by Erin Trejo
“The Luchessi family isn’t solely in New York,” I remind him. I watch him sit back in his chair, his elbows resting on the desk in front of him.
“As I very well know. You would start here. When I said all of them, I did mean it.”
“And you expect me to do all this alone?”
He nods his head, a smile on his old, worn face. “I do.”
I lean in and smell the scent of Rosa, running my lips over her soft skin, kissing and sucking on her as her body trembles. I slide my hand up her thigh as Gambino watches me, finding her wetness. Dragging my finger through it, I stop on her clit. I work her body up as I kiss her neck and when I feel her come, I smirk.
“You have a deal.”
Chapter 12
Rosa is bent over the bed, her glistening wet pussy on full display for me. Over the last few months she’s become my new addiction. Not that I give two shits about her, but her body serves all the purpose I need. I run my hands over her ass listening to her moan, as I sit behind her taking in the view. No one will ever compare to Asia, but that life is one I’ve left behind. She’s engaged to my cousin, and in time, they will be married and having children. She will go on with her life as though I never existed.
“Do you know what I want to do to you?” I rasp as I grab my cock and tease her entrance. Rosa moans but doesn’t answer me. Instead, she rocks her body back into me, willing me to shove my cock inside of her. “You want me, Rosa?” I purr, loving how she shivers.
“Please, Gio. Fuck me,” she begs.
I chuckle, spread her cheeks, and plunge into the wetness that awaits me. Each thrust takes me higher, but it never feels right. In fact, it always feels wrong. I grip her hips and pound into her, wanting to relieve every ounce of frustration in me. But it never truly does go away. Rosa’s hands clench the sheets next to her head as I fuck her roughly. I made her quit her job at the strip club to have her at my beck and call. She didn’t argue with me and that made me semi-happy.
“Gio,” she moans when I lean over her and wrap my arm around her waist. Finding her pulsing clit, I rub it in small circles as she grinds her ass back against me. The way her pussy clenches sends my pulse racing, but it’s still not enough. I reach for the vile of coke on the edge of the bed and sit up pouring a line on Rosa’s back. Leaning down, I sniff it and shake my head before going back to pounding her. With her hips firmly in my grasp, I begin fucking her roughly before pulling out and dropping onto the bed.
“Get up here and ride me,” I tell her. Rosa moves quickly to straddle me. With her feet planted on either side of me, she begins raising her body up and sliding down my length. “Fuck!” I groan as I watch my cock disappear inside of her.
Rosa leans in, kissing me while her hips keep moving. Her tongue dances in my mouth when I start to kiss her back. The high takes hold a little harder than usual and every stroke of her tongue against mine sends me plummeting back in time. Back to when it was Asia kissing me. The night she rode my cock after the fight.
Shaking the thoughts away, I drag myself back to the present. I grip her hips and thrust into her roughly. I need to fucking come and get on with my night, my plans. Rosa clenches and holds on tightly when I growl. “Fucking make me come!” Slapping her ass roughly, I rise up and keep pushing until I feel my body tense. When my balls tighten, I come roughly inside of her. Rosa arches her back, letting her juices flow around me too.
When we both calm down, I move her off me and climb out of the bed. Walking into the bathroom, I start the shower and climb in. I wash away all the memories, all the pain that still eats away at me at night. When I’m alone, I find myself remembering her more and more when all I want to do is forget and move on. I climb out of the shower when I feel like I’m losing my sanity. Quickly dressing, I head into the closet and pull out my rifle bags. Rosa lays in my bed watching me as I get what I need for the night.
“Do you ever get tired of killing?” she asks, causing me to laugh.
“No.”
“Why do you like it so much?”
I check my ammo and rezip my bags before looking up at her. “Have you ever done something that just sent you over the edge?”
She smirks and nods her head. “Yeah, you.”
“I mean it. Killing gives me control, power. I’m good at it, and I was raised to do it.”
