by Suzanne Rock
“Does this have to do with the wedding? Because if you’d just told me how you felt before we announced the engagement—”
“It’s more than just the wedding, Leo. It’s the fact that you never let me do anything by myself.”
“That’s not true.”
“Unfortunately, it is.”
“I’m only trying to look out for your best interests.”
“I know, and I appreciate it. I just don’t think I need your protection anymore. I want to make my own decisions and live my life how I see fit.”
“You do that already, and once you come back and take your place in the company, the rest of the world will see how strong the Perconti family can be.”
“That’s the thing. I’m not sure if the family business is right for me.” The thought of working day in and day out, and running every minor decision by her older brother didn’t sit well with her.
“What are you talking about? Of course it’s right for you. Marco and Dante—”
“That’s just the thing. Marco and Dante push me around, too. Too many times the three of you have told me that I have an equal say, only to find that my voice only counts if I agree with you.”
“We would never do that, passerotta. We agreed to split the company evenly amongst us all. Come home, so we can discuss everything in more detail. I’m sure we could work things out with Marco and Dante and come to a decision that benefits everyone.”
“What about the twins?”
“Gio and Gianna don’t have an interest in the company. They wish to remain as investors. They’ll go along with all of our decisions, however, so that we maintain a controlling interest.”
“Are they there now?”
“Gio had a photo shoot in Milan. He’s on a plane now with Mamma. As soon as it was apparent that there wouldn’t be a wedding, Gianna flew back to Oregon.”
“She always did hate the city.”
Leo chuckled. “She couldn’t get away from the commotion fast enough.”
Ari closed her eyes as she realized that her younger brother and sister had traveled halfway around the world to attend her wedding, and she hadn’t even spoken to them. Her entire family had shown up for the big event, and she had brushed them all off in a moment of selfishness. Tears stung her eyes as she realized how much she missed her siblings.
“I’m sorry for the mess I caused,” Ari said.
“It doesn’t matter. The media is always making things more dramatic than they should be.” He hesitated before continuing. “Has Stone done anything to you?”
Yes, but not in the way he was implying. “He hasn’t hurt me Leo, no.” At least not physically. “He’s been a good friend.”
“Friend.” She could hear the skepticism in his voice. “A friend would tell you to not let your family worry.”
“And he did that, Leo. The decision not to call was mine, not his.”
Leo hesitated a moment before continuing. “You need to be careful, passerotta. People always act with an ulterior motive.”
“People like Jason, or like you?”
“I never said we weren’t one and the same.” Ari smiled at the humorous tone in his voice.
“My charity is suffering, Leo.”
“Come home, Ari. We’ll sort everything out.”
“I won’t give it up. And I want to make my own decisions. Not what’s best for the family, but for me.”
“No one is asking you to do anything you don’t want to do.” Leo let out a long breath. “I’ve been talking to Karin, and know that I can be a bit controlling at times.”
“A bit?”
Leo chuckled. “Whatever is bothering you, we’ll make it right, but we can’t do that unless you are here with us, where you belong.”
Ari struggled to keep the tears from her eyes. God, she loved her family. Every last dysfunctional one of them.
“I’m coming home, Leo. I promise. I just need to do something first.” She needed to figure out a few things, not the least of which was what to do about Jason. Camille was right about the past being in the past, but that didn’t change the fact that their relationship was built on a lie. He was sleeping with her for information, and she wasn’t so sure if she could just forgive that and move on, at least not without some serious changes to the relationship.
“Okay. Mi manchi, passerotta.”
Ari blinked back tears. “Mi manchi, anche.”
“Don’t take too long.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
After finishing their good-byes, Ari hung up the phone and rubbed her forehead.
“Are you okay?” Camille asked as she stepped into the kitchen.
“Yes.” Ari straightened. “What time is it?”
“A little after nine.”
No wonder she was so tired. Maybe if she had a glass of wine and a good night’s sleep, she’d know what to do about her charity—and Jason.
“You wouldn’t happen to have a bottle of Moscato hanging around, would you?” she asked. “I could really use a drink.”
Camille grinned and pulled one out of her refrigerator door. “Absolutely. It’s good to have you back, mon cheri.” She grabbed a couple of glasses and brought everything over to the table. “We’ve all been lost without you.”
* * *
“I told you to pick me up in the Jag, not the McLaren,” Jason mumbled as he fell into the passenger seat.
Deacon chuckled. “Don’t worry, I took better care of this little baby than you did your BMW.” He ran his hands over the steering wheel. “Was this customized?” He reached for the climate control, but Jason swatted his hand away.
“Yes, and stop playing with the controls. You’ll end up breaking something.” Jason frowned and leaned his elbow along a ridge in the passenger’s side door. “Just take me back to Stone Suites.” He’d have his assistant, Micki, deal with the BMW later. Right now, he just wanted to get away from the whole mess.
“I always wondered why you keep your car collection at the hotel rather than your penthouse.”
