Hush: Family Secrets (4 page)

CHAPTER Five

My Uncle is up to something. I know it the moment he calls me to his study. I am on my way for my daily visit with Valentina when he has one of his men stop me and tell me he wants to see me.

He knows I don’t take kindly to this so the fact that he has summons me means he has something important to say. My thoughts travel to Valentina. She is driving me crazy, but I can’t stay away.

For three weeks I have been going to spend time with her. She can fight me all she wants I will not be going away. She had tried the silent treatment, even going as far as ignoring me completely.

I see that I am breaking down her walls. I just wish I had an idea of what makes her tick. Shannon has been quite forthcoming with information on her stubborn sister.

I’ve learned that I shouldn’t take offence to Valentina’s aversion to spending time with me. According to Shannon, Valentina doesn’t date at all, not that she doesn’t have men vying for her attention. Shannon also shared that she thinks her sister is very attracted to me, which I didn’t need her to tell me.

I can see it in Valentina’s body’s reaction to me. She lights up whenever I am in the room, even when she is trying to pretend I am not there. The little minx has to know she gets the same reaction from me. It is taking more restraint than I knew myself capable of to keep my hands off of her.

Valentina has secrets I need to get to the bottom of before I can take things further. I see the way she runs from me when I start to look too closely or when I start to break down her walls.

She is very intelligent. I forget she is so young at times. Then there is my fascination with the fact that she moves like a trained assassin and it is hot as hell. I love watching her. She is quickly becoming my obsession.

So what my uncle wants at this moment better be bloody fucking important. I woke with a raging hard on this morning after dreaming about Valentina’s hot little body. Getting to her has been the only thing on my mind since.

It is time that we move pass this game we are playing. I plan to confront her on what is really holding her back from being in my arms. She belongs to me. There is no doubt about that. That punk Raphael has been sending her flowers and expensive gifts that she won’t accept.

I see the mere thought of the man puts her on edge and makes her cringe. How her father could ever have considered him a match for her is beyond me. The entire Giordano family puts a bad taste in my mouth. I have seen some of their underhanded dealings. They have just never had the balls to test the Donati family with such foolishness. Giovanni Giordano is a fat slob and a coward. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree his son is just a slimmer, entitled version of him.

I will put up with these gifts he insists on sending for but so much longer. Within the families he is well within his rights to do so until an official engagement is announced. I just don’t see things the same way. Once I say something is mine it is mine.

“Ah, here you are,” Uncle Nicholas’s voice booms jovially when I enter the room. “Come sit Uri.”

“What is this about,” I ask not bothering to sit.

My uncle shakes his head and sighs. “Must you be stubborn about everything?”

“No, but I was on my way out,” I shrug. I have only chosen to stay here at my uncle’s manor because it gives me access to Luca and his movements. While he owns a private apartment in the city Luca prefers to stay here with in town.

“This happens to be about the Caprisi family. You have questions I have answers,” my uncle’s face is now all business and I know I just may need that seat he was offering me.

“You’re right I do have questions and if I remember well enough you and Don Vincent were close as boys. So tell me, how does a man like Don Vincent allow his daughter to become, for lack of a better word, an assassin?” I ask with narrowed eyes.

My uncle nods retrieving a cigar from the box on his desk and offering one to me. I accept, clipping the end and lighting it. My uncle does the same before answering my question. I’m not sure my patience will hold up today.

“Valentina was the sweetest little girl you would ever want to know. Very bright and she loved her mama and papa. She had a light in her eyes I never saw in a child so small. But that light was stolen.

“Valentina was only four when she watched her mother and older sister brutally murdered. She watched her sister being violated for hours before being shot to death. She sat hidden in the closet the entire time,” My uncle pauses to take a poof at his cigar while his words are left in the air to sink in.

I begin to replay a conversation Valentina and I had at the engagement party over in my head. I knew something happened in her past but this was not what I was expecting. Memories assault me and I remember Don Caprisi’s first wife. She was just a little lighter than Valentina with light eyes.

I had only met her once around my early teens. It was one of my few visits to my uncle during the time I lived with my hateful grandfather. Those were bitter years for me and I have suppressed many memories from that time but I remember her and the small child in her arms the day I met her.
Valentina.

“How,” I demand.

“It was a hit meant for Don Caprisi only some bad intel brought the hired maniac to Vincent’s home where Khayla and the children were. To this day we don’t know what happened to the men that were supposed to be guarding the house. We believe they were all paid to look the other way and disappeared with their new wealth.

