She jumped when she felt the palm against her cheek and then Turk’s hand on her hip.
“You look…determined,” he said to her, and it sort of bothered Adalina that he could read her expressions. She needed to work on her poker face.
She looked up at him, having to tilt her head back to lock gazes with his dark gray eyes. Turk had black hair, thick, black eyelashes and eyebrows, and an almost constant scowl on his face. She wondered if the man knew how to smile, and then decided she didn’t care. She shouldn’t care or give in to her cousin’s idea of her getting involved with Turk on a more personal level.
He was staring at her lips, her breasts, as he stroked her hipbone and her jaw at the same time.
“Don’t hate me because you want to defy the control of your friend Tudoro.”
She was shocked.
“He’s a smart man, and a very powerful one at that. We could be good together, Adalina.” He’d started to lower his mouth to hers when she stopped him by placing her palm against his chest.
“It’s important you understand that I’m not looking to get into a complicated relationship with any man. I’m twenty-four years old. I have some goals to achieve, traveling to do, experiences to be had, and the last thing I intend on doing is getting forced into, persuaded, muscled, into some sort of relationship. This is business, Turk, and when you mix business and pleasure, there’s too much room for disaster.”
“It doesn’t have to be that way. Perhaps over time you’ll see that I’m the kind of man who protects what belongs to him. That guards it with a loyalty you may not understand.”
“Oh, I understand loyalty as well as I understand possession, as in an object. I also know a bit about you, Turk. You are not the settling-down kind of man or a one-woman man.”
He squinted at her. “I’m a powerful man, Adalina. A man capable of things you don’t ever need to hear about but should know they are true.” He squeezed her hip and stepped closer, pressing her more snugly against the bar. He leaned lower toward her neck and ear and whispered to her.
“I always get what I want, and what I want is you. It will happen, and I guarantee they’ll be no escaping. No way out of it. Understand me?” he asked and kissed her neck, held her close, and wouldn’t let her push him away. She was scared, panicked a moment, until he eased back and held her gaze.
“I will pick you up at your place tomorrow morning at eleven.”
As he walked away from her, she looked past him, scanning the crowd, and locked gazes with Sunny. Her heart pounded inside of her chest, and she felt instantly sick. She didn’t want a man like Turk controlling her life. She wanted to be with Sunny and Vinny Costanza, but that couldn’t happen. She needed to talk with Tudoro and find out what exactly he promised Turk. As she looked at Fina and Gisella, she felt the hand on her shoulder and exhaled, wondering who it would be now. Turning to look, she locked gazes with Vega. He was six feet four, filled with muscles and intensity, which added to the instant fear factor. Never mind the scar along his cheek.
“Are you okay?” he asked her, shocking her.
She chuckled and then looked at the bartender and ordered a shot. He placed it down on the bar, and she held Vega’s gaze, whispering to him. “Do I look okay with this?”
She downed the shot and swirled her finger, indicating for the bartender to hit her up again. He did, and she downed the second shot and then twirled her finger for the third time, but Vega’s hand covered the glass and hers as he shook his head at the bartender, cutting her off.
She narrowed her eyes up at him, the burning sensation hitting her throat but not taking away the anger and the fear filling her gut.
“It isn’t worth the hangover. The same shit will still be there in the morning, but you’ll be dealing with it hung over, head pounding, instead of a clear head,” he told her.
She stared at the scar and into his eyes.
“The voice of reason. Should I get used to you being around, Vega?”
“Maybe, or I could just show up to be sure you don’t make the wrong decisions.”
She clenched her teeth and breathed through her nostrils. She knew what he meant. Stay clear of the Costanza brothers. Jesus, what the fuck was happening to her life? This was bullshit. She looked away. “I decide who I fuck and who I don’t. Tell Tudoro that,” she stated and went to move, but Vega stopped her.
“You’re angry and confused. I know that you understand the rules and would never speak such language or tone to the boss, so I’ll forget that statement.”
She had to remember that Vega, that no one, knew she was Tudoro’s blood, his cousin. Perhaps Tudoro forgot that himself? Maybe after this dumbass meeting tomorrow, she would talk with Tudoro.
“I don’t need a babysitter, Vega.”
She turned away from him, and he eased away from her. As she looked to where he walked away, she caught Vinny’s eyes, and he looked as if he would head toward her. She shook her head then looked away. A quick glance as she left the bar area and she saw that he’d paused and wouldn’t follow. They weren’t stupid, and neither was she. If Turk was really set on making her his woman, the man was crazy enough to hurt any man who stood in his way, including Vinny and Sunny. They may be powerful men themselves, but psycho was a whole other level of crazy, and that was where Turk had them beat.
Chapter 4
“Turk! Oh God, please. Please slow down. You’re hurting me.”
Turk gripped the blonde’s wrists as he bent her farther over the edge of the couch and pounded into her.
“You love it rough. I know you do, Adalina,” he stated, nostrils flaring, chest heaving up and down.
“I’m not Adalina. It’s Lisa. Lisa,” the blonde yelled out, and he gripped her hair and slammed her face against the couch hard. She gasped.
