by Ali Parker
"That's it, you vixen. You're getting it."
He reached the close door about the time she locked it.
"We'll be late." She spoke through the door.
"Why don't I care about that?" He laughed and patted the door. "Hurry up and get back out here. I want more of you."
"You can have all of me. Forever."
Her words lingered around him as he walked back to the kitchen and paused by the stove. Forever. What an incredibly blissful thought.
***
D showed up right on time, which was very much his character. Drake got in the front seat with him as Sicily slipped into the back. After breakfast, the reality that he was going to have to say goodbye to his mother set in. Pain rolled through his chest as he turned to give his brother a pensive stare.
"You okay?" D asked and pulled out onto the busy Chicago streets.
"Yeah. I guess. How is she?"
"Not good." D turned and smiled toward the backseat. "My little brother treating you right? I'd hate to have a good reason to whoop his ass."
"He's everything I've ever wanted, and if you touch him... I'll whoop your ass."
Drake laughed and looked over his shoulder at the pretty girl in the backseat. His girl.
"She's from the streets of New York, Bro. You gotta watch out for her." Drake turned back to D as his older brother shook his head and chuckled.
"We have no more than an hour and if you can cut it shorter, that would be great. I can stay out in the hall with Sicily if you want me to or I can go in with you. Whatever you want."
"I want her with me, but just her. I need to ask for forgiveness." Drake shrugged and glanced out the window to watch the city go by. He'd grown up in the hood and loved every minute of it. The sexiness of a life on the run was enticing, but knowing that Sicily would never be down with the old him locked his thoughts up. To regain his pride by coming back would mean leaving the woman who'd stolen his heart. It wasn't a possibility. At least not anymore.
Chapter 26
Sicily sat quietly in the backseat as her concern for Drake threatened to eat her insides. He was a hot mess over having to see his mother, and though he contained it well, she could sense his worry. The night before had been fucking hot and most likely put one of Lisa and Marc's sex sessions to shame, but she'd would never tell anyone that. She wasn't the kiss and tell type, though it would be fun to show her friends that she wasn't a complete prude.
The pulled up to the hospital and parked. Drake opened her door and helped her out before putting a vice grip hold on her hand.
He was sweating a little and his color was off.
She tugged at him and smiled sweetly as he glanced down. "It's going to be okay. I'm right here with you."
Drake stopped and leaned over, his fingers wrapping around her jaw as he pulled her up for a long kiss. His actions spoke volumes of his gratefulness for her being there. She forced herself to remain calm and steady, not wanting to let her own emotions at their budding relationship override the situation ahead of them.
They walked through the halls quickly, taking the stairs instead of the elevator. At the fourth floor, D pushed the door open and glanced at Drake. "Mom's in twenty-eight-fifteen. The cameras are off until eleven. Get in there and get out. I'll be watching from the nurse’s station."
"Okay. Thanks, D." Drake took Sicily's hand and moved out into the hall. "Fuck me, I don't want to do this."
"You'll regret not doing it." Sicily glanced up at him and moved quickly, trying to keep up with his pace.
"I know, baby. I've regret too much already. I don't want to add this to the list." He pressed on the door and took a deep breath before releasing her hand.
Sicily walked in behind him and moved to stand beside him as he approached the bed. An older Sicilian woman lay under a handful of blankets, her skin pale and body visibly frail.
Drake's shoulders visibly stiffened as he reached out and touched the side of her face. "Momma?"
She opened her eyes and took a shaky breath. "Drake?"
"Yeah, it's me, mom. D brought me to see you." Drake leaned over and kissed her head as she mumbled something.
His mother's eyes moved toward Sicily, a smile starting to lift her chalky lips, but it seemed too much effort for her. "Who's this?"
Sicily moved up as Drake beckoned her. "This is my girlfriend, mom. She's a baker, like you were."
"Ah... she's beautiful." His mother turned her head a little. "Nice to meet you."
"You too, Mrs. DeMarco." Sicily reached out and took the woman's hand as tears filled her eyes.
"You know, Drake is the sweetest of my boys. He's the one who needs to be loved the deepest."
"Mom." Drake pulled up a chair and beckoned Sicily to come sit on the couch beside the bed.
"What? It's true." His mom started to chuckle, but coughs racked her thin frame.
"Hey. No more telling lies. Makes you laugh and then you cough." He reached out and brushed her hair back. "I wanted to come and tell you that I'm doing good. D got me set up in another city and I have my own business."
"Not killing people, right?"
Drake flinched and glanced to Sicily as she leaned back on the couch and crossed her arms.
"No, mom. Helping people. I own a gym."
"Oh, that’s nice. That's why all that pudge is gone and now you've got big muscles." She reached out and brushed her hand over his arm. "You look so good. That pretty girl is lucky."
"I'm the lucky one." Drake glanced toward Sicily.
Pudge? Was Drake overweight when he was younger? Is that why he was so crazy about watching what he eats?
She tucked the killing thing away for a later conversation with him. Some part of her knew that the darkness in the past had to be taking lives, but what did that mean for them now? She had promised not to judge the man he was now based on the man he had been before, but if he was willing to kill people in the past... was he still willing to now?
