Made Men 5: Dmitri's Denial (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic)

by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  She took a sharp intake of breath from his assertiveness and move. He leaned closer.

  “I didn’t mean to upset you. When you left that night, I found out why. I was very angry.”

  She widened her eyes.

  “Not at you, at the man who sent one of his minions to scare you. To hurt you,” he said and stroked her thigh.

  “Dmitri, don’t.”

  “Don’t what?” he asked, teeth clenched.

  She was pissing him off. She didn’t know how. The man was confusing her.

  She looked down, and he reached out and clutched her chin.

  “You’re safe with me.”

  She felt the lump in her throat, and she shook her head slowly but couldn’t speak, wouldn’t speak, or she might release tears and look like an idiot. Dmitri seemed to have read her facial expression and saw the emotional turmoil in her eyes.

  “Let’s enjoy the dinner and talk some more. Perhaps walk a little. I want to know more about you, Yanna,” he said and winked.

  As he pulled back, she immediately felt the loss of his touch. She didn’t know why he made her feel protected like no other. Was it just her imagination, her need to feel safe because of the recent danger? Was it the power a man like Dmitri possessed and exulted in wherever he went? Was it the fact he had several guards around them right now, and that air of arrogance, confidence, capability? She didn’t know.

  She lowered her eyes, picked up her fork, and ran her hand over the bandage. She wasn’t sure what to think, but staring at the man watching her made her wonder what his lips might feel like pressed against her own, and how bad of a mistake it was to be curious about that. She screwed up by falling for Puento’s charms, his confidence, and look where it led her. A man had cut her with a knife, had warned her that she belonged to Puento and no other. She wasn’t in control of this part of her life. The best thing to do was keep her distance and not let the attraction to a man like Dmitri Sanclare destroy her completely.

  * * * *

  “He’s been with her all night. Could it be that he wanted to make sure the job went smoothly?” Collin asked his brother Fedarro. They stood by the bar. Gisella was talking with Bella. Both women had grown concerned for their friend’s well-being as they learned who exactly Dmitri Sanclare was. Major and Mateus were next to the women. Fedarro glanced at his watch.

  “It should be complete by now,” he said.

  “I’m sure Sunny will call momentarily,” Collin said, and then his cell phone vibrated. He pulled it from his pocket.

  “It’s Sunny.” “Hello?”

  * * * *

  Sunny Costanza watched over the exchange. He was on edge having this responsibility for not only the Fiorre family but also Dmitri Sanclare, so as soon as the delivery was complete and the shipments went out to their locations, he was relieved. Then he saw the lights pop on from a vehicle. He gave one of the guys a slap to his belly.

  “Who the fuck is that?” he asked him.

  As the van started to follow the delivery truck, Sunny called out to them to follow. He was going to set out two groups to accompany the deliveries to ensure they got to their locations. He wasn’t taking any chances, and his gut was clenching with concern. He always followed his gut.

  “What are we doing?” his cousin Clemenza asked.

  “Finding out who the fuck is following that truck and taking care of them.”

  Sunny radioed the drivers, informing them that they had a tail but also assistance. They were not to pull over for anything. Just as he said that and came up on the van, another vehicle pulled in front of the truck, diverting it off the road.

  “It’s a hit,” Clemenza said, and Sunny told the guys.

  As they sped up and got out of their SUV, guns drawn, an exchange of gunfire took place among the men in the car and van and Sunny’s drivers. They shot one of his drivers and Clemenza and Sunny took out the four men. They looked around themselves, ensuring that no other vehicles were on these back roads as Sunny rolled over the one guy. He saw the tattoo on his neck as Clemenza rolled over the other guy and saw his gang sign.

  “Cruz gang from fucking Chicago?” he asked.

  “This guy is from the Puentez gang. Are they fucking kidding me?” Clemenza asked in anger. “Is this a fucking setup on us from Sanclare?”

