If I thought the mistress of Luca Raniero would be left to walk the streets alone at night, then I didn’t deserve him. I halted, and the car following me stopped.
His car.
Reluctantly, I got inside. We drove without a word to the docks, which at that point was not nearly as cramped. “Do you see that building, Anna?” I spotted the rundown looking warehouse by the sea. “That is going to be the new headquarters of the Raniero Fisheries.”
“… What does this have to do with anything?”
“Everything,” he said, removing his jacket and handing it to me. “Take off your soaked clothes.”
Shivering, I blinked. “You cannot be serious!”
With a lift of his brow, Luca gave me that look.
I peeled the sticky cloth from my skin as he blatantly stared, and I put his coat on. The rain subsided to a drizzle as he stole my shoes and got out of the car. He came around to the passenger side, opened the door, and set my heels down before offering me his hand. I slid the shoes on and stood up. His coat barely covered my ass as we rushed towards the building.
“What are we doing, Luca?”
“I’m showing my investor the new place.” He winked.
His keys jingled as he unlocked the door and I argued, “I’m not your new investor.”
“You are,” he said, flipping the switch. The mammoth empty warehouse came to life with the humming overhead lights. “You own twenty percent of me.”
“Correction, I own twenty percent of your international shipping.”
Walking through the space, he shrugged. “Twenty percent of me. But I want you to invest it in your books.”
I furrowed my brow questioningly. “… What books?”
“Your journals. Your dreams. Your vision.”
“That son of a bitch told you,” I spat and swiftly turned as he caught my arm. His jacket spread open revealing my naked body. “He had no right, Luca.”
“He loves you,” he declared as his nostrils flared. “He loves you as much as I do. So instead of working against one another, why don’t we work together?”
I jerked my arm away and crossed them over my chest.
With a firm grip, Luca unwrapped my arms and opened the jacket. “Was there a reason you had no undergarments on?”
“Yeah, I was coming to see you,” I admitted with a huff.
“You are so goddamned beautiful, and I don’t think you even have a clue, Anna.” His fingers twirled my long hair, and he brought the strands to his face and inhaled. “Ya know, you think you are living out there on edge, but you aren’t. You’ve gone from one extreme to the next, and at some point, you have to find the middle ground.”
“I’m a submissive, Luca.”
“You don’t think I know?” His arms spread wide as we stared at each other with pure, transparent love. “… Do I look like an idiot?”
The phone on the wall rang and drew my attention as he rushed to answer it. “Yes,” he said, laying his hand against the wall and leaning forward. His voice shifted to a darker, more somber tone as he said, “I understand. I’ll tell her.”
His fingers dropped the receiver onto the hook before he gripped the bridge of his nose. With a disappointed expression, he enveloped me in his arms. “Anna, your father died.”
With years of heartache and joy, I screamed as the world I knew crumbled in an instant. I was no longer anyone’s daughter. Heaving in Luca’s arms, I wanted to dissolve and disappear.
But Luca never once let me hit the ground.
Needle in a Haystack
CHAPTER 16
A week later, we went home to Texas to bury Franklin Ford. And when I say we, I mean—Jake, Luca, Antonio, half a dozen of Raniero’s men, and me. Walking through the airport surrounded by The Suits was an experience, and that alone said so much about where I had come from and where I was going.
I was no longer servicing them.
I was one of them.
I had two of Luca’s men guarding me. If a random gunfight broke out, I was to get down to the ground, and they would cover me.
Crates would be arriving at my house with wine, weed, money, and guns; all sent courtesy of a predominantly Hispanic motorcycle gang in south Texas that Luca had been doing business with. They were named Cinco.
A private plane would arrive at Austin in the morning, and a car would be waiting to take us directly to the funeral. Luca and his men arranged the entire funeral from Boston, including a couture black dress, hat, heels, and gloves for me.
And absolutely no one would be allowed in or out of my property when Luca was there, and all of this was discussed before leaving Boston.
I was the darling of the mobster and his hitman.
And their girl was shattered.
