by Jenna Jacob
“I appreciate your candidness, but Tony and I… we’re so—”
“Opposite?” Drake interrupted.
“Yes.” I nodded.
“Haven’t you ever heard the old saying, opposites attract?”
“Well yeah, but…” I scoffed. “When it comes to the lifestyle, we’re not just from different planets… we’re from different solar systems.”
“That doesn’t mean you can’t make it work. Give him a chance, Leagh. You’re not meant to be alone.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I couldn’t mask my indignation.
Drake shot me a scowl. “It means you need a strong Master. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not criticizing George, so don’t take this the wrong way. But you spiral up and fly out of control like a damn top. You need someone with enough backbone to keep you in line.”
“I do not. I just don’t—”
“Please. I’ve watched you for years, too.” Drake pondered for a long moment. “Don’t buy into all that gossip that floats around at the club about you, girl.”
“Easy for you to say,” I groused.
“Shit. People have been talking trash about me for years. I’m the evil Dom. Or haven’t you heard?”
“Oh, I’ve heard,” I chuckled with a sly grin. “But you want them to think you’re a bad ass. It gives you street cred.”
Drake laughed. “That it does, girl. It also helps Mika out. So I don’t mind being viewed a prick.”
Turning down a quiet, residential street, he slowed down, peering up at the house numbers.
“Well, it looks like the whole family came to welcome you,” Drake announced as he pulled to the curb in front of a large brick house in the middle of the block. His headlights illuminated a dozen broad shouldered men, ambling down the front steps toward the vehicle.
An older man made his way toward Drake’s side of the car. He had dark skin, hair, and eyes, and his facial structure looked like an older version of Tony. The other men, the younger ones, remained on the sidewalk. Standing shoulder to shoulder, they made an intimidating fortress.
“I hope for your sake you’re Drake,” the older man threatened as he leaned in, eyeing the big Dom. Slowly he cast a gaze my direction, examining me with a curious expression.
“Yes. And you’re Tony’s dad, right?”
“How’d you guess?” The man smiled. He was Tony’s father alright. They both had the same devastating grin. “Vito Delvaggio. Come. Let’s get you two inside. I’ll introduce you to my wife, Alisa.”
“Thanks,” Drake nodded as he put the car in park and cut the engine.
Thankful he was going inside with me, I had feared he’d simply drop me off and leave. As Drake climbed from the vehicle, Vito leaned in close. The two men shared a short, private conversation. I strained to hear what they were saying but couldn’t. A prickly sensation danced over my skin. Vito slapped Drake on the back with a nod before he hurried around the front of the car and opened my door.
“What else happened?” I asked, looking up. The street light illuminated both men’s somber expressions.
“Someone is following my son. Don’t worry, young lady. I’ve given my boy a specific route to take. I guarantee he won’t be followed much longer,” Vito preened, pride flickered in his dark eyes.
Tony had assured me his father wasn’t in the mob. And yes, I probably did watch too many movies but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d just stepped onto the set of “The Godfather.”
Drake bent low and lifted me from the car.
“I can walk,” I huffed, feeling like an invalid in his massive arms.
Hoisting me up against his chest, he grinned. “This is faster.”
Drake paraded me past the line of men, and I felt their curiosity rake over me. As we started up the stairs, I heard a deep voice whisper behind me. “Tony’s one lucky son of a bitch.”
The man had it all wrong; I was the lucky one.
Upon entering the house, the aroma of cinnamon and fresh baked bread filled the air. My mouth watered, and I instantly relaxed as the cozy atmosphere surrounded me.
“Alisa,” Vito bellowed in a tone identical to Tony’s. I couldn’t help but smile. “Leave the damn baking alone for five minutes, woman. We have company.”
No doubt about it, Tony’s dominance was definitely genetic. I bit back a giggle.
“Just who do you think you are, barking out orders at me like that, Vito Delvaggio? You be nice to me, or I’ll shut the kitchen down and let you starve to death. You can’t even open a can of soup, for the love of Pete.”
