Her sister had thought she met the perfect man. Dale did seem that way, but there was a look in his eyes, and a way about him that always bothered Bella. She knew he was a drinker, a batterer, but he made a lot of money, owned various businesses, and her sister Mezona fell for it all. The poor woman nearly died by Dale’s hands. Her heart ached. It had been two years since that dreadful night Dale attacked Mezona and nearly strangled her to death. What made Bella unlock the front door and enter their home she didn’t know, but the moment she did, she heard the cries for help, the banging sound, and she ran for the stairs and the bedroom. What she saw would haunt her dreams for a very long time. What she did in order to save her sister’s life would always make her fearful of men.
Bella hadn’t killed Dale, but months later, when Mezona started receiving letters from him from prison, Bella wished she had.
“Bella, are you still going on that trip to the Dominican Republic with your friends next week?” Aunt Leanna asked her.
“Yes, I am, and looking forward to it,” she replied, then thought about how she was going to tell Colosar. Would he prevent her from going? It was half business, too. Would he try to follow her? She prayed not and decided she would need to inform him this week when they met as usual.
“I still don’t like this idea of eight women heading to a resort on their own, especially with a few of your friends being kind of wild,” Vinnie, her cousin, stated, and of course the others chimed in.
“Put three of them together and they cause a scene. I could just imagine what damage eight would do,” her cousin Clemenza added.
“My friends are not wild, and they do not cause scenes,” Bella said very seriously, but she knew they were a bit crazy when they all got together.
“Seriously, Bella, you’re the odd ball out with them. You’re sweet, classy, and dress conservatively. They all flaunt their assets,” Don said, arms crossed in front of his large muscular chest.
“You’ve been looking, I noticed,” she teased him, feeling like he and his brother Clemenza had a little interest in her friend Alessa.
“What man can’t look when a woman wears tight clothes like they do,” Sunny stated. She knew he and Vinny liked Adalina, but Adalina wasn’t biting.
“Um, have the four of you looked in the mirror lately? Because those shirts you’re sporting look ready to tear open,” she said, and her aunts and uncles started laughing.
“These are muscles, not breasts,” Don said to her.
“Well, that’s the part of your bodies you like to accentuate. Women have breasts, hips, and asses. I think my friends dress in the current styles. After all, I should know. It’s part of my profession. Besides, all of my friends have great figures and different ones at that. They’re beautiful, professional, and they don’t allow men to dictate their attire nor their decisions. If you want to stand a chance with one of them you may want to lose that attitude,” she said, then turned around and walked back over toward the stove to check the sauce.
“She told you,” Aunt Annise said, and the others giggled.
* * * *
Don stared at his cousin and he couldn’t help but worry about her. She was tough, but sweet and non-confrontational. He wasn’t the only one in the family worried about her. Uncle Paulie mentioned yesterday that her boss, a guy Uncle Paulie knew, had been asking around about her. Uncle Paulie said her boss had connections and was involved with some things that gave him concerns, but he wasn’t too worried because Bella didn’t date. Plus she was wary of men because of what happed to her sister Mezona. He wondered where his cousin Paulie Jr. was today. A no show, which wasn’t normal. He wondered if his cousin was hung over or dead somewhere. He kept doing stupid shit. It was one of the reasons why he couldn’t bring him into the family business. Their connections and knowledge had a far reach. If their cousin Mezona had known, then she might not have had to experience the abuse she had. He shook the thoughts from his head. Don knew that it wasn’t his secret to tell.
He walked over to Bella, standing by the window and watching the kids play in the backyard.
“Hey,” he whispered, and she glanced at him and smiled, then looked out toward the kids again. Her expression was troubled. He tightened up with concern.
“They are getting so big. I can’t even believe it,” she said to him.
He was silent a moment, taking in how petite she was, and beautiful. His cousin was a knockout with brown wavy hair that fell just past her shoulders, big brown eyes, and full lips. She was gorgeous, professional, and he felt extra protective over her, as did his brother and other cousins. Especially after what Mezona went through. They hadn’t a clue what had been going on, and it made matters worse to realize, too late, exactly how bad things had been.
“Listen, about before. I wasn’t trying to put down your friends. I was just looking out for you, like the others are, too. We worry about you, and we feel protective.”
She looked up at him, her head nearly to his shoulders.
“I appreciate you wanting to look out for me. I love you guys and you mean the world to me, but I’m twenty-five years old. I think I can handle a week-long vacation with my girlfriends I’ve known since elementary school.”
He took a deep breath and exhaled. “Just be smart and don’t do anything crazy.”
“Me?” She shook her head.
“Yeah, you. I know you get a little giggly after two glasses of wine. You’re a lightweight, cuz,” he said to her and then tugged on her hair like he had been doing since they were kids.
“Very funny. Maybe I feel the wine so quickly because I only have a glass on the weekends and not during the week. I won’t be drinking wine anyway. We’ll be drinking tropical cocktails.”
“Even worse. Hard stuff covered up by fruit juices so you don’t realize how hard they’re hitting you until you stand up and fall flat on your face.”
“Is that from personal experience or did you rescue some tipsy lady?” she asked.
