FEDERICO

This wasn't supposed to happen.

I was unsure before, mostly because I don't have an understanding of what these feelings are; I also didn't think it was possible for me. But there's no doubt now.

I'm in love with Elenora.

I shake my head at how I could let this happen. She doesn't seem to like me most of the time and I doubt love is even on the radar for her when she thinks of me. If she even thinks about me, that is. She's been more than vocal on how much she despises me but there's no denying there's an attraction. Sparks even, but usually that results from us trying to tear each other down.

I can't overlook the blaring fact that I haven't even slept with her, but then again, I slept with several women and never felt this way around them.

I pace the hospital hallway while she's getting an X-ray and MRI; she didn't want to go in alone. She had stopped trembling in my arms, but when they told her she needed to go in without me, she couldn't keep her body from shaking.

I vaguely hear Domani talking on the phone with Duko, the detective we have on the inside at the precinct.

"Duko, is on his way. He has some questions for Elenora," Domani informs me right before the sound of several voices, heels and shoes clicking on the hospital hallway floor come from around the corner; her family rushes towards me.

"Rico! Where is she? Where is my baby?" Teresa grabs my arms, her eyes are red and tears stain her face. And then her sisters start throwing out questions all at once too.

"Is Elenora okay?

"Did he hurt her?"

"Did they catch him?"

"Are we sure it's Leo? How could he do this?"

I hold my hands up to stop them. "Please. Elenora is okay considering what happened. They are doing an X-ray and an MRI on her hand. Leo slammed it repeatedly to get her to drop the knife she was holding."

"What happened, Rico?" Tiziano steps closer to me. "Why did he attack her like this?"

I briefly glance at Domani before I face them again. "Leo was the one who attacked her...last year."

"What?!"

"Are...are you sure?"

"Why?"

I hold my hands up again to silence them, struggling to maintain my patience and temper.

"For some time now, she has been receiving anonymous, threatening notes and gifts." Tiziano and Teresa share a worried look. "She didn't want to tell you because she was afraid you'd force to move back home. She didn't go to the police because she didn't trust them after what happened with the attack."

"So I started digging into it and my people found out it was Leo. That's the call I took in your home today." I meet Tiziano's dark eyes.

"Dear God. But why did he do this?" Teresa asks, confused and sorrow written on her face. "She loved him."

"He resented the fact that she wanted to wait to be intimate with him. He said he thought it would happen after he moved in but when it didn't he got angrier and then he thought if he could make it happen without him 'being the one to force it to happen' she'd want to afterward, but obviously the opposite happened."

"That is so disgusting. He was hugging each of us, telling us she would be okay," Luna says, wrapping her arms around herself.

"He acted so distraught, like he was feeling the pain she was in, comforting us but it was him this whole time." Jackie wipes tears from her eyes. "How is Elenora going to trust anyone after this?"

"That son of a bitch stayed with her for months after he..." Tiziano chokes up and turns away, pounding his fists into the wall.

"Amore, he fooled all of us." Teresa comforts him. "He took advantage of our trust in him and our Nora."

Domani meets my eyes and I look away knowing I'm getting a glimpse of the near future, but maybe it won't be like this. Not entirely.

The door opens and the Xray technician steps out. I walk towards him and her family follows close behind me.

"No broken bones, just a severe bruise. There's a chance it's fractured but the scans couldn't find anything. We will give her a functional brace to wear, to keep the bones in place, to be safe."

"Are there other injuries?" Tiziano questions.

I step in. "My family doctor is going to be looking her over, she wanted Elenora to get the Xrays and MRI done first."

"Excuse me?"

We all turn and Duko's eyes meet mine before he addresses the Borelli's. "My name is Detective Fabian Duko." He shakes Teresa's and Tiziano's hands and nods in acknowledgement to the sisters.

"I need to speak to Ms. Elenora Borelli and Mr. Barone about what happened tonight."

"But she already spoke to the police," Teresa states.

"Yes, and she mentioned the attacker..." He lifts his notepad up to read his notes. "Leo Bianchi, is also responsible for an attack that happened a year ago."

"He confessed it was him and he said he was there to do it again." Anger begins taking over Teresa's features.

"Yes, that is what we have, however, no one else heard him make the alleged confession. Mrs. Jones says she had come to after being knocked unconscious to find him hitting Ms. Borelli, and considering her current relationship with Mr. Barone, we need to make sure this isn't some type of love triangle gone horribly wrong."

I know he's here to do his job, and sell his supposed unbiased position, but I know this isn't going to go well.

