is of her, Dimitri and Kara somewhere in the Caribbean. I click on her about me and nothing screaming I was married to someone is written in bold letters, she doesn’t even have it listed that she is divorced. I then open her photos tab and scroll through her tagged and uploaded photos, stopping at a photo of her in a skimpy bikini posing very seductively on a catamaran.

            Pulling my c**k from my boxers I grip my shaft and begin slowly stroking myself.

            f**k yes. This feels amazing.

            The s****l tension I’m holding onto is enough to kill someone if that was even possible.   

            Natalia Mezzanotte is going to be the death of me.

            My alarm goes off bright and early in order to do my morning sweep of the house and ground before Natalia begins her morning routine. It been four days since the Gala and what I like to call note gate, and I have been able to avoid any impulses I have towards Natalia. However, I'm so livid that she has yet to tell me about Orlando that I slam my fists as hard as I can into the punching bag at the gym. Wincing in pain, I remove my glove and shake out my hand and notice the broken skin.

            What the f**k is wrong with me?

            I shouldn’t be acting this way, losing control of my emotions like this and to know it’s Natalia that has brought on these sudden changes drives me insane. We aren’t in a relationship, not even hooking up, yet here I am losing my temper. She’s my employer is what I have to keep telling me self.

            Though no bruise is evident, my hand begins to swell. I walk back to my room after my work out and pop two ibuprofen and hope in the shower in hopes that the warm water will wash away the anger that has set in for allowing my emotions to consume me. After getting dressed and taking a breather, I take my phone out of my pocket texting Chase. The fucker is probably just getting off work, but he hasn’t gotten back to me yet with information in regard to Orlando. Usually, I’d give him a little more time, but being that Natalia won’t tell me anything and I don’t know anything about this man, I can’t wait any longer.

                        Nico: Please tell me you have something for me. I’m going f*****g mad over here and Natalia isn’t budging on anything.

            The text bubbles begin to move, disappearing then reappearing again. Natalia wont trust me enough to tell me, so I have no choice, but to get to the bottom of this myself.

                        Chase: You’re not going to like this.

                        Chase: Orlando Salvatore currently serving 50 years to life in a maximum-security prison outside of Chicago for embezzlement, kidnapping and 1st degree murder.

            The f**k. Did I just read that right? I sit on the edge of my bed and reread Chase’s message. I feel my blood begin to boil and anger consuming me. Why wouldn’t she tell me any of this, and how did that note get to her if he’s locked up a maximum-security prison.

                        Nico: And this piece of s**t is locked up currently?

                        Chase: As of this morning, the system hasn’t been updated. So, I’m assuming yes. And if he gets out or escapes by some miracle Natalia would have had to been contacted by either her attorney or the courts themselves.

                        Nico: Somethings not adding up. How would she have received a note from him if he’s still in prison?

                        Chase: Someone has to be f*****g with her man. Look on his file, there’s a FBI detective listed. A Agent Romero, he’s still at the Chicago office from what this say’s. Maybe you should reach out to him.

            I’m gonna do more than just reach out to him, I’m gonna get every shred of information I can get one way or another. This is no longer a matter of finding out who Orlando is, but what he did to Natalia and how I can protect her to the best of my abilities. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened to her.

                        Nico: Thanks man. I owe you one.

                        Chase: Yeah, yeah.

            I tuck my phone into my pocket and head to the foyer where Natalia is waiting for me. She’s distracted by her phone and I can’t help but notice how good she’s looking. She always looks good, but ever since the kiss it’s like she’s trying extra hard to get under my skin.

            “Vincent is out sick today, so you’ll be driving today.” She says glancing from her phone before walking towards the door that leads to the garage.

            She throws me the keys to an all-black limited edition Shelby Mustang. I’m not surprised that she would have cars like this, I just thought we would drive something less noticeable into the city, like an escalade or something.

            She stops to stare at me for a moment studying my face. “What never seen a mustang before?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

            “Sure, I have, just never thought I’d see a limited-edition Shelby Mustang though.”

            “Well todays your lucky day.” She smirks. “Sure, you can handle it?” The look on her face is mischievous.

            I can’t help but chuckle at her cockiness. “Believe me darling, I can handle much more then you think.” I lean in whispering in her ear before walking to the driver’s side.

            I watch as her chest rises and falls before climbing into and cranking the car to start. If she wants to pay dirty and try her best to get at me, then two can play at this game.

             The hour car ride to work is spent in silence, but I can’t help but notice the stolen glances between the two of us. I pull into the parking garage, parking in the reserved spot with Natalia’s name on it and watch as she enters the code for the private elevator. We enter her office with Dimitri following closely behind. On Natalia’s desk is a big bouquet of red roses and a perfectly wrapped gift box. Intrigued? Yes, but I’m sure it’s from Mr. Douchebag from the Gala the other night.

            “So, whose it from?” Dimitri is just as intrigued as I am.

            Her brows furrow a little. “There’s no note.”

            “Maybe it’s in the gift box.”

            Natalia quickly unwraps the box and opens it. Moving the tissue to see what’s inside, she lets out a blood curdling scream dropping the box at her feet. I rush over to where Natalia is standing, pulling her head into my chest. Taking a glance at the box on the floor I notice a decaying finger and a note:

                        Maybe you need a reminder as to just how much I love you.

                        Can’t wait for our reunion baby.

                        Leo was certainly happy to see me.

                       See you very soon.

                                            -O.

            I give a look to Dimitri and see he’s just as terrified and panicked as Natalia.

            “I’m calling the police.” He rings out franticly pulling his phone from his pocket.

            “No.” I protest. “Call Agent Romero.” I wonder if he’s aware of this sick f**k’s current activity.

            Natalia pulls back looking me in the eyes as if I just revealed a dark secret in her past. No more hiding, it’s now or never.