by L A Cotton
“Fuck off, cretino.”
“So it’s serious?”
I didn’t like the way Nicco’s brow furrowed. He doubted me. Probably hated the very idea of me anywhere near his wife’s best friend. But at this point, I really didn’t give a shit. Some crazy fucker had been within throwing distance of my woman, nothing Nicco did or didn’t say would change the fact that I didn’t plan on leaving her side unless it was to cut my enemy into tiny pieces.
“It’s—”
“What are the three of you talking about?” The girls came over, placing our fresh coffees on the table.
“Nora and Enzo sitting in a tree, k-i-s—”
“If someone hands me my pistol, I can end this now,” I joked.
“I think it’s cute.” Nora hovered since there was no room on the couch. I banded my arm around her waist and pulled her down on my lap. She smiled at me with so much emotion I felt winded.
Fuck, this girl.
My girl.
“So what do we know?” Nicco said.
“Fucker has a death wish,” I mumbled, and Nora tensed above me.
“I won’t ever pretend with you, Gattina,” I whispered the words against the shell of her ear, unable to resist flicking my tongue over her skin. “This is me. I cuss too much, I enjoy making our enemies bleed, and I would die for any one of my family.”
She turned into me, cupping my face. “I know who you are, Lorenzo Marchetti. I see you. I’ve always seen you.”
“I really really want to fuck you right now.”
Matteo snorted and I flipped him off again, while Nicco cleared his throat.
“Relax,” I said, tucking her back into my chest. “I’m not going to do it right here.”
“Tease,” Nora quipped, and everyone laughed. Me included.
“This is nice,” Ari said. “All we need now is to find Matteo a girl.”
“You can leave me out of your little love fest.” He got up and went to clean the breakfast plates. “I can handle my own sex life, thanks.”
“You should try using it now and again then,” I called after him. “Before it shrivels up and falls off.”
Nora batted my chest. “Don’t be so cruel.”
I wrangled her into my arms and captured her lips in a hard kiss.
“Oh my God,” Ari shrieked. “Look at them.”
“Ugh.” I grunted, dropping my face to Nora’s shoulder. She chuckled, stroking her fingers through my hair. It felt so fucking good. My dick jumped to attention, desperate to be alone with her. Especially after last night, watching her come undone. It would have been easy to fuck her into oblivion, but I hadn’t wanted to take advantage. The truth was, I needed a second to catch my breath, overwhelmed at all the new and fucking scary feelings I had wrecking me.
“I think it’s cute.”
I snorted. Cute and me weren’t two words ever supposed to be in the same sentence. But that was Nora. Unapologetically honest. She didn’t mince her words or hold back what she was feeling. She was the complete opposite of me in every way possible.
I gripped the back of her neck and touched my head to hers. “Why don’t you give me and my cousins some space?”
“Anything you have to say, you can say it in front of us.” Her brows knitted.
“I know and I’ll tell you everything you need to know, I promise. But I really need to talk to them, and I would rather do it where I can keep my eye on you.”
“Fine. Have you eaten?” she asked Arianne, who shook her head.
“We came straight here.”
“Let’s go make you some breakfast then.” Nora stood up and bent down to rake her fingers against my jaw, kissing me softly. “You get ten minutes.”
“I only need five.” I slapped her ass, relishing the little yelping sound she made. I’d have to see how many ways I could make her do that later, when we were alone and she was naked.
Nora led Arianne over to the kitchen and the two of them began getting ingredients out of the refrigerator.
“Matt’s right, you’ve got it bad.”
“Seriously, that’s what you want to talk about?”
“Just take it slow. She’s… and you’re…”
“Yeah, I got the memo. She’s too good for me.” My eyes found her again. I’d never noticed it before—or I’d refused to notice it—but we were like magnets, always searching the other out across a room. Like right now, I felt the pull to her, the invisible thread tethering us.
“Tell me exactly what happened,” Nicco’s voice pulled me back to reality.
