I couldn’t believe he was here. He was my only friend in the whole world. The only one I could trust. And I had the feeling I was going to need his company more than ever before.
After a day listening to Papa and the others run through all the things I’d missed out on when they took Nicoli Vitoli down a peg, I was pretty much itching for the lot of them to fuck off again. They’d burst my bubble and I hadn’t been even close to done with living in it.
I strolled back to my bedroom with a pout on my face like a little bitch.
I knew why they’d gone on about their job so much. Papa had wanted me to feel left out. And sure, I’d have enjoyed giving Nicoli a good kicking just as much as my brothers had. But even if he’d cried honest to god tears, it wouldn’t have felt half as good as even spending one hour here alone with Sloan.
That girl had been a challenge before I’d claimed her, but now she was an all-out addiction. She’d driven her way beneath my skin and found her way into my darkest desires. Her name pumped through my veins with every beat of my heart and I knew there wasn’t anything I could have gotten from Nicoli or anyone else that even came close to her.
I’d never met anyone like her. No matter how far I pushed, she just pushed back, said yes, begged for more. I’d thought I was one of a kind, destined to be a lonely soul, forever seeking the next adventure alone. But she truly seemed capable of rising to any challenge I could set. Hell, she might even set me some challenges of her own.
Maybe I should have meant what I’d said to her earlier. Maybe I should have been planning our escape to a Caribbean island.
I snorted a laugh at the ridiculousness of that idea and headed up the stairs to my room.
I knocked the door open and paused as I found Enzo and Frankie waiting for me.
Enzo was sprawled on my bed with his fucking shoes on and his hands clasped behind his head while Frankie rocked the chair by the dressing table up onto its back legs and smirked at me.
“Mmm, this bed smells like freshly popped cherry,” Enzo said, nuzzling into my pillow and groaning like he might just come.
I kicked the door closed behind me and raised an eyebrow at him.
“That didn’t take long,” Frankie added with a grin.
“Did she taste as sweet as she looks?” Enzo pushed, demanding an answer with his stare.
“What happened to making her fall in love with you, big brother?” Frankie teased. “Or were you just too desperate to stick it to her in the end?”
“Did she beg for it?” Enzo asked with a dirty smirk. “Did she get down on her knees and beg you to fuck the Calabresi name right out of her?”
“Fuck off,” I muttered, crossing the room so that I could shove his fucking shoes off of my fucking blankets.
Enzo swung around at my command, sitting up with his feet on the floor and planting his arm over my shoulders.
“Tell us, Rocco,” he begged. “I wanna know if the Calabresi begged for Romero dick like a whore or if you had to slip it in her while whispering false promises of love in her ears.”
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I snapped, shoving his arm off of me.
“Oh come on, since when are you shy about telling us how you fucked a girl? I’m just curious. She’s got that whole innocent bella thing going on, but I’ve caught her eye-fucking you more than once too. So I just can’t figure out if she wanted you to be a gent or if she let you bend her over the closest chair?”
I rolled my eyes and pushed a hand through my hair which was still messed up and curling after Sloan had spent the early hours of the morning clawing her hands through it. I could have styled it at some point today, but I hadn’t. I liked knowing I looked a hot mess because of her passion.
“I’m not just fucking her,” I said, moving to lean back against my pillows.
“Has she said it then?” Frankie asked, raising his eyebrows at me in surprise. “The three little words?”
That hadn’t really been what I’d meant, but what was I supposed to say? She feels like a breath of fresh air in a life that was stagnant? I think I could fuck her every day for the rest of forever and never get sick of it?
“No, she hasn’t said it,” I muttered.
Enzo grinned at me excitedly. “So I win?”
“No,” I snapped. “She’s falling for me. She just hasn’t said it. Yet.”
Frankie snorted a soft laugh, rolling his eyes at me. “I dunno whether to think you’re the most bullshit filled stronzo I’ve ever met, or to be afraid of just how fucking manipulative you can be when you want something.”