But my father’s funeral looked like a who’s who of the criminal underworld —Giuseppe and Angelo Gennaro, Demetrios Cristos, Victor “Saint” Cruz and members of the Reckless Rebellion, Lotus members including Keishi Nakamura and Ryu Ho, and finally, the one and only Luca Raniero locked tight to my arm. And on the other, Jake Ballister.
Jocelyn and Chance attended the funeral, but not the graveside service. I kissed my little boy goodbye as Luca held him in his arms and said, “You be good to your mommy.”
“You be good to Mommy, buddy,” Chance prodded, poking Luca in the chest.
Luca laughed, “Don’t worry, champ. Uncle Luca is gonna take real good care of Mommy.”
Tears flooded my cheeks and didn’t stop until we reached the cemetery. I looked around amidst the oil and cattlemen with their Tony Lama cowboy boots and big Stetson hats, and at The Suits in their fine silk suits, leather loafers, and Borsalino fedoras. His burial resembled The Suits versus the cowboys. I had no doubt who would win. And no doubt my father would be laughing in heaven.
Show your teeth, girl.
With Luca on my left and Jake on my right, I spoke with hundreds of people, shook hands, and kissed cheeks. I was exhausted and wanted to go home. Chance and Jocelyn were staying at Dad’s house outside San Antonio as I envisioned a night of eating and resting.
“… Are we done here?” Luca asked as only a few cars—mostly of The Suits lingered.
“Yes, why?”
Taking off across the grass, Luca made his way to Giuseppe Gennaro. They said a few words as I noted the two cars the Gennaro’s brought—one for Giuseppe and one for Angelo. I sensed dissension in the family as Luca bolted towards Angelo.
“Oh! Shit!” I mumbled, letting go of Jake’s hand. Luca tossed his suit coat on the back of Giuseppe’s car and rolled up his sleeves. I knew what was coming and I could do nothing to stop it as Raniero’s men pulled guns and darted across the lawn. I could just imagine Luca getting shot and falling into a puddle of red. I had never been so scared in all of my life. “Luca!”
“Let them do it, Anna,” Giuseppe shouted, waving his arms about. “My son deserves it. He’s lucky I didn’t put a gun to his head. We are not ruining this day with bloodshed.”
With Jake on my heels, I quickly scurried across the clearing and just made it half-way as the first swing came from Luca and connected with Angelo’s jaw. “Why the fuck did you ever bother to show your ugly face here?”
“She’s nothing but a whore!”
Wobbling up, Angelo tossed a punch as the fist fight escalated. Luca blocked it with repeated kidney punches until the bastard fell to his knees. Keeping Angelo in a headlock, Luca hissed, “You ever come near her again, and I will kill you. I warned you last time when Jake tried to kill you. Three strikes and you are out.”
Blood was blood, but family was family.
And to Giuseppe Gennaro, I was family.
I glanced at Jake. His intense expression filled my heart with joy. He really loved me. He loved me enough to let me go. He loved me enough to understand I needed Luca in a way I couldn’t even explain. I knew he took me to Boston to see Luca as a return favor. Luca had brought me home from England. And there was no choice to make because there wa
s no battle between them.
The only war stayed locked away in my soul as I kept my submission cloistered away.
With his cheek bleeding, Luca shook Giuseppe’s hand and grabbed his jacket. He strode closer and muttered, “He had that coming.”
“He absolutely did,” Jake said, setting his hand on his shoulder. “You okay, Boss?”
“Ya,” Luca growled with an intensity I had never witnessed. “I’m fine.”
The limousine drove onto the property just before dusk as the pink surrendered to the blues. I noticed Luca glancing curiously around the property as we crossed the cattle grate and bumped along the gravel driveway.
“Stop the car,” Luca requested, taking my hand. “Jake. Follow.”
From inside the limo, Antonio Campanelli asked, “… Are you sure this is safe, Raniero?”
“I’m sure if you come up to the house, you will be leaving on a stretcher.”
“Okay. Okay.” Antonio lifted his hands. “I just know this wasn’t in the plans.”
