Mobbed Up Love

by M. K. Moore

  I help the ladies finish up dinner, my mom eventually coming in to help us. Her lipstick is smeared beyond repair and when we sit down to eat, I immediately notice that Lorenzo has the same shade smeared all over his face. I stifle a giggle.

  When the day is over, we help mom and surprisingly Lorenzo take the boys over to her place. Leaving them to handle it, Albie takes me home and makes love to me for the rest of the night.

  I made plans with Angelina, Maria, Tesoro, and my mom to go shopping tomorrow afternoon for some last-minute wedding things as well as the spa and lunch. Lorenzo and Albie are taking the boys to the park. My mom will get a much-needed break and I am so thankful for that.

  What a perfect end to a perfect day.

  Chapter Eight

  Alberto

  I don’t know what I was thinking, taking three kids to the park with just my asshole brother, but surprisingly Lorenzo was a natural with them. He wore Gio on his chest in one of those sling things like a boss and Sal clung to his hand. Santino and I bonded more. I drop the boys and Lorenzo off at Betty’s and head to my house to wait for my girl.

  Five o’clock comes and goes and none of them are home yet. We try to call the guards we sent with them this morning to no avail. By seven, I am officially panicking. After calling Ryan Ventaglimia, our IT guy, I am not feeling any better. He is the best hacker in the tri-state area, and we are damn lucky to have him on our side. He’s been hacking since the late nineties. He figured that all seven cell phones stopped working at the same moment in the same location.

  After finding a sitter for the boys, Lorenzo, Tony, my dad, and I head out to the last traced location of the phones. When we arrive, the phones are on the ground, smashed into pieces. There are burnout marks from tires on the ground and cameras everywhere. Thank fuck. I am feeling a little bit more hopeful at the thought of finding them, though I am unsure of the condition they will be in when we get to them.

  “Ryan,” I say after calling him. “I need CCTV footage from this location. I am not sure how far to go back, but try noon going forward. I’ll wait.” Has it really only been two days since I met the love of my life? Surely, I wouldn’t find her only to lose her. You only get one “the one” and Autumn is fucking it for me. I’ll do anything to get her back safely.

  “Sure thing, boss,” he says. I hear him clicking away on his keyboard as he hacks the city’s system. A few minutes later the typing stops, and his mouse begins clicking through the footage. I have seen him work enough times to know the drill. “Shit. You aren’t going to like this. They were taken at one-thirty as they left Sinclair’s Bistro just up the street from where you are now.” Fuck! That is a major head start and who the fuck knows what happened to them in the meantime. “They were walking to the car, which you should see a few feet from you.” I do see the damn thing. “Bobby and Dane are most definitely dead or dying in the dumpster behind you. These guys didn’t cover their faces and they killed our guys in broad daylight. I recognize one of them as a Santucci. They were taken in an old-school gray and white panel van. It wasn’t hard to trace through traffic cams. They are in Queens in an abandoned building. I am sending you the address now. The security cameras from the functioning warehouse across the street show the parking lot to have about eight cars plus the van in it. I can’t see inside the building. All the windows are boarded up, except for the door. It looks two men are standing outside the door.”

  “Thanks, Ryan,” I say absently as I try to formulate a plan.

  “I know that I was needed here, boss, but I’ll be meeting you there in twenty minutes. I gotta bring my girl home,” he says before hanging up on me.

  I know he is talking about my underage sister, but I don’t have time to worry about that shit right now.

  “Check the dumpster,” I say to Tony, who is standing closet to it. He opens the lid and both Dane and Bobby are stuffed inside it. Tony reaches in to check for pulses, but he shakes his head.

  “Get the keys to the car. Bobby should have them. Lorenzo help me get the bodies into the cars. Their mama will want to bury them properly.” Once we have them loaded up as best we can, given the circumstances, we split into twos and leave. “Let’s get the fuck out of here. The Santucci’s are going to die one by one tonight,” I vow as I peel out the alley.

