Tempted: A Bad Boy Next Door Romance

by Willow Winters

  “My mind's made up.” I pull my hand away and breathe in deep.

  “As long as you know what you’re doing,” he says, leaning back in his seat.

  A short laugh erupts from my lips. “I have no clue what I’m doing,” I confess. I run my hands through my hair and lean back, shaking my head. “I just want to be happy.”

  “You deserve to be happy, Tonya. Don’t let him hurt you. And when the time comes, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “He’s not going to hurt me, not ever.” I don’t know when the conversation changed, but we both know who we’re talking about. I won’t say it though. I won’t name him.

  “Not the way you’re thinking.” He walks to his door and locks it before shutting the shades. “What are you going to do when he gets charged with something, and it sticks?”

  I shake my head, “I’ll figure it out when it happens.” My hand subconsciously goes to my belly. I jerk it away before he has time to see. I know he loves me; I know I love him. And he’ll take care of us both.

  “I hope he treats you right, Tonya. I really do. But if he ever does anything, or any of them ever do anything,” he looks at me with absolute sincerity, “I’ll be here for you.”

  “Thank you, Jerry.”

  “Don’t thank me,” he says bluntly. “You’re asking for trouble.” I know what he means, and I understand it, I really do. But I can’t help what I want.

  A sad smile plays at my lips as I say, “I’m good at that, apparently.”

  He looks at me for a long moment and I don’t know what he wants from me.

  “I’ll be alright, Jerry. I promise you.” I stand up and walk over to give him a quick hug.

  He walks to the door and unlocks it, but before he opens it, he adds, “I just hate to see a good girl like you wind up with a man like him.” I can’t help the smile that grows on my face. He has no idea that I’m really a bad girl at heart.

  Tommy

  That was intense. I'm shocked at how fucked up I am over that shit. I scouted it out first. It took everything in me not to run to her as that prick put his hands on her. I got that fucker. I took him down first. I've been in worse situations though. Vince brought everyone. It feels so fucking good to know he still had my back.

  Those Russian pricks didn't stand a chance, and only two of 'em even got a shot off. They aimed at nothing. They couldn't see us in the dark. The one that took cover--fuck, if I was him, I would've just killed myself. Instead now he's sitting there, chained to a chair with a gag in his mouth. He should've known this was going to happen.

  “Whatcha gonna do with him, boss?” I ask Vince.

  “Well, we got the information we need, so I couldn't give two fucks. Figured you may wanna take some aggression out, since it was your girl he took.” Vince walks over to the sink in the back room. We're in the basement of the safe house. It's fucking freezing down here. The fucker in the chair has bruises all over his face. His one eye is swollen so bad his face looks inhuman.

  Anthony's drying off his tools. I instinctively look down and see three fingers on this fucker's right hand have been removed. That's usually Anthony's first move. They're easy to cut off, and it makes a pretty bold statement.

  “So you got everything you need?” I ask Vince as he dries off his hands. He turns back to me.

  “Yeah, they aren't going to fuck with us unless they want their entire operation shut down. Thanks, Nik!” Vince slaps a hand on the man's shoulder and he doesn't even react. He's so close to death.

  “Alright, I'm good. Just kill the bastard,” I say.

  Vince looks at Anthony and he nods as we turn to leave. Anthony's not talkative when he's on the job. Never has been. I used to take offense to it. But now I get it; he has to be in the right headspace, and that doesn't include saying a fucking word.

  “There's one more reason I called you down here,” Vince says as we climb the stairs.

  “I figured there was.” And it's about Tonya. I know it is. I waited at the station and followed her home last night. I just held her all night; I needed to feel her. Knowing I almost lost her fucking hurts. I'm not letting her go. I can't.

  “I understand that you wanna be with her. And truthfully, she's a nice broad.” We walk into his kitchen and he grabs me a beer. The faint sounds of a chainsaw can be heard coming from the basement. It sends chills down my spine.

  “I'm not leaving her, Vince. I can't do that.” My stomach drops, knowing that what means. I don't wanna leave my family. The familia is all I know. But I'm not letting her go.