He looked at her tied wrists, bound behind her. The blonde hair, the sexy figure. No, she wasn’t Adalina, but after tonight, after seeing his Adalina looking so fucking sexy, he knew he needed to fuck. To claim and have her but she wasn’t ready. She was a grand prize, and none of these women he fucked were her. Were the real Adalina.
He thrust over and over again and then gripped the woman’s thighs and ran his palms up and down them.
He thought about Adalina disappearing into a back office with Vinny and Sunny Costanza. When she emerged, she was flushed, aroused, and he knew they’d touched her, kissed her, perhaps even sunk their cocks into his woman.
He thrust faster and faster. The blonde screamed out in pain, and he gripped her hair and neck.
His mind wandered to Adalina and the fact that she’d let those two men kiss her, maybe fuck her in a back room. She was his. He saw red. Absolute red and then he growled out, pulled from the blonde’s body, and came all over the couch. As she tried to lift up, he shoved her face back down, stopping her from turning to look at him. He didn’t want to see her face. He wanted to pretend this woman was Adalina, and she was giving and willing to belong to him.
He was angry and had to stop himself from killing this bitch, like he had killed others. He was too tired to do cleanup, to have to discard the body, erase all signs of his presence in her apartment.
“Please, Turk, you’re hurting me,” she said, sobbing. He squeezed her head and hair tighter, fighting, resisting the need to kill her. He couldn’t. He killed out of necessity now and not out of obsession.
He eased his hand from her hair and gripped her shoulders. He massaged them, ran his palms down her hips and thighs, and then smacked her ass.
“I’ll leave the money on the counter,” he told her, and when she looked at him, her black mascara ran down her cheeks. Her candy-red lipstick smeared along her lips. Her cheek was bruised. Hell, he could see his finger marks all along her skin. She was a fucking whore and nothing more. What made him think she could have the ability to take Adalina out of his head? He clenched and unclenched his hands.
The desire to kill was trying to replace his failures. He needed something to make up for not
getting Adalina in his bed tonight.
He turned away, grabbed his clothes, and started to get into them.
The blonde painstakingly eased up from the couch.
“Whoever this Adalina is, she has you all fucked up,” she snapped at him, and he reacted. The backhand snapped so fast Lisa was on the floor at the same time the sound of his hand hitting her flesh erupted in the room.
He looked down at her and pulled out the money, tossing it onto her naked body. She held her hand over her mouth, her lip split good and already swelling.
“Never fucking say her name. You are nothing compared to her. Understand me?” He demanded an answer, looming over her, ready to squeeze her fucking neck and take the life out of the bitch.
“Sorry, Turk. I’m sorry. I promise I’ll never say her name. You’ll call me again, right?” she asked between sobs.
He didn’t answer her. He hoped he wouldn’t need substitutes for much longer.
He tossed another hundred down on the floor. “Be ready the next time, and don’t question me. Ever.”
He headed out of the building, hoping that he could get some sleep but knowing that he wouldn’t, despite letting off some steam. No amount of women would get Adalina out of his head. He was getting worse. If Adalina wasn’t going to come willingly into his bed, he might need to take her forcefully.
* * * *
“We got it covered. Fedarro was very pleased with the work you and the team did,” Tony Costanza told his nephews Vinny, Sunny, Don, Clemenza, Alfredo, and Toro.
Toro leaned against the wall with his arms crossed in front of his chest.
“It was a good job. No one got hurt, and it all worked out fine,” Toro said to them.
Tony noticed that Vinny and Sunny were in moods. As the others talked about some upcoming work, Clemenza brought up some news.
“So I heard that the Monteith family picked up some work with the Garlitto family and their importing and exporting business.”
“Yes, word is that Adalina Carleone is now in charge of negotiations hiring and investigating potential subs for jobs,” Tony told them.
Alfredo whistled. “That’s a fucking great opportunity for her. I guess being friends with Tudoro since elementary school has helped.”
“She’s not only gorgeous and resourceful, as we all know from what she did helping to find Bella, but also professional and intelligent. I think Fedarro and Collin offered her some position, as well, but she declined,” Don said to them.
“I think that was gossip. Hey, she was at the party for Alda last night. Why didn’t you talk to her?” Clemenza asked Alfredo.
“Are you kidding? Him and Toro had their eyes glued to the birthday girl but never joined the festivities,” Don teased.
“What the fuck are you talking about? We stopped in for a few drinks, not even knowing about the party,” Toro stated.
“Sure you didn’t know,” Clemenza teased.
“While we’re on the subject, why the hell did Vega show up and a few of Tudoro’s guys? They were around Adalina for most of the night,” Don said.
“Ask Vinny and Sunny. It was right about the time when they and Adalina disappeared into the back office at the club,” Toro stated.
“Oh, you saw that, too, despite being in a trance over Alda?” Alfredo teased. They laughed, but Tony noticed that Vinny and Sunny remained silent, and they looked pissed off.
“What gives? Something go down?” Tony asked Vinny and Sunny.
“Nothing,” Sunny stated.
“Bullshit, nothing. What the hell were the three of you doing in the back room?” Clemenza asked.
“Talking.” Vinny stood up.
