“What’s this all about?” Tatum asked. Antonio looked at him and pulled Alda closer.
“She’s been hurt by four men. They played with her heart, tricked her, and she’s confused about her feelings now because she’s so kind and sweet…unsuspecting of such cruelty.” He stroked her jaw and tilted her chin up toward him. Tatum pressed up against her back and held her hips.
“My cousin and I are wise men, experienced, knowing what we want, and more importantly we don’t play games. A relationship with us would last forever, Alda. We could travel together, work on this new business venture together, and make you happy, not sad.”
“Antonio, it isn’t that simple. I need time to process everything. I feel raw right now and confused.”
“They’ve done that, too. Made you second guess yourself, and minimize the importance of what you want and need in life. Trust us, Alda. We’ll give you time, but don’t fall for their lies.”
Chapter 10
Alda had to wake up very early the next morning to make it to the studio. A good while after lunch Giada called her.
“Hello.”
“How was last night?” Giada asked.
“It was amazing. Such a wonderful event. I was so tired this morning but had to be at the studio early. I’m on my second cup of coffee.”
“Well, did you see the front cover of the Manhattan entertainment section?”
“No, I didn’t look, why?”
“Well, that event you were at and your company’s new product line is featured with you and two very handsome, sexy older men sandwiching you between them. Who the hell are they and what happened with you, Brew, Royce, Logic, and Train?” Giada asked her.
“Oh God, the front cover of the section. How is the picture really?”
“Oh, you look incredible, as do the two sexy hunks, but it is provocative. I mean, I can’t totally tell if the one guy’s hand is on your ass or not, but they both have a possessive hand over your hips and belly. Sexy indeed. So what’s the deal? I have to hear this,” Giada asked.
“Well, I have about fifteen minutes. I was going to call you when I got a chance and ask your advice, but…”
“But you did the two sexy guys last night and there hasn’t been time?”
“No! Of course not, how could I do that after what I shared with Brew, Royce, Train, and Logic?”
“I don’t know. The picture makes me question you a lot. Just wait until the guys see it and find out.”
“What are the chances that they read the entertainment section?” Alda asked.
“My men saw it and they weren’t happy at all,” Giada stated.
“So that’s why you’re really calling me? To get info for them? That’s what I was afraid of. I’m trying not to be influenced by outside sources. I mean, Haley is saying one thing and about my image and then you guys are all like go for it and ride it while it lasts, but I’m confused. I don’t want to be their booty call woman. I mean, they asked me for a fucking key to my apartment so they can sneak in in the middle of the night if they’re working late to get some. Really? Who asks for that? We haven’t even gone on a date, I know nothing but what everyone else knows about them and when I asked for something personal they changed the subject.”
Alda went on and on about what transpired in the last couple of days. Giada listened and gasped a few times, added her comments.
“No wonder you’re so confused. I don’t like that Haley lady. She’s up to something.”
“Well, Giada, I was thinking the same thing last night. She was extra pushy for me not to get involved with Antonio and Tatum, but yet she told me how frowned upon it would be if I was involved in a ménage with four men when I was set to be the cover model for MAX cosmetics.”
“You really are in a jam. No wonder you’re so upset with those four idiots. They are so used to being on guard, acting tough and macho that they’re pushing you away and into two other men’s arms. I understand your confusion, Alda. I do, but I have to be honest here, I have never seen Train, Logic, Royce, and Brew act like this. I think, no, I know they care about you. A lot. It’s got to be a first for them. Not that I’m saying they’re handling it right, but in all relationships there has to be honesty and communication. In a ménage there must be trust. If that trust is betrayed then it’s doomed to fail.”
“So you’re saying I betrayed them by not giving them time to process how they feel about me? Am I supposed to stand back, give up my career, my life, my independence and just wait and see if they commit or they bail? I have so much lying on the line here and they don’t. If this relationship fails they move on, screwing who they want when they want. I’m used goods. I lose my job, this new position and any chance at landing something else in this field because shit like this travels.”
“You need to calm down. I’m not saying any of that. You didn’t sleep with them, right?” Giada asked.
“Of course not.”
“Then there is still time. Talk to Train, Logic, Brew and Royce. Tell them what you’re feeling, explain what it is you need from them in order to give them a chance.”
“And what about work?”
“Honey, if they don’t give you the position because you are in love with four men then it’s their loss. Like I said, that Haley woman seems untrustworthy and Antonio and Tatum could be up to something, too. Are you really willing to take such a chance on strangers instead of four men who have been around you for at least a year, are good friends with all your friends, and practically family? Seriously? We’d all beat their assess for hurting you,” Giada stated.
Alda chuckled and wiped the tears from her eyes.
“I better get going. I have a few more hours of this then I need to hail a cab home. Tomorrow I’m sleeping in.”
“Tonight, we’re meeting at Empire, remember?”
“Then I’d better cut out of here early and take a nap. I’m going to need it.”
Giada laughed.
“I hope it all works out. I’ll be here if you need to talk, but just know if you try to text the guys and cut off them finding out about that picture or any others that may be floating around, they’re all in some kind of meeting. I think they’re getting closer to finding out who is selling that drug Alessa was given,” Giada told her.