"Alleged?" Tiziano growls. "My daughter would not accuse someone of something like this unless she knew it was true; if she says he confessed then he did it, Detective."

Duko keeps his calm however. "Unfortunately, DNA was never found from that attack. But I can tell you both Mrs. Jones and Ruben Saldivar are corroborating Elenora's statement and we need to verify that Mr. Barone acted in self defense and look at this from all angles, considering Leo is dead."

"This is ridiculous!" Teresa shakes her head in disgust. "He was waiting until our daughter came home. What other intention could there be, Detective Duko? I'm not telling you how to do your job, but this man is evil. He hurt our daughter and lied to all of us. He was right there under all our noses—" she chokes back a sob and Tiziano brings her into his arms.

Duko is solemn as he looks over her family. "I'm sorry for what your daughter has gone through."

The door opens and a nurse wheels out Elenora; she looks up when she sees her family standing in the hallway. The swelling on her face and mouth is worse now and Teresa bursts into tears at the sight of her.

"Piccola mia." Teresa cries, rushing over to Elenora and hugs her. Tiziano and the girls follow, hugging each other around their sister. (my little one)

The love of their family is strong and there's a twinge in my heart deep inside as I observe them.

"Rico." Duko grabs my attention and we walk away from the family. "How are you holding up?"

"Went a bit overboard, don't you think?" I question him instead of answering.

Duko's lips twitch. "Nah, I could have put you in handcuffs, but I value my life."

I look back at Elenora and she lifts her gaze, too. It's strange to be able to look at someone and know what they're thinking and all I want is to hold her, too.

"I need to take pictures of her," Duko says and I look back at him. "Easy brother, it's for documentation purposes." He sighs when I keep glaring at him. "Look, just because you finished the fucker off doesn't mean I don't have a job to do. You know there's a good chance his family could come for you."

"Let them try."

I look back at Elenora and she has her head down now. "Have someone else do it."

Duko chuckles. "Of course, the nurses know the protocol on assault victims and I can request a female officer to do it if that makes you feel better."

"What do you think?"

Duko smiles, walking away shaking his head as he approaches Elenora. She looks up at him as her family makes room for him. But her eyes find mine, again over his shoulder. "Ms. Borelli, my name is Detective Duko. I need to ask you some more questions about what happened, but first the nurse will take you to a room to give you privacy to have a female officer come in and take pictures–-"

Elenora nods as she talks to Duko. "Yes, I remember from the last time."

The nurse wheels her down the hallway, but stops when Elenora turns to look over her shoulder. "Rico, will you wait?"

"Of course."

"Rico, I'm sorry I didn't thank you. I'm so glad you followed your instinct. You saved her again." Tiziano's eyes fill with tears and he pulls me in for a hug I was not expecting.

He leans away, wiping at his face. "I still don't understand what is going on with you and Nora, but after tonight, you have my complete support." He places his hands on my shoulders. "Please take care of her the way she deserves, figlio." (son)

I try not to react to his use of the word son, and nod in response.

"Tiziano, amore, the detective has questions for you," Teresa tells him. He looks back at me and nods before he walks toward her; she touches his arm as he walks past her.

"Rico, thank you. And you..." She turns to Domani.

"Domani."

She cups both of our faces. "Thank you both" She smiles as tears fall down her face. "May God watch over both of you." She pulls us down and kisses our faces before she walks away.

"Now's probably not a good time to tell her I don't believe in God, right?" Domani tells me. I chuckle as I look over at him. "Are you sure you want to go through with this, Rico?"

"I don't know anymore."

My phone rings. It's my Zia.

I lean my head against the wall. "I need to talk to Rosetta. Can you take Elenora back to the penthouse for me?"

"You got it."

I thank him as I make my way out of the hospital, setting my jaw, knowing I have to have a conversation with my Zia that's going to have a ripple effect on everything and everyone.

But Elenora is more important to me right now than moving forward with the plan.

At least for now.

___________________

Several of the men nod in acknowledgement as I step off the elevator. Domani looks up from behind the kitchen island.

"How did it go?"

"She's not happy, but I appeased her with the alternative plan for how to handle Tiziano." I glance at the bedroom door before I proceed.

"We attack his reputation. He won't be able to practice law when I'm finished with him. And once his family learns the truth, he'll lose them as well."

I head to the guest bathroom and Domani follows. I look over the blood on my face and begin unbuttoning my shirt and rinse off some of the blood.

Domani hands me a drink after I finish and I take a long sip. "How is she?"

