by J. A. Coffey
"Stefano called me a little while ago," Clayton offered.
Mikolas glanced to the guy next to him.
"Where is he?" Enrico boomed from the head of the table.
"He isn't coming tonight. He's out doing a side job you wouldn't approve of." Clayton took a large fork full of spaghetti.
"Let's discuss this later," said Enrico, lowering his volume to a tone more accepting to the people around him. Not that any of their opinions mattered, though. Enrico did everything he desired.
"Are we still on for a swim?" Gabrielle asked softly, drawing Mikolas' attention to the glint in her eye.
"Sure, unless your father needs me." He glanced over to Enrico hoping for a job to do. Mikolas needed something, anything to prevent going for a swim with her.
"Eat and enjoy the pool," Enrico said.
"Thanks," Mikolas croaked, earning a giant grin from Gabi.
Enjoy himself? He could barely handle sitting across from her at the crowded dinner table. Why had he agreed to a swim? Because he wanted her so bad and couldn't have her. She was off limits, first set by Mikolas' boss and then by distance. Alone with her in a bikini? Oh man, he was in for it now. Too late to back out, though.
It would be in his best interest to make up an excuse, to tell her no, or even pretend to be sick since there would be no way he'd keep his hands to himself. He took a sip of wine to stall time and let his gaze lock with hers. She leaned back, expecting an answer to her invitation.
"I guess we'll be swimming," he said, letting the words out of his mouth with a rush of air.
"Great. I'll meet you at the pool in an hour?" she asked as she eased her chair away from the table and stood up.
He nodded, keeping his gaze on her as she walked around the table to place a kiss on her father's forehead then turned toward the door. Her hips shook slightly as if to tease the growing tension in his lap. Boy, she had the nicest ass he'd ever seen, falling between the categories of too-thin and too-plump. Each of her cheeks would probably fit against each of his palms. He watched her black skirt ride up her long legs until she disappeared through the door, her perfume staying for an extended visit. Pure torture.
To distract himself, he swirled the fork in the center of his plate and took a big bite of the spaghetti.
"I'm pretty confident that he's messing with drugs on the side," Clayton said now that Gabrielle had left the room.
"Dealing?" asked Enrico.
"Absolutely," said Clayton.
Enrico's fist slammed onto the table, causing the dishes to rattle over the hardwood top and Mikolas reaching for his Glock. "Damn it. He knows we don't deal with the drug trade." Enrico's icy glare moved from one man's face to the next. "Does anyone here not understand?"
"We all know, Enrico. Stefano isn't planning on being around too much longer." Mikolas' father took a sip of his wine, acting as though Enrico's outrage didn't bother him a bit.
Mikolas caught the glances exchanged between Enrico and his father. I'll be visiting Stefano soon, and it won't be friendly. Might even be the final hit that'll make me a permanent fixture of this Family.
Conversation buzzed around the table, but since he hadn't been made into the Family yet, they kept him generally out of anything significant. As the table talk leaned more toward various tasks within the Family, Mikolas continued to eat his spaghetti and garlic bread in silence. After his plate was empty, he washed it all down with a glass of Lagier Meredith wine.
Fifteen people, not counting himself, sat around the table. The only other female present was Maura who would excuse herself at any moment, so the men could go into more detail while talking shop.
While he drank another glass of wine, Mikolas looked around at the Family. Bo and Ray were some of the few who weren't afraid to laugh because they treated life as an enormous game. Mikolas enjoyed hanging out with the two men on occasion but not any of the others, including his father. The rest of them remained stone-faced to keep a hard image. After completing one more big hit, he'd get the specifics of the job as the Medini Family enforcer, connecting Mikolas to these men until death. Which category would he fall into after he's officially made part of the Family in a few months?
