by Soraya Naomi
“Logan said that they would end you,” I reveal honestly.
“I’m not surprised. Are you?”
I palm my forehead. “A little. But I can’t be naïve anymore. I don’t know where we go from here. I’m in a very risky position, and it’s too dangerous for you to stay here. We need to relocate you.”
Out of nowhere, there’s a knock on the door. Mykhail places his hand on Adam’s mouth but quickly covers his shocked expression with a smile to avoid panicking him.
“We’re going to play hide and seek. I need you to be quiet, okay?” Mykhail whispers and takes him into his arms, rushing toward the bathroom and closing the door silently.
Tiptoeing to the curtain and edging it aside, I come face-to-face with a furious Logan.
“What the fuck is going on in there?” He roars with a flick of his wrist, signaling for me to let him inside.
I turn the lock, and he swooshes the door open, his gaze skimming around before it rests on me.
“What were you doing?” he demands to know.
“Nothing. I just got home,” I defend too fast.
His eyes turn to slits. He’s still mad, and I’m wondering if he heard Mykhail. When he begins to wander around, bursting toward the kitchen, I fear he did.
“What are you doing?”
“Who were you talking to?” he fires at me, moving toward the bathroom.
My pulse pounds in my throat as I trail him. “No one.”
He looks back over his shoulder with his hand on the doorknob. “So where’s the guard who brought you home?”
The guard? Oh, this is about that guy at the bar.
“Why? Are you jealous?” I say in a rush.
He flings the door wide open, but the white-tiled bathroom is empty.
Dumbfounded, I observe the unoccupied space. Where did Mykhail go?
“You just found out that I’m a virgin. What do you think happened? He drove me home and left. I’m not too happy you ran out on me, by the way.” I try to divert him.
Fortunately, he takes my bait and doesn’t inspect the bathroom any further. He spins back around, raising a brow. “Ran out?”
“Yes. That’s exactly what it was.”
Logan releases a loaded sigh. “You should’ve told me, Rosa. This changes everything.”
In all my infatuation, I forgot that Logan isn’t a man who waits to sleep with a woman. He fucks them and then leaves them.
“I know,” I say yet don’t want to end wherever this was going. Even when we’re fully clothed, he can make my body sing. “But I like you, Logan. I want to get to know you better.”
He’s shocked silent, gazing at me for several uncomfortable seconds. “I’m not a man who can give you what you want, cricket.”
“How will you know if you never give it a chance?” I counter.
“I am giving you a chance by stopping this,” he admits in a tormented tone.
Fuck, why does he do this? If he’d still be an ass, I’d just forget him. But he’s being nice, and my heart is no match for that. While I’d love for him to stay so I can convince him otherwise, I have to get him out of here.
“Then there’s nothing I can say. I’d like to be alone.” I go to the kitchenette in the far corner, turning my back to him.
He’s motionless for a moment before he shuffles out, and I immediately run into the bathroom, switching on the lights.
“Mykhail, where did—”
“Here.”
Swiveling around, I find him hidden in the crook of the door with Adam. “Oh, my God, I was so confused.” I praise Adam, “Found you!”
Adam wedges out of his arms and races to me, so I scoot him up. He’s such a cutie-pie, and I adore that he trusts me. I move back to the bed and throw Adam onto it, switching on the TV on the footboard so he can watch a cartoon.
“So what happened between you and Logan?” Mykhail asks around a huge grin.
“I almost had sex with him.”
“And, clearly, you didn’t tell him beforehand you’re a virgin?”
“I didn’t.”
“Oh, that’s not smart. You do realize that he has bad news written all over him. Every time we’ve seen him, tons of women flirt with him and he flirts right back.”
I scratch my brow. “Yeah...Although this is a moot point since he pulled the plug on us. Anyway, we need to talk about your living arrangements. How much money do you have?”
“I have enough to live on spread out in several accounts.”
“We need to lease you an apartment. One that’s available now. You can’t stay here.”
