She glanced at him, wondering if he were with another woman, then feeling the tight, almost painful jealous feeling in her heart and gut. She stared at him as they walked, nearly losing her footing as she thought how handsome he was and perfect. She wasn’t. Other women were glamorous. He stopped her before the next flight of stairs. He pressed her close to the wall and stared down into her eyes.
“I wasn’t with another woman. I haven’t been with another woman since my brothers and I made love to you in D.R.”
He pressed his lips to her forehead and she closed her eyes, inhaled his cologne and felt overwhelmed with hope. Then the sound of footsteps alerted them to someone coming and instinctively Morano placed her behind him and he looked up. That same guy who always seemed to show up when she got home from work, or was around on the weekends was there. His eyes widened and he looked at her and then narrowed them.
“Late night, Caprice?” he asked, and eyed Morano.
She didn’t say a word and Morano gave the guy the stare down, and something must have clicked, because he hauled ass down the stairs quicker than Caprice ever saw him move.
Morano looked at her. “Friend?” he snapped.
She shook her head and he looked pissed. He grabbed her hand and they headed up the next two flights. Before they reached the door, she could hear the loud music, the banging, and as they entered there were guys in the hallway. Her neighbor’s door wide open and obviously a party was going on. The guys were drunk as they called out to her neighbor Derrick.
“Yo, Derrick, is this the hot chick neighbor you mentioned?”
Derrick peeked his head out and eyed her, then looked at Morano.
“Yup.”
She wondered if this situation could get any worse. Morano was getting an eyeful and earful of what her life was like living in this slum of a place. She avoided these guys all the time. She avoided that punk-ass in the stairwell, and even the drunk who roamed around and banged on her door every so often in the middle of the night.
She was embarrassed.
“Hey, come join us for some drinks after your friend leaves,” Derrick said, and then went back into the apartment.
“Damn, she is fucking hot. Can’t believe that Derrick isn’t tapping that,” one guy said and in a flash, that guy was up against the hallway wall with a gun to his throat. She stepped back, thrown off balance at the speed, the obvious tactical abilities Morano had. The guy literally peed his pants as Morano held the gun to his throat.
“No one is tapping anything, and if I find out anyone messes with my woman I’ll come back here and take you all out. Understood?” he threatened and the guy nodded his head.
As Morano released him, the others disappeared into the apartment and the guy hurried backward, crab walking to the open door, and disappeared. The music even lowered and she stood there in shock. Morano was fuming.
“Open the door,” he said to Caprice.
Her hands were shaking. She should be scared of him, of his abilities as a made man, but she wasn’t. She was aroused, felt protected, and wanted to scream a big “Thank you” for shaking those guys up, and perhaps making it so she didn’t feel like she could be a victim every time she came home late at night and a party was going on. She couldn’t do that. She couldn’t show him how fearful she was living here. She needed to be strong. A man like Morano would want a strong, independent woman who could—
The door closed and he grabbed her arm and pulled her close, hugging her tight. All thoughts ceased, and a moment later, he was lifting her up and pressing her against the door. She straddled his hips and his mouth descended upon hers.
His lips and tongue devoured her moans, and then he trailed his mouth along her neck and collarbone, then pressed her blouse and sweater down and suckled against her cleavage toward her breast. She went to grab his head, to slow him down.
“Morano, we can’t,” she said and he growled.
He actually growled like some animal, and her pussy throbbed and creamed. Holy God, this was crazy. His lips and teeth dragged along her breast, then up her neck and back to her mouth. He rocked his hips and she could feel the gun against her thigh, and then she moaned. He was breathing heavily against the crook of her neck.
“I don’t like your fucking apartment building. I don’t like the danger that surrounds you every night that you come home late. I’m trying so fucking hard not to make demands right now, baby, but things are going to fucking change,” he said to her, and then eased away and looked down into her eyes.
A tear fell. “It isn’t my fault. I never planned to live in a place like this. Things have happened, Morano.”
The scowl turned to a squint of his eyes. “What things?”
She lowered her eyes and he gave her hips a shake. “What things?” he asked again.
She looked back up into his dark blue eyes. She felt weak, out of control, finished with struggling to fight anymore. She was like a rag doll, being dragged and controlled everywhere she went except with Morano and his brothers. With them she felt perfect, beautiful, normal, and cared for. This wasn’t D.R., though. They weren’t even the commitment types. She couldn’t tell him her troubles.
“I can’t,” she said and began to wiggle to get free.
* * * *
Morano was all fired up. When she gave the address of her apartment he’d begun to worry. Then arriving there, seeing the filth, the lack of security, the broken elevator, and got him angrier and angrier. She didn’t have to live like this. He and his brothers could take care of her. The thought made him realize that Caprice wouldn’t allow that. She would feel like a piece of property. He got this feeling that Caprice was very independent and definitely struggling to make ends meet. In D.R. she was sweet, talkative, confident, and funny. There was something about her that had called to him and his brothers, and made their love affair feel deeper. Seeing her again months ago, and learning she lived in the city, too, just made forgetting about her and what they shared more difficult to do.
