We spent Christmas and New Year’s Eve quietly at her apartment. Teagan went back to London after Christmas, and Fallon really misses her, so I try to spend as much time with her as possible, even though I have no idea where we stand.
It’s becoming more difficult every day for me to hide how much I want her physically. Damn, I want her bad. We shower together when I spend the night with her, and I need to relieve myself after our shower every time. If this goes on much longer, I might pound her in her sleep. I try to focus and put her well-being first by showing her that I’m much more than just the underboss of the Chicago Syndicate, and it’s working. She’s slowly letting me back in, but I’m still on guard with her, as she is with me. The betrayal and deceit we both placed on each other aren’t easily forgotten.
Almost a year has passed since she bumped into me that night in the club, and I’m pretty much in a similar place. James doesn’t know that she’s taking up most of my time because Adriano is working double shifts to make up for my lost hours. My best friend is the only person I trust indisputably, and he has done everything to give me more free time because he sees how much I still love her.
I’m using every Syndicate resource I have at my disposal to capture Ashton, but he always manages to stay a step ahead of us, and we don’t know how he’s doing it. Every time Henry follows a trail or when Fat Sal has a lead on where Ashton has been spotted, he’s always gone by the time we get there. Sal is currently investigating all of his club members because, chances are, there is another leak in his organization.
James isn’t happy with the way I use our resources, but he and I have grown apart to the point where we only speak over the phone and quickly discuss business. Adriano and I still don’t know what James was doing at Club 7 when we caught him walking out of the front entrance, but we’re keeping that information to ourselves a little longer. James is definitely up to something. Something that he’s keeping a secret from his underboss, me, and Capo, Adriano.
As I close the front door behind me, I’m pleased that she’s sitting on the floor and watching her favorite series about witches. A series with visuals that originated at the beginning of the previous decade if you ask me, and I enjoy teasing her about it. “I see you’re engrossed in your show with King Kong 1930s special effects again.”
Her eyes are trained on the screen. “It’s not that bad. And – for your information – one of the characters reminds me of you, so you could be a little more grateful for this awesome show,” she replies sarcastically while waving me off.
I just laugh as I watch her. She wanted to visit her parents’ grave alone this morning, on the first day of the new year, and I was afraid it would depress her to go alone, but she seems relaxed, settled back against the sofa with a cup of tea in her hand.
Her flawless face lights with a smile from ear to ear when she finally does look at me after the scene ends. “You’re back soon.”
Non riesco a stare lontano da te. I can’t stay away from you.
I’m in awe of how strong she actually is. She’s fighting so hard not to get lost in her grief. Most people drown themselves in sorrow, but not her. She continues on, and I definitely underestimated her strength and perseverance. I used to think that she could never survive a life with a man like me in my ruthless world, but I didn’t give her enough credit. She’s a fighter, like me, and I will do anything to keep her with me because there’s no way I will lose her again; that’s not an option for me. She’s been locked in my mind, body, and soul since I first laid eyes on her beautiful heart-shaped face. A familiar throbbing below pushes me to have her, to own her, to make her mine again. She belongs to me, but the need to mark her is painfully profound.
My disappointment with her lies vanished entirely within these two weeks after she drew me back into her life. It’s also partly due to my enormous guilt over ignoring her phone calls when she needed me most. I ignored her for hours while she was alone in that house with the dead bodies of her parents.
I believe we’ve both been hurt enough by each other’s lies and disloyalty. And since I could never let myself forget her, I’m done trying. Now my new goal is to open her eyes as well because I can tell she wants me just as much as I want her. I can see it in the way her eyes rake over my body. How her breathing grows shallow when I skim my fingers over her naked, soft skin as we lie in bed, but there’s something holding her back.
However, breaking down her barriers is not my only concern. After I’ve officially made her mine again, I still need to figure out how to keep her safe from the Syndicate, how to keep us safe from the Syndicate. Without James backing me, I’m not positive I can keep her safe.
“Luca!” she shouts while I’m lost in my thoughts. “Where did you go?”
“Nowhere. Come, let’s go shower.” I hold out my hand as the allure of her sparkling eyes holds me captive. Showering has become my new favorite past-time. Showering with Fallon of course.
“I don’t want to shower now.” But she still places her small hand in mine.
I tug her up and pull her flush against me, burying my nose in her sweet-smelling locks. “Then just keep me company in the bathroom.” And I trace the tip of my nose over her throat, up her chin.
I’m such a pussy when it comes to her because I just want her close to me. All. The. Fucking. Time. I’m an addict who’s missed his fix for too long.
She looks at me through her eyelashes and sighs as I brush our noses together ever so softly, making the hairs on my neck rise in anticipation. I graze my lips over hers while her arms hook around my waist, and I grin when she almost imperceptibly grinds against me, so I push my leg between hers and wind both hands in her hair, tilting her head back as her eyes fall shut.
“Don’t close them,” I order with a groan.
She stares at me with half-lidded eyes as I press my mouth to the corner of her lips then ghost over them to kiss the other corner. She starts to rub herself on my thigh, and I fist her hair harshly, making her gasp through her lazy smile.
