“I’ll try.”
The smell of beer invaded my nose as we walked toward the house. Everywhere you looked beer bottles littered the lawn.
My heart fluttered in my chest when my eyes landed on a pair of arctic blue eyes. One look at him leaning against the wall and I was wet. An aching need pooled between my legs and there was only one way to satisfy it. I crossed the room in his direction appraising all his body offered. His jeans and black t-shirt hugged his chiseled body, sculpted for my pleasure. A black leather jacket fit snug around his broad chest. He ran his fingers through his long wavy bronze hair pushing it back off his strong forehead.
I suddenly loved Frat parties. “Looks like my night just got a lot better.”
I moved in brushing my lips along his close trimmed mustache and goatee. The scent of leather and exhaust rolled off him. The smell reminded me of freedom and beautiful nights on the back of a Harley. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me flush against him. I continued my assault of kisses down his cheekbones and around his squared jaw. He cupped my face in the palm of his hand lifting it to his. His warm breath trailed over my lips, teasing me with the promise of a kiss. I closed my eyes and parted my lips in anticipation. His hand dropped from my face and ran along my bare arm sending tingles to my neck. He gripped the bottle in my hand and lifted it to his lips, threw his head back with a grin and swallowed hard as he chugged it. “Thanks for the beer.”
“Cal, you’re such a tease.” I swatted my hand against his solid chest.
“I’m sorry did you want some?” His grin deepened as he lowered his lips to mine. Drops of beer transferred from his tongue to mine as they entwined.
“This was a nice surprise. I thought you were closing the bar tonight?”
“Vinny came in, so he cut me loose. If I’m hanging out with these youngsters, we need more beer.” He swished the empty bottle in his hand.
Cal loathed Frat parties as much as I did. We worked together at Birra Tavern, where obnoxiously drunk college guys were the main clientele. There was always one trying to cop a feel or skip out on their tab.
“We’re not all youngsters,” I laughed, “some of us are College Grads.”
Cal was only two years older than I was, but he was definitely more mature than the usual college crowd. Cal worked as head of security and Vinny’s right-hand man, which came with added responsibilities, I pretended not to know too much about. Most nights he worked the back of the house with a more elite client base. A select few waitresses, who Vinny trusted, got to work those gigs. I loved working that shift, not only did I get hot watching my man exert his muscle, the tips were no joke.
“Then I guess we should celebrate.”
The music was so loud that it made my skin tingle; the bass thumped in time with my heartbeat and filled me from head to toe. We lost ourselves in the music and each other, dancing and drinking while the hours ticked on.
Our bodies were pressed tight against each other, our hips gyrating in time with the music when the vibration of his cell-phone drew us from our trance.
“Shit! I missed three calls from Vinny and a text.” The color drained from his face as he read it.
“What’s wrong?” I asked still wrapped around his body.
“Someone broke into the bar. I need to take you home and head over there.” I could feel his heart beating hard against his chest as he slid the phone back in his jacket pocket.
“Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. You need to go. Besides, I should check on Bethany.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want you walking alone.” His lips covered mine in a long warm kiss that left me short of breath.
I pulled back slightly, “I’m sure but if you keep kissing me like that, then I’m not letting you go anywhere.”
“Ok, I’m going. I’ll stop by once I get things under control. I have something to ask you.” He tore himself from my arms leaving me with a flirty wink.
Bodies crammed every space in the house. It was hard to tell who was who with the dim lighting and the heavy smoke lingering in the air. I staggered around until I found Bethany being swallowed alive by the horny guy draped over her on the couch. She seemed content with his hands on her breast and hers down the front of his pants.
The smell of pungent burning weed rushed over me. My vision blurred. My head throbbed. A bitter taste of warming beer churned in the pit of my stomach.
Dizziness took hold as I climbed the staircase in search of a quiet reprieve. I stumbled to a bathroom and before I could close the door, a dark figure with strong muscular arms barged in spinning me around and pinning me inside the door. The music echoed through the halls drowning out my thoughts. His voice reverberated off the walls of the small room.
“No one takes what is mine, Mia Bella.” Evil veiled his voice. Dark shadows hid his face but there was no mistaking those green eyes. “You belong to me.”
Confusion took over my drunken state and before I could process what was happening, I was alone. Fumbling for the lights I slammed and locked the door. The contents of my stomach rose in my throat and exited violently.
I staggered back down the stairs through the tangled mess of partiers and headed out the front door. The world spun uncontrollably as I made a hasty exit away from the crowd. My feet flew across the campus lawn. Every sound frightened me, my own breath made my skin crawl. By the time I reached my apartment my eyes stung with tears. I took the steps two at a time. Pushing forward, I stumbled and fell through the front door.
Chapter 7
Cal
I fumbled with the small black box in my jacket pocket and hoped I could get the trouble at the bar under control fast. Despite the interruption, I left the party unable to conceal the smile on my face or the hard-on in my pants. There was no denying that woman owned me, she could lead me around by the dick and I wouldn’t object. My body betrayed my tough guy persona whenever she was around, all it wanted was her flesh against mine. Even her scent on my clothes made me hard. I shifted my aching dick to the side and straddled my Harley Low Rider. I fired up its V-twin engine and the chrome beauty rumbled under my body.