"Doc came with us to help get her settled in, but on the drive here she said Elenora's in shock; she said to make sure she rests and gets plenty of fluids. She wants to follow up with her in a couple days."

"Is she sleeping?"

"She might be now, but when I checked on her about twenty minutes ago she was still in the shower; and I could hear her crying, too." Domani throws back the rest of his drink. I have a hard time focusing as I remember the sounds of her screams and distress and I shake my head to clear my thoughts.

Domani claps my shoulder. "I'll see you tomorrow." He heads out addressing the men, setting up round the clock guard duty.

I head to the bedroom to check on Elenora and am surprised she's still not in bed. I look over at the bathroom and see the light is still on; the shower is still running.

I knock lightly, but she doesn't respond. I knock again, but slowly push the door open, not wanting to startle her; my heart clenches at the sight. She's sitting under the shower head holding her legs close to her chest. She's still fully clothed and shaking.

I slip off my shoes and socks and step in, gasping when I find the water is freezing. I turn the dial on the shower lever and sit down next to her. I wrap my arm around her and feel how cold she is. She leans into me.

"The blood won't come off." Her voice shakes. She lifts her trembling hand and most of the blood is washed off except for around her nails. I reach over and grab the soap and begin washing her hands.

"Is that better?"

She's not looking at her hands but nods her head against my chest. "We need to get you washed up and you need to rest, Elenora." I lift her chin and her eyes are bloodshot from crying. "I'll let you finish up and I'll use the other bathroom."

I start to get up but her fingers grip onto my shirt and she whimpers."Don't leave me, please."

I hold her close. "Do...do you want me to help you?" She nods in response.

I pull her up with me to stand and I undress first. I talk to her quietly letting her know I'm going to start with her shirt. She raises her arms slowly above her head and I lift the shirt she's wearing up and over her head. My eyes roam over all the bruising on her arms, neck and stomach.

I never thought that taking a shower with someone could feel intimate like it does at this moment. Despite the blemishes and scratches from today, she is more beautiful than I ever imagined.

After I rinse us off I step out, grabbing a towel for her and then one for myself. I help her get dressed and then also brush and blow dry her hair.

I bring some medicine and water for her to take and have her lay down. I lay behind her and bring her close to me and she holds my hands around her.

___________________

The next few days are rough. Elenora is in and out of sleep, waking up screaming or crying from the nightmares. Each time she reaches out for me.

I work from the penthouse, rushing back to the bedroom whenever I hear her screaming. She's also hardly eaten. I have to return messages from her family ensuring that she's resting. Teresa came yesterday evening with Jackie and Luna, but she was sleeping.

I settle in next to her in the bed, hoping she sleeps better tonight. Maybe the exhaustion will finally take over since she hasn't slept well at all.

I lay there for a long time, contemplating how I'm going to figure all this shit out when she jolts in my arms. She cries out for me and I tighten my arms around her. "I'm here, Elenora."

She sniffles before she turns around in my arms. "Rico, please help me forget." She brushes her soft lips against mine.

I sit up, turning on the light next to me. I keep my voice quiet. "What do you mean?"

She sits up too now. Her eyes are red and puffy from the constant crying, but she leans in to kiss my face and then my neck. "You said you could make me forget about everything. Make me feel good." Her voice is so soft and alluring. "Please help me not think about him."

I realize what she means and I move her back. "Elenora, you're not thinking clearly. You're scared and you're tired."

"Please, Rico," She pleads again and moves closer, sitting on me. "I want you and I know you want me, too."

"I don't want to hurt you, Elenora." I brush her hair back. "I don't...I don't know how...to be gentle and I don't want to hurt you." I can't help repeating it, truly meaning the double implication behind it.

She pulls my hand from her face and kisses my palm. "You won't hurt me, Rico." She lets my hand go and lifts her shirt over her head. She leans over and slides the shorts she's wearing as well as her panties down one leg then the other. I swallow loudly looking at her sitting over me.

This is not how I pictured it happening between us and I struggle with wondering what the right thing is here.

"You won't hurt me, Rico," She tells me again and she lifts my hand and places it on her hip. "Don't you want me?" She asks and I meet her gaze.

"More than you know, but I don't want you to feel bad about this tomorrow, Elenora."

She leans in and kisses me, slipping her tongue sensually in my mouth and strokes hers against mine and a burning fire of need erupts within me. My hands find their way through her hair and I pull her closer to me. I groan as she rubs herself against me when she feels my dick growing under her.

