Chocolate and Italian Wine (Music and Mayhem Book 1) (18 page)

              “Wolfe is your bodyguard. It’s only right that he be seen as the hero in this situation. He killed a stalker intruder who had a knife,” Paolo stated.

              Karisma saw she was arguing a lost cause with Paolo. Vincent stepped in. “We’ll say that because of the threat Davies posed as her stalker, it was her security teams’ decision for Miss Montgomery to begin sleeping in another room in the house. You, Mr. Wolfe, began sleeping in her room every night until the person could be caught. Now tonight, you had gone to the bathroom, and evidently during that time, the intruder gained access to the bedroom. You saw the man in the room when you returned to bed, and he lunged at you with the knife just as you dove for the gun on the nightstand. It was on top, not inside. You grabbed it and tumbled to the floor. You rolled into the wall and fired when he raised the knife.” 

Amani and Wolfe exchanged a look.

“Of course, just like Miss Montgomery said, it was self defense. She was home, but asleep in the other room. No charges will be filed,” Vincent said. 

Paolo intervened. “If I may, Vincent. Wolfe, the gun was a gift to you, as you admired it once. So I gave it to you a few weeks ago, you’re not sure of the exact date. You slept with it on the nightstand in case you had to use it. Simple.”

Wolfe nodded. “Yeah, okay. I can do that,” he said confidently. 

              Vincent stepped back in. “Okay, then, we need to get you out to fire the gun. Mr. Wolfe, I need you to bring a few of your things to the bathroom. It’ll look like you’ve been sleeping here,” Vincent said. 

              “What about all the paparazzi?” Wolfe asked. “They’ll instantly swarm.”

              “The front gate security will go into emergency mode, just as surprised. You quickly run back in and up to this room through the back patio door. It’ll work out.”

              “Okay,” Wolfe said. He seemed confident.

              Karisma listened and wasn’t quite so confident. “I don’t want Wolfe risking getting in trouble for self defense. I still don’t understand…”

              Paolo cut her off. “Baby, Vincent is the best and this will work out best for everyone, especially you.”

              Karisma nodded her head, not strong enough emotionally to argue it out at that point. She did wonder how Paolo would know that Vincent was the best. Hmm…she’d have to ask him later.

“Okay, Stella will get me set up in the other room,” Kari said in surrender. She looked to Wolfe. “Are you really okay with this? I don’t want you to do it if you’re not.”

“It’s cool. We gotta do this. I’m good,” he said confidently, winking and nodding at her.

As they walked out of the mansion to the yard, Vincent began reviewing Wolfe’s story with him. They would need to call the police within the next few minutes in order for the story to fly.

16

Karisma had been told to make the red guestroom look like she’d been there all night. Wolfe’s own bedroom had been cleaned, showing no signs of the fact that until the gunshot, he had indeed occupied his bed. Everything was in place and they were all as prepared as they could be.

Within fifteen minutes, Karisma’s Calmate hilltop mansion was anything but calm. Police and news vans swarmed the estate like bees. Karisma was told to stay out of sight unless police specifically requested her presence. Her parents, Liane and Vaughn were called over, as was her assistant Sierra, and Valerie, too, who was charged with the tough task of giving a statement later that morning.

Karisma couldn’t stop sighing and shaking, reflecting on it all. She was forced to bring out the actress within her and it was painfully difficult. She’d had a few roles, one of which was even nominated for an Academy Award, where she played a doomed cotton club singer during the 1940s, a woman who ended up being murdered by her husband. Now, she was the one who’d killed. Self-defense or not, she had taken a life. Most of the world would never know, but how could she ever forget?

Helping ensure she could do what she must, Paolo stayed close to Karisma, shielding her from flubbed lines as she was questioned about the incident. She was doing an admirable job. She was so convincing, he even believed she’d been in the red bedroom when the fatal shot was fired.

Paolo leaned in and whispered, “You’re doing great, sweetheart.”

“I don’t know how long I’ll be able to deal,” she confessed. “My parents are here and lying to them…I just don’t know if I can even pull it off.”

              “You must try,” Paolo said, rubbing her back.

Karisma heard her parents’ voices long before she saw them.

Paolo looked over at the handsome middle-aged couple that had entered the room, both looking closely at him first. He stood up and went over to extend his hand, first to Vaughn, who shook it firmly, and then to Liane, whose hand he kissed. 

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you both despite these tough circumstances,” he said.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Paolo,” Liane said and then she darted around him, right over to Kari.

Vaughn looked at Paolo and asked, “Were you here when this happened?”

Paolo was surprised by the question, but said truthfully, “Ah, no, sir, I wasn’t. Amani Mohammed called me and I came right away.” 