“Why aren’t you taking over the family when your father is gone?” Those questions are the ones that make me regret bringing her here. I hate that she feels the need to know so much that isn’t any of her business.
“That’s none of your fucking concern,” I snap at her. Rosa rolls her eyes, which pisses me off further. In a few short strides, I’m standing in front of her, her chin held roughly in my hand. “I’m sick of your questions and the little looks you give when you don’t get an answer you want. You’re childish,” I sneer.
“You’re an asshole.”
“You already knew that,” I hiss before leaning in and kissing her roughly. I shove her back and turn on my heel, picking my bags up and heading out the front door. I toss my bags into the back of my SUV before climbing in the driver seat. My phone rings in my pocket, and before I check who it is, I answer.
“Yeah?”
“Giovanni. How are you?” I sigh and lean back in my seat.
“What can I do for you father?”
“I need to know where you are at with the job with the Morettis. Plans are changing.”
I close my eyes not wanting to know what that means but I ask anyway. “What is it?”
“Do you remember years ago when the Russians were moving into New York?” he asks. My eyes snap open knowing exactly what he’s talking about. I readjust myself in my seat to listen to him.
“I remember.”
“Then you recall the daughter of Petrov, the one to marry into the Columbian cartel. The plans are in place and we both know that if that marriage happens they will be moving in on our territory in no time.” I see where this is going. I haven’t thought about going home in a long time though. I don’t want to be there. I don’t want to see her or feel anything that I know I’ll feel when I go back, but it’s inevitable.
“I need a few days to handle business here,” I tell him without hesitation.
“That’s fine.”
“I’ll need a hotel when I get back.”
“You will do no such thing. You are to be here, Giovanni!” I sigh knowing that there is no use in arguing with him.
“I’ll see you in two days.” Hanging up the phone, I toss it onto the seat next to me before pressing my hands on the steering wheel. I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths trying to calm all the anger inside of me. The unknown is what’s really getting to me. I don’t think I can handle seeing her with Matteo after all this time. It’s been years. Fucking years of my life that I haven’t been able to see her, touch her. It’s messing with my head.
The drive out to the old shipping docks doesn’t take me long. I know that Luchessi is having a meeting out here tonight. I’ve done my research. Parking at the back of the warehouse, I grab my bags and head toward the docks. The warm ocean air collects on my skin causing sweat to bead at my temples. It slowly trickles down my back as I find the perfect spot. I’ve scouted the area more times than needed, but it’s imperative I am inconspicuous and prepared. Climbing the ladder onto the roof I run over the plan in my head once more just to be safe. When I reach the edge, I glance over and take in the view. With a smirk, I sit back, set up my guns, and wait.
It doesn’t take long for them to show their faces, my focus on them the whole time. Each beat of my heart is another second ticking by. Another second leads to another minute and each one brings me closer to the girl that I can’t seem to forget. I watch Luchessi shaking hands with the man he was meeting, and as soon as that man is out of sight, I fire. I take his guards down first, killing them all by process of elimination. Moving ever so slightly, the crosshairs are lined up with Luchessi sitting squarely in the middle as
he reaches for his own gun, but I fire off a shot before he can see who took down his men. It’s too late for him. With a smirk on my face, I clean up my mess and get the hell out of here.
Chapter 13
I feel like I haven’t slept in weeks when in reality it’s only been days. I handled business in California, leaving Rosa to deal with the house. She didn’t really have anywhere else to go, so letting her take care of things while I’m gone made sense. Making my way back to New York was a huge change. I have adapted to my life in California. Once I stepped foot inside my father’s home, it felt right. I felt like I was home. Back in my room, I close my eyes and try to get some sleep before my father returns from whatever trip he’s off on, but that proves harder than I thought. Even after all these years I can still smell her in my room. It’s a sick hell that I live in. A knock on the door causes me to sigh.