  “I get that. I do.” He passes a beer to me and shuts the fridge.

  Leaning against the counter, he pops the cap off his beer with his keys. “She's still associated, Tommy.” I put down my beer and shake my head as he tries to pass me his keys. I can't drink right now. “You know we can't have that shit.”

  “Yeah. I know.” I do know. I wouldn't be a smart move to have that shit known.

  “Good,” he says with finality. “I'm sorry, Tommy.”

  I nod my head, my throat closes, and my heart tries to leap out of my chest. “What's it gonna mean, boss?”

  “You can't do errands anymore. It can't happen. You can't represent the familia.” I wanna argue with him, but I can't. I know it's true. Fuck--realistically, he should kill me. It's a risk keeping me alive. It's a risk letting her get close. “Not like that, anyway,” he says, and it brings my attention back to him.

  “I've been thinking about you and your brother. I think it'd be good to finally take on those contracts. We'd get a shit-ton more money from the hits. And it'd keep us in a good place with our contacts. Anthony always said he'd need another person to help. That's what I want from you two, and he agreed already. Just need you in on this, too.”

  My heart slows, and I swear to God I lose feeling in my hands. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, if you're gonna be taking a cop as your girl, then you're going to have to be a contractor.”

  “A contractor?” I ask, not understanding.

  “You two will do the hits. We'll give you the names and you get it done.” I nod, taking it all in.

  “What about the rest of the familia business?” I ask.

  He shakes his head and says, “That's no longer a concern of yours. It keeps things a little neater.”

  “I understand.” I take a moment to process it as he opens my beer himself and hands it to me. I finally ask, “Does that mean I don't have to call your ass 'boss' anymore?” We both give a small laugh. I have to admit it hurts a bit, but I understand. And I'm fucking grateful to still be around.

  He smiles broadly. “It's the best I can do, Tommy. She's loyal to the family, and to you. That's enough for me. She's a good girl, like my Elle. She's not gonna say shit. So long as that's the case, everything's good.”

  “That mean I'm not made anymore?” That'd put some bigass targets on my back.

  “You're still a Valetti. And just like last night, we've got you, and you've got us, right?”

  I pull my cousin in for a hug and feel like a little bitch for getting even the least bit emotional. This is better than I'd hoped for.

  “You'd better fucking marry that broad, too. The sooner, the better,” he says.

  “Yeah, I know, so she doesn't have to talk.”

  He looks back at me with a grin as he says, “Well, that and Ma will be pissed if you don't do right by her.” His joke fills my chest with warmth. He's right, too. Aunt Linda will kick my ass.

  “Love you, cuz,” Vince says.

  “Love you, Vince.” We both pat each other on the back harder than we should to make up for getting so emotional.

  “Still family?” I ask again, not really believing it could be that good.

  Vince nods his head, “Always.”

  Tonya

  “You gotta meet the familia.” Tommy wants to take me to his aunt’s house for dinner. To Dante Valetti’s house. Dante Valetti is the former Don and father of the current Don, Vi
ncent Valetti. I’m nervous as hell. It’s been two weeks of just us. Two weeks of hiding away in his apartment while we figure this shit out. There’s no doubt in my mind that I made the right decision leaving the department and doing what feels right. But then I remember his family, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried.

  “They know I was a cop.” That's the only explanation I need. That right there is enough for them to want me dead.

  “Yeah, they do. And they know you’re my girl.” Tommy rubs his hand over my belly and forces a smile from me. “You’re a woman, Tonya, and I know you hate this, but we keep women out of it.”

  “But I was a cop.” I’ve seen them all a handful of times now, and each time it gets easier. But this is different. It’s not one or two of them coming over to drop something off, it’s all of them in one place. And I feel like I’m going to be an outsider.

  “Yeah, for under a year. And they know about your sister and why you joined. They know you’re loyal to me.” He stands behind me and wraps his arms around my body, pulling me into his hard chest. I feel cocooned in his warmth. I close my eyes and breathe in deep. It’s not fair that he can put me at ease so effortlessly.

