by Bethany-Kris
It was as if a haze had cleared from his eyes as he looked around them, before focusing his attention firmly back on her. “Of course.”
He offered his hand and she took it. Together, they left the jail lobby and walked out into the sunlight. Mac gripped her hand tight as they walked down the sidewalk and toward the parking lot. Melina inhaled the cool, fresh scent of the air, her senses feeling as if they were coming awake for the first time.
“You’re quiet,” Mac said.
“Sorry.”
“No need to apologize.”
He glanced at her as he opened the passenger side door to his black Challenger. The car was a welcome and familiar sight to her after so many months. Mac’s clothes may have changed but at least his car hadn’t. Maybe everything else hadn’t either. She took her seat and waited as Mac got in before she faced him.
“I’m just trying to process everything. I didn’t realize how much being locked up would affect me.”
Mac started the car before he leaned over and kissed her cheek softly. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For the way things had to be. I never wanted this for you, doll. Not in a million years.”
“I know.”
Mac pulled out onto the highway before he glanced at her. “Do you?”
There was a challenge in his voice. A question in both words and tone. Melina swallowed hard. “Of course, I do. Why would you even ask me something like that?”
“Because a man who loves his woman, knows her, and from the moment I saw you in that lobby, everything about you has been off. You’re a spitfire on your worst days. But today—today, when I expected you to come at me with some smart remark or sexy quip, you looked at me as if you wanted to run. As if you thought you were safer behind concrete and steel than you were with me.”
He’d read her.
Like a fucking book.
And she didn’t like it, not one bit.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t I?”
Mac stopped at a red light and stared at her. A muscle moved in his jaw and there was a hard look in his eyes. She’d seen that look before, but it had never been directed at her. Her quiet restraint snapped.
“Well, since you think you know everything, did you know that every day that I was locked up in that miserable place, I was afraid? No, I bet you didn’t.”
“Afraid of what, doll?” His voice was gentler now.
“That I was a liability who would be eliminated. That … that I had nothing and no one to go home to when I was out.”
“Is that what you thought? Seriously? After everything?”
“What did you expect me to think, Mac? I’ve seen enough of your … lifestyle, to know Cosa Nostra doesn’t like loose ends. I’m a loose end. It would’ve been easier for everyone involved if I was out of the way permanently.”
Before Melina could blink, Mac was pulling the car onto the far shoulder of the highway. Leaning across the console, he captured her face in his hands.
“I regret every single minute that you were in that hellhole. I can’t even begin to imagine what you went through, but you were never in any danger from the family. Never. You could’ve sold me out to save yourself, but you didn’t. Even though it cost you, loyalty means something to you. That was enough for Luca and everyone else to see the kind of woman you really are.”
Melina swallowed hard. “You weren’t there, Mac.”
His thumbs caressed her cheeks. “I couldn’t be. After what happened the day of your sentencing, Luca wanted my head on a silver platter. I was supposed to stay hidden but I just couldn’t do it. I had to let you know that I was there. That I cared.”
“I get it. The last thing a boss needs is more attention on him and his organization. It didn’t look good for you to be associated with me. I understand, but that doesn’t stop the fact that it still hurt knowing that even if I called you, there was a high probability you wouldn’t answer. It hurt never getting a letter from you and it damn near killed me watching the other inmates on visiting day, knowing that you’d never set foot inside that place. Not even for me. Even the messages you passed through the lawyer for me to get were small and vague.”
Melina sniffled, doing her best to hold back the dam of emotion that was threatening to break loose at any moment. This was exactly what she hadn’t wanted to happen. Mac didn’t need her having a meltdown.
“Being without you was like stabbing myself over and over again. Staying away was a form of indescribable torture and I would rather slit my fucking wrists than do that again. But all that is over. We’re together now, and nothing and no one is going to separate us again.”
Melina sighed as she took in the sincerity on his face. He believed what he was saying with every fiber of his being. His eyes were soft and the hands that held her face were so gentle. A tear fell from the corner of her eye before she could stop it.
“That’s still what you want?”
Mac’s mouth crushed hers in a kiss so fierce it stole her breath away. His tongue teased the seam of her lips and her mouth opened, allowing him to deepen the kiss. Her body needed this. Craved this. Craved him. His tongue danced with hers and Melina leaned closer, suddenly desperate for his kiss. When Mac moved away, she found herself bereft.
“Does that answer your question?” he asked.
She nodded, unable to speak.
“Good.”
He kissed her again, quickly, before he put the car in drive and eased back onto the highway. Mac reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. Melina smiled as the numbness that had become a daily part of her life started to ebb away.
“I love you,” she said quietly.
“Whew, I can breathe a sigh of relief. For a minute there, I was scared.”
Melina laughed. “Just a minute?”
“More than a minute.”
“I thought so.”
“Ah. There’s the smart-mouthed woman I fell in love with.”
“She never left,” Melina replied, grinning.
Mac smirked. “Glad to hear it because I need her back and ready for action.”
