Dirty Hearts: A Bad Bod Mafia Romance

by Gray, Khardine

  Pa and Luc were behind the bar setting up more drinks but stopped what they were doing when they saw me. Pa called Dante over to take over, and he and Luc made their way over to me.

  We’d planned to meet separately, apart from everyone.

  I had a lot I needed to get off my chest.

  We went down to the little room in the cellar, and Luc locked the door.

  “Well, you’re looking more miserable than usual. So, something else must have happened.” Luc smirked.

  Pa brought his hands together and looked me over. “Luc told me about the Manello grunt. When was I going to hear it from you?”

  Pa raised a brow, and I leaned forward, resting on the table. “I’m sorry. I had other things on my mind. There’s a lot going on.” I didn’t apologize for anything, but I knew when I was wrong.

  “Claudius, if you let me hear shit like this second hand again, I will step down as your consigliore and move back to Italy.” Pa gave me a pointed stare.

  “Noted.” Sure, I was boss, but my father was my father. He was old school and right now, I needed some sort of order.

  I glanced at Luc. This was supposed to be us catching up, but it was difficult not to draw a line between stuff that was happening to me and business talk. Even after three years of him not being involved with business affairs, I found it strange to keep certain things from him.

  Right now, I needed to tell Pa about the Antonellas. It was something I should tell him because of the seriousness in it.

  “What? What is it?” Luc asked, narrowing his eyes.

  “I’m just mindful.”

  Pa straightened and looked from Luc to me with a scowl on his face. “What the fuck’s wrong with you? You?” He pointed at me. “If this is business, save it for the office. If it’s not, let’s talk. Luc doesn’t work for us anymore, but he’s not a schmuck. Capisce?”

  It wasn’t just Luc. I knew what Pa would say the minute I mentioned Barabbas, and I didn’t want to get too involved in anything that could blow up in my face.

  This… it was Ava again. I was being careful because of her. Treading on cautious grounds because I knew pissing on a guy like Barabbas Antonella would mean instant war. But… this was me going fucking soft.

  I needed to get my act together.

  “Dante and Gio saw Barabbas Antonella,” I declared.

  Jesus, their faces. Both Pa and Luc looked like they’d seen a ghost. Pa’s skin actually went pale.

  “When? Where?” Pa asked.

  “Days ago, at the old theatre. They were trying to get intel on the Manellos when they saw him. Plan is to do some more searching and see why he’s back. But I don’t want trouble.”

  “Trouble’s already here, boy. What you’re suggesting is taking a peak and turning away.”

  “Something else is here. Or someone else,” Luc cut in and pressed his lips together.

  “Someone else?” I wondered who he was thinking of.

  “It’s no coincidence, Claudius. A Manello grunt, sighting of Barabbas Antonella. It’s too weird to be coincidence. Both those families haven’t been seen in a heap of years. Seven years for the Manellos. More than that for the Antonellas. Trust me, it’s no run of the mill thing that’s going on.”

  “And you have to get involved,” Pa added.

  “What the hell are they up to?” I frowned, clenching my fists.

  Those fuckers. If they really were dealing with some crazy shit, there would be hell to pay. What were they doing?

  “Son, it’s not gonna be anything good. You may want our CIA contacts on this and the secret squad on foot. Keep The Four close by in case there’s trouble.”

  Sure. Looks like I was messing things up here now too. Maybe I’d had it too easy all these years, running off the steam of the way things were set up and not really seeing anything to challenge me.

  Pa had a good plan though. A plan I should have come up with myself.

  “Fine, I’ll do a thorough search.” I held up my hands and snapped them shut. This would have to take precedence over my concerns on selling the shipping company. And, if we were diving into this territory there was something else I needed to sort out. “Luc, can I borrow your boys?”

  “You know you don’t have to ask. But why would you if you got The Four?”

  “Ava…” It was difficult for me to even say her name.

