by T. L Smith
“Stop saying my name like that.”
“Why?”
Because he’s not meant to call me that. No one calls me that!
“It’s Issy.”
“I prefer Isadora.”
My hand touches the hem of my skirt and I pull it down with a shimmy of my hips. He watches my every move, assessing me as he does.
“Why don’t you remove something?” I ask, putting my back to him so he now has a full view of my taut ass. Looking over my shoulder at him, I unclip my bra and let it fall to the floor.
“No, I think I won’t.”
Turning around I keep myself covered by my hands and step up to him.
Jasper reaches forward pulling my hands away so he can see me.
“Why not? Don’t you want to play?” I ask in a soft voice.
“I haven’t quite worked you out yet, Isadora. But I will. And while I’m doing so, you’re not allowed to fuck any of my men. Do you understand?”
I reach for his hand and place it on my breast.
He doesn’t squeeze because he’s waiting for me to answer.
“You don’t want to share?” I ask.
He stands, keeping his hand on my breast. “I don’t share, Isadora.”
I nod my head while checking with my eyes for my bag on the table, and I wonder how I can get him to take what’s packed neatly inside it.
“Would you like a drink?” I ask.
He stands, towering over me. “I’ll be back for you. In the meantime, you don’t work at the club anymore. You don’t speak to any of my men, either.”
“What?” The word spits from my mouth before I can stop it. I shouldn’t be arguing with him, he’s where I need him to be to do what I have to do. But him commanding me, I don’t like that either. I don’t take well to commands, not from a man who I’ve dreamt of killing for so damn long.
“Do you not understand, Isadora?” He tightens his hold on my breast.
I nod. I’m a bit dumbfounded right now.
He removes his hand and lifts my chin. “I’m not a nice man, Isadora, and those who disobey me don’t usually like the outcome. I have eyes and ears everywhere. Stay where you are, and be a good girl. Do you understand?”
“Why?” I ask, confused.
He reaches for my ass and pulls me against him, I feel he’s so hard right now.
“You’re hiding something, but I’m not sure what it is. But I do love to solve problems, and what better way than to have you in the meantime. I like the taste of something sweet and deceiving.”
His words shock me.
I step back, but he won’t let me.
“Yes. See, that fear that flashed in your eyes just then. Keep it. Because I’m not what you think, Isadora, and those I take a liking to, it’s usually for a reason. I’ve yet to find why I like you.” He walks to my door, opens it, and leaves me standing there in nothing but a G-string. “I’ll be back for you. Stay put.”
He closes the door and I know the threat is very real.
I sit on my bed.
What the fuck just happened?
And fuck. He’s just told me I can’t see any of his men.
This could ruin everything I’ve worked so hard to achieve.
And I’ve endured so much to become what I think they need. What a man needs in a woman.
Fucking hell!
7
Isadora
I wait, because he told me to. And I have to. I don’t want to lose my way in, I worked so hard for this moment, and now he may very well take it away from me.
Now, I have to regard him as my only way in, and I also have to be extra careful about it. If he knows my name, and if he’s done some hard digging, he might actually find out who I am. Granted I’m under a different surname now. I changed it to be the same as my uncle’s so as to gain some anonymity.
I sit on my bed waiting, and I don’t do it patiently. I’m angry, angry that his simple commands I must obey. If he was a man who I wanted to sleep with, and just sleep with, you bet I would not be taking any of his commands seriously. But he isn’t. He’s someone who runs one of the most notorious mafias in the country. Men who kill and get away with it. He will kill me the minute he finds out who I am, and I don’t think my death would even register on his regret scale nor bother the authorities due to the mafia links so firmly entrenched into their ranks.
Sharon knocks on my door, but I don’t answer her. I have no respect for her, and I don’t plan to help her again anytime soon.
I wait all night.
He doesn’t come back.
The next night is the same.
I wait again.
He doesn’t come.
By the third night, there’s no way I am staying.
I head to the club. I was driving myself crazy sitting there by myself. I’m a loner by nature, but to not have anything at all to do, that’s what drives me up the wall.
Benny spots me first, his eyes go wide as he makes his way over to me on fast legs. He grabs my arm and pulls me until we’re near the wall. “You shouldn’t be here. Jasper told me not to let you work. What have you gotten yourself into?” He touches his forehead and shakes it.
“It’s all right, Benny. I just came to look and have a drink. Not to work, I promise.”
“You should go,” he says.
“No. I should stay. Don’t be silly.” I look away from him and notice Ace and the other two guys sitting in the same spot where I met them last time.
“Don’t, Issy. He isn’t someone you want to piss off.”
I turn to Benny. “What do you know of him?”
He scratches his face. “He’s the head of the Mafia for a reason, Issy. He’s ruthless. He’s merciless. He’s cruel. There’s no remorse to his viciousness.” Benny walks away thinking that’s a fair warning and it is. I know he’s trying to help me, and I’m appreciative of that fact. But little does he know I already understand everything about these boys and their savage intent and brutal ways.
Turning on my heels—tonight I have on a dress, a very short one, instead of the usual skirt I wear to work—I head off in the direction of the boys.
