Bound to the Crime Lord (Dark Mafia Tales #2)

Chapter 19

Chapter Nineteen

Manuel POV

S omething on my chest stirred drawing me out of my sleep. My head pounded and my nose felt like it had taken in at least 3 liters of water.

I blinked my eyes open. The first thing I noticed was the tray of chicken soup that had gone untouched for what seemed to be a few hours.

I tucked a stray strand of hair from her face and cupped her cheek gently. My hands were used to destruction and violence, and yet they held her so gently.

A lot had shifted in the time that had passed since I first saw her. That one night was nearly enough for me. I needed more of her. I craved more of her.

I knew I needed to show more restraint when it came to her. But I couldn’t help it. I leaned forward and pressed my lips to her cheek gently.

I breathed in her scent, and the tip of my nose brushed her soft skin as I pulled away.

I had expected to meet her closed eyes, but instead, I was met with a sparkling river. Her gaze was filled with sleep, her lids fought against her as she tried to stay awake.

I could see the visible bags under her eyes. She was tired from all the extra shifts she had taken just so she could avoid me.

I leaned forward and pressed my lips to her forehead.

“Sleep, amor ” I muttered against her skin.

When I pulled away, I watched her eyelids flutter closed and then she went back to sleep, just as I asked.

My head was less loud and my fever seemed to have calmed a little. But I could still feel the ache in my muscles.

I looked around the living room area at the dim space. I had no idea what time it was, but I knew that it must have been just after midnight.

Juliette snuggled into my chest, falling deeper into her sleep.

My couch was expensive, but what it had in price point it lacked in comfort. I could already feel my back giving in a little.

I didn’t know how, but I managed to get myself onto my feet and cradled Juliette into my arms without waking her.

It was those extra shifts she had been taking in order to avoid me that were now taking a toll on her. She worked hard, and unlike many people I knew, she tended to put her heart out to people and that was taxing.

I walked us to my room and laid her down on my bed. I took my place behind her and pulled her to my chest.

I closed my eyes and for the first time in what felt like years, I had the most peaceful sleep I had ever experienced. Maybe it was the fever that had taken over my brain. But in all honesty, it definitely had something to do with the woman in my arms.

I woke up to the feeling of lightness on my chest. When I blinked my eyes open, I saw Juliette trying to creep out of my bed.

“Where are you going?” My voice was coated in sleep and hoarseness. I felt a lot better than I had the day before, but my head still had that slight pounding to it.

Juliette paused her escape and looked over her shoulder at me. “I need to get to the hospital. I have rounds.”

“No, you don’t. I know your schedule.”

Her eyes widened a little. “And why is that, pray tell?”

“I make it a habit to know everything about you.” I reached for her and pulled her down to my chest. Her mouth formed an o shape, her eyes looked everywhere but me.

She had always been a firecracker. From the moment we met, she had this fire in her eyes that refused to be smothered. But after we had sex, she had become more… shy.

“I need to go.” She cleared her throat, trying to break free from my hold, but I kept her pressed against my chest. “Manuel, I need to go. You’re healed, and I need to…”

“Why are you running?”

She stilled her movements and looked up at me. Her deep waters shined against the morning rays that hit her face at just the right angle. The sun kissed the soft lines of her face, making her seem angelic.

A fitting role for her in my life. I didn’t care much for people. I had given up on humanity long ago. But this woman… she was light and all things good in my eyes.

Life had left her jaded and scarred, yet she still found hope in humanity. I longed for her to look at me the way she did the world. With gentle and loving eyes.

“No more running, Juliette.” I cupped the side of her face and forced her to look me in the eyes.

The fear stormed in her eyes. “Manuel…”

I drew our faces closer.

“Manny…”

I found I loved it when she called me that. It was a name only uniquely hers. I could hear her calling me that over and over again in my head. What had started as an insult had grown on me to become a secret nickname between the two of us.

“We don’t make sense, I know we don’t, but I want to at least try.” She deserved more than what I could offer her. My world was dark and filled with terror. I should be selfless and let her go so that she may be free to live a normal, bright life. But I was a selfish man. “I will not pretend to be a good man. I am far from it, Juliette. I have blood on my hands, and I feel most at home in the darkness, where all the scary things occur. I shouldn’t want you, but I do. You shouldn’t want me, but you do, I see it in your eyes. I can even see you fighting yourself.”

Her breath hitched.

The thought of her being with anyone else but me sent me into a violent frenzy. No man could have her apart from me. She had been mine from the moment I laid eyes on her; she just hadn’t known it yet.

“Why must we deny ourselves from this feeling? Why must we fight what we both know is inevitable? I’m not saying that you should love me right away, amor .” I rubbed my thumb against her soft cheek. “What I’m saying is, give me the chance to earn your heart. I will never fully deserve it, but I will work to my dying breath to try to be deserving.”

Her eyes glazed over, tears brimming her eyes. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Don't say anything.” I caressed the side of her face. “Just feel.”

I crashed my lips down onto hers. They were just as soft as I remembered.

I would never tire of her scent. Her taste. Her feel.

She was perfection personified.

Our lips moved together in synchronization. I poured all that I had into that one kiss. I wanted her to feel every ounce of heat and passion I did.

My heart had never felt so… at peace like it did in that moment. For a second, just a split second, I was able to forget the words I had been told and the revelation of my mother’s unjust killing.

We pulled apart, our breaths mingling together in a hot cloud. My entire body was set alight from her closeness, and all I could think about was her. She encompassed my mind, my heart, and my soul.

Her eyes dripped with lust, her lips swollen from my kiss. “You may just be my worst decision ever, Manuel Gomez.”

Her words caused a rumble of laughter to escape my lips. “Trust me, mi amor , I’m about to take you on the ride of your life.”