Chapter 10

~Heads Up~

Tony was a terrible patient. He was demanding and insistent, trying to get out of bed and manage on his own. It took threats of knocking him on his ass to get him to stay in bed while I went to get him something to eat.

I brewed coffee and heated up the food I'd purchased. I returned to the bedroom with the tray to find him standing by the window. He leaned heavily on the sill, but he was upright.

"Stubborn son of a bitch," I muttered.

We ended up sitting at the small table by the windows. He lowered himself into the chair, biting his lip to keep from calling out from the pain. He was still shirtless although Emmett had stopped by earlier to drop off his clothes.

I placed a bowl of soup and a mug of coffee in front of him. Pulling my chair close to his, I tried to feed him.

He grabbed my wrist and glared at me. "Christ, princess! Are you trying to unman me?"

I wrenched my arm from his grasp. "No! You're hurt. I'm trying to take care of you."

Tony's expression was intense, his jaw tight. "I don't need a fucking nursemaid. I'll eat and drink by myself, or I'll fucking starve."

"That's so mature." I stood and dragged my chair back to the other side of the table and sipped my coffee, watching him over the rim. "Well, go ahead. Feed yourself."

Tony muttered something under his breath, then lifted the spoon to his mouth. "Fuck me." Every time he lifted the spoon or mug, he winced, sometimes cursing. I knew it must hurt like hell because it cost him to show weakness in front of me.

His cell phone rang constantly, but he kept the calls short, barking orders at the Masen minions.

It rang again.

"Masen. Yeah? Was it delivered as discussed? When? Good."

My cell phone rang. The screen flashed Felix's name, which concerned me. I left the room, so Tony's voice wouldn't be heard in the background.

"Felix?"

"Isabella, where are you, and who are you with?"

"Angela and I are house-sitting for a friend in Seattle."

"Seattle, so it's not an isolated place, right?"

"Nope. Penthouse with lots of security."

"Good. Is someone taking care of your dog?"

This was a code phrase. Felix was making sure I wasn't being held captive, so he asked about a dog I didn't have. If I said the dog was being taken care of, it meant I needed help.

"Nobody is taking care of the dog, Felix. You want me to put Ang on the phone?"

"No. I just had to make sure. Don't tell anyone outside the family where you are. Hold on a sec." He covered the phone, and I could hear muffled voices before he came back on. "The two of you should stay there a few more days, if possible. Aro and Marcus will feel better knowing you're both safe and out of harm's way."

My heart started beating hard. "What's going on? Is there a threat?"

"We're on high alert."

"Can I talk to him?"

"Not right now, kid. He's in the middle of a shitstorm. Don't come home or go to work until you hear otherwise, yeah?"

"Okay." I wanted to ask more questions, but the line went dead.

Fear snaked through me, and I headed to the wet bar for a drink. Angela was standing by the living room windows with her own drink in hand. When she turned to look at me, her eyes were wide.

"Did you get a call too?"

She nodded. "We're supposed to stay here until we get the all-clear."

"Do you have any idea what happened?"

"You sure you want to know?"

I gulped down my drink and poured another. "Lay it on me."

"Someone delivered a package to Uncle Aro. My dad was there when it came. Nico wasn't supposed to tell me, but he did."

"What was it?"

"A h-head."

"Did you say a fucking head?"

Angela nodded, taking another sip of her drink.

"Whose head?"

Angela grabbed the bottle of whiskey and brought it to the coffee table. "That, I don't know, but it's never good when someone delivers a head in a box. And there was something carved into the forehead, but he didn't have time to tell me what it was."

"Jesus Christ." I held my glass out, and she poured more for me.

We huddled together on the couch. There wasn't much else to say; we had to wait for someone to tell us what was going on.

Angela received a notification on her phone and showed it to me.

Are you and Bella safe? ~Santo

"Why is he texting you instead of me, and how does he know about this?"

"It must be serious if he knows already. He probably texted me because of you and Tony."

I rolled my eyes and nudged my shoulder against hers. "If I didn't know better, I'd say Santo has a thing for you."

"You really think so?"

Not the answer I expected. "Sounds like it's mutual."

Angela looked away. "Santo's been pretty great through all this. I admire his morals."

I laughed, disbelief etched on my face. "His morals?"

"Okay, he's pretty hot. But I never found him that attractive until he stepped up to help you. He's a good man."

"Go for it. You certainly have my blessing. Hey, since Aro found him acceptable for me, maybe Uncle Marcus won't mind if you choose Santo instead of Lou. It would still unite our families."

I could see the spark of hope in Angela's eyes before she closed it down. "You need Santo. Uncle Aro thinks you guys are an item. If he and I got together, that would put you back on the market."

"We do have to keep up the charade, for now." I arched an eyebrow. "Text him back."

