by Posey Parks
“Everything’s tied up with a neat little bow.”
His tan skin along the side of his neck blistered. Maceo probably turned up the lights when we arrived. They were equivalent to baking in a sauna. Great for torture purposes.
“Romeo, what was the final item he paid?”
“His mother’s hospital bill. Totaling fifty thousand dollars.”
Orlando’s blue eyes widened. “Boss, my mother was dying. The operation was expensive,” he cried.
I tossed my hand in the air. “Shut the fuck up! There is no excuse to betray this family,” I roared.
“My wife almost lost me.” I pointed at my chest.
“The icing on the cake…I don’t even remember her.”
The blood heated in my veins. I raised the sledge hammer to the side then slammed it into his stomach. He shrilled like a pig being slaughtered.
Chest heaving, I yanked his chin in Emoni’s direction.
“I don’t remember that vision of beauty. The mother of my unborn child, I don’t fucking remember.” I pushed him backward. His limp arms hung like flimsy cardboard.
“You planned to make my wife a widow. You got in bed with that slimy motherfucker who I also don’t remember. But I was told enough to know he didn’t deserve to walk this earth.” My finger swayed back and forth, pointing at the floor like a pendulum.
“He beat her until she was unconscious often. That bastard wanted her back under his thumb. Because to him, beating on a helpless woman was a form of power. Men are never to abuse a woman.
I peeked over my shoulder. “But sweetheart you’re not helpless anymore, right?”
“No.”
“And why is that?”
She stepped beside me. “Because you taught me how to defend myself. I chopped off José’s hand like a piece of meat.” She twirled the sharp knife in her hand.
“Luckily my men didn’t die. Kagan stood back and watch me torture and maim that bastard. It was a slim chance I’d ever have a child. Because he kicked the living shit out of me one day so fucking hard blood poured out of my mouth.”
My grip tightened on the handle of the sledge hammer. It pained me to listen to what the motherfucker did to her over the years. I wished I could kill him again. Emoni whipped the knife across his flesh.
“Ah,” he hollered.
“Maybe the boss you once worked for was a slimy bastard like José and watching him beat on a woman was nothing for you, but not my man. Marco would not ever lay a hand on a woman. Punching a woman in the face like she was a punching bag just because he felt like it, isn’t your boss. The new boss you vowed to protect. He represents a real man.” She paused, and her head lowered.
“He doesn’t remember me. The man who rescued me from that monster,” she roared.
“He doesn’t remember me,” she yelled at the top of her lungs.
Her rage was unleashed. She let loose. All the pent-up aggression she harbored she released.
“This man loved me. Protected me.” Her body shook as she pointed her shivering finger behind her in my direction.
“He protected me when he didn’t know me. He protected me because what my ex-fiancé did to me wasn’t right,” she stated through barred teeth.
“Not sure if you’re the kind of man who would be ok with a man beating on his mother or sister. All that matters today is that Marco Esposito wouldn’t harm me.”
She was breaking down. Remembering all that had happened awakened all the ugly thoughts in her head.
“You tried to steal him from me. You switched out those bullet-proof vests so all of my men would walk into battle unprotected.” Her head rose, and she met his gaze.
“The best part of that day while my husband laid on the ground bleeding out was the look on José’s face. He thought he still held power over me. The look in his eyes when I chopped off his dick…was surprise. I’ll cherish that look for the rest of my life,” she whispered.
She shoved her knife into his stomach and held it there. “You deserve to rot in hell for the damage you’ve done.”
She snatched her knife out of his stomach, chest heaving, she stared at the blood pouring on the floor. I grabbed a sharp knife off the table and slammed it into his eyeball. His body convulsed. Emoni pushed her knife into his gut again. I tossed my knife on the floor and tightened my grip on the sledge hammer wooden handle.