Mykhail stares affectionately at Adam lounging on the cushions on my mattress and dozing off. “You’re right. Do you know anyone who could help me?”
“The mother of one of my friends is a realtor. I’ll contact her and spin some story it’s for a cousin of mine. As long as my family doesn’t find out, we’re good.”
With much effort, I focus on Adam and Mykhail, although Logan stays at the forefront of my mind. I’ve already become infatuated with him – right after the first time he kissed me between my legs. I’m sure he senses that there’s more brewing between us. Maybe there’s a small chance that he’d want to be with me without fucking me?
I decide not to give up on Logan, and I know how to get to him.
CHAPTER 16
Logan
For one week. No, not even a full week. For five days, I successfully keep my distance from Rosa Calderone. But the day before I’m going to be officially pledged in, I see her again, and as soon as I set my eyes on her, my resolve vanishes into thin air. I can’t even wait one extra day until my contract is drawn up.
I’ve been avoiding Club 7, knowing she’d be there, but as I cross the threshold on Friday night, I zero in on cricket perched on a stool – with that same guard. She’s wearing black flats, the sexiest skin-tight red jeans topped with a blouse, and a gold necklace; her casual-chic signature style. It surprises me how much I’ve missed her.
I’m filled with tension since I haven’t had a second of down time while searching for Dimitri and Mykhail, who are still eluding me.
Women vie for my attention, but the one I desire doesn’t even notice me. My gaze is aimed on her the entire time she’s at the bar.
“Hey, Wade,” a lean brunette attempts to start a conversation while I order a beer from a passing waitress.
“Hey, baby,” I comment. My concentration is still aimed behind her, at the bar.
This is like déjà vu. Only this time, while I observe Rosa with another man, I’m swirling in the sin of jealousy. It’s an emotion that’s never reared its ugly head with me and is wholly unnerving on another level. She has me considering the advantages of dating, of waiting to fuck instead of simply fucking to avoid a personal connection. I’m being forced to change my tactic for immediate satisfaction before casting my conquest away.
While the girl rambles on, Rosa gets off the stool and spots me as the guard offers her his hand. Her composure breaks for a split-second when she glimpses at the girl, but then she follows him to the dance floor. Rosa plants her arms around his neck and meets my eyes. She’s the only woman I’ve ever met who doesn’t look away from my penetrating stare.
She’s mad I didn’t call her and thinks I’ve forgotten her. But the exact opposite is true. The second she’s in my proximity, I’m reminded of that fact.
My glare is unwavering while I’m oblivious of everything except his palm on the small of her back. She opens her mouth and closes it.
Smart woman.
“Want to dance?” the girl asks.
“Sure,” I answer, grabbing my beer from the waitress.
I stop a few feet from Rosa and draw the woman closer, one hand gripping my drink and the other on her back. As the guard whispers something into Rosa’s ear, she cocks her head, and I grit my teeth, not enticed by my girl whatsoever.
Ultimately, I make the first move to get Rosa’s attention, to get her to lose her current
companion. If I don’t, I’m liable to shoot his dick off if he doesn’t stop touching her. She’s screwing with my mind, and while I’m usually immune to feminine wiles, she’s sucking me in faster than I realized.
“What are you doing?” I mouth right before another couple blocks our sight for a moment.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Ditch him...”
She says something, but I don’t understand it, so I frown.
“Ditch her,” she mouths again.
Raising my hand to my neck, I unlock my dance partner’s hands. “Sorry, I have to go.” Walking away, past Rosa, I silently order her to shadow me, turning around at a vacant square table to see Rosa speaking to the guy before coming toward me. I start to smile until he trails her, and then the girl I was dancing with also comes toward me. To top it all off, Henry, Mary, and Luca join me too.
Christ! I can’t get a second alone with her.
