Another drink I didn’t need.

  All I needed was to have her arms around me. How strange. How impossible.

  How amazing.

  “Thank you for meeting with me, Frederico,” I said as I wiped my mouth, enjoying the lunch more than I’d thought I would. I’d allowed him to choose the restaurant, not surprised when he’d selected a small Italian joint on the East side where his territory was. “The cannelloni were perfection.” I pressed my thumb and forefinger together, kissing the tips as I’d seen done.

  In turn, he glared at me, continuing to stuff his face. He’d put on some weight since I’d last seen him, but that was understandable since he was getting ready to retire. “Don’t kid a kidder, Creed. You basically threatened me if I didn’t show.”

  I appreciated the frank conversation almost as much as I did his hospitality as he poured another glass of red wine for both of us.

  “Touché.” At this point, I was finding it tough to keep my mind on business. I’d wanted nothing more than to stay with my beautiful dancer, promising her we’d do something special tonight upon my return. She’d looked at me as if I was headed out to drown myself instead.

  Not that committing suicide hadn’t crossed my mind on more than one occasion over the years. But I was stronger than that.

  As I rubbed my finger back and forth across my lips, longing to sink my tongue into her sweet pussy all over again, I was thankful I’d arranged for a little surprise prior to me returning home. Had it been because of what Styx had advised? Perhaps but I hadn’t spent fifty thousand dollars on renovating a room on a whim.

  I’d wanted my perfect dancer to have every opportunity of doing something she loved more than life itself. She deserved that at minimum for what I’d put her through.

  There I was again, developing a conscience. Next, I’d be kissing babies and stroking golden retrievers for fun. I almost laughed at the meme floating through my mind. Could I be a better man? Perhaps. Only time and effort would tell.

  At least I was putting the pieces together for continuing to take the corporation into more legitimate areas. I’d even put a squash on any other third world country sales for now, at least until I’d gotten a grip on what was going on and whether or not it was worth the risk.

  Carlos was another story. No one dared ignore an agreement made with me. No one.

  “Now, why don’t you get to the point of why you insisted on this meeting,” Frederico nearly barked, although that was his style. Brusque.

  I took one last bite before pushing the plate away. “Then I will. Have you turned over the reins to your son Antonio as of yet?”

  He glared at me then burst into laughter, leaning over the table at the same time. “Let me give you a hint. My son isn’t ready to lead my organization. He’d fuckin’ run it into the ground. Why do you think I’m sitting here with you instead of basking on the beach with some hoochie-coo next to me. Huh? He’s a fuckin’ gambler.” He cursed in Italian, belching as he tossed his napkin onto the table.

  “If that is the case then you won’t mind hearing that he’s working with the Romanos out of New York. From what I’ve heard, he’s made an alliance with them. In doing so, he’s doing his best to undermine your organization and the excellent working relationship we’ve had over the years.”

  Boy, was I laying the bullshit on thick. Sometimes dramatics were useful, even to a straightforward killer like me.

  “What the fuck are you getting at?”

  “He hired an actor to portray a Saudi prince, luring three of my men into stealing from me. Now, in my mind, he was fishing to determine weaknesses in my system. In addition, an assassination attempt was made on my life. As you might imagine, that pisses me off tremendously. And given I have a couple of deals in the works, I do not want them fucked with. If they are, I will rid this town of a significant volume of trash. I think you understand what I’m saying.” I could tack on Jonas’ murder but at this point, I wasn’t certain what the kid had to do with anything.

  Frederico kept the glare, narrowing his eyes seconds later. “You’re shittin’ me.”

  “I’m afraid not.”

  “Do you have proof?”

  “Do I really need it?” If I had physical proof, I might have handled the situation myself. However, putting the doubt in a man like Frederico’s mind would work just fine. Now that I knew there was some bad blood between them, I could further assume Frederico would not like being made a fool of.

  He sat back, folding his arms across his belly. “What do you want from me, Creed?”

  “I simply want you to do what you think is necessary. Now, I’m certain you can learn whether or not Antonio has been speaking with either Nico or Alessandro Romano given your powerful connections both in and out of New York. Yes?”

  The stubborn look remained but he nodded. “I will determine if what you’re saying is correct but if I am required to handle this situation, which will destroy my wife, I want something in return.”

  The way of the world. “Absolutely.”

  “I need safe passage for a shipment leaving my warehouses in three weeks through your territory and potentially some additional manpower.”

  The fact his soldiers were dwindling in numbers could be due to aging out or the fact they were more loyal to Antonio. “You’ll have it and my word.” I outstretched my arm, waiting for the traditional handshake. It would seem the threat of an internal war in South America had everyone on edge. Obviously, it would worry a man like Frederico since he obtained almost one hundred percent of his party favors from cartels in the brutal country. I doubted the brutal leaders would like being pitted against each other.

  Whatever decisions I made I’d need to use caution. The cartels were some of the most savage in the world. Hell, even rivaling me.