A petite dark haired woman, wearing a mock scowl, scolded Tony’s dad before turning her attention our way. Flashing a bright, happy smile, she looked every bit the loving mother Tony had described.
“You must be Leagh and Drake. Let’s find you a comfortable place to sit.” She motioned for us to follow before leading us into a spacious living room decorated in creams and mauves. “Would you like the couch or a recliner, dear?”
“The couch is fine Thank you, Mrs. Delvaggio.”
“Call me Alisa, please,” she invited as Drake lowered me onto a soft, comfy cushion. Smiling at the woman, Drake sat in the empty chair beside me. “I’ve got a fresh pot of coffee and warm cinnamon rolls. I’ll be right back.”
As Alisa darted back out of the room, Drake chuckled.
“What’s so funny?” I asked, yanking the ball cap off my head and fingering the tangles out my hair. I found nothing humorous, not while Tony was in danger.
“She’s the quintessential Italian mother; that’s all. The world could be crumbling out from under us, but she’ll make sure everyone has food in their bellies.”
“It is crumbling out from under me,” I replied softly.
“No, it’s not. Chin up, buttercup. If you haven’t figured it out yet, you’re not alone. So stop thinking that way. Whoever is behind this shit, we’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you get through it unscathed. You hear me?” Drake arched a brow. I nodded without rebuttal. Even though he’d shown me his soft underbelly, Drake still scared the bejesus out of me.
Suddenly, the front door burst open, and Tony rushed into the foyer. Wildly searching the dining room, his head snapped in our direction. His gaze settled on me, and it felt as if we’d been apart an eternity. A rush of emotions played across his face, and I felt the same powerful wave of relief that reflected in his eyes.
Wanting nothing more than refuge in his strong arms, I reached out to him.
“Thank god,” Tony exhaled on a heavy sigh.
Dropping the duffle bag that was slung over his shoulder, Tony lifted me off the couch and clutched me to his chest.
I clung to him, savoring his warm breath on my neck, the staccato beat of his heart, and the euphoria filling my soul that he’d made it safely back to me.
Neither of us said a thing. The potent connection between us conveyed more than mere words could say.
I wasn’t sure when or how it had happened, but Tony had branded himself deep in my soul. The stark reality that no man had ever truly loved me until Tony came full circle. He’d changed me—changed my life—and in that single moment, I knew I was destined to be his. I couldn’t hide from the truth any longer…I was in love with him.
Tony’s strong fingers tangled in my hair. Tugging my head from his shoulder, he slanted his lips over mine. Rejoicing in his passionate kiss, I gave back as good as I got.
“Anthony, you’re home!” Alisa exclaimed.
Tony broke the kiss. With a furtive smile, he stared into my eyes. “Yeah, ma. I’m finally home.”
His double entendre filled me with warm fuzzy joy. While he settled me back on the couch, Alisa placed a tray laden with gooey cinnamon rolls and mugs of steaming coffee on the low table in front of me. She turned and spread her arms wide. Tony wrapped his mom in a big bear hug lifting her straight off the floor. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before he set her back down. Tony clasped Drake’s hand and thanked him
for ‘delivering my package safe and sound,’ before sliding in next to me on the couch.
As we sat and ate, Tony shared a watered down version of the night’s events with his parents. The knowing looks that Tony and Vito shared made it abundantly clear that Alisa knew nothing about her son’s kinky inclinations.
Tony explained that he tried to shake the man following him, but by some divine intervention the dude got pulled over by the police. Or rather a close friend of Vito’s who happened to be a cop and happened to be on the very same road. Right. I flashed Tony’s father a grateful smile.
From one of the numerous calls Tony received from James, we found out that the guy tailing Tony had been hauled to jail. The police discovered he was in possession of fake documentation for five different aliases.
A short time later, James called again only this time Tony put him on speaker phone.
“The fire department is still trying to put the fire out at George’s house,” James began. “Homeland Security and FBI have joined in on the investigation.”
Police. FBI. Homeland Security. If they started prying into my past… I tensed.
“Why? Is that standard procedure or something?” Tony asked.