“There’s no room in the garage. Even if there was, it’s twice as expensive to park there than at my hotel.”
“Since when did you start pinching pennies?”
Jason scowled at his brother. “Just drive, will ya? And on second thought, bring me to my apartment.”
Deacon looked thoughtful as he turned the key in the ignition. “You look like you could use a good fuck, my friend.”
Jason flashed his brother an annoyed look and lowered his arm. “No, I don’t use fucking to escape my problems anymore.”
“You don’t? Then what do you call that nice piece of ass waiting for you at your apartment?”
Jason pointed at his brother. “You leave Ari out of this.”
The streetlight changed from red to green, and Deacon stepped on the gas. The car lurched forward like a dry heave.
“Hey, this has a clutch, you know.” He shifted in his seat. “Pull over. I’ll drive.”
“You’re too edgy to drive. You’ll just crash this car like you did the last one.”
“Fuck you, Deacon.”
“You’re just proving my point. You need to loosen up, bro. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think that you were the one giving over the money tomorrow night, not me.”
They rode in silence for a long moment before Jason spoke again. “She wasn’t at the apartment.”
“Where is she?”
“I wish I knew.” Jason let out a long breath and pushed his hand through his hair. “I told her about my past and she left me.”
“You told her about us?”
“Yeah, pretty stupid, huh?”
“I’m sorry, bro. I tried to tell ya.”
“I know.”
Deacon changed lanes and settled in at a stoplight. “I heard about this club. Sounds really freaky. You want to come? It might be a good chance to blow off some steam.”
“You still go to sex clubs?”
Deacon shrugged. “It�
�s easy to find someone there to scratch an itch, you know? And they are more than willing to give you anything you need without the messy emotional stuff.”
Jason ran his hand over his face. “Thanks for the offer, but I’ll have to pass. I can’t be seen in a place like that. I have my reputation to think about.”
“Places like that have a confidentiality policy, I’m sure.” He nudged Jason. “You’ll probably find some of your colleagues there, looking for the same thing.”
“No.” Jason waved his hand in the air in dismissal. “I have more important things to think about.”
“Like the girl?”
Jason scowled at his brother.
“Look, this just proves my point. Girls like her don’t want anything to do with guys like us.” He nudged Jason with his elbow. “Come on, go out to the club with me. You don’t need to do anything. Most of the time I just sit and watch. It’s great entertainment, much better than any porno—and if you play your cards right, one of the members of the scene might even go home with you.”
“No.” Jason’s voice was a little more forceful than he’d intended, if his brother’s surprised expression was any indication.
“Look at you. You’re successful, rich, and respectable. Money comes easy for people like you.”
“It really doesn’t.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not.” Jason shifted in his seat. “It takes just as much work to make money legitimately as it does to con someone.”
“Maybe, but conning is more fun.” Deacon grinned, causing Jason to roll his eyes.
“Have you ever thought of reaching out and creating your own future instead of conning people out of theirs?” Jason asked.
“The same could be said of you.”
“I don’t con anyone.”
“No?” Deacon glanced at him and then returned his eyes to the road. “What do you think that fight with your girl was really about, bro?”
“It was about my past.” Jason scowled and looked back out the window.
“No, it was about the fact that this woman wants more from you than you’re willing to give.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Come on, bro. Use ya head. If your relationship was truly nothing more than sex, then your past wouldn’t matter to her. She’s mad because she thought you two shared something special and you basically told her that she’s just like all of the other women you’ve been with.”
Jason frowned. “Ari knows our relationship is purely physical.”
“Does she?”
“We discussed it.”
Deacon made a noncommittal noise. “But how long ago was that discussion?” He shook his head when Jason didn’t respond. “Women are fickle, my friend. They change their minds. Being your fuck-buddy might have been fine a few months ago, but any asshole can see that it’s not all right now.”
Jason scowled. “Don’t tell me what to do.”
“I’m not telling you what to do. I’m just telling you what I see.” Silence descended around them for a moment as Deacon turned onto a main street.
“Look, we both know you have no intention of settling down. It’s not in your blood.”
On that one point, Jason could agree with his brother.
“So forget about her,” Deacon said.
“What?”
“Cut her loose. If you go back and patch things up now, you’re feeding her belief that your relationship means something. It’s cruel to keep her thinking that you two have a future together when we both know you don’t. The most humane thing you can do is let her go.”
“I can’t do that,” Jason muttered.
“So you’re admitting she means something?”
“I’m not admitting anything.”
“I see,” Deacon said as he pulled into the garage at Jason’s apartment complex. Jason flashed the security guard a badge, and after being checked, Deacon pulled forward into one of the parking spots. “You want your cake and to eat it, too.”
Deacon shut off the car engine and stared at his brother. “You want to continue to fuck your woman and do what you want with your company without anyone getting in the way. I’m telling you that you can’t do that, bro. Despite what you think of her, she’s just a socialite, and all socialites start to become too attached at some point. Remember our rule.”
“Get out before you get tied down.”