Melina cleared her throat, a small tendril of worry creeping inside her. “What kind of action?”
Mac flashed her a smile. “Dinner with my mother, for starters.”
“Um, that didn’t go so well last time and exactly how are you going to explain my absence?”
“She saw the papers.”
Melina covered her face with her free hand. “Dear God. There’s no telling what she must be thinking.”
“Actually, she thought the picture of us together was very sweet.”
“You’re kidding?”
“Nope.”
Melina squeezed Mac’s hand. “Well, there might be some hope for me yet.”
“And there’s one more thing, doll.”
“Oh?” she asked.
“Your presence has been requested at the Pivetti mansion.”
Melina sank lower in her seat. “Just great. What does your boss want to do now? Grill me? Impress upon me the importance of keeping quiet?”
“Relax, doll. Nothing like that. Neeya has been pestering Luca about seeing you as soon as you got out. You’ve really made an impression on her.”
“Oh. Neeya. It would be nice to see her again.”
Silence stretched between them as Mac drove along the highway moving closer to the innermost part of the city.
“So what happens now?” Melina finally asked.
“Whatever we want.”
Whatever they wanted.
Melina could think of a few things.
“If you stay in there any longer, you’re going to turn into a prune.”
Melina opened her eyes slowly. Mac was sitting on the edge of the tub, staring at her with undisguised interest.
“You let me fall asleep.”
“Well, after I gave you that massage, you looked so relaxed and peaceful. I figured it would
be rude to disturb you.”
Melina moved closer to the side of the tub. “You could’ve joined me, you know.”
Mac’s eyes darkened as his gaze roved over her exposed arms and back.
“I couldn’t have.”
“Why is that?”
“Because the minute that happened, you and I would be locked inside this apartment for days, making up for all the time we’ve been apart.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“Fuck no, but it would be a bad thing to disappoint my mother and piss Luca off.”
Melina rolled her eyes. “Yes. One must not keep the boss waiting.”
Standing up in the bath tub she stretched, feeling revitalized after Mac’s stellar massage and the restful nap she’d had inside the warm, bubble-filled tub. Mac cleared his throat and it was then that Melina noticed that her breast was barely an inch away from his face.
Melina smiled sweetly. “Something wrong?”
She lowered her arms back down and subtly thrust her chest forward, teasing him a little more.
Mac groaned. “Get dressed and meet me in the living room.”
Before she could say another word, he was up and leaving the room, but not before she noticed the tell-tale bulge in his pants. Sighing, Melina got out of the tub and quickly dried herself off before she went into her bedroom.
That was when she noticed the boxes and bags on her bed.
“Mac?” she called out.
Reaching for the first white box lying on the bed, Melina lifted the top and looked inside before she lifted out the item. It was a wine-colored evening gown with strategic cutouts to showcase her slim waist and a long slit on the right hip. The gown was both sassy and elegant.
She loved it immediately.
Noticing Mac still hadn’t ventured into the room, Melina yelled out, “I’m pretty sure that there’s a whole new wardrobe in here, and that’s why you’re hiding. But don’t worry, payback is coming.”
Laughing, Melina looked through a few more of the boxes before she gave up and got dressed. Still nervous about making a good impression on Mac’s mother, she settled on a black dress with a wide belt and four-inch black pumps. She left her hair loose and flowing. Adding wide, silver hoop earrings and a touch of mascara and red lipstick, she finally deemed herself ready. Walking into her living room, she found Mac sitting on the couch. He stood as soon as he noticed her presence.
“You look beautiful,” he said.
“Thank you.”
They stared at each other for a long while, simply soaking each other in, before Mac tore his gaze away first.
“Are you ready, doll?”
“Yes, but there’s one thing.”
Mac raised a brow. “What’s that?”
“You went overboard with the gifts. You know that you don’t have to buy me.”
Mac came over to her and took her hand in his. “I know that, and I wasn’t trying to. I told you once, a man takes care of his woman and after everything you’ve been through—after all the sacrifices you’ve made—you deserve to have anything your heart desires. And I’m going to do my damnedest to give it to you.”
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. Melina tried to ignore the way her heart felt as if it were humming with joy.
This man loved her.
For better or worse.
Through the good and the very bad.
Mac loved her and if it made him feel good to express his love by giving her things, then she needed to make an effort to accept it.
“All right, but if you keep this up I just might get used to it,” she teased.
“Maybe that’s exactly what I want.” He winked at her as he raised his hand to cup her cheek. “You’re so damned perfect. How did I get so lucky?”
“Right place. Right time.”
“Is that it?”
“I don’t know. You tell me.”
His thumb brushed over her cheek. “When we’re done with all these obligations, I’m going to remind you of what else you didn’t mention. Now, come on. I’ve got one more surprise waiting for you downstairs.”
“Mac …”
He smiled and shook his head before taking her hand, and leading her from her apartment. “Don’t say anything. Just wait and see.”
