They were their own bosses, self-made millionaires, and they could get anything they wanted or needed.
Major preferred to be alone. He didn’t trust easily. Women came and went, and he never brought any to their home. Neither did Mateus. Major felt like he was older than his thirty-four years, especially after serving five years in prison for a crime he would do over and over again.
He shook the thoughts from his head. That was years ago, and he accepted his life as it was with all its mistakes. Some of his best, most loyal friends he made on the streets as a kid in a gang, and surviving was something he knew how to do all too well. The only people he kept close to him were Mateus, and of course Rayanna, Collin, and Fedarro. He really didn’t bother too much with the other family members, only in business. Rayanna was like a sister and was always there for both of them.
“I’m not making any set plans. We need this vacation, man. It’s been like eight months since we’ve been on one. I don’t want to get caught up in those damn parties and drinking and fucking around with different women. It’s a drag, and once they know where we’re staying, they’ll be throwing parties at our place, and we’ll be flipping the bill. I want peace and quiet,” Mateus stated.
“What about the gang coming over and staying at the house? They’re all going to be around Saturday.”
“One fucking night. Not the whole week. I want alone time.”
“Okay, Mateus. I’m with ya. We’ll make this a fucking vacation, and also discuss the importing side of the business with Collin and Fedarro,” Major said and then sat down at the desk and started going over e-mails. The one positive of having a bunch of reliable people to run their companies was they rarely had to do much at all. The companies ran themselves. They did spot checks throughout the year, but never at the same time or month or day. Only one asshole tried to steal from them and he was now working in the basement of some sweatshop in Chinatown. Used to be a CFO. Dick.
The next two weeks couldn’t go by quick enough. Sun, sand, and relaxation in the D.R. Major couldn’t wait.
* * * *
Paulie Costanza Junior bent over, trying to catch his breath after the blow to his gut. This was bad. So fucking bad. He was a dead man. He fucked up big time. His heart was racing so badly he could hardly swallow. The second hit to his side sent him to his knees.
“You owe him fifty grand. In another week, it becomes fifty-five grand, plus you fucked up one of his trucks and nearly brought the cops sniffing around his stuff. You should be fucking dead.”
“No, no, man, I’ll get the money somehow. I’ll work something out with him.”
“Ugg.” The jab to his throat had him gasping for breath and then another slug to his stomach, his ribs, and then his kidneys. He fell to the concrete floor in the back room of the garage. He fucked up. His old man was going to have a shit fit and wouldn’t bail him out of this situation. He knew he was screwed. How could he get out of this? It was supposed to be a clean operation. In and out, him and two guys steal a truck filled with merchandise and some valuable, untraceable shit and then sell it to a guy they knew in Brooklyn. Someone snitched on them. Someone knew their plan. But what about his buddies? Did these guys go after them, too? Why was Trojan here? He never did this shit.
“There’s only one fucking reason why I haven’t put a bullet in your fucking head. The boss said to keep you alive. He’s going to call upon you very soon for a favor. You don’t ask any questions. In the meantime, you owe him. You pay as you go and the interest is twenty percent a week. He calls and wants you to do a job, you fucking do it, no questions asked. Understood?” He hit Paulie Junior on the side of the head.
“Yeah, yeah, I understand.” He really didn’t though. What job could he possibly be asked to do for the boss? Kill someone? What? Jesus, he was as good as dead. He wasn’t a killer.
“I expect money when I come back in a few days. You disappear, then you lost your chance, and when we find you, we slit your fucking throat and leave you for your father to find in your fucking bed. Got it?”
“Got it,” Paulie Junior said and could hardly breathe, he was in so much pain in his ribs, stomach, and throat.
They walked away. The two of them, Trojan and Clover, Colosar Miantelli’s main men, were men who had the power to end his life and anyone who was close to him. He fucked up big time, and now there was no way to save him.
Chapter 2
“I can’t believe he is doing this to you. You know he likes you, right?” Melissa asked Bella as she prepared to leave for another meeting with Colosar. The first one last week wasn’t so terrible, but he did invade her space and flirt. All week she heard about how he never dated women and his affairs were secretive. She heard the gossip of how many women threw themselves at him for sex, and also how jealous the women were at work that he was paying attention to her.
She kept denying that this was anything but business, but her gut said it was more. Then her boss called her in for a meeting and basically told her she needed to do whatever Colosar asked her to do and not piss him off. That angered her, but she didn’t say anything when Paul came into her office two days ago and begged for her to keep Colosar happy or he would lose his job and so would others. Her head was spinning, and after much thought, she decided she would have to set Colosar straight and let him know that she wouldn’t get involved with him if that was what he was after. Her fears of losing her job seemed less important. Although she did find the man attractive, and he had this way about him that was intriguing, her gut warned her that he was trouble.
“That’s not true. It’s completely business and he doesn’t flirt or make any suggestions about getting together outside of the office setting.”
“Not lunch or dinner?”
“No, Melissa. Today will be the first time we have lunch, and it’s only because he needs to wait in the office for a conference call or something that will bring us past lunch time. I don’t know. I just need to go over this week’s updates with him and then get out of there.”