  “I don’t fucking know, but take their pictures and leave them just like fucking this so it looks like they shot and killed one another,” Sunny said. He told the drivers to take off and that they would take care of their one driver who was shot.

  This wasn’t good. He would ensure that the deliveries were made with no other problems, and he was going to call Collin right now.

  * * * *

  “We need to talk,” Fedarro said to Dmitri Sanclare as Rayanna and Dmitri were heading back toward the party. Dmitri squinted at him.

  “It’s important,” Collin added.

  “I need to use the lady’s room and then mingle with my friends,” she told Dmitri.

  “Don’t go far.” Dmitri nodded toward one of his guards to follow her.

  “I have Carlos and Turbo,” she said to him.

  He gave her a very intense look, and Fedarro hoped his cousin accepted the man’s order because it was an order. He was surprised when she rolled her eyes and walked away.

  “What’s going on?” Dmitri asked with his main guy, Grisha, standing beside him.

  “I’m going to explain what happened and then give you the opportunity to tell us what you think, and we’ll take it from there,” Fedarro said, straight-faced.

  Dmitri nodded.

  As he explained the situation, Fedarro saw Grisha narrow his eyes.

  “So they got away with ripping us off?” Dmitri asked, teeth clenched.

  “No, Sunny and Clemenza took care of it. Then they got these.” He passed his phone to Dmitri, and Grisha looked at the pictures of the faces and the tattoos.

  “Chicago gang? What the fuck?” Grisha asked him.

  “The others are from here, Puentez gang. Nobodies obviously hired by someone set out to screw you over,” Dmitri stated.

  “How long have you had problems with these gangs?” Grisha asked.

  “Problems? Hell, we’ve never even dealt with the Cruz gang. That’s got to be on your end. As far as the Puentez gang, they would work for anyone willing to pay them enough money. We had an issue with them recently that should have been resolved, considering we could have wiped them out completely,” Colin told them.

  “You should have. Something isn’t right,” Dmitri stated.

  “Grisha, look into this.”

  Grisha nodded and walked away.

  “Where are the shipments now?” Dmitri asked.

  “Sunny and Clemenza are personally escorting the trucks to the locations to ensure they get there with no other problems.”

  “Very good. It seems like someone may be onto our new business relationship and isn’t too happy about it,” Dmitri said.

  “It could very well be that, and considering the circumstances, we think you should not be seen with Rayanna. She is already in danger and doesn’t need any additional individuals coming after her to get back at you or at us,” Fedarro told him.

  Dmitri stared at them.

  “We’ll see. Let me know when those shipments arrive safely.” He turned and walked away from them, with his other three security guys following.

  * * * *

  “What in God’s name is going on? How do you even know that man?” Bella asked Rayanna.

  “I met him in Chicago at the fashion show,” she replied and explained how she insulted him and how things progressed.

  “Holy crap, you got away with all that? Damn, the man must like you,” Gisella said to her.

  “Yeah, well, nothing is going to happen,” she said and looked toward where he was, but first she had to glance past his one guard who remained watching over her along with Carlos and Turbo.

  “He has one of his main guards watching over you. I don
’t think he got the memo of you not wanting to get involved with him,” Gisella said to her.

  “Do you need our men to step in?” Bella asked.

  “I think they’ve tried already. Dmitri is definitely a man who gets what he wants. He has character and a way about him.”

  “Of course he does. He’s sexy, gorgeous, wealthy, and badass. Fedarro and Collin said he’s more powerful than any made man they know of,” Gisella said to her.

  “Which is another reason why I’m staying clear of him, hell, of any men whatsoever, especially with Puento harassing me.”

  “It isn’t fair or right. You must be scared. It’s important that you keep Carlos close to you at all times,” Gisella said to her.

  “He’s taking things very seriously, especially after the letter in the apartment and then the incident in Chicago.”

  “How is your side and the cut there?” Bella asked her.

