by J. G. Sumner
“Katherine, are you okay?”
I grimace. I hate to be called that name now. Katherine was a fearful individual who didn’t embrace life. Kate is the opposite. I turned into Kate the moment I met Tony. He brought out a side of me I never knew existed. Although lately, I think I’ve been acting a little bit more like the old Katherine. I’ve got to stop living in fear.
“Please don’t call me that.”
“I’m sorry, Kate. I guess I haven’t quite gotten used to you changing your name. I’ve known you my entire life as Katherine.”
I shrug. “I know you’re trying. I’m sorry for reacting that way.”
Kendall’s brows furrow as the look of concern floods her eyes. I feel bad that I’ve caused it. I plaster the best smile I can muster on my face.
“I’m fine, really. It was just the accent. It brought me back to my experience in Italy.”
Kendall’s shoulders relax a bit. Clearly, she connected the dots to the gentleman sitting next to her. “Oh, Lord. I didn’t even think of that. If you want we can leave. We don’t need to do this.”
I shake my head and take a sip of one of the samples. The tasting hasn’t started yet, but I need something to calm my nerves. “No, we’re staying. I need this. Eventually, I’m going to run into people from Italy who come here. I think this is exactly the experience that will help me move forward.”
Kendall cocks her head to the side. I know she doesn’t believe me or perhaps she’s still a little nervous about my reaction.
“Are you sure? I really don’t mind if we go. There are plenty of things we can do.”
I sit up straight in my chair and mentally put my big girl panties on. It’s time to embrace the inner Kate and enjoy this adventure to the fullest.
“Don’t be crazy. Now, shut up and pass the crackers. I’m hungry and can’t wait to get this tasting going.”
I ended up having a wonderful time. I tasted some great wines and even bought a couple of bottles to bring home and share with Tony. It turns out that Demetrio had just finished college and was traveling to New York to decide if he wanted to accept a job offer he received.
By the time we stepped out of the stone building, I had quite the buzz going. Kendall always wanted to be a singer when she grew up. Unfortunately, her musical talents weren’t enough to draw the attention of an alley cat. However, when she drinks, Kendall likes to think she is Celine Dion. Tonight is no exception. I can’t hold back my laughter at her attempt to sing the theme song to the Titanic movie as we walk down the street.
Kendall stops mid-song. “I have an idea. Let’s go sing karaoke!”
I shudder at the thought. The last time we went, the crowd started howling during her rendition of a Mariah Carey song.
“Um, I think I’ve had enough for one night. Plus, I have to get this wine home. I don’t feel like carrying them.”
“Don’t be a pooper.” Kendall is starting to slur her speech, or at least that’s what I think I’m hearing through my own buzz. “Just take it back in, and they can deliver it tomorrow. Better yet, why don’t we go get Tony and have him come with us? It’ll be fun!” The smile on Kendall’s face is infectious. And while she talks a good game, this isn’t how I want Tony to meet one of my closest friends for the first time.
“Sorry, sister. I’m going to have to take a rain check. I think I’ve had enough for one day.”
“Fine, but we’re on for next weekend. There’s no way you’re getting out of introducing me to that man of yours. I’m starting to think he’s an enigma.” Kendall rests her head on my shoulder.
I see an open cab and I hail it. “No worries. I promise I won’t flake on you.” As the cab pulls up, I open the door. I give the address to Kendall’s apartment.
“What are you doing? I’m not getting in there!” Kendall yells much louder than necessary. Her face is scrunched up as I realize the germaphobe has returned.
“What are you going to do? You can’t walk to the Upper East Side from here, especially not in those Louboutins.”
Kendall backs away from the curb. “I’ll just call Pierre. He’ll be here in a few minutes. Heck, he can even give you a ride home.”
I begin to grow impatient. “Don’t be ridiculous. This car is here, and by the time your driver arrives, you could already be home.”
“Nope, I’m gonna have to pass this time.” Kendall feverishly presses the buttons on her phone.
