Given by Stone Piper

Author:Stone, Piper
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stormy Night Publications
Published: 2020-03-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Stephanie

Every inch of my body continued to tingle. From his touch.

From the way his fingers had stroked my skin.

From the intense scent of the man, intoxicating in every manner.

I’d wanted him to stay, to share an intimate moment in the middle of the early afternoon, but I hadn’t been able to mutter the words. Instead, I’d curled up on my side around the soft pillows, whimpering like some small child, praying the stinging sensations would lessen.

I rubbed my fingers across my lips, still remembering our last kiss, the passion unbridled. I’d felt so safe and wanted in his arms, as if he was indeed my hero. How crazy was that? To think that he’d thought of me fondly left me just as jarred as the fact I’d almost been murdered and two people I hadn’t even known had lost their lives.

Why had my parents never told me? Now I knew why they’d kept a firm hold on me until I turned eighteen. They were terrified of another assassination attempt.

Who had been the actual targets? Why did they feel the need to eliminate anyone from the sect? Who was responsible? There were too many questions and almost no practical answers.

I’d once heard my father on the phone, his discussion involving the Taglioni mafia family and their reign of terror. Was that possible? Were our respective fathers getting in their way, usurping their business? There was no way of knowing, but I had the distinct feeling that Christian had a pulse on more aspects than he wanted to confide in me.

There was so much to be said, so many new concerns that my mind had difficulty wrapping around them. One thing was certain.

The man continued to worry about my safety. My new husband did care for me and had for years. I’d been blinded on purpose to his real nature, partially because of his behavior. Mostly because of the fact my father hated the Capodannos.

I also thought about Christian’s words and the damning meaning behind them.

Power.

Greed.

Influence.

Whether or not the Taglioni family were behind the various incidents, the concept of wealth and power were exactly why the mafia had a firm hold in various businesses, not all of them based in criminal activity. There was no bullshit within their hierarchy, punishment handled almost exactly the same as within the sect. There’d been at least three murders, several tragedies, and far too many secrets and lies within the hallowed grounds of the Hamptons. The only difference in the men of the sect? They pretended to walk on the side of good, men of God. All while wretched things were going on behind closed doors.

I finally eased off the end of the bed, moving toward the closet. When I found after opening the door was almost as disconcerting as Christian’s behavior.

Clothes—beautiful, colorful dresses and heels, silk and satin lingerie and all adorned with tags from several high-end clothing stores. I was thrown, my stomach churning once again. What did he expect out of me?

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