“Those that remained loyal were slaughtered. Corrade Ferro was a monster that needed to be put down way before that tragic day. Whoever sent him knew what he was capable of. It almost broke Vincent to find Valentina had watched the whole thing but it did break her,” My Uncle frowns at his own thoughts.

“This Corrade Ferro, where is he,” I lift a brow.

My uncle looks me in the eyes knowing I already know the answer but I need to hear it from his lips. “In hell, where he belongs,” he snorts. “He was Valentina’s gift for her eighteenth birthday. Valentine saved him for her. Vincent didn’t agree with it, but Valentine thought it was what she needed.

“She went two years without speaking to anyone. She would draw pictures and have nightmares. Vincent didn’t know what to do. It was her Uncle Valentine that finally got her to speak. He promised her that if she spoke he would teach her everything she needed to know to get the bad man in the pictures she drew,” My uncle shakes his head.

“If he only trained her for this purpose why didn’t it stop there?” I snap. I can’t believe they so carelessly turned her into a killer.

I know it is what I am, but if given the choice all over again this would not be my life. At least that is what I tell myself. I want to believe that the bloodlust was forced on me but the small voice in the back of my mind keeps whispering that I know better.

My uncle raises a brow as if to confirm my own nagging thoughts. “She was just that good at it. You know the score. When the family needs to send a message, messy and hard is not always the way to hit. You and Val have a skill in common. You make the message clear and make the problems go away with a certain finesse,” my uncle shrugs.

“Besides,” he tilts his head in thought. “Don Vincent doesn’t like it. He just tolerates it because it is when she shows any real emotion. She has changed a lot from the happy little girl.”

I sit in silence. To think of the turmoil that must live in her head. My first instinct is to protect this woman from falling any further into the darkness of what our life brings. I want to find the woman I see inside her eyes that flickers at me with hope. I’ve seen it, the woman that wants to be freed.

My mind turns back to my uncle’s request for my presence. Telling me all this is not why he has summoned me. I look him in the eyes and he nods without me having to ask my next question.

“We have known for years that the hit was ordered without sanction. We have had suspicions of one of the families and a couple other individuals. New information has surfaced confirming our suspicions.

“I want you to give one of these individuals a visit. Let’s call it a wedding gift to Don Caprisi. An eye for an eye, Valentina has seen what can never be erased so I think it is time to erase what this piece of shit sees,” my uncle snarls.

“Done,” I won’t point out right now that I have never said a thing about marrying Valentina. Yes, I said she is mine. However, I still have no intention of going along with being forced into an arranged marriage. “What of these others that were involved?”

“In time,” is all he says with a huge grin.

There is more going on here but for now I will allow my uncle this.

CHAPTER Six

“Come here,” he commands in that sexy accent.

I hesitate for a moment unsure. Uri’s eyes swallow me whole as a look of impatience grows in his eyes. I’m entranced by his naked rock hard body. His tanned olive skin makes the light dusting of blonde hair on his body stand out. His abs are rock hard and flex under my gaze.

“Come here now,” he commands in a growled demand.

His command snaps my feet into action before my mind can catch up. I move across the room in just my panties, bra and the heels he purchased. His eyes hungrily roam my body, but I am too turned on to be embarrassed.

As soon as I am within arm’s reach his arms shoot out to grab me, bringing me flush with his rock hard body. His hands are warm as they roughly drag up my back then around to my front to grab a hold of my breasts. I moan as I fit perfectly in his large hands, not too much but no space left unmolded to his hands.

His hands move from my breasts to cup my face. He stares into my eyes for what seems like forever as I pant for him to give me more. “You are mine Valentina,” he growls.

I whimper my assent. I just want him to kiss me. As if reading my mind his lips descend upon mine and devour my lips. It is like he is sucking whimpers from my mouth. My fingers go to the short hairs at his nape.

My belly is trembling in anticipation as his hot kisses pool desire throughout my veins and my belly. He forces his tongue in my mouth and locks it around mine before searching every corner of my mouth. It is hot and possessive. I love it.

I’ve never wanted to be owned so much. He releases one hand to reach between our bodies. Seconds later I hear the sound of my panties being ripped from my body. Uri tosses them over his shoulder before using the same single hand to unclasp my bra from behind my back.

My bra falls to the floor and Uri closes the thin gap between us. We are now skin to skin. His body is so warm and hard. I whimper as his erection presses into my belly.

Swiftly he bends at the knees. Before I even get a good grip on him with my legs he is thrusting into me. I throw my head back crying out, but it doesn’t stop him. His hands are holding my ass tight as he pumps in and out of my body.

“Yes,” I cried. “Yes Uri.”

