Filthy Secrets: A Steamy Romance Boxset Collection

by Nova Rain

  “This!” I yelled, catching the sound of the front door clicking shut. “What the fuck is this, asshole?” I growled, slamming him against the façade. “What did I tell you? What did we all tell you? Don’t buy anything. And what did you do? You bought yourself a fucking supercar?”

  “Donny!” Joe’s deep voice bounced off the walls of the room, before I felt two sets of hands on either side of me. “Get off of him, God damn it!” He shouted as he and Bryan yanked me back.

  “I’m still driving a piece of shit, you retards!” I yelled, glancing at Joe first and then Bryan. “I haven’t spent a dime because that’s what we agreed on!”

  “He’s right,” Bryan gave a firm nod. “You shouldn’t have bought all this stuff, Jimmy. You’re attracting too much attention to yourself.”

  “Okay…” Jimmy coughed out. “First of all, I got a pretty good deal on the Audi. I paid seventy grand for it. Its retail price is two hundred-and-twenty. Also, I rent this place. I didn’t buy it.”

  “Can you believe that son of a bitch?!” I barked out, stepping towards him. “You’re not even twenty-two, you schmuck! You don’t even work yet. You know what the cops will say? How did a college kid come up with seventy grand? How is he able to rent this fancy place?”

  “Again, Donny’s right,” Bryan continued, glaring down at his cousin. “You’re getting rid of it. You start looking for a new place tomorrow.”

  “And are you guys blind or something?” I grumbled, shifting my gaze to Bryan. “Didn’t you see the car? Or the house?”

  “I got distracted,” Joe answered, a touch of disappointment in his tone. “Jimmy had just texted Bryan some pretty interesting info about the footage from the mall’s surveillance cameras.”

  “That’s right, I have a copy of that footage,” Jimmy explained. “I hacked into the cameras two days before the bombing. I’m sorry. I should have told you, guys.”

  “It’s okay,” Joe assured him. “I just don’t understand why it took you a week to tell Bryan about it.”

  “Because my facial recognition software had to go through a massive database,” Jimmy continued, heading for the nearest computer. “Without the computer power I have here, it would take weeks for it to ID anyone.”

  Some frantic typing later, he pressed the “enter” button. A picture of the ground floor popped up on the screen, depicting a small group of people. Zooming in on a bald man in a gray suit, he switched tabs and brought the results of the facial recognition software search next to the picture.

  “Everyone, meet Kevin Santone, Eric Santone’s second cousin,” he announced, sending shivers of fear shooting through me. “You probably never heard of him, because he lives in L.A. He’s a stockbroker; a very successful stockbroker.”

  “I don’t remember inviting anyone by that name.” Tension sped up Joe’s voice. “Hell, I didn’t know there were any Santone’s left.”

  “He didn’t need an invite,” I spoke, frustration sending my voice two octaves down. “He came by to see his cousin’s killer up close.”

  “He can’t know about that,” Joe assumed an emphatic tone, turning his gaze to mine. “The cops ruled it an accident.”

  “Then explain why a total stranger flew in all the way from L.A. on a weekday.” I challenged, intensifying my stare.

  Joe puffed air out of his cheeks. “I don’t know.”

  At that point, a deafening thud ruined the silence in the room. A large shell shattered the glass façade, tossing shards of glass all over the floor, before it penetrated a screen on the far wall. In a split second, it smashed its glass, sparks flying out of the panel within. Before anyone could speak, an incessant firing froze the blood in my veins. I knew well what this was…

  “Move!” I cried out, speeding off to the left. One footstep afterwards, bullets were flying past, smashing each and every screen into tiny shreds of plastic and aluminum. I was the first to rush through the open door of the kitchen. I caught a glimpse of a shell punching through the wall, sending fragments of concrete and particles of dust flying across the room. I hurtled down the narrow hallway, the hail of fire not letting up. Finding a closed door, I yanked it open and ran in. I crouched down behind the dresser, Joe, Bryan and Jimmy joining me in seconds. A tremendous blast shook the foundations of the house as a blinding light came through the door. My ears whistling, I listened in. The sound of bullets had vanished. All I could hear, was fire embers creaking.