I shift our positions so I'm over her and break the kiss moving my lips carefully over her neck not wanting to hurt her, trying to control the starving hunger for her. I kiss my way down to her chest. I flick my tongue over the small taut peaks of her chest and she gasps when I cover one with my mouth suckling it. My teeth pull it slightly before I release it and do the same to the other.

Elenora moans my name in the most enticing way and I want to hear her say my name like that again and again. I make my way down kissing each of her bruises and I push her legs apart, but I move back up and kiss her.

"If you want me to stop, tell me."

"Please don't stop," She responds in a soft sigh.

I watch as she bites her lip when I circle my finger over her clit and then slide a finger inside of her. Her walls clench around me immediately; and my cock twitches in anticipation. Her hands fist the sheets as she moans and writhes from my touch when I continue to massage her clit and add another finger.

"Don't fight it, baby. Let go." Her legs tense and her body shudders as she comes undone. I lick and suck my fingers of her sweet nectar and hover over her, pushing her legs further apart and tug my boxers down and off of me.

I kiss her again and she pulls me down over her. "Don't hold back, Rico." I rub the head of my cock against her wet entrance, sliding down her folds.

"I don't think you know what you're saying, Elenora." But even I hear the desperation in my voice.

"I need you, Rico."

I inched into her slowly and she tenses before I pull out and then rub up and down slowly again. "Please Rico," She whimpers as I slide further into her in a small thrust, struggling to keep in control.

She inhales sharply. "Oh, god." She rasps.

"Relax, baby. I'm not all in yet." My voice sounds strained.

"What?" She sounds panicked and I smile before I kiss her.

"Just breathe." I pull back out before I sink into her further. Her walls adjusting around me is an amazing feeling. "God, you feel good." I withdraw and then push into her again.

"More," She moans into my ear and I don't need to be told twice as I begin moving in and out of her. Loving how our bodies move in sync. She clenches around me as another orgasm erupts from her not long after.

I kiss her neck and her chest and then she pulls my face towards her as she kisses me. Her hips lifting and meeting mine with each thrust. Her soft sounds of pleasure are sending me to another level of ecstasy and she runs her nails down my back giving me a delicious shivering sensation.

"I'm close, baby." I kiss and nibble her ear.

"Rico, I want to see your face." Her voice is throaty and sexy and she lifts my face away from her. We gaze into each other's eyes as I come apart as I release myself into her, pumping into her hard.

I groan. "Fuck."

I wrap my arms around and under her as I lay on top. Our hearts are beating against each other even though I outsize her in height and in width. But I don't want to let her go. Not ever.

She runs her fingers up and down my back when I hear her quiet voice. "Rico? Rico, did you fall asleep?"

My eyes snap open, oh god, did I?

I've never done that before and I'm still inside of her. I sit up on my elbows. "Did I hurt you?"

She shakes her head. "No, but I do need to use the bathroom." A soft smile on her lips. I feel like it's been longer than the few days since I've seen her smile. She pulls me in for a quick kiss and when I withdraw from her she winces.

"Definitely not a tube of lipstick." She chuckles and reaches for the T-shirt but I pull it out her hands.

"There's no way you're covering your gorgeous body now."

She shakes her head and walks to the bathroom while I watch.

She walks back out after a few minutes and crawls up the bed in the most seductive way and I feel myself getting hard again as I sit up on my elbows.

"This might have been a bad idea."

She sits over me and runs her fingers through my hair the way I've grown to love. "Why's that?"

"Because now you won't be able to stop me from touching you, feeling you and being inside of you." I confess.

"I hate to break it to you..." She leans down and kisses my chest. "You already can't stop touching me, Federico. And if anything, I think you might not be able to handle me now."

She gives me a smile that sends the blood rushing down. She has me lay back down and then she turns around over me. I have a perfect view of her ass and access to her glistening pussy. She holds my dick in her hand before she slides her hand up and down my shaft.

Her tongue slides down now and then back up and she flicks it against the tip of my dick but it's the sound she makes as she licks, and sucks on my dick—a mixture of a moan and sexy purr that makes my stomach clench. I pull her down over my face and begin eating her out as she takes me in her mouth as well. Her thighs squeeze around my head, but I push them open and bring her down on me even more.

I'm not going to last with how she hums over me as I pleasure her as well. The vibrations of her mouth are sending me to the edge and then we both let go. She continues lapping me and sucking at the tip as I do her.

When I sit up and pull her down over me, she squeals and chuckles. I hold her in my arms as I softly kiss her. "I don't know where've you been my whole life, Elenora, but I'm not letting you go ever."

"I won't let go of you either, Rico."

***