Dangerous Beauty: Part Three: This is War (36 page)

“That wasn’t your decision. You should have told me!”

He picked her up and buried his face in her neck. “You say you know me, so then you should realize that I do everything for reason. Telling you would have put you and my daughter at risk. I love you both so much, Anne. I couldn’t take that chance. You needed to rebuild your father’s empire. You were sitting on all of that power, and I did what I had to so that I could ensure you had the army to protect yourself and my daughter from Silas. I would have helped you get your son when the time came …”

Nodding, she dried her eyes and tried to get her emotions in check. “I know you had good intentions, Robert, that’s just the man you are.” Anastacia wasn’t going to condemn him for making the decisions that he’d made. Past his … decision to let Silas see Carterina, Robert was a good man. He helped, he raised her daughter, and without him she wouldn’t have rebuilt her father’s empire. She owed him a lot. She sighed.
I can forgive him, and let this go
. “I want to move past this, Robert,” she whispered. Her theme for today was let the past be the past. “I just need to know how often he saw my child.”

Robert didn’t answer immediately, but Anastacia wouldn’t budge. She’d wait patiently until he told her.

After another minute, he sighed. “He came by twice a month. It started after her first birthday, and lasted until she was fifteen.”

When they’d had the argument. “And you let him speak ill of me to my child?” She knew she should just let it drop, but she had to ask.

“Not intentionally,” he explained. “Carter never mentioned anything like that. She doesn’t like to talk about … well, anything. So I didn’t know until I noticed her sudden … sadness. But after that I ended it. When Silas said he’d defy me and see her anyway, I took away our resemblance. I gave him a scar to make him see reality. Carterina didn’t know him, she knew me. I’m her father, not him.”

Anastacia closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath. “We both have done a lot, but now’s our chance to do better. We owe it to them.”

“I agree. However, you also owe it to yourself, Anastacia. They are your kids.” When he reached forward and touched her face gently, she gazed into his eyes. “For as long as I can, I will keep him away, all right? As soon as he contacts me, after a certain amount of time, I’ll ensure he doesn’t come back at all.”

“How?” Anastacia asked softly.

He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You let me worry about that, love. You have much more to think about. Now,” he smiled, “I would like my proper greeting.”

Anger flashed in her eyes, and Anastacia frowned at him. “I told you I’m not—”

“Anne, you know better,” he chuckled. “I am not talking about that. You and I both know that while I enjoyed making love to you, I can do without the sexual part. Making love means much more than the physical to me. Now please,” there was a bit of a plea in his voice, “I’ve been dead for six years. I missed you. Give me my proper greeting …”

Nodding, Anastacia took his hand and led him to the couch where she sat down. She knew how much Robert loved these moments. He wasn’t big on the sexual part of a relationship. Growing up in sexual slavery had altered his perception of what the act of sex was. He’d associated it with abuse and pain until Anastacia had showed him it could be pleasurable. They’d made love, but more for her than for him. For the times she needed to feel closer to him. Intercourse with her had been the first time he’d had sex since he was pulled out of slavery. They’d spent most of their times together talking and holding each other … well, mostly her holding him. Yes, it was true. The notorious Spook Steele had a secret. All of the world’s most feared men and women did. They just had to find the one person that they could share their secret with.

Anastacia laid on the couch and waited for him to join her. When he rested finally his head on her chest, she wrapped her arms around him tightly. Gently she ran her fingers over his short cut hair until he relaxed and closed his eyes.

“I love you, Anastacia. I hope you know that.”

She gently massaged his ears the way she knew he liked. “Yes, I know. I love you, too.” Although she didn’t love him the way she once had before his death, she couldn’t deny that he had a place in her heart. It was easier to hate him when he wasn’t around.

“You know I’d rather you not be intimate with anyone other than me.”

“Robert,” she sighed, “it’s been six years.”

“I know, I know. I just … I don’t trust anyone with your heart, Ana.” She saw his jaw tighten. “Especially Angelo Salerno.”

She rolled her eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to be relaxing right now?”

“I don’t want you with him, Anastacia.”

“That’s not your decision, Robert. Just like it wasn’t my decision when you were seeing Anya Salerno.”

“I told you we weren’t having sex.”

“I know that, Robert, but the way you gave in to her emotionally. That was the equivalent of a sexual relationship for you. You talked to her the way you should have been to only me … all the way up until her death.”

“I know,” he sighed. “I’ve apologized for that.”

“And I forgave you because I love you. Because you gave me moments like this.” She kissed the top of his head and decided to put him out of his misery. “Angelo and I were together, but I ended it months ago. I’m dating now—”

“Who?”

“Cesare Valente.” She saw the dimple in his cheek form as his lips curved into a smile. She chuckled. “You are pleased with this decision?”

“Yes, Anastacia I am.” He hugged her tighter. “I still want for you what I have always wanted for you: happiness. Cesare Valente is a good man, good father. He will give you everything I couldn’t.”

“You gave me plenty, Robert. I was perfectly happy with you.”

Looking up at her with a twinkly in his eye, he chuckled. “Do not stroke my ego, love. I gave you love and I put you and our daughter first, but I couldn’t give you everything you needed. You deserve romance, flowers, and all that other shit that I know absolutely nothing about”

Anastacia laughed softly. Robert was the most unromantic man she’d ever met, but that wasn’t his fault and she never held it against him. His childhood, the way he suffered stripped away any hope of normalcy for him and his brother. The difference between them was that Silas could fake it until the mask slipped and he showed Anastacia just how damaged he really was.

“You and Carterina saved me. I am glad I have a chance to tell you that.”

Anastacia smiled. “You saved us, too, remember?”

He closed his eyes and relaxed in response. “I like her husband,” he whispered. “This home is beautiful, plus he takes care of her and truly loves her. Best of all he can take a punch. Our baby girl has done well. We are proud, yes?”

