by Ali Parker
"Fucking women." D got up. "They're going to be the death of me. This one especially."
"Just give her what she wants." Sicily offered a sweet smile. "Life is easier when you spoil your girl, right?"
"I agree, but she's not my girl." He turned his attention to the floor, and the look on his handsome face let Sicily know quickly that he wished Izzy were his.
"She could be." Sicily shrugged and turned her attention to the server who stopped by to get her drink order. D walked toward the floor with a soft growl.
"You get something to drink, baby?" Drake sat down beside her and slid his hand along her thigh.
"Yeah. I got us both something." She turned to focus on the dance floor. It was packed, and yet somehow it was so easy to pick out D and Izzy. He was bigger, taller than most of the guys on the floor, as was she. Her back was pinned to his chest, her dancing intensely sensual as she slid down the front of him and back up.
"Oh hell." Drake put his back to the dance floor. "Nothing good is going to come of their night here together. They'll fuck like rabbits and pretend like they're family tomorrow. I hate the way they hurt each other."
Sicily forced herself to turn, though she didn't want to. Watching them was like watching the deepest form of intimacy, a love so deep that it tore at the fabric of both of their beings. It was heart-stopping. Beautiful. Something she and Drake would have over time.
"They can't help it. They were made for each other." Sicily pressed her shoulder against Drake's and smiled. "I love you with all of my heart. Thank you for pushing and forcing me into this relationship. I didn't want it at first, but that was due to my insecurities. I don't deserve a guy like you."
"No? You deserve a good guy that opens doors, doesn't fix his tie after you do it, and works as a teller at a bank?" He laughed as she gave him a sideways look.
"You know what I meant." She brushed her dark hair over her shoulder.
"No, I don't, but I don't need to. I've done a lot of shit in my life that I'm not proud of. This thing between us? I'm hanging my hat on it. It's the best thing that's ever happened to me." He turned and let out a long sigh. "I'm worried about them. They have each other, but is that enough? Look at her. She's hurting - a lot."
Sicily turned and let her eyes move over Izzy's impossibly beautiful face. It was locked into an emotionless grimace. Anyone with eyes could tell she was close to breaking. "What do we do?"
"I don't know." Drake turned and pulled her into his arms, kissing the side of her face. "I'll talk to D. Maybe I should go back to Chicago for a few months and try to work in the shadows for him."
"What? No." Sicily jerked around. "If you go, I go."
He laughed. "I figured you would say that." He kissed the tip of her nose. "Let's just play it by ear. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe tonight is what they both need more than anything. They can't let themselves relax around the syndicate. She's the hitman and he's the leader of the group."
"And no one would accept them being a couple?" Seemed stupid.
"Yeah, everyone would accept it and probably give a collective sigh. They dated when we were all kids, and everyone thought they would get married, but Demetri decided one day to end it."
"Just out of nowhere?" Horror raced through Sicily. Who could do that to someone? Could Drake do that to her? No way.
"He knew he was going to be forced into leadership with the syndicate, and he had to put everyone first, not just Izabella. He knew that wasn't going to happen if he fell further in love with her."
Sicily shook her head, hating the story. "He's completely in love with her. Any fool can tell that."
"Yeah, that's the fucked up part. He won't listen though. I've tried a million times to talk to him about it." Drake moved back as the server set down their drinks.
"Maybe I should try." She picked up her glass.
"No. Leave it alone. I'm serious. It's not our mess to clean up." He lifted his drink. "To us and the future we have in front of us. I don't know what it will bring, but as long as I'm beside you, I don't care."
She hit his glass and shot back her drink as her mind raced ahead. If D was going to be her brother in the future, all bets were off. She'd just have to wait until she had a ring on her finger to give him a good talking to.
Easy enough.
Chapter 17
Drake
Drake woke up the next morning before Sicily, realizing it was Christmas and he had everything he needed. He rolled onto his side and reached out, brushing his hand down her back as gratefulness washed over him in suffocating waves.