  I dashed past my friends and that nerd, wondering about the source of the explosion. Finding it wasn’t difficult. Jimmy’s Audi didn’t resemble a car anymore. Its windows had been shattered. Its roof had been blown off, leaving the sharp edges of the pillars. The interior was smoldering; fire had engulfed the hood. A glance at its left side didn’t leave me any doubt. There were huge holes from its front fender all the way down to the fuel tank gas cap, just behind the taillight. The twisted roof was lying fifteen yards down the road, beside a blue Chevrolet.

  “Congratulations, asshole.” I said, my gaze roaming over the burnt-out Audi. “You paid seventy grand to put a target on your back. And guess what. Your shooter’s got a machine gun.”

  “A what…?” Jimmy murmured, his mouth half-open.

  “Those bullet holes were made from a fifty-caliber weapon,” Joe remarked, pointing down at the driver’s door. “Bryan…” He glanced over at our friend and threw him a set of keys. “Take him up to my cabin. It’s not safe for him here, not to mention this place will be crawling with cops in minutes. Jimmy, see if you can track down Santone.”

  “Let me go get my laptop.” Jimmy suggested, jogging off and back into what remained of his house.

  “You think he’s still in New York?” I asked, following Joe away from the site.

  “No, but the shooter is,” he stated. “We find the shooter? We find Santone.”

  “I’m not sure about this, man.” I voiced my opinion, striding towards my Cadillac. “I mean, a stockbroker somehow finds out you killed his cousin, and hires an assassin to take us out? Wait; it gets better. That assassin doesn’t use a handgun or a rifle. He uses a freaking machine gun. Seriously, how many machine guns have you seen in shootouts? Because I’ve never seen one.”

  “Maybe he used it to make sure we were dead,” Joe assumed. “If it’s not Santone, who else could it be?”

  “Beats me,” I uttered, my tone lowering. “So, what do we do now?”

  “I’m taking Michelle to a hotel,” he informed me. “Stay away from your apartment tonight.”

  Really…?

  Of course I would. Whoever had tried to blow our heads off, could have set an ambush. Showing my face in my neighborhood could lead to my death.

  Starting my car, I began to think of places I could go. I would find a hotel later, but for now, I had a better idea. Adrenaline was still pumping through my veins. I could feel drops of cold sweat across my forehead. I needed to relax, and to me, there was only one destination. The bar where the three of us used to hang out once.

  Chapter Twelve

  Ava

  “It still feels weird not seeing her behind the counter.”

  Helena might have been right, but she had chosen the wrong person to tell this to. We were at “90’s Rocks” to have a few drinks and listen to some real music, not reminisce about Michelle’s old job.

  “That’s true, but you should say that to someone who actually gives a damn,” I rebutted, lifting my glass up to my mouth. “Besides, she chose another path. Don’t forget that.”

  “She’s been struggling without you, Ava.” Helena pointed out, her eyes on the bottle of Perrier in front of her. “We talk almost every night and she’s absolutely exhausted. Because of that, she and Joe have been arguing a lot. He complains that she doesn’t have any time for him.”

  “I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do about that,” I maintained, my smile giving away my satisfaction. “Michelle made her own bed when she decided to—and I quote—become something. I’m sorry, honey. You ca
n’t move up in the world without sacrifices.”

  “That’s true,” Helena agreed with a nod, the guitar introduction of Bon Jovi’s “Keep the Faith” filling the air. “Oh…” she gasped, settling her gaze on the entrance to the right. “You’re never going to guess who just walked in.”

  I turned my head in the direction she was looking, full of curiosity. The overhead spotlights revealed an imposing figure in a pair of jeans and a black, leather jacket. His short beard and his swagger served as clearer hints. It was Donny…

  Feelings of tension and excitement collided within me. On the one hand, I would have loved to run out of there and not look back. We hadn’t communicated at all since the night we spent in his apartment. On the other hand, though, I was happy to see the man who had given me some of the steamiest moments of my life. As the seconds rolled by, I realized that the second feeling would dictate my actions.

