by Sam Crescent
“He’s Mom’s favorite, and Dad made a promise that he would do everything to keep her sons safe. Not that she has much of a choice in these matters.”
“I don’t work for you, Antonio. I may have stopped the attempts to kill you, but that doesn’t make us friends.”
“I never expected us to be friends. Far from it. I wanted you to know I’m on your side.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes.” Antonio held his hand out. “Thank you. I happen to like living and breathing.”
Vincenzo wanted to ignore that hand. He and Antonio had never seen eye to eye on a lot of things. When he’d been taken in by Galiza, Antonio had hated him.
Still, the past was in the past.
Shaking Antonio’s hand, he nodded at him. He would protect Galiza no matter what, even if he didn’t like the ugly old bastard.
****
Arika woke to the scent of bacon frying and the memory of Rachel dead.
Staring down at her body, in one of Vincenzo’s shirts, she knew he’d taken care of her uniform. He’d probably even burned it.
Pushing her hand through her hair, she climbed out of bed and went to his bathroom. He’d brought her to his suburban home, the place he came when he was taking care of her last time.
She finished on the toilet, washed her hands, brushed her teeth, and stared at her reflection. She looked defeated.
Lifting up the shirt, she stared at her reflection, at the gunshot wound from months ago.
Thinking about the sounds of bullets, she closed her eyes, flinching as she saw Rachel’s dead body. A hole in the side of her neck where her throat should have been.
Dropping her shirt, she stepped back from the mirror and went in search of Vincenzo.
He was standing in the kitchen, frying bacon.
“I heard you get up,” he said. “Did you sleep well?”
“You knocked me out.”
“I didn’t hit you.”
“How did you do it then?”
“I cut off your air supply enough for you to lose consciousness. Then I guess you fell asleep.”
“She’s dead.”
“Yes.”
“Why did they start shooting?” she asked. “I don’t understand why they did that. Everything was fine. They were going to leave.”
“They wanted to start a war. It’s what they do. Rachel got caught in the crossfire.”
“I should have made her leave with me. I should have left and made her leave and the people and I should have done something.”
“It wouldn’t have mattered what you did, Arika. They were going to cause trouble there. It’s why they went fully loaded. They were going to shoot up the place.”
“Why?”
“Because they could. Because that’s what the Vitales do.”
“They were asking about you,” she said.
“What?”
“They asked if a blond-haired man and black-haired man had been there. Described your suits.”
“They were looking to leave their mark.”
She wrapped her arms around herself.
He stepped closer, coming toward her. She didn’t pull away as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. “I didn’t want this to happen to you. I know you’re angry and upset, and I’m so sorry you had to see that last night.”
She couldn’t hold back. Hugging him close, she held onto him, not wanting to let him go. “I was so afraid.”
“I know.”
“Are you angry with me?”
“No. I’m not angry with you. I failed you last night. I should have been there, and I wasn’t.”
“It’s not your fault. What’s going to happen now? The diner, the people, what?”
“Galiza has people within the police force. They’re going to take care of it. The people that were hurt will get compensated, but it will be known as another gang war gone wrong.”
“It’s crazy to think what’s going on.” She pulled away, gripping his shirt.
“You won’t be going back to the diner.”
She tilted her head back, looking at him. “Last I saw there wasn’t much of a diner.” She bit her lip. “I can’t stop seeing her.”
“It’ll get easier.” He ran his hands up and down her arms.
“What happens now?”
“Well, this isn’t over.”
“What do you mean?”
“You called when I was dealing with business. Last night I told my boss that I was seeing you. He wants to meet you.”
“He does?”
“Yes.”
“Does that have to happen?”
“It really does,” he said.
She closed her eyes and took another deep breath. “You don’t do things by halves, do you?”
He took hold of her hands, clasping them together. “I realized something last night. I had a feeling that it was that way, but I didn’t know for certain until there was a risk that you could die last night.”
“This is really not romantic.”
“I realized that I love you, Arika.”
As far as revelations go, this one was right up there. She was shocked.
“You love me?”
“Yes. I love you, and I know that if anything was to happen to you, the street wouldn’t be able to handle the kind of war I would create to seek justice for your death.”
“I’m not dead.” She was still reeling from the fact he loved her. “I … you love me?”
“Yes. More than anything else in the world. When all of this is over, I’m going to marry you. A good man would walk away. He’d let you have a life that you deserve. I’m not a good man. I can’t walk away. I want you to myself, and I don’t want to share you with anyone.”
“Shouldn’t you get down on one knee? Propose properly?”
“Soon. I will soon.” He kissed her cheek. “You need to eat something.”
He pulled out a chair, patting the seat. She sat down as he went to serve their food.
“What did you mean when you said about this all being over? It’s not over?”
“No. I’ve got to deal with some business first. After we’ve eaten breakfast I’m taking you to Galiza’s home. There you will be safe while I deal with some of the work I need to do.”
She didn’t like the sound of that.
Staring down at the plate of food, heavy with bacon and eggs, the thought of eating made her feel sick.
