by Sienna Mynx
“Leave us alone boys and do as I said.”
“Answer me dammit!”
Romano rose from his chair. Ignacio and Gio both made a quick exit. Not before giving his Songbird curious looks. He figured no one would understand them, how deeply he cared for her, and she the same for him. He didn’t give a shit. It had been the wild panic and anger in her eyes that set him on edge. He couldn’t deal with her breaking down on him now. It was hard enough to make the choices he had.
“You were going to give up. You coward! Why not tell me the truth, instead of making me think you cared?”
“That’s enough Harmony!”
“Go to hell!” she shouted back. “You’re a coward!”
“Coward? Coward! You think this is easy for me? Do you?” He leveled a finger at her. “I don’t owe you any explanation. You do as you’re told!”
Harmony laughed. She crossed her arms. “I’m not those men, or that scared boy in another room hoping you won’t take out your vengeance on him. From day one I did as I please. You don’t order me around!”
Romano ran his hand back over his head and tried to calm himself. He paced before his desk to keep his anger in check before he spoke again. “There are things you don’t know. I won’t go into it further…”
“I know enough! I heard enough!”
His gaze whirled to her and he stood still. “You’ve been spying on me?” he seethed.
“Just like you’ve been lying to me. Funny thing is Vinnie, I believed in you. Believed you could fix this, truth is you’re giving up! That’s not the man I love!”
“Let’s be clear Songbird, you don’t know half of the man I am. If I say you’re leaving you’re leaving dammit!”
“No! No! NO!”
The woman was making him crazy. He reached for her, only to try and get a hold on her screaming at him, but she reacted swiftly. She swatted her hands at him and went on the attack. The more he tried to contain her the wilder her fury grew. She hit at his face and shoulders all at once. Sharp stinging slaps that knocked him back. He grabbed her by the waist to stop the abuse and she howled with outrage. “You bastard! I won’t let you! I won’t!”
Romano lifted her bodily from the floor as she clawed, shoved, and kicked to be free. There was nothing he could promise that would undo the reality of the situation. He had screwed this up with Annie. Lost her, with her hating him in the end. Though he was furious that she spied on him and spoke to him the way she did, he couldn’t finish things with the men hunting him now if she didn’t promise to love him. He brought her down on the sofa and pinned her arms above her head. Harmony screamed to the top of her lungs. She bucked beneath him crying and shaking her head furiously side to side.
“Listen! Listen dammit.”
“I hate you! I hate you for making me believe that we… I hate you! Noooo!”
“I hate me too. Don’t you understand that?”
She stopped, blinking up at him, her chest rising and falling with her heavy breathing. He nodded. “I hate myself. I always have, Songbird. I tried. I really did. But this is over. And I need you, if I’m going to see it through. My way.”
“Please don’t,” she wept. “Please don’t do this.” He brushed his lips over her wet cheeks. He tried to kiss her mouth but she turned her face away and refused him, exposing her slender neck. Romano inhaled her skin and pressed a soft kiss over the bulging vein along her neck. He put every ounce of his weight down on her to keep her pinned beneath him. There was an ongoing struggle to catch his own breath.
“You’re right,” he panted. “If I were stronger Antonio would have never robbed me of everything. But I’m no coward, Songbird. It’s taking everything in me to release you. Everything.”
She cried harder.
The flaming heat of his humiliation burned in his chest and flushed his face, which he buried against her neck. He hated weakness in any man, least of all him. Antonio knew this. Their father had taught them both how to exploit an enemy’s failures. But if his brother hadn’t steered him in the path of her, he’d never know the love she’d brought him. So for that, on the eve of his downfall, he found a measure of gratitude in his heart.
“Let me go,” she moaned.
Harmony’s misery and his was complete. Didn’t she know this? Romano squeezed his eyes tightly shut to prevent his own tears from falling. “I’m trying,” he wheezed.
The deep sobs escaping her were unrelenting. How could a woman so strong come apart completely over the end of him? He wasn’t worthy. She didn’t become his willingly. He exploited her desperation to find her brother to lure her into his bed. That was the beginning of their love song. Even he believed that this ending fit his crime.
Romano released his hold on her wrists and let his open palms run gently down her arms. Her sobbing began to ease. It didn’t matter. Her tears and the sounds of her pain had broken his fragile hold on control. If he was to see this through now, he’d need her help.
“Don’t punish me.” He captured her lips and tried to force her to respond. “I love you so much,” he said against her tightly pressed lips, then eased his tongue between her teeth. “The last thing… I want… is… to lose you,” he breathed between deep throating her. If she stayed he couldn’t protect her. And if she left, his death would be the only guarantee she’d be free—he’d seen to it. This sacrifice was the only repentance he had left. He’d done a lot of bad things since he crossed the shores into America. He’s murdered, robbed, bootlegged, turn friend against friend, and brought about the death of his own brother.
“I’m sorry.” He dragged his mouth from hers and leaned his forehead against hers. “I’m so sorry, Harmony.”
