SWNOVELS Chapter 22
I pulled out of her, kissing her softly. She is gasping for air and covered with beads of sweat when I roll out from underneath her cuffed hands and fall to the side.
I inhale, looking up to the sky.
“I think—I think I am in love with you,” I say slowly as the realization dawns on me.
I lie in silence, waiting for her response. When none comes, I turn to see her sleeping soundly.
She is curled up in a little ball, frowning a little.
I stare at her as she sleeps.
“I don’t deserve to love you, do I?”
I lower my face and press my lips against her forehead before I get up. I adjust her dress and pick her up.
She is sleeping so soundly that she only stirs slightly when I pull her into my arms. I carry her inside, and just as I am coming through the door, I hear my brother’s voice.
“Jesus fucking Christ!”
I turn to see Donatello staring at me in shock. He’s wearing a bathrobe, and he has a lit cigarette in one hand and a bottle of vodka in the other.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I snap.
“I should be asking you that. Why are you out this late? It’s past midnight, and why is she in handcuffs?”
She mutters something in her sleep.
“Shh, you’ll wake her up,” I whisper fiercely.
“I cannot believe this!” Donatello hisses, following behind me as I take her up the stairs.
“Do you mind?” I ask him as we get to her door.
“What?”
“I want to put her to bed.”
His eyes widen in irritation. “Brother, she is not a child. She is perfectly capable of walking into her room and to her bed.”
My glare silences him, and he watches in shock as the guards open the door to her room.
I put her to bed, but not before unhooking the handcuffs and taking off her damp clothing. I fight to tear my eyes off her perfect figure as I pull the covers over her.
“Don’t go,” she calls softly as I start to step away.
I stop and chuckle because her eyes are still shut. “You want me to stay, huh?” I ask.
She nods.
I sigh. “I’ll be back. I just have a bit of business to handle.”
She groans in her sleep, and she turns to the side. I turn on the air conditioning, and I glance at her one last time before I step out to meet Donatello.
“You have a lot of explaining to do,” I say, looking down at the cigarette and bottle of liquor.
“Oh, you too,” he says, putting the cigarette in his mouth. I snatch it away from him.
“Downstairs,” I order.
“You go first,” I say as we sit at the dining table.
Donatello sighs. “What exactly do I need to explain?”
I inhale. “You have to pick a side, Donatello.”
He sighs. “I’m not eighteen anymore. What are you, my dad?”
He meets my gaze and looks away. “I didn’t mean it that way—look, it’s been tough running the club lately.”
“Why didn’t you ask for some help?”
“I didn’t want to look incompetent,” he mumbles.
“I wouldn’t have let you run the club if I thought that you couldn’t do it. There is nothing wrong with asking for some help.”
He inhales. “Yeah—you’re right, I’m sorry.”
I stand up and snatch the bottle of vodka from him.
“No more drinking for the next couple of months.”
“Oh, c’mon.”
“If I see a bottle in your hands for the next couple of weeks. I’ll crack your jaw.”
“Sheesh, fine, man. You don’t have to add threats to the mix.”
I return the bottle to the bar across from us.
“It’s your turn now. Why are you out this late—with that woman.”
For a minute, I am lost in the recollection of the time we had spent together.
I clear my throat.
“We were—you know—talking.”
He gasps. “You’ve turned into an idiot. This is worse than I thought.”
I sit down and inhale.
“Can I talk to you, one man to the other?” I ask.
He stares at me, shaking his head.
“You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”
The words hit me hard. Is it that obvious?
“How can you tell?”
Amusement grows on his face. “Even the town idiot could tell. Man, I never pictured you would be this much of a loser when you fell in love.”
I sigh. “I guess Bunny called it. I am a loser.”
He reclines in his seat. “Correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t think feeling emotions makes you weak.”
I sigh. “I—don’t think that applies here.”
“I mean, you did take her away from her family, lock her up like an animal, and force her to marry you—so it’s a bit tricky.”
I groan in reply to his words.
“She hates my guts,” I mutter.
Maybe I need that vodka more than him.
“She has every reason to, but I highly doubt that she does.”
“I—I don’t know what to do.”
Donatello sighs. “I’ll advise you as a Russo, wanna hear me out?”
I shrug.
“Let her go now and cut your losses. There are tons of women around, and you’re Antonio Russo. I’m sure that you can find some woman who is good at warming your bed and doesn’t ask you to love her. Besides, I don’t trust that woman,” he spits out.
I exhale. “Of course.”
What was I expecting?
“But as your brother, I’ll say this: there is nothing wrong with falling in love.”
Our eyes meet, and he grins. “You’re being a total loser in the way only those in love can be, and it soothes me to see that there is at least one woman on this earth that can make my brother act like a fool.”
“Aren’t you pushing it a little?”
“You wanted to hear my advice.”
I try to look stern, but I end up grinning.
“Bunny is going to flip if he ever hears this. He hates my guts as it is.”
Donatello waves it off. “You’ve lived half of your life doing what’s best for Bunny and me, and this is one time I’ll give you a pass.”
He reaches over and taps my shoulder tenderly.
“Enjoy your time with Mrs. Russo.”
I chuckle, and he stands up.
“I’ll leave you to handle your own affairs, and I’ll be going right to bed.”
I nod, and I watch him as he walks upstairs.
“Can I at least have the vodka?” he asks, walking.
“Do you want a cracked jaw to go with it?”
“Goodnight then!” he calls, disappearing.