  “Hey, stranger,” I smiled and raised my glass to him. “How are you doing?”

  “Hi, girls.” He tipped his head down and then looked at the barmaid. “Double Jack, Julia. Leave the bottle.”

  “Not so well I suppose,” Helena interjected, flashing me a glance of concern.

  “You’re right, red,” Donny said, standing between our stools. “Hey, can you…?” He paused. “Nah, screw that.” He waved his hand in front of his face. “You know pretty much everything about us. Someone tried to take us out tonight.”

  “Wow…” I snorted in amusement. “You? The henchmen? That’s madness!”

  “It was different this time,” he claimed, wrapping his fingers around his glass. Downing his drink, he slammed it back down onto the counter. “The shooter used a machine gun. He could have blown our heads clean off.”

  “Yeah, but no one got hurt,” I told him, losing the desire to tease him further. “Did they?”

  “No. We all survived without a scratch,” Donny murmured, not taking his eyes off the bottle. “I’m still a little shook up, though.”

  “Pardon me for intervening, but who are you referring to?” Helena asked in her typical, calm voice.

  “Joe, Bryan, his cousin Jimmy and me,” he went on, sipping some more whiskey. “We were at Jimmy’s place when someone shot it to hell.”

  I reached forward and rubbed his forearm. “What can I do to help?”

  “Give me a smile,” he requested, focusing his gaze on me. I obliged him, running my fingers up and down his entire arm. “There. I feel a lot better now. Thanks.” He attempted a sweeter tone, returning the smile.

  “Very sweet,” Helena silently mouthed and then curled her index finger towards me. I leaned over, holding on to the edge of the counter. “I’m going to take off. Spend some time with him. He needs someone to talk to,” she whispered in my ear.

  “Have a good night, you two.” She offered him and me a polite smile and got off her stool.

  “Just how tall is she?” I didn’t appreciate Donny’s next question.

  “Five-eleven. Why?”

  “That’s hot.” He commented with a wicked smile.

  “Really?” I raised an eyebrow, even more annoyed. “Is she hotter than me?”

  “Whoa!” Donny exclaimed, his smile broadening to a grin. “What’s the matter? Are you jealous?”

  “You didn’t answer my question,” I replied, my tone firmer.

  “No, she’s not.” His silly expression vaporized. “I’d have to bust my butt trying to find someone hotter than you. Now you answer mine.”

  “Alright. I did get jealous,” I admitted, inching closer to him. “I want the man I went wild with the other day all to myself. Is that bad?”

  “Yeah.” The word flew out of his mouth. “But you know what? I can’t have that conversation right now. I can’t stop thinking about the attack.”

  “So, you mean to tell me that the mighty Donny Falcone got scared tonight?” I spoke in ironic tones. “I thought you and your buddies were used to getting shot at.”

  “Let me describe a machine gun bullet to you,” he suggested, before downing yet another glass of whiskey. “It’s almost five inches long and half an inch thick. Get one of those in the neck, and you’ll choke on your own blood. Get two of those in the neck, and you’ll lose your head. It’s that simple.”

  “Oh…” I gasped in surprise. “I’m sorry. I thought you were exaggerating.”

  “Why would I?” He rolled his shoulders and looked away from me. “I’m done for tonight. I need to go find a hotel. Those pricks could be waiting for me at my apartment. Thanks for the company.”

  “You can sleep at my place.” The words slipped out of my mouth.

  “Sleep? Are you sure?” He wondered, furrowing his brow. “Because the last time you and I were alone, we didn’t get much sleep.”

  “I’ll be nice. I promise,” I declared, unable to believe my own words. I had been thinking about us for days. Donny wasn’t a decent man, but he was a fantastic lover. I would take advantage of every chance I could get to have him, even if he played hard to get. Unbeknownst to him, this sort of denial turned me on.

  “Fine,” he accepted, leaving a fifty-dollar bill on the counter. “You’re driving.”

  Tonight just got more interesting.

  I hopped off the stool and walked off towards the exit, wearing a big smile. In less than twenty minutes, I would show him my house. Naked. In sexy lingerie or however else he liked. Perhaps Helena had a point. Maybe he did need someone to talk to, but he wouldn’t mind if we did that after the sex, would he?

