Top Dog_A Mafia Romance

by Rye Hart

  I shut the office door instead of replying. Striding through the office toward the elevator doors, I tried to regain my composure, to find my sense of control again, but it was useless.

  It was going to be one hell of a month with Harley Jordan shadowing me. That much I could tell, and I had no idea if it was going to be a good thing or not.

  CHAPTER FOUR - HARLEY

  The morning sun felt warm on my exposed skin as I stepped out of the airport to hail one of the many cabs lingering about in front of the terminals. While a cab eagerly pulled up to the curb, I kept one eye trained on Abigail and Libby who were following behind me in the middle of an excited conversation.

  “I can’t believe we’re actually here!” Libby said. “It’s so wonderful already. Can you believe how warm it feels?”

  Abigail laughed. “It was warm in Manhattan too, Libs.”

  “Well, I know, but you know what I mean.” She looped an arm through Abigail’s. “Better stick with me. I’ll protect you from the scary men your Dad is afraid will kidnap you.”

  I didn’t bother replying. Libby from my experience was the outspoken one who clearly dictated Abigail’s social life. She made a point of ignoring me out of irritation, but I didn’t give two shits if Libby or Abigail enjoyed my presence. Some part of me hoped that they didn’t enjoy it at all. I had a $500,000 check waiting for me either way. The less attention they paid to me, the better.

  “Hola, senior,” the cab driver called out. “Do you need a ride?”

  “To this address here,” I said in fluent Spanish.

  He took the paper from me in surprise. “You speak Spanish?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  I turned to find Abigail watching me curiously. “What?”

  “I didn’t know you spoke Spanish,” she said, clearly impressed. “I tried to take Spanish in High School, but I failed it two times.”

  I sighed inwardly. I didn’t care for idle chit chat, and I wasn’t in the mood for mind games with Abigail. Our last encounter hadn’t ended well in her Dad’s office. She was a spoiled brat, and I was a well-paid babysitter.

  “We should get to the hotel,” I said and grabbed the luggage cart next to them. “Don’t get into the cab until—”

  Libby let out an exasperated noise. “You’re paranoid - you know that? Worse than Abi’s Dad.” She tugged Abigail to the cab doors. “We aren’t in middle of Iraq or whatever third world country that has a reputation for kidnapping women.”

  I tossed their luggage and bags into the back along with mine. Not caring for their protests to be careful, I climbed into the front passenger seat with Abigail sitting right behind me. I turned to look over at Libby who was now busily scrolling through her phone.

  “I’m not being paid to make sure you aren’t kidnapped,” I said, flatly. “It’s Abigail I’m here for, so please, feel free to go down any dark alley you find, by yourself here. Drive, please.”

  The cab driver gave me a long look before putting the van into drive. I sat uneasily in the front seat wishing I had my .22 holstered at my side. Madrid was beautiful no doubt, but I had seen a few too many horrible things coming through this city. Granted, there were worse countries out there, but I couldn’t shake off the feeling that we were being watched.

  “You just want Abigail all to yourself,” Libby said, grinning. “Hey, if you two want some alone time then—”

  “Libby,” Abigail started, sharply, “please don’t.”

  Libby sighed dramatically. “Fine, but I’m not even tired yet. We just got here and I’m not ready to call it a night just yet.”

  “Probably because you never go to bed before 2:00 am,” Abigail said. “It’ll start hitting us once we’re at the hotel.”

  “What do you think, Harley?” asked Libby.

  I looked back at Libby in annoyance. “What do I think about what?”

  “You’re the expert here,” she said, not looking up from her phone. “Will we start to feel the time difference soon?”

  The hell do I care? I didn’t see the expression on Abigail's face when she flicked her large sunglasses down to cover her eyes. Keep your patience, Jordan. $500,000 is on the line. Ignoring her was my best option. Fuck, it was the only option.

  We arrived at the hotel twenty minutes later. As I suspected what would happen, Libby quieted down on the drive there. They were barely fighting yawns when we pulled up in front of the hotel to check in. I waited until they gathered their bags from the back of the cab before I paid the driver, and walked into the expensive marble lobby with them in tow.