“I hope they do find out who it is and stop them. The thought of what could have happened scares me.”
“It scares all of us and any unknowing female out there just having a fun night out with friends. Kind of like what we all enjoyed doing for so long.”
“I know. Lucky we’re always looking out for one another,” Alda said.
“Lucky we’re all close-knit with made men. Single or not, you, Donata, any of our friends are protected. These men are our families and men we can trust. No doubt about that,” Giada said.
Alda agreed and then ended the call.
* * * *
“You want to make some good money, stick with me, C.J., Brendan and I got into something big. It was a little risky but worth it,” Fogerty told C.J.
They were standing by the back door of some warehouse in Hoboken. “What the hell are we doing here, and why couldn’t you explain what this was about on the way here?” C.J. asked.
“Because I didn’t want you freaking out. Now that you’re here, you’re part of it.”
C.J, swallowed hard. He didn’t like the sound of this, but he noticed Fogerty was really bringing in the money lately. A lot of it.
“So what’s the deal then? I’m here,” C.J. said to him.
“Okay, you can’t tell a soul. There is this new drug. People are paying big bucks for it. Five hundred a pill.”
“What? Who would be stupid enough to do that?” C.J. asked.
“Not stupid, it’s worth it and then some. It’s like a date rape drug, except the woman doesn’t remember a damn thing. It makes them act drunk, and they don’t remember a thing that’s going on so the guy or guys get away with doing whatever they want to them.”
&nbs
p; “That’s fucked up.”
“Yeah, well, at five hundred a pop, we get paid to not only pick this stuff up at non-disclosed locations but I got in on dealing it out, too. I did my first few deliveries this week and tonight I have a bunch. The guy pays me a grand a night.”
“I’m surprised a man like Lou Carvetti who does some work for the Garlitto family would be into this kind of drug. I mean, I know they own routes and shit, but this drug sounds dangerous and a cop magnet.”
“First of all, Carvetti doesn’t know and therefore neither does Garlitto. This is done under the radar and only select individuals can purchase this stuff. They have to have an in.”
“So what you’re saying is you’re using your abilities and the locations where Carvetti does his deals to also do separate deals with this guy and this drug behind Garlitto’s back?” C.J asked.
“Pretty much, but they won’t care even if they find out because I’ve put money aside to make them forget about it. If they approach me on it I have a payoff. It will all work out, plus this guy’s plan is to only distribute small batches and for a short period of time. I think they’re afraid of the same thing, a demand and then sending up smoke signals of where the shit is coming from.”
“How can you even look at these guys who come to buy the drugs and not think what a bunch of fucking loser dirtbags? They need a drug to get some woman into bed.”
“I don’t see their faces and I don’t give a fuck. If you start thinking like that and even have morals or question why people use drugs instead of exploit them for whatever money you can get out of them then you’re in the wrong business, C.J. You should become a fucking good Samaritan or a fucking moron working eighty hours a week and live in the fucking ghetto.”
C.J. went to respond but then they heard the door unlock and Fogerty tap his side. “I do all the talking. You are here to carry the duffel bag of shit.”
C.J. looked at the guy. He eyed him over and then Fogerty.
As the deal went down C.J. had a bad feeling. It wouldn’t be smart to double-cross anyone in the Garlitto family, or even Lou Carvetti. Maybe he should cut his losses and get out before he got caught up in something he wasn’t ready to go to jail for?
* * * *
“What the fuck?” Brew yelled and threw the newspaper down onto the table. They had all seen it, even went online and found other pictures of Alda in between the two men.
“Calm down,” Royce said very calmly, but he didn’t look calm to Brew. Royce looked angry. Train had his arms crossed in front of his chest and was breathing through his nostrils, and Logic just stood there speechless, blank.
“Just because there are pictures of them together doesn’t mean she went home with them last night. We texted her. She said she was home,” Logic stated.
“She could have lied. We didn’t go by her place and see for ourselves,” Brew raged.
“That isn’t the kind of woman she is,” Train said to them.
“Really? Like you know what kind of fucking woman she is? She played us. We…got played,” Brew said and threw his hands up in the air.
“That’s what your rage is about? Really, Brew? Be fucking truthful. You like her a lot. You want her to be solely ours and no one else’s but what did you do? What did we all do? Acted like fucktards. We didn’t let her know that we were feeling insecure, vulnerable, and never had feelings like this for a woman before,” Train said to him.
“Pussies? You think we needed to act like fucking pussies and that would have kept her from straying from us with these two rich dicks?” He slammed his finger down on the paper as he leaned over it.
“We finally found a woman we all want, desire, that turns us on and drives us wild and she just dropped us for these two men and you think it’s because they acted like pussies and comforted her, made her promises of commitments and dates, movies night and candy and we acted like the tough fucking made men we are?” Brew yelled.
“That’s exactly what happened,” Logic said.
They were all quiet and Brew couldn’t stand still. He was pacing with his hands on his hips. Since seeing that paper this morning and finding out from the guys, from Turbo and his team, from Dominick, Andreas and Giuseppe and the others as they asked what the fuck they did to push her away, Brew was fuming mad. He also felt hurt, insulted, and like he had been tricked. Then he thought about that guy, Antonio.