I used every ounce of torque my bike had to get to the bar fast. The sooner I got there, the sooner I could get back to Brie. I couldn’t let her leave, she belonged with me, in my life and in my bed. I would not allow one moment to pass by without her next to me, under me, on her knees before me. That’s where I wanted her, naked and wet, begging for me to take her, when I slide the diamond ring onto her finger. I didn’t even realize I had the desire to brand her as my wife until our recent trip up the coast. I don’t know what got into me that night but suddenly an archaic need to ensure every male within twenty miles of her understood she was mine and only mine. Thinking about that day made me ache for her touch.
We set out on the open road with no final destination, no route planned. The possibilities were endless, just my bike, the road and me and my girl. I didn’t know what was more exhilarating the roar of the nimble beast beneath me or the purr of excitement from her lips when I leaned into a turn. One thing was for sure, with her pressed against my back, I couldn’t ask for more, in this life or the next. Time stood still, as we wound our way along the scenic coast of Cape Ann until I was exhausted. We stopped at a secluded area perched above the Atlantic waters overlooking the lighthouse, made love under the stars on a blanket sprawled out on the rocky cliff and slept with me buried deep inside her, entwined as one until morning.
I rounded the corner and pulled into the dark parking lot in front of the bar. Frustration about my plans shot to hell thrummed through my veins. Someone shattered the stained glass window at the entrance. Shards of broken glass crunched under my boots as I walked through the rubble toward the door.
Vinny paced the length of the counter, the lines on his face drawn tight, “What the fuck took you so long, Cal? When I call you drop everything. Understood?”
“Sorry Vinny, I was at a party with Brie. I came as soon as I noticed
you called. It won’t happen again.” I held back a growl, I'm always here for Vinny. When he called you better fucking go even if your balls deep in pussy or finding the courage to propose to the love of your life.
“All right. I know what’s it like to get lost in the moment with a beauty like her. But right now, I need you to focus on securing the building and getting this shit cleaned up.” His fists were balled up at his sides and his body vibrated with fury.
“I’m on it. Any idea who did this?” I ask. A low grumble escaped my throat when I looked around.
The glasses and bottles on the back bar were smashed, and the air was infused with a mixture of top shelf alcohol that stung my nostrils. The bastards smashed every tavern light hanging over the tables and spray painted obscenities on the walls.
Vinny shook his head, the rage in his voice penetrated the tension in the room. “Not yet but the hidden safe is empty too. Someone knew where to look and when I get my hands on them they will pray for a quick death.”
“So much for rule number one or was it rule number ten? Outsmarting your enemy hurts more than violence,” I mocked.
“Just do what I ask. I’ll be in my office making calls.” Defeat overpowered his voice.
The place was beyond wrecked; I didn’t even know where to begin. I considered calling in the rest of the security team in but if Vinny wanted anyone else here they would already be here. I was learning a lot from Vinny but sometimes it fucking sucked to be the bottom man.
I took off my jacket, placed my phone and keys under the counter and got to work cleaning up the broken bottles. Piece by piece I tossed the jagged shards into the garbage. I wiped down the glass shelves and mopped up the amber pool of liquor, wiped down the tables and swept the broken pieces of glass from the lights off the floor. I walked to the storage room in the back in search of the plywood used last summer when Hurricane Florence threatened the coast. I fumbled with the various sized keys dangling from the end of a chain until I found the one to the lock. I pulled the string and a dim light from an aging bulb cast around the room. The boards were braced against the rear wall surrounded by boxes. What a fucking pain in the ass, there was no way I was getting back to Brie tonight.
My biceps were sore by the time I moved the final box and reached the boards. I heard a loud click behind me and turned to see the door closed. I could sense someone's presence and scanned the room. The alcohol fumes must have gone to my head, if someone had been hiding in the bar we would have noticed them hours ago. There were so many boxes to hide behind I couldn’t see anyone. I reached behind me for my 9mm but remembered I wasn’t packing.
I walked toward the door scanning the room for anything that could be a weapon. The closer I got a silhouette of a tall muscular man formed in the shadows, blocking my path to the exit. He stood tall, skillfully twirling a knife between his thick fingers. As I approached, I slowly reached for a metal rod sticking out of the top of a box to my right. I raised it and swung at the menacing figure.
The cold steel of the knife met flesh as it sank deep into my unguarded stomach. He twisted the blade in his hand while sinking it deeper. The sound of my muscles tearing as the knife rotated muted the scream that begged to rip from my mouth. The green of his eyes were alarmingly vacant as a smirk formed on his otherwise expressionless face. Without warning, he pulled the blade out and my hands instinctively covered the gaping hole in my gut. I sank to my knees, blood flowing freely from the wound, staining my hands. He wiped the blood from the blade on my shirt and shoved my limp body backwards. I laid bleeding, shivering from the cold washing over me as a flash of light blinded me and the figure disappeared through the door.