  While I checked in with the front desk, I overheard a male speaking with Abigail and Libby behind my back. I glanced over my shoulder to see a Spanish man dressed in all black standing in front of them.

  Warning bells went off in my head. I had no reasonable explanation of why, but something about the guy wasn’t right. I thanked the concierge before walking over to them.

  “My name is Roco,” he was telling them. “I am in charge of the security here at the hotel. Please let me know if you need anything. I can ride with you or—”

  “I will be riding with them,” I interjected, and handed Abigail and Libby their room keys. “If we need anything, Roco, I’ll let you know.” I continued in Spanish to make sure my point got across load and clear, “I am their hired security throughout Madrid.”

  Roco’s smiled straightened in a strained line. “Of course, sir. May I ask you where you are from as well?”

  “Queens, New York,” I said, and eyed him with suspicion. “Is there a problem?”

  “No problems.” His eyes landed on the names tattooed on my right forearm. “You were in the military for the United States?”

  I didn’t bother responding. He wanted too much information. Grabbing ahold of my bags, I placed a hand on Abigail’s lower back to usher her and Libby forward. She tensed under my touch but didn’t protest. Something about the simplicity of it left my stomach contracting, my cock twitching in my pants. It had been too fucking long since I’d even been around a woman, much less touched one.

  “Roco’s sexy,” Libby said when we were in the elevator. “Maybe I’ll find myself a Spanish lover while we are here at the hotel.”

  She nudged Abigail playfully in the side but didn’t get a response other than a tense laugh. I didn’t want to even think about sheltering them from of the men in Madrid. Especially men like Roco who clearly took great pleasure in charming young female tourists like Libby.

  Once I was confident that the room was secure, I motioned for Abigail to join me outside in the hallway.

  I was a little surprised that she complied without agitation.

  “Listen,” I said, quietly enough to have Abigail lean in to hear me, “I know you aren’t happy about me being here, but don’t leave without me. People aren’t who they seem here.”

  Abigail gave me a long look before she nodded in understanding.

  “I’ll let you know when we want to go somewhere.” She yawned, clamping her fingers over her pretty pink lips as blush covered her cheeks. “We’re not going anywhere right now. I’m too exhausted.”

  “Good. Well, I’m next door if you need me or change your mind,” I said as I took her in. She was a beautiful girl, but it was clear that she had no clue . “Keep that side door unlocked at all times.”

  She closed the door a second later, and I turned to walk to my room. After checking it out, I locked the door and glanced around. I couldn’t shake off Roco’s beady little stare and curiosity.

  Setting my bag on the floor next to the bed, I went straight to the side door that I had told Abigail to unlock. I leaned in to hear the lock click out, but also to hear Libby say, “That bodyguard isn’t going to help us with our plans on losing your v-card this summer, Abi.”

  I arched an eyebrow. Abigail’s a virgin?

  It seemed possible given her naive nature. Temptation coiled in my stomach when I thought of Abigail's waterfall curls shimmering in the sunlight, and her
shapely legs that flashed through her long black skirt when she walked. Every bit of her body was tight and toned. She was so small that I could easily pin her beneath me. I couldn’t help but wonder what her moans would sound like. What she would taste like.

  “Shit,” I groaned, glancing down as my cock grew hard in my pants. It had been forever since I’d felt turned on by the thought of someone beneath me. While Abigail was perfect for the position, she was also off limits. I’d have to find someone else to sate my wicked desires with. The only problem was that I couldn’t trust anyone else with Abigail long enough to find a woman who could satisfy that need.

  I pushed away from the door to collapse on the bed while I half-listened to Abigail and Libby’s voices chatter away. Eventually, the room next to mine went silent, and I stared up at the sunshine dancing across the ceiling until sleep finally took me.

  CHAPTER FIVE - ABIGAIL

  “It’s beautiful here,” I said, gazing out along the balcony of the hotel where the sun slowly dipped below the buildings. The past two days we had spent in the hotel adjusting to the time difference, and now we felt alive for the evening hours.