“The package was left outside the main entrance. Security picked it up and alerted Maurice. He called me. I watched the security footage and it’s definitely him. He was kitted out in a black hoodie and he didn’t make eye contact with the camera, but it was him.”
“He didn’t leave a note?”
“Nothing but Gino’s bloodstained chain.”
Nicco let out a thin breath.
“He’s toying with me, Nic. Showing me he’s got the upper hand. Who the fuck is this guy?”
“I don’t know but we’ve got everyone working on this. You sent the package to the local PD?”
I nodded. “Maurice delivered it to our guys personally. But they won’t find any prints. This guy is a professional. He’s a fucking ghost.”
“We’ll get him, I promise.”
Something hit me. “Not that I don’t appreciate you being here, because I do. But where’s Uncle Toni?”
“He’s sick.” Nicco’s expression fell.
Dread snaked through me. “How sick?”
“He says it’s a bad case of heartburn, but—”
“You think it’s something else.”
His lips flattened into a grim line as he nodded. “Listen, I think Nora should move in with us until the worst is over. I can have Luis and Maurice on guard around the clock. The apartment has been modified with a state-of-the-art security system.” He wasn’t wrong. Their place was like Fort Knox.
But I didn’t want Nora out of my sight, and somehow, I didn’t think the invitation was for both of us.
“I already told Ari, I’m staying here,” Nora called over.
“And I told her we should talk about it.” Arianne pinned me with a hard look as if I had any sway over the choices Nora made.
“I can stay here with her,” I said.
“Do you think that’s a good idea?” Matteo reappeared.
“Where the fuck have you been?”
“To the bathroom, why?”
“Nora wants to stay here. I’m inclined to agree it’s probably the safest option right now.”
“He has a point, Nic,” Matteo agreed. “There’s security plus our guys, plus she has the friendly neighbor over the way who would jump in to defend her honor at any given chance.”
A low growl rumbled in my chest, and Nicco shot me a strange look. “Do I need to be worried?” he asked.
“Not unless he comes knocking again to stir the pot.”
I felt Nora staring at me and when I lifted my eyes to hers, she blushed. I was about two seconds away from telling everyone to get the hell out so I could make her blush all over, when Nicco’s cell rang.
“Hello?” The color drained from his face. “Yeah, okay…. No, I understand. I’ll be right there.”
“What is it?” I asked, the second he hung up.
“It’s my father,” he exhaled a thin breath, “he collapsed.”
Arianne rushed over to his side. “What happened?”
“I’m not sure yet. Genevieve said he was complaining all night of heartburn and this morning he just collapsed. They’re on the way to the ER.”
“Go,” I said without hesitation. “We can handle this.”
Nora ran her hand over my shoulder. “Enzo’s right. Go be with him.”
Before it’s too late. I would never say the words, but I knew what losing Antonio would mean to Nicco. What it would mean for him.
For all of us.
“Okay, yea
h. Fuck.”
“Hey.” Arianne pulled him into her arms, whispering softly, “We’ll face it together. Always.”
Nicco nodded. “Don’t leave La Stella. Not until we know more. And be safe. All of you.”
“We’ve got this. Go. And tell Uncle T we expect to see him up and busting balls soon.” Matteo struggled to laugh, his face a picture of concern.
Arianne hugged Nora and we walked them to the door. Luis was waiting right outside with a somber expression on his face.
Fuck, this wasn’t good. I scrubbed a hand down my face. But then Nora was wrapping her arms around me and just for a second, everything felt okay again.
We spent the morning hanging out at Nora’s apartment. She did some studying while Matteo and I watched some gearhead show. It was an episode about restoring vintage Pontiacs, so I was pretty much in mindless TV heaven.
Nicco called to say Uncle Toni had suffered a heart attack, and he was in surgery. Not the phone call you wanted to ever get when the Family was being targeted by someone we couldn’t get a hold on.
To say everyone was on edge was an understatement. But Nora took it in stride.
After an hour of studying, she came and sat with us. “Any word?” she asked, sliding her arm around my shoulder.