  I was an astute businessman and if we helped each other at this point, it would keep the peace if only for a few additional years. That would be good for everyone.

  Maybe I had grown a conscience for more than just the woman I cared about. She’d been anxious when I’d returned but hadn’t asked me anything, merely curling her heated body against mine where we’d remained for hours. Not talking. Barely breathing.

  And she could have no way of knowing how much good it had done for me.

  Returning to Chicago had been bittersweet but necessary.

  He accepted the gesture, although I could sense he was trying to determine if what I’d said was true. He was also well aware I had integrity, something that could be counted on. He’d do the right thing. I was certain of it.

  Now that part one of my business was done, it was onto leaving Carlos a message, perhaps for the last time. He would confide in me his about fears, or he would learn the hard way that I didn’t need his business.

  With what Easton had said, the entire situation was precarious.

  Still, I didn’t like the lack of control or knowledge about anything, and I had a feeling I was missing something significant.

  “I’ll take your advice under advisement, Creed. Incidentally, it’s good to see you with a woman.”

  When he smirked, I was instantly on edge, almost making the mistake of reaching for my gun until I realized he was talking about the photographs that had been taken in New York. “Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment.” Whatever had occurred at Armand’s place of residence, anyone who knew Bella was the man’s daughter would crawl out of the woodwork and scum to track me down. I certainly wasn’t well liked by almost every syndicate in New York, even if I continued to be a media darling.

  “You probably don’t want to hear this, but having a wife by my side has made me a very rich man. People prefer to do business with a family man. However, you’ll need to keep her protected from what I like to call the riffraff.”

  He was a womanizer through and through, although almost everyone including his own wife looked the other way. However, he had a point. Not that I had thought about marriage. “I’ll take your thoughts under advisement as well.” He was also advising me that he was more aware of the desire to end my life than he wanted to let on. His warning was well intended this time.

  “You make a very good leader, Creed. Much better than your father. You make life easier for all of us with the way your handle your business. Your brothers as well. It is much appreciated. Given the infighting in the world, people need to rely on certain allies that won’t stab them in the back. If you understand what I’m getting at.”

  Jesus Christ. He was running scared as well.

  “Why, thank you, Don Salvatore. I will take the compliment with joy in my heart. And if I wanted to stab you, I think you’re well aware you’d see it coming.”

  He laughed, giving me a respectful nod. “You’ve done well for yourself and your family. Maybe it is time for you to consider a few rug rats running around.”

  We both laughed together. “I don’t think the world is ready for more of the Saint family.”

  “Don’t be so sure. Your genes come from strong stock, your father the only real bad seed.”

  I’d forgotten how much of a history he’d gone through with my father.

  “Duly noted.”

  His nod was by way of us both realizing there was no additional need to discuss business. The points had been made, bread broken, and the need for additional trust placed on the table.

  I’d thought about Styx’s advice for hours, including on the plane heading home. Allowing my father to win another round was unacceptable.

  Besides, I was eager to get back to my lovely protégé. Although I could hardly call her that any longer. She was far better than the man I’d become.

  Even if I wanted to continue sullying her for a long time to come.

  CHAPTER 24

  Bella

  Rage.

  Love.

  Passion.

  They were often closely tied together, and with Creed, that had proven itself time and time again in the few days we’d known each other.

  I still considered the night an amazing fairytale, everything a girl could want right down to the incredible sex. However, seeing the haunted look on his face, as if he was remembering something horrific from his past had reminded me that he was in a precarious position.

  So was I.

  This wasn’t a fairytale no matter how much money he spent on me or the fantastic places he took me. Still, the closeness I’d felt with him, including the man allowing me to be in his arms for several hours continued to jab at my mind. I was uncertain how to act around him or even what he wanted.

  What I had been certain of was that he’d been afraid of hurting me, which is why he’d left, returning smelling like scotch.

  I bit my lower lip, wanting some fresh air. While I’d been hesitant to try any of the locks, as I stared out the set of the French doors leading to a fabulous deck, the lake not far away, I wanted the feeling of real freedom if only for a little while. The moment I placed my hand on the latch, I glanced over my shoulder. I’d seen several soldiers walking the grounds, including Christen, who obviously didn’t like me very much after our sparring incident, but no one was in the house at this point.

  At least other than the two girls I’d seen tidying up the place. They’d been polite but certainly not talkative.

  And I felt so lonely, missing Jonas more than anything. I’d even turned on the news hoping to hear something but even with his father being the DA, I’d found no mention of his murder. Maybe that meant his family had bought that it was a suicide. The ache was still raw, just like what I’d felt the night before. Everything was far too complicated, so much so I wasn’t certain what to believe about anything any longer.

  I turned the handle, shocked that five alarms hadn’t gone off in tandem. I took a deep breath before heading outside. For a man who lived by rules, Creed had been in a hurry, not bothering to lay then out for me.

  Other than he would go hunting if I dared try to leave him.