I smirked at him like a wolf with the biggest bone in the den and didn’t comment.
“And just what are you going to do with the principessa’s heart once you have it?” Enzo asked curiously.
I scraped a hand over the stubble lining my jaw as I thought about that. Because the honest answer was that I didn’t fucking know. Only that if I won her I didn’t plan on just letting her go.
“I’ll let you know when I’ve decided,” I said, offering a cruel smile which would give them plenty of ideas without me voicing them.
“Well, the way I see it, as it stands, I’m the winner,” Enzo said, smirking like an asshole. “And until you get more than just moans of pleasure to spill from her lips, I’m gonna start thinking up ways to spend all of your money.”
“Fuck that,” I replied, unable to resist the urge to rise to his bait. “I’ve got the principessa right where I want her. She’ll be pouring her little heart out and professing her undying love for me within the week. She won’t even want to escape anymore. I bet I could leave all the doors wide open and she wouldn’t set a foot outside them.”
“Those are big words, fratello,” Frankie joked. “I look forward to watching you choke on them.”
I scoffed lightly. “When have you ever known me to promise something I couldn’t deliver?”
“Well if I’m honest, I didn’t think you’d even manage to fuck her so I’m starting to actually believe you might do this,” Frankie said, rolling his eyes.
“So now we are fucking her?” Guido’s voice sounded a moment before my door pushed open and I straightened with a growl of anger aching to break loose in my throat.
Frankie leaned forward in his chair so that the front legs hit the carpet again and Enzo’s spine straightened as he narrowed his eyes on our twisted cousin.
“We aren’t doing anything, you sick fuck,” I snapped. “And you shouldn’t be spying on me if you like your face in that arrangement. Although fuck knows why you would.”
“Oh come on, Rocket, if you’ve already broken her in then why not let the rest of us have a turn?” he pressed and I was on my feet a moment later.
“Was me smashing your face in not clear enough?” I growled, stalking towards him. “Sloan Calabresi is mine. And I don’t share well with others. If I catch you so much as looking at her with a twinkle in your fucking psycho eyes, I’ll gouge them right out of your skull.”
Frankie and Enzo got to their feet too, closing in behind me and backing me up. No one had ever stood against the three of us and lived to tell the tale. And this fucking worm would be no exception if he crossed me on this. His mother might have been our aunt, but he didn’t even have the Romero name. He was nothing. Less than nothing. And I’d gladly rip him limb from limb to protect what was mine.
Guido raised both hands in surrender, smiling like it had all been some big joke.
“Heaven forbid I ever stand against the great Rocco Romero,” he said in a tone that was just mocking enough to make me wanna pull a few of his teeth out. “Uncle Martello sent me to find all of you. He has a job we need to discuss.”
My lip curled back as he said we like he was one of us. But he’d never even come close to entering the ring of love and honour that I held with my brothers.
I shouldered my way past him and Enzo and Frankie did the same as we left my room and headed down the stairs. It was getting dark out and I was beginning to
wonder if Papa and Guido would be staying again. I didn’t want to leave Sloan down in that cellar tonight, I wanted her warm and willing in my arms. I wanted to bury myself in her and taste every inch of her skin and bathe in the noises I could draw from those perfect lips.
Papa was waiting for us in the kitchen and I was surprised to find him wearing his coat while he read through something on his phone.
“You wanted to see us, Papa?” I asked curiously, wondering if it was just to say goodbye.
“Yes,” Papa replied, not looking up from his phone and making us wait for him to finish before he explained.
I moved to take a seat along the breakfast bar beside Frankie, leaning back in my chair with a yawn. I really hadn’t gotten much sleep last night. Not that I was complaining about that.
Papa finally pushed his cellphone into a pocket and gave us his attention.
“I have urgent business back in Sinners Bay,” he said, not bothering to elaborate. “But we’ve also got an issue with a shipment that went missing out on the east docks. I need you to go and deal with it, Rocco.”