“Exactly. You’ve stayed too long, bro. It’s time to get out while you still have your heart—and your finances—intact.”
He had a point. Unfortunately, it might already be too late. The thought of leaving Ari made Jason sick to his stomach. He didn’t want to leave her, just get things back to the way they were—strictly physical and fun.
Deacon clasped Jason’s shoulder. “Tell you what. Why don’t you sleep on it? Things always look brighter in the morning.”
“Good idea.” He was exhausted. Perhaps after a good night’s sleep, he’d know just what to say to get Ari back into his arms once more.
“Great.” Deacon got out of the car and headed toward the building.
“Hey, where are you going?” Jason asked.
Deacon stopped and pointed at the door to the building. “To your apartment.”
“You can’t go in there.”
“Why not?”
“I need someone to drive the car back to the hotel.”
Deacon slowly returned to the car. “You don’t want me in your apartment.”
“That’s not it.”
“You let her into your apartment.”
“Deacon, be reasonable. I’m exhausted, and this car can’t stay here. I already have my Lamborghini here and I only paid for one spot. The McLaren needs to go back to Stone Suites.”
“At least let me come with you and make sure you get in okay.”
“Maybe some other time, Deacon. I’ve kind of got a lot on my mind. I’d make terrible company.”
Deacon steeled his jaw and looked down at the keys in his hands, turning them over and running his finger over the bright blue tag Jason used to distinguish the McLaren keys from the others in his collection. After a long moment, he relaxed his muscles and smiled at Jason. “Sure thing, Mr. Stone.”
Jason snorted and playfully punched his brother in the arm. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
“Don’t worry about it. That’s what family’s for, ya know?”
“Absolutely. Thanks, bro.” Jason watched his brother get into the car and then made the long trek up to his penthouse suite. In the morning he’d find Ari and set things right. By this time tomorrow night, the loan shark would be paid off and he’d have Ari back in his arms. He could hardly wait.
Chapter 17
The next morning, as the elevators opened on the foyer of Stone Suites, Wes squinted at the bright incandescent light.
“Ah, hell.” He slipped on his sunglasses and pulled his jacket closer around his thin frame. Last night had been … enlightening. He had never experienced anything quite like it. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to experience anything like that ever again.
As he walked by the kiosk, he passed by a strangely familiar figure peering at one of the receptionists.
“I’m looking for Jason Stone,” the man said. “Please tell him that Landon Blake is here to see him.”
“He’s not here right now, Mr. Blake. Would you like to leave a message?”
“Do you know when he’ll be back?”
“I believe he’s out for the day. I’m sorry. But if you want to leave a message…”
Landon. Wes detoured his path and pushed his sunglasses up on his head. “I’ll take care of this,” he told the receptionist as he looped his arm with Landon’s and steered him away.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Landon asked. “Who are you?”
“A friend of Arianna’s. I work at the Palazzo. Is everything all right, Mr. Blake?”
“Of course.” He glanced at Wes. “Stone phoned me yesterday
and since I was in the area—”
“Yes, of course.” Wes tugged on his arm, and Landon followed him outside into the crisp, morning air. “I’m so glad I found you.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t—I mean you look strangely familiar, but…”
“My name’s Wes. Like I said, I work over at the Palazzo. I was one of the people who was in charge of getting the place ready for your wedding.”
“Ah, that.” He looked away and cleared his throat. “I should have known.” He adjusted his jacket. “I suppose you’re looking for compensation of some sort. Not that I blame you. Well—”
“No, no, it’s nothing like that. In fact, I didn’t want to talk to you about the wedding at all.”
“You didn’t?”
“Not exactly.” Wes pulled him into the shadows of the building, where it was more private. “I wanted to talk about last night.”
“Last night?”
Wes glanced around them to make sure no one was listening. “Yeah, last night.”
“I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean.”
Wes rolled his eyes. “Don’t play dumb with me. I saw you at Dark Desires.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Come on, Landon. I know you were there with your boyfriend.”
“Who dumped me for a tiny Asian,” Landon muttered.
“Yes, well, a lot of crazy things happened last night.”
Landon widened his eyes. “You’re the man who was part of that scene.”
“Yes.” Wes cleared his throat and pushed the images from last night out of his mind. He liked kink just as much as anyone, but there was something about the domme Deacon had paired him with that seemed … off. She had made him uncomfortable, but Deacon seemed to be really into it. So Wes suffered through the scene, hoping to please Deacon and get what he really needed later on—intimacy.
He never got it. Deacon’s lovemaking was just as cold and clinical as the domme’s orchestrated scene. Both her flogger and Deacon’s cock were unforgiving and left Wes feeling empty. Neither of them did anything wrong exactly, but the whole night felt … cold. Detached. After the scene, the domme seemed to lose interest, rushing through aftercare and dumping him off on Deacon without a second glance. Deacon was far too anxious to get back to the hotel to care about Wes’s sore back. He hurried Wes along, accidently touching him in sensitive areas and making him wince.