“Baby, step back.” The wide plastic grin spread across her lips. The one I hated because it meant she was on the brink of breaking down. But she couldn’t do it here or so she thought. The men in the room with us were my friends. They wouldn’t think she was weak because she continued to shed tears for the pain she suffered. They’d fight that much harder for her. That’s who they were.
Emoni walked back behind the table.
Orlando’s lips moved. I inched my ear closer. “Sorry, Mr. Esposito.”
Gurgling sounded in his throat and he took his last breath. I stepped back and drove the sledge hammer into his heart. The pain swept through my body in waves. The pain meds hadn’t kicked in. I didn’t care. My abdomen tightened and my muscled bulged as I held the large hammer over my head. I smashed his head. Brain matter seeped down his bloody body, pooling on the floor beside him. I tossed the sledge hammer aside.
“Sorry?” My jaw twitched.
“Fuck your sorry,” I roared.
“You tried to take everything from me,” I yelled. My words vibrated throughout the room.
Then my legs gave out. That was the last thing I remembered.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
EMONI
Marco’s knees buckled, and his muscled body toppled over.
“No,” I screamed.
Romeo caught him before his head hit the floor.
Emoni, hold it together.
I dropped to my knees beside him. My arms wrapped around Marco. Romeo sat back.
I checked his pulse. “He’s still breathing.”
Think quick, Emoni.
“Get him upstairs into the shower.”
The guys jumped into action. We had to cover our boots in fresh pairs of booties before we could walk upstairs.
My heartbeat thudded in my ears. Strolling behind them up the stairs, I peeked at my shivering hands.
Shit, my husband was so stubborn. He had to be here to torture this rat who brought us grief. I wanted to talk him out of coming. But I knew it’d be futile.
I clamped my hands together in an effort to stop the shaking. Shit, the tears. They clouded my vision. Fuck no crying, Emoni. I swiped at my face and held my trembling lower lip between my teeth. The master bathroom was spacious and elegant. Wood cabinets and wood drawers. I held the glass door open. The guys placed Marco’s bloody body on the cream-tiled shower floor.
“Maceo, has he owned this safe house a long time?”
He swallowed hard. “No, he bought it for you a couple of months back. It was supposed to be a surprise. No one knew about this house but me, so I brought the rat here. Wondered if Marco saw this place in person again, maybe it would trigger a memory.” Pain struck his handsome features.
The guys surrounded me. I peeked at Marco lying on the floor.
“Emoni, listen,” Rémy started.
“You don’t have to pretend like all of this doesn’t affect you. We know it does, and it’s all right.”
“He’s right.” Romeo rubbed his gruff face.
“Just because you are the Donna doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to display emotions.”
I glanced at Maceo from the corner of my eye. “Maceo has witnessed several of my low points.”
His strong hand landed on my shoulder. “You’re right, I have. I respect you even more. You are a strong woman, Emoni. You’ve come so far in a short period of time. I imagine your strength was always there. It was just buried down deep. Marco awakened the beast inside of you. Turning you into a warrior princess.”
My eyes fell across the smirks on their faces.
“Thank you so much you g
uys. I will take care of Marco. If he doesn’t wake up, we’ll need the doctor used in situations like this or Luca.”
“Not a problem. We’ll be in the basement cleaning up the mess. If you need anything, press that intercom button.”
Maceo pointed to the little box on the shower wall.
“And one of us will be here.”
I nodded and stepped into the shower. Romeo closed the door behind them as they vacated the bathroom.
Wasting no time, I jumped into action. I turned the knobs until hot water sprayed through the four shower heads raining on us.
I stripped the bloody clothes off Marco.
“You didn’t have to use that stupid sledge hammer. You weren’t ready, baby.”
I rinsed Orlando’s blood off our leather aprons and tossed them in the corner. They fell on top of my clothes. I continued undressing Marco.
How could I tell him I had to travel to Mexico with a small team without him?
One thing at a time, Emoni. He has to wake up first.