  The Diaz’s do not harm women and children, the Santucci’s clearly have no such issues. I am fuming mad but also scared something happened to the women as I turn the lights off before heading down the road leading to the warehouse. The plan I formulated requires the element of surprise. When we pull up, Ryan is already there and waiting on us. Tony and Lorenzo, the stealthy fucks, take out the two guards in record time without an alarm being raised. We enter the building, me in the lead and my dad taking up the rear. Both guns drawn, I sweep and clear the rooms. Lorenzo has his knife at the ready. We don’t want to alert anyone until we absolutely have to. Eventually, we come to a small, dark room where everyone but Autumn is.

  “Are you guys ok?” I ask before my dad takes my mom in his arms.

  Lorenzo has Betty and is kissing her like tomorrow won’t come.

  Tony and Angelina do much of the same.

  Shit, even Ryan and Tesoro are kissing. Is no one going to say anything about the fact that she’s not yet eighteen? Probably not, since the age of consent in New York is seventeen, but still.

  “Where is Autumn?” I ask, my panic rising.

  “She sacrificed herself for us. We don’t know where they took her, or if they took her from the building,” Betty says. “Where are the boys?” she asks Lorenzo.

  “At home with my cousin Teresa and her wife. They are in good hands,” he responds.

  “Okay, good. We have to find Autumn, now.” Betty says crying.

  “We’ll find her, baby. Let’s go. Dad, take them to the car and wait for us. The rest of us will keep searching the building,” Lorenzo says, taking charge. If I don’t find her soon, I know I am going to lose it.

  “The big guy by the door was about to take us home. Are Bobby and Dane okay?” Tesoro asks, tears running down her cheeks. She clings to Ryan like her life depends on it and right now it does.

  “No baby girl. They aren’t,” my dad replies before feathering kisses over my mom’s face.

  “Oh my God. Autumn was so brave. We have to find her. Fuck the car,” Tesoro says.

  “Yeah,” Betty and Angelina say in unison.

  “Autumn was so selfless, AJ. She will be a fine wife for you.”

  “Thanks, Mama. We just have to find her first.”

  “We will. Let’s do this,” she says, taking my dad’s hand.

  We have to. There is no life without her. Two days ago, she became my whole fucking world and I’ll be damned if the motherfucking Santucci’s take her away from me.

  Over my dead body.

  Chapter Nine

  Autumn

  A distant noise causes me to jerk though I couldn’t tell you what it was. It’s cold and dark in this room. The smell of mold is getting to me and I’m feeling claustrophobic in the small space. I have paced it so many times, but I couldn’t tell you a fucking actual thing about it.

  “Destiny, sweet Destiny. You should have danced for me, like a good girl,” a voice taunts me. I know that sniveling little voice though.

  “Richey?” I question.

  “The one and only. Are you ready to dance for me now?” he asks. Is he fucking serious?

  The light suddenly comes on and it’s bright as fuck. I am temporarily blinded. Richey comes into focus sitting in a chair that has seen better days in the center of the room. How long has he been in here? I didn’t notice him when I was pacing, nor did I notice the door opening. Oh, fuck, when did I sit down? I am so disoriented right now. Did I fall asleep? Sleep sounds amazing right now. I should be warm in my bed, next to Albie, right where I belong. I shake my head, I can’t afford to sleep right now. I also can’t afford to get distracted by Albie right now.

  “You did all
this for a dance?” I ask confused.

  “To start with. A nice side bonus will be pissing Diaz off,” he says. I need to keep him talking. The glint in his eye tells me he’s going to kill me. The fact that he wants to piss Albie off means he’s going to leave my dead body somewhere easily found.

  “Are you still getting married?” I ask.

  “Of course. I can’t stand her though. She’s not even pretty like you. She just wants what I can buy her,” he says bitterly.

  “That’s not good,” I say getting a good look around the room. There is nothing I can use as a weapon.

  “What do you see in Diaz, huh? He’s exactly like me, but I’m richer.” Doubtful. Alberto is everything wonderful and kind, despite his job. I can’t imagine any of the Diaz’s kidnapping a woman for any purpose. They value women too much.

