Bella (A Sagatori family saga-A Mafia Romance Book 5) (5 page)

By nightfall, I was exhausted. I’d spoken with three caterers and five of the elite businessmen and housewives on my list.  I felt accomplished with my tasks. After a long soak in a bubble bath, I snuck downstairs for some mint chip ice cream. It’s all I could think about all day long, and now I could indulge myself. Once back in my bed, I watched some romance movie as I finished my ice cream and rested my head on Jax’s pillow. I had sprayed it with his cologne before he left for New York. He laughed at me but then reached into my pantie drawer, pulled out my favorite pair of black lace panties, and dabbed my perfume on them. After he’d smelled them, he tucked them into his suitcase.

“I love you, baby,” I whispered and ran my hand over his pillow before finally passing out.

Jax

One week later

My eyes opened with the bang of my heart against my chest. My eyes adjusted, seeing the bright sunshine through the window. I stretched my arms, feeling Bella lay silent and still next to me. I positioned to my left, sliding my hand across the warm flesh of her arm. I’d dreamt last night that I lost Bella. I dreamt that the love of my life, this precious soul that lay next to me left without a sound and only a tear-stained face as she watched me. My heart beat like a drum in my chest thinking of how she turned and walked away from me forever. I reached out to her in the darkness of the nightmare and her body turned into smoke dissolving into thin air. She was gone, and I knew she was never coming back. A pain in my gut assured me I’d never see her again.

I squeezed my eyes shut as I assured myself it was, in fact, just a nightmare and that nothing like that would ever happen. She’d never leave me, and if she tried I’d never let her.

“Don’t stop,” she whispered disrupting the silence.

I leaned into her neck and pressed a kiss to her ear. “Stop what, baby?”

“Touching me.” She was talking about the touch of my hand to her skin. I’d become still when I forced that fucked up dream out of my head. I drew my hand to her beautiful hair. “Your hair is getting so long.”

“It’s a mess.” she smiled.

“No, it’s beautiful.” The fragrance was of lilacs and vanilla.

She turned into my hold. “You were so restless in your sleep.”

I closed my eyes tightly, not wanting her to see what I’d seen in my dreams. If she knew that I had any doubt, she’d worry and I couldn’t let her do that now; not with our baby tucked safely inside of her womb.

“Just couldn’t sleep, too much prosciutto before bed I guess.” I smiled and pressed a kiss to her forehead before I turned to step out of the bed.

“Ah, I was hoping we could stay in bed a while,” she pouted.

I tied my pajama pants, gazing out the large window. “I have some business that needs tending to.” I smiled and turned to her. I knew as I approached the bed that I was lying; I just hoped it wouldn’t end like it had in my dream. “I’ll be back soon and then we can spend the entire day doing anything you’d like.” I cupped her cheek in my hand before landing a kiss to her mouth.

“Anything?” she asked playfully, her large, dark eyes piercing back at me.

“Anything, my love.” After another kiss, I pulled from the bed and padded into the shower.

From the shower, I saw her stand in the mirror evaluating her tummy. “I can’t believe how fast he’s growing. I’m gonna need to plan the nursery more quickly,” she giggled.

I slid the glass door open and leaned against the wall. I smiled into my stare as I watched her. She’s so beautiful; her hair pulled into a messy up-do, her cheeks a natural rosy color, and her curvy body flawless.

“He’ll be here before we know it.” She turned with her hands pressed against her enlarging belly. “Ah,” she squealed, “he’s kicking!” She rushed to the shower and reached for my hand, pressing it just under her belly button. The smile on her face never faltered while she waited intently for me to feel Ennio kick. “There, did you feel it?” I stood with wet hands pressed against her flesh.

I’d only gotten to feel him kick once; I was beginning to think I was doing this wrong. My brows scrunched into a frown as I shook my head waiting to feel him. “No.” I stared with intensity at her tummy waiting and waiting. “Was that? Yes!” I yelled.

Bella laughed into her hand at the velocity of my excitement. “That was your son saying hello to his papa.” She beamed.

“Our son,” I corrected.

“
Our
baby boy.” She smiled reaching in for a kiss.

I wrapped my hands around her and pulled her inside the shower. “Feeling dirty?” I smiled into the kiss.

“I thought you had business?”

“Shh—” I pressed her against my body and lifted her tank top over her head.

Her breasts were full, and her nipples were hard. She raised her arms over her head as I backed her into the shower wall. “You are so fucking perfect.” My eyes roamed over her face. My cock was hard the second I touched her.

Her lips were soft as my tongue traced the curves of her mouth. I didn’t want anything in this world like I wanted her. I didn’t know a man could love someone the way I loved her. Most the men I knew kept their wives for different reasons and most had a woman on the side, but I didn’t need or want that; all I needed was her. The touch of her flesh was all I needed, and without it, I’d be a fucked up mess.

Jax

“Boss?” Sal knocked.

“Yeah,” I continued searching through my phone. “What can I do for you?” My eyes didn’t rise.

“I got a call from my guy in Detroit.”

Quickly I lifted my head to Sal. “Sit, what did he say?” I leaned into my desk, waiting.

“He’s sure the person you’re looking for is at this address.” He slid a white piece of paper across my desk. “Sir, may I ask what this is all about?”

My hand moved fiercely, swiping the paper from the wooden desk. “No. Is this the only trail?”

He nodded. “Yeah,”

“How much does your guy know about this?”