  For some reason, he was quiet on the drive back to my place, which served me well. I was considering ways of seducing him. Any sort of discussion would have distracted me.

  Putting on lingerie didn’t sound like a bad idea. I had tons of sets in my dresser, in a variety of colors. I could also surprise him, like I had done back in his apartment. Last but not least, I could walk around in my living room in a skimpy baby doll. Some cleavage and the view of my bare legs would definitely do the trick.

  Once we reached my house, I left Donny in the living room and headed to my bedroom. As I yanked the top drawer of my dresser open, I had second thoughts about wearing lingerie. My options were just too many. I would keep him waiting too long. So, I chose to just take all my clothes off and go back out.

  “Are you ready for me, Falcone?” I assumed my husky voice, swaying my hips. Yet, a mere glance at the couch set fire to my hopes of getting lucky that night. Donny had leaned back, his arm on the armrest and his eyes shut. Noticing the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest, I bent towards him and kissed him on the cheek. I didn’t like this at all, but he had given me something in return: the view of his handsome face in total peace. After what he had described to me in the bar, I didn’t think he would sleep anytime soon. Still, with my help, he was in Morpheus’s arms. I covered him with a blanket and tiptoed out of my living room, in the hope that he would remember this.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Donny

  A cold sensation against my cheek brought me back into the world of the awake. My face was stuck in the gap between an armrest and the back of a white, leather couch. I was under a pink blanket that had teddy bears on it. I looked around, worry beginning to set in. Fairly soon, however, a picture frame of Ava and Helena on the coffee table next to me sent any nasty feelings away. A folded paper in front of that frame had my name on it.

  “Good morning, sleepyhead

  I hope you found my couch comfortable. To be honest with you, when you agreed to spend the night at my place, I thought we’d do a lot of things on that couch. Having you falling asleep on it wasn’t one of them. I’m an understanding girl, though. I know yesterday was a long day for you.

  Please, don’t hate me for being so forward. You know me. At least, you know me enough to guess that I wasn’t going to be nice. I can’t keep that promise with you. You make me feel wanted, Donny. Every time you call me ‘knockout,’ I want to throw you in bed and do all sorts of crazy things with you.

/>   Which is also the problem. I’d love it if you and I kept having this much fun in bed, but I’d also like to know where we stand. Meet me tonight at ‘90’s Rocks.’ Nine o’clock. Don’t worry. This time, I’ll be all alone.

  Ava”

  This was wonderful… Someone had put a hit out on me and my friends, and Ava wanted to know if whatever we had was going somewhere. It wasn’t enough that I had to worry about getting whacked. No. I had to concern myself with Ava’s feelings, too.

  Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t be a problem. I would have the time and the peace of mind to take everything into account and reach a decision. Still, these circumstances were not normal. My friends and I were up against an enemy who didn’t think twice about demolishing a house in Tribeca. We didn’t have a clue about who it was. The one thing we did know, was that he hated our guts. More than that, I suspected that he wasn’t part of the organization. Contrary to popular belief, the Mafia doesn’t like to tie up loose ends in such a sensational manner. They prefer doing things quietly, without drawing too much attention to themselves. Both the bombing and that shooting were the exact opposite of that.

  Amid fear and uncertainty, Ava wanted me to concentrate on something other than the discovery of our enemy’s identity.

  Right.

  It would be a cold day in hell before I could do that.

  In any case, I decided to meet with her that night. The two of us had become closer. Finally, we had gone past the phase of talking down to each other. Standing her up would lead to more bitching and this time, she would be right to be mad at me.

  Under the sounds of Guns ‘n’ Roses “Paradise City,” I strolled into “90’s Rocks.” I ordered my favorite whiskey and walked over to the table in the upper left corner. I sat down and faced the somewhat empty bar, wondering how this date would play out. Date? No. It didn’t feel like one. It felt more like two friends meeting each other to clear the air between them. I wasn’t looking forward to any intimacy. I just hoped that in the next hour or so, things between me and Ava wouldn’t go back to the way they were.