Even with the four gun-shot wounds, his body was still a work of art. His tattoos would be the death of me. This new Marco. A man I half know. He was rougher around the edges. Not as reserved. Only meant he held his tongue a lot. He doesn’t do that now. He fucked me like I was his to conquer, but I was already his to do as he wished. I was his wife. The little threat to fuck me so hard in our bathroom until our neighbors heard me scream only turned me on. I didn’t mean for that moan to slip from my lips in front of our men. Shit, I even came a little.
My fingers trailed over the flower tatts on his pecs. I licked my lips.
“Baby, can you hear me?”
Lying his head on the floor, I peeled off his distressed jeans. Shit, this was wrong. Instead of slapping his face, begging him to wake up, I ogled his body. Before removing his boxers, I marveled his chiseled thighs. I stood under one of the jets as I whipped my blouse overhead, then threw it to the floor.
Glancing down at his perfect face carved from stone, I hooked my thumbs in the waist band of my panties and wiggled them to the floor. I turned my face to the ceiling, allowing the hot water to cascade over my skin. I unhooked my bra and I turned my shoulders. The bra dropped down my arms and I tossed it aside. A heavy hand grabbed my leg.
My wide-eyed gaze met Marco’s startled eyes.
“Marco, are you all right?”
I fell to my knees at his side.
He gripped his head. “What happened?”
“You over did it,” I huffed.
“Can you sit up?” I helped him up slowly.
He gripped his stomach and winced. “Fuck.”
“Marco, you scared the shit out of me.” My brows rustled together.
He sat up and tilted his head back. “Emoni, I know.”
His gloved fingers traced through his tousled hair. “Shit, we didn’t clean up. Don’t remove the gloves until your hair is clean.”
“I remember from the last time,” I mumbled.
“Good.” His facial features hardened.
I poured a generous amount of shampoo in his hair. “Let me.”
Sitting on my knees, I scrubbed his hair. Bloody brain matter washed down the drain. “At least, this isn’t your blood.”
“True.” He paused. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Marco, I understand, but you did. You have to listen to me. Oh, shit, wait.”
I hopped to my feet and pressed the intercom button. “Hey guys, Marco is fine.”
“You scared the shit out of us, Marco. We have everything handled down here. Don’t worry. Rest up,” Maceo stated.
I pressed the button again.
“Thanks,” Marco smirked as the water rinsed the soap away.
I ripped the scrunchie out of my hair and tossed it on the bench.
“Finish what you were saying.”
I poured shampoo in my palm, worked up a lather and massaged my scalp.
“I’m going to Mexico without you.” My eyelids slammed shut.
“What?”
One eye popped open. The air caught in my throat.
He leaned against the wall. “I don’t think so,” he growled.
The water flowed through my thick curly locks.
“What? Over your dead body?”
“Not fucking cool, Emoni.”
Tightly, I ran my hands over my hair, releasing the excess water.
He lowered his head. I massaged his scalp, checking for remaining brain matter. “All clear.”
We peeled off our leather gloves and added them to the heaping pile of clothes in the corner.
“Good.” He grabbed my waist and spun me around, pinning me against the wall with his hard body.
“This is a difficult pregnancy for you. Now you want to travel to Mexico alone in your fragile state. Emoni, you can’t be serious.”
“Then what? I wait until after the baby is born? Then Roderigo has fled from Mexico and gone who knows where. I need to move now. I’d like to enjoy the rest of this pregnancy.”
I placed his hands on my belly. “Marco, I want us to enjoy the rest of this pregnancy. You need to build your strength.
My fingers stroked his bulging arms. His skin heated under my touch. I stared at his tight jaw.
“Marco, say something.”
His eyes darkened. “We’ll discuss it later.”
Fuck, he might say no, which meant maybe I’d have to move in secret and not tell him. I’d have to talk to Dillon and Sierra.
His eyes narrowed. “I see the fucking wheels turning in your head. Don’t go behind my back, Emoni.”
“Don’t paint me into a corner. Say you’ll send me with our best men in your place.”