With the blood drying on his cheek, I bit my lip at the reminder of everything these two men went through for me.
“Plans are meant to change. Go get a damn burger at the cafe in town.”
“Idamae’s,” I whispered to Luca as I wavered between my feet at the awkwardness of The Suits in small town Sugargrove. All for a girl—and that girl—was me. “Make sure you try the pie, Tony.” I winked as Luca buckled over with laughter.
Jake slammed the door as we stood—Jake, myself, and Luca—watching them drive away. Lighting a smoke, Jake asked, “Should I shut and lock the gate?”
“Nah,” Luca answered, unbuttoning his dirty white shirt. “You got ammo?”
“I’m your hitman, Luca,” Jake deadpanned with a snarl. “If I don’t have ammo, you’re as good as a goner.”
Opening my hand to take Luca’s shirt, I pretended not to stare. All the olive skin tucked beneath the wife beater sent a shiver through my spine. With a smile, he said, “Thanks.”
“Is it finally time to get these damn clothes off?” Jake mumbled, tossing his suit jacket and shirt into my arms.
“Okay, you guys, that is enough,” I laughed as Luca took all the clothes and Jake tossed me up on his shoulder. I screamed like a little girl. “Put me down!”
“Can’t,” Jake said as they walked up the driveway to the tree covered path leading to the buildings. “I gotta sell your ideas off.”
Flicking his lighter, Luca exhaled and asked, “How much property?”
“Fifteen hundred acres.”
His eyes narrowed as they walked amongst the buildings and the broken, empty fountain sitting between them. Luca rested his foot on the edge as some of the cement crumbled to the ground. “And do the buildings look as bad as this fountain?”
“Nah, I mean there is minor wear and tear, but nothing I don’t think couldn’t be fixed with the right amount of money.”
“You’d need to bring on a permanent team,” Luca suggested, puffing on his smoke as I watched my future sprout between the two men I loved most in the world. “For several years.”
“It’s a longterm project and a huge investment on a silly pipe dream,” I argued from Jake’s shoulder. “This is a bad idea.”
Luca stopped walking and looked at me. “Would you shut the hell up? What else are you going to do with this?” He spread his arms wide and spun in a circle.
“But all that money!”
His finger stroked over my cheek as he winked. “Just a reason to make more, Stellina.”
“He’s got a point, Anna,” Jake said, setting me on my feet. “What are you going to do with an abandoned hospital and all the other buildings?”
“I want a glorious statue with butterflies in that fountain,” Luca announced out of the blue. “I think Keishi knows an artisan in Kyoto or somewhere who makes them. Gorgeous pieces or cement and glass.”
I shook my head in disbelief. This was my home Luca was remodeling on the fly. My home. My child’s home. “… Are you both insane?”
“No,” they said in unison.
“We cannot just build a sex school in the middle of nowhere Texas!”
Talking with his hands, Luca questioned, “Do you have anything better to do with the property? I mean if you have other ideas, I’m open to them. But what I saw in England was a Little Butterfly becoming a little star.”
“But,” Jake said, lifting a finger. “You are going to have to come up with a name.”
“Something good,” Luca added as we meandered to the house. “This place looks like that house in that damn film.”
I pushed his shoulder as he laughed with a full, perfect grin. “You mean Gone with the Wind?”
“Ya, that romantic girlie movie.”
“Says the mob boss,” I giggled, taking off down the path we had mowed to the back porch.
“You think we’re going to convince her?” Jake said behind me as he and Luca walked together.
I heard the click of the lighter and watched the cloud of smoke engulf me. “Ya, I’ll get her,” Luca reassured with a cocky swagger. “Don’t worry. I got her number. But, look at that ass!”
On the bottom step of the back porch, I lifted my dress and mooned them both as Jake stuttered, “…You …You didn’t wear any panties to your father’s funeral?”
Tossing my hair over my shoulder, I declared, “Bad boys like yourself find them menacing and pesky!”
Without a clue, if they were serious or mocking, I kicked off my shoes and handed Luca a damp washcloth for his face. Grabbing a bottle of wine, I started to uncork it as Luca said, “Wait! Where is my crate?”