“You’ve got to eat something, babe. I need you to be strong for me right now.” He took hold of her hand, and she stared at his.
She couldn’t stop seeing Rachel’s face.
Looking at Vincenzo, she saw the love he had for her shining in his eyes. He’d never shown her that before. He’d always been guarded when he looked at her, but now, he was wide open and she saw everything he hid from her.
“I love you, babe. I wish I could take away what happened last night, but I can’t. I need to be able to make this right. Tell me what to do.”
“There’s nothing you can do. This wasn’t your fault.” As much as she wanted to blame him, she knew without a doubt that the Vitales had hit first. They’d caused last night’s destruction, and in doing so it woke her up.
The mafia had a place in the world and they were horrible, but there were families that tried to keep the streets clean. When Vincenzo and Daniel entered the diner that first night, there had been whispers but nothing to the extent there were about the Vitale men. Her boss had been scared. She’d seen the fear in his eyes, and Rachel had kept her distance from them. Everyone but herself had been afraid.
The Vitale men were the worse of two evils.
Picking up her fork, she forced herself to eat something. She couldn’t starve herself. The first bite wasn’t so bad, and she finished the entire breakfast.
Vincenzo had also made her a cup of coffee, which she sipped through.
His cell phone started to ring, and she watched him answer. Excusing herself, she walked back upstairs to his r
oom.
She’d not been back here in a long time. Everything was the same as when she left, not a thing out of place.
Going to his drawers, she opened one and found his boxer briefs. When she’d been there before, she hadn’t even given a thought to sneaking through his things to see what he had.
So, one by one she opened up his drawers, seeing his ordered boxer briefs and socks. Several drawers were empty, nothing inside them.
“Did you find what you were looking for?”
“You’ve got drawers empty. Why?”
“I don’t need to fill them. I have enough of everything that I need.”
Stepping away from his drawers, she stood in his closet. Again, order; suits lined up, everything neat and in place. Nothing out of the ordinary.
“You’re a neat freak.”
“I like to be able to find everything.” He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him.
He surrounded her, and she loved his hands on her. The way he comforted her. He worked for monsters and was one himself, and yet she wasn’t terrified of him.
His lips brushed against her neck. “Tell me what you’re thinking?”
“That there’s nowhere else I’d like to be than right here with you. I know that you’ll protect me. Keep me safe.”
“I’ll protect you with my very life.”
One of his hands moved to her hips. Her body heated at his touch, feeling the hard length of his cock press against her ass. Even after everything that happened last night, she wanted him.
Reaching behind her, she cupped his dick, and smiled as he hissed. “You’re playing with fire there.”
“You’re turned on. You’re hard right now.”
“I can’t help it. Seeing you in my clothes, having you in my life, being around you, Arika, it weakens me because right now, all I can see is you.”
She covered his hand with her own and then pushed his hands between her thighs, closing her eyes as pleasure struck her. She wanted him. “Then take me, Vincenzo. I’m yours to be taken.”
Chapter Fourteen
Vincenzo held Arika’s hand as he drove onto Galiza’s estate. All morning he’d made her come a total of five times as he drove his cock in deep. He’d needed to hear her scream and beg for him not to stop. The last thing he ever wanted to do was to hurt her, and seeing her breaking apart, shattering at his feet with Rachel’s body, had cut him deep.
She squeezed his hand, and he caught sight of Daniel waiting.
Arika didn’t tense up this time.
He parked the car, climbed out, and Arika waited for him to open the door. He knew it would be a struggle for her to walk as he hadn’t gone easy on her. He’d wanted her to remember him, to feel every single inch of his cock as he drove inside her, taking her pussy, claiming her once again as his own.
“You’re late.”
“I had business to attend to.”
“Galiza’s waiting inside. I see you didn’t keep her a secret for long.”
“I didn’t want to,” he said. She wasn’t a secret he was ashamed of. He’d only wanted to keep everything quiet to give her a chance at a normal life. Of course, the moment he decided to be a selfish bastard, he should have told Galiza then.
As he took hold of Arika’s hand, they made their way up the stairs into his boss’s house.
“Don’t be nervous. You’re safe here.”
“It’s fine. I’m fine. Of course I’m fine.”
He kissed her cheek.
Antonio was the first person he saw. “Dad’s in his office. He’s expecting you.”
“Arika, I’d like you to meet Antonio. Antonio, this is my fiancée, Arika.”
“Nice to meet you, Arika,” Antonio said.
“We’re not officially engaged,” she said, lifting her head and smiling. “You’ve not properly asked me.”
“You know, I like this one already. You give him hell, Arika. He needs it.”
She held his hand a little tighter.
“Daniel, you don’t need to go in there. It’s just Dad and Vincenzo with his woman.”
Walking down the long corridor, he wrapped his arm around Arika.
“Is that bad that we’re going in there alone?”
“It’s not bad. Believe me. This is private, and I knew you wouldn’t want a big family introduction.”