She grabbed his face and returned his kiss. Her lovely tongue licked his lips and stroked inside before sweeping deeply and he felt a surge of lightheadedness. Romano closed his eyes and shut out the sight of her pain. Instead he focused on the heat between their bodies and the safety he felt to be himself in her arms.
The hard tightness in his groin made him selfish. He should just hold her and talk out their goodbye. Find the comforting words to give her so she would remember him fondly, and not like this, broken and needy. But he craved the physical more. He grabbed the bottom material of her dress hiking it up her thighs. He’d fuck her now. The urgency twisting his gut into a tight knot told him so. Damn if she didn’t kiss him harder, forcing her passion to consume him, making him fumble with clumsiness. But he managed to ease his zipper down and release himself. He had no time to remove her undies, pushing the seat of her panty aside Romano flexed his hips and thrust into her.
To his relief he found her wet and ready for him. Her thighs cradled his hips. Her silken walls squeezed and suctioned him. With another push he braced himself by gripping the arm of the sofa and sank deeper. His strokes were slow, measured for pleasure, hers and his. When she tried to wrap her legs higher around his waist, he lifted and pushed her right thigh down and away to open her to his invasion, so he could slam unimpeded into her juicy pussy. Harmony’s soft cries were music to his ears, yet tears still trekked down her damp cheeks.
Oh how he loved her body, her spirit, her ability to care for him even when they both knew he was undeserving. Nearly mindless he thrust into her repeatedly edging them both toward a new release. He’d take the sweet feel of her with him to his grave. He lifted his belly to look down to where their bodies joined. A deep shudder of pleasure and lustful need sliced through him. Her hand eased between them to ring his shaft and slow his pumping so he glided easy through her fingers into her tight pussy. And his strokes began to gently tunnel deeper, driving them closer to their breaking point.
Romano tossed his head back and closed his eyes moving in and out of her molten channel, and she let go of his cock, digging her fingernails into his butt cheeks. The love he carried for her made his sacrifice burn his gut. He groaned and felt tears form behind his closed lids as he pumped harder and faster, trying to outrun the doubts and weakness that mad
e him want to grab her now and drive away from it all just to live his days with her. His hips circled, grinding the base of his cock to her clit. He thrust harder, deeper, until the pressure in his balls exploded and he couldn’t think of regrets or second chances. The built-up passion between them exploded and he released his seed deep into her womb. A brief flutter of hope passed through his racing heart that tonight a baby would take root and a little person in his image would be his legacy.
When his eyes opened he gazed down at Harmony. She burst into tears once more and he collapsed against her breasts, breathing hard. Her legs eased down and she rubbed his head as she wept.
“I’m sorry, Doll. Forgive me.”
Harmony rolled silently to her side. Vinnie slept next to her, his arms and legs thrown across her. Her move forced him to shift and drop to his back. He’d been half-drunk when she barged in on his meeting. The emotional attack they waged on each other had wiped him out. Before his head hit the pillow he was asleep.
Careful not to disturb him she eased out from under the covers. The room was so frosty her skin prickled with tiny goose bumps covering her. Vinnie rolled and she thought he’d wake. He didn’t. But she stood perfectly still to be sure he remained sleep. When a soft snore escaped him she bolted for the chair and grabbed her robe, throwing it over her naked body. She hurried out of the room to the stairs. It was Saturday morning, near dawn. The Cotton Club would be nearing its final act and the girls would be changing and dressing to leave. If she was lucky she’d reach Paulette.
Harmony crept into his office. Careful, she closed the door softly behind her and locked it. Then she went for the phone. She rang the club and prayed Charlie answered. He did. She begged and pleaded with him to get Paulette. She wasn’t sure why Charlie granted her wish but after a ten-minute debate on the subject her friend was given the phone.
“Mony? That you?”
“Yes. I need your help.”
“Mony… listen to me girl. Don’t come back here. It’s crazy now and the mess with Willie has dragged your name into it. There is so much crazy talk. People say you living with him. Out in Woodbury?”
“I don’t have much time. I know how bad things are. I need your help Paulette, I’m in trouble.”
“What can I do?”
“Ever been out of New York?”
The bed squeaked and the mattress dipped. Romano blinked awake. Harmony’s warm body eased up against him and he relaxed. He shouldn’t have fallen asleep. He needed to be outside with his men waiting on the sun. But if this was to be his last night, he’d want to spend it in heaven.
“Where you been?” he yawned.
“Bathroom,” she lied.
He rolled on top of her and rested the side of his face in his hand propped up by his elbow. “Want to talk about it?”
“About what? You planning your death? Sending me away like some great sacrifice? Talk about that?”
“You still pissed with me?”
“What you think?” she cut her gaze away and closed her eyes, shutting him out again.
He chuckled at her stubbornness. “I think you’re extremely sexy when you’re angry. And you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known. I think these past few weeks with you have been the best in my life. I think you will have my son, and raise him to never forget me.”
