Taken by the Boss: The Ruzzo Family

by Belle Winters

  That made me shiver, and he chuckled. “Ok.” Although I don’t think I’d ever do that.

  He must've known. “I’m serious Julie. You’re like family. Like I said, I don’t know what happened, but I care about you. You’re strong, but everyone needs help sometime.” He smiled. “I know you well enough to know that if I ever see a call or message from you, it’s for real.”

  My insides melted. It wasn’t about lust or anything, I just never had someone tell me they gave a fuck about me, no strings attached. “Promise,” I told him.

  He accepted that plus he took me for my word, and that’s why I’ve always respected him. And Angelou for that matter. They knew I wouldn’t bullshit them, joking aside. He gave me a pat on the back and just like that I was up and out of the car. As soon as I got in, I changed into the first thing I could find to wear to bed, threw all of Taylors shit off my bed and just sat back. I’d be up until Dante got back but I wasn’t going to face this, not tonight.

  *****

  Giovanni

  Still, one week prior

  I was pissed. I barely got a lick of work done all day because my mind has been running a mile a minute. I’d been trying to erase it from my brain and move on, but I just couldn’t. So then, in turn? I was a cranky mother fucker.

  Angelou had driven us back to my apartment. He hadn’t said a word since I told them that Julie wasn’t going back to my place and that she was to be dropped off separately with a metro card.

  I threw my first glass back in a gulp and poured another. Angelou sipped his drink and stared at me. I groaned. “Just fucking spit it out.”

  He sighed. “What’s going on?” he asked.

  I scoffed. “What’s going on with what?”

  His eyes narrowed, he didn’t like games any more than I did. I knew what he was referring to, I just didn’t want to talk about it. “You know what I mean. She’s practically part of the family and then all of a sudden you just decide to toss her away?” Angelou asked.

  I shook my head. “She was never in my fucking family. Never say that again.” I told him.

  He rolled his eyes. “Right. That’s why she was practically living here… and that was more your choice than hers. Stop acting like a chick, and fucking say what the problem is.” Angelou challenged.

  I threw back the drink I poured, refilled my glass and downed that one as well. “She’s a fucking fraud man.”

  Angelou sipped his drink. “A fraud how?” he challenged.

  “I don’t know what her agenda was, but I’m done with it.” I shook my head thinking back to when I picked her up. “She’s good. She had us all fooled.” I looked up at Angelou. “Louie, I should’ve listened to you in the beginning.”

  He cocked his head to the side and studied me. “Did you fall in love with her?” he asked.

  The pain that I felt in my chest was worse than any gunshot or knife wound I’d ever received. “No.” I gritted out.

  Angelou opened his mouth to say something back but was cut off by knocking on my door. He went and opened it letting Dante in. Dante looked irritated and could barely look at me. My eyes narrowed at him, and I studied him as I poured yet another glass and drank it in one go. “What’s your problem?” I asked him.

  He looked at me like he did when I’d accidentally got rid of his favorite toy when we were kids. That made my hackles rise because he loved the shit out of that fucking thing. I took a step towards him and cocked my head to the side. “Do we have a problem… brother?” I asked.

  His eyes narrowed. “We might.” He challenged straightening his back.

  It was like a flame ignited inside of me. It started from my toes all the way to my fucking scalp. My hands began to shake, and I was ready to tear him apart until every single drop of blood in his body was coating me. “You fucked her?” I asked, barely able to make out the words.

  Dante frowned then glared. “What the fuck do you care if I did?” he spat out harshly. “You…” he said pointing an accusing finger at me, “gave me the fucked up honors of being the one to let her know you were done with her.” He shook his head. “You sent her packing with a fucking MetroCard.” He crossed his arms. “I think you lost every right to her and her business the moment you decided to get rid of her.”

  A growl erupted from me, and I felt like a caged animal that needed to be released. I closed my eyes and images of Julie naked and needing flashed in front of my eyes. The thought of anybody else seeing that, having her made me feel more murderous that I ever had. I charged Dante and took him down to the floor. My arms just started to go on their own accord, but before I could make contact, I was knocked off of him and was being pinned down. I began to fight until Angelou’s voice came through.