Vaughn narrowed his eyes on him and nodded. At forty-eight years old, he was a handsome man. Tall and brown skinned. “Damn shame. We have to do damage control on this, right away.”

“I’ve got someone handling that as we speak. And Valerie will be making a press statement at 9 AM,” Paolo said.

Vaughn paused and narrowed his eyes on Paolo. “Is that right?
You’ve
got somebody handling this. Well, how close
are
you two?”

“Vaughn!” Liane yelled from across the room.

“I’m just asking this young man how close he is to my daughter, Liane,” he grumbled, glaring at her.

Karisma stood up and walked over to him. “Daddy, Paolo and I are very close. We’re seeing each other.” Then she looked at Paolo and gave a weak smile. It was a rather silly term, considering what they’d become.

“Oh, yeah? He’s your boyfriend. So that’s why he’s taking over?” Vaughn asked in a somewhat taunting manner.

Paolo smirked, amused. “Karisma needed my help, Mr. Montgomery. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her,” he said, looking the older man in the eye.

“Really?” Vaughn said sarcastically. “How did you help?”

Karisma interrupted. “Daddy, please. Paolo has been a 
big
 help. I’m feeling terrible right, now, okay? Drop it.” She turned and walked away, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

Paolo and Vaughn stood looking at one another. Liane, who was back by her husband’s side, picked up on the tension and said, “Vaughn, let’s sit down. Now is not the time for this.”

Stella said, “I will be downstairs, Kari if you need me for anything, she said taking her leave.”

“Okay, Stella, thank you,” Karisma said.

Paolo went to sit next to Karisma on the bed and placed a protective arm around her shoulders.

“You look awfully comfortable on that bed, young man,” Vaughn said to Paolo. He wasn’t one to hold back on his emotions. No filter in that man.

“Aw, geez, Daddy, come on,” Karisma said, exasperated. “He’s not stepping on your toes; he’s looking out for me, too.”

“Look, sweetheart,” Paolo said. “I’ll go check on the progress the police are making on this investigation and see if I can’t speed them along. Vincent’s still overseeing it.” He kissed her brow.

Vaughn frowned. “Something about that guy,” he mumbled.

Karisma felt overwhelmingly anxious at her father’s hawking eyes. He clearly didn’t approve of Paolo or him taking charge of the crisis. She couldn’t take it. “I’m going to the bathroom,” she announced. She quickly got up and charged in there, locking the door behind her.

Once safely hidden from everyone, she closed the lid of the commode and sat on top of it. With her head in her hands, silent tears fell. “Forgive me, Lord…help me, please.”

A few minutes later there was a soft knock on the door. Blowing her nose, she answered, “Yeah?”

“You okay, sweetie?” her mother asked.

“I’m okay, Mom. I’ll be out in a minute,” she answered.

“Okay. It’s safe to come out. Your dad went to see what’s going on, too,” Liane said.

“Haa. Figures,” Karisma said. This retelling of what happened would work on Sierra and Valerie, no doubt, and probably her mother, but her father—he was an entirely different story. It wouldn’t be easy to pull it off, he was an eagle-eyed enforcer.

                                            ***

Karisma walked into the hallway to where Vaughn was standing and he immediately wrapped his arms around her. “It shouldn’t be too much longer, baby girl. They took the body out, already. Your boyfriend’s in there running things. I stepped out to get a smoke.”

“Thought you were trying to stop?”

“Between Tessa and this, it isn’t the time,” he grumbled.

“You are going to try again, right?”

“Of course I am,” he said, kissing the top of her head. “Don’t worry about that right now.”

“Paolo’s a good man, Daddy. He treats me well. He’s not after my money. I know that’s what you think.” 

 Vaughn stated bluntly, “He wouldn’t be the first who was, you know. Did you see his financials?”

“Ah, don’t be crude, Daddy. And thanks for thinking that someone would only be interested in me for my money,” she replied accusingly.

“You just have to be careful about who you trust. Men want one thing first, and then they want money,” he said.

“He’s got his own money. Apparently a lot of it. And I would appreciate it if you’d be nice to him.”

“
Nice?
 As long as he doesn’t get down wrong with you, he ain’t got nothin’ to worry about from me.”

                                                           ***

Despite Karisma feeling it would be best to hold off on the first leg of Goldust’s European tour, it was decided it was best to go forward with their commitments. It would be good for her to get away from her home and what happened, plus, she’d be less accessible for any surprising questions that the media might have about the incident. Thankfully, Tessa was able to join the group for the third night in Paris. She looked slightly better, but wasn’t 100%. She’d also refused to press charges against Mike, despite the protests from others about that decision. The only justice was that he had been fired from the television show, dying in a bazaar prison accident. Somehow, “the powers that be” had gotten wind of what happened and decided that the publicity and fallout wasn’t good for the show and cut him loose.