“He’s a man that knows a little about a lot.”

“And he knows you’re asking for me?”

“Boss?” Sal asked, confused.

“Does he fucking know I’m the one that wanted the information?”

“I—I told him I needed the information for my boss.”

“Then your answer is yes. Nod.” I sarcastically nodded my head.

He hesitantly mimicked my nod. “Yes but—”

“Take care of him.” I sat against the comfort of my leather chair, staring at the scribbled address I’d been waiting for.

Sal sat confused in front of my desk. “Boss, I get that you don’t want anyone knowing your business, but he’s always been a loyal guy. I don’t think knockin’ the guy is needed.”

“I don’t give a fuck how loyal he’s been in the past.” Sal stood with a grunt. “And not a word of this to Bella.”

“Why would I tell Bella?”

“Good fucking question. I could ask why you thought it would be a good idea letting her traipse all around the fucking country while I was in the hospital?” I stood. “Because she’s determined and gets what she wants. Get the fuck out of my office before I throw you out.” I lunged forward still pissed he’d let her do that shit.

Sal was a big guy but no match for me right then. I wished he ‘d been up for the challenge; I needed a way to vent some of the anger that nearly had me in a rage.

“Consider it done.”

“I’ve heard that shit before.” I glared back from under my hooded eyes. “Make sure it gets taken care of. I can’t risk any ties to this. And, Sal—” I pressed my index finger to my lips. “—Not a fucking word of this to
anyone
.”

“Yes, Boss.” he nodded and left my office,

I sat down once again. “I’m coming for you, and this time, I’ll kill you myself.” I stared at the address.

***

“You ready, baby?” I asked from behind Bella. “The play is going to start without us.” I pressed a kiss to the back of her neck. “God you are so beautiful.” I relished in the beauty of her soft neck. I loved it when her hair was pulled into a bun. “Let’s skip it; we could have a play of our very own right here.” I pulled her into my chest.

“You’re taking advantage of my heightened hormone level,” she laughed.

“Absolutely, what man wouldn’t want to make love to their beautifully glowing wife twenty-four-seven? Besides, plays are boring.” I shrugged.

“There’s plenty of time for us to make love, but honestly—” she turned into my hold, staring back at me. “—I need to recoup from this morning.” She batted her eyes.

“Okay, you think you’ll feel recouped in a few hours?” I asked serious then smiled.

Her brows lifted. “You’re insatiable, you know that?”

I pressed a kiss to her forehead and escorted her out of the bedroom. After closing the door, I felt a vibration against my chest. I reached inside of my jacket and retrieved my phone, seeing the number wasn’t one that I recognized. “I’ll be down in a minute,” I told Bella. I turned back toward the bedroom and answered. “Hello?”

“Hello, Jax.”

I closed my eyes tight. I never thought I’d hear that voice again. As a matter-of-fact, I prayed I’d never hear that voice again. “What do you want?” I spit through closed teeth.

“Is that any way to speak to your wife, Jax?”

“You are alive?”

“Living and breathing—” I could hear the smirk in her voice. The breathing part was accurate, for now.

“What do you want?”

“Among other things, I want to see you.”

“To see me? Not gonna happen,” I said flatly.

“I have been a very patient woman, Jax, but I’m losing that patience. We have a lot to discuss.”

“We have nothing to discuss.” I closed the bedroom door.

“Your attempt at having me killed gives us many things to discuss, wouldn’t you agree?”

I slammed my fist into the wall in a rage of anger. “When?”

“Detroit tomorrow, I’ll text you the location. Oh and, Jax—”

I closed my eyes; sweat beaded at my temples as I leaned on the wall I’d just put the hole inside of. “What?” I growled.

“You will bring the princess, won't you? I’m sure she’d love to hear all about the real Jax Moretti.” She disconnected the call.

I stood for several minutes watching as the room spun out of control. I walked into the bathroom and tucked my phone into my pants pocket to splash water on my face. I hung on the edge of the sink another few minutes as I tried to regain control over my life once again.

“Jax?” I heard Bella ask from inside the bedroom. “What’s going on?” Her footsteps came closer to me in the bathroom.

“Damn it!” I spit, flashing a glance into the mirror in front of me. My face was dark, blood red, forehead wrinkled, eyes bursting with anger and I didn’t want her seeing me like that.

“Jax?” She slowly crept into the bathroom. “Where did the hole in the wall come from?” She pointed behind her.

“Work. I’m sorry I lost my shit. I’ll have one of the guys fix it tomorrow.” The word
tomorrow
made me cringe. I stood upright facing Bella. “Baby, I know you were looking forward to this night—

“You want to stay in? Maybe, a massage will help you feel better.” She leaned in, resting her head against my chest.

I rested my cheek against the top of her head risking her comfort—stealing it really. If Bella had any idea of the real reason I was so pissed off she’d be running. My thoughts went silent, ignoring the possibility that this— all this— would be over. I wrapped my arms around her small body and sighed. “I love you more than anything in this world, Isabella. No matter what I want you to always remember that, okay.” I squeezed her tight.

“Baby, is everything alright?”

I drew in a deep breath, “When you’re in my arms, everything is alright. It’s when your not that everything turns to shit.”

She leaned back away from my chest, pressing her palm to my cheek. “I’ll always be here.” She offered a sweet smile. “Tell you what, I’ll go downstairs and whip something up for dinner and we’ll eat over an old movie, sound good?”