  “The fuck are you so riled up for if you don’t care?” Angelou asked.

  I began to relax at his words although it didn’t impact my own anger. I shouldn’t care if she was a slut, she wasn’t mine. She never fucking was. I needed to get that shit through my head. I looked over to Dante who was now standing and sneered. “Fuck you.” I spat.

  He smiled. “Fuck you.” He shook his head. “She wants her shit, and I’m going to pack it up and give it to her.”

  I began struggling against Angelou. “Cut it out Gio, let him take her stuff to her.”

  “No!” I roared starting to fight against him. If he were anyone else, he’d be dead, but I didn’t want to hurt him. I just wanted to be let free. “I should burn her shit and everything in here she’s ever touched.”

  Angelou saw that I was close to losing it, and the look he gave me, gave me pause. “Gio, man. I don’t want to… but I think I have to.”

  I was losing control. This hasn’t happened in years. “Louie, don’t,” I begged. Yea, I fucking resorted to that.

  He snapped at me. “Then get it together. I know you hear the voices that brings out the worse in you… the fucking monster. I let it happen because you’ve never done it unwarranted. I let you satisfy the thirst for blood and much more. I’ve only done it when you got too… thirsty. But I won't let you do that to your brother because when those whispers shut the fuck up, you’re going to regret it and be in a whole world of pain.” I stopped fighting and relaxed against the floors.

  I didn’t have any sort of disorder or disease. Trust me, my parents had me evaluated twice when I completely lost my shit. My only issue was my temper and the fact that the violent and almost inhuman side of me was a wild card. Piss me off, and my first instinct is a thirst for blood. I’m not sure why I get satisfaction from it, but I do. It’s not healthy, but the fact of the matter is that hurting a mother fucker is my best talent. It’s what I was good at. I couldn’t tell you if I was good at it because I thirsted blood or if I thirsted blood because it was my strong suit… it just is what it is. We came to that startling reality when I was in grade school, and some fucks wanted to prove they were the biggest baddest mother fuckers and wanted to use me to set an example. Why? Simple. My last name was motherfucking Ruzzo.

  Needless to say, that didn’t exactly end well. Pissed me off they wanted to target me. Instead of fear, all I had was anger and these raging thoughts to fucking hurt someone. I call the thoughts voices because that’s what they’re like to me. My mind thinks things like, ‘Break his jaw.’ Done. ‘Chop off his ear you fuck.’ Gone. It’s like I can't stop myself from listening to them. They have a tendency to get out of hand, and I can become unmanageable in the extreme. I get so wrapped up in them, in the anger and the feelings, that I become irrational and can do some extreme shit. A lot of people can get hurt, a lot of shit can get fucked up, and I need to be brought down to find calmness. In these cases, someone will give me a downer so I can chill the fuck out.

  Anyway, back to those assholes in school. After I broke the first bastards arm and wrist I got my first boner. Long story short, the school was able to stop me before I did any permanent damage and the amount of shit I gave them led me in cuffs. Naturally, there were no charges brought to me
– courtesy of pop – and I was just mandated to be evaluated.

  The doctor claimed that while my responses are extreme and abnormal, there was nothing wrong with me medically. You probably just wanted to refrain from pissing me the fuck off.

  “Fuck,” I whispered.

  “Fuck.” A little louder.

  “FUCK!” I roared. “Fucking Julie! How the fuck did this happen?” I asked him giving up all my fight.

  Angelou gave me a sad smile. “Simple. You cared.”

  I shook my head, but his words rang true through my being. “Why her?” I asked. I needed some type of answers, and I felt like a fucking sap right now but… SHIT!

  “She’s an intriguing girl. Damn beautiful too. Everything you can want.” He said to me.

  I nodded in agreement. “But it was all a lie,” I told him.