Angry, Mike had made several attempts to get Tessa to refute the allegation, but she refused contact. He was finally informed by her attorney that he was to cease and desist from contacting Tessa Montgomery or he would be brought up on charges. Then, the real kicker was when the DA got a hold of the story and pressed charges, anyway. Party girl Tessa, suddenly found herself in a precariously Rhianna-esque situation. So, she was pretty happy to be in Europe, herself.

Outwardly, everybody carried on, but inwardly, for Karisma, she was having more problems. Paolo was her rock, but he wasn’t always there and he couldn’t stop the nightmares. Thankfully, just as Vincent had promised, Wolfe was in the clear, self-defense noted.

A few days after he’d joined her on tour, Paolo gave her something. “Here, these will help you relax when I’m not here,” Paolo said, handing her some sedatives.

“I don’t know. I can’t be groggy for these long days, baby,” she said.

“Just consider it. You need your rest, not having that is stressful, too,” he said.

One night she finally succumbed to the sleep she desperately wanted and it helped. From there, she welcomed the pills, thinking the benefits of coping were greater than the risk of grogginess. The pills must have helped because people were mentioning it to Karisma.

“You look more like your old self again, girl,” Sierra said.

“Glad to see that spark in your eyes,” Chris commented.

Karisma smiled and agreed, but her inside was still messed up. It was good that she could keep it hidden. Paolo, however, was suspicious. He had quickly grown to understand her all too well.

              “When we’re connected physically, you’re so passionate and strong. Yet, there is a part of you that is so argumentative when we’re just talking, at times. It’s driving me crazy, cara.”

“Why do you think I’d just agree with you all the time? That’s not what this relationship is about,” Kari snapped, shrugging her shoulder to remove Paolo’s hand from it.

“It’s not about agreeing with me all the time; it’s about not feeling like you have to disagree with me all the time,” he replied tenderly. “You can talk to me anytime you like if you’re feeling guilty or overwhelmed with…things.”

“Maybe I need to talk to someone who’s unbiased, a professional,” Kari said.

“You know that’s not possible. No one can be trusted with this burden. Baby, I’m so sorry that you have to deal with it, but be strong. I’ll remain strong for you, always.” Paolo leaned in and kissed her softly, first on her neck and then traveled around to her lips, finally getting her to succumb to his love for her. “You’re so succulent, so beautiful.”

Then Karisma would feel safe and whole, consumed by Paolo and in his arms experiencing his love.

Lying there in bed one morning, she stretched. “This tour has been so tough. I’m excited to get to Naples, though, and see Italy a bit more closely, explore where you come from, handsome.”

“The Stadio San Paolo is amazing, a wonderful place to watch a game, or in this case, a concert,” Paolo said, leaning over and playing with a tendril of Kari’s cascading hair.

“I’m nervous about your parents being there and meeting them,” she confessed.

“Nervous for what? They’ll love you just like I do,” he countered. “They’ll all love you.”

“That’s right, the family. Gawd, it’s crazy. I’m scared senseless, Paolo. Your parents must think I’m a hip shaking home wrecker, the seductress other woman.”

“They’ll adore you, baby. I think they’re more curious to meet an international superstar than my girlfriend,” he said playfully.

There were other Italians who were curious about Karisma that were not Paolo’s family. It was the Bianchi family and Maria Elena was still feeling scorned, ashamed at how Paolo had practically had her banished back to Italy with no regards for her feelings. Their wedding had been officially and very publicly cancelled. Eighteen years had meant nothing. Their family’s promises and unity meant nothing. Basically, she meant nothing and that was devastating. She was not alone, any longer. Her father, Don Vittore, looked at his dejected daughter, a shell of a woman, and vowed revenge on her behalf. She may be too weak to fight Paolo Montovani, but he was not.

                                           ***

Paolo pressed his fingers into her opening. Kissing her shoulder and rubbing his hard member against her soft buttocks, he groaned, “Kari, wake up, baby.” When she didn’t stir, he began to flick his index finger over her clit, rubbing it in that sensual way that always made her lose control. He kissed his way up her neck, gently sucking the skin right behind her ear. She moaned. “Yeah, that’s it, Beautiful. Bella Karisma, wake up and play with me,” he groaned in her ear.

She rolled over with tears in her eyes that stilled him. He looked into her beautiful chocolate brown eyes that were so clear he could see his reflection. “What’s wrong, love? The same dream?” he asked, removing his fingers.

She closed her eyes and a tear rolled into her ear. He kissed her face. “What can I do, sweetheart? How do I make this better? You need to understand that you didn’t do anything wrong. That man could have raped and killed you. He had a knife. He got what was coming to him, baby. You have to accept what’s happened and let go of your guilt,” he whispered urgently.