Ace spots me first, and puts out his hand for me to take. I contemplate not taking it until Ace stands and reaches for me anyway. He pulls me onto his lap, and turns me so I’m sitting right over his cock. “Pink, I’ve missed you.”
I don’t say anything.
As I spin to face him, a hand touches my arm and pulls me up. I slam into a hard body, one with a smell I instantly recognize. I attempt to pull away, but he won’t let me. Instead, he holds me to him.
“Boss, give her back. I want to play,” Ace says in a whining voice.
Jasper ignores him and leans into my ear. “I warned you to stay where you were.”
“I was bored,” I whimper.
His hand slides down my dress until he touches my ass. “I don’t give a fuck.”
“Boss,” Ace calls.
Jasper’s hardness is pressed against me and I have trouble moving. “This one is off-limits. Don’t touch her again,” Jasper says into my hair, the way he said it holds a threat to his men. His touch, even if I tell myself to hate it and that he shouldn’t be touching me, I definitely shouldn’t desire it. The problem is I really like it, though. I’m craving his possessiveness and the way his hands touch me with power and desire, it’s how I want to be touched.
“I found her first.”
Jasper straightens, his hand grips tighter on my ass almost to the point of bruising. “Do you want a bullet?” he asks Ace.
I hear no response at all, as I am now pulled to sit on Jasper’s lap. When I do, his hand goes between my legs not moving simply blocking any view. I look to Ace who’s now glancing down. Jasper’s other hand is around my waist and he pulls me back into him. “What did you find out?” Jasper asks.
It’s Carter who answers, but his voice is strained. “No sign of a struggle. It looks like he simply went to sleep and never woke up.” I sit up
straighter at his words. “What the fuck, boss. That can’t happen, can it?”
Jasper answers, “We’ll look into it.”
Glancing up at Carter, he rubs his head and I feel almost sorry for him until I remember what an asshole his brother was. He deserved to die, I just wish it could have been more painful.
Turning, I see Gabe watching me, he smirks and honestly it’s scary.
“You will be coming with me.” I turn to face Jasper. He spoke directly in my ear, so when I do turn we come face to face.
“Will I now?”
He looks at my lips. “I always get what I want.”
“And it’s me you want?” I ask, leaning forward not quite touching his lips.
“Yes. You still owe me a kiss.” Jasper stands, and when he does, so do all three of his men. When we start walking out, so do they. “That your friend?” Jasper points to Heather who’s watching us with excitement. She smiles and offers me a simple wave. I don’t answer, but he takes that as an answer. “Benny, we will take the smiling one, too.”
Benny groans and walks over to Heather, says something to her, which makes her eyes sparkle even more. My heart drops to my feet thinking she’s coming with us, and to that house. If they know she means something to me, if this somehow goes wrong they will kill her without even blinking. I take a deep breath as I look her way and try to think of a reason, some sort of excuse to get her out of it but nothing comes to mind.
She prances over to Ace, and he grabs hold of her waist.
I watch and Ace smiles at me. “Do you care, pink?” Ace asks me.
Jasper grunts next and I turn back to look at him. “Do you?” I shake my head. “I’ll tell him to be gentle with her, if you’re good.”
I knew the world I was destined to enter wouldn’t be all rainbows and pretty colors. These boys own this town, they kill, which they do easily and not one of them has been locked up for their actions. They are excellent in covering their tracks and leaving no trace behind. They’re essentially their own gods. Businesses pay them commission for keeping them safe, that is if they don’t they take their businesses away from them first.
You don’t fuck with the Moretti Mafia, they fuck with you, and they don’t care how much.
“You will be taking that silly wig off, too,” Jasper says as we step outside, the cold air hits my skin and I shiver. The guys slide into their own car while we slip into Jasper’s.
“Where have you been?” I ask as he presses the ignition and it starts the car. Jasper pulls out and I already know where he’s going—to that mansion. My bag sits on my lap with my baggie inside. And it’s making me all kinds of elated, but also trepidation is raging inside me. I plan to use it again tonight.
On him? I’m not sure.
“I’ve been digging, we lost one of our own recently.” He turns to look at me.
“I was there,” I say referring to the night they found him.
Jasper changes gears in the car, and honestly, it’s damn hot watching him.
“I heard. Why were you there?” he asks, dropping down a gear.
“Ace took me.”
“Are you a whore, Isadora?”
Fucking hell, he doesn’t mince his damn words.
“Do you want me to be a whore?”
He smirks pulling into the driveway I remember, but he doesn’t stop out the front like everyone else does. Instead, he continues around the back to a smaller house. That’s where he stops and gets out, walks around to my door and opens it for me, offering me a hand and I take it stepping out.
“I haven’t made up my mind yet. I fuck with whores all the time, Isadora, but you’re different.”
“How so?” I ask.
Jasper pushes on me as I come to a full standing position. His hand comes up and tugs at my wig. “Lose this. Now.”
I do as he says, pulling it from my head, and unclipping my long hair, letting it drop down my back. He hasn’t seen my hair without my wig. He picks up a few strands of my soft hair and lets it drop back down. His eyes, ever so light, find mine. “Now I see you. Tell me, Isadora, how much more are you hiding from me?”