“I’m a gentleman, but some men are pigs and will take advantage of a woman’s tipsiness,” he stated firmly.
“Um, I think we all had this conversation before I left for college,” she said and rolled her eyes.
“Hey, you little brat,” he said and started tickling her.
She laughed and then he pulled her close and hugged her.
“You know I’m here for you. No matter what goes down, you can tell me anything, right?” he asked.
She squeezed him tight and then pulled back. She looked like she wanted to say something to him. It was a gut instinct, but then her expression changed to a smirk.
“Even about sex?” she asked him.
He looked around them.
“Jesus, Bella.” She started laughing so hard he realized she was yanking his chain. He felt his face flush with heat and then his body boil with anger.
“Not so funny. You’re like a sister to me.”
She patted his shoulder. “You’ll be fine and I promise not to talk to you about that stuff.”
He looked at her and wondered if she had even had sex before. He would have known, or the other cousins would have. Something like that wouldn’t remain a secret around here. Plus, she was old school. She would need to be dating a man for a while before she slept with him. He knew that she wasn’t involved with anyone. He was pretty sure she was a virgin, which added to the protectiveness. God help whatever guy wins her heart and she brings home. The interrogation process will destroy any chances of her having sex. The guy will disappear. If they let him leave.
“Dinner,” Uncle Tony called out and he took her arm and led her to the kitchen.
* * * *
As Bella entered the building at work she headed right toward the security check.
“Good morning, Bill,” she said to the main guard.
“Morning, Miss Costanza. You are looking beautiful as usual.”
“Thank you, Bill. How is Helen?”
“She is doing very well,” he said as he che
cked her bags and then had her go through the scanner.
“How about the diet?” she asked, knowing all about this special diet his wife Helen was on in order to lose ten pounds for a wedding they had to attend next month.
“She is miserable, but lost two pounds.”
“That’s great. Slow and steady is good,” she said to him and then smiled and mouthed a hello to the other guard, who smirked and listened to the conversation.
Suddenly, as she grabbed her bags, she heard Bill greet someone else. “Good morning, Mr. Miantelli.”
“Bill.”
She didn’t turn to look. She felt immediately tense and quickly grabbed her things and headed toward the elevator.
“Miss Costanza,” he said her name.
Shit.
She turned around and looked up at the man and gave a soft smile. “Oh, good morning, Mr. Miantelli.” She went to turn and someone bumped into her, trying to fit into the elevator, and her bag dropped. She was a nervous wreck. Had Colosar heard her talking to Bill? Would he accuse her of flirting with the older man? She was shaking.
The doors closed and she had to bend down and pick up the papers that fell. She felt him next to her, bending down and grabbing things. He was so close, she felt his breath on her shoulder, against her hair.
She pushed her hair back.
“Oh, thank you. Don’t worry. I got it,” she said and picked up the last paper. She looked at him, but he didn’t give her the papers he was holding.
“I wanted to talk to you. Why don’t we take the private elevator upstairs?”
“Oh, I have a meeting in fifteen minutes.”
“This won’t take long. Besides, I’m the boss,” he said to her and held her gaze with those dark gray eyes of his. They gave her the creeps. She didn’t like this man, nor did she want to be alone with him in an enclosed space. She had no choice but to nod in agreement and he motioned with his free hand for her to walk ahead of him. She could feel his eyes on her, and as they got to the private elevator, the security guy there punched in a code, gave a nod to Colosar, and smiled at her. She instantly felt Colosar’s hand on her hip, guiding her into the elevator. She couldn’t help but think he did that to show possession of her.
She swallowed hard, and when the elevators closed, he turned to look at her.
“Didn’t we discuss the consequences of flirting?” he told her and caged her in against the corner in the elevator. Her breathing hitched and she tightened up.
“I wasn’t.”
“They want you in their beds. Taking my time with you may be too risky.”
“No, Colosar. Please,” she begged. If she could keep him from taking her body as long as possible, she would do what she had to.
He stroked her ribs.
“You look incredible today, as usual. This top is a bit low cut, though,” he reprimanded and then stroked her exposed collar bone, then down over her breast to her hip.
“Now that we’re alone, where’s my proper greeting?” he asked.
“Colosar, please don’t do this to me. I won’t be able to concentrate at work,” she said to him.
He stared down at her body, then her eyes and lips.
“I’m going to call you into my office in a few hours. There are some things to go over for tomorrow night. There’s been a change of plans and I need to leave for a business trip right after the party. I’ll be gone a few days.”
He stroked her hair.
“I have a business trip, as well.”
“I know. I expect you to behave while you’re away. We’ll…talk in my office.” He stroked her hair and then leaned down and kissed her lips. He pulled back right before the doors opened.
“See you shortly,” he said and exited the elevator.
She hit the button for her floor and then leaned back against the wall and exhaled. Why was he here? Why was he suddenly occupying an office in the building? Was it just to control her and scare her? It was working. She had to get through Friday night. The spa called to confirm her appointment and she asked what exactly she was having done. When the woman listed the things and said a Brazilian wax, Bella felt sick. Maybe the fact that he would have to leave for business Friday night saved her from being forced to have sex with him. She could leave for her trip with her friends. Get lost in an imaginary world and figure things out. The doors opened just as her cell phone rang.
