Don Valentinos Farfalla And Heiress

CHAPTER EIGHT.

As I trail behind Riccardo, my eyes greedily absorb every opulent detail of the restaurant's grand entrance.

The tantalizing scents of gourmet cuisine fill my nostrils, making my stomach rumble with hunger. I pivot my body gracefully to the side, observing the flurry of waitresses scurrying out of the kitchen with trays of delectable cuisine in their hands, their expressions revealing a hint of disarray.

The walls reverberate with the sound of light chatter, punctuated by the occasional burst of laughter.

The eatery is teeming with patrons, each exuding an air of affluence that leaves me pondering whether the establishment genuinely thrives, or if it serves as a front for illicit financial transactions.

Heart racing, I follow Riccardo's lead as we make our way through the swinging door and down a dimly lit hallway. My mind races with questions as we come to a stop in front of a door at the end of the corridor.

Is Don Valentino behind this door?

My gut tells me it's something sinister, but I can't help but feel drawn to the mystery that lies ahead.

Raising his hand, Riccardo turns his head to the side, looking at me over his shoulder, and he knocks on the door once.

Almost immediately, the door pulls open and Riccardo enters the room. I suck in a razor-sharp breath, shaking my hands at my sides, and I follow him inside.

The second my feet enter the threshold and as I take two steps forward, the door closes behind me.

Thrusting my chin out. I raise my gaze to see Don Valentino sitting behind a large desk with a cigar hanging out of his mouth and a glass of whiskey in his hand.

Smoke billows around him, lingering in the dimly lit room like a poisonous mist.

“I bet you’re surprised to see me here so soon, huh?” Breaking the bubble of silence, I slowly turn around, so he can look at the bruises painted across my arms, and neck.

Leaning forward in his chair, he removes his cigar from his mouth between his fingers and presses the pad of his thumb against his upper teeth. I lick my lips, meeting his gaze as my breathing becomes laboured.

A gleam of hostility flashes brilliantly in his eyes. While mine glaze over at the slightest possibility of seeing little Savannah again.

I hear the faintest growl escaping between his lips when his eyes shift to my chest, intently watching my breasts rise and fall with every shallow breath I take.

Slowly, he pushes his chair back from the desk, raising his blue irises to meet mine once again, “actually, I was hoping you'd come to your senses and never show your face where it’s not wanted farfalla.” He says in a deep voice that feels like silk as it caresses my ear canals.

Rising to his feet, he stubs out his cigar in a crystal ashtray, combing his fingers through his jet-black hair, and walks around his desk to stand toe to toe with me.

Tilting my head, I look up at his towering stance, refusing to back away from him.

Refusing to show him that he truly does terrify me.

“You should know that your little stint wouldn’t have stopped me, Alessandro.” His brow arches when I use his given name. “You will have to do better next time if you aren’t going to kill me, jackass.” I can’t keep the bitterness out of my voice while speaking to him, not that I tried to.

Amusement crosses his features, but it quickly vanishes as he rubs the side of his jaw. “You don’t want to keep messing with fire, farfalla. You won’t get burnt this time around because I will set you ablaze.” His hand drops from his jaw and suddenly dives across my scalp, and he yanks on my hair, forcing me to stare into his sin-infected eyes. “I am the monster under your bed. The one haunting your dreams. Claiming your screams for my own. You will never escape me because I intend to keep you.” He whispers in my ear as he leans forward and nuzzles his nose against the crook of my neck.

“I guess I’ll just have to introduce you to the big bottle of Monster Spray I still keep tucked under my pillow at night that Rose made me as a little kid. She always warned me that men like you will forever be hiding in the shadows, only appearing when you want something. One spray, maybe two, is all it takes to make you disappear.” I hiss, struggling against his grasp as the forbidden emotions of lust and desire ride my body like a fierce Tsunami.

Releasing me with a slight shove, he snorts and extends his hand out to the side of him. I watch as one of his men reaches inside his suit jacket and extracts a large envelope, which he hands to Don Valentino.

“This should be more than plenty,” he says as he thrusts it towards me.

I stare at the money-stuffed envelope, then at his men, and finally back at him.

I scoff, “What the f**k is this? I don't want your blood money.” I sneer through gritted teeth.

“Not enough?” He growls, placing the envelope in his left hand, he extends his right hand out again.

In utter disbelief, I watch as the same man places another money-stuffed envelope in Don Valentinos’ hand, and he holds both envelopes out for me to take.

I continue to stand in front of him as I stare into his heartless, iced-over irises. He is trying to buy Savannah from me, and it makes my stomach churn with disgust.

“Here,” he raises his voice, urging me to take the money from his grasp. “This is all that is left behind of your sister.” One corner of his top lip curls as he sneers. “This is all you are entitled to, all that I am willing to part with. Now take it and get the hell out of my restaurant!” He growls violently, thrusting the money toward me once again.

I wince as his harsh words pierce my heart. My breathing quickens, and I pull my hand back, swinging it forward.

Hard and fast with determination.

Striking him across his smug face.

“To hell with you, Alessandro, you cold heartless bastard!” The words exit my mouth in a gut-wrenching scream.

As soon as my open hand connects with the side of his face, a resounding slap echoes through the space separating us. It dawns on me instantly that I've just struck the most influential bastard in all of Auckland City, the one who's got my niece in his clutches.

And… that Monster Spray would really come in handy right about now.