“Fuck, you’re so damn gorgeous,” Uri growls. “You look amazing on my cock, Love.”

I feel my walls contract around him at his words. I squeeze my eyes shut because I’m so full and he is driving into me so hard. It feels good and I don’t want him to stop. I’m so wet I know I am dripping all over his balls. I have to be. They are so heavy and large that they are slapping up against my pussy with each of his hard thrusts.

I lock my legs around him tighter and dig my heels into his rock hard ass. Uri growls not taking his eyes off me. I love the intensity in his blue depths.

“Don’t hold back Valentina. Give it to your man,” he grunts.

I don’t hesitate. I am more than ready to fall over the edge. My body answers his demand and I scream loudly with pleasure I have never known.

“What the hell,” I pop up in my bed, panting, soaking wet and trembling from an actual orgasm. What has that man done to me?

My chest is heaving, that dream was so real. It has been at least three weeks since the engagement party and that man is a constant on my mind. I can’t stop thinking about the hum that ran through my body as his lips brushed my skin.

I had tried to ignore both Uri and Raphael for the majority of the evening. I used Uncle Valentine and a couple of cousins as buffers for most the night. It was when Angela decided to get in the middle of the dance floor to give a long winded speech that my plan went to crap.

Of course she had to call us all up to stand with her as she gave her proud mama rant. Luca looked amused as he watched me roll my eyes the entire time. He whispered something in Shannon’s ear that made her blush and smile.

I still made a note to threaten him before the night was over. I tuned Angela out to take in the extravagant party being thrown for two people who just met merely hours ago. The ballroom had been turned into a winter wonderland. I am just waiting for Elsa to pop out any moment. Once again Angela’s doing.

Guess it doesn’t matter that Shannon actually hates winter. My thoughts wonder off to what my mama would have pulled together in order to announce my engagement. Things would have been very different. I would probably have been like Shannon with stars and hope in my eyes.

My mind drifts to Uri. I wonder if my father would have considered him if things were different. I turn to look in the last place I saw Uri but he is not there. I am surprised at my sudden disappointment.

I am brought back into the room by applauses. Angela looks right at me as her lips curl into an evil little smile. I narrow my eyes at her as she once again lifts the mic to her lips.

“And now we are going to have a family dance,” Angela sings into the mic.

Bitch
, I think as I realize she is probably just doing this because I am the only one up here without a partner which will exclude me from being a part of the family dance.
Typical
.

Too bad my father seems to be in a really good mood tonight. Usually when he is not he calls her on her crap. He’d ream her till Friday for a stunt like this. However right now he looks like he is feeling like the king of the world.

Just as I turn to exit the dance floor too pissed to be offended or embarrassed, I collide with a hard chest. I look up into the blue eyes I had been searching for moments ago. His arms go around my waist immediately as the song begins to play.

Uri pulls me in so close I doubt anyone can tell where he begins and I end. It feels so natural I instinctively wrap my arms around his neck. I curse my body for reacting to him without my permission.

I am quickly losing the battle with my body as his scent takes over my every thought. He smells and feels so good my mouth waters. He dips his head to whisper in my ear.

“I am a patient man, Valentina. When I want something I get it,” Uri says against my ear sending a shiver down my spine.

“I have just as much patience. I will wait patiently for you to get tired of chasing me,” I say brightly.

“I chase no one, Bella,” he rumbles in my ear. “I will have you. I can feel how soft your body has become in my arms. It makes no sense in fighting this. You of all people understand the inevitable.”

“How old are you Uri? What do you want with me,” I lift a brow at him.

“I am thirty eight, how old are you?” he asks staring me in the eyes for my answer.

I am lost in his eyes for a moment before I find the answer to his question. “I’m twenty five.”

“You are woman enough,” he says and gives me a full megawatt smile.

It is the first full smile he has given me and it blows me away. His teeth are straight and brilliant white. His whole face transforms with it. He should smile more it makes him look younger. Not that he looks anywhere near thirty eight. I would have pegged him for thirty two, thirty five the most.

“What happened to your girlfriend? She looked pretty pissed off when I left the shoe store,” I change subjects.

“You happened. She was not my girlfriend anyway,” he shrugs.

“She didn’t seem to feel that way,” I frown up at him.

“You are adorable when you frown,” he chuckles. “I wonder what faces you’ll make when you are beneath me.”

I bristle and falter a bit in my steps. He is a great dancer, we have been gliding around the dance floor as if on a cloud. Images of me trapped beneath him assault me and to my surprise I am turned on.

“I will never be beneath any man,” I hiss.

