The Devil's Fire - Part III

Althaia

I had planned on visiting my father today since everyone had plans today, and Damiano was in his office, working. I didn’t want to disturb him so I killed time by playing with Kiara for a long while until I decided it was time to go.

I knocked lightly on his office door in case he was on an important phone call.

“Come in.” I opened the door and poked my head in to see if he was too busy. He hadn’t looked up yet and was still looking at some papers.

“Hi.” His eyes immediately went to mine as soon as he heard my voice.

“You don’t need to knock, you can come in whenever you want.” He had some papers in his hand but put them down, and gestured for me to go over to him.

“I didn’t want to disturb you.” I walked around his desk, and he took a hold of my waist and placed me on his lap.

“You will never be a disturbance to me. Next time, just walk in.”

“I will try to remember that.” I placed a small kiss on his lips, making him smile at my action.

“Doing anything interesting?” I looked at the papers on his desk and once again saw lists of endless numbers.

“No, just paying bills.” He said, and my eyes widened at the numbers.

“How are you not broke?”

“Why would I be broke when I make much more than that? I would be one hell of a lousy Don then.” Damiano was amused by my reaction when I almost dropped my jaw at his response.

“Damn, maybe I should ask you how rich are you instead.” I chuckled but was truly starstruck. I kind of had an insight into how rich he was when he spent fifty million dollars on me without blinking an eye. But this was taking it to another whole new level of money talk.

“I have enough to take care of you, our children, our grandchildren. Hell, even our great-grandchildren, and still live very comfortably.” Damiano explained with pride.

“That’s.. a lot of money.” I gave a nod in, impressed.

“Not too shabby of a career path. I should form my own gang and make a shit ton of money.”

“Really?” His voice let me know he was trying not to laugh at me.

“Yes, I would be really good at it.” I said cockily, holding my head high and he just scoffed.

“You won’t even last ten minutes before getting your ass shot.” He raised a brow at me and I crossed my arms, looking at him offended.

“I would definitely last longer than ten minutes! I will just rule over a few streets and keep it low-key. Who would shoot me for that?” I questioned.

“Me. And you wouldn’t even see it coming.” He leaned back in his seat and smirked at me. I did a dramatic gasp and put my hand to my chest as I looked at him with an exaggerated shocked face.

“Why would shoot me? I thought we were homies!”

“Don’t take it personally, my love, it’s all business. You would be walking around in myterritories, trying to take my money…” He leaned in closer to my face as he spoke in a low voice.

“No one takes what’s mine. You will have to kill me first.”

“Oh, really?” I placed my hands on his chest, giving him an innocent smile. Damiano didn’t say anything as he looked deep into my eyes, having my breath quicken a little at the intensity of his golden-brown eyes.

I bit down on my lip, his eyes immediately going down to look. I took it as my cue and quickly reached down to his waistband where I knew he had his gun.

One moment I was on his lap, and the next he had me bent over on his desk with my arms behind my back. I blinked a few times, trying to understand how in the world he had moved this fast. Then I heard a tsking sound behind me.

“Many have tried to kill me and have failed… What makes you think you would be any different?” Damiano was pressed up against my back, whispering in my ear. There was something so exhilarating about this position, which had me grinning.

“Thought I would give it a shot, you know. See if I could take down the big, bad Don Damiano Bellavia.” I tried to wiggle out, but he had me in a pretty strong hold and pressed me down on the desk.

“I have to admire your courage.” He chuckled, feeling his chest vibrating against my back.

“Under normal circumstances, you would have been shot before you would have time to even blink… However, it would have been a waste since you look quite fuckable right now like this.” I felt his hand going down my spine, having me shiver in response to his touch as it went down, and stopped right between my legs. I let out a breath as he started to rub me outside my jeans, my heart beating faster as a pool of heat went down, and my body tingled the more he touched me.

“Well then, since you’ve got me all hot and bothered like this, are you going to fuck me?” I asked. He stopped rubbing me, placed his hand on my hip, and now pressed his length against my ass, teasing me as he continued to rub against me and having me wiggle under him, eager to feel more.

“Want me to fuck you bent over my desk like this?”

