by L A Cotton
“Got it, Boss.” My lips curved.
Nicco shook his head, letting out a weary sigh. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.”
“You should probably try.”
Because if Uncle Toni was really sick… Nicco could find himself taking charge sooner rather than later.
And I didn’t envy my best friend at all.
Chapter 3
Caitlin
“Oh my God, Cait. What happened?” Gisele reached for my face, but I swatted her hand away.
“It’s nothing, really.”
“Girl, that isn’t nothing.” She scoffed. “You look like you got mauled by a—”
“Gisele, please…” I silently pleaded with her; aware we were drawing an audience.
I’d done my best to conceal the fingermarks around my throat, but the skin along your neck wasn’t the easiest place to cover up. I’d even added a scarf, but the bruising was still obvious. And then there was the slight split in my lip.
Maybe I should have stayed at my apartment and feigned a stomach flu. But sometimes it was easier to placate Zander by putting on a brave face and pretending nothing was wrong.
Besides, it could have been worse. He could have actually let Dominic touch me. He hadn’t—and for that, I was grateful. Even if he had punished me for exacting his wishes.
Men.
I would never understand their double standards or the games they liked to play.
But I was okay… a few bruises here and there was nothing.
I’d survived much worse.
“I should get ready for my shift,” I said, slipping past her to go to my locker.
“Hey, Cait,” she called after me.
“Yeah?”
“I’m here, if you ever need someone to talk to.”
“Thanks.” I smiled, but we both knew I wouldn’t take her up on her offer.
I was Zander’s favorite toy. If I spoke out against him, I’d find myself living on the streets without a job again. And although he was the devil in an expensive Italian suit, there were still worse things out there than Zander DiMarco.
Ignoring the curious stares of the other girls, I hurried to my locker and dumped my purse and jacket. I was tying my purple-trimmed black apron when Zander called my name.
“Caitlin, my office,” he commanded.
My stomach sank. I was hoping he would leave me alone after last night; he usually did. But I guess fate was feeling decidedly cruel.
Gisele shot me a sympathetic look as I passed her and made my way out of the dancers dressing room along the hall to Zander’s office.
“Come in,” he said, not bothering to look at me, too busy poring over the paperwork on his desk.
“Did you need something?”
“Sit.” He motioned to the couch, and I sat down, folding my hands in my lap.
Zander continued checking his papers, murmuring to himself as he punched in numbers on the calculator.
“All done.” He threw the stack down and smiled at me. “How are you today?”
“I’m fine, thank you.”
“Good, that’s good. Last night was… a misjudgment on my part, and for that, I’m sorry.”
“It was nothing.”
He let out a heavy sigh, rising from his chair to walk over to me. “You’re so beautiful, Cait.” Sliding his hand along my neck, he gently gripped my jaw and forced me to look up at him. “I was too rough.”
I suppressed a shudder. He was always rough. Most men like Zander were. They liked the power, the fear… they liked to possess women to the point of pain.
“I’m sorry.”
His apology echoed around my skull. In all the time I’d known Zander, he’d never once apologized.
I didn’t know what to make of it.
He ran his thumb over my bottom lip, letting the pillow of flesh pop as he pulled it away.
“I just get so angry when I see other men watch you.”
“I thought you wanted me to dance for him?”
“I did, dolcezza. I did. And you did such a good job. But the way I feel about you, Caitlin… it’s enough to drive a man to the brink of insanity.”
I was his.
Despite the fact we hadn’t ever officially gone public or labelled our relationship, I was under no illusion that this was anything but the fact Zander DiMarco had decided I belonged to him.
When he’d first found me and took me off the streets, Zander had given me a safe place to stay, and I’d lapped up his attention. But then he’d started to hint at his true intentions. For so long, I managed to keep him at arm’s length. Until one night, Zander had grown tired of waiting for me and had taken what he’d wanted all along.
Me.
“You know I’m not interested in any of those men,” I said. There had never been a man to catch my attention. Except one, on a stormy night when I’d found myself in a dark alley with another Zander DiMarco of the world. A man who thought he could just take what he wanted.
I would never forget Matteo. He’d saved my life that night, and then gave me one of the best nights of my almost twenty-one years on Earth.
But that’s all it could ever be.
I’d refused to give him my number, locking him away in a little box where Zander couldn’t touch him.
If he ever found out about that night… It didn’t bear thinking about.
A violent shudder rolled through me, and I took a calming breath, trying to keep my expression neutral.
“So why do you keep stalling, dolcezza? It would be so much easier if you moved in with me. We could play happy family. I could go to sleep every night holding you, wake every morning with you in my arms.”
Lies.
It was all lies.
Zander didn’t know how to do any of those things. He didn’t know how to be soft and tender. Even now, his fingers were gripping me a little too tightly, his jaw clenched with frustration.
“I’ve told you before, I’m not ready.”
He knew why.
I’d given him that much.
But I could see from the flash of anger in his eyes, my excuses weren’t enough anymore.