We're both safe. Do you know what's happening? ~A

No details yet. You guys hang tight. Let me know if you need anything. ~Santo

Thanks for checking on us. ~A

I was worried. Be safe. ~Santo

"I think he likes you, Ang. He has my number, but he chose to text you."

Angela huffed. "I just don't want to get my hopes up. I resigned myself to marrying Lou, to being the good mafia daughter, but now I want more." She wrung her hands and looked at me with tears in her eyes.

I tilted my head, giving her a look. "Aren't you the same girl who was dancing around the living room, saying you were going to hold out for true love?"

Angela stared at me for a few seconds. Then she drew her shoulders back and took a deep breath. "You're right. I should explore this."

"That's the brave girl I know. I'm going to check on Tony, the obstinate jackass." I rolled my eyes.

Angela nodded, but I don't think she heard me. She was busy contemplating her phone.

When I entered the bedroom, Tony was staring out the window, deep in thought. He was wearing a loose T-shirt, and I suspected he'd waited for me to leave the room before struggling into it. Stubborn ass.

I sat across from him, and he placed his hand over mine. There was a wary expression on his handsome face.

"Your eye seems a little better. It's open most of the way now."

Tony grimaced. "It hurts like hell."

I bowed my head, staring at my lap. The call from Felix weighed on my mind, and the fact Nico and even Santo were aware meant both the family and our allies were on high alert.

"What's wrong, princess?" When I hesitated, he got up and tugged me to my feet, grunting in pain. He caressed my face. "Hey . . . you can tell me anything."

I wasn't supposed to discuss family business with Tony, but he was looking down at me with such concern, I couldn't stop myself. "Something happened."

"Tell me."

"Someone sent my father a box . . . with a head in it."

Tony sighed, looking up at the ceiling. "I know."

"You know?"

"It was us. It's the head of the fuck who tried to kill me." Tony pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around me. One hand cradled the back of my head, and I laid my cheek against his chest. "Bastard fingered Aro for the ambush. Something feels off to me, but that might be because I lost so much blood."

Tentatively, I snaked my arms around his waist, allowing him to comfort me. Aro hated the Masens with a passion; he'd even referred to Tony as "more trash to take out." If Aro sent someone after Tony, his family had every right to retaliate. They might even go after Aro's child—namely me. And here I was, in the embrace of the enemy.

oOo

Tony eventually insisted on leaving the bedroom, muttering under his breath about how I was turning him into a pussy. I rolled my eyes.

We joined Angela in the living room to watch a movie and share a pizza. Tony sat on the couch with his arm around me. I rested my head on his shoulder, careful not to bump into his side, and he played with my hair, triggering shivers of pleasure. It felt like such a normal moment.

Halfway through the movie, Angela became preoccupied with her phone. Her head was down, and she was texting. When the credits rolled, I commented that she wasn't paying attention.

"Yeah, I am! The movie's great."

"The movie is over, Ang."

Her head came up, eyes wide. "Oh. Sorry, guys."

"Is that Santo you're texting?" I shot her a pointed look.

A blush crept over her cheeks, and her eyes were bright. "Um, yeah."

"You and Lanzo?" Tony asked, eyebrows raised.

"Yes," I answered.

"No!" Angela countered. "Well, maybe."

Tony waved a hand and laughed. "Hey, who am I to judge? Look at us! A Montague and a Capulet."

My blood turned to ice. "Don't say that," I whispered.

"Why not? It's true, right?"

"Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy. They die."

Tony shook his head. "Not us, princess. I'll burn it all down before I let anything happen to you." He kissed my temple, holding me closer.

Angela sighed. "I love you guys together! So romantic."

Tony released me and leaned forward, wincing in pain, but his jaw was set. "Listen, Angela, I'm all for you and Lanzo getting together—it keeps him away from my girl, and he seems like a decent guy—but he absolutely cannot know about this place. Nobody can. Jasper is my best friend, and I don't want him dragged any further into this shit than he already has been."

Angela nodded, holding her hands up. "Totally get it, Tony. Not to worry. I would never put your friend at risk."

I glanced at Tony. "I take it Jasper isn't part of this life?"

"Not officially, no. He's done some hacker shit for me and Emmett, but nobody knows about it."

I took his hand, squeezing gently. "Nobody will find out about Jasper or this place from us."

"Thank you." Tony lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it.

Angela and I started cleaning up dinner while Tony made some phone calls. We'd ordered extra pizza, since Jasper had zero food, and stood side by side, wrapping slices. I could tell something was weighing on her mind.

I put my hand over hers. "Talk to me."

She sighed. "Am I that obvious?"

"Just to me, honey." I busied myself with the pizza, giving her a chance to gather her thoughts.

We worked in silence a few more minutes before she turned to me. "Santo and I have been flirting . . . and he invited me over tonight."

"What's the issue?"

"I'm nervous that someone will find out. I mean, I'm not going to tell my dad about him unless it goes somewhere. We might not mesh at all."

"Well, Gina, I'm sure you can keep things on the down-low while you're exploring."