“Me?” I asked, failing to hide the irritation at that suggestion from my tone.
“Yes, you. We can’t have you out of sight for so long. Besides, this kind of issue really needs your touch. We can’t have anyone thinking they can get away with losing our cargo.”
I clucked my tongue, folding my arms in refusal. “Enzo or Frankie can deal with that just as easily as me. I’ve got work to do here.”
“Anyone can babysit a girl in a cellar. I need you to deal with this shipment. No arguments.”
I bit my tongue on further protests because I knew they wouldn’t get me anywhere.
“So who’s staying here?” I demanded, refusing to look at Guido despite the fact that I could practically imagine him bouncing up and down like an excited school kid wanting to volunteer. But there was no fucking way I’d be leaving him here with my principessa.
“I don’t mind staying here,” Guido offered predictably like the slimy stronzo he was.
“I’ll stay,” Frankie added quickly, stifling a yawn. “I need the rest.”
“Fine,” Papa announced as his cellphone started ringing again. “Frankie and Guido can stay. I’ll meet you two in the car in ten minutes. Get your shit together and don’t keep me waiting.”
My lips parted on a protest, but he glared at me with a harsh finality which I knew wouldn’t permit any arguments.
Papa strode from the room as he answered his cellphone and my heart beat a little faster as I realised I was really going to have to leave Sloan here with fucking Guido in the house.
I looked around at our slimy cousin and scowled. “Get the fuck out. I need to talk to my brothers.”
Guido smiled in a way that showed off his missing teeth and slipped out of the room without a word.
“I won’t let him near her,” Frankie swore before I had to ask. “If he tries anything, I’ll just shoot him.”
I eyed the pistol strapped to his belt and nodded. There were two people in this world who I could rely on wholeheartedly and if my brother made an oath like that, then I knew I could count on him to keep his word.
“I’m trusting you, fratello,” I growled. “I don’t even want that stronzo to look at her while I’m gone.”
“You have my word,” he agreed seriously and I nodded.
“Fine. Let’s just get this job done and I can get back here before dawn.” I strode from the room straight along the hallway to the cellar door, pulling the key from my pocket.
The lock clicked loudly and I headed down the wooden stairs with my feet thumping heavily with each step.
Sloan was wrapped in blankets in one corner, her eyes wide with concern and her brow furrowed with suspicion. The little dog Frankie had brought back with him growled softly as I approached and she pushed herself to her feet with her arms folded across her chest defensively.
“You knew I was an asshole when you let me into your panties, bella,” I said as I drew closer to her. “Don’t go giving me the doe eyes like you thought fucking me would change that.”
“You’re like Jekyll and Hyde, Rocco,” she growled, the fire in her gaze letting me know just how much she cared. “I never know what version of you I’m going to get.”
“Which might be a problem if it didn’t turn you on so much,” I deadpanned. “Besides, Dr Jekyll only had two personalities. I’ve got at least nine.”
Her lips twitched with an almost smile and I grinned at her like a predator eyeing a meal.
“So now your family are back, I’m just back to being chained in the cellar?” she asked, not bothering to hide her anger.
“I don’t see any chains.”
“I’m locked down here again.”
“Hmm… well don’t worry, I’ll have you back in my bed as soon as I get back.”
“Get back from where?” she asked, her gaze flickering with concern.
“I have a job to run. I should be back before dawn, but Frankie will take care of you while I’m gone.”
The little white dog growled from the nest of blankets at her feet like it didn’t much like the sound of that idea and I eyed it for a moment before looking back to her.
“You’ll be gone all night?” Sloan breathed, reaching out to me like she couldn’t quite help herself.
“You’ll be fine,” I promised. “Just stay down here, away from…” I trailed off because it might have been better not to mention the fact that Guido was staying in the house too. It would only worry her.
“From who?” she demanded, clearly not buying into my shit for one minute.