“I’ve waited,” he said. “I’ve been patient and given you space. But a man will only wait so long, Cait. I can’t give you up, dolcezza. I won’t.”
“I should probably get to work.”
Wrong answer.
My neck wrenched as he yanked my face upward, my muscles screaming in protest. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. “Z-Zander please, I have to go to work.”
“You work for me, or have you forgotten that? You. Are. Mine. Caitlin. The sooner you get on board with that, the better. Now be a good girl and kiss me.” He practically dragged me to my feet, giving me no time to back out as his lips slammed down on mine. His fingers slid into my hair, clutching me like a rag doll. A puppet. My whole life had been nothing more than a show I had no control over. I came to Providence to start over, but the cycle just continued.
And I hated it.
I hated that I attracted a certain kind of man. I hated that I wasn’t strong enough to walk away.
But walking away wasn’t that simple.
I had nothing. Nowhere to go, no one to turn to. I was all alone in the world except for the few friends I had at DiMarco’s.
I went lax in his arms, knowing that fighting would only stoke the anger rising inside him.
“God, dolcezza, it’s like I can’t get enough of you.” His hands ran over my body, clawing at my modest black skirt.
“Zander,” I breathed. “It’s the middle of the day, everyone is expecting me.”
That snapped him out of his trance, and he backed away slightly. “You’re right.” He smoothed down his shirt. “Later then.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Slipping around him, I straightened my skirt and headed for the door.
“One day, Cait, you’re going to give me what I want.”
Pretending not to hear him, I hurried from th
e room and headed straight to the women’s bathroom. I needed a minute to collect my thoughts and stop shaking.
“There you are. I was beginning to wonder—”
“Not now, Shaun,” I said, busying myself with polishing glasses. DiMarco’s was always quieter in the afternoon, so it gave the floor staff a chance to prepare for the night ahead. Glasses were buffed, tables were cleaned, and the refrigerators and liquor shelves were restocked. It was laborious work, but I didn’t mind it. It kept my mind busy.
Zander came and went, sometimes sitting at his usual spot in the corner of the club on the raised platform, giving him a vantage point of the entire room. He liked people to know he was the boss, just like he liked people to know he was always there watching them. It was part of his power play.
But during the day, he had meetings, telephone calls, and paperwork to do, so he wasn’t around so much. I took pleasure in those moments, and for a second, I could almost imagine being invisible.
I was busy restocking the tealight votives on each table when I felt him. Zander. He’d barely left me thirty minutes before coming to check up on me.
His behavior toward me was growing more erratic. More possessive. And I knew the thin rope of control I still had would soon snap.
He wanted an answer—an answer I couldn’t give him, not willingly.
I glanced over my shoulder, and sure enough, he was across the room watching me. His eyes darkened as he swirled the glass of scotch around in his hand before bringing the rim to his lips. I should have looked away, refused to play his game of cat and mouse. But I wasn’t about to cower, not now. Not ever.
“Cait?” Gisele tapped me on the shoulder, and I almost jumped out of my skin. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“It’s okay.” I flashed her a warm smile, still able to feel Zander’s eyes drilling holes into the side of my face.
“He’s getting more and more obvious,” she said between gritted teeth.
“He just enjoys the chase.”
“I can try to talk to him? Make him see that—”
“No, no. It’s fine. I can handle Zander. But thank you.”
“Of course.” Her expression was etched with sympathy. “I’d help you get out if I could. But it’s—”
“Gisele, I don’t expect you or anyone else to fight my battles.”
And I would never jeopardize her job like that. Zander wouldn’t hesitate to get rid of anyone who tried to get in his way, his best dancers included. Because there were always more girls like Gisele and Marielle… and me. Girls looking to make a quick buck and escape whatever nightmare drove them to a place like DiMarco’s in the first place.
A lot of them would argue it wasn’t so bad. The club was one of the more high-end joints in Providence, and Zander and his guys afforded them a certain amount of protection—provided they did their job and brought in enough money.
“Ugh, duty calls.” Gisele rolled her eyes, and I glanced back again to find Zander glaring at her.
“I’ll see you later, okay?” She squeezed my hand before disappearing.
I headed for the bar, trying to keep busy. It was hard with Zander’s eyes following me everywhere. Especially so early into my shift.
“Cait, do me a favor and go get some extra napkins, we’re short,” Shaun said, not looking up from the counter.
“Sure thing.” Hurrying into the back, I went straight into the storeroom and grabbed as many packets of napkins as I could find. But when I turned around, Zander was blocking the door.
“Z-Zander, what are you—”
“Relax, dolcezza,” he purred. “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. You seemed… tense after our talk this morning.”
“I’m fine.” I forced a smile. “But I should probably get these back to Shaun before he comes looking for me.”
Zander stepped into the room, taking the air with him. “No one’s coming back here, Caitlin. It’s just you and me.” He crowded me into the corner of the storeroom, my back hitting the shelves.
“I… I have to work.”
“I’m your boss, and I think you should take a quick break.”
“But I…”
“Stop, Cait.” His hand shot out, grabbing my jaw. “Just stop.”