“You know, the other night that dick pulled her closer as if he was protecting her from us. He can’t be so fucking stupid that he didn’t see our guns. He wanted Alda that night, was probably working on seducing her. Last night he made another move and brought reinforcements. The other douchebag,” Brew said to them, squinting his eyes and thinking about it.
“You’re right. He was pompous and acted like we didn’t intimidate him but maybe his focus was solely on Alda and letting her see he would protect her,” Logic said.
“Then we took her home. We made love to her, and in the morning when she was asking us to tell her something personal about ourselves, we blew it off and changed the subject and acted like we weren’t sure what day this week we could see her again,” Train said.
“We asked her for a key to her place. She probably thought we would show up in the middle of the night for sex,” Logic said.
“What are we saying here? It sounds a hell of a lot like we want to make a full commitment to Alda. That we want her to be our woman, and that we don’t want any other women, only her and we don’t want her to be with any other men but us. We basically want a fucking girlfriend,” Royce said, sounding shocked.
“First, she’s going over my knee and getting her ass spanked for letting two other guys kiss her, touch her, and tell her fucking lies to push us away. Then, we’re going to show her exactly how much she means to us,” Brew stated firmly and walked over to the mirror to recheck his tie and suit jacket. They were going to Club Empire. All their friends and Alda were going to be there.
“If she accepts talking to us,” Logic said.
“Accepts it? The woman better not give me any hell or I’ll toss her ass over my shoulder and bring her home kicking and screaming, I don’t care. She’s our woman. I’ve never, never, felt like this before and neither have any of you. She’s ours, and I’m not giving her up without a fight. Let’s go,” Brew said.
Train slapped his hands together and rubbed them.
“Damn, her ass is going to be nice and pink.”
Royce and Logic chuckled.
“I suggest not throwing her over your shoulder immediately. Maybe try something more discrete,” Royce said, teasing Brew.
“We’re in this together. If that’s what it takes to get her to talk to us and explain what went wrong in the last forty some odd hours, then I’m all for barbaric rituals and acting like cavemen,” Logic added, and they laughed as they headed out to the SUV.
“Whatever happens, remember we hurt her, made her distrust us, and helped to push her into those men’s arms last night. That can never happen again,” Royce said.
“We’ll get her back. I won’t take no for an answer,” Brew said.
* * * *
“They aren’t here yet,” Giada said to Alda as she greeted her hello. Dominick and Giuseppe said hello too and she could tell they were looking at her differently.
“How was your party last night? Looked like a big deal,” Giuseppe said to her.
“Very funny, Giuseppe. She didn’t hook up with the two guys. Leave her be,” Giada said and then gasped as Dominick gave Giada’s ass a smack.
“Watch it,” he warned. Alda snickered.
“So, the party, how was it?” Gisella asked, standing between Fedarro and Collin.
“Enlightening, I suppose,” Alda stated and pulled off her coat.
Giada whistled.
“You look amazing.”
Alda debated on what to wear for a good two hours, then when Antonio called and invited her to a cocktail party at some big shot business guy’s penthouse uptown, she fi
gured she better wear something amazing, in case things didn’t work out here at Club Empire and she needed to have a plan B. She kind of wondered why she was bothering. She was here because of the conversation with Giada today.
“That dress is stunning and sexy, where did you get it and in that deep burgundy color?” Gisella asked.
“Thank you. I’ve had it for a while. I was invited to a cocktail party uptown later tonight,” she said and Collin handed her a pomegranate martini.
“Thank you, Collin,” she said and took a sip.
“A cocktail party? Where at?” Gisella asked.
“Near Times Square. I don’t exactly know the address, Antonio was going to send a car for me wherever I am if I decided to go,” she said.
“A car for you? Is he super rich or what?” Giada asked.
“I guess pretty well off. He owns multiple homes. One in Naples, Italy, Some small town in Germany, and somewhere else. I’m not sure. It’s what I picked up on in conversation during the week with business affairs and things,” she told them.
“Well, who was the other guy?” Gisella asked.
“That’s Antonio’s cousin, Tatum.”
“Hot,” Gisella said.
“Ouch,” she exclaimed as Fedarro did something to her backside, maybe pinched it.
“What? I was just complimenting the men Alda is working with, that’s all,” she said and Alda felt uncomfortable talking about the guys in front of Brew, Royce, Logic, and Train’s friends.
“How is Alessa doing? She isn’t coming, right?” Alda asked.
“No, she didn’t want to leave her place. Her cousins are with her,” Gisella said to her.
“I feel so badly for her. I wish there was more I could do, but I guess it will take time,” Alda said.
Giada’s eyes widened and then she nodded toward the doorway. Alda looked and locked gazes with Brew first. All four men walked into the place looking important, and ready for action. When a couple of blondes approached, calling Brew and Royce by name and touching them, Alda’s gut ached and she turned away.
Made Men 8: All or Nothing (Siren Publishing Menage Everlasting) Page 16