Anastacia could only smile. Yes, she was very proud.

~*~

She’d stayed in the office with Robert for an hour. After she exited, she went to go check on her sleeping children just to make sure they were both actually there and not just a figment of her imagination. When she was sure they were real, she went on a search for Cesare. She needed to talk to him as soon as possible. Carterina had reluctantly admitted to her that she knew of her and Kyle’s relationship, and Anastacia had had to beg her to let her be the only one to talk to him. But before Anastacia talked to Ky-ky, she would see if Cesare wanted to join her.

She found him in the kitchen talking with Bruno and Alessandro. The moment she walked in the room, Alessandro made a sound of disgust.

“What the fuck?” he muttered, his thick Italian accent slurring the word. “You look like depressed cat lady, Anastacia.”

Anastacia lifted her middle finger toward him while the idiot laughed at his own joke.

Cesare picked up the loaf of bread on the counter and threw it at him, cursing him in Italian. Anastacia laughed softly when the bread hit him in his face. Alessandro angrily threw it back, but Cesare caught it and sat it back to the counter.

“I, for one, think you are a vision in flannel, Anastacia,” Bruno said.

She wanted to laugh, but she didn’t. She just said to him what she always did. “Always a pleasure, Bruno.”

He smirked and bowed his head forward. “Likewise.”

Anastacia liked Bruno, she’d known him a very long time. Even longer than Angelo had known him.

She turned her attention back to Cesare. “Cesare, can we talk please?”

“Of course,” he replied with a nod.

They both exited the kitchen before Alessandro could say anything about them leaving together. When they got out of the kitchen, Anastacia grabbed his hand and pulled him faster.

“Carterina knows,” she whispered. “She knows that Abrielle is my sister.”

“How?” he asked, trying to keep up with her. “Slow down, Ana.”

“No, I missed you,
mon amour
.” She missed him so much it hurt. “I convinced her to let us talk to him before she did.”

He chuckled. “Okay, then where are we going?”

She glanced back at him, her face glowing with happiness. “I’m happy. My son and my daughter are home safe, and I told Robert about us.”

He gave her a surprised smile. “You did?” He stopped her from walking and pulled her to him. “You really told him?”

Placing her hand to his chest, she tilted her head back and gazed adoringly into his eyes. “Of course I did. He’s happy for me, Cesare. He said you are a good man, and I agree with him. I love you. I really want us to try. I’m not going anywhere this time.”

Without a word, he encircled his arm around her waist and kissed her deeply. Anastacia threw her arms around his neck and returned the kiss with fervor. God it felt so good to be in his arms again.

“I have never felt more betrayed in my entire life”

Cesare and Anastacia quickly broke their kiss and their heads snapped in the direction of the wounded voice.

Nathan, Lucca, Kyle, and Dante all stood in the living room behind an upset looking Mickey with their mouths slightly agape.

Mickey glared and placed his hands on his hips. “What in the hell is going on here? I was only outside for a moment and you steal my woman? My own father?”

Anastacia’s eyes widened.
Uhh, come again?

Cesare pursed his lips. “Son—”

Mickey raised his hand and shook his head. “I don’t want to hear it, Papa. Does Carter know?” he asked, glaring at them.

“What?” Anastacia asked, still confused about pretty much everything.

Sighing in exasperation, Mickey pinched the bridge of his nose. “Does she know,” he waved his hand between them, “about this?”

They remained speechless, but after a moment both Mickey and the boys all started laughing.

Okay, what the hell was going on
? Anastacia wondered.

“I’m just fucking with you, Pop,” Mickey laughed.

The young men walked past one by one, slapping Mickey in the back of his head.

“He’s an idiot,” Nathan stated, walking past them. “Sorry we walked in on you two. We just got back in.”

“We got beer,” Mickey said, walking toward his father.

Cesare slapped him in the head and turned to Anastacia. “I apologize, Ana. My son is a clown. A bit into dramatics and joking, even when it is not funny.”

Anastacia shrugged and laughed softly. “I’m Carterina’s mother, remember? I am now an expert at
taking a joke
. You are a very funny, young man,” she said to Mickey. “I almost thought you were serious.”

“Oh, I was serious. I’ve pretty much been in love with you since the moment I found out you stabbed Mitchell in the neck. But that doesn’t mean I’m not happy that my father just landed the hottest fucking woman on the planet.” He winked and gave her a crooked smile before walking into the living room and plopping down on the couch.

Anastacia could only chuckle. “He is an interesting one.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet,” Cesare laughed. “The more time you spend with me, the more time you spend with my rambunctious sons.”

She smiled at him. “The same goes for my kids. Beware of my son, though. He has a very strong personality. But I have no doubt that once you get to know him, you will like him.”

“I have no doubt either, my love.” He leaned forward and caught her lips in a kiss.

“Are we witnessing a steamy affair, or are you two really together?” Lucca asked.

“Both,” Cesare answered, making Anastacia laugh. “We actually need to steal my son for a moment.”

“Who me?” Mickey asked.

“No. Kyle,” Cesare said, “but you can join us if you’d like, Mikilo.”

“Hell yeah I’m coming,” Mickey said through a chuckle. “There will be no family meetings without Mickey.” He grinned. “Two questions, though. Is our new mommy coming, too?” The guys chuckled. “And will Kyle be getting his ass kicked?”

Kyle’s head snapped in their direction as alarm flashed across his face. “Wh–what? Why me, what did I do?”

Cesare frowned while Kyle continued to stammer on.

“I–I don’t understand why you’d need to talk to me, you know, I mean unless …” His words trailed off as he turned to face Mickey, and a dark rage fell over his face. “You fucking big mouthed little prick!” he shouted.