“Yes.” My answer got out embarrassingly fast. He unbuttoned my jeans, sliding down my jeans just below my ass. I was excited, wanting to feel him already.

Then he spanked me. Fucking hard.

I made a sound of surprise, not expecting it.

“If only you hadn’t reached for my gun, I would have. Such a pity.” His voice was taunting as he rubbed me where he spanked me. I could imagine what kind of dark look was on his face right now as he watched me under his mercy.

“You suck.” I huffed out, annoyed.

“No. You suck, I eat.” Damiano pulled up my jeans as he let out a laugh. I rolled my eyes as I turned around to face him when he let go, noticing just how the color of his eyes had turned a shade slightly darker.

“And here I thought you would do anything for me.” I gave a slight pout, watching him sit back down in his desk chair.

“I will, but go for my gun and there will be consequences. Don’t try to pull that shit on me again, and there won’t be problems. Understood?” His voice was serious but still had a playful smirk on his lip.

“Yes, Sir!” I straightened up and did a salute, having him shake his head at me in amusement.

“Now that you’re here, I have something for you.” He got up and took my hand in his as he led us across the office. I looked at him confused as to why we were standing in front of the wall like this but quickly clamped my mouth shut when I saw him put his hand on the wall, and a square shape opened up.

“Whoa…” I breathed out.

“So that’s how rich you are.” I nodded in fascination. There was a transparent sensor on the wall, only allowing Damiano’s hand shape and fingerprints to open up this secret safe inside the wall.

He opened the safe, and it was deep and half of it was filled with stacks of cash. He pulled out a large envelope when something in there caught my eye.

“Wait.” I reached into the safe and grabbed them.

“I couldn’t get myself to get rid of them.” Damiano said as I looked at the red baby shoes and the ultrasound picture. My heart squeezed a bit painfully at the sight of it all, but still smiled, grateful that he saved them.

“Thank you for keeping them.” I looked at him, giving him a soft smile. He kissed the top of my head as I looked at the picture, and the shoes in my hands before putting them safely inside again.

I just hoped one day we would be lucky again.

“Is that the Tiffany Yellow Diamond?!” I let out a small gasp of happiness as I recognized the jewelry box.

“Yes, it was still in your room when we cleaned your house.”

“Thank God! I thought I had lost it. Keep it in there, I don’t want to be responsible for losing fifty million dollars.” I said relieved. He nodded and closed the safe before we went back to his desk. He gave me the envelope and I opened it, seeing it contained some papers. I pulled them out, my brows raised as I read what it was about.

“You fixed the insurance for the boutique?”

“I did.” I could have asked him how he was able to do it but knew he had his ways.

“Thank you but, uh, the numbers are a bit off, don’t you think?” I showed him the document and his brows furrowed as he looked at it.

“Why are they off?”

“You’re kidding me, right? I’m pretty sure the boutique is nowhere worth this much!” I gaped at him. Even though it was my mother who stood for the finances, there was still no way the boutique was worth this much.

“And I know you made sure I got a nice settlement for it, but even this is too much… Did you write a check?” I eyed him suspiciously.

“I didn’t write a check. Keep looking.” He gestured to the documents in my hands. I started to read how they had concluded the amount of insurance money.

“The monthly revenue doesn’t make sense…” I mumbled as I frowned while reading.

“I know the boutique did well but I definitely know we never made this much.” I looked at him confused.

“You’re right, it doesn’t make sense. I did make sure you got a nice settlement so you wouldn’t have to worry about it. The numbers are off because your mother used the boutique for laundering money.”

“…What?” I shook my head a little, trying to figure out if I had heard him right.

“Your mother was laundering money, and I believe it’s linked to whoever was after her. I know they are the same ones who burned down the boutique to get rid of any evidence.” He explained and I let out a sigh, rubbing my forehead. I was feeling a little overwhelmed with the new information I keep discovering about my mother.

“Althaia.” Damiano made me look at him as he pulled me in when I had been quiet for a while.

“I’m okay. It’s just… I feel like I don’t even know her.” I said sadly and rested my head on his chest while he rubbed my back in comfort.

“I know, baby. She probably had a good reason and did whatever she could to keep you safe.”

“And there is still nothing new that can help us in this damn mess?” I asked frustrated. I just wanted to get to the bottom of this.