“Tell me you want me,” I say tenderly, but she’s quiet as she pushes her breasts against my chest. I can feel the tips of her hardening nipples through my dress shirt, and I crush our mouths together.
Her nails dig into my back, and I plunge my tongue inside, tasting and licking every part of her warm, sweet mouth. I smirk when I taste sugar or some kind of cake icing. She loves to eat cake while watching her favorite TV show. Another low groan escapes as one hand travels down her back, over the curve of her ass, and I palm her cheek to press her against my growing hard-on. Then I pull her bottom lip between my teeth and release it slowly, causing her to moan and arch into me.
“I thought you were going to shower,” she whispers.
I bend down to press a kiss against the swell of her breasts. “Come.”
She follows behind me as I strip my suit on the way to her bathroom where I step out of my boxer briefs and into the shower.
Fallon leans against the sink, touching her kiss swollen lips, and stares at me through the glass doors, so I challenge her and stroke myself twice in my already semi-hard state while I return her lust-filled gaze.
I open the shower door and lean against it with one shoulder as I raise a brow. Is she joining me, or do I have to yank her in?
She and I are completely in tune because she answers my silent question. “No! You’re going to make me wet.”
“I was hoping for that, yes,” I joke and take one step out of the shower to quickly lock my fingers around her wrist, swiveling her around so that her back hits my naked chest and letting my fingers wander down the curves of her body. I drop my hand to her neckline and delve inside her thin lace bra until my grip possessively covers her breast, then I hurriedly pull the shirt over her head and tug her inside the shower.
She shrieks but bows into my touch, and I smile against her ear as I unclasp her bra and pull her sweatpants and panties down together. They fall in a wet heap, and I kick them into the corner of the stall
as the steam of the hot water gathers around us.
“Now I have you how I want you: naked and wet.” I tilt her head back, letting the warm water rinse her dark strands of hair as I massage her scalp and press my lips against her exposed throat, grinding my hardening length against her ass.
“Hmmm…that feels so good.” She dreamily closes her eyes.
Bending her over in the shower, I brace her hands against the tiles, coax her legs wider apart, and watch the hot water run down her ass while I palm the softness of her skin.
Her loud, sensual moan almost has me shoving myself into her, but I’m going to tease her first. Let her make the first move for sex because I need to hear her say how much she wants me. I want that wall she has erected around herself to break and shatter as she gives herself to me completely. I want her to desire me just as much as I’ve craved her for so many months, and I can wait. But I do need to relieve myself because seeing her bent over has me almost shooting my load all over her lower back.
Spreading her cheeks open, I groan as I rub my hard-on up and down, making her body arch exquisitely, but I don’t drive into her.
I should get a fucking medal for holding myself back.
“Touch yourself,” I say in a rough tone as I entwine our fingers and tease her relentlessly between her legs. I stroke myself against her ass with my other hand, coming in a few violent spurts as I make sure she also climbs to release, rubbing and circling our intertwined fingers over her center until she bucks against me and screams my name as she rides the tide of pleasure.
Our heavy breathing cuts through the flow of water, and with my arm circled around her waist, I pull her back up to lean against the cold tiles, her hair plastered around her flushed face. We’re both lost in our thoughts as the water cascades over our naked skin.
***
“Update on Ashton?” I ask while rummaging through the papers strewn on my desk at Security Simplicity.
Adriano’s mouth tilts down, and he shakes his head. “No, and I’m starting to believe someone is fucking with us.”
“Fat Sal?” I question.
“What do you think?”
“Not Sal, I think he’s definitely in our corner. Most likely a member of the fight club. Maybe someone with intimate ties to Ashton?” I muse aloud.
“Could be…” He eases back in his chair. “Are you coming with me to the house today?”
“Why are you going?”
“James has another flow of cash we need to pump into Simplicity.”
“James is going to be there?” That amazes me.
“I’m not sure; Salvatore was vague as usual. However, I do think you should join me and show your face before they start to get wind of how often you’ve been absent lately. You know I don’t mind, and I’m more than happy to cover for you so that you can be with Fallon right now, but we have to be careful.”
I nod in agreement. “You’re right. James is already pissed with how many resources I’m utilizing to find Ashton, and he realizes it has more to do with Fallon than the fact that he waterboarded me. I want Ashton in order to settle the score for Fallon. And we still need to find out what James was doing alone at Club 7, but we can’t ask Fat Sal. No one can know about the issues James and I have because it would be used against us. And I’m not positive if he’s deliberately keeping us in the dark.”
“Neither am I, but where do we start?”
Opening the desk drawer, I file the papers and then turn the key. “We’ll discuss it later, and I’ll meet you at the house. Now I’m off to Fallon’s therapist because she has had appointments twice a week but is curiously adamant about not letting me take her on Mondays. On Thursday, she loves it when I drop her off and pick her up, but every Monday, she declines. According to her, it’s because she doesn’t want to alienate her friends, so she lets Wade drop her off on Mondays, but she’s obviously lying. I just need to ensure that she’s all right.”
“How has she been doing?”