  The hotel balcony we were seated upon overlooked the entire city of Madrid because of its nestled position. A vivid orange hue filled the entire evening sky with a comfortable glow that instantly relaxed all of us— excluding Harley.

  I tossed a glance over my shoulder to where he stood vigilantly behind us by a few feet, with his gaze focused on something in the distance over the balcony. His eyes shifted, focusing on me, but his expression stayed tight. I couldn’t help but wonder what his story was. He was beyond hot. Did he have someone waiting for him at home? He damn well should have.

  “Yeah, beautiful,” Libby said. She fiddled with the hemline of her short dress while leaning forward in her seat to look at a table of men who sat a few tables away. “Do you see those men there? They keep looking over at us.”

  “No,” I said, and looked over in the direction Libby’s head was turned. They were all dressed in expensive looking shirts and pants. Their skin was a dark tanned color while they each supported dark black curls. One of them smiled slyly at me. “Are they guests at the hotel?”

  “They would have to be,” Libby said. “You can’t eat up here unless you’re a guest. Let's see if I can get them over here to have some drinks with us.”

  I glanced down at my full glass of wine - my second glass of wine. My head already felt fuzzy from the liquor and the evening heat. It was a dangerous combination.

  “I can’t have anymore, Libby. Seriously. I feel like if I stood too fast that I’d fall over.”

  “This is vacation, Abi. You’re supposed to get drunk. Like sloppy drunk.” Libby waved at them with a pretty smile on her face. “Hola! We’d love to share drinks over here.”

  They chattered away in Spanish before rising from the table. They didn’t get far though when Harley stepped between the tables. He uttered something curtly in Spanish that sent them hurrying from the balcony without sparing Libby and I a second glance.

  “Hey, asshole!” Libby exclaimed, reaching out to swat Harley on the arm. “What is your problem here? Those are guests at the hotel. It was just a damn drink!”

  The indifferent expression on Harley’s face didn’t change. He resumed his post behind us without saying another word.

  My Dad certainly would be pleased.

  I fingered the rim of my wine glass with a resigned sigh while Libby complained loudly about him ruining all the fun. Nothing she said or did ever seemed to phase him. He was emotionless half the time, or either extremely irritable. There was never an in-between, nor rarely any emotion was shown.

  “I’m going to take a shower,” Libby said, fanning her flushed face from alcohol and heat. “After that, maybe we could go explore the city a bit?”

  “Yeah. Sure.” I stood and reached for the table as a smile lifted my lips.

  “Light weight.” She chuckled and reached for me.

  We walked back to our room with Harley walking silently behind us. He took up his post outside the door when I shut the door behind us.

  Libby clasped my arm a second later. “Listen Abi. Unless this guy decides to screw one of us, which I’m pretty damn sure he won’t, we need to get rid of him. And that’s a pity because all that pent up frustration he’s carrying around would make him a perfect fuck buddy,” she whispered, shaking her head in annoyance. “To top that off, he keeps acting like we are in the middle of Iraq or something.”

  “I can’t tell him to leave,” I said. At least he’s sexy to look. I shook that thought out of my head while Libby retreated to the bathroom to shower. I didn’t want either one of them to know that I had a thing for Harley. I was certain the last thing he would be interested in is some average girl anyway. I waited until I heard the shower turn on before slipping into a pair of cotton shorts and a ripped tank top. Tying my hair up into a messy bun, I sat Indian style in the middle of my bed to call my parents.

  My Mom answered the phone cheerfully. “Hello, my darling daughter. How are your adventures in Madrid?”

  “Fine for the most part,” I said. “We haven’t seen much yet because we’ve been trying to adjust to the time change.”

  “I imagine. It is evening there, right?”

  “Right.” I nodded before asking hesitantly, “Is Dad home with you or—”

  “He ran into the office to grab a few files,” she said. “Is there something going on? Is everything all right?”