“Nothing yet, but don’t worry about it for now. I will tell you if there is anything useful.”

“Thank you. Well, I should get going now before it gets too late… Are you driving me to my dad’s house?”

“Gio and Luca will take you there, they are waiting for you. I have something I need to prepare but I will come and get you.”

“Oh, shit, they have been waiting for me all this time?” He nodded and I made a face, knowing Giovanni would have something to say about keeping him waiting.

֎ ֎ ֎

Damiano walked me out and sure enough, Giovanni and Luca were standing by the car, waiting for me. But they were not alone. Two more cars were present and a few more of his men were there too. He was making sure I had extra protection if he wasn’t with me.

“Please, do take your time. It’s not like we have been waiting for you to come out.” Giovanni scowled at me.

“It’s bad enough that I have to babysit your annoying ass once again.” He continued to complain.

“Drop the act, Gio, I know you like me.” I grinned at him, and he looked at me with his poker face.

“I really don't.”

“Yes, you do! Your secret has been revealed to me. You care about me.” I continued to tease him, making him frown at me.

“I don’t know who has filled your stupid head with nonsense, but I don't."

“You care about me.”

“No.”

“Come, gimmie a hug.” I smiled big and I opened my arms wide to hug him. He put a finger to my forehead and stopped me from coming closer to him.

“I don’t get paid enough for this.” I scoffed at him as he slightly pushed me away with his finger, and got inside the car.

“You shouldn’t have done that, Gio! Have you forgotten how great my singing voice is? I’m going to give you one hell of a concert now!” I tried not to laugh when he opened the car door again, got out, and made his way to another car.

“Dario. You go with them, I will take this car.”

“Oh no! Don’t think you can escape me now!” I ran towards him full force and jumped on his back, making him stumble a little in surprise.

“What the fuck are you doing?! Get down!” He turned his head to look at me when I wrapped my legs and arms around him to make sure I stayed on his back.

“Not before you admit you actually care about me!” I tightened my hold on him when he tried to get me off him, but he was careful with how rough he was being as Damiano watched him like a hawk.

“Over my fucking dead body.” He huffed out annoyed.

“Wrong answer!” I started to painfully pinch his cheek, laughing as he let out a frustrated sound.

“Fine! Just get down before I flick you away like the little gnome you are.” Giovanni said. I jumped down from his back, putting my hands on my hips, and gave him a sweet smile while he scowled.

“So?” I said impatiently when he took his sweet time.

“You are… tolerable.” My smile got wiped out at his answer.

“This is the best you will get out of me. Now, get in the car and let’s go, I don’t have time for this.” He said quickly before I could say anything and he got inside the car.

“Mean.” I called after him but he ignored me.

“Every single time…” Luca sighed but smiled as he got inside the car.

“Torturing my men once again?” Damiano wrapped his arms around me.

“I wouldn’t call it torture per se. More like a blessing.” I laughed at my joke.

“I agree. You are a blessing.” He leaned down and kissed me softly.

“I will come and get you later.”

“You’re not going to tell me to behave?” I raised a brow at him and he shook his head.

“No, because then you will do the opposite. However…” Damiano suddenly spoke in a low tone, only for me to hear.

“If you don’t do anything stupid, I promise to fuck you nice and good later.” He gave me a wink. I felt my face getting warm and excitement building in the pit of my stomach.

“Deal.”

Althaia

We drove into the familiar driveway. My father’s mansion that I haven’t stepped foot in for so long. The memories I had of both of my parents in this house were crashing into my mind. I only have one parent now.

“Hey, you okay?” Luca’s voice brought me out of my thoughts.

“You’ve been staring at the house for a good five minutes, and haven’t made signs of getting out.”

“Oh… I didn’t even notice.” I let out an embarrassed chuckle and got out of the car.

“I’m going with you inside.” Giovanni said while he checked our surroundings with a blank expression.

“No need for that. I’m pretty sure I’m safe in there.” He suddenly frowned and I followed his gaze. It was Carlos, who returned the glare before making his way inside the mansion.

“Wasn’t that the cunt who gave you a cut on your face?”

“How do you know about that?” I asked in surprise. He gave a small smirk.