  He scooted off of me and offered his hand for me to move to a sitting position. I moved back until my back rested against the bar. “What happened Gio. Tell me.” Angelou demanded.

  I opened my mouth to speak when Dante walked from my room with two duffle bags filled with Julie’s stuff. I felt myself beginning to get angry again and did what I could to tamp it down. “Are you done being a dick?” Dante asked. He didn’t have a drop of fear in his heart right now. He looked at me with nothing but disgust.

  “No,” I admitted.

  “I’m taking your computer too, so she can do her work. I’m going to hide it in her stuff.” I opened my mouth, but he cut me off. “I’m sure she’ll return it. She’d never accept it straight out, but when she finds it, she might use it out of desperation.”

  I closed my eyes and gave a fantom nod. Not that I thought it would stop him from trying. It grated my nerves that he was the one taking care of her right now. I felt like that was my job, but it shouldn’t be.

  I waited until I heard the door close signaling Dante’s exit before I opened my eyes. I looked at Angelou, and I let him see me. I was lost, but most of all I was hurting. When the door closed, Angelou was fixing us both drinks. I stood to join him, I was fucking drained.

  “Marco, talk to me,” Angelou demanded. “What the fuck happened?” he asked.

  I couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Fuck man. I went to pick her up and she… she fucking acted like I was no one. She told her mother I was her boss, not even a fucking friend.” I started. “Then her mother was throwing herself at me, and she seemed alright with that shit. What the fuck?!” I shook my head. “I thought she was mine, but I was mistaken. She was ashamed to fucking tell her family about me.” I told him.

  He watched me for a few minutes not saying anything, then frowned. “Are you sure that’s the issue?” he asked.

  I looked at him incredulously. “What the fuck else would it be?” I said shaking my head and standing. “You see how she fucking acts when we’re in public, always running off and trying to appear like she’s not with me.” I began pacing. “I took her home to Ma. That’s not a small thing, then when I meet her family, she’s practically trying to drag me away while letting her mother try to seduce me.” I argued.

  He sighed. “You’ve told me about the sister. Did you ever stop to fucking think about her?” he asked me.

  I frowned. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” I asked.

  He shook his head, and when he looked at me, he looked disappointed. “She doesn’t have what you do for a family. Just let me ask you something…” he started.

  My hackles raised and I poured another drink. “What the fuck do you have to ask?” I spit at him.

  “Have you been there before?” he asked.

  I nodded. “Yes. She rushed me out of the fucking house.”

  He laughed without humor. “Did you talk to her?” he kept going.

  I groaned. “If I wanted a fucking therapy session, I would’ve called Opera,” I told him.

  He shrugged. “You can be an ass as much as you want. The only person you’re hurting is yourself you know. My opinion, you’re letting those fucking voices go against your common sense and better judgment.” He met my eyes. “That anger that you always carry around on your shoulders like a fucking backpack makes you always see the worse in everything.” I left it at that and eventually ended up drinking myself into oblivion that night. Angelou only stayed long enough for Dante to swing back by to pick him up.

  When I woke up, I immediately groaned and had to go back to sleep. When I awoke again, it was late as fuck for me, but by the time I was able to move without sharp pains in my head, I got my day going. I’d decided that I was going to stay away from the club and avoid the hell out of Julie. I didn’t want to see her… I couldn’t see her. Never in my life have I ever felt so fucking betrayed. Then, it only pissed me off that it was bothering me and I fucking cared in the first place. I felt like a bitch.

  The day was going well at first. That was until Dante informed me that we would need to head to the club. I began to decline, but his words gave me no choice.

  “Boss, it’s Jetti. He’s got information.”

  Fuck.

  The meet was scheduled at 10:30 in the back VIP section of the club. I was anxious as fuck on my way there. I never let it show, only letting the world see my calm, cool, and collected exterior. I was anxious about having to see Julie, but I was really fucking pissed about having to see Jetti so soon. Meetings with him were never a good thing. Not to mention that I just fucking met with him two weeks ago and the information he gave me was fucked. There’s no way this could be getting better so fast.