Even with the background noise echoing through the device, James exhaled a heavy, audible sigh. “Depends on the case, but since George was a State Supreme Court Justice and houses usually don’t blow up by themselves.” There was a long pause. “Fuck, you’re going to hear about it in the morning anyway…Look, they’ve pulled two bodies out of the house, but neither has been positively identified, yet.”
My blood turned to ice, freezing the breath in my lungs. Bodies?
“Leagh, you should expect a visit from one or all three of the agencies involved. They’re going to want to ask you a ton of questions, I’m sure.”
It took several seconds before I could draw in a breath. “I didn’t have anything to do with the fire. I’m not involved in any of this. I don’t even know what the hell is going on.”
The pitch of my voice increased keeping tempo with the panic rising inside me. Tony was quick to grab my hand.
“They know that, darlin,’” James sympathized. “But, unfortunately, it does involve you.”
“How?” I blinked in confusion.
“The tow truck from the club was found a couple of blocks from here. There’s no sign of the driver. One of the bodies they pulled from the house was male. Seems a little too coincidental, but we’ll know later on tonight if it’s the same guy or not.”
I didn’t know how I was supposed to feel. On one hand, I was relieved that the threat against me might be over if one of the bodies happened to be Hayden. But on the other, wishing death upon anyone was like sending an engraved invitation to karma asking her to come back and bite me in the ass.
“Fuck me. I need to go. They just brought out another body. If I don’t call you back tonight, I’ll come by in the morning,” James replied.
“Sure, man. See you then.”
With each piece of information received, I grew more anxious. Though Tony smothered me in reassurance, he also watched me like a hawk. He was assessing and cataloguing my reactions like a culture in a Petri dish. Once he got me alone, he’d want to peel back my layers and analyze every one of my jagged emotions. In a weird way, I hoped he would as I couldn’t even begin to sort out my mess of emotions, alone.
Drake received a call from Mika to let him know the dogs didn’t find any explosives in the club. Although the news was comforting, guilt for putting the lives of my friends in jeopardy rode me hard.
It was close to one o’clock in the morning. The cinnamon rolls were gone, and both men’s phones had finally stopped ringing when Drake stood up.
“If you guys are good here, I’m going to head home and see Trevor,” he announced.
“Oh, you have a son?” Alisa asked with a smile.
Drake nodded with a slight smirk. “He’s my boy.”
I nearly choked.
“I loved having boys. They’re so much fun. How old is he?” Alisa asked.
“They sure as hell are,” Drake replied with a chuckle. “He’s twenty-eight.”
“Really? You don’t look old enough to have a son that age.” Alisa blinked.
Tony coughed, and I had to bite the inside of my cheeks to keep from laughing.
“Thanks. It was a pleasure meeting you both,” Drake responded with a smile to both Alisa and Vito.
“It was a pleasure meeting you, Drake.” Alisa smiled, warmly. “Be sure to come back and visit us again. And next time bring your son. I’d love to meet him.”
“Come on, man. We’ll walk you out,” Tony glanced at Vito and jerked a nod toward the front door.
Drake paused and arched a brow at me. “You do what Tony tells you to do, Leagh, and you’ll be just fine.”
“I intend to. Thank you for everything, Drake Si…seriously, thank you.” I stuttered, nearly calling him Sir in front of everyone.
Tony shot me a smirk, shook his head, and slapped Drake on the back. As they stepped through the portal, I heard Tony’s phone ring once more. Snapping my attention toward the entryway, I barely noticed Alisa placing her hand over mine.
“Don’t worry, Leagh. You’re one hundred percent safe here with us. I promise.”
“I’m sorry to bring my troubles into your home, Alisa.”
“Nonsense,” she chided with a smile. “As far as we’re concerned, you’re family now.”
Her unconditional acceptance floored me.
“Thank you. I’m honored.”
Alisa scanned the room with a conspiritory glance she leaned in close. “And let me tell you, no one fucks with my family,” she whispered with a mischievous grin.
Chuckling softly, I got the impression Alisa Delvaggio didn’t drop the F-bomb often. She reminded me a lot of Hilary, except much younger. Both ladies were proper on the outside and a little untamed on the inside. It would be easy to grow close to Alisa.
