Chapter 16

Cole's POV

I pull up to the house with my anger subsiding and turn the engine off. Most of my anger is directed at the Russian scums that I plan to hunt and kill, slowly and painfully. The rest of my anger is at myself, for the way I lashed out at Cassie, especially after she had just told me about her past.

I turn to my side to see mio angelo [my angel] facing my way in her sleep, tried tears coat her face and her breathing is light and peaceful, yet her expression shows anguish, misery and pain. Things that I just caused. I gaze upon her beauty and take a moment to relish in this moment. Where she doesn't hate me, where I don't fuck up, where it's peaceful.

I don't know what's wrong with me lately. It's like I'm going soft for her. I have been called a lot of names, ruthless, cold-blooded, savage, sadistic, relentless, in-human, vicious, vindictive, all types of cold. After my brother- my twin, died, I didn't see the point in emotions anymore. I didn't see the point in being warm and cuddly towards people, when I was shown such savagery, I intended to reflect that to everyone, I even refused to show emotion towards my own famiglia [family]. 

And yet, when I met Cassie, when I found out about her PTSD, I had this overwhelming urge to protect her from the world, find those who caused her all this hurt and hurt them even worse, and I had no idea who this woman was. It's like, protecting her was built into my DNA.

I sigh, thinking of all the ways I wish to cherish her, but knowing after today, I may not get that opportunity for a long while, if ever. I get out of the car and make my way round to the passenger side door, carefully opening it. Instead of waking her up, I pick her up bridal style and ease her out of the vehicle. I press a kiss to her forehead when she begins to stir, and I shut the car door, one of my men taking it down to the garage. 

"Wha- Where am-" I cut her panic short and secure my grip on her when she tries to get down.

"Shhh, gattina. It's just me." she raises her gorgeous green eyes to meet my gaze. 

"Ummm. I can walk. It's no-"

"Nonsense. You're a delight to carry." I chuckle. 

I catch the glimpse of a small smile as I approach the front door. She wraps her arms around my neck, leaning her head on my shoulder, and I subconsciously smell her calming scent.

The guards open the door with questioning looks, yet they know better than to say anything, so they just nod my way. I'm too transfixed by this beauty that I don't see Stefano and Rosa coming down the stairs.

"Well well well, cosa abbiamo qui Don? Sei andato ad un piccolo appuntamento vero?" [what do we have here Don? Went on a little date did ya?] Stefano questions me.

He thinks that as a close friend, he can get away with shit like this. 

"Chiudi la bocca o lo farò io-" [Shut your mouth or I will-] I begin to threaten when an angelic voice interrupts me.

"Spararti dove il sole non splende" [Shoot you where the sun doesn't shine] she finishes, moving away from my shoulder.

My head snaps to hers to confirm I just heard that correctly from the angelo who was crying less than an hour ago. Cassie smiles innocently and I smirk as I realise I have a little trouble maker on my hands. I look back up to see two sets of wide eyes and jaws dropped. I look at them with blank expressions even though this is a very amusing situation for me. Cassie sees my face and she turns to look at them. I look back down at her and I can almost sense the cogs in her head turning.

"Oh andiamo ragazzi. Non hai paura di un piccolo appuntamento, vero?" [Oh come on guys. You're not scared of a little date, are you?] she asks them in a mocking tone, a smirk playing on her lips. 

A light chuckle emits from my chest, and the two clear their throats, fix their posture and bow their heads at me.

"We'll just come back tomorrow boss." Rosa laughs nervously, pulling on Stefano's arm.

"Yeah. You do that sweetie." Cassie laughs, burying her head in my neck. 

I stiffen at the foreign move, relaxing instantly when she kisses my neck.

The two cough awkwardly and leave, scurrying towards the door. Cassie laughs in the crook of my neck as I make my way upstairs with her securely in my arms.

Reaching the top, I turn right, advancing towards her room when she mumbles a "no".

"Huh?" I whisper in response, confused. 

"Please. I don't want to be alone tonight. Can I stay with you?" she pleads. 

"Of course, gattina. You don't even need to ask." I make a U-turn and walk towards my room, Cassie burying her head back into my neck and sighing.

I open the door and gently place Cassie on my bed. I shut my door and grab a shirt and joggers from my dresser. I walk over to her and offer my shirt for her to change into. She accepts it, and instead of going to the ensuite like I expected, she stands and begins to strip.

First is the dress, carelessly tossed somewhere in the room. I take a sharp breath when I see the in her black lace lingerie which leaves little to the imagination. Once I realise I'm staring, I swiftly make my way to the bathroom, where I take a quick shower, change and brush my teeth. 

After about 15 minutes, there's a knock at the door. I put my toothbrush in the holder and open the door, only to be greeted by a shy and timid looking angel.

"Why did you leave?" she whispers. "Do you find me that repulsive? Is it my scars? Is it-"

"Hey." I cup her cheek and wipe the tear that fell from her emerald eyes away with my thumb.

"Don't you ever think that, you hear me? You are gorgeous, you're a literal Goddess, and in my eyes, your scars make you more beautiful. To me, they show how strong you are. They mean that no matter what you've been through, you're still here, you're still strong, you're fighting. I love the way you look exactly as you are. So never think otherwise, ok?" I affirm her softly. 

She really though I'd find her repulsive? How?

"Then why leave?" she asks, her tone still quiet.

"You just had to relive trauma. I figured you wouldn't want me ogling you." I lightly chuckle, followed by hers.

Like a timid deer, Cassie takes small, slow steps towards me and ever so slowly lifts her arms up, past my torso and around my neck. I lean down and she squeals when I lift her off of the ground, her legs wrapping securely around my waist. She starts giggling and the sound is like music to my ears, bringing a small smile to my face. In this exact moment, I make it my mission to hear that sound everyday. When she starts nestling into my neck, I take that as my queue to go back to the bedroom.

"Want me to grab your toothbrush?" I ask, seating myself on the bed.

Cassie shakes her no then mumbles an "I already did it" into my neck. When? I didn't even hear the door once, let alone twice. Brushing the thought off, I plant a few kisses all over her face, neck, and collarbone, which causes more of those angelic giggles to expel for her, at which I smile.

I grab the blanket and cover the both of us when Cassie yawns, her still on top of me. For once,  I don't think about the ways I can take a woman, or the envision the way she screams when I'm inside her.

Instead, I cherish this moment. 

Cassie laying on me. My arms firmly secured around her. The way she smells. The way she nuzzles into my neck. And -surprisingly- I even cherish the way I feel happy in a long time, and how I have a stupid smile on my lips that refuse to leave.

If this is the way heaven feels like, I think I would be ok with staying like this forever.