D and Michael Carrington had gone to great lengths to help him restart his life. They'd helped fake his death in a warehouse explosion, put on the funeral and D had played the part beautifully through the event. It was horrifying to think he let his brother go through that shit, but D wouldn't have had it any other way.
Drake rolled out of bed, his heart aching in his chest. He'd been wrong the night before. He and Sicily couldn't just look away from D and Izzy's bullshit situation. Where he wasn't sure he could get involved in the syndicate again, he could browbeat his brother into being a man and taking Izzy as his woman. There was no other girl for Demetri.
After ordering a huge Christmas morning breakfast, Drake wrapped up in an extra blanket, slipped on his shoes and took his two phones to the patio. He closed the door and shivered violently.
"Fuck," he mumbled and sat down on a frozen bench. The entire property was covered in a thick blanket of snow, and he couldn't help but take a minute to let the beauty of it roll over him. "Incredible."
He had everything he needed and more than he wanted, and that was mostly thanks to his big brother. He texted D to get the blue phone and called on his version of the silly thing.
"Drake? You all right, man?" D's voice was thick with sleep.
"Who is it?" Izzy's voice was too close not to have her in the bed beside him.
"I'm good, D. I just needed to get a few things off my chest." He closed his eyes and forced the hard emotion rising in his chest back down.
"It's just Drake, Iz. He's fine. Go back to sleep."
Drake could hear D moving around and gave him a few seconds before starting.
"Merry Christmas, man." Drake smiled as his brother growled.
"Mother fucker. If you woke me up at seven on the only morning I get to sleep in to tell me Merry Christmas, I will put a bullet in your skull."
"Naw, but I love you too, asshole."
D chuckled, the sound dark. "What's up? Talk fast. I'm freezing my balls off out here. Fucking New York is no better than Chicago."
"Sicily wanted to smack you around last night over the obvious heat between you and Izzy, but I wouldn't let her."
"Nope. I'm not going there again, brother. You know my why where Izabella is concerned."
"Yep. I do, and because I love you so incredibly much, you should know that your why is complete bullshit." Drake cleared his throat. "You gave me my life back five years ago, and if you called and needed me, I would abandon it in a heartbeat, but let me tell you this... If a hitman were standing between you and Sicily and one of you had to die," Drake swallowed the hot ball of emotion in his throat, "I would first offer up myself, and if that didn't work, I'd offer you next."
"Is this supposed to make me feel good?" D laughed.
Drake smiled. "No, but you wouldn't do any different if it were me and Izzy. You're lying to yourself if you think that you would sacrifice her before anyone else. She would be the last name on your list, and you'd rush the fucker with a gun to make sure the next bullet didn't hit her."
"Your point?"
"You love her, asshole."
"We all know that, Drake. That doesn't change the fact that-"
"Yeah, man. It does. It changes everything. That woman in the room behind me has my whole heart, D. There's nothing I wouldn't do for her. You feel the same about Izzy. Stop making things so goddamn difficult. She's always going to be first. Get rid of the main aggravation
in your life and just give in to her. It's going to make things better, and you know it."
"We done?"
"Nope." Drake stood up and breathed in deeply. "I love you. You saved my life and gave me freedom. I'll always owe you for what you did, man."
"No, you don't. I love you too. You're my little brother, idiot."
"Fuck you too." Drake turned and walked back into the room to find Sicily curled up, but awake. "If you ever need me-"
"I won't. Stop asking."
"If you ever need me, I'm only a call away. We'll be there before you can blink twice, and don't tell me the day will never come. You know it will. I just need you to know that you don't have to hesitate when the day shows up. Just call or text me and I'll head that way. I'd never let you walk alone unprotected."
Silence.
The day was far closer than either of them wanted to admit.
Drake spoke again as he got into the bed with Sicily. "Give yourself a gift this Christmas, Demetri. Do it for Momma, man. Tell Izabella that you love her and ask her to be yours."