Chapter 8
Brie
I couldn’t believe this was happening. I should have let Cal take me home. I chained the door and drew the blinds. Pacing frantically, breathing erratically, I shoved everything I saw into boxes. I could still smell the fumes of alcohol pouring off of him like heat on asphalt. I dug my cell phone out of my purse. I could call the police… and say what I’m drunk and possibly, high… a past fling has been stalking me… or maybe I imagined the whole thing. I’ve never been high before… maybe I hallucinated it. I dialed Cal instead. He would know what to do.
The phone call went straight to voicemail. Unease washed over me, something was wrong. The bare white-washed walls of the apartment only added to my feeling of dread. I sat on the floor surrounded by boxes and typed out a text message to Cal: I need you. Call me.
I had just hit send when the sound of the door bursting open shook the walls. The momentum from the heavy thrust slammed the door shut. There, evil loomed, his hardened green eyes hauntingly cold. I scrambled to my feet, my phone fell off my lap and shattered to pieces on the floor. My eyes scanned the room in search of another exit. Panic took over when I realized he caged me in like an animal.
“I won’t share you with anyone,” he taunted.
The wooden floor creaked under the weight of his footsteps as he closed in on me. I froze in fear like a deer in the headlights. His sweaty hands wrapped around my throat. “You should have waited.” His fiery breath scorched my skin.
Tears pooled in my eyes and panic hitched my voice, struggling for air, I begged, “Angelo, please…”
With a force I didn’t expect he lifted me off the ground, tossing me across the room. My body ricocheted off the wall and thudded to the floor, the air rushed from my lungs. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t scream, my body failed to move. Like a lion attacking his prey his hands were all over me, tugging on my clothes to get them off. My head jerked backwards under the force of his hands pulling my hair. Tears streamed down my face, as I fought against his hold. My resistance only fueled his rage. I turned my head and held my breath as he thrust himself into me, over and over, marking me as his and his alone. I lay there my body crumbled upon itself in a shivering heap. My breathing came irregular, my thoughts turned to noise.
“He’s not coming for you. I killed him. People who fuck with me, die.” His words cut through me, chilling me like a cold winter wind. I laid there broken and battered on the floor, my world crashing down around me. And it all went dark.
When I came to I was alone. I stuffed my backpack with essentials and crawled down the fire escape. The metal rails ground against each other as it lengthened. My unsteady hands fumbled with the keys three times before I cranked the engine. My Volkswagen Beetle hummed alive. I threw it in reverse and spun around. Burnt rubber filled the air as I peeled out of the parking lot and onto the road.
The four-hour drive took no time at all. I forced myself to breathe as I pulled off the highway and onto the familiar roads of my hometown. When I reached the top of the hill blaring sirens sped by me. The flashing red and white lights blinded me. I pulled to the curb and stumbled out of the car.
The roar of red hot flames tore through my childhood home as boards collapsed on top of each other. Ambers crackled in the air and ashes floated to the ground at my feet. The thick smoke caught in my throat choking me. I stood there helpless. I wanted to run but my feet felt as if something anchored them to the ground. All I could do was watch.
My eyes locked with Angelo’s through the crowd. My pulse raced. My breathing hitched. He moved toward me and I mustered all my strength to turn and run. My feet pounded against the pavement as hard as my heart against my chest. There was no way to out run him. His rippling arm muscles bulged underneath his shirt sleeves when they tightened around my waist. My legs flared in the air as he dragged me out of view. Warm blood oozed under the fingernails I dug into his skin. Then, shooting pain seared through my neck and I fell under a white hot cloud of emptiness.
Chapter 9
Brie
I fought against the exhaustion trapping me in a shallow realm of unconsciousness. My body heavy yet weightless at the same time enveloped in a white cloud. The sensation confused me even more than the reddish light that pierced through my weighted eyelids. It took all my willpower to force my eyes
to flutter open and closed, diminishing the haze one blink at a time. My vision blurred and untrustworthy as shadows of light and dark danced across the room slowly shifting to indistinct shapes of color. I rubbed away the sleep fogging my vision with the fingers of my left hand as glittering diamonds entwined in a gold band sparkled through the haze.
The pounding in my head summoned the bile threatening to crawl up my throat. I rolled onto my side before it retched me inside out in a dry heave. Minutes turned to hours as the numbness waned from my limbs and I could stand, sinking my feet into plush carpet the color of sand.
Confusion kept me in limbo between a dreamlike state and fear. Taking stock of my surroundings, I struggled to make sense of it all.
Looking around the room, my gaze fell upon my missing photographs, framed and displayed on the mantel. Bethany and I on vacation at the beach last summer, my graduation photo and one of my three-year-old self, dressed in white satin, tiny white flowers weaved throughout the waves of my auburn hair. I lingered in front of the picture that graced my mother’s mantel for the past nineteen years and wondered what it was doing there. Wherever there was.
I approached the door and reached for the knob. Fear squeezed around me, forcing the air from my lungs, when I found it locked from the other side. Still, I refused to sit there and wait. I pounded my fist on the wooden door and strained to yell against the dryness of my throat. “Let me out of here. Son of a bitch open the fucking door.”
Resurrection (The Vendetta Series Book 1) Page 4