“Guido will be upstairs,” I admitted. “But Frankie won’t let him near you. I swear.”
She looked up at me with those big eyes and nodded slowly like my word actually meant something to her.
“Do you promise you’ll be back by tomorrow?” Sloan asked and the fact that she clearly wanted that made a little piece of my soul glow with excitement.
“Unless someone shoots me,” I agreed.
Her eyes widened with fear, but she had to know that that was the life I lead. It wasn’t exactly a surprise that I took my life into my hands every time I headed out on a job.
I caught her face between my hands and pressed my lips to hers, silently swearing that I’d be back as soon as I could.
She resisted for a moment, her anger holding her back before her lips parted for me and she gave in like she needed the kiss as much as I did.
I was the devil sent to corrupt her and if I’d been a better man, perhaps I’d have just walked away. But I wasn’t done making Sloan sin for me and I planned on keeping at it for a while yet.
I broke away from her and walked out of the room at a fast pace.
I didn’t look back. I didn’t want to see her standing in that cellar, looking at me like I might be a different kind of man to the demon I was.
Besides, the sooner I got the hell out of here, the sooner I’d be back.
I didn’t want to fall blindly back into Rocco’s arms. I couldn’t let myself trust him too easily. Not when his moods were on a constant dial, swinging from hot to cold in a heartbeat. We hadn’t started this crazy thing on equal terms. I was still a girl locked in his basement, held against my will by his family. And I wasn’t going to forget that any time soon.
But the last few days we’d spent together had been…indescribable. It was like he saw right into my soul and nurtured the flame that lived there, adding kindling and keeping it alive. If nothing else, I had that to thank him for. That I was somehow more of a whole person now than I’d ever been in my life.
A few hours had passed since he’d left and I couldn’t stop pacing, every groan of the pipes or thump upstairs making my heart lurch uncomfortably. Knowing Guido was in the house was more than enough to make me uneasy, but without Rocco here to stop him coming into the cellar, I was a ball of nerves.
When the stress was getting too much to handle, I moved up the
stairs as quietly as I could with Coco clutched in my arms, lowering myself down beside the door and resting my ear to it.
It was quiet for a long time, the sound of the TV in the living room the only thing I could hear. But eventually, someone moved this way and I froze.
“I’m going for a nap,” Guido’s voice sounded out in the hall then his footsteps pounded up the stairs.
More footsteps followed into the hall and I strained my ears. “Good riddance, you piece of shit,” Frankie muttered under his breath.
The door opened and I leaned back, looking up at Frankie with an innocent expression.
“You listening in on us, bella?” he teased, his eyes dancing with light.
“I just want to know where Guido is at all times,” I said bitterly.
“I’ll protect you, dolcezza,” he said with a friendly smile. Frankie always seemed to be the most easy-going Romero, and yet I sensed something lurking in him that equalled the wildness of his other brothers.
My eyes fell to the gun holstered at his hip and I raised a brow. “I’d protect myself just fine if you give me that gun.”
He chuckled darkly. “And have you blow my beautiful face off? I don’t think so.”
“It’s Guido’s ugly one I’m after. That would give you a thirty second head start to run,” I said, trying out a wicked smile and Frankie’s brows arched.
“Something tells me you really would pull the trigger on us. Is that innocent little face of yours hiding something twisted?”
“I was just thinking the same about yours. Do you always smile at people you’ve kidnapped?”
He barked a laugh. “Touché.” He held out his hands. “Here, I’ll take the dog out for a shit.”
Coco growled low in his throat, tucking back into my arms.
“He’s called Coco and he’ll maul you if you’re not careful,” I warned, not wanting to part with my dog. But I knew Coco must have needed the toilet by now.
“I can handle the little stronzo.” Frankie leaned down and I let him take him, even though my gut tugged as he did so.
Beautiful Carnage: A Dark Mafia Bully Romance (The Boys of Sinners Bay Book 1) Page 27