Tears rushed up my throat as my heart crashed wildly in my chest. I thought I was safe. At least until later.
Fear flooded me, making it hard to breathe.
“I can’t stop thinking about fucking Cabrioles with his hands on you. I should never have let him touch you.” He brushed his thumb along my cheek. “He wasn’t worthy of you, dolcezza.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “It’s over. He won’t be a problem no more.”
Something flashed in Zander’s eyes, but he nodded all the same. “Come here.” His hand slipped to my neck, curving around my throat. He pulled me closer, forcing me to tilt my face up to look at him.
“The things I want to do to you. The things I want to show you…”
Oh God.
The knot in my stomach twisted. He wasn’t going to let me walk away from this untouched. Not this time.
There was a feral look in his eyes. A hunger I’d seen too many times before.
“You’re mine, Caitlin. Mine.” He lowered his head, pressing his mouth to mine.
Every muscle inside me went rigid as I tried to breathe through the terror. My body trembled at his touch.
“Open up for me,” he drawled, licking the seam of my lips, trying to force his way in.
“Zander, not here,” I breathed, desperately trying to break out of his hold without seeming too forceful. “I have to—”
He smashed his body into mine, stealing the air from my lungs as he plunged his tongue into my mouth. My head smacked off the edge of the shelves, stars exploding in my vision.
“Zander, no.” I tried to fight him, but he was too strong, too heavy, pressing the entire length of his body against mine.
Stars swam in my vision and tears stung my eyes. I heard the familiar clunk of his belt buckle, bile churning in my stomach.
“No,” I cried. “Not here, not like—”
He backhanded me so hard my teeth rattled, and pain exploded along my jaw.
“You think you’re too good for me? Is that it?” His hands began clawing at my legs, my thighs. My eyes grew heavy, the pounding in my skull making blood roar in my ears.
“I… no… please…”
Zander grabbed my face hard, squeezing my cheeks to the point of pain. “I’m going to enjoy this.” He grinned, but it was dark and twisted.
That grin was the last thing I saw before oblivion claimed me.
“Stay with me, girl.” The voice drifted in and out of my consciousness.
Or maybe that was me.
I couldn’t figure it out.
Everything was blurry… like swimming underwater with your eyes open.
“Cait?” The voice sounded panicked. “Cait, hold on… we’re almost there.”
I wanted to ask where, but when my lips moved nothing but a tiny squeak came out. My mouth felt wrong, swollen and sore, and I could taste the coppery, metallic twang of blood on my tongue.
“Oh God,” I murmured, agony shredding my insides. “What…? What…?”
“Shh.” Someone reached over and squeezed my hand. “It’s going to be okay, Cait.”
“Where are you taking me?” Shaun’s form shimmered in and out of focus.
“He thinks I’m taking you to County in Providence. But fuck that,” Shaun spat. “He went too far this time, Cait. Too fucking far. I’m going to drive you to Pawtucket and tell him we stopped for gas and you ran.”
“W-what? That’s crazy.” He was crazy.
I couldn’t run.
Where the hell would I go? I could barely keep awake.
“You need to disappear, okay? If he finds you… he’ll kill you, Cait. I won’t have that on my conscience.”
“It hurts,” I groaned, touching a shaky finger to my
hair. When I pulled it away it was coated with sticky, dried blood. “Oh my God.”
What the hell had he done to me?
A shudder went through me as hazy memories assaulted me. Hands grabbing, teeth and tongue, his strong body taking what wasn’t his to take.
Oh God.
“We’re almost there, just try and keep it together, okay?”
But I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t fight the agony radiating through my body, my face.
“Shaun,” I murmured, barely a whisper. “I’m… I’m scared.”
“It’s going to be okay, Cait,” he said. “It’s going to be okay.”
It was the last thing I heard.
Chapter 4
Matteo
“Morning, Son,” Dad said looking up from his newspaper. “I didn’t expect to see you this morning. Nicco said you and Enzo were heading to Providence.”
“We are but Enzo and Nora stayed an extra night. They should be back anytime, so I told Arabella I can give her a ride to school.”
“You’re good to her, Son.”
“Of course he is.” Mom breezed into the kitchen, swatting me with the towel when she noticed me try to pluck off the freshly made cornetti off the cooling rack. “Later,” she chided. “You can have one later.”
“I won’t be here. I’ll be out of town for a couple of nights.”
Her shoulders bunched together. “Do I even want to know?”
“It’s business, Marcella. They’ll be fine.”
“That’s what they always say,” she murmured, making herself busy.
Mom had grown up around my uncles and Nono. She knew what this life entailed. Part of me sometimes wondered if she’d expected to get out when she married my father. But instead, he’d joined the ranks, swearing his allegiance to the Family. But Michele Bellatoni wasn’t like most mafioso. He was quiet and contemplative, and he didn’t abuse his power. That wasn’t to say he hadn’t gotten any blood on his hands—you didn’t live this life and never experience death—but he wasn’t hungry for it the way some were. He was a good guy.