“I could just go home, you know. Not worry.”
“Once everything is done, we’ll go home.” Knocking on the door, he called out his name.
“Come in,” Galiza said.
He went in first and then allowed Arika to enter.
“Ah, Vincenzo is here at last. I was beginning to think you were ditching me.”
“Something came up this morning.”
“I’m aware of what happened at the diner last night. My apologies on your friend’s death,” Galiza said.
She nodded. “Thank you.”
“So, you’re the woman that has stolen Vincenzo’s heart. A lot of women will be upset about that.”
“I’m sorry,” she said.
Galiza chuckled. “I have no problem with that. Will you look at me, Arika?”
She lifted her head.
“You’re nervous.”
“Yes.”
“Afraid I’ll kill you?”
Vincenzo didn’t like this one bit.
“Yes.”
“I won’t kill you. That is not my way, unless of course you betray me. Has Vincenzo made you aware of the consequences of you talking or betraying us?”
“Yes, he warned me some time ago.”
“And yet you’re still with him?”
She looked at him this time. “I guess some things can’t be denied.”
“You love him?” Galiza asked.
She didn’t look away and nodded her head. “Yes. I tried not to. I tried to hate him, but it just wasn’t working. He’s rather hard to hate.”
Vincenzo cupped her cheek. “I love you too.”
She pressed her face against his open palm.
“I do find this rather a treat, it has to be said,” Galiza said. “Vincenzo is like a son to me, and as I look at him now, I’ve never seen him be so smitten with a woman. For that reason alone, I want this wedding to go ahead. You will be Vincenzo’s bride, Arika.”
“I don’t get a say in this?” she asked.
“Are you saying you don’t wish to be married to him?”
“It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?” Galiza asked.
“I … erm … I’d like him to ask me. To get down on one knee and ask.”
Galiza burst out laughing. “They always want to get us by the balls. Well, in that case, Vincenzo, I will leave that to you, but we have business to attend, so hurry up.”
His boss left the office.
He was alone with Arika.
“He’s terrifying.”
“I thought he was one of the coolest men I knew growing up.”
“Now?”
“Now, he’s just my boss.”
“You don’t care for him?”
“I care, but I know my place in this world. He says I’m like a son to him, but if given the choice, he’d kill me to keep Antonio alive.”
She gripped his hand even tighter. “I don’t want you to die, Vincenzo. I can’t … no, I don’t want that.”
“I’m damn good at what I do, and I keep Antonio alive even when I don’t want to.” He dropped a kiss to her lips. “I’m so sorry about rushing you on this. I don’t want to, I swear, but I’ve got to go.”
“You’re going to leave me here?”
“I don’t have a choice. I’ve got a job to do, but the women are here. I’ll take you to them now. They’re probably in the kitchen waiting to meet you.”
“Do these women like you?”
“I’ve been around them a lot. They know how this world works, so they’ll let you know what to expect. Don’t believe everything you hear.”
“Because that’s not sca
ry.”
“They will take care of you.” He stroked her cheek. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He saw how nervous she was and kissed her lips. “Come on. I’ll take you to them.”
He held her hand and led her through the house to the kitchen where she would see a lot of women talking, cooking, baking. They all looked tense but happy. He was used to them like this. Especially when they were about to go and deal with not only an internal problem but also their enemies. There was a risk that people would die today. He had no intention of dying.
When he cleared his throat, they turned toward him. Galiza’s wife didn’t even look at him, but she hated this life.
Her sister, the aunt he’d never had, took the lead, smiling and coming toward them.
“This is her?” Aunt Shauna asked.
“Yep. This is Arika, the special woman in my life. Take care of her,” he said.
“We will. We’re making ciabatta, so she can help.”
He took Arika’s hands, smiled at her, and handed her over to Aunt Shauna, knowing she’d be safe.
“I’ll be back.” With that, he turned his back, and started to walk away, heading outside to where Daniel and the rest of the men were waiting for him.
“I can’t believe this is going to happen today,” Daniel said, climbing behind the wheel.
“It has to happen. You know that. If he doesn’t do anything it’ll make him look weak, and we can’t have him looking weak, not now.” Vincenzo glanced back at the house. He was doing the right thing, he knew he was.
****
“You’re the first woman Vincenzo has brought around here,” Aunt Shauna said.
“I am?”
“Yes. I know that means you’re special, and I will keep on hoping for a better life for him rather than the one he’s been trained to do.”
Arika watched as the woman crossed her chest as if she was praying. “You don’t think he’s fit for this life?”
“I believe Vincenzo is more than fit for the life of the killer they’ve made him. I just don’t think he had to be that way.”
“He told me how Galiza found him. At the foster home.”
“That nonsense. Yes, he was a … strange boy, but there was also a lot of good in him as well. Of course, Galiza saw the opportunity to create the beast of a man he always wanted, and Vincenzo can do everything so easily.”
“Vincenzo is a monster,” said a pale woman, who was drinking some dark amber liquid that she guessed was whiskey.