Rosa’s disappointment mirrors mine, but when the girl stands at my right side, she impales me with an icy look. I claim a seat as a crowd gathers around me. That guard gawking at her ass is pissing me off, yet I school my expression because too many familiar faces are surrounding me. Rosa stops to my left, so I lean sideways, knowing it unsettles her and to evade the girl who’s still trying to talk to me at my other side.
Rosa looks down while everyone’s greeting each other.
“You’re always ruining my plans,” she sneers.
“Then my mission has been accomplished.”
She clenches her jaw “Why are you here? I was told you were away on business.”
“I quit my job to annoy you full time,” I throw back. “And why were you inquiring about me, cricket?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I just didn’t want to run into you.”
“Because of your guard?” I’m incapable of biting back the retort.
“My guard?” she repeats conceitedly. “You should talk to your girl instead of busying yourself with us.”
Uh-oh, she’s really pissed. I’m going to enjoy breaking down her walls, again. Rosa doesn’t have any idea how much I love a challenge, and I’ve never met a more tempting challenge than her.
We’re required to stop taunting one another when a guy arranges two shot glasses with clear liquid on the table and gives a small red-colored tube and a brown coaster to Rosa.
What the hell’s going on?
I drink my beer, ignoring Henry’s smirk from across the table.
“I got here just in time,” Mary exclaims as Rosa’s apparently about to dazzle everyone.
She smiles. I enjoy that smile. Too much. There’s never a dull moment with her.
“So who wants to do it?” Rosa inquires as she drops a bit of red coloring in one shot glass, turning it pink.
“I’ll do it,” I offer leisurely before anyone else can.
She surveys me coolly, as if I’m a huge bother. “No. Someone else.”
“Why?” Her stubbornness is rather cute.
She waves her hand in the universal sign for frustration. “Never mind. I can do it.” Rosa grabs the coaster and places it on top of the clear water glass. Then she flips the glass and coaster and sets them on top of the second shot that’s filled with pink fluid.
One hand steadies the upper glass as she slowly slides out the coaster. “Watch.”
To my utmost surprise, the pink fluid is sucked upward into the clear water on top. Impressed, I study her.
“How’s that possible?” Mary probes.
Luca inches forward to touch both glasses, grinning at Rosa.
I wrap a hand around the bottom shot as well, and it feels ice cold. “It’s magic, Mary,” I tease.
Rosa pokes me in the chest. “Again, why are you still here?”
Stretching my legs and placing the tip of the beer bottle against my lips, I laze back in the most brazen manner. “I’m not done enjoying this.” And I take a long swig.
She sneers at me before she explains, “The top glass has warm water and the bottom one has freezing water. The resistance of the hot water on top pulls up the liquid dye.” Rosa often astounds me with her knowledge.
When Henry coughs to warn me that Rosa and I need to knock it off, I comprehend that we’re treading on thin ice. And I’m not sure I can trust these guards or Luca and Mary if they get suspicious. Annoyed that I can’t be alone with her, I motion to Henry to walk me to the second floor. I’ll work for a while, and then, hopefully, most of the members will have left.
Gratefully, within a few hours, I find that window of opportunity. I’m about to cross an important line. Even though Adriano doesn’t have any restrictions regarding family members dating, James has always been against it. He’s forbidden all men to date his daughter – this is an unwritten rule in the Syndicate. But I’m going to be head Capo. I’ll outrank Consigliere James since I’ll be third in rank and he’ll be fourth. Becoming a mafia man is making me feel invincible.
While obsession isn’t a trait I find attractive in myself, the sensations Rosa evokes in me won’t be repressed.
CHAPTER 17
Rosalia
I knew making Logan jealous would be my best strategy. Unfortunately, everyone’s at Club 7 tonight, so he leaves the table and my mood plummets. Logan’s the first guy I’ve ever fallen for, and there’s something about him I can never seem to shake. Even when I’m away from him and am able to pull myself together, I’m thoroughly enamored with him again after twenty minutes in his company.