"I gotta go." His brother's voice was hollow, hurting. "I love you, man. Take care of that pretty girl you got fooled."
D dropped the call and Drake tossed the phone to the floor and dropped down beside Sicily, shivering.
"You okay, baby?" She moved closer, bringing the covers with her. She wrapped him up, and he snuggled against her, tucking his face against the crook of her neck.
"I don't know." He ran his hands up her back and snuggled in more. "I just want the warmth I have with you for my brother too."
"I think it's closer than you think." She kissed the side of his head, and he closed his eyes, resting until room service knocked on the door.
***
"You sure you don't mind stopping by my momma's house real quick? I just want to give everyone a hug before we head back to Maine." She leaned over and puckered up, looking too cute for her own damn good.
"I don't mind at all, plus, we're already here." He kissed her. "Tease."
"You don't have to come in." She kissed him once more and got out of the truck, jogging toward the door. Her white coat fit her well, her jeans beautiful on her pert little butt.
He smiled, letting his thoughts dive into the night they would have when they got back to his place.
A knock right beside his head on the window had him stifling the need to jump. He turned to find Johnny standing out in the snow.
Drake rolled down his window and nodded. "What's up, man?"
"I was thinking about what you said the other day about loving my sister." He glanced around, obviously uncomfortable. "I can't do anything about who she falls in love with, and I know I don't need to do the 'kick your ass if you hurt her' spiel, but know that I want to."
"I'm okay with it if you need to get it out." Drake winked at him.
"Asshole." He moved back a step and slipped his hands into his jeans. "Just take care of her, man. Don't let her get mixed up in the shit from your past. Please. She's not that type of girl."
"I'm going to do my best to make sure that doesn't happen, but Johnny... she's not a girl anymore. She's a grown woman, and a scary one at times." He smiled as Johnny nodded and chuckled.
"Just protect her, hm?"
"With everything I got, man, and I was being serious the other day when I told you if you needed help... call me. I'm skilled in a few ways that I bet your friends in the motorcycle club aren't." He turned his head a little as Sicily called out to Johnny and jogged toward him.
"What are you guys doing? Still fighting?" She wrapped her arms around her big brother and smiled up at him. "You're both mine, so stop being a dick."
Johnny rolled his eyes. "Mom would have a fit at your horrible language."
"That's true. Usually you help me out by bringing a whore home and then she only has enough energy to focus on your bad life choices." Sicily laughed and Drake smiled, watching the two of them.
"I couldn't find one this year." He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "Take care and don't be a stranger. Bring this thug with you next time too, I guess."
"Where I go, he goes, right, baby?" Sicily glanced back at Drake.
"That's right, now come on. You're going back home... remember?"
They laughed and Drake rolled up the window as his chest loosened a little. Where Johnny wasn't his problem, getting along with the asshole would put him in Sicily's good graces. It was a place he loved to be. Usually meant something sugary or sexy was headed his way.
His stomach growled and body hardened at the thought.
"You hungry?" She got in and lifted her eyebrow, a cute little smile on her face.
"Yep. You're going to feed me when we get home too."
"Carrot pancakes?"
"And sex, please." He winked and pulled away from her momma's place as she laughed at his boldness. It wasn't new, and it wasn't going anywhere.
"Wait. Where is my present!" She lifted her eyebrow.
"You want it now?" He smiled and leaned over, pulling a small box out from under his seat. "I thought I would wait until we were home, but if you want it, you get it."
"Yes." She took it and started to open it, but paused. "This isn't going to make me cry, right?"
"No?" He chuckled as she shook her head and pulled the top off the box.
The dainty little bracelet he got her sat in the center with five trinkets on it, each of them telling a story.
She glanced up with tears in her eyes. "I love it so much. It's perfect."
