Chapter 41
Genevieve
“I should’ve booked a hotel room instead of coming here,” I muttered under my breath.
It wasn't very comfortable to face him after what I’d done.
Wasn’t he angry at me for slapping him?
Or worse, did he plan to poison my food? Kill me the way he killed his enemies?
Alonzo never forgave. Alonzo killed.
And yet… here I was.
I slipped into his bathroom and pressed the switch. The light revealed a space so lavish it almost didn’t feel real—spacious enough for ten people to bathe together.
I stripped and stepped under the shower. Warm water cascaded over me and washed away the rotten smell. The blood stain. The stress
For a moment, I could breathe again.
When I turned the tap off, I grabbed a towel. But then I froze. What would I wear? My clothes were soaked.
My eyes landed on a white shirt hanging on the hook. His shirt
It looked freshly worn. I checked it. No bloodstains. My chest loosened with relief.
I slipped it on, buttoned it up. It barely covered my butt, exposing too much. My bra was wet, so I wasn’t wearing one. My skin burned at the thought.
I stepped out of the bathroom.
And I paused.
Alonzo was there.
He sat on the bed. Sharp. Glaring at the ceiling. His gaze turned toward me and he froze.
“You were…” His voice caught in his throat. His Adam’s apple bobbed.
I tugged the shirt down. I uselessly trying to hide myself.
His eyes didn’t blink, didn’t move. Heat crawled across my skin where his stare touched me.
I folded my arms and raised my brows. .
“What happened?” I asked.
He snapped his gaze away. “Dinner’s ready.” His voice was rough. Almost broken before he stormed out.
My stomach growled and pulled me downstairs.
The mansion was quiet. Too quiet. Every guard, every man—gone.
I frowned. Where did they all go?
Alonzo pulled out a chair. “Come.”
I sat, hesitating. He served my plate. Dedicated to filling everything in it. Alonzo Capone—the man with guns, blood on his hands was now serving me food.
My pulse jumped. He looked damn handsome when he had no cruel expressions on his face.
In some parallel world, maybe he could’ve been a soldier instead of a king of shadows.
We ate in silence until I whispered,
“I’d be glad if you dropped me at a hotel.”
His eyes stayed on his plate. “It’s not safe for you to be alone. Stay for tonight.”
Something was wrong. He wasn’t looking at me, only stabbing at his food.
“But…” he cut me in.
“And it’s not the first time you’ve stayed here. You were here until dawn last time.” His eyes flicked to mine for a heartbeat, then darted away.
He stood abruptly, unfinished plate abandoned. I stared after him, confused.
Then he came back. With a towel.
He moved behind me and gently pressed it to my wet hair.
“You’ll catch a cold,” he murmured.
His hands massaged through my strands. Slow and soothing. My eyes fluttered. I could’ve melted into him.
I turned my head. His face was closer than I expected.
I turned again.
“Where are your men?” I asked.
“I told them not to come back until I say so.”
“Why?” My voice was small.
He leaned closer. His chin pressed my shoulder.
“Because no one should see you like this.”
“Huh?” I stared at him, confused.
“Have you seen yourself in the mirror?” He whispered. His brushed against my earlobes.
Shivers ran down my spine. He was too close. Dangerous.
He turned me toward the mirror—and my breath caught.
The shirt clung to my skin, It turned transparent from my damp hair.
My nipples were sharp against the fabric. My breast was bare visible. I was almost nude even after wearing his shirt.
“Oh God…” I wrapped my arms around myself. A smirk on his lips darkened.
“How long have I been like this?”
““From the moment you stepped out of the bathroom.” His voice was husky. Dangerous.
My cheeks flamed.
“I didn’t want anyone else to see what’s mine.” His tone grew darker. “Anyone.”
The words struck me harder than a gunshot. .
“What about the maids?”
“I said anyone.” His lips brushed my neck, the heat of his words scorching me. “That includes them too.”
The moment his mouth touched my skin, my knees threatened to give out. It felt like sin. And I craved it anyway.
I always wanted a man to love me like this.
Back when I was with Noah I craved it. I wanted him to pamper me and look at me the way Alonzo looked now. To touch me the way his hands just had.
But Noah never did. He only used me and tossed me aside. I was really dating a loser.
I never imagined I’d feel this kind of treatment from a mafia king.
Alonzo’s touch lit a fire inside me I thought had burned out long ago. His presence behind me was overwhelming.
Then I froze.
Something pressed against me. Hard and dangerous.
My body clenched as realization struck.
Was he aroused or was it my illusion? His face was too cold.
My hands gripped the chair. This was wrong. Yet it felt so right.
“I’ll be in my study,” he said. His voice was rough. Then he pulled away.
I stared at his back as he disappeared into the next room. My chest felt tight.
My phone rang. The sound made me flinch.
“Ria…” I whispered when I saw her name. I had forgotten to tell her about the nightmare at the clinic.
I answered the phone and explained what happened in short words.
She was a little scared after knowing everything. I assured her that I would be safe and hung up the phone.
When I turned back I collided with Alonzo.
His chest was solid against mine. His eyes burned into me. His gaze slid down to the shirt clinging to my chest. The fabric had turned see-through from my damp hair.
“The guestroom is ready,” he said. His voice was flat and unreadable. “You’ll sleep there.”
I froze. I thought he’d ask me to stay with him.
“Where is it?” I asked.
He gestured to the room beside his.
My chest rose and fell too fast. I slipped into the guestroom and closed the door.
My mind started reeling once I was alone.
I dropped onto the bed and tried to sleep. But the moment I closed my eyes, I didn’t see rest.
I saw the head. The rotten flesh. The blood dripped beneath the tiles. The smell was choking me.
My eyes flew open. My body shook.
“I can’t sleep alone,” I whispered.