I know there’s no way I’m getting Kendall in the cab. I thank the driver and shut the door.
“Fine, let’s go inside. I’ll wait with you.”
“Great, Pierre can give you a ride too!”
My head is spinning a little bit and I think I need some fresh air. The thought of walking the few blocks back to my apartment is appealing. “I think I’m just going to walk.”
Kendall opens the door back to the wine store. “Are you sure? It won’t be any trouble.”
“I’m sure. I’ll enjoy the walk. It will allow me to clear my head.”
Kendall picks up a bottle of wine and studies the label. “Well, don’t feel like you have to stay on my account. You need to get back to that mysterious man of yours.”
I think about walking through the door and being embraced by Tony’s muscular arms. My mind travels to dangerous territory, and I find myself getting aroused. “Okay, if you’re sure.”
“Absolutely! It’ll give me some time to shop for more wine until Pierre shows up.”
Suddenly, I can’t get home fast enough. I walk over and embrace Kendall. “Thank you for a great day! I’ll see you next weekend.”
“I’m counting on it.”
Kendall waves to me as I walk out the door and rush to the man I know is home waiting for me.
Chapter Three
Tony
I’m so glad Kate decided to go out with her friend. While I love spending every minute with her, it’s becoming harder to hide the fact that Matteo is lingering somewhere close. We’re playing cat and mouse, and I’m working my ass off to ensure we don’t get caught. The fact that I was able to get Jasper to come to the States and work for me is a miracle in itself. Thank God my father left me a nice inheritance, or I’d be up shit creek without a paddle.
I grab my keys and phone, and head out the door to go buy Kate some flowers and a bottle of wine for when she returns. My hope is to draw a bubble bath, have candles, the wine, and flowers by the tub while she relaxes. The woman has been a basket case lately, and she could use a distraction.
As I open the door and walk out into the hallway, I just about trip over a shoebox wrapped in brown paper. I’m not sure how it got here, because the doormen collect all mail and packages and we’re required to pick them up at the front desk.
As I study it, I notice it’s unmarked. There is no forwarding address or anything. I unwrap the paper and open the lid before dropping it to the ground completely horrified by what’s inside. There’s an eight-by-ten picture of Kate bound to a chair and beaten to a bloody pulp in my grandmother’s basement. The sick fucking bastard took pictures. The image creates flashbacks to those horrible few days in which I was helpless to save her and ignites a fiery rage I haven’t felt in months.
I go to pick up the box only to find a few more things have fallen out. One is a picture of my parents’ house on fire the day it exploded and they were murdered. There is another picture of Kate and me standing on the Empire State Building the day we reconnected, and then a bullet with my name engraved on it with the date April sixteenth. I guess that’s the day the fucker plans on having me killed.
Part of me is scared and worried that I will suffer the same fate as my parents. The other is suddenly alive with determination to make sure I get to him first. There is no way I’m going to let Matteo get away with reaping any more havoc in my life. Despite my willfulness, my hands are shaking uncontrollably, and my heart is beating at a pace that seems unsustainable.
I walk down the hall to Jasper’s apartment so he can take a look
at these items and gather some sort of intel to pinpoint Matteo’s whereabouts. Who knows? This could be the work of one of his men, and he may not be anywhere near this country.
I knock on Jasper’s door and hear the clicking of a metal lock. He has a surveillance system covering the outside of his door and an electronic lock with a remote to control it. The amount of gadgets this man has is astounding. It’s like I’m a kid in a toy store every time I come over.
“Come in, mate.”
I push through the heavy wooden door only to find Jasper on the floor of the living room doing push-ups at an alarming rate. I’ve never seen anyone power them out as fast and easily as he is right now. “What are you training for?”
Jasper easily does another ten before stopping and standing up. “Life. I like to be prepared for whatever comes my way.”
“Let’s see how prepared you are for this.” I shove the shoebox at him.
He takes it and looks inside. Jasper’s face remains blank. “Wow, your cousin is a fucking prick. This is clearly some sort of game for him.”