  “It’s healing, but a reminder of why I really have to watch who I’m seen with. Puento seems to have people watching me, and that’s what scares me the most.”

  Gisella and Bella gave her sad expressions and hugged her arms.

  “You have security, and I doubt Puento would be stupid enough to take on Dmitri Sanclare. Maybe hanging around him might help keep Puento away?” Bella said to her.

  Rayanna looked toward Dmitri as he walked away from Fedarro and Collin, who were heading toward them and looking none the happier.

  “I don’t think so. I’m better off being alone and just focusing on working.” Or at least try to pretend that I don’t have an obsessed ex-lover stalking me and making me live in fear and ignore an attraction to any man, especially one more dangerous like Dmitri Sanclare.

  Chapter 4

  “What the fuck went wrong?” Puento yelled at York St. James over the phone.

  “We’re fucked. That’s what went wrong. They killed several of our guys, and it won’t take them long to figure out what gangs they belonged to. Fedarro and Collin will be on my ass any minute asking fucking questions.”

  “Who assigned the men from Puentez gang, you?” Puento asked.

  “No, their leader, Colo. Only he knew who he picked of those men, and no others in the gang knew of the operation, just like you asked.”

  “Then take him out—now, before they have a chance to question him. When he shows up dead, they’ll know they won’t get anywhere. It will throw them off. Do it. Yesterday,” Puento ordered and disconnected the call.

  He’d already taken care of things on his end and made it look as though the three guys from the Cruz gang in Chicago weren’t part of the gang anymore and were drifters. He was smart enough to make a plan ahead of time in case something got fucked up. He hadn’t expected Fedarro and Collin Fiorre to put Sunny and Clemenza Costanza in charge and actually be there to watch over the deliveries. Taking from them was going to be difficult, if not impossible, from here on out. He needed to make a plan to take their attention off of things.

  His cell phone rang. “Hello.”

  “She’s at Solencio Monteith’s club working on some sort of event for him. She has Carlos and Turbo as guards. It will be too difficult to get in there and take her.”

  “Wait. I’m not ready to do that just yet. I need another distraction.”

  “Word is she has plans to meet a friend for lunch down the block.”

  “The friend will more than likely not have security. Grab her. Rough her up and then dump her. Then I’ll send Rayanna a warning to stay clear of any men, and especially Dmitri Sanclare.”

  * * * *

  “So what do you say to going to Club Magique Friday night? I was going to gather the girls and see if they can all attend,” Giada said to Rayanna. They were just finishing up lunch and trying to make plans.

  “I don’t know. I’m not really in the mood to go out or anything. I’m working on this project for Solencio, and then I got a call from a friend of his about doing a private show at her mansion in Chappaqua next week. I’ll need a few days to get that organized with the people she hired. I think Solencio is going to be there, too, and he wants to take me out on a date.”

  “Seriously? Do you like him?”

  She shook her head.

  “I didn’t think so. Have you heard from the Russian guy, Dmitri?”

  “Yes. He called me yesterday. He wants to meet me tomorrow night for dinner.”

  “Wow. Are you going to meet him?”

  “I declined and said I was too busy with work. He wasn’t happy about it and said to make the time and that his security would touch base with Carlos and plan my transportation and attendance.”

  “Holy shit. The man doesn’t take no for an answer, huh?”

  “Seems that way,” she said and played with the rim of her glass.

  “Oh no. You like him,” Giada whispered.

  Rayanna took a deep breath and exhaled.

  “I know. I’m stupid. This is going to blow up in my face. I mean what the hell am I thinking? I keep asking myself if it’s the power, the money, his good looks and commanding ways, or just my bad choice in men, and heading toward a path of more danger and this constant fear.”

  “He’s very attractive, and he has that whole Russian accent you told me about. You’re fickle when it comes to men and even dating. You’re out of the game entirely because of Puento, so your radar is all screwy. Why not just see what happens? Maybe being around a man as powerful as Dmitri could keep Puento off your ass, and he’ll move on.”