I look past him to the house, where I know Heather is. I don’t want to leave her alone in that place by herself. I’ve seen the bruises on some of the girls, and I don’t want her to be like them. She’s the weak link I never wanted. Yet, she’s there on my conscience. And instead of focusing on smooching the big boss, I’m now worried about her.
Turning back to Jasper, I smile. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
He looks behind him, then back to me. “A drink, so you can see your friend, then you’re mine.”
I sigh in relief.
Jasper takes my hand, threads my fingers in his and pulls me to the back door which is open. “There she is.” He points to her. Heather’s seated by herself, a drink in her hand as she looks around. When she spots me she runs over almost tackling me, but Jasper doesn’t let go of my hand.
“They want me to go for a swim, but one of the girls pushed me away, so I don’t know what to do. What are you up to?” She looks from me to Jasper.
“You should go home,” I say to her, but she shakes her head.
“I just got here.”
“You should go home, Heather,” I say in sterner, firmer voice.
“What your friend is trying to say is… why don’t you go grab yourself another drink, and have some fun. She’ll be occupied for a while.”
“Can I come with you?” she asks. Her doe eyes are begging me.
“Go home, Heather.”
Jasper pulls me to him, and she notices.
“I’ll go for a swim.”
I shake my head slowly as Jasper hands me a drink. “Go. Have fun. Isadora is coming with me.”
“Isadora?” she asks, confusion is littered on her face as the small lines crease above her eyebrows.
“Goodnight Heather,” I say, turning to walk out the same way we came in.
He’s silent until we pass his car, and get to the front door of the second smaller house.
“You’re protective of her.” He turns and taps my nose. “I like to know your weaknesses. You don’t tell me much, but you express a lot in your face. Did you know that? It gives you away. Provides me with so much information.”
I did, and I’ve tried to rectify it, but it never seems to work. So, I’ve learned to make excuses for it instead.
“And will you tell me yours?” I ask stepping up so our bodies are aligned and touching. “All your secrets? You must have plenty. What are you again? The boss?” My fingers touch his lips, drawing an outline.
He bites at my finger, putting it between his lips then sucking before releasing it. Why are you asking Isadora?”
“You know all mine, why can’t I know yours?” I smirk as he steps away, opens the door to his house, and I follow him inside. It’s open plan living. There are two single suede black sofas then a white two-seater next to that. No television just a fireplace with a small coffee table and a few magazines scattered over the top.
“But I don’t believe I do know them all. Now do I?” Jasper walks to the very open and huge kitchen. Black large lights hang from the ceiling as he grabs two shot glasses and pours tequila into each one. He eyes me over his lashes, waiting for my reply.
“A girl has to have a few secrets, now doesn’t she?”
He picks up the shot glasses and walks over to me, handing me one.
“You should stop wearing that wig, it does nothing for you.”
“But I like it.”
“You’re beautiful, Isadora. But you know that already, don’t you?”
I smile at his words and he smiles back, and as he does a snake comes to mind. He slithers close to his prey so he can strike. And let’s face it, close is where he is right now.
I drink the tequila in one go clutching the glass in my hand, and I lean forward to taste his lips. He lets me, he tastes of tequila and mint. Jasper doesn’t touch me when he kisses me, his mou
th does all the work, and because he’s so good at that he doesn’t need hands to seduce me.
I’m excited to fuck him.
I bet he’ll be great, probably one of the best I’ve ever had.
Pulling away, I lick my lips.
He puts his glass to his lips and finishes his drink. With a smirk he looks at me. “I’m onto you, Isadora Marine, but that’s okay. I like to bite.”
8
Isadora
Jasper directs me to a room where he turns on the light and starts unbuttoning his shirt, kicks off each shoe, then turns to me with the front open. His chest is covered in ink, dark black ink. He smirks when he sees me ogling. He pulls the shirt off his shoulders followed by his belt, that doesn’t get dropped to the floor. Instead, he wraps it around his hand as the smirk never leaves his mouth.
“What is it you want, Isadora?” he asks me.
I want him.
I want what only he can give me.
He’s a bad boy, so I’m hoping hard, fast and rough.
I should be nervous to be in this situation with him, but I’m not.
“It’s you that wants me here, Jasper. Why don’t you tell me what you want from me?”
He quirks an eyebrow. “That game?” he asks.
I’m not sure if I want to play a game with him, I have this funny feeling Jasper will never lose. “What is it you want to do to me, Jasper?”
“I want to taste you first. Take that skirt off and lay on the bed, put your hands behind your head and spread your legs. You owe me a kiss after all.”
The belt tightens in his fist as my hands touch the edge of my skirt pulling it down. When it drops to the floor, I leave my G-string on, and climb onto his bed lying on my back and turning to face him then placing my hands above my head with a smile.
Jasper walks over, my hands go back and the belt comes free as he grips them and starts to wrap it firmly around them tying me to the post of the bed. When he’s done, he steps back, smiles and admires his handiwork and stalks by stepping to the end of the bed, then to the other side of the bed, eyeing my body as he goes.