Seeing her tonight onstage doing that show in the skimpy corset and thigh-high stockings had him seeing red and wanting her again. Knowing she auditioned for the position at the club gave him hope that she would once again be in their beds. They hadn’t made love to her together, but one after the next. They knew if they made love to her together that it would be different, binding, and D.R. was supposed to be meaningless. So why were he and his brothers so obsessed with feeling more of what Caprice made them feel?
They didn’t do commitments. They did what they wanted, and when they wanted. Seeing her tonight, learning of her audition, and hoping she would accept the job gave him hope. He was shocked he was excited about it. Then this place. Her circumstances made him have more questions and he wanted answers. Morano didn’t know if his actions in the hallway scared the hell out of Caprice, but it needed to be done to ensure her safety from here on out. Although he had the feeling when he explained to his brothers about where she lived, and the men lurking in the stairwells and hallways, they would flip out and demand she move elsewhere. Perhaps in with them. That thought made him swallow hard.
He looked at her. That make-out session was an indicator that his threatening to kill about ten men to protect her had turned her on. She got it, and got him and what he stood for. At least, he hoped she did.
“I don’t like this place. It isn’t safe,” he said to her.
She took a deep breath then exhaled, but held his gaze. Her sweater wrinkled and blouse was undone. “I don’t like it either, but it will have to do for now.”
“How long have you lived here?”
“Only a year. I used to live uptown, and in a lot nicer place.”
“What happened?”
She looked away and took a few steps toward the edge of the couch and leaned against it.
“Lots of things. Things I had no control over.”
He opened his mouth to speak and she hurried to stop him.
“Things I’m not ready to talk about.�
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“You know I can find out anything I want or need to.”
She stared at him.
“You won’t, though. We promised one another that what happened in D.R. would remain there.”
“Promises can be broken.”
“I don’t think you’re supposed to say something like that to a woman.”
He closed the space between them and took her hand. “They can be broken if there’s good reason, and it brings a man and woman closer to where they belong.”
She shook her head. “It isn’t a good time right now.”
“Why is that? Because you’re struggling financially?”
“Amongst other things.”
“We can help you.”
She shook her head and her eyes welled with tears.
“And be your whore?” she asked, and the scowl formed on his face.
“Never. You’re gorgeous, sexy, strong, and everything a man wants and desires in a woman. I care about you and don’t want to see you struggling or needing for anything.”
She stared at him and his gut clenched. Something was seriously wrong. She was holding back. She appeared fearful, sad, and emotional.
“What can I do to help you?”
She held his gaze.
“Respect my privacy. Don’t ask me questions right now, and just understand that it’s out of my control.”
“I don’t like the sound of that. You’ll come to the club tomorrow morning at nine. You’ll take the job and work a few nights a week, and we’ll take our time making you feel comfortable enough to share what’s going on, and what’s holding you back.”
“Morano.”
“No. You can’t deny how good it feels to be in my arms, in my brothers’ arms, and feel us kissing you, touching you, and loving you.”
“I’m not denying it,” she told him.
“Really? Because it sure as hell feels that way.”
“I’m not in any position to entertain another affair.”
He felt the punch to his gut. She really thought she was nothing but a lay for him and his brothers. Where was that self-confident woman he’d met in D.R.? Where was the bright smile, the fabulous personality and humor? What the hell changed? Was it just a game? His gut didn’t think so, so he made a decision and pushed for what he wanted and thought she needed. Get her to the club. Get her working for them, and slowly move back into her life and find out what the hell was going on.
“I’ll respect your need for privacy for now, but I expect you to be at the club for rehearsals in the morning. I can send Corrano to pick you up.”
“No. I can get there on my own.”
He exhaled. “Then tomorrow morning we can start working on hopefully making things better, as well as making you understand what we shared was not an affair. It was more than that, and whatever is making you hold back will be resolved. Together. Now come here and give me a kiss goodnight,” he said to her.
Her face flushed, and he knew the attraction was there, and he was damn well going to find out what was making her hold back. He could be patient. It was one of his assets with business and with pleasure.
She stepped closer.
“Put your hands on me. I love how they feel touching me,” he whispered and she gulped, her shyness, her inexperience, like she showed in D.R., was compelling.
Her palms slid up his chest, and despite the two layers of his jacket and shirt, he felt the heat against his skin and his cock hardened immediately.
He pulled her close, running his palm along her perfect round ass and the other hand up her spine to the back of her neck under her hair. She held his gaze.
“Well?” he challenged, and she stood up on tiptoes and he leaned slightly down and she pressed her lips to his. He gripped her tighter, plunged his tongue into her mouth and explored it as he used his other hand to explore her body. The kiss grew hot and heavy, making him rock his hips and causing her to lift her one thigh up against his outer thigh. He stroked a finger along the crevice of her ass cheeks and she pulled back, lowered her leg, and held onto his forearms. He gave her a firm expression.
