Octavius

xxv

PAPI OCTAVIUS

Fear was something I had felt once in my lifetime. The first time was when I was eighteen, forced into the closet by Gia, my step-mother—truly a devil in disguise. Yet ever since the little inept stumbled into my life—the first time I had ran into her in the men's bathroom, threatening to blow out her brains if she didn't shut up—fear had became something constant in my life.

        Fear of tainting her pure soul with my greedy hands, the fear of losing her to my past, the fear of her protection each day. The fear to love despite Gia's pools of deceiving lies.

Emiliano—my blood father—he would often tell me, 'Piccolo, fear is the greatest threat to success'. Yet my greatest fear was losing Finley. My Topolina. As a Genovese, the heir to the Genovese Crime Family and bounded to the duty of the crime lord, I wasn't entitled to the meaning of love. I didn't need love yet the simple thought of Finley slipping through my hands like quicksand were misery—heart wrecking and I would be damned if I allowed anything to happen to her.

        Anything or anyone. Not even the little boy standing a few feet away from us.

        My dark eyes flickered from the boy examining every aspect of his facial features and given by the look of shock on Finley's face, I could have suspected she knew him. A past lover, perhaps? Fuck, no. "Baby?" I whispered in the softest voice I could manage as I itched a few inches toward her, gently placing my hands on her waist as an attempt to draw her attention yet she jumped. Almost like she was repulsed by my slight touch.

"Hello, Doll." His gruffly voice spoke, the deep smirk curved into his lips almost like he had achieved a single goal. Before I could even begin to process anything, the sound of low whimpering resonated through me and broke my non-existent heart into shattered pieces. Finley.

        My eyes instantly flew to the small girl hunched over, her pair of trembling arms around her knees as she rocked back and forth—a definite sign of panic. I jumped towards her and so did the little boy, bending down slightly as to examine her big brown eyes filled with tears.

"Doll-"

"Don't fuckin' touch her," I growled at the little boy before pulling Finley towards my body in a possessive hold. His dark blue eyes widened for a fraction before he raised his hands up in surrender and slowly stepped back from her.

        I glanced down at the trembling girl in my arms, my massive hands gently gripping onto the backside of her thighs and hefted her against my warm body, wrapping her legs around my waist to steady her.

        Immediately I started heading for the doors despite the strange looks of people walking by. I could fuckin' care less. All that mattered was my little Topolina. Always. I breathed a sigh of relief when I spotted the black, sleek Audi parked in front of the building, pair of bright blue eyes widening with concern as they spotted the small girl in my embrace.

"Cupcake?" Beast held the car door opening it slightly as I entered the passenger seat without hesitation. His lips pursed thoughtfully like he wanted to ask something yet decided against it.

        "Brown hair, blue eyes, white shirt, leather jacket. Find him. Non tornare finché non lo avrai," I commanded in a deep, authoritative voice that absolutely left no room for discussion. "Ora." Beast nodded firmly, his fingers brushing past his holster and I didn't spare him a glance before he had disappeared from my sight.