“It’s open,” I call out not rightly giving a shit who it is. I’m dead tired and I just need to rest. When the door opens, the last man I thought I’d see walks in.
“Giovanni. It’s good to see you. You look well,” my uncle Roberto says with a smile. I shove myself up my bed and nod.
“As do you. How is Angela?”
“She’s doing well. Thank you.”
“What can I do for you?” I know he’s here for a reason and now it’s peaked my interests to know. My uncle and I never really had problems, at least not until Stefano died. I straighten my spine as his eyes wander over my chest. The scars. Not many get to see them, but when they do, they are utterly shocked at how sick Angelo truly was. He clears his throat dragging his eyes back to mine, a sincere look on his features.
“I wanted to speak to you before your father returns. I know why he has you here and I don’t agree.” I shift in my bed and watch as he walks through the room sitting in the chair against the far wall.
“Why is that?”
“He’s being rash in his decisions. He’s become greedy,” he adds.
“He has always been a greedy man. What has changed?”
“He wants to take over this city. We already own eighty percent, Giovanni. Going against the Russians is going to cause a huge war that I’m not sure he’s prepared for.”
If my uncle is worried there is a reason. I run my hand through my hair and contemplate my next move.
“What are you doing here, uncle? Why are you even concerned with it?” He’s never been involved in this world. Of course, he’s always been around because he’s family, but he has never been involved in this aspect of our world.
“Things have changed since you’ve been gone, Giovanni. Loyalties are being tested. I find your father is making plans that aren’t what this family needs,” he says waving his hand through the air.
I reach for the pack of cigarettes on the nightstand and light one up. I hold the pack out to him but he shakes his head no. I inhale deeply, letting the nicotine settle in my lungs before blowing out a ring of smoke.
“What kinds of things? I know nothing about this family anymore if I’m being honest. When he sent me to California, I made my own plans, my own life. Being here is hindering them and I’m not sure what you want from me.” I’m honest with him. It feels right to give him that much.
“Matteo is now in charge of all finances concerning the family,” he says.
“What? Since when?” I snarl. Matteo doesn’t need to be involved with that shit. Money goes missing and it’s Matteo’s head on the chopping block. How the hell did this happen? This is all my fault for leaving.
“I see the look in your eyes, Giovanni. It isn’t your fault. As I said, your father is making moves that shouldn’t be made. His greed is overcoming him, and the need for money is overriding what’s right for this family.”
I take another drag from my cigarette and toss the blankets off myself, throwing my legs over the edge. “Matteo should have never been put in that position, Roberto! You and I both know what happens,” I tell him. His eyes meet mine as he slowly nods his head.
“Do you think I want to lose another son, Giovanni?” Bile races up my throat hearing the tone of his voice. That ache in my chest comes back full force. I set my cigarette in the ashtray before grabbing the little vile that has become my best friend over the years. Snorting a line, Roberto huffs. “Do you see this? He’s ruining everyone! You were never into this before, Giovanni!” I wipe my hand across my nose shaking my head to relieve the fog.
“What is all the yelling?” Another voice comes into the room. Matteo. His eyes widen when he sees me.
“You’re here. You’re back then?” he asks with the hint of a smile on his face.
“No. I’m here because Father needed me,” I tell him shortly.
“I don’t understand.”
“Why did you accept the position, Matteo?” I ask, becoming extremely agitated. He looks between me and his father before answering.
“Did I have a choice?”
“Yes, you did!”
“Did you, Gio? Did you have a choice when he sent you to the wolves? When he allowed Angelo to beat you within an inch of your life? Did you get a choice?” His voice thunders through the room.
In seconds, I’m on my feet and in his face. My hands are wrapped up in the front of shirt, jerking him into me. “You don’t know shit about what I went through. You and the rest of this family sat in their little happy place with no idea what was going on. Do you know why it happened to me? Because I am nothing! I was never anything to anyone! I was the fucking bastard’s child that no one wanted! Don’t you see that? No one wanted me. That’s why I am the way I am.”