The guys chuckled.
“You’re playing with fire. She’s off-limits. You realize that, don’t you, guys?” Toro asked them.
“You say that why, Toro? Because she’s working for Tudoro?” Tony asked.
“Fuck yeah. Tudoro hates Vinny and Sunny, ever since that job months ago that we took out from under him.”
“We didn’t take the job out from under him. Our bid was better and our plan more established and secure. If you noticed, he got rid of the person who Adalina has replaced,” Sunny replied.
“Well, your chances of getting her are slim to none. Not with Tudoro hating the two of you, not with her working with the Monteith family, and not with the security she appears to now have around her,” Alfredo said to them.
“Add in that asshole Turk. He was fucking all over her,” Toro added.
“She didn’t like it, though. She was pushing him away,” Vinny said to them.
“You two don’t want to fuck around with Tudoro Garlitto. We’ve done some business with them despite the past, and working with the Fiorre family has ensured the power we need to stay in the competition and race. You guys are becoming just as powerful as the Monteith family, if not more so, but we all need to play our cards right. Don’t pursue her if it’s going to cost us the business,” Tony informed them.
“Uncle Tony, you know as well as we do that the Monteith family is competitive. We’ve beat them out on jobs, as well,” Vinny stated.
“Yeah, and did you notice that Tudoro didn’t even offer us the opportunity to bid on this deal Monteith sunk his teeth into? Tudoro doesn’t want the two of you near Adalina. Don’t go fucking pissing him off.”
“We’re friends with her. We can’t help it if we wind up in the same places,” Sunny stated with attitude.
“Jesus, the two of you are that interested in her that you’ll risk business deals and pissing off the Garlitto family?” Toro asked them.
Vinny looked at Sunny.
“We’ll be smart. Don’t worry. Besides, after last night, the ball is in Adalina’s court, and with Tudoro having her on a short leash for some strange reason, the likelihood that anything will happen other than friendship between the three of us is pretty damn slim. Now enough of this bullshit talk. Sunny and I have another opportunity that has developed in the last twenty-four hours that we want to go over with you guys. It has to do with taking over supplies and a route of liquor to certain bars throughout the city. It’s a small chain but has potential for greatness.”
“Really?” Tony asked, hearing of this for the first time.
“Yes, Sunny has a friend whose father is older and wanting to retire from the business, but he doesn’t want to sell out to certain people. He had some situations over the years and wants to hand off the business to young, enthusiastic men with power and pull who have shown him respect. Several times over the past five years, Sunny and I have helped this man out with a few problems,” Vinny stated.
“Sounds awesome,” Toro said.
“What’s the problem with it, Vinny?” Tony asked.
Vinny smirked. “Well, it’s a lucrative business, all set accordingly, and we can easily replace any employees we find questionable with ones we trust. But we aren’t the only interested party, and there’s been some problems with disloyalty.”
“What do you mean? I thought you just said he only offered the business to you guys?” Clemenza asked.
“He did, and it’s not publically for sale, but you know the people on the streets talk. He’s gotten inquiries in the last few days from Monteith or, should I say, pressure,” Vinny said.
“So this will cause some more tension between us and them?” Tony said.
“It’s business, and we don’t step aside for something like this that was specifically offered to you guys by the owner. That’s different than territory shit,” Don stated.
“This is a great opportunity, and Monteith has no rights to this business. If anything, they lost any chance when they fucked this owner over and stole from him a time or two. The business comes with some issues with that still, and we’ll need to clean that up. Spread word that we own the business and people trying to steal will get hurt,” Sunny stated.
“That’s right up our alley,” Clemenza said to him.
“Let’s go over the particulars and m
ake a decision. Just keep in mind the direction this could go in,” Tony reminded them.
“We’ll cover our bases and even talk with the Fiorre family to get support,” Vinny said, and Tony nodded.
“Very good. Let’s hear your plan of action.”
* * * *
The doorbell rang, and Adalina knew she had another twenty minutes before Turk arrived. She was dressed and ready to go but had some paperwork spread out on her table that she was organizing for after the meeting. She had hit the gym at six, done some laundry, and set out the things she needed to drop off at the dry cleaners. She would bring it downstairs to the doorman. As she went to the door, she wondered why Al, the doorman, hadn’t buzzed up that someone was here to see her. Perhaps the person was lost. She opened the door and was shocked to see Turk standing there. He pushed his way inside.
She gasped and stood there with the door open.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he questioned her, taking the words out of her mouth.
“Excuse me?”
He placed his hands on his hips, and immediately, she saw the gun and holster.
“Anyone, and I mean anyone, could have been at that door and you just open it up and don’t look through the peephole,” he scolded her.
She closed the door and crossed her arms in front of her chest.
“I have a doorman. Al would never let anyone up here I didn’t approve of first.”
He squinted at her as if challenging that statement.
“I told him you were coming to pick me up, which, by the way, you are early.” She went to walk past him. He grabbed her arm, and she inhaled sharply. He pulled her close, his teeth clenched, his eyes zeroing in on her lips and then to her eyes.
Made Men 2: Forbidden Love (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 5