Slowly, I inched closer. My lips pressed against his pec. “Drop the boxers.”
“Sex won’t solve this problem.” He shoved his boxers down his muscled thighs.
Fuck, I was so wet.
I peeked at him through my lashes. “Baby, I never said it would. Sit.”
He lowered onto the cream-colored bench and widened his legs. Marco wrapped his hand around my curly locks and yanked me to face away from him. His other hand caressed my hip, guiding my pussy over his cock.
“Marco, are you sure you’re up to this?”
His lips swept across my back. “No, I’m not. But I want to feel your pussy clench my cock,” he muttered.
Marco’s fingers slipped over my clit. His other hand released my hair, he gripped my cheeks, and crushed my lips. I held his dick and lowered myself down his long, thick shaft.
“Oh, fuck, Marco.”
“Yeah, fuck is the right word, baby.”
I gripped his thighs as I bounced up and down his cock.
“Emoni, I can’t lose you or our baby.”
He massaged my breasts as he pounded into me.
“I know, Marco. And I can’t lose you either. I just got you back,” I breathed.
My eyes hooded as he hit that spot. Shivers swept up my back, and my toes curled. Staring at the pretty tiles in my path, my lips parted, and I almost fell over.
“Hang on, Emoni.” His finger grazed the tip of my clit. Pulsing sensations danced on my nerve endings. I needed to close my mouth or I’d start drooling. Shit, he was the only man who had the ability to make me come so masterfully.
“Emoni, Emoni?”
Shit, I didn’t hear him call my name for like a minute. “Huh?”
He stood me on my shaky feet, never releasing my body. Marco turned me to face him.
“I need to see that beautiful face.” His need for me was evident in his green eyes. He gave me that dark jade sensitive stare.
Stradling him, I caged us in. My lips fell upon his. Marco caressed my thighs.
“These new memories are ours.”
I swept the tip of my nose across his. “Yes, they are.”
He slipped his powerful mind-blowing dick inside of me.
“Oh, yeah.”
I knew my hair was a fucking mess. Didn�
�t give a care either. Only cared about being pleased by my husband.
He sucked my nipple into his mouth and held my gaze as he sucked. His beautiful eyes pulled me over the top.
“Right there, Marco,” I moaned.
His tongue slid along my collar bone. “I love being deep inside you, Emoni.” His eyes hooded. He was on the brink of coming.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and threaded my fingers through his hair.
“Emoni, I’ll find my way back to you,” he murmured against my neck.
Tears slipped down my cheeks. I wasn’t expecting him to say that. What happened downstairs came back to memory. He heard me reveal how I felt about not having my Marco. The man I remembered who got down on bended knee and asked me to marry him. The man who slept beside me the first night we met. Didn’t try to violate me. He was the only protector I ever needed.
“I only need you, Marco. Just you.”
“Fuck, Emoni.” He gripped my hips and slammed inside me, filling me with his seed.
“Hold me just like this. I love the way your cock pulsates inside me.”
“I love that too.”
My eyes met his as a heavy burst of tears threatened to break free. My throat tightened, and I couldn’t breathe.
Then the dam broke. “God. Oh, God. I’m trying to be strong.”
His face softened. “I told you there’s no need to hide from me. Let it out, Emoni.”
I cried into the crook of his neck. My body trembled in his big strong arms.
“Emoni, I hated to hear all those terrible things he did to you. I wanted to kill him again.”
My lips slipped across his cheek. “You showed me what real love looks like. I am so grateful.” Pulling back a bit, I stared into his eyes again.
His finger grazed my jaw line. “That’s why you’re the Donna of the Esposito’s. You’re a true boss, babe.”
A huge smile swept across my lips.
“Apparently, I was just the man to uncover your strength.”
“Mr. Esposito, as much as I’d like to get lost in your eyes, I need you to rest.”
Even though his cock had softened inside me, I still enjoyed the feeling. The closeness.