She returned her gaze to his.
“We made a baby tonight.”
“Who said?”
“I say.” He kissed her lips. “I feel it. A little Songbird, or mobster, who knows?”
“So now I’m to be alone with a child and this is funny to you?”
Romano sighed. He wasn’t saying the right things.
“Get off me…” she said pushing him off.
“Wait. Okay, I’m sorry. I’m doing this wrong. I love you.”
“Then please, stop this,” her voice broke. “I can’t lose you this way. Think about me. What you leaving behind if you don’t fight.”
“Who says I won’t fight? You think I’m just going to roll over and die? I plan to fight with everything in me. If I survive this I will find you. If I don’t I’ll go to my grave knowing you’re safe.”
“I can’t! Dammit! I can’t do this!”
“Shhh….” He cupped her face in his hands. The swirl of pain in her hazel brown eyes shone back up at him. She gripped his shoulders hard. He could feel her trembling beneath him. “We have tonight, can we spend it not fighting?”
Her head lifted from the pillow and she kissed him. Returning her passion he raised his hips to angle himself at her core and inserted his hands beneath her ass, changing the angle of his penetration. He broke their kiss to focus on her nipples, giving each a quick suckle before giving in to his urgent need to possess her.
A single thrust drove him half way in. Harmony’s inner walls had clutched him in creamy heat and he released a cry of relief over their union. Her back arched and she shoved her chest upward, while her legs cinched tighter around him. The tight warmth rippled up and down his shaft and he surged into her groaning as he went. He had to lift his face to study her. She had been so beautiful to him on stage, but now her beauty stole his breath away. Her high exotic cheekbones, dainty nose, full pouty lips and chin of iron determination were God’s greatest creation. Loose tendrils of her raven dark hair were spread across the pillow. She wore it wild and curly for him now. She was gentle, serenely wise, and all his.
He loved her, bringing his mouth closer to hers breathless gasps gust against his lips. She pumped up into his downward thrusts. He kissed her shoulder and continued to drive in and out of her clenching channel. The pulsating beat of their union tugged at him, and her slick walls made his glide unbearably decadent. All of it combined pulled him down toward an orgasmic spiral that had him beating out his love into her. Harmony dug her nails into his shoulder and her head thrashed, her eyes remained squeezed shut before she shattered as well. They both collapsed exhausted, believing that this may be the very last time.
Twelve
Last stand…
Harmony knocked twice before she pushed open the door and stuck her head inside. Her large satchel hung from her shoulder and her luggage waited by the front door. She wore a yellow dress with a baby blue belt tightening it snug to her waist. The shifting hem swayed at her knees. She’d taken extra care with her hair. He seemed to like it when she wore it loose and not pinned down flat to her head. So she washed it and let it air dry in plaits so she could undo them and make the ringlet curls reach her shoulder. Vinnie sat in his office alone. They both avoided each other with the rise of the sun. Neither could face the other without the same argument erupting. She hated and loved him all at the same time for what he was doing. In his mind the sacrifice was worth it. To her his abandonment was the greatest betrayal. And those mixed emotions confused her deeply.
“Paulette’s here. We’re ready.”
He pushed up from behind the desk. She wanted to fight with him again. Plead her case. Make a reasonable argument against his suicidal crusade. But she didn’t. She waited patiently for him to retrieve whatever it was he had for her out of the drawer to his desk.
“Come here, Songbird. Have a seat.” He nodded toward the sofa.
She did as he asked.
He carried a large envelope stuffed to the point of the seal splitting. He walked over to the sofa and sat next to her. He tossed it to her lap and then another folder. “In the envelope is fifteen thousand cash. The folder has a bond with the certificate. I put it in your name. It’s worth fifty-three thousand dollars. You can deposit or cash it.”
“Are you seriously sitting here giving me money? Money? I can’t believe you!” She tossed the envelopes to the other side of the sofa.
He put a hand to her knee and she resisted the urge to smack him. She had never laid her hand on another human being, but with him she wanted to kick scratch and scream until her voice gave out. She wouldn’t suffer through the grief she felt over Lewis again. She couldn’t mourn hi
m. And sweet Jesus if I’m pregnant, what then? A child to remind me of him? A life alone to raise him or her? No. She was solid in her determination to help him even if he wouldn’t help himself.
“Hate me later, just listen to me now. I want you to drive through the day and night. Stop only for gas. If you are followed, and I want you to pay attention to be sure you’re aren’t, stick to the main roads. I doubt they’ll come for you, but I need you to put as much distance between you and the city before you stop.” He rose and removed a three times folded map from his back pocket. He flipped it open and spread it across the small coffee table before them. To her surprise he had taken the time to mark the roads he’d drawn with a red line that led to New Mexico. “Promise me Doll, you’ll see this through.”
Harmony trembled all over. She swore she wouldn’t cry. She had planned to be stronger, but everything in her said she needed to stop him and quick. “I…”
