Page 71 of Ruthless Touch

“I thought you’d be happy to see me following in your footsteps like Alex.”

A smile lights up his dark eyes. “I thought so too, but it turns out your mother was right all those years ago when she told me you were never going to be like me. I guess you have a heart like her. Tonight, though, I saw some of me in you, and that’s enough.”

“Okay. Thanks, Dad. Who’s going to take care of Angeloni?”

He begins to walk away to join my brother and Alaric. “I don’t know yet. It depends on how I’m feeling when we find him. I brought Alaric, so by rights, I should have him do it, but I think this Marcello Angeloni person has pissed me off. First he threatens to kill every Rule he can find, and then he beats up on your girlfriend? Seems like he needs more than just to pay with his life. I think he needs to be an example for the people around here.”

Maybe Alaric is right. Maybe there will be a repeat of the woodchipper.

By the time I get back to the hotel, it’s well past two. Sasha left me a note to say she had to run an errand, although I can’t imagine what she needs to do at this time of night. Stuffing the letter into my pocket, I quietly walk into the bedroom, hoping not to wake Aria if she’s finally sleeping.

I stop at the side of the bed and stare down at her. She looks so small lying there, the evidence of what Franco and Marcello did to her vividly black and blue along her cheek and under her right eye. I reach out to gently touch her, even though I shouldn’t in case I disturb her.

“What happened?” she asks as soon as she opens her eyes.

“I just got back,” I say, sidestepping the details of my time away as I shrug out of my suit coat. “Go back to sleep. You need to rest. We can talk tomorrow.”

She shakes her head as she slowly comes around. “I wasn’t asleep. Once Sasha left, I couldn’t get back to sleep.”

Aria reaches for my hand, and I wrap my fingers around her forefinger to give it a tender squeeze. “I’m here now, so you can fall asleep. You’re safe.”

Her green eyes stare up at me and she asks, “Why won’t you tell me what happened?”

I let out a heavy sigh. “Franco’s dead.”

She winces for a moment before taking a deep breath. “I figured. You didn’t do it, though, right?”

My answer is a simple nod, which makes her eyes open wide in surprise. “You killed him? Because of what he did?”

“Yes.”

“Was it quick? I think it must have been. You aren’t a violent man,” she says softly as she pushes herself up against the pillows behind her.

“It was what it was. He won’t be beating up anyone from now on. I suspect the same can be said about Marcello by now.”

“Your father is the one taking care of that?” she asks innocently.

“Someone in my family. Not me, though. I wanted to come back here to be with you. I need to grab a shower. I’ll be back in a few minutes,” I say, tugging my hand from her hold.

She nods and closes her eyes, as if she can finally rest easy knowing the men who hurt her are gone. I’m glad I could give her that.

Halfway through my shower, Aria steps in behind me. Wrapping her arms around me, she presses her cheek to my back. “You took too long. I missed you.”

I cover her hands in the middle of my chest with my own, noticing how delicate hers feel at this moment. She may be nearly my height, but she’s much slighter than I am. I imagine that fuck hitting her and her having no chance to defend herself, and I feel my rage begin to build inside me again.

“Aria…” I start to say the words I must, but they get stuck in my throat as the image of her trying to fend off his fists as they slammed into her face plays over and over in my mind.

“What?” she asks in a small voice against my shoulder.

I turn in her hold to look at her and cradle her face in my hands. “I’m sorry. None of this would have happened if I hadn’t done what I did with Sasha. You paid the price for my mistake. I never wanted that.”

“It’s okay, Gideon. I bear at least half the responsibility. I was just so jealous, but Sasha explained things to me. I’m okay now.”

Gently, I slide the pads of my thumbs across the tops of her cheeks and over the bruised parts of her beautiful face. “I made him pay for what he did, Aria.”

She slowly closes her eyes and leans her cheek against my right hand. “Thank you.”

I don’t need thanks. I did it because I love her.