  “Besides, there’s someone there I really think you should meet.”

  “Who’s that?” I ask.

  “You should meet Ava. I think you’d really love getting to know her. She lost her sister, too.”

  “Ava?” The name rings a bell, but I’m not sure why.

  “Yeah, she’s been asking about you. She wants to meet you.” He speaks his words softly, like he's waiting for something.

  “Why does that name sound familiar?”

  “Ivanov.” He says her last name and everything clicks into place. I turn in his arms to face him with wide eyes. She’s supposedly dead.

  I part my lips, but I don’t ask. I know not to ask questions.

  He gives me a small smile and says softly, “A bad man hurt her once, but she made him pay. She's a strong woman, like you. I think you two are going to get along great.”

  Tears prick at my eyes, and I hold onto him with everything in me. He kisses my hair, while I try to calm down.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but he’s long gone, Tonya. He’ll never hurt anyone else.”

  I cry in his arms. I haven't cried in weeks, but the need to purge all my sadness has me leaning against him in tears. He rubs my back while I cry for all of them. For my sister, for Ava’s sister. For Ava and the other survivors. I cry for them all. A calmness washes through me as I settle with exhaustion into his embrace. A feeling like a rebirth. Like I’ll finally have a fresh start. Maybe now I can finally get the catharsis I've been striving for all this time.

  My blurry eyes catch a glimpse of the picture frame I put on Tommy’s nightstand. It’s the same picture that’s in my locket. My hand reaches up and I grab onto it. We were just young girls in middle school and high school, but it’s my favorite picture of us. I can’t wait until we move and make a new place of our own. We need a fresh start. And moving is the way to make that happen.

  I look up at Tommy with wonder, but also a sense of insecurity. I haven’t forgotten what Jerry said, and if I’m honest with myself, I’m worried about Tommy and about him staying in the familia.

  “Spit it out, baby.” His hand settles on the nape of my neck, and his thumb brushes along my jaw. It soothes me. Everything about him soothes me.

  “I don’t know if I can live with you doing this, Tommy. I don’t--” I just want to list all the reasons this is so wrong. But his lips silence mine in a sweet kiss.

  I moan into his mouth, just loving his touch. He pulls back, and looks at me with sincerity.

  “I told you, I'm not working for the familia anymore.” I know what he said, but he's too fucking happy for that to really be the case.

  “Forget about right and wrong for just a moment. Just listen to your heart, baby. What does it want? Us being together may be fucked up and wrong. But it’s what I want.”

  I struggle to respond. He’s right. I do want him. He’s the only thing I want.

  “Just give me a chance to love you.” His hand brushes along my belly, where our baby's growing.

  It may be wrong, but I want him. I love him.

  He must see that I’ve decided. He smirks and says in a playful tone, “You know you’re my bad girl.”

  I shake my head and let a small laugh escape me. Tommy takes my chin in his hand and kisses me. My lips mold to his and I give in.

  I love him, and that’s all that matters.

  “I love you, Tommy,” I whisper as he pulls away from me.

  “I love you, too.”

  Epilogue

  Tommy

  I'm so fucking nervous. I don’t remember the last time my heart beat so damn hard in my chest. I shake out my hands again and start pacing.

  “I’m telling you, she’s gonna say no.” I turn on my heels to face Anthony. The fucker’s grinning from ear to ear.

  “You fucking love this, don’t you?” I ask him.

  He smirks back at me and says, “You know I do. You get all stressed out about shit you shouldn’t be worried about.” He takes a sip of his drink and then adds, “Besides, you’ll have plenty of stress when the next list comes in.”

  He’s right. I’m not as calm as Anthony is yet. I’m doing hits with him now. I’m cut off from familia business, and taking the contract hits instead. Anthony’s been showing me the ropes. And I have to admit I’m enjoying it, but I’ve got a ton of shit to learn.

  I should probably be worried that I’m not really seen as a member of the familia by outsiders, but I’m not. Vince told me not to be. He’s my cousin, my blood, and he’s grown to love Tonya. All the family has.