“It’s in here,” Jake said from the foyer as I approached the enormous wooden box like a beast in my house. “Let me grab some tools.”
“If you make a mess..”
“I’ll clean it the fuck up,” Luca interjected as Jake handed him the pry bar. With the cigarette dangling from Luca’s lips, he popped it open and squinted at me as his brows excitedly twitched. “From me to you.”
“… What in the world is this?” I peered into the crate as they stood on the other side. “Oh my God,” I gasped and covered my mouth. “It’s the antique stock from L’Académie. How the…”
“We,” Jake said with a smile.
“We’ve got a few friends,” Luca added, nudging Jake and grinning.
My fingers ran over the old wooden equipment. “You two are serious?”
“Make it happen,” Luca said, reaching for my hand as I started to cry. Jake slipped his into my other hand. “Jake is going to help you. And I’m going to do what I do best.”
“… You’re going to funnel money through it?”
Luca blinked and nodded. “Well, that too. But no, I’m going to spend loads to make this happen for you.”
“Why?”
He snickered but turned weepy fast. “Because you believed in me when no one else did. People spit on me. People beat me up. I was some Italian kid off the boat who thought he could build a better mousetrap…”
Wrapping his arm around Luca’s shoulder, Jake gently pointed out, “You are building a better mousetrap.”
“Ya, and no one believed in me but Anna,” Luca confided, honestly. “I bought a fucking warehouse.”
“To launder money,” I reminded, teasingly.
“Well, ya,” Luca admitted with that sexy grin. “And I’m gonna build a damn BDSM school in Texas to do it, too.” He lifted his finger. “But first, you gotta remember one thing. It was twenty percent and sex anytime I wanted it.” He winked, eyeing the stock, as Jake laughed. “And I want to see what I’m investing in here, Master Jake and slave Anna. Show me how you sin.”
Blushing profusely, I shook my head. There were moments with Luca where I wanted to hide and giggle like a little girl with a secret. Luca’s charm may have convinced me to try, but it was Jake who brought me home.
“… Baby girl?” Jake whispered, staring into my soul with those sky blue eyes I want
ed to fly in.
I couldn’t breathe as the magnitude of what they were offering was so great. I covered my mouth and cried as I started to run away.
“Don’t you dare hightail it,” Jake scolded.
Bumping my shoulder, Luca dipped and whispered, “I do believe this is where you take him up on the offer with a—Yes, Sir.” His eyes twinkled to mine as he nudged me again. “You should do this soon before he punishes you.”
“If you knew this side of me, Master Luca,” I muttered with a smirk. “You would know, I play for the chase.”
Twisting fast, I ran through the house with them running after me. Along the way, I threw my dress off, and Jake caught it as Luca quizzed, “Is she always this fast?”
“I ran track in high school before I dropped out!” I shouted as I flew down the back steps to my backyard. To everyone else, Luca Raniero may have been a feared mob boss and Jake Ballister, his trusty hired gun, but to me—they were my playmates, my best friends, and my lovers.
I stopped at the old rusted training ring to catch my breath. “… Can we put a small lake here?”
The boys stopped close by, and Jake bent over coughing as Luca said, “We can do whatever you want just don’t make the old man run anymore.”
“…Me?” Jake groaned.
“You’re older than me,” Luca said, rubbing Jake’s back, as I climbed up the ring and the sun made its final descent. I glanced up at the moon and stars. I tried to decide what to say. They both loved me so much.
Standing upright, Jake argued, “Only by six years. Be careful up there, princess.”
I looped my legs through and sat at the top as they stared, and Luca casually mentioned, “You are aware from this angle, we can see everything.”
“He does mean everything,” Jake goaded as he lit a smoke. “You need to make a decision.”
“I can’t,” I mumbled, crying. “It’s too much…”
“Then come down here and at least let me spank your ass.”
I didn’t know what to say as these two gorgeous souls waited for an answer, so I merely whispered, “Romeo.”
Bad Girl: Les Pétales Page 16