Mac closed and locked the door and then they were in the elevator heading down to the parking area. They’d only gone a few feet when Melina stopped walking. Directly in front of them was a silver, two-door Maserati.
“Mac. You didn’t …”
Mac shrugged. “Your car was impounded and they refused to release it. You need a new set of wheels, doll.”
Melina let go of Mac’s hand and walked closer to the car, running her hands over the sleek body as she marveled at the rims. Shiny chrome with a small crown in the center of the hubs, there was no telling how much he’d spent on the wheels alone.
“But a Maserati, Mac …”
“You like it, don’t you?” he asked.
“Of course I do. I love it.”
“Then that’s all that matters.” He walked up to her and pressed the keys into her hand.
“You’re letting me drive?”
Mac eyed her in that intense way of his, grinning sexily. “Why else would I buy you a car, doll?”
Melina wrapped her arms around Mac and kissed him hard on the lips. His hand palmed her ass, pressing her tighter against him. She’d missed this so much. The feel of his lips, the depth of his passion for her that he never tried to hide. She frowned when he ended their kiss.
“Can’t we just stay in tonight?”
“You have no idea how much I wish we could. I promise I’ll make it up to you,” Mac said.
“I’m holding you to it.”
“I’d expect nothing less. Now, let’s see how this baby rides.”
Melina unlocked the car and Mac opened the driver’s side door for her. He placed a quick kiss on her lips before he closed the door and took his own seat. Smiling, Melina started up the car and ran her hands over the smooth, black leather interior. The navigation system came to life, and Mac laughed softly.
“What’s so funny?” Melina asked, facing him.
“It’s cute to see you so excited about something. I could get used to seeing you like this.”
“Don’t get used to it, buddy. One way or another, I’m going to pull the reins on all this spending you’ve been doing.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Buckling her seat belt, Melina put the car in drive and roared onto the highway. Mac took her hand and held it in his as they headed toward his mother’s house in Amityville.
“I just had a thought,” Melina said.
“What’s that, doll?”
“What am I supposed to do now?”
“What do you mean?” Mac asked.
“I mean, you and I both know that I will never be able to hold a day-to-day job with my record. Hell, I probably won’t even be welcome at the center anymore.”
That last thought stabbed Melina right in the gut. In the time she’d started teaching kickboxing, she’d grown to love those kids. They were bright spots in her life when things had been so dark. Knowing she could probably never see them again hurt.
It hurt a lot.
“Melina, you don’t have to work,” Mac reminded her.
“Well, what do you expect me to do with myself? We’ve talked about this before. I’m not going to sit at home waiting for you and baking cookies.”
“Can we discuss this a little later? Right now, the only thing I want to concentrate on is the fact that you’re home and we no longer have to be apart. As far as the kids, don’t give up on what you’ve built with them. People have a way of surprising you sometimes.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“You never know until you give them a chance.”
Deep in thought, Melina was silent as they drove the rest of the way to Amityville. The car handled like a dream. It was smooth and powerful ben
eath her hands and the desire to see how fast the car could really go was strong within her, but she checked the impulse. Mac had just given her this car. No way was she going to allow it to be taken away by the pigs who’d confiscated her other car.
In no time at all, they were pulling up into the driveway. Melina had barely parked the car when the front door opened. Cynthia Maccari rushed out of the house and was soon followed by Mac’s sister, Victoria.
“Here goes nothing,” Melina whispered to Mac.
“You’ll be fine, doll. No sweat.”
He kissed her softly before exiting the car and then opening the door for her. Melina stepped out, and was nearly rushed by Victoria.
“Melina, am I glad to see you. Finally, I’ve got some reinforcement to keep my brother in line.”
Melina hugged Mac’s sister as she tried to suppress her laughter. “Looks like I’m back in the nick of time.”
Victoria stepped away and smiled. “Absolutely. You know how much work it is dealing with him.”
She jerked her head toward Mac, who was hugging Cynthia fiercely.
“I heard that, Vic,” Mac said.
“I meant for you to,” Victoria said sweetly.
“Victoria, be nice to your brother,” Cynthia said.
Victoria rolled her eyes. “See. This is what I deal with. Really glad you’re back, Melina.”
“Likewise. We’ll have to schedule a girls’ day soon.”
“I’m always up for that,” Victoria said.
Melina smiled, nerves fluttering in her stomach as Mac’s mom came toward her. “Mrs. Maccari.”
“None of that, dear. I think we’re on a first name basis now. It’s so good to see you again, Melina. James has been worried sick with you not around. The poor boy would barely eat while you were away.”
“Ma, must you?” Mac asked. He smoothed a hand over his face.
“Yes, I must. It’s important Melina knows how important she is to you and to me.”
Melina raised a brow. “To you?”
Where was Cynthia going with this?
“Melina, I wasn’t sure what to make of you when James first introduced you, but now I am so glad he did. I always worried that he wouldn’t find a woman who could take care of him and make him happy, but I was wrong. His eyes light up when he talks about you and he can’t stop smiling. His happiness is my happiness, so thank you.”