  As serious and dangerous as the statement had been, I found myself laughing about it as I walked onto the deck. The air was crisper than it had been, the light breeze providing the heavenly scent of freshly cut grass. Whoever he’d hired as a landscaper was doing an incredible job. From the perfect patterns from the lawnmower to the perfect shade of green, the area in front of the lake was breathtaking.

  There was that word again. Perfect.

  There was no such thing in this life or any others for that matter, including with me. But Creed continued insisting that’s what I was. As well as his salvation.

  I shuddered from the thought, moving closer to the railing. I could see a soldier in the distance, walking as if trained in the military. Maybe he had been. At least I could breathe in the fresh air, which helped to start clearing the cobwebs from my mind almost immediately.

  I’d paid little attention to the outside surroundings given the amazing trip. There were two boats attached to an incredible dock stretching far out into the water. It was funny. I’d had one boyfriend in my life, a guy who’d ended up far too controlling but he’d taught me to appreciate boats, even showing me the ropes driving one. They were floating silently and I wondered how often a man like Creed allowed himself to enjoy any of the luxuries he owned.

  The light breeze was chilly enough that even in my sweat gear I folded my arms across my chest and headed to the far side of the deck. I also hadn’t paid any attention to the insanely gorgeous pool and outdoor kitchen, complete with a real tiki hut. There were various vividly colored umbrellas and matching lounge chairs with pillows. It was crazy, but I could envision a birthday party for a little girl or boy. I could almost hear the laughter and cries of a bunch of kids enjoying a gorgeous afternoon in the pool while their parents sipped on adult libations.

  At least I could smile at the thought. I doubted that Creed was the kind of man who could ever understand how important it was to have a close family. What was I saying? I wouldn’t know. The only time I’d ever felt close to my mother was when she had me coiffed and looking perfect while standing in front of a camera and her adorning fans.

  Thoughts and images rushed into my mind, including about my mother. He’d allowed me to call and confirm she was safe in a new place, one I’d heard of but would never have been able to afford without his help. Help? He’d taken a huge burden off me, but he was almost as angry with the way my mother had treated me as I was with his father. We were two strange birds, our upbringings not the best.

  I felt a presence behind me a few seconds later and was shocked how excited I was instantly, eager to see a man I should hate. When I turned around to see Christen standing in the doorway, I was certain he was planning on chastising me for disobeying some unknown rule.

  “Yes?” I asked, the defiance in my voice dripping.

  “Something arrived for you. It’s in the kitchen.”

  He studied me intently before backing away, saying nothing else.

  I waited a couple of seconds before heading back inside, immediately shocked to see my favorite color roses in yet another gorgeous vase. The scent rocked the entire room, the sweet thought adding tingles to my system.

  There was a note on a gold foil package, the huge iris-colored bow adding a stunning touch. I took a few seconds before racing toward the items like a kid on Christmas morning. The card was written in calligraphy, another step in Creed’s determination to seduce and own me.

  I hope this makes up for what I almost ruined last night.

  I need you to dance for me, perfect dancer.

  You drive the demons away.

  It’s time to enter your new world at the end of the hall.

  Your presence is requested.

  Do not wait for my return.

  Feel free, my little butterfly.

  You remain on my mind…

  Always yours

  Creed

  His almost apology was heartfelt, but the man wasn’t certain how to react to guilt or misunderstandings, which is why he remained so volatile. And I honestly had no idea what to make of the gesture. Was this some crazy aspect of mind control? I rubbed my fingers on the bow before a grin slipped across my face and I ripped into the package, unable to help myself.

  When I opened the box, I laughed at first because they were so beautiful. Red toe shoes.

  They reminded me of the ruby slippers that allowed a girl and her dog to return home to Kansas once upon a time. I chewed on my lip as I continued to hold them in my hands. The crazy thing was that I was wearing dance clothes under a pair of sweatpants, longing to be able to dance my sins and my anxiety away. In another small box were the wraps I needed and a cotton pad for my toes. He’d researched everything, including my size.

  With the shoes in my hand, I raced from the kitchen, trying to remember how I’d gotten to the blocked off room in the first place. When I noticed the closed door at the end of the hall, I stopped short, listening for any sounds.

  There was nothing but the same silence that had greeted me the moment he’d walked outside of the house. I took tentative steps at first, finally lunging toward the door in seconds. When I opened it, I couldn’t have been more shocked.

  He’d turned what had to be three rooms into a very large dance studio, two walls covered with mirrors and ballet bars. One housed the same style of oversized windows as every other room in the house and the other held bookshelves with music, a stereo system, and backed a gorgeous Steinway piano. The floor was perfect and I ripped off my shoes, walking barefoot across the floor before spinning around in glee.

  Was it so wrong of me to enjoy the fact he wanted to provide me with everything I needed?

  He’s a madman. You can’t forget that.

  My inner voice would need to poke me now, reminding me of all the bad things, just like she’d done when I was a child.

  If only you could make straight A’s, she’d love you.

  If only you were pretty like her, then she’d love you.

  If only you weren’t such a problem child, then she’d love you.