Glancing down, she saw it was Paulie Jr. She answered it as she entered the office, greeting everyone.
“Hi, Paulie. Hold on a sec. I just got to the office,” she told him over the phone, waving hello to the office staff before pointing to her phone and heading to her office. She closed the door and set her things down.
“What’s going on?”
“You tell me. Please, Bella, tell me that asshole hasn’t contacted you and is putting pressure on you for money.”
She gulped. “What do you mean?”
“You know what I fucking mean. I fucked up. I know I did. Someone said they saw you with Colosar and that you go to his office downtown once a week.”
“He owns this company,” she stated and she fought getting angry at him and confronting him and revealing what he caused.
“Is he threatening you? Did he tell you about me and what I did?”
She took a deep breath.
“Bella, please. I need to know so I can try to fix it.”
“You can’t fix it. You don’t screw with a man like Colosar Miantelli and owe him nearly sixty grand. I don’t have that kind of money.”
“Tell me what he is demanding. I’ve got friends. I know people.”
“Really? What type of people do you know? Street gang bangers? Little nobodies who think they have some pull because they can hit up drugs or guns on a whim? This is high-end, major shit.”
“Fuck. What is he demanding?”
She couldn’t say it. She still wasn’t accepting it.
“What the fuck is he demanding? Tell me now, Bella, or I’ll go ask him myself.”
“And get knocked around or put six feet under this time by Trojan? I don’t think so. He wants me, Paulie. Me as his woman and his lover eventually, okay?”
“No. No, that isn’t happening. He can’t make you. This is my fuck up, not yours.”
“You should have thought about that before you screwed him. This is beyond just your problem now. He gets what he wants. We can’t fight him.”
“I’ll get you out of this.”
“We’re all in it, Paulie. Your little hit to score dough or look like a big shot in front of your little nobody friends got the entire family screwed.”
“What do you mean?”
“He threatened everyone. All of the uncles and their businesses. He’s ruthless and he wants what he wants.”
“You can’t sleep with him and become his whore. I won’t let him touch you.”
“He’s already touched me. He’s everywhere I am. If I don’t submit, then he’ll go after the family. He’ll kill you.”
“Fuck. I’m so fucking sorry, Bella. I’m going to get you out of this. I swear. I’ll do whatever is necessary to get you out of this.”
“I need to go.” She disconnected the call, leaned back in her chair and sighed. There was no one who could help them. No one.
Chapter 4
“Are you seriously considering letting that asshole work for the family?” Mateus asked his cousin Fedarro over the phone.
“He has a lot of connections, and has been doing some smaller jobs with no problems,” Fedarro stated.
“He’s an obnoxious, rich asshole who thinks who the fuck he is. I don’t trust him and you guys sure as shit shouldn’t either,” Mateus replied.
“Mateus, you and Major said you wanted to transition out. I personally don’t want to deal with anyone outside of the family, but what choice do I have? He shows potential and he’s controllable.”
“You think so. I don’t see him as controllable. He’s pompous, he’s ruthless, and he leaves a mess
wherever he goes.”
“Not mess enough to bring around feds or cops,” Fedarro replied.
Mateus looked at Major, who was listening over the speaker phone.
“Listen, we’ve got time, and more importantly, the two of you have time to reconsider giving up this very lucrative side of the family business. Hell, Major, you and Mateus built this up and helped turn it into an empire. You can still do your legit shit. This is one aspect that’s criminal. Big fucking deal. Your hands don’t even get dirty. Take the week to reconsider. Enjoy the vacation, weigh out options, and we’ll talk on your return,” Fedarro stated.
“What about considering Miguel Lupo? You think you can trust him?” he asked.
“Not sure. He did fuck up a year ago but made it up to all of us,” Fedarro stated.
“Because he got caught,” Mateus chimed in.
“Listen, don’t worry so much about it. I’m hoping that little vacation of yours clears your heads, makes both of you feel less stressed out, and you’ll continue to run the operations. Take it easy and enjoy. We’ll talk upon your return.”
“Okay, we’ll think about things and get back to you with an answer when we return.”
“Good, enjoy yourselves. Get lost in the island and the women. Hell, get drunk. Talk to you in a week.”
Mateus disconnected the call and looked at his brother. They were packed and ready to leave for the airport and their private jet.
“We need to clear our fucking heads,” Major told him.
Mateus exhaled and then nodded. “We’ll figure it out. We always do. Together, bro.”
“Together,” Major replied.
* * * *
“What do you want to do? Postpone the flight for a few hours and seal the deal with her?” Trojan stated.
Colosar licked his lips as he watched Bella standing next to her boss and some CEOs who were drooling over her. The red dress was exceptional, and she had a sensational figure. The silk of the dress hugged her firm, round ass and accentuated her full breasts. The dip in the front revealed a hint of her deep cleavage, indicating she was well endowed and then some. He felt her up a few times and he couldn’t cup one breast fully, and he had big hands.
Made Men 1: Bad Timing (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 5
