she’d gotten lost in her mind again, I hadn’t thought of anything except bringing her back. To the room. To me. I’d bullied my way forward to grab at her. Grab her hand, bring her brain some soothing pain.
The look in her eyes as she’d drifted back into herself had made something deep inside me ache. Made me want something more from her than I’ve wanted from anyone. I had no idea what that was, but I knew I had to have it.
This woman, this bruised and abused woman, was going to be mine. For as long as it took to get her out of my system. She was screwing with my mind and I didn’t like it. Not one damn bit. No one shook me, derailed my thoughts. I was driven, focused, and ambitious. None of those traits allowed for anything other than the briefest of sexual partners.
And I liked it like that.
But fucking hell—the sounds she’d made while she consumed her meal—I’d wanted to rip her dress off, pull her under me, and feast on her. No matter that the Amatuccis were there. They’d consigned themselves to her friendzone, the idiots.
All except Dom. But he was waiting. For what, I didn’t know, some indication of…something before he staked his claim on her. I chuckled mentally. To the victor goes the spoils. And I was winning this fucking race. He could have her when I was done.
My only regret was not getting a copy of that recording of her moaning. I made a mental note to have a recorder handy so I could do so after I’d rocked her world. She wouldn’t be able to threaten me into getting rid of it.
I rubbed my fingers around her ankle bone again, enjoyed the slight tremor that shook her leg as I talked with Turo. The man was smart and discerning as hell when it came to the market. Who knew the local mafia scene would hold the people I least wanted to kill?
I abhorred social functions, sent bigger checks to get out of the responsibility of going to them. I could actually see myself having a beer with these assholes. They didn’t beat around the bush. Weren’t obsequious in their interactions. They couldn’t pander if their lives depended on it. I found it refreshing.
“I’ve heard some good things about your company, Penn. In what area do you foresee your biggest growth in the next five years?” Turo asked.
I smiled. “Computer systems designs. I’ve got one of the best IT experts in the world. With what she and my R&D department are coming up with?” I shook my head. “The sky’s the limit.”
He nodded, his lips quirked to the side. “What about 3D printers and Makers’ Spaces?”
“I think they’ll have good gains. But with those come the need for more advanced computer systems. Think base or foundation. Then add the goodies on top of that.”
A low snore cut off his reply.
I looked over. Willow had crashed. Her long lashes laid against her peaches and cream skin as her chest moved in a steady rhythm. I shook her ankle. If she was going to sleep, she needed to be flat to help her body get rid of as much cellular damage as possible.
She didn’t wake up.
I shook her leg again. “Willow?”
Nothing.
I looked at the youngest Amatucci. He had a slightly guilty look on his face. I felt my chest constrict. “What the fuck did you do?” I said softly. I could feel the need to beat him senseless slide through me.
The other two stopped their discussion behind me.
“What’s wrong?” Domenico asked.
“She won’t wake up. Ibuprofen shouldn’t knock her out,” I said as I lifted her legs to get out from under her. I bent down, removed the ice packs from her legs. I slid her into my arms.
“What?” Domenico said, anger in his voice.
Rafael glared at me. “It’s just nighttime acetaminophen. She needs sleep. Good sleep. Not that catnap crap she’s been trying to get in the evenings. She had a nightmare last night. Tali said Will managed maybe three hours of good sleep…in total.”
“And that gives you the right to drug her without her permission?” I barked as I adjusted her in my arms. “I’m going to go lay her down, and then I’m going to come back out here and kick your ass.”
I walked towards the bedroom.
“You won’t have to. We will,” Domenico said. Their conversation switched to Italian. Heated, angry Italian.
I heard the first thump of flesh against flesh.