"I thought so." He reached out and took the box. "The little cake is for your bakery." He put it on her wrist and tried to keep his own emotions tucked behind a tight facade. "The weight for the gym, the apple for New York, the heart for you giving me life again, and the little seventeen for the year when we're going to get married."
"That's next year." She took a shaky breath. "That's not nearly enough time to plan a wedding. You haven't even given me a ring yet."
"Hush, woman. One thing at a time. I'll take my kiss for the gift." He chuckled as she moved into his lap and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him several times.
"I got everything I wanted this Christmas. Actually, I got it a few months before when you rescued me from myself." She brushed her nose along his chin and lifted up to kiss him once more. "Thank you for loving me, Drake. I'm sorry I pushed so hard at first."
"I'm glad you did." He nipped at her mouth as he ran his hand down her back and squeezed the top of her rear. "And to be completely honest, I'm not sure I had much say in the matter. The first night I saw you when we painted your bakery, every part of me lit up. I knew you'd be mine... I just needed to convince you of it."
She laughed and pressed herself to his chest. "Consider me completely convinced."
Epilogue
Sicily
Three Months Later
"More eggs?" Drake looked up from a huge trash bag of eggs him and Jake hauled to the back of the fire station. "How many kids are you guys expecting?"
"The whole town was invited to the event. Stop complaining and be happy that we're not having to stuff them!" Lisa snuggled a huge bunny in her arms. Her and Marc had come into town for the weekend to celebrate Easter with everyone. "You know what the best part of the day is going to be?"
"Tell me." Jake glanced up, his smile warm and welcoming. Him and Kari were engaged and would be getting married in two months. He'd been a ball of energy since New Year's Eve, but Sicily was grateful for him. Kari needed a good man in her life, a man to remind her that she deserved commitment and love without being worried about losing it.
Lisa laughed and shoved a peep marshmallow treat in her mouth, talking around it. "Marc doesn't know it, but he's the Easter Bunny today."
"Oh shit." Drake stood up and wiped his hands on his jeans. "Are you serious?"
"No. I'll do it." Jake walked around the bag of eggs and moved toward the fire station. "The poor guy was Santa for me when we went to Texas. I'll never hear
the end of it if he has to be the Easter Bunny too. He got accosted by cute little girls all day that day."
"Oh, darn. Sounds horrible." Lisa smiled, marshmallows showing through her teeth. It wasn't at all like her, but something about being with Marc softened her and made her far more playful.
"All right. I'm going to get the rest of the cakes out of the car. Hopefully other people from the town brought some treats too. The cake walk needs to be full." Sicily turned and walked toward the car.
Violet walked up beside her and pointed to a group of young kids out front being entertained by a young guy, dancing and singing. "Isn't he too cute?"
"Who is that? Benjamin?" Sicily laughed, enjoying the festivities. Ben was Drake's newest employee, and was in the middle of his junior year.
"Yeah. He's doing so great at the gym. I think if you're up for it, I'll start spending more time at the bakery with you." Violet shrugged, her eyes moving down toward her feet as they stopped by the car. "We're done with the initial New Year's rush, you know, and I've always wanted to be a chef. Maybe-"
"No maybe at all." Sicily reached out and touched Violet's shoulder, offering her a warm smile. "You're more than welcomed to join me. We should look at the colleges around the area too. The culinary schools. You could learn a lot of techniques from them too."
The girl had been through hell over the winter with her ex-boyfriend, Dane. She had some healing to do, but Sicily and Drake were going to stand beside her until she was ready to try again at love. This time they planned to pre-screen the guy to ensure he wasn't another asshole, seeing that the poor girl was completely attracted to them.
"I would love that." She smiled, her sadness melting away.
"Okay, Sicily. All of the cakes are on the table and I think we have way more than we needed." Debbie stopped beside them and lifted her hands. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt your moment." The older woman smiled and took a step back. She'd been working for Sicily since Christmas, and was doing far more than Sicily ever imagined anyone capable of.