  “I love him, Richey. Can’t you understand that?” I ask. I don’t want my last words on Earth to be begging this piece of shit to let me live.

  “I can, but it just makes this that much easier,” he says. What easier? I am starting to lose my cool, but I know that I need to keep it together to get out of this mess alive.

  “You know you don’t have to marry her.” He laughs loudly.

  “It is what it is. She is my albatross. I didn’t exactly bring you here for therapy, Destiny.” I don’t think this guy actually knows anything about me. He keeps calling me Destiny. I almost laugh out loud, but I keep it in. “Dance for me before I get bored and kill you now,” he says. I need to get close enough to him to kill him first.

  “I won’t dance for you, Richey.”

  “Bitch, did I not make myself clear?”

  “Oh, you did. But I don’t negotiate with wannabe gangsters.” I watch his bloated face flush red with anger. His large, sweaty hand goes around my throat. He pulls my filthy white blouse open with the other and rips it from my body.

  “I am going to have so much fun destroying your body before I kill you. I may even be generous and let my boys have their way too,” he says, spittle flying in my face as he does.

  I smile. His movements have caused his jacket to move back and I see that he has guns holstered to both sides of his body. I pull one slowly from its place and flick the safety off like I’ve been handling guns my entire life. I actually learned that from a tv show. The gun feels cool and heavy in my hand. Foreign even, but somehow so right. I could have just threatened him, but instead, I shoot him in the head without warning. Given our close proximity, I am not at all prepared for the fine mist of blood along with bits of brain that come flying at me. I hate that I am breathing it in, but I have no choice. The world is a better place now and his poor fiancée never has to put up with his shit, I rationalize with myself. I grab the other gun just before the door bursts open and Richey falls to the ground.

  “Richey, man. You okay?” That’s all I need to know that these men are with him. I hop over Richey. I can’t stand that I even touched him, but it really was a means to an end. The man looks around the room, presumably assessing the situation at hand.

  “No, Richey is not okay,” I say slowly as the goon pulls his gun. I aim the gun and squeeze the trigger. It’s almost like I’m having an out of body experience. I drop each man who enters the dingy room with a bullet. I’m calmer than I ever have been before. I find it amazing that my body knows what to do. Finally, no more men come into the room. I am shaking with the adrenaline coursing through my veins. There are bodies and so much blood everywhere. So. Much. Blood. I almost can’t believe I did this. I move back over to Richey and dig in his pockets until I find his cell phone. I dial my mom. I have no idea where my things are and hers is the only number I have memorized. She picks up on the second ring.

  “Hello?”

  “Mama. I—”

  “Autumn,” she screeches. “Alberto, it’s Autumn.” I hear some rustling.

  “Lolita,” he shouts. “Where are you?”

  “I-I don’t know. Albie, please come find me. I did something terrible.”

  “I’ll find you. Leave this line open. Talk to me. Ryan, trace this number, quick as you can. You still there, Lolita?”

  “I’m here,” I say. Shouldn’t I be feeling some shock or something? I feel invigorated like I could do this all over again.

  “Ryan found you, I will be there as soon as I can,” he says.

  “Stay on the phone with me, please.”

  “Okay. I am getting in the car now.”

  I sit on the phone, surrounded by the carnage I created for I don’t know how long. Eventually, I hear tires screech outside.

  “Are you here? Please say you are here, I don’t think I have any bullets left,” I whisper into the phone.

  “I’m here.” I breathe a sigh of relief as I hang up the phone. “Holy shit, baby. Are you okay?” Albie says, climbing over the pile of bodies at the door.

  I realize for the first time that I am still shirtless.

  “I’m fine. More than fine.” He pulls me into his arms

  “What did he do to you?”

  “He touched me. I killed him before he could kill me. That was his plan. I just kept killing until no more came,” I say. Richey was like a cartoon villain, telling me his plan just before it gets foiled.

  “You did good.”

  “Will this start a war?” I ask, concerned for my new family.

  “He started the war. I should call Joey and tell him to clean up his mess.”

  “I don’t think Joey knows anything about this,” I respond.

  “What makes you think that?”

