Blind Trust with the Don

Chapter 10: Fragile Heart.

Marcell's POV

“Pauly."

I didn't even bother saying hello after I answered the phone. The day had started off so promising; I had finally felt between content and normal when I was on the phone with Olivia during our lunch breaks. My morning had lent to some good news, as the recruitment endeavors had yielded some success, and Stew reporting that Shamus was at least being boring in his first day of shadowing the Irishman.

But all of that came crumbling down when I was reminded that it could be taken from me in the blink of an eye when the timber of a deep voice interrupted us, ripping Olivia from me. The next moments were some of the most terrifying I had ever experienced. Relentlessly calling her, texting her. Begging for her to answer me, threatening Pauly to find her.

All because she was somewhere where I couldn't reach her. I swore that I wouldn't ever find myself in a position where I couldn't intervene where I had to trust others to do what I was supposed to do. Protect those who I care for.

“She's about five minutes out from getting in the car with Hal," Pauly responded, his voice sounded tired.

“Today cannot be repeated again," I ground out, stretching my legs out from under me, dusting off invisible lint from my dark grey pant leg.

“I'm sorry, Boss." Pauly apologized.

“You've apologized enough, Pauly, I don't blame you. I don't blame anyone. But I don't trust this Tolbert Handover. What do you know about him?"

“He's pretty clean from the gossip around the office, but there's an overwhelming fear of him. They let him do what he wants."

“Why is that?" I ask.

“They're scared it seems. It would look like to me that Tolbert Handover has enough weight in their careers to make or break them, and that gives him just enough power to reign."

“What are his intentions with Olivia?" I ask, dreading the response.

“He's not so different from men in our world, Boss. He sees her as someone who's going to help him gain something he needs, and right now that's more power. She doesn't seem to be swayed by him. Today she just seemed like she didn't have a good enough excuse to say no. She's not used to lying like we are. It doesn't come easy to her, as tough and guarded as Olivia is, she's just as vulnerable and scared. She thinks she hides it well…"

“She's used to preparing herself for her defense, and when she's given a scenario she's unprepared for, she clams up," I explained what we both already knew.

“Exactly," Pauly agreed.

“If a man like Tolbert knows that, Pauly, he'll only exploit it by putting her in situations to catch her off guard. It'll just make him feel more powerful."

“What do you suggest, Boss?" Pauly asked.

“I want a copy of the keycards. Ren's already accessed the security cameras in the building so that we can keep a better eye on the situation. I'll also put Hal on the outside of the building."

“Better not tell her about, Hal," Pauly warned. “She'll have a freaking cow."

“You leave Olivia to me. Just find excuses to help intervene her when he's around."

“Will do, Boss."

“Thank you, Pauly. Thank you for being kind to her, I know it goes about your assignment."

“I meant what I said, Boss. She clams up when things get too close to whatever nerve has been exposed. That's why she keeps herself so damn defensive all the time. She's scared of trusting someone with things that have hurt her in the past," Pauly explained.

“Has she told you this?" I asked him.

“She doesn't have to tell me, not when the same things that haunt her haunt me, sir. But I'm not telling you that to compare sob stories."

“Then why are you telling me?" I didn't mean to snap but it was grading on my nerves that Pauly saw her in a way that I hadn't. A way I couldn't.

“Because you're going to want to let it push you away. But don't. Dig it up. Open her up and dig the nerve that's so raw and hurt up and help her heal by loving her through the pain."

“Thanks, Pauly."

“Don't thank me yet," Pauly said before hanging up.

The car slid to a stop in front of the restaurant I had picked purposefully for its amazing view of the Chicago River and private dining rooms. Sliding my ass across the leather seats, I didn't wait for the driver to let me out of the car, taking the handle in my own hands I opened the door and walked out.

Tossing my jacket in the back of the seat and rolling up the sleeves of my black dress shirt, I looked around the side of the semi-busy Chicago streets, accounting for my men who blended in with the occupants of the regular citizens of the streets.

I stepped closer to the entrance of the steakhouse. The sweet aroma of cooking meat mixed in with the fresh air coming in off the river greeted me as did the familiar face of one of my most trusted guards.

“Sir," Hal spoke his voice low and gritty. “Miss Linwood is seated at the bar."

“How is Miss Linwood tonight?" I asked Hal, pausing to speak with him.

“Opinionated, as usual." Hal wasn't shy with his opinion, not reserving his true thoughts to speak of them behind my back.

“What are her opinions tonight?" I couldn't help the smile that latched itself on my mug.

“She chewed my ear off the entire drive about the five rules of lawyers…"

“…That doesn't sound like an opinion to me," I remarked, the look in my guards' eyes was comical at best.

“It is when she has thoughts about each and every single one of them, it is when she uses big words I don't understand."

I laugh, clapping Hal on the shoulder before walking into the steakhouse. The interior of the old staple of Chicago was filled with such rich history but I wasn't here to appreciate the building, even though my eyes scanned it. No. My eyes were searching for someone specifically.

Her. The beautiful woman dressed in an almost too tight grey pencil skirt. My eyes devoured her, taking a step into the shadows to just watch her before she realized I was in the room. She leaned her elbow on the top of the bar top, facing the front of the door, her hand idly stirring her beverage. I took in the rest of her outfit now that I had a better vantage point. She paired a pair of low leather ankle boots with her pencil skirt that, not only was tight but had a dangerous slit up the center. Both things were muted slightly by the soft grey sweater with the thick neck that touched just the tip of her chin.

Olivia was beautiful not because of the clothes she wore or the way she looked but because she oozed grace, stunning quiet love poured out of her everywhere. I thought falling in love with someone would mean that I was losing a fight in a war I had waged against myself for so many years. Falling in love meant giving up.

But, really, falling in love with someone is giving in. Blindly free-falling, trusting that the person you were choosing to love was going to catch you. There was no doubt that I wasn't falling in love with Olivia Linwood. I was already devoutly in love with her. I watched as she spun back around the bar, looking the other direction out the other set of windows I'm sure to see if I was walking up yet.

Taking my open window, I quickly snuck up behind her on the open back bar stool, brushing my lips against her exposed neck, thanking my lucky stars she had arranged her newly shorn hair into some type of low bun. Olivia shivered in response to my presence, relaxing slightly when she realized it was me.

“I love you," I whispered into her neck. Unsure if she actually heard me.