  He said things need to blow over, time to settle down. And I’m fine with that. I’d be lying if I said I was unhappy taking these hits with Anthony. It’s a nice change of pace, and less risk than what I’m used to. I don’t really give a shit what I do, so long as I have my family and my girl.

  She’s accepted, especially with the women. They’ve been pampering the hell out of her since she’s pregnant with our little boy. She’s having a difficult time now that she’s so far along. But he's going to be here soon. We can't fucking wait.

  “You're thinking about him, aren’t you?” Anthony asks. Then he teases, “He’s gonna ruin your sex life.”

  I shake my head and grin at him. He's got a shit-eating grin on his face. “You said her pregnancy was gonna ruin our sex life, and look how good that turned out.” I can hardly keep up with her. My bad girl still wants me. All fucking day if she can. “You’re so damn negative, you know that?” I tell him, as I peek out of the back doors and into the restaurant.

  “Yeah, I’m a little jealous, I gotta admit that.”

  I look at my brother with surprise. “Of me?” He’s never been jealous of me my whole life.

  He scrunches his forehead as he replies, “Don’t look at me like that. I can be jealous if I want.”

  “If you wanna girl, go get one. You wanna baby, go make one.”

  He huffs a laugh and downs his drink. “It’s not quite that simple, Tommy.”

  I start to tell him, “Yeah, it is that simple,” but think back and realize that no, it's not. Not for the right one. Then I hear my girl. She’s laughing, and I’d recognize that beautiful sound anywhere. I open the door a crack and look out.

  She’s in black leggings and a hot pink sweater that hugs her swollen belly. She went out for ladies’ night and looks so damn happy. Ava’s hanging on her arm. The two of them are close now. Thick as thieves. I’ve gotten to know more about Kane than I ever wanted.

  “Showtime.” Anthony smacks my shoulder and gets ready to open the door.

  “Not yet.” I say quickly, shutting it and taking a deep breath.

  “Bro, knock it off. It’s in the bag.” I look back at him and try to calm my nerves. “For real, Tommy. She loves you.” He pats my back and adds
, “She’s gonna make a good wife.”

  I nod my head. She is. She’s gonna be my wife. And I’m going to give her our happily ever after that she deserves.

  Anthony smiles at me. “That’s the Tommy I know. Go get yourself a wife.” He opens the door and I take a few steps out into the restaurant.

  She's facing away from me in her seat. They sat her like that on purpose. Ava sees me first, and lights up. She grabs a drink menu and tries to distract Tonya. The ladies look up at me one by one, and try to not make it obvious.

  Aunt Linda’s smile is so fucking big, though. She’s gonna give it away. She covers her face with her hand and pretends to cough. I get down on my knee behind her and look to my right to see the guys coming out. We’re all ready to surprise her with a baby shower. I knew I wanted to do this in front of everyone, and doing it here and now, it just felt right.

  While the ladies distract her, the guys open up the back room doors where the party will be. I hear them all standing behind me. It’s go time. I know it is, but I can’t fucking move. My nerves are getting the best of me.

  I shake out my hands with my eyes closed, and that’s when I hear her.

  “Tommy?” Her voice is full of shock. I open my eyes with the ring box in my left hand, get down on one knee, and see her wide-eyed and covering her mouth. She's got her hands up like she’s saying a prayer.

  “You’re such a bad girl. You were supposed to wait till I told you to turn around.” I smirk at her. Just seeing her excitement and the happiness in her eyes puts me at ease.

  Her hands fly down and start flapping like she’s a little kid.

  “Tonya Ann Kelly, marry me.” I hold up the box to show her the three carat, cushion cut diamond ring with side accents I've picked out for her. I went to three different stores, but the second I saw this one, it was all over. I knew I needed to put this one on her finger.

  She flings herself at me and wraps her arms around me. I don’t wait for her to answer. I slip the ring on her finger, where it belongs. Everyone’s clapping and laughing. I can hear Aunt Linda crying, 'cause that’s what she does. But the best sound is coming from my bad girl’s lips. She’s got her head buried in my neck while she clings to me, “I love you so much Tommy. I love you.”