  “I overheard one of the guys in the car as we drove from the first place to here. He said that Joey could never find out this happened. Not until Richey was ready to take over.”

  “Like Joey would ever let that happen.”

  “I didn’t think so.”

  “Are you sure you are okay?” he asks concerned.

  “So much better now.”

  After Albie takes me home, I take a much-needed shower. I don’t think the coppery smell of blood will ever leave my nostrils. After the shower, I feel better and go from the bathroom to the bed.

  “What did Joey say?” I ask getting under the covers.

  “He thanked you for your assistance and asked if you were looking for a job,” he says. I laugh.

  “Holy shit. What did you say?”

  “That you have a job,” he says.

  “Perfect.” I kiss him. Climbing on top of him, I continue kissing him. “I need you,” I say.

  “You should rest,” he says, but I can feel his hard cock digging into my lower belly.

  “You say that, but I don’t think you mean it,” I say laughing. I rise up and lower my pussy on him slowly. “God, you feel amazing,” I moan.

  “Fuck. You are amazing. I can’t believe my luck that I met you. You are perfect.

  “I love you,” I say.

  “I love you too, Lolita.”

  I will never stop loving him. This is my life now, and what a life it will be.

  Epilogue

  Alberto

  Six Months Later

  Five months ago, I married the love of my life. About a month after her slight killing spree as we like to joke, she told me we were having a baby. Is it any wonder though? I barely stopped fucking her long enough to sleep. Our wedding was a large, glamorous affair. Autumn understood that my parents needed to show us off and she embraced that. Her dress was gorgeous, but it looked even better on the floor if I am honest. We had just barely gone to bed when I hear it.

  “Albie, fuck, it’s time,” she screams, shaking me awake me from a dead sleep and scaring the shit out of me.

  “The fuck? It’s too early. Are you sure it’s not just indigestion?” I ask.

  “Nope, my water broke,” she says casually. I jump outta bed so fast, but trip on the sheets. “Oh my God, Albie. Calm down,” she says laughing.

  “Calm down? I don’t have time to calm down. We need to get to the hospital.”

>   “We’ve got time, baby.” She gets out of bed, naked since we fell asleep after I fucked her from behind about an hour ago.

  “You are not giving birth to our son in this bed, Lolita.” She goes into the closet. Getting up from the mess of sheets and blankets, I dress quickly. Autumn comes out of the closet fully dressed. I grab the packed bag.

  After grabbing my phone, I help her downstairs and into the car. Crews and his woman Addison are always near by. Leaving him in charge, we head off to the hospital.

  Sixteen short hours later, our son Frankie was born. A bit small from being a little early, but perfect in every way. The second they placed him in my arms, I knew I would do anything to protect him. I know his fierce ass mama would too. In the short amount of time that I’ve known her, she has continually amazed me with how well she has taken to being a mobster’s wife. She has been by my side for every cleanup and the one kill I had since she killed Richey and his boys. She can do it all. I hate to imagine what my life would be like if I hadn’t gone into the club that night. My little Lolita has made me a better man. Every single thing I've done or ever will do is because of her. She’s ridiculously sexy, and a little bit vicious ray of sunshine when everything else around me is dull.

  I will spend every day of the rest of my life protecting what’s mine. That includes her.

  I wasn’t looking for love when I found it in my family's club, but God works in mysterious ways and I will always be glad my cousins set that bachelor party up for Tony. For once, I am looking forward to the rest of my life with Autumn by my side everything is possible.

  Epilogue

  Autumn

  Ten Years Later

  There's an old adage, that I'm pretty sure I made up, about the couple that kills together, stays together. I feel like that's gotta be true. I even cross-stitched it on a sampler once. Though even without that to bind us, I'd never leave him. Ever. From the moment I saw him, I wanted him to be mine. Thank God he felt the same way. In ten years, we've never spent the night apart from each other. Neither of us would allow it. Loving this man has been the easiest thing in the world, even though he's a bossy bastard. Let someone else call him that though, I will fuck their shit up. I really will. I am quite vicious when I have to be.