This time Uri stops. His eyes search my face and I kick myself for showing so much emotion. Uri sees too much. I am never this vulnerable for anyone. Not even Uncle Valentine.

I turn my head away but he traps my chin between his fingers. Turning my head back to his appraising gaze, he finishes his search. When he is satisfied he brushes his thumb over my lower lip.

“Will you tell me what happened?” he asks in a calm voice that is deceptive to the storm raging in his eyes.

“No, I’ve delivered death to the one responsible. You need not worry,” I say heatedly before pulling from his arms, the song has ended anyway. I feel Uri’s arms wrap my waist once again before I get too far.

“This is not finished, my little one,” he whispers in my ear before placing a gentle kiss behind my ear.

I shut my eyes as a shiver rocks my body. Just that single soft kiss has my body on fire. I need to get away from this man he makes me want things I shouldn’t.

As I step away from Uri my eyes catch sight of a livid Raphael, with Gio whispering something in his ear. Raphael’s eyes are locked on me as they blaze with rage. I smile at him.
You’re good for something
, I think of Uri as I walk away.

And for three weeks now Uri has been a constant in my life in one way or another. He is constantly in my thoughts and if that isn’t enough he insists on accompanying Luca to the house daily. I try to avoid him but he won’t let me.

When I try leaving the house he offers to take me wherever I am going. Uri is smart. He knows if he offers in front of my father he will insist, so I have been stuck on more than one occasion with Uri as my unwanted escort.

It wouldn’t bother me so much if I didn’t want him to be there. Yesterday was the first day he didn’t show up. I was so bummed out the whole day. I’d dressed up just for him against my better judgement.

He had mentioned loving the color yellow on me, so I made it a point to dig through my closet for everything I owned that was yellow in order to please him. Don’t ask me why I want to please him. I still don’t want to marry him.

Although honestly, I think I have lost because I do want to kiss him, badly, very badly. His full lips call to me from beneath that sexy facial hair. I can’t help but think about how it tickled my skin when he kissed behind my ear.

I huff at my scattered thoughts giving up on sleep. I wish I could give up on thoughts of Uri. Where the hell was he yesterday? He went from being a bug up my ass to not even showing up.

To make things worse that weasel Raphael just happened to stop by yesterday to drop off his never ending offering of flowers and some stupid gift. He so conveniently showed up right at dinnertime. My father graciously invited him to stay for dinner.

Best part of the night was watching Luca give Raphael dirty looks. He even growled at him a few times. I may learn to like my soon to be brother in law. When dinner was over, Raphael tried to corner me but Luca and Shannon came to the rescue with plans we supposedly already had.

I was so grateful to the two. If my father would have forced me to spend time with that weasel I would have snapped. His presence made me ten times more pissed off with Uri.

Once I am showered and dressed my curiosity wins out. I’ve wanted to know more about Uri since I first laid eyes on him. Today I am going to get those answers. Uncle Valentine owes me a favor. He is the only one I can trust to get me answers without making a big deal out of it.

I mean I can totally justify wanting the information. This man is in my home every day. I should at least know where he really lives and what he does other than close the curtains on undesired problems. I have a right to know about Uri the man, not Uri the killer.

Besides, I know from experience you can’t trust the rumors passed around on a man like Uri. I mentally berate myself again because I can’t believe I am spending this much thought and energy on this man.

I should be running in the opposite direction of all things Uri. If I had any sense I would pack a bag and get the hell out of here before things get out of control. My father hasn’t mentioned my engagement in sometime, but I see how he watches me with Uri.

It is only a matter of time and I don’t plan on being around when the time comes. There are so many reasons why I should never marry. If Uri knows what’s good for him he will just walk away now.

“Why the long face,” my father’s raspy voice startles me as I absentmindedly walk the halls of the house.

It was my intension to go find my Uncle. My father’s eyes dance over my face in thought. I don’t have a heart to tell him what is going on in my head. All the reasons he should just forget about trying to marry me off.

I shrug my shoulders. “A lot on my mind, what’s up papa?” I respond painting a smile on my face.

He waits a moment still searching my face before he answers. A look crosses his face that I know so well. He has just made a decision on something. I get an uneasy feeling in my stomach.

“Come walk with me, Tina,” I smile at the nickname only close family used to use. I haven’t heard it on his lips in so long. It soothes and stings at the same time.

It reminds me of a soft girl, of happy times, before my world turned black. Some people don’t remember much from their early years of life. I wish that was the case for me. I think I remember too much.

I loop my arm through my father’s and place my head on his shoulder. My father is not a very tall man. He is just an inch or two taller than me, but his broad shoulder is comforting right now as my thoughts and emotions swirl within.