The image of seeing him beat the hell out of Martin rolled over her and she tried to let it go. Now wasn't the time. He needed her to believe he was capable of overcoming his darker days, and in all honesty, she did.
"I love you," his mother whispered as the monitor beeped beside her.
Drake glanced up as Sicily watched him closely. "I love you, too, momma."
"Even though Joe knows your secret, you never have to be like him. Do you hear me?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Don't let him into your life, Drake. He's a bastard and cares for no one."
"He cared for you, mom."
"Yes, and I wish I didn't return that feeling. Stay away from him and live this new life with your pretty girlfriend. Okay, baby?"
The monitor beeped again and Drake stood. "Of course, momma. I want Sicily to be my wife. We'll have a bunch of kids and I'll build her a big white house."
Panic rolled over Drake's features as he spoke softly, his ability to play off whatever was happening inside of him was incredible.
Sicily stood and walked toward him, laying her hand on his arm.
"Get a nurse. Now." He turned back to his mother as she smiled and closed her eyes.
"That's all I want for you, baby. A second chance." The monitor beeped again and flat-lined.
Sicily turned and ran from the room, plowing into D as horror washed over her. "Get a nurse. The monitor shows her flat-lining."
D turned and ran toward the nurses’ station as Sicily stood at the door of the room, unsure of what to do.
Drake's mother seemed to have held on to see him one more time. Now that she had... she was gone. A soft sob left the man standing by her bed, his large shoulders rolling in as he covered his face and let out another one.
Sicily moved toward him and pulled him back away from the bed, wrapping him into her arms.
"I didn't get a chance to apologize. I needed to tell her all the things I'd done were in the past. I wanted her to see a new man in me." He glanced up as tears rolled down his hand
some face.
Sicily's heart broke in half.
"She did, baby. She saw the man I see." Sicily pulled him close and he relaxed against her, the moment forever locked in her mind.
***
D helped get Drake to the car and drove them back to the hotel without more than a few words. He promised to call later that night. Sicily slid her arm around Drake's back as they walked into the hotel. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head.
"Thank you for staying with me today."
"Of course."
"About the killing stuff..." He pushed the button for the elevator.
"We can talk about that later, Drake." Sicily shook her head at him and moved into the elevator as it opened.
"No. I need to get it off my chest now." He turned and pulled her flush against him. Heavy emotion sat on him and she wanted to wipe it all away no matter what it took.
"Okay, but you've been through a lot."
"Yeah, but if I'm going to lose you... I'd rather it be now, so I know where I stand in life after this weekend." He bent down and kissed the side of her face. "I meant what I said to my momma, Sis. I want you forever."
Sicily nodded and moved back from him, reaching for his arm as the door opened. "Come on. Let's go to the room and watch TV and snuggle for the rest of the day."
"I'd like that." He walked with her into the room, rubbing her back softly. He locked the door, pulled off his shirt and moved toward her. "I was raised on the streets here. Being part of my family meant you joined up with the syndicate or you were gunned down. I had to protect myself and my siblings, which meant killing on occasion. I'm not like Izzy where I can take a gun to someone without personal cause or because of having to protect others, but I am a murderer."
"In self defense? Is that why you killed?" Sicily tried to see it from his point of view, but either way, killing someone was killing.
"Yes. Every time."
"How many times?" She reached for him, not really sure if she wanted to know the answer.
"Too many." He leaned down and kissed her. "I needed to ask my mother for forgiveness for that shit. She hated it. I didn't get a chance."
She'd already forgiven you, Drake. I could see it on her face."
"Can you forgive me?" He moved back as his features tightened.
"I'm not God, but I have no room to judge you. Let's move past this shit and we'll work through it little by little together while you build my big white house." She forced a smile.
He chuckled. "I said a white house. Nothing about big. Who's going to clean that mess?"
"Well, it ain't me. I cook, you clean." She pulled him down for a long kiss.
"Thank you for going with me today." He walked to the bed and beckoned her to join him. "Come here and let me hold you."
She didn't respond, but moved toward him, sinking down into his hold and tucking herself against his big, strong body. "Don't let go."
"I won't unless you ask me to, and then I'm still not sure I can."
She glanced up at him. "You were pudgy?"
He laughed. "I'm not opening that can of worms."
"What if I want you to?" She smiled and brushed her hand over his hip.
"Nothing you can say or do will force me to talk about my weight problems when I was a kid."
Sicily pushed him back and moved down to hover just above his waist as she licked her lips.
"Nothing will change your mind?" She nipped at the bulge of his cock through his jeans.
"I'll tell you anything you want to know. Just let me get my pants off first."
***
Sicily woke the next morning after a long night of snuggling and movie watching with Drake. Her body ached in all the right places from the passion of their sex. There was a million things she wanted to explore with him, but they had the rest of their lives. Her drive toward anal sex seemed to be something he was more than happy to explore with her. She smiled at the thought and reached for him on his side of the bed to find it empty.
A white note sat on his pillow and she got up, picking it up as trepidation rolled over her.