  I ignored the concern in my Mom’s voice. It was always there. As if me simply living my life were a huge threat in general. “Everything is fine, Mom. Don’t worry about me.”

  “I try not to. Your Dad hired that bodyguard for a reason, you know.”

  “What reason is that?” I asked, irritably. “To annoy the shit out of me the entire time?”

  “Abigail Carter— watch your language.”

  “I’m sorry, Mom, but the guy he hired is just too damn good at his job.” And he’s attractive. That doesn’t help either.

  “I hoped he would be, dear. He retired from Special Forces about five months ago.”

  “Well then, that makes perfect sense,” I said.

  “What does?”

  “He’s just—” I struggled to find the right word. “Vigilant is the only thing I can think of to describe it.”

  “That’s what he is paid to do, Abi.” Voices chattered on the other end of the line. “I have to get going, dear. Would you like your Dad to call later?”

  I thought of Libby’s plan to go out to Madrid tonight. “No, that’s fine. I can call him tomorrow sometime.”

  “All right, sweetie. Be safe. I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  I stared down at my phone for a Moment. Special Forces. It all made sense why he was so physically fit, graceful, and confident. He had been trained to be a certain way, and he stuck to it even as a bodyguard.

  Plugging my phone to charge, I stepped out onto the balcony to enjoy the heat while I waited for Libby to finish up. I stepped around the corner of the balcony to reel back in surprise to see Harley sitting on the other side at a small patio table. He looked away from the fading skyline to focus on me. The hazy glow of the evening brought out the silver specs in his green eyes, but there was something so haunting behind his blank expression. He reclined casually back in his chair, stretching out his muscular torso. I couldn’t help but let my eyes run along the front of him, coveting how good he must look under his clothes.

  “What is it?” he asked, his voice deep, soft.

  “Nothing,” I said thickly and took a careful step towards him. “Can I sit with you for a few minutes?”

  Harley arched an eyebrow at me. “That depends on where this conversation is going.”

  “I have no motives. I just wanted to… talk.”

  I winced at how stupid I must have sounded.

  He didn’t respond for a few seconds but finally motioned a hand to t
he chair across from him. I gladly took a seat in front of him and glanced down, studying the names tattooed on his forearm.

  “My Mom says you were in the Special Forces,” I said, not sure where I wanted to go with the conversation. It was the wine. Fucking alcohol and it’s magical confidence boosters.

  “Yes,” he said, nodding. “I was in the Special Forces for a very long time.”

  “What brought you back?” I asked, curiously. A dark look clouded his face then, and I instantly realized I had hit a painful button. “I’m sorry. I was just curious to hear what brought you back since Special Forces are elite, the top of the top.”

  “Too much death, and I needed to be home for personal reasons,” Harley said, distantly. His eyes flicked down to his forearm briefly. “That’s why I came back.”

  Not knowing what he meant by the second part but I didn’t want to pry more and ask about his personal life – not just yet anyway. “And now you get to escort my bitchy friend and me around,” I said in a desperate attempt of humor to get the dark, intense look off his handsome face. “Aren’t you lucky?”

  To my relief, it worked. The shadow lifted from Harley’s face instantly. The edges of his lips twitched in a ghost of a smile.

  “You said it. Not me,” he responded, wryly.

  An awkward silence stretched between us. Maybe it was just the wine, but damn Harley looked sinful sitting in front of me. My fingers itched to run along the broadness of his chest and shoulders. I would have given just about anything to feel his muscles twitch beneath my fingertips.

  I blinked at the heat searing through me, an entirely different type of heat I never experienced before. This heat was the type that would consume me whole if I wasn’t careful. A soft pulsing started between my thighs, and it suddenly felt so damn hard to breathe.

  “I’m sorry for Libby,” I blurted out then. “She’s a lot to handle, I know. I guess it’s why my Dad didn’t want her coming in the first place, but she means well.”

  “I really don’t care about Libby,” Harley said, shrugging. He didn’t seem to be affected by me being near at all. Maybe I was the only one experiencing anything. Liquor. It had to be the liquor.