“That’s not true.” I close my eyes and slowly let my hands fall away from Matteo before stepping away from him.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Matteo tells her. He’s right, she shouldn’t. When I open my eyes she’s there in front of me like a goddamn gorgeous memory. Asia steps in front of me, her eyes meeting mine. Everything that I’ve tried so hard to suppress now rushes to the surface. My chest heaves as she stares up at me. She’s the same. More filled out in all the right places, but she’s still my Asia.
“He’s right. You shouldn’t be here,” I repeat his words. Asia’s eyes move over my face slowly like she’s trying to memorize every part of me. I can’t say that I’m not doing the same to her as well.
“Matteo, let’s give them a moment,” Roberto says next to me.
“No. We need to talk about what’s happening. I’m not here for long and I need to handle whatever it is before I go.” Sadness creeps across her face when I say that. I can’t help it, I am leaving again. I turn to look at Roberto.
“You have to figure out how to get Matteo out of that position. You know as well as I do that if anything goes missing, his fault or not, he’s as good as dead,” I tell him. Roberto nods his head when Matteo speaks.
“What should I do? End up like my brother?” Pain lances my heart knowing that none of them know I didn’t kill him. It’s my secret to bear.
“That’s not fair!” Asia snaps stepping in between us. “Have you looked at him, Matteo? I mean really looked at him? He’s fucked up because of what his father did to him.”
I ignore them all walking to the closet to grab my clothes. Standing in my gym shorts in the middle of an argument isn’t ideal. I pull my clothes on before my boots, grabbing the pack of cigarettes and heading for the door.
“Where are going?” Roberto yells behind me.
I ignore him and stomp down the hallway, then the stairs, and out the back door. Heading toward the one place I can seek solace on this property, I clear the tree line in the matter of minutes.
Chapter 14
The air is colder now. In a way, I’ve missed it here. Not everything here was terrible. Something about this place just pulls me back in. I can’t explain it no matter how hard I try, and to be honest, I like mystery of it all. My eyes drift closed as the first drops of rain from the impending storm drop onto my face.
“Scars only run so deep,” I
hear her say. I don’t open my eyes, I can’t.
“Some run deeper than others,” I add.
“They don’t have to rule us, Gio.”
“Do they rule you?” I can hear her moving around me, but it isn’t until her hand lands on mine that I move. Sitting up quickly, I pull away from her and lean against the tree behind me. Our eyes finally lock and that heat that’s always been there ignites between us.
“I’ve missed you,” she says softly. Shaking my head, I run my hand over my face. “You look exhausted, Gio.”
“I am exhausted! I can’t even get any sleep here! I have been going non-stop for days and it’s really wearing on me.” I didn’t want to admit that to her, but if I can’t say it to her, who can I say it to? Asia stands and holds her hand out to me. I shake my head and look away.
“Gio,” she snaps at me. Dragging my gaze back to hers, she stands in the same place with her hand out. I reluctantly take it as she tries to pull me from the ground. When I’m standing next to her, I look down and notice just how small she is compared to me. Asia starts to walk and I follow.
“Where are we going?” I ask as when the rain starts falling harder. She doesn’t answer, just smiles at me over her shoulder. We walk along not speaking, just being in each other’s presence. It’s like old times and that makes it harder for me. We come out of the trees on the other side when I see a small shack. I narrow my eyes and look at Asia.
“What is that? That was never here before.”
“Matteo built it for me. He knew how much I needed my space and how much I love to be out here. It’s my own little safe place,” she says with a huge smile. Matteo built it for her. Doesn’t that figure? Rain pelts us both when Asia pulls the door open and ushers me inside. It’s a small cabin-type shack with a bed, couch, and fire place. Off to the side I can see a small bathroom but that’s it. It’s nothing huge or fancy. It suits her.