“Surprisingly good. She mostly just cries at night, when we’re in bed. And I can’t determine what else is bothering her. She’s opened up about her misery over losing her parents, but I have a distinct feeling that sometimes she wants to say more yet holds it in. The therapy is helping a lot because she always comes home in a positive mood after meeting Sylvia. She writes down her emotions and started yoga classes.”
“And you two?
Standing up, I take my jacket from the back of the chair and throw it on. “I don’t know. We avoid having the talk, and I’m not pushing while she’s still grieving. But at one point, I will let her know where we stand.”
Adriano perks his brow and grins. “Doesn’t she have a say in it?”
“Fallon is not going to push me away because I can read her. She’s slowly coming to terms with the fact that she still wants me – even though I’m the underboss of the Syndicate. Why do you think I haven’t allowed anyone to interfere with the investigation of her parents, or why I haven’t put any pressure on the Lake Forest police department? Because I don’t want anything to obstruct or affect the trust we’re rebuilding.” When Adriano opens his mouth to interrupt, I hurriedly add, “Yes, I’m aware that following her to the therapist is not helpful when trying to rebuilt trust, but I can’t change myself. I’m only giving her enough space to come to the same conclusion that I have: that we can’t be apart. There will come a time when she’ll ask for my help because I can sense the aggravation in her about how the case is being handled. She’s disappointed and mad but just hasn’t voiced it.” After pocketing my phone, I head to the door because I want to arrive there before Fallon does. “See you later.”
***
I park my car two blocks from Sylvia’s and walk to her office fifteen minutes before Fallon’s appointment. As I pass a children’s store, a familiar face steps inside the building across the street. Ducking inside the store, I witness Fallon being dropped off by Wade five minutes later.
“Sir, can I help you?”
Turning around to a friendly old lady, I quickly answer, “No, thank you. Just looking for a gift.” She retreats, and I call Adriano. “Guess who I just saw?”
“Don’t keep me in suspense,” he retorts with an obvious full mouth. He’s always eating.
“A certain Italian beauty you have a weak spot for.”
His chewing stops immediately. “Cam?” he asks as if he can’t believe me.
“Unless there’s another Italian you’re crushing on?”
“She’s in The Loop?”
“And she’s in contact with Fallon,” I elaborate.
“You sound pretty calm, even though you just caught Fallon in a lie.”
“That’s because I’m trying to think ahead. I’m going to confront her because I’m pretty curious what the deal is with Camilla and what these two women are up to. Honestly, I don’t believe Fallon is willingly lying to me.” I could be wrong, but I don’t reveal my doubts to him.
“I want to be there,” he comments.
“I don’t think that’s wise. Listen, let’s not do anything rash. We need something against James if it ever comes to that, and he wants Camilla because of the bombing at the house.”
“You don’t know that was her.”
“Fine, but we suspect her—”
“Luca, don’t hurt Cam.”
“I’m not going to do anything. I’m going to let her leave, and then I’ll confront Fallon. After that we’ll discuss our plan of action.”
“Call me after you’ve talked to Fallon.”
Ending the call, I look up and see Camilla leaving. I return to my car and park it in front of the building. Patiently, I wait for the end of Fallon’s session in the waiting area on the second floor.
When the door opens, I can tell from her slightly red eyes that it was a tough session. Instead of shock, she smiles when she spots me, so I hold open my arms while nodding to Sylvia, whom I’ve met several times when I picked Fallon up on Thursdays.
“This is a
nice surprise,” she mutters against my chest and pulls back. “Couldn’t Wade come?”
Shit! I didn’t think of that.
“I don’t know, but he’s not here yet. Text him that he doesn’t need to come. Let’s get you home.” I circle the thick, white shawl around her neck twice because it’s cold outside and just started to snow again.
***
I throw the keys on the kitchen table when we enter her apartment while she makes herself a cup of tea. This woman can live off of tea.
The ride home was pleasantly silent, and I’m actually stunned that I’m not mad at all. Quite the contrary, I just want to hear her out first before jumping to any conclusions.
“Dolcezza, we need to talk.”
Uh-oh.” She slams the cabinet shut. “That’s never good.” But she joins me on the sofa, and the swelling around her eyes has me incapable of being angry at her.
In the past, I’ve allowed our lies and deceit to break us up, but I’m not about to make that same mistake again and decide to just throw it out there. “I was at the therapist’s office before your session began.” Her eyes widen, and I can see the tears building immediately. This emotional reaction is what I anticipated and calms me even more because I was right; she isn’t lying to me willingly. “I saw you with Camilla.” Her pale appearance softens me. “Talk to me.”
“She’s scared, Luca. I gave her money because she’s broke, and I’ve been trying to convince Cam to confide in you and Adriano.”
I believe her without any doubt, but I need to convey where I stand. “You should’ve told me.” She sighs and breaks eye contact, so I place my finger under her chin to steer her gaze back on me.
“You’re right, but she’s really scared, and she also told me something about Adriano that confused me.”
Now a hint of annoyance starts to rise because there’s only one person in this world I trust indisputably and that’s my best friend. “Don’t. Stop right there. Don’t you dare plant seeds of doubt in me about Adriano.”
For Luca (Chicago Syndicate Book 2) Page 20