"You're right. I'm going to accept his invitation!" Angela put a hand over her mouth and giggled. "This feels like sneaking around the way we did in high school. Remember Joey and Sam? Those two college guys?"

I laughed. "Oh my God, yeah! We were so bad."

"College guys, huh?" Tony's voice broke in. I looked up, startled. He leaned casually against the wall with one hand in the pocket of his sweatpants, smirking at us. "Were you two naughty girls?"

"We sure were!" Angela shot back, excitement lighting her eyes. "I'm going to get dressed." She hurried off to her room, reminding me very much of her teenage self.

I gazed at Tony, standing there so handsome, and the same sense of excitement flowed through me. Angela was going out, and we would have the penthouse to ourselves.

He tilted his head, smirk widening, and strolled toward me. "I would love to be in your head for a while. So many emotions flit across your face and move behind those beautiful eyes." He traced my cheek lightly with a fingertip, leaving a trail of heated tingling in its wake. I watched his gaze follow the path of his finger, then linger on my lips. He moved in close, kissing me slowly.

My heart beat erratically, and I put my arms around his neck and held on, swept away by the kiss. He lifted me by the backs of my legs, placing me on the counter. He let out a pained groan, clutching his side.

"Are you crazy? You shouldn't be lifting me right now!"

"Shh . . ." Tony pressed in against the counter and pulled me forward, encouraging me to wrap my legs around him. "Just kiss me, princess."

He cupped my ass with one hand and cradled the back of my head with the other. He slanted his mouth over mine, taking possession of my lips. I opened for him, and he pushed his tongue into my mouth, sensual yet commanding. Tony was an expert kisser, entrancing me with the sheer amount of emotion he allowed to emanate from his lips to mine. He moaned softly, this time not in pain, and I felt his sensual lips travel along my jaw and down the side of my neck. I buried my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer, and his teeth scraped deliciously along the tender skin of my neck. He sucked on the spot just below my ear, and I knew he was going to leave a mark. I tilted my head to give him better access. I wanted him to mark me, something to signify I was his.

He slid a hand under my shirt, cupping a breast. He pinched a nipple through the thin lace, creating a heavenly pleasure/pain sensation. My mouth fell open, and I tipped my head back, pressing my chest against his hand.

"You like that, baby?" Tony crooned, dragging his tongue along my clavicle.

"Yes," I whimpered. "All of it. I can't get enough of you."

"Same here," he whispered into the crook of my neck. "I've never felt like this before, not with anyone."

"Me either." And that's the moment I knew I wanted a permanent mark, a reminder of him to carry with me always.

Angela cleared her throat, hovering by the breakfast bar. "Sorry to interrupt, guys. Just wanted to let you know I'm heading out." She was dressed as "Gina" and had a large tote bag over her shoulder. "I'll text you."

I kept my arms around Tony's neck and leaned my head to the side so I could see her. "Have fun! No guilt."

"No guilt. I promise." Angela looked over at Tony and fanned herself, mouthing, "He's so hot!"

I couldn't agree with her more.

Tony's lips found mine again, kissing me with abandon. At some point he suggested we lie down in the bedroom. He took my hand, leading the way. I turned the covers down, and by unspoken agreement, we climbed on the bed, wrapping our arms around each other. My head rested on his chest, and he placed a possessive hand on my hip, squeezing lightly.

We remained silent for a time, enjoying being together, but soon enough, my mind started bombarding me with concerns. How will we pull this off? What happens if we're caught? My thoughts drifted back to the night we met. Tony was with a group of thugs, hiding from Masen's men.

"Tony?"

"Mm-hm."

"The night we met—you were with some guys who were running away from your father's men."

"Yes." He sounds uncomfortable.

"Why?"

Tony sighed deeply, tightening his arms around me. "I don't trust my father. All of our families are into illegal shit, but I suspect there's something really bad going down that he's shielding Emmett and me from. So I've been doing some digging on my own."

"Why were you so afraid when you heard that man's voice? Who is he?" A shiver ran through me; it was the same voice I'd heard in Aro's club on that long-ago night, the man I suspected of murdering Charlie. I would never forget the detachment, the deadness in his voice. He wasn't afraid of Aro or anyone.

"Never mind him." Tony pressed a kiss into my hair. "I was afraid my father's men might hurt you if they found us."

"You didn't know who I was though."

"Princess, do you honestly think an innocent has never ended up as collateral damage? I also didn't want to be caught digging. I need my father to trust me. It's the only way I can find out what's really going on."

"And then what?"

"I have no answer for that. I just keep praying I'm wrong." Tony shifted, getting comfortable. "Rest now, princess."

We fell asleep in each other's arms, and it was the most peace I'd felt since Aro Volturi had darkened our door in Forks, back when I was fifteen.

~oOo~

Things are heating up. Next chapter is EPOV! Would love to hear your thoughts. See you next week!

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