“Is that what you think?” It may be a game, but to me, it seems more like revenge; for what, I’m not sure. Most of my life I didn’t even know where he was.
“Yeah, mate. He’s trying to have the upper hand and scare you. It’s July and he has a bullet for nine months from now? Why wait that long? If he wanted to off you, he could just as easily do it now. No, he’s got something else planned, and by the looks of it, I’d say it has something to do with Kate. You were right to bring me in on this. I thought you were kind of overacting at first, but your cousin is certifiably crazy.”
Now I’m scared. The thought of Matteo hurting Kate again infuriates me to the point that I envision myself strangling him with my own two hands. Lord knows I’ve never been one for violence, but after what happened in Italy, I no longer have a problem resorting to it if necessary. “Do you think he’s around or is it one of his guys?”
Jasper wipes beads of sweat dripping from his forehead with a hand towel. “Let me ask you a question. Don’t you think if he were up on the Empire State Building with you, you’d recognize him?”
I ponder what he’s asking for a brief moment before answering. “Yeah, probably.”
“It wasn’t him, mate. He’s got someone working for him. My guess is he’s nowhere near right now, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he shows up soon. There’s a reason why he left this now. It’s a game to keep you looking over your shoulder, and it’s working. We have to find a way to beat him at his own game. Let me hold onto this stuff for now and investigate it a little more. Maybe there are some prints or something that can tell us who’s behind this.”
It baffles me that Jasper can remain this calm. My stomach is in knots, and all I want to do is figure out a way to keep Kate in a bubble where nothing or no one can touch or hurt her. As unrealistic as it sounds, I continue to search for some reasonable alternative without making her panic or aware of how dangerous things really are right now. “I need to go find her.”
“No, mate, you don’t. Let her have fun with her friend. She’s just down the street enjoying some wine. I’ve been watching her all night with the tracking device in her watch. If she changes location, I’ll be alerted. Plus, there are two guys staking out the wine room, and they will make sure she gets home safely. Obviously, you were leaving to do something. Go finish it.” Jasper blows me off like it’s no big thing.
I have complete faith in him, but I still feel helpless and want to do something to protect Kate. I’m just not sure what that is, and I sure as hell don’t want to overreact and come off like a complete jackass. “Fine, but will you let me know if anything looks strange. I’m just going to the market down the street.”
“Sure thing. Take your time though; it looks like those girls are having a good time and they’ll be out for a while.” Jasper walks into the kitchen and cracks open a bottle of water.
I’m left dumbfounded as to what I should be doing. Part of me wants to walk down to where the girls are and stalk them from afar. The other part says to just continue with my plan and give Kate the space and girl time she needs. I opt for the latter. When my woman comes home, she’s going to know how much I love and cherish her. I intend to spend the rest of my days treating her like the princess she is, and ensuring her safety until the day I die. I can only hope that won’t be nine months from now.
Chapter Four
Kate
The walk home is pleasant. The air has cooled slightly, and it doesn’t seem as stagnant or humid. The few short blocks to my apartment allow me to clear my head a bit. I really did enjoy my time with Kendall. I need to make it a point to spend more time with her and not just Tony. It’s healthier that way, right?
As I approach my building, I stop and survey the twelve-story, beautiful brick structure. It’s one of the newer and more modern ones in the area. I think it was probably the best decision I ever made, moving away from the stuffy Upper East Side down to the more eclectic and carefree SoHo.
I walk up to my building and I’m greeted by Chester, one of the nicest doormen I’ve ever had. I’d say he’s in his late sixties, with gray hair. I can’t tell if he’s balding or not because he’s always wearing a cap.
“Good evening, Ms. Anderson.” Chester produces a genuine smile as he opens the glass door.
“Hello. How are the kiddos?”
Chester only engages in conversation on occasion, but when he does, the first thing he talks about are his grandkids. His face lights up and a twinkle appears in his eyes.
“They’re splendid. Thank you for asking.”