  Luc and Pa exchanged curious glances.

  “What about her?” Pa asked. His features softened. I hadn’t spoken about her in years, and he knew the story too.

  There was, however, one thing that I’d never voiced to anyone. It was my suspicion over one of my guys being a rat. So many years had passed, and I was still trying to figure it out.

  “If shit goes down, I need someone who I trust to take care of her,” I confessed.

  “And do you not trust your men?” Pa quirked a brow.

  “Not for something like this.”

  “I’ll look after her,” Luc offered.

  I snapped my head around to face him, surprised by his words. “You would?”

  “You know I would, brother. I don’t need to remind you of all you did when my doll was in trouble. She’d be dead if not for you.” He nodded.

  No one needed a reminder of that whole saga. Raphael and that whole mad shit. I’d saved Amelia from being taken by Victor the first time he’d tried to take her. That crazy son of a bitch had come back from the dead and teamed up with the worst motherfuckers known to man.

  “You know I didn’t do it so I could call a favor from you.”

  “We don’t do shit like that, Claudius. When the people we love need protection, we have each other. Just give me a heads up when the shit starts to fly.” He chuckled.

  It was amazing how I suddenly felt more at ease.

  “Let’s see what’s the what first."

  That meant the whole team on research. I had to admit I did love this part of the job. I liked the idea of having so much power at my beck and call. The secret squad and our associates, links with the CIA and feds I’d inherited with the business.

  I could almost bet, though, that Ava would frown on it. It was too much power.

  I wouldn’t even entertain the possibility of her being mine ever again, but if she was, I’d give her everything. I’d give her everything but keep her out of the darkness of my world.

  That might just be a wish my heart wanted. Her face yesterday had been …

  It said everything.

  I couldn’t claim to have any kind of feelings for her and not want the best for her. I’d done too much. Done way too much.

  I didn’t stay much longer after talking to Luc and Pa.

  I thought I’d get an early night, then head to the workshop in the morning and start on the new bike.

  However, the minute I pulled up on my drive and saw the little yellow Miata, heat rushed through me. That was Ava’s car. It was super late, verging on midnight.

  Was she really here? Or was my damn mind playing tricks on me?

  Maybe I’d lost it wanting her so badly, and now I was hallucinating.

  I jumped off my bike, not bothering to park up properly, and rushed into the house.

  I found her curled up on the sofa in the sitting room watching one of those classic shows I hated.

  It was Bewitched.

  I only knew because she’d indulged in that and other shows like it when we were together.

  She straightened when she saw me and stood up looking a little off balance like she was nervous.

  Her luscious lips parted, but she didn’t say anything.

  My gaze trailed over her gorgeous body in that little dress of hers. Salmon-pink with a top that hugged her delicious globes, enunciating how perfect she was. The hem stopped just above her knees and floated as she took an uncertain step toward me.

  She was here, in my house. And it was late.

  I moved closer to her, stopping just a breath away.

  God, I really hoped this wasn’t her tell
ing me goodbye or that she didn’t want to see me ever again. The glint in her eyes spoke otherwise, but I dared not hope.

  When she reached out and touched my jaw, my skin warmed. My skin warmed at her touch, and my body begged me to touch her.

  Any resolve I had faded into the ether when she ran her finger along my jaw.

  That was all it took, and fuck it, I didn’t care about anything anymore. She was here at my house, late.

  That meant she’d be mine tonight.

  I reached for her and crushed my lips to hers.

  She melted into the kiss and kissed me back with the same hunger that fueled me.

  That was when I truly lost my mind.

  Chapter 14

  Ava

  * * *

  I didn’t think I could get any closer to him, but when he pulled me flush against his chest, I felt the strong force of his heat, beating wild against the leather of his biker jacket.

  Wild just like him. God help me, I came here to talk, but I knew that when we got together for longer than five minutes, clothes would come off, and this was the next thing.