One thing was certain; these guys thrived on danger, always looking for an opportunity to rile up some trouble. Mikolas wasn't stupid. That had been Clayton's entire intention when he mentioned Stefano earlier. Mikolas should hold similar traits as the Enrico's men but couldn't find those in himself at all no matter how hard he tried. He described himself as good-hell, he held a talent of killing people-but he hated it. The very idea of becoming one of them made his anxiety roar to life. So why did he stay when he still had a chance to get out of it all?
Suddenly needing some fresh air and a new atmosphere, he excused himself from the table. Thankfully everyone planned to have a nightcap in the den. Mikolas would have the hot tub to himself for a while. Exactly what he needed before Gabi joined him for a swim.
The pool house sat a few feet from the hot tub and served as a dressing room while storing a dresser full of swimwear available to guests. The Medini's didn't skimp on anything, he decided as he crossed the marble floor that matched the flooring of the main house.
He slipped his Dockers off and then his shirt. Both were folded nicely on the wicker couch with his Glock hidden underneath the pants. Being neat and tidy had been part of his training given to him by his father and Enrico that had started at age twelve, reinforced in the police academy, and remained a trait he valued as an adult.
Too bad the other members of the Family didn't share a similar cleanliness habit, he thought as Mikolas dug through the drawer for his swim trunks. After locating his heather gray shorts, he slipped them on, flipped the switch to turn on the outdoor heaters, and headed out to the hot tub. He turned the dial to start the jets and slowly slipped in the water. The heat took his breath away but quickly eased the tension from his shoulders.
He leaned back and closed his eyes. Events of the day bubbled through his mind, making his muscles tense again. Tonight needed to be about relaxation, not worrying, so he pushed the thoughts away as quickly as possible. Life would be sweet if he could just focus on Gabi instead of stealing men's lives. His heart swelled as he pictured her face.
Should I do it? Since Gabi had returned to Nevada, Mikolas had allowed himself to fantasize about revealing his feelings to her. The fantasy always ended with the two of them taking off together, living their lives far from the Mafia. Mikolas wasn't a fool. He could walk away alone, but with Gabi by his side Enrico would hunt them down unless the couple left the country. If Mikolas managed to keep them hidden from her father, he could provide a good life for Gabrielle. Their future as a couple certainly got his pulse racing. Only a good fantasy, he reminded himself, one that would never see the light of day.
He opened his eyes and surveyed the gorgeous surroundings. Palm trees bordered blooming gardenia trees. A fountain stood in the corner of the marble deck along with some patio furniture and a bar. Beyond the pool area laid a long well-manicured lawn. Several grand had to have been dropped on the backyard alone. Gabrielle was used to this sort of life. Would she be content with what he could provide for her? He had money but providing this elegance was entirely out of the question.
Gabi had been his best friend through their childhood and later hung out as young teenagers. He'd noticed the very moment Gabrielle had started to blossom. It had been the same time that she'd started paying more attention to him, offering him adorably shy smiles, picking him flowers from her mother's flower garden, and even drew a heart on his hand with permanent marker one evening while studying for school. A few days later, Enrico showed up at his school and signed him out for the rest of the afternoon. Mikolas had already started his training, so this hadn't seemed anything out of the ordinary. He'd been expecting a trip to a local fast food joint for a bite to eat before hitting the shooting range as they usually did. Mikolas had been wrong.
Not only had it seem odd th
at they'd arrived at the zoo, but Mikolas had been informed that they were there to only look at the lions. Once at the cage, Enrico had turned to Mikolas. "Stay away from Gabrielle. If you ever touch her, I'll cut your dick off," Enrico pointed to the biggest beast in the cage, "and feed it to those lions over there. And you'll watch them eat it."
Mikolas had panicked, and the threat turned into some powerful motivation to stay far away from Enrico's daughter. It hadn't been much time after the zoo trip when Enrico sent Gabi away.
Gabi's departure had flooded Mikolas with hope that he'd finally be able to move on with his life. To forget the love for an untouchable woman who'd taken ahold of his heart. He'd dated other women with the intent of becoming interested in one of them to forget Gabi. Years passed and he had tried more than anything to deny his love for Gabrielle Felice Medini, but he hadn't succeeded, letting him know his feelings weren't only a teenage crush, but instead, something deeply rooted and refusing to go away.