“He’s a good looking man with a lot of money and power. You don’t find him attractive?” Melissa asked with her arms crossed in front of her chest and her eyes squinting at Bella.
“I really haven’t thought about him in that way. He’s so angry all the time and he barks more than he speaks.”
“That can be sexy,” Melissa said to her.
“Perhaps from another man, but not him. I can’t stop shaking when he’s around.”
“What if he was to make a move on you, what would you do?”
“Why are you asking me this?” Bella asked, putting the shoulder strap onto her shoulder to carry her bag.
“I just want to know. Is there any attraction to him? I know you don’t date and keep to yourself. I just want to know if you find him attractive.”
“I do find him attractive. What woman wouldn’t? But it’s like when he speaks to me it seems fake, or pretend and a power play. We come from different worlds. He’s caviar and I’m chips and salsa.”
“Don’t you mean zeppole?”
“Very funny, wiseass. I’ll remember that when I bring in leftover meatballs and pasta and don’t share with you.”
“You wouldn’t dare. You’re the only real Italian friend I have and I can’t cook worth a shit.”
Bella chuckled. “I better head downstairs. The car is probably there and Trojan is very impatient and doesn’t say a word. He growls and huffs.”
“He is hot, too.”
“I think you need a boyfriend.”
“Nah, just sex. Maybe we could go on a double date?” Melissa stated with a wink.
Bella shook her head and smirked. Then Melissa pouted and headed toward her desk, giving a sassy look over her shoulder. Bella shook her head and went downstairs. Colosar and Trojan were definitely not the double dating kind of men. No ice cream shops, movies, or dinner at a diner. No, they would be gourmet meals a la carte.
Sure enough, as the elevator doors opened, there stoo
d Trojan. Tall, six-foot-three, wide shoulders, brown crew cut hair and dressed in a black shirt, black pants, and black tie. He had a tattoo on his neck that peeked out from the collar, but she didn’t know what it was of. She knew the gang sign on his hand, though, right at the thumb and forefinger. She wasn’t sure if it was from him serving time in prison or some gang he grew up around, but it added to the fact that she didn’t need to piss him off in any way.
“Trojan,” she said to him. Not really a hello but a greeting like he gave. A nod and a motion with his hand.
“The boss is waiting.”
Her high heels clicked on the marble flooring and she pulled her sweater tighter as they headed outside. It was a bit chilly today. She wore a slim fitting deep purple business dress that accentuated her curves and her breasts but wasn’t low cut. The sweater she wore was black and light and covered part of her ass. She was pretty conservative in her work attire but still dressed like an executive in the fashion industry. She was a saver and budgeted everything out. Her clothing looked designer but were knockoffs that cost seventy to ninety percent less and no one could tell the difference.
When Trojan opened the door, there was another woman in the back seat. She was pretty, older, maybe in her thirties, and dressed designer. She wore Prada from head to toe.
“Hi. I’m sorry, I wasn’t expecting anyone to be in here. I’m Bella,” she said, and Trojan closed the door.
“I know. I’m Anna, one of Colosar’s assistants. He asked me to meet you here so on the way to his office downtown we could get your measurements and some other information for our file.”
“For what file? Why would you need my measurements?”
“I’ll need a bunch of things from you. It’s required by Colosar moving forward.”
She didn’t like the sound of this. “Moving forward with what?”
“He’ll explain when you get to his office. I need measurements for the dress you’ll be wearing to the event Friday evening at the Hotel Royale.”
“Um, I think he has things confused. I’m not attending that event.”
“You are, and your name is on the list. Colosar will explain. Can I please measure you really quickly? We’ll be there soon.”
Bella eased closer and the woman took out a measuring tape and took her measurements, saying them aloud. She heard Trojan whistle low. She was big up top, had toned, thin arms, and hips and an ass like all the women in her family. She was petite and watched what she ate so she wouldn’t become short and fat like some of her aunts. That was a fear all her cousins had.
“Favorite color?” Anna asked.
“I like a lot of colors.”
“No favorite color?” Anna pushed.
“Red is a good color for her,” Trojan chimed in. He was being awfully talkative for such a quiet mean man.
Anna asked a few more questions and wrote stuff down. She asked if her home address was correct and if there was parking, then explained about limo service and her accompanying Colosar. Bella’s head was spinning by the time they arrived at his office building, a monstrosity of a building in the center of downtown Manhattan. There was high-tech security, and once the car stopped, Trojan got out to accompany her into the building. She gave a wave to Anna, who barely reacted and sort of squinted at her like she was too nice or something. Bella held her bag and Trojan placed his hand on her lower back and guided her into the building past security where the same guys as last week looked her over, checking her out. She smiled and said hello, and the men smiled wide and asked her how she was doing today as they eyed over her body until Trojan stopped and gave them the stare down. She felt very uncomfortable and then he started walking again.
When they got into the elevator he stared at the doors, not at her.
“You need to not be so friendly to other men. Colosar won’t like it when he finds out,” Trojan said in a deep low tone of voice.
“What are you talking about? I didn’t do anything wrong. I said hello and smiled when they smiled. It’s called being polite,” she said to him.