“Nothing.” I planted a kiss on her cheek. “He’s still in surgery.”
“Surgery is good; it means they can fix him.” She gave me a warm smile. “I was thinking, why don’t we go out and get some fresh—”
“No.” I barked. “No fucking way.”
“Just hear me out.” Her eyes narrowed with defiance. “We can all go, Maurice too. It’s been a long morning and we’re all getting a little stir crazy. It’s the middle of the day, nothing is going to happen.”
“I don’t like it. Outside is an unknown factor. I can’t control the surroundings. But in here, I can. I know exactly who is coming through that door.” My eyes flicked over to the way in and out of her apartment.
“Okay,” she let out a soft sigh, “it was just an idea.”
I lifted her onto my lap and slid my arms around her waist. “I need to know you’re safe, Gattina.”
“I understand. But what if you don’t find whoever is doing this?” She traced the line of my jaw with her fingers. “You can’t keep me locked away in here forever. I have classes. I have a life, Enzo.”
Fuck, she was right. But the thought of her stepping foot out of that door terrified me in a way I hadn’t ever expected.
“Just give it some more time, please.” I couldn’t be worrying about her and Uncle Toni.
“Fine, a couple more days.” Nora lowered her face to mine, sliding her lips against my mouth. I groaned, pulling her tighter. Matteo grumbled something about needing to check in with Maurice and left us to it.
“Maybe we should stop.” She giggled, nudging her nose gently against mine.
I dived back in, kissing her hard. “He’ll live. Besides, I’ve forgotten how good your pussy feels choking my dick.”
“Enzo.” She batted my chest, my name a breathless sigh on her lips. “You can’t say stuff like that to me now I’m your—” Her eyes went wide with panic. “I didn’t mean—”
“You’re mine, Gattina. Label it, don’t label it,” I shrugged, “doesn’t matter. I own your ass now and there isn’t a single thing you can do about it.”
Chapter 26
Nora
“Any news?” I asked Enzo as I made us lunch.
“He’s out of surgery, thank fuck.” He got up and made his way over to me, snagging me around the waist and pulling me back against his chest.
“Nicco must be going out of his mind.” I glanced back at him.
“He’ll pull through. Uncle T is made of strong stuff.”
“And if he doesn’t?” Enzo went rigid and I brushed my nose over his jaw. “Sorry, that was insensitive. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
“He has to be, Gattina. Nicco isn’t ready to become the boss.”
I still couldn’t believe Enzo’s one-eighty. Not that I was complaining. I loved this side of him. Protective and possessive, it was everything I’d wanted. Everything I’d hoped for. But there was still a little voice in the back of my mind whispering that Enzo was here out of obligation and guilt.
I didn’t want to overanalyze, but I couldn’t help it. If I’d have never stayed over at Luca’s, and if the package had never been left outside La Stella, would I be here now, wrapped in Enzo’s arms?
I liked to think we would have found our way back to one another eventually, but a small part of me knew circumstances played a helping hand in things.
“What is it?” Enzo whispered against my neck, his warm breath and the gentle strum of his fingers against my stomach made all my doubts disappear.
“I’m just thinking about Nicco.”
“He’ll be okay. Ari is with him; she’ll keep him sane.”
“How long do you think we’ll have to stay here for?” I asked him, stirring the pan of boiling pasta.
“Until I know you’re one-hundred percent safe.”
“Nothing is ever certain,” I said.
He stiffened again. “Yeah, well, until this fucker is in the ground, I want you where I can keep you safe.”
A thrill went through me at his words. But for as much as I was enjoying having him all to myself, I didn’t like the idea of hiding away forever.
I had classes. I had a life to get back to.
My cell vibrated and I slid it across the counter to read the incoming message.
“Is that—”
I quickly shielded it from Enzo, but it was too late.
“He’s texting you?” Anger coated his words.
“He just wants to know I’m okay.”
“I bet he does,” Enzo grumbled, and I turned in his arms.