Baby,
Something’s come up with D. I had him pick me up so I could help. Your flight is at two. I won't be home until Monday afternoon, but I'll see you then. Sorry I can't tell you more.
See you soon.
Drake
"What?" Sicily read the note three more times before trying to text him. He didn't answer, so she called, only to go to his full voicemail. What would be so damn important that he couldn't wake her up, kiss her and explain before leaving her to check out of the hotel on her own and fly home alone? She hated flying.
She finally gave up on trying to reach him and packed up her stuff, noticing that his was all gone. Had he changed his mind on being with her?
No the note said he would be home on Monday night.
Why not just wake her up? What an asinine thing to do to someone. She growled and got dressed, snagged a piece of toast from the kitchen, and walked to the lobby. After checking out, a valet took her to the airport and she checked in before texting Drake again.
Nothing.
What if she needed him? How was she going to get home from the airport? Was D more important than her? Yes, obviously.
Every negative emotion she could experience raced through her. By the time Lisa picked her up at the airport, she had unraveled all the good that had occurred over the weekend.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Lisa asked, reaching out and squeezing her hand.
"No. He's an asshole. Enough said."
Lisa started to respond, but Sicily pinned her with a glare.
"Yep. He's an asshole. I'm with you." Lisa nodded and turned her attention back to the front window.
Sicily felt the need to defend Drake, but she let it go. Whatever he was dealing with was far more important than her. Maybe that's how the rest of their lives would be together. She wasn't sure coming in second with him was going to work.
Maybe this was a mistake.
Chapter 27
Drake reached out and squeezed his brother’s shoulders as worry rolled over him. Not only had they lost their mother the day before, but someone took out Vivian Castaletta in a dark alley later that day. Demetri was pacing a whole in front of the fire place at his apartment.
"Hey. We'll figure out who did it, D." Drake moved his hands as D tugged away from him.
"No. I'll figure it out. This is my fucking problem. You can't get involved or all hell's going to break lose." He shrugged and slumped down into a chair as Drake's heart ached.
D was right. Getting involved in figuring out who killed Izzy's mother in cold blood wasn't something he could do. It would mean turning his back on his new life, including Sicily, which wasn’t happening. He was too selfish of a bastard to let it.
"Did you tell the girl where you were going?" D snapped around, his eyes filled with hard emotion.
"No, D. I did as you told me to. I'm sure she's pissed, but I'll deal with that later." Drake let out a long sigh. "Tell me what I can do to help you."
"Call Izabella and tell her that I'm in love with her. Tell her to come over here and let me hold her. I know she's in pain, but..." He growled loudly and ran his fingers through his dark hair. "Fuck!"
"Stop being an idiot and just tell the girl. You lost momma yesterday and she lost hers too. Don't you think that both of you suffering such an incredible loss could bring you together completely?"
"Yeah, but is that what I really want for her? I’m stuck in this life, Drake. I'm praying that as she gets older she turns from it. I could tuck her away like I did you. She could find a good man to help her heal past all the shit she's seen. Fuck Joe for making her the enforcer of our syndicate. She's slutting herself out and hunting down the most horrible motherfuckers. All in the name of family." He let out another long sigh. "I don't know what to do."
"Just be there for her, D. That's all you can do. You can't make Izzy's decisions for her. She's a grown w
oman – and a vicious one, I might add."
D glanced up with a warning on his face. "Watch it."
"Fuck you. She's my sister. I'll say whatever the hell I want to." Drake lifted his eyebrow, ready to challenge his brother if necessary. He needed to let off some steam and though the timing wasn't right, it never was.
"You're right." D shrugged and glanced toward the clock. "I need to get back over to Joe's. Go back to your girl. Helping you find a real life is the only thing in my long life that I'm proud of."
Drake moved toward his brother, pulling him into a tight hug as D patted his back. "I'm sorry for taking you away from her. The damn day’s mostly over."
"It's all right. I'll explain it to her."
"Protect her, Drake. You know as well as I do that not everything that's buried stays dead. One day things might shift. You ready if they do?"
"When they do?" Drake moved back and slid his hands into his jean pockets.
"Exactly."
"Not really, but who is prepared when their world blows up?"
"Not me. Obviously." D crossed his arms over his massive chest. "I'll give you a ride to the airport."
"Nah. Call me a cab. You need to get back over to the Castaletta Mansion where you belong. Just treat Izzy like a sister and love on her without expecting anything back in return." Drake walked toward the door, glancing over his shoulder. "Be safe, bro."
"Yeah. Love you." D nodded and picked up the phone.
"Same. Watch your back since I'm not here to do it."
***
All the flights were taken that night, which forced Drake to get the midday Monday flight. He slept in a chair at the airport, his back a wreck by the time he got back into Maine. In all of the insanity and worry he had forgotten to turn his phone back on. No wonder he hadn't gotten a call or text from Sicily. The fucking phone was dead.
He drove straight to his house and plugged it in before slipping into the shower. Sicily was probably worried sick. She would be pissed too, but he hoped he could talk her out of all of it. As long as he could see her, things would be fine.