Always wanting to ask how Gabi had been doing but never having the guts to bring up the subject during Friday night dinners, he'd waited with an unquenchable desire for someone to bring up the topic of Gabi, so he could find out how she'd faired on her travels. Whenever someone gave in to his secret wish, the news had always been glowing and he'd missed her even more. And when she returned as an adult? Desire rocked through him like a hurricane.
He should man up and tell her how he felt. Not being an official member gave him the option to move away. When the time came, he'd have all of the plans to leave in order and then ask her to go with him. Staying here wouldn't be an option for him if she turned him down. If she said no he'd leave alone. He took a look around the beautiful home and yard. Would she want to give this all up for him?
The back door of the house opened and Gabrielle stepped out onto the patio, sending him into panic mode. As she approached the hot tub, he noticed the bright pink lines of her bikini showing right through the white cotton fabric of her pants and top. Along the way, she dropped a bag off on a chair before greeting him with a smile. He had to tell her tonight. Or right now because he couldn't take this anymore.
"Ready for a swim?" she asked with a brilliant white smile. Her dimpled cheeks added a softness she normally didn't carry.
"Of course." He had to get his erection to disappear again before he could even think about getting up from the disguising bubbles of the hot tub. She'd get the idea that all he wanted her for was sex which happened to be the furthest from the truth. Any other female? You bet. Gabrielle? Hell no. He'd even thought about marrying her someday.
He watched as she fumbled around in her bag, withdrew a hair band, and pulled her long, straight hair into a ponytail. Why must she be so damned sexy? Gabrielle slid her white terry cloth pants down her thighs, revealing her thong bikini that left barely anything to his imagination. She tossed the pants onto the chair then turned toward him.
A groan rumbled in his chest. Why him? Okay, he'd wanted to be alone with her for so long, but why here? This shouldn't be happening in her father's hot tub. The mischievous smile she wore as she stepped over told him that she didn't seem to mind.
"I invited you to swim, but the hot tub looks so tempting. Mind if we hang out in here instead?"
"It's fine with me. The water feels great."
He forced himself to swallow before offering her a smile as she slipped down in the warm bubbly water. He couldn't find the strength to tear his gaze away from her hard nipples pressing against her thin top.
"Thanks for meeting me here," she said softly. "I had hoped you'd accept my offer but hadn't really expected you to say yes."
Finally able to regain control of the desire pounding through him, he jerked his attention to the white blooms on the trees that sent a sweet fragrance in the air. He looked back at her, locking his gaze with hers.
"Mik, is something wrong?" she asked.
"Everything is, um... fine." He glanced at the back door that remained shut. "It's a beautiful night, huh?"
"Sure is." Her intriguing eyes stayed focused on him. He couldn't recall a single moment before now when he'd actually looked straight in them.
"How is the boutique going?" He hated small talk, so why did the topic flow so easily from his lips? Maybe because stupid questions were safer than pulling her into his arms which he would've enjoyed so much more.
She leaned back and closed her eyes, giving him the opportunity to trace the shape of her face with his gaze. He loved the way her chin held a gentle curve, her prominent cheek bones, and her long eyelashes against her skin. He yearned to feel her softness under his fingertips. To prevent himself from reaching out to her, he raked his hand through his hair.
"The shop is fine." She took a deep breath, making her ample breasts rise and fall. "But I didn't invite you out here for some idle chit-chat."
A lump formed in his throat. What reason could she have to invite him out then? Did she have revelations of her own to make tonight? A sigh floated out from between his lips. He was grasping at straws to keep some hope of a future with her. "Okay?"
She opened her eyes and lifted her head. "There are two things really."
"What is it?" His heart pounded with anticipation in his chest. Say the words, he silently pleaded. Tell me you want me as much as I want you.