“Luca is… was a friend. He isn’t just going to disappear because we’re… doing this.”
“It’s cute you still can’t say it.” A slow smirk spread over Enzo’s lips.
“No labels, remember?” If I labelled it, it would be real, and if it was real, it would be more painful if it all went wrong.
His eyes darkened as he dropped his head to mine. “I don’t know how else to say it, Gattina, but you’re mine. I know I don’t deserve you. Fuck, I know that. But I have never felt more scared than I did when Maurice called.”
Emotion balled in my throat as he pierced me with his icy-blue gaze. “Enzo, I—”
The blare of his cell cut through the room.
“You should get that,” I said with a resigned sigh. “It could be Nicco.”
He hesitated for a second then pulled away to dig out his cell phone.
“Yeah… thank fuck. Okay, she’s fine… yeah, got it. Tell him I’m glad he’s okay.” He hung up and let out a long, steady breath. “Uncle Toni is okay, he’s awake.”
“That’s great news.” I launched myself at him, hugging him tight.
“Fuck, Gattina,” he whispered. “I was scared there for a minute that he wasn’t going to make it.”
“It’s okay.” My hands slid to his face as I brushed my lips over his. “Everything is going to be okay.”
I only hoped it was the truth.
“God, Enzo, more,” I breathed as his tongue lapped at my core, taking me higher and higher.
“You taste so fucking good.” He speared me with two fingers inside, curling them deep. My fingers tugged his hair, holding him in place as I arched into his mouth, desperate for more.
“My kitty is greedy,” he purred, the words vibrating through me, tiny shocks of pleasure drenching my veins.
My ‘tea Rex’ t-shirt was bunched around my shoulders, giving Enzo the perfect opportunity to tease my breasts. His big hand plucked and squeezed, marking my flesh like he’d already marked my heart.
“Fuck, you taste good. I can’t get enough.”
His dirty words sent my orgasm crashing over me as I cried his name into the night.
; He licked me clean, moaning with appreciation before rocking back on his haunches and gazing down at me.
“My turn?” I smirked, ready to sit up and wrap my lips around his monster dick. But his wicked grin turned my insides to molten lava.
“I’m not done with you yet.” He grabbed my hips and flipped me onto my stomach, dragging my ass into the air, barely giving me time to catch my breath before his mouth latched onto me again, lapping at me like a man starved.
My body trembled, my knees buckling, but then he was there, the steel barbell through the tip of his dick brushing my sensitive, swollen skin.
“Fuck,” I breathed, burying my head into the pillow.
“You’re about to be fucked.” His dark chuckle sent chills racing through me.
Enzo teased me a couple more times, sliding himself through my wetness and nudging my clit. But on the third time, he slammed inside me, making my body jolt forward. I pressed my hands into the mattress, steadying myself.
“Fuck, yeah, Gattina. Mi fai impazzire.”
“More,” I cried, lost to the sensations he stirred inside me.
“Your wish is my command.” Enzo gave me everything, rocking into me over and over as his hands held my hips like he couldn’t get enough. I’d have bruise marks tomorrow, but I didn’t care. All I cared about was him using my body… loving my body in the way only he could. Because I was totally gone for this guy. Head over heels in lust with the guy with ice around his heart and hatred in his soul.
I didn’t think it was possible to fall anymore, until he banded his arm around my waist and pulled me up, my back to his front. His hand slid to my throat and his lips went to my shoulder, kissing and sucking the damp skin there as he slowed his pace.
“Feel me, Gattina,” he rasped. “Feel what you do to me.”
“Enzo…” I panted, my body unraveling around him.
“Nothing… nothing will ever feel as good as this.” His confession splintered me apart. “Yeah, that’s it, Nora. Choke my dick… fuck.” Enzo spilled inside of me, his teeth latching into my flesh as he broke the skin, soothing the sting with his tongue.
“Mine,” he whispered. “Il mio.”
The word slammed into me with renewed clarity.