  Us devouring each other like animals.

  The minute I saw him walk through the door, looking for me, with his hair ruffled, his beard fuller, the way I liked it, and those eyes bearing into me, I wanted him.

  That selfishness kicked in, and I wanted him so badly I ached.

  The thing was, I’d been here for a few hours now, going over what I wanted to do, but I hadn’t come to any concrete conclusion other than the fact that what I wanted was him.

  Like always, what I wanted was him, and it felt like I was in too deep to let go.

  This was the risk, and I was crazy. I knew I was crazy, but screw the fucking consequences. Jesus, I played everything by the rules. Everything.

  He was my exception.

  The rogue card in my stack that could change things. My rouge wild card that my sister had taken from me.

  Kelly was right. If we were to go back and pinpoint things, everything got thrown out of sync when Marissa betrayed me.

  I didn’t want to think about that now.

  Claudius cupped my face and kissed me harder. Soul-kissing me. Kissing me and showing me that he wanted me. God, he tasted so damn good. How I wished I could have been with this man every day of my life. To think that he wanted that too made me crave him even more.

  When he picked me up, I wrapped my legs around him, but my lips never left his.

  I had an awareness of being carried up the stairs, then the caress of the silky sheets on the bare skin of my shoulders.

  This was the part where he would take me and I’d get lost, but I wanted more from him first. I stopped him just as he tugged on my dress. The little strap fell down my shoulder.

  “Fuck, please don’t tell me you want to stop now,” he growled, hair falling forward over his brown eye.

  I actually could stop and just stare at him. The man was gorgeous, sexy in every way, and that darkness that lurked in his eyes just made him more alluring.

  “This is the part where I end up naked and you’re still dressed.” I pointed out.

  “You never complained before.” He loomed over me and pressed his hand to my waist.

  I pulled back and pushed him on to the bed, surprising him. The old me wasn’t like this. Taking charge and seizing the moment to enjoy the godlike man who’d charmed her.

  I slid onto his lap and straddled him. “I’m on top this time.”

  He gave me a wicked smile. “What if I want you on your hands and knees?” He grabbed my ass with one hand and squeezed my breasts with the other.

  An idea came to my mind. A crazy, sexy, cool idea I knew would drive him wild.

  I pulled my dress over my head, revealing my nakedness. All I wore underneath was my panties. My pink lace panties from Victoria’s Secret that left very little to the imagination.

  My breasts bobbled on release, and his cock hardened between my thighs. It pressed into my core. I pushed against him, pressing my hands to his chest, smiling at his stunned reaction.

  “I’m sorry, boss, you’re going to have to wait.”

  The stunned expression intensified, and sexual heat blazed in his eyes. “Angel Doll, you’re trying to kill me with your sexiness.” He looked at me like I was the most desirable thing in the world and ran his fingers over the tight peaks of my nipples.

  “Don’t you dare die on me.” I took off his jacket and lifted his T-shirt over his head, unleashing the masterpiece of his amazing body.

  I took the moment to admire him. The deep planes and contours of his abs, the steep ridges of perfection in each muscle, and those tattoos.

  Along the right side of his torso was a Chinese dragon that curved around to his back. On his left side was a host of Celtic swirls that ran all the way down to the top of his hip.

  I still couldn’t figure which was my favorite. I’d noticed a new tattoo the other night when we were together. A cross similar to the one on his cheek. This was tattooed on his heart. It hadn’t been there four years ago. It was lame that I’d memorized this man’s body so much when I was with him that I noticed everything, and any changes. He’d only gotten sexier in the last ten years. Sexier, more beautiful, more of a masterpiece.

  When I first saw it, I wondered if he’d lost someone else and it was symbolic like the one on his cheek.

  “Who is this for?” I asked cautiously, brushing my fingers over the inky black surface.

  He caught my fingers and stared deeply into my eyes. “You.”