That’s my cue; he’s not into starting a conversation. Had he wanted to, he would’ve already pulled out his phone and started scrolling through photos. That’s fine with me. I’m anxious to find out what Tony’s been up to the entire day. Instantly, the memory of coming home to find Mike in bed with some whore flashes through my mind. I quickly try to erase it. Tony is different. He’d never cheat on me.
I take the elevator to the fourth floor. As soon as I step off, I come face-to-face with the man of my dreams. My breath hitches, and my heart begins to patter. The sight of this man does crazy things to my body, and I can’t help but surrender to his every whim. Tony’s bright green eyes are glowing, and he has a big smile on his face, extending from ear to ear. In his hand, he’s holding a single white rose.
“Oh, my gosh. It’s so beautiful! How did you know I’d be on the elevator?”
Tony leaned in and kissed my cheek. “I had Chester call to give me a heads up. I know I encouraged you to go out, but if I would’ve had to spend one more moment without you, I would’ve worn a hole in the floor pacing. Woman, you’re not allowed to leave for that long again!” Tony growls as he picks me up, carries me into the apartment, and kicks the door shut. Had it not been for the soft, warm kisses being planted on my neck, the slamming of the door probably would’ve startled me.
He gently places me on the leather sofa and removes the packages from my arms.
“Kendall and I went to a wine tasting class. I picked up a couple of bottles for us to share.”
Tony returns to my side and growls in my ear as he lifts me up from the sofa. “All I want right now is you.” His hot breath against my ear sends waves of heat and fire to my sex. I’m not sure what it is about Tony, but just the slightest touch makes me wanton.
By the time Tony lays me down on our bed, my sex is throbbing. I want nothing more than to feel the friction of his cock against my increasingly wet folds. Tony hovers over top of me, and tears off my blouse. I don’t even give it a second thought that it happened to be one of my favorites. He removes my bra and exposes my breasts. The hunger in his eyes suggests that he’s starving and wants nothing more but to ravage my body as though it were his last meal. He leans down and grasps one of my nipples with his teeth and gently tugs. My sex clenches and throbs. I lift my hips, searching for anything that will provide the contact it’s aching for.
<
br /> As Tony moves on to my other breast, he extends his hand and begins to rub my aching control panel. I’m ready for him to hit the detonation button.
“You’re so fucking wet. I love how your body responds to me. It’s as though it was made to be mine.” Tony bites my neck hard, sending warm sensations traveling throughout my body, but not so rough that it hurts. He inserts two fingers past my folds that are oozing liquid gold.
“Jesus, what your body does to me.” Tony pants as he plants soft kisses down my stomach until he reaches the land of no return. I anticipate his mouth reaching my bundle of nerves. My body wants and needs the warm, wet contact to push me over the edge; a fall that I’m so ready to take. I tug at his head to encourage Tony to make the contact faster and harder.
“Hmm, your body is so greedy.” Tony’s voice is raspy. His tongue connects to the exact area that is about to send me into another world. Instantly, sparks shoot through my body, igniting every nerve ending. I dig my nails into his shoulder. I’m so close to utter bliss I can barely contain myself. My eyes close and I focus on every sensation that pulsates through me. There’s nothing as magical as the feelings building up to a climax. Tony swirls his tongue and then begins to suck. Oh, sweet Jesus. I can’t control my body as it explodes. I feel as though I’ve been catapulted off the side of a mountain into clouds of ecstasy. Tony continues the relentless assault on my happy place as I ride out the waves of pleasure surging through my entire being.
I open my eyes to find a hungry Tony smashing down into my mouth. His tongue finds its way against mine, claiming stake to its land. I can taste my sweet flavor and my arousal instantly returns. Tony abruptly pulls back. “I want that sweet pussy around my cock.” He flips me over and places me in a doggy-style position on my knees. He plants kisses along the lower part of my spine while rubbing my bottom. He smacks one of my cheeks. The sting sends fire back into my sex, causing it to throb and pulsate all over again.