“Rewards will come when you accept my commands, and my taking care of you. See you in the morning.” He kissed her forehead and then slid his hand from her neck, down her back to her wrist and hand. Taking her hand, he led her to the door, then kissed her again before opening the door, releasing her hand and exiting the apartment.
He looked around, and no one in sight, just a small dampened circle on the rug from the guy he scared the piss out of. He couldn’t help but grin. No one would mess with his woman, or threaten her, or attempt to touch her. Caprice was going to belong to him and his brothers. Patience was definitely going to be key in proving to her that she was more than just sex. That she touched their hearts and their souls, and having her as their woman would make them complete.
As he got into the car, he pulled out his cell phone and saw the missed calls from his brothers. “Everything okay?” Corrano asked.
“I told you I could handle it.”
“Understood, sir,” he said and started driving.
He pulled out his cell phone and listened to Vito tell him the shocking news. He gripped the phone tightly, clenched his teeth, and fought with going back to her apartment and making her pack a bag, and head to their penthouse with him.
“Are you going to go back and get her? Angelo wants to know.”
“No. I got her to accept coming to the club to rehearse with the band tomorrow morning. In the interim, we’ll get to the bottom of this, and tomorrow we’ll sit her down and interrogate her. Our way.”
Chapter 4
Vito looked down at the stage from the private booth above, along with Angelo and Morano. They’d argued about how to handle things with Caprice and about confronting her when she first arrived, but then Vito heard from Adalina. Now, that was a woman who remained a mystery. She conveyed her concerns about Caprice’s reaction if they were to confront her on the situation she was involved in. Adalina knew her friend well, and was convinced that Caprice feared for her life. Apparently, Adalina knew about Kiernan and Marlin, or perhaps was informed by her men about their capabilities. Caprice should be scared. Kiernan wouldn’t think twice about breaking Caprice’s neck, never mind raping her. Kiernan used to work for a Russian mobster who got killed years ago when he double-crossed Vladmir Lenich. Kiernan was lucky enough to not be involved and off on some personal business.
Vito didn’t care for the brutality the Russian mobsters inflicted on their enemies, nor the tactics by which they got people to talk. He and the rest of the family knew enough to not piss off any Russians, and having friends like Dmitri Sanclare and Nicolai Merkovicz as acquaintances was a plus. In regards to Caprice, they planned on talking to her after rehearsals as they laid out a schedule, and then got down to exactly how deep in trouble she was with Billy O’Hare.
“This is a tricky situation. Her father owes him that money. It wouldn’t be in good taste to deny O’Hare what he put out to her old man,” Vito said to Morano and Angelo.
“Fuck him. He’s always looking to get more out of the weak. There was no need to go after the daughter for the funds.”
“Angelo, come on now and think of this without the feelings you have for Caprice. She’s gorgeous. She’s talented and sweet. Easily controlled by intimidation and threats. He’s after more, and if what we were told by Sunny and Vito is true, then O’Hare is setting her up for more,” Vito said.
“He isn’t going to get more. If Kiernan comes near her, I’ll fucking kill him,” Angelo said, then they heard the music starting and Caprice began to sing.
All three men moved closer to the balcony in the private booth. Vito was in awe of her talent. The words and tune to “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone echoed throughout the room.
* * * *
“That was awesome. I don’t think Caprice even needs additional time. Let’s rearrange the performances for Saturday night. We can put her in to sing two songs in
the third spot, and another two songs later in the eighth spot,” Mike said to Alanna and Charlie.
“That would be awesome,” Charlie said.
“Caprice, wardrobe. We need two dresses and three additional songs. Let’s decide on them and do a trial run now,” Alanna said.
Caprice couldn’t believe their excitement. They truly seemed to love her voice and were even changing Saturday’s show to fit her in. She would sing four songs altogether. She couldn’t believe this was happening to her.
“Try to come up with a few songs with a faster beat. Something powerful, though, because you have that ability. Wait, like maybe ‘A Man’s World’, and ‘Cry, Cry, Baby’. Those might work well with the theme. Do you know those?” Alanna asked.
“Yes, I do. I think they should be separated, though. I don’t think I would wear let’s say, an evening gown or cocktail dress for ‘Cry, Cry Baby’. I need something funky, tough, and sexy.”
“Exactly. I’m going to go check with wardrobe and see what I can come up with. Charlie and the band will go over the music. I want to hear your version of both songs. Mike, get ready to play ‘A Man’s World’ first.”
Alanna gave the orders and the men got back to their instruments. Charlie looked at Caprice and squeezed her shoulder. “This is happening, honey. I told you that you were special and talented. This will all work out fine,” he told her.
After she sang both songs and got them cheering and telling her how impressed they were, Caprice stood by the bar to drink some water. She was looking over the schedule for the show Saturday night and when she would be performing. She heard the male voices and turned to the right to see Corrano and Charlie talking. Corrano locked gazes with her, and then him, and Charlie approached.
“Well, it’s time to make this official. The bosses want to discuss the contract, or should I say, potential for contract in being a performer here,” Charlie explained and Corrano just stared at her.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
Made Men 3: The Red Slipper (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 7
