Chapter 45 The Morning After
GIOVANNI’S POV
I woke up hard and frustrated, staring at the ceiling while my body reminded me exactly what had happened last night outside that courtyard.
Arya's lips on mine and the small sounds she had made when I had kissed her neck. The way she had pulled me closer like she couldn't get enough.
My hand moved down automatically, palming myself through my boxers, but I stopped. This was pathetic. I was Giovanni De Santis, for fuck's sake.
I didn't lose control over a woman or wake up hard from memories of a kiss.
Except apparently I did.
"Cazzo," I muttered, throwing off the covers and stalking to my private gym.
If I couldn't think my way out of this, maybe I could exhaust my body into submission.
I worked out harder than I had in months and finishing with an intense run on the treadmill that left me drenched in sweat and gasping for air.
It didn't help.
If anything, it made it worse. Every movement reminded me of how her body had felt pressed against mine, and how perfectly she'd fit in my arms.
I showered and dressed in casual clothes consisting of dark jeans, and a simple black t-shirt. There was no point in formal wear when I was planning to spend the day working from home.
The kitchen was quiet as I made coffee. It was early enough that even the guards were still half-asleep at their posts outside.
I took my coffee back to my office, settling behind my desk with my laptop and the stack of files I'd been neglecting while dealing with the Arya situation.
The Arya situation. As if she were a problem to be solved rather than…
My phone rang, cutting off that dangerous train of thought.
"Luca," I answered. "Tell me you have good news."
"I have a sighting," Luca said, excitement evident in his voice. "Rafael Ricci. Naples, near the port district. My men spotted him entering a warehouse we've had under surveillance."
My pulse quickened. "You're certain it's him?"
"I'm sending you photos now. Check your messages."
I pulled up the images immediately, zooming in on the grainy surveillance footage. The face was partially obscured by a baseball cap, but the build was right, the walk was right, and when he turned slightly, my breath hitched.
"That's him," I confirmed, my voice tight with satisfaction. "That's definitely Rafael."
"What do you want us to do?" Luca asked. "We can grab him now, bring him to you if you want."
"No." I leaned back in my chair. “If we grab him too quickly, we might spook whoever's helping him. I want to know who his contacts are, where he's keeping the cargo, and who he's planning to sell it to. Put someone on him, make sure they don’t leave his side for a minute.”
"Understood. When do you want to move in?"
"I'll come to Naples myself in two days. We'll coordinate the extraction then." I studied the photos again. "And Luca? Make sure your men stay invisible. Rafael is paranoid, that's how he's avoided us this long. If he catches even a hint of surveillance, he'll bolt."
"My team knows what they're doing," Luca assured me. "We'll have eyes on him until you arrive."
A knock on my door interrupted our planning.
"Giovanni?" Arya's voice, muffled through the wood. "Are you awake?"
My body's immediate reaction to just her voice was embarrassing. I shifted in my chair, willing my blood to stay in my brain where it was useful.
"I have to go," I told Luca. "Keep me updated on any movements. We'll finalize the plan when I see you in person."
"Understood, boss."
I ended the call and moved to the door, taking a moment to compose myself before opening it.
Arya stood in the hallway, twisting her fingers nervously. She was wearing an oversized shirt and nothing else that I could see. The hem fell to mid-thigh, showing off long, toned legs that made my mouth go dry.
Was she wearing anything underneath? Panties? Nothing?
I shoved that thought away violently, forcing my eyes up to her face.
"Come in," I said, stepping aside.
She hesitated, then entered, her bare feet silent on the hardwood floor. I closed the door and returned to my desk, needing the physical barrier between us. I took a deliberate sip of my coffee, using the action to center myself.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
She shifted her weight from foot to foot, still not meeting my eyes. It was... cute?
I wasn't used to seeing Arya timid. She was usually all fire and defiance, even when she was terrified.
"I wanted to apologize," she said finally, her voice small. "For last night. For getting drunk and making a scene and… and embarrassing you in front of your colleagues. I shouldn't have-I wasn't thinking clearly, and I'm sorry."
I studied her over the rim of my coffee cup. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair was still damp from what must have been a recent shower, and she looked younger somehow.
"Are you apologizing for embarrassing me," I asked slowly, "or for enjoying yourself before the embarrassment happened?"
Her eyes snapped up to mine, wide with surprise. Then the flush on her cheeks deepened to crimson.
"I… that's not… I wasn't-“ she stammered.
"You weren't dancing with that boy to spite me?" I raised an eyebrow. "You weren't drinking champagne and laughing just to make me jealous?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, but she was backing toward the door now, her embarrassment written all over her face.
I allowed myself a small smile. "That's what I thought."
She fled, the door clicking shut behind her, and I heard her footsteps retreating quickly down the hallway.
The smile faded as soon as she was gone.
Last night had been a disaster on multiple levels and it was all becoming too complicated.
My phone buzzed with a text, and I glanced at it absently.
It was from Alessio. ‘They agreed. The Vitales are coming in two days. I’ll send you the details I made them follow.’
The words seemed to leap off the screen, punching me in the gut and my earlier good mood evaporated instantly.
Because seeing Arya with her family would remind her of what she'd lost and that I was the one who'd taken it away.
Which was good. Necessary, even. I needed her to hate me and maintain that distance between captor and captive.
But why did the thought of her hating me again make my chest ache?
I set down my coffee cup with more force than necessary, the liquid sloshing over the rim.
Two days. I had two days to prepare for the Vitales' arrival and figure out how to protect Arya while using her as bait.
I had two days to remind myself why I had done all of this in the first place.