Despondent, I plop down into the seat he just vacated. Knowing that he’s here but we can’t talk grates on my nerves. I keep perusing the club for some sign of him while minutes become an hour, but eventually, I choose to go home. Mykhail and Adam are still at my pool house, and we have an appointment to see an apartment listing tomorrow at two p.m.
Returning to the bar, I lean over the counter to grab my purse that’s stashed there when a random guy standing next to me starts staring. “Aren’t you a chemistry student at the University of Chicago?”
I zip open my purse to dig out my car keys. “Yeah,” I answer absentmindedly.
“Did you know that chemists do it periodically on a table?” he pipes in.
I’m not in the mood for this, being upset that I can’t have Logan to myself. In addition, I don’t have his number and he didn’t contact me at all after he found out about my virginity.
“Dude, get lost,” I reply.
He smiles wider.
“She said to get lost. I suggest you do it,” a dark voice orders from behind us, and we both spin around at once.
Logan’s gaze is pinned on me as he disregards the guy, who dashes away when confronted with Logan’s commanding presence in his customary navy dress shirt and neatly-pressed slacks, perfected with a brown suede belt. Today, his sleeves aren’t rolled up, but his top buttons are undone, exposing a hint of his powerful physique.
“He just used the worst pick-up line,” I comment.
Logan looks amused and annoyed at the same time. And so dangerous. “What? That he’s got his ion you?”
I chuckle. “No, I think that one’s even worse.”
The corner of his lip quirks up roguishly before he dips his head toward the shell of my ear and whispers, “Meet me on the roof.” He wanders away in the direction of the front entrance without a backward glance.
Immediately, I follow the same route to the elevator that travels up to the top floor where I careen through the empty restaurant and cross the threshold to the terrace.
Logan’s in the same spot as the first time we met here, standing at the edge. He takes a step toward me with a bottle of champagne and two glasses in his hands.
Passing the fireplace and sofa, I stop in front of him and angle my head to the side in question.
He presents the items as the wind attractively brushes his dirty blond hair over his forehead. “A peace offering to make amends for not calling you.”
My heartstrings pull tight. “That’s
sweet.”
“Sweet...Again, a word no one has ever used to describe me before.”
“Then maybe you’re only sweet to me?” I want to believe that’s the truth.
“Maybe.” He hands over the crystal flutes, and I hold them up as he pours the champagne. Then he takes his glass and brings it up to clink against mine. “To no interruptions.”
“I’ll drink to that,” I agree, tipping back my drink.
Wearing my black, loose-fitting blouse, I shiver from the current of air rustling over my shoulders, yet it’s so peaceful up here, I can’t be bothered by the cold. The picturesque, red-gold skyline is visible in the distance, and not a sound can be heard.
Logan steals my glass and sets it on the ground, along with his.
“You’re cold.” He snakes his arm around my waist, drawing me against him as if he can’t stand a hairsbreadth separating us.
As I stare into his smoldering eyes, his forehead rests on mine, and the heat of his skin burns into me. Tentatively, I rest my palms on his dress shirt and his muscles flex. I’m not sure where he’s going with this.
Has he forgiven me for not telling him about my virginity?
As if he reads my thoughts, he offers, “Stay here with me. I’ll make sure you remain a virgin, Rosa. Let me show you more pleasure.”
“Aren’t you still mad at me?”
“Somehow, I can’t stay mad at you, cricket. I want you too much,” he confesses, his breath fanning my lips.
With this admission, Logan conquers a piece of my heart. Scraping my nails up his neck, I make him groan in appreciation, and his palm sidles up my spine before his mouth latches hungrily on to mine. It’s raw, carnal as he sweeps one hand down my back, gripping my jean-covered ass. The taste of him is more inebriating than the champagne.
“I want you too,” I murmur.
He takes the words from my lips, capturing my mouth again in an all-consuming kiss. Gripping my long hair at the roots, Logan pecks me behind the earlobe in a way I’ve come to recognize. I’ve always longed to know what it would be like to be with a man like Logan, so I give myself over to him without reserve. He brings out the promiscuous side of me.