He turned and eyed her over. That was when she looked down and noticed his knuckles were red. When she raised her eyes to lock gazes with him and took a step back, she knew the man was capable of just about anything. She couldn’t help but wonder who he beat up with his bare hands.
“He will not take it lightly. Your eyes remain forward and you don’t make eye contact with anyone but Colosar or someone he approves first.” The doors opened and she wanted to ask him what in God’s name he was talking about but didn’t get the chance. As he entered the room first, he directed her to where she went last week—a living room that overlooked the city skyscrapers. It was a breathtaking view. She put her bags down and went to look at the window when Trojan disappeared.
She couldn’t believe the view. She could see straight across downtown, and all the buildings, the traffic below and was amazed at how small the people looked.
She gasped as hands landed on her hips from behind and squeezed her. She went to grip his hands but Colosar pressed his front to her back and kissed her neck.
“You look gorgeous in purple,” he said to her. She tried to turn but he wouldn’t allow her to as he wrapped one arm around her waist and held her snugly. He used his other hand to caress up her arm to under her hair and neck.
“Colosar, what are you doing?”
“I missed you all week. I don’t like there being so much time between meetings. Changes need to be made, but first rules,” he said.
“Rules?” she asked.
He gripped her hair and head firmly and dipped her to the left. She had to grab on to him to not fall as he used the floor to ceiling window to press her against as he spoke down to her.
“Next time you flirt or even look at another man with interest, I’m going to lift your skirt, place you over my knees, and spank your ass until it’s raw.”
Her lips parted and she was shocked at his words, confused at where he was coming from. She had to set him straight and tell him she wasn’t interested in him in that way.
“This is business, Colosar, and nothing more. I think you’ve gotten confused along the way.”
He licked his lips and stared down into her eyes.
“I’m not confused,” he stated and then lowered down and kissed her lips. He pulled her closer, lifting her up and against him. She didn’t know how things got to this point or where this aggression was coming from, but as if sensing her fears, her discomfort, he released her lips.
“Delicious. Let’s sit down. There’s much to discuss.” He set her straight, and she went to pull away but he gripped her hips and guided her toward the couch.
“Colosar, you shouldn’t have kissed me. I think I should leave.”
He gave her a slight shove to the couch, and she lost her footing and fell onto it. He loomed over her.
“You won’t be going anywhere until I say so.”
She didn’t move. She was stunned, overwhelmed with intimidation, and she worried about his agenda and what he wanted from her.
“There are things to go over so you understand.” He sat next to her and placed his hand over her hands, which were on her lap. He squeezed them and stared into her eyes. He was so serious her gut clenched, knowing that she was in over her head right now.
“You’re young, very beautiful, and you need looking after.”
“No, I don’t need looking after. I prefer to be alone.”
He eased closer. He licked his lower lip.
“You see, I’m a man with very special and unique tastes. I prefer to keep my personal life very quiet and hidden from the public eye, but I can’t have you flirting with other men or even sleeping with other men when you belong to me.”
She pulled her hands back and went to stand up, but he gripped her wrist and pulled her close to him.
“You are going to be my woman. I’ve decided that I want you.”
She shook her head and felt the tears fill her eyes. She thought about her si
ster Mezona and how she met and fell in love with Dale, who turned out to be an abusive asshole. She didn’t choose this man. He chose her, and she needed to get away from him and away from here.
“No. I don’t want to be involved with you, or anyone.”
He gripped her face.
“You will have no choice, Bella. It’s your destiny. From the time you bumped into me by the elevator, I knew you were special. Then in the meeting room, your need to protect your fellow workers called to me. You’re a gem, but you’re an innocent, a young goddess who needs a man like me to protect her from evil things.”
“What in God’s name are you talking about? I want to leave,” she said and stood up, pushing his hand away from her face. He remained sitting and then she saw Trojan standing by the door, as if guarding it. She looked at Colosar.
“Why are you doing this to me? There are plenty of women who would throw themselves at you and love how wealthy you are and powerful. Why me?” she asked.
He gazed over her body. “You are not just any woman. Besides, it’s fate. Like I said, you and I will form this relationship, but it’s beyond just you and me, Bella.”
“I don’t want this. You can’t force me to be your lover, your girlfriend, or whatever.”
“Costanza is your last name. Any relation to Paulie Costanza Jr.?”
Her heart felt like it dropped to her belly. Her cousin? How the hell did he know her cousin?
“Ah, she knows him, Trojan,” Colosar stated but his eyes never left hers.
“Of course she does. He’s her cousin,” Trojan said and stretched his fingers as if his knuckles were sore. Immediately she wondered if he hurt Paulie.
“How do you know him? Did you hurt him? What did you do?” she asked.
“Your cousin actually fucked up and stole from me. Nearly cost me bigger problems with the cops.”
She knew that Paulie tended to do stupid shit for money. Her uncle Paulie Sr., his dad, was on him all the time. He owned a repair shop in Brooklyn, and Paulie Jr. was supposed to be working there a lot and eventually become partner. Instead, he somehow did something to cause a man like Colosar Miantelli problems?
Made Men 1: Bad Timing (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 3