  “I’m not going to use Dmitri.”

  “Honey, I may be making an assumption only based on the information you’ve provided, but I don’t think anyone could ever use a man like this Dmitri.”

  Rayanna smirked.

  “You’re right about that. I’m being resistant for so many reasons.”

  “I’m sure you’re hesitant because of Puento and how badly that relationship went, considering you needed to leave the country and all of us to get away from him. I never understood what could have happened to make you do that. None of us ever pushed for information, but seeing how persistent he’s being now, I’m sure your decision was the best one.”

  “I’m sorry I took off and didn’t tell any of you. You’re all my best friends, and I love each of you, but I was scared. I couldn’t confide in my cousins, or they would have gone after Puento and gotten into trouble or worse.”

  “Maybe that would have been the better choice, Rayanna, so that Puento wouldn’t be stalking you now.”

  “I was worried about you guys, too. We were all hanging out a lot. I mean what if he went after one of you to hurt me? I wouldn’t have handled that well at all. I probably would have gone back with him.”

  “Oh God, no. No way. Don’t even think that way,” Giada said. She reached out and covered Rayanna’s hand.

  “He’s evil, Giada,” she whispered and leaned closer, holding Giada’s gaze. “I’m scared of him, of seeing him, of getting caught alone by him. I’ve never been scared of anything so much as I am of Puento catching me and taking me away.”

  “That isn’t going to happen, not with Carlos around or other security like Turbo.”

  “I suppose not, but I still fear him showing up and trying something again.”

  “Of course you’re scared. How did you feel when you were with Dmitri though?” Giada asked.

  Rayanna stared at her. “Safe, and way too aroused and attracted to the man. It would be stupid of me to think there would be more than just lust between us.”

  “There can be a lot to say about lust.”

  “Says the woman who resists her own attraction to three men who are related.”

  “Who are made men and who I didn’t know were cousins. How crazy odd is that? No, like I said, I understand your reservations about getting involved in another relationship. My heart was broken. I lost the one man I was willing to give my whole life to. Hell, I gave him my virginity. We talked about marriage, children, the whole thing. When Jimmy died, I was devas
tated. I couldn’t get involved with men who are continuously in danger and around violence, and especially not Andreas. Look at me. I’m like Thumbelina, and they’re giants.”

  “They would protect you with their lives. Plus, big guys like petite women, too. It makes them feel all macho and like big, badass protectors. They would probably pick you up and carry you around.”

  “Wonderful, a baby doll. Yeah, that’s sexy.”

  Rayanna laughed.

  “You’re not a weakling or anything. You can handle men like them. Besides, you have that whole martial-arts black-belt thing going, too, and that super sexy body.”

  “I have big boobs and a big ass.”

  “Men love that.”

  “Yes they do,” Giada replied.

  They waited for the bill to come.

  “There’s something else holding me back, too,” Giada told her.

  “What’s that?

  “Uncle Les.”

  “Uncle Les? Do you even talk to him still? I thought he got into some trouble a year ago, and you realized that you needed to stay clear of him.”

  “He got caught selling hot merchandise that fell off the back of a truck. Sold to some undercover cops. He got off, though, playing that he didn’t know the stuff was stolen. Anyway, he kept warning me to stay away from you guys, from Bella, Adalina, Caprice, and Gisella. Said I would wind up some made man’s whore and that Jimmy would be disgusted.”

  “Seriously, he said that to you?” Rayanna was shocked.

  She could see the tears in Giada’s eyes.

  “I know it’s bullshit, and obviously I’m hanging out with all of you because I think of each of you as my family, not him.”

  “Then why let his words, his nonsense, get in the way of a potential relationship with Andreas and his cousins?”

  “I think it’s the comment about Jimmy being disgusted with me. He’s the only man I had sex with ever. I’ve fooled around a little, and more in an attempt to try and move on, but—” She shook her head.