  I followed behind Dante, and Angelou to the secluded table in the back. I kept my eyes forward making sure that I don’t see Julie. When we reached the table, Jetti was already there with two half-naked bitches that looked like they were in heat. He always had a whore or two on his arm, always looking to share.

  “Jetti.” I greeted him.

  “Giovanni.”

  We took our seats, and one of my waitresses came over to get our orders. “So what do I owe the pleasure?” I asked him.

  The light, fun expression he’d been sporting vanished and with a flick of his wrists his two companions sauntered off towards the direction of the dance floor. I wasn’t a dancer, and I never ventured over there, but it was definitely a favored spot in the club. He leaned forward putting his elbow on the table.

  “So this is it. I came to you a bit ago to let you know that someone has been dropping tips with us at the station on you. Always anonymous, but its fucking weird. It hasn’t stopped, but their calls were always vague. They had no information just telling us shit we quite frankly already know.” He started.

  So here’s the thing. Jetti is my man. Oddly enough, he was a cop. He was in the family but removed enough no one suspected a thing. He wasn’t all about that crime free bullshit, and he kept his eyes and ears on the ground to keep us one step ahead. It’s fucking ironic because he fucking hated cops. His pops was killed by one, and this is his big FUCK YOU to the pigs. Whatever, everyone has their own demons.

  “What’s changed?” I asked.

  “There was a bust two days ago. A lot of drugs and shit was recovered. It’s apparently an up and coming family. They’re sloppy as fuck and seem to be trying to jump in head first opposed to getting their feet wet. The guys they had working the shipment was weak. They don’t have soldiers, they sang like fucking birds. There was one fucker though…” he trailed off and frowned as he got into his thoughts. “A big fucker, who thought he was tough shit. His problem was, he was stupid. So busy trying to prove something, he was giving us what we need.”

  My eyebrows went up. “And?” I asked getting impatient.

  “Simply said, they hate the family. Sounds more like jealousy to me from the way he rambled on, but he’s low on the food chain. If there was something more to it, I doubt he’d even know. But his whole thing was they were going to take over and put an end to the Ruzzo line.”

  This is what I needed. I smiled, a dark smile as I felt the adrenaline begin to pump thro
ugh my system. “So, what… they’re looking for a war?” I asked.

  He nodded glumly. “It would appear so. I don’t think they’re ready… hell I know they’re not ready. But I don’t have enough information yet to really form an opinion. These guys like I said were stupid, doesn’t mean that the guys in charge are. Not every family is run like ours. When it comes to the pack mules, the responsibilities tend to trickle down the ladder as people feel it’s below them and their position. I’m going to keep working on it to find out more, I’ll keep you on.”

  It was a lot to take in, but I was always ready. “Good looking.”

  I leaned back into my seat. “So how’s it going?” I asked. Business was over.

  He glanced over the way where his company had disappeared. “Couldn’t be better.”

  I returned his smile, but it was forced. “I know what you mean.” At least I thought I did.

  We exchanged pleasantries for a couple of minutes before ending the meeting. He was a cop and all, and well it wouldn’t look too good with us having a friendly extended chat. He made a motion, and his girls came back as we stood and walked to the rails looking down to the bottom level.

  “Would you like one for the night?” Jetti offered like he always did.

  I grinned and shook my head. He was so predictable at times. “I think I’m good.”

  He waggled his brow. “Sparkle is something.” He said and slapped her ass hard, telling her to come to me.

  I stayed in place as she came to my side and put a hand on my chest. She plastered her front on my arm and side and squirmed against me a bit. It felt all fucking wrong, and I politely moved away. “I gotta run,” I told Jetti.

  He nodded in understanding and just as I went to make my way to the stairs to get the fuck out of there, angry and hurt blue eyes caught mine. She’d been watching. I felt guilty immediately than squashed it down. I hadn’t even been doing anything, but even I was. She had no right to feel any type of way. She wasn’t mine, she wasn’t ever mine. I felt myself go cold and turned and walked away.