  He held my gaze, freezing me in the moment, and we could have been the only two people on this earth. The powerful connection that flowed from me to him scared me. It scared me because I’d never felt this way about anyone.

  It had been so many years since we’d actually been together, and I guess there was still that air of uncertainty, but I knew what my heart wanted.

  He was a wish my heart had yearned for, for so long.

  “Me…” My voice was barely above a whisper. “You thought you lost me?”

  “I did lose you.” Despite the sadness in his eyes, he gave me a wolfish grin.

  “I’m here.”

  “You are.” He cupped my face and kissed me. “What are you going to do to me, Angel doll?” he spoke against my lips.

  That kiss almost lulled me back into that passion that made me want him to take me, but I pulled back, taking charge again.

  “This.” I reached for his belt buckle and slid off him to undo it and the buttons of his jeans.

  He watched me in fascination. The way a predator would watch its prey before swooping down to take it, except his gaze was filled with more sin. More desire, more need. The lust that filled his eyes made me wet just looking at him.

  “You like this.” I smiled, rubbing my hand over the bulge of his cock pressing through the cotton fabric of his boxers.

  “You know what I like.”

  “I do.”

  He lifted his hips, helping me as I slid his pants and boxers down at the same time. His massive, fat cock jutted free, springing toward me in an arc. I’d always been amazed at the thickness and length, and how badly I wanted it inside me.

  I knelt down in front of him, and he reached forward to catch my right nipple between his thumb and forefinger.

  “You’re too damn sexy, Ava, you know that?”

  “As long as you think so.” That was the best answer I could give because inside I was always that person I used to be. I’d had to toughen up to deal with all the shit life threw at me and shield my heart from all the grief and sadness, but being with him… when I was with him, he made me feel okay to just be me. To do what I wanted.

  He groaned when I gripped the base and lowered my head to lick the tip of his cock, where a little pre-cum had leaked out. That made him grow even harder in my hands. Straining toward me, looking like he ached for release.

  The half pain-, half pleasure-filled look on his face told me so. When I lowere
d my head again, I took the full length of him straight into my mouth. My hands still on the base, pumping the flesh hard while I sucked him. I loved the taste of him and the way he felt in my mouth. I loved the way he ran his fingers through my hair and that he held me closer so I could take him in deeper.

  Deeper and deeper until I almost choked. A deep groan rumbled within his chest when my head bobbled up and down as I sucked him, and yet he still grew harder. I knew him. I knew the point we’d reached. This was where I’d either let him come in my mouth or inside me.

  No one would blame me for saving the first option for later since I ached for him to be inside me.

  I stopped sucking, and he reached to pull me back up, lifting me onto him.

  I straddled him again, easing down onto his cock, taking him right in until I was full, gasping at the sensation. I’d forgotten how intense this position was, that it took some getting used to.

  “You alright, Angel?”

  “I’m… okay,” I answered breathlessly. I tried to move my hips, but he felt so good in me, I tethered on the edge of an orgasm.

  A wild one. The type that could wipe me out, and we hadn’t even gotten started yet. He hadn’t done anything to me.

  “Ride me, Angel. Fuck me however you want until you’re satisfied. When I’m finished with you, you won’t be able to walk.” A low chuckle resonated from the hard walls of his chest, and he gripped on to me so I could take charge.

  It was like something unlocked inside of me, setting me free, loose, and I started moving my hips again. Faster, going up and down on him until we both got lost in a wild rhythm, moving as one. We became those prisoners to desire again, trapped in ecstasy, locked within the need we had for each other.

  Liquid fire singed my veins in a scorching wave, and I knew I couldn’t stave off that orgasm any longer. It was there. I was there. Mindless ecstasy gripped me, and tension coiled. I grabbed his wide shoulders, holding on to him so tight my fingernails dug into his skin, cutting him. But he took it like the hard man he was. I felt bad for it, but the wicked smile on his face erased the guilt from my mind.