“Now this is a sight I’ve waited a lifetime to see,” Tony announced with a broad smile as he swaggered back into the room. “The two most important women in my life, smiling. Or are you two plotting something evil?”
“We would never do anything of the kind,” Alisa challenged with a hint of insult.
“Uh-huh,” Tony grunted in disbelief. “We need some sleep. I’m going to take Leagh up to my old room. You okay with that, ma?”
Reservation clouded Alisa’s face. “I know you want to keep Leagh safe, Tony, but…”
“I know. I know. No fun stuff until we’re married. Give me a break, ma. We’re just gonna go to bed… to sleep.”
She studied her son as if weighing Tony’s sincerity. Her scrutiny was fierce.
“Okay, but I trust you to keep your word, Anthony,” she lectured.
“Oh for the love of…I’m a grown man now, ma,” Tony muttered on an exasperated sigh.
“This is still our home, young man,” Alisa bristled and popped up from the chair, placing her hands on her hips.
I wanted to laugh as the big bad Dom got called down by his mommy. Instead, I kept my mouth shut and my eyes focused on the coffee table. Sex might be off limits in her house, but Tony would find a way to spank my ass if I gave him half a chance.
“Ma, I know the rules. They’ve been the same for the past thirty-one years. Besides, Leagh and I haven’t even had sex… yet. Okay?”
A look of surprise burst over Alisa’s face before her expression softened. A proud smile spread across her lips. Reaching up, she patted his cheek. “That’s because you’re a good boy, Anthony.”
I bit my lips to stifle a giggle. Over his mother’s shoulder, Tony pinned me with a glower.
I opened my mouth. I just couldn’t help myself. “He’s a very good boy, indeed,” I razzed with a cheesy grin.
Tony cocked his head as both brows arched in disbelief. Strutting past Alisa, he rounded the coffee table and leaned in close. “Little subs who play with fire will get bu
rned.”
“Maybe, but I’m safe here,” I taunted in his ear as he lifted me off the couch into his arms.
“Good-night, ma,” Tony called over his shoulder as he snagged up the duffle and carried me up the stairs.
“Sweet dreams,” Alisa hollered after us.
Once at the top of the stairs, Tony laughed. “You think just because we’re not supposed to make love that I’m not going to fuck with you long and hard?” A wicked gleam flashed in his dark eyes.
I gasped, “Wha…but you can’t. You just promised your mother…”
“Do you really think I follow my mother’s rules, angel? Besides, I can think of a hundred different ways to fuck you with my throbbing cock safely straining against my jeans.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” I whispered tersely as he turned the handle and kicked open a door at the end of the hall.
The evil laugh that peeled from his throat sent a ripple of nervous desire up my spine.
“Wanna bet, sweetheart?” Tony chuckled as he gently sat me on the edge of a big, soft bed.
I shook my head, ‘no.’ Around the room, dozens of sports achievements hung on the walls. An enormous bookcase crammed with trophies stood near a polished oak desk. Awards for football, baseball, basketball, and soccer filled the room while a battered Lacrosse stick stood tucked in one corner by the door.
“A bad assed Dom and a mega jock, too?” I teased with a smirk.
“Yeah, well,” he replied with a sheepish grin. “I can’t talk ma into letting me box this shit up. But don’t let your surroundings fool you, I’m bad assed Dom in your eyes, angel.”
“She won’t let you box it away, because she’s proud of you.” I smiled watching him shut the door and set the duffle bag on the bed. “I’m proud of you, too.”
His head snapped up, and the look of surprise melded into a soft contented smile. Tony sat down next to me and framed my face with his broad hands.
“Why are you proud of me, angel?”
“Because you’re an amazing man.” I longed to tell him all the ways he’d touched my heart, but I struggled to find the right words. “You didn’t have to take me under your wing and haul my gimp-ass to doctor’s appointments or do all the thousands of things you’ve done for me. But you did. And all I’ve done is infuriate you, well, most of the time. It’s not that I mean to… it’s just that I don’t feel like I deserve you.”