She looked back to the sliding glass door where all the men were tucked inside, enjoying cocktails and cigars. She gave a half smile and turned her attention back to him. "This might seem stupid because we haven't been friends for a while."
A phone rang inside of the pool house. "Just my cell phone," he mumbled, wishing the world would disappear for the night, so he could enjoy Gabi's company without any further disruptions. "Please continue."
"Do you need to get that?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Nope. I have voicemail." No matter who insisted on calling, he'd speak with the person later. A second later the ringing stopped.
When the ringing went silent, she continued, "I'd like your honest opinion." She took a deep breath. Out of nervousness? "I know my father runs this Mafia family."
"What?" This couldn't be right. Gabrielle wasn't supposed to know. All of the members of the Family took extra precautions to keep quiet in her presence. "He told you?"
She nodded. "Over coffee today. And I want a job." Nibbling on her lip, she glanced at the door. Yes, she was nervous but nowhere near as much as him.
His heart stopped for a second as he stared into the emerald colored eyes of the woman he loved. Hopes of a future with her and away from the life of crime vanished. "A, uh, job? Like for your father?" he asked. "Or with me?"
"Either is fine." Hope filled her words and lit up her face.
His muscles tensed despite the warm soothing water bubbling around him. Didn't she realize how ruthless the business could be? Obviously she didn't or she'd run in the opposite direction to avoid any connection to the Mafia. He had to make her understand. The lifestyle was slowly ruining his life. He would never forgive himself if he let the Mafia do it to her, too. And if she messed with the wrong person? The answer to his unspoken question wasn't something he could let himself think about.
"Please don't get involved with this. It's some scary stuff." And his job ranked on an entirely different level of danger.
"Then why do you do it? Or any of them?" She motioned toward the house with her hand. The sounds of chattering filtered out as Bo peaked out through the glass door before following the rest into the den. "If being in the Mafia was so scary than no amount of money would be able to get the job done."
"What exactly did Enrico tell you?" She didn't know much or she wouldn't be sitting here asking him for a job. Mikolas would be more than happy to give her enough details to change her mind.
Gabi averted her gaze to the bubbles pushing against his chest. "I know some."
"Your father admitted to the business but didn't give you any details, huh?" He slid his fingers through his hair again as he eyed her.
&n
bsp; "Well, he didn't exactly tell me the fine points of it all. Don't worry about his lack of detail. I have other resources."
"Uh huh?" He laughed. "And what would that be?"
She looked up at him again. The hope in her eyes quickly vanished as she twirled a strand of black hair around her finger. "Mik, you need to let me do this."
"Gabrielle, you can't be involved for your own safety. Stay out of this." He moved across the hot tub to sit beside her, putting his hand on her shoulder. He may not be able to have her, but damn it, he wouldn't let anyone to hurt Gabrielle either.
*****
Gabrielle wanted to tell Mik about how deep her feelings were for him, but first, she had to convince him to let her find out who wanted her father dead. Did he even know about the hit out on her dad?
As far as she was concerned, she'd be the perfect unsuspected person to locate the killer. The idea of Mik helping her save her father gave her a rush she never experienced before. Not only would she win her father's respect, she'd get more time with Mik. She'd like him on her side but would do this alone if she had to.
His cell phone rang for a second time, yanking her out of her thoughts. She didn't want him to stop touching her but the physical contact made temptation boil through her veins and she didn't have time for this right now. Get focused. To break the connection between them, she shifted her body in her seat and cocked her head in the direction of the pool house. "Going to answer yet? The call must be important."
He didn't move an inch away from her. "It's nothing I can't find out later. The only person I have to answer to is right inside the house. Besides, you are ten times more interesting than anyone on the phone. I'd like to find out what tonight is all about."
The heat that had rested only in her cheeks quickly spread through her body, making her center feel like a furnace had been lit against it. She crossed her legs to ease the built-up tension. It didn't work.
"Interesting?" Before he had a chance to answer she nodded, and added, "In where I got my information, right?"
