Captivated: A Mafia Romance (Carfano Crime Family Book 6)

~ Chapter 29 ~

Cassie

When we arrive at the Carfano building in Manhattan, Nico takes me up to one of their conference rooms, and I get a firsthand look at how tight their security is.

“This seems like a safe building,” I say casually.

“It is,” Nico confirms. “We take safety seriously. You’ll get used to it.”

I smile up at him. “Is that so?”

“Yes, because you’re going to be living here soon, and it’ll become second nature to go through the motions of the code, fingerprint, and eye scan.”

My head jerks back, surprised. “I’ll be living here with you soon?”

“You’ll graduate first, of course. But then yes, you’ll be living with me.”

“Did you not think to ask me?”

Nico pulls me into an empty office before we reach the conference room and backs me up against the nearest wall, caging me in with his strong arms on either side of my head.

“Will you please move to New York and live with me, la mia rossa piccante? You can do anything you want with my apartment to make it a home you love. It’s a little cold right now, but I know you’ll warm it right up just by being there.”

I lift my chin defiantly. “What else do I get if I agree?”

He smirks, turning on the charm and making my legs feel like they won’t support me for long. “You get to have whatever you want, whenever you want it.”

“Whatever I want, whenever I want it?”

“Yes.” He runs his nose down the bridge of mine and my breath hitches. He knows he already has me. “You can have everything your heart desires and then some.”

“My heart desires just one thing. One thing I need and can’t live without. Anything else will just be a bonus.”

He steps closer to me so his body is a mere inch away. Enough for me to feel his body like a magnet fighting its pair. “And what is it your heart desires, Cassandra?” He presses his forehead to mine and his lips hover just above mine.

“You. My heart desires just you. You in all sorts of dirty ways.” I smile. “But also in the gentle way you treat me when I need it. The dominance you use when I don’t want to be in control anymore. And especially in the way you accept me wholeheartedly.”

“I do, baby. Even when you’re sassy and stubborn, and yelling at me. I want all of you. I love all of you.”

“What?” My breath just left my body.

“You heard me, Cassandra. I don’t know how else this feeling can be described. The addiction I’ve had since I first laid eyes on you. The way I didn’t want to let you go even after spending every minute of those three days with you, when I’d usually be bored after the first night with a woman.

“The way your eyes shine when they look at me. It’s like I’m looking into the ocean on a bright summer morning. The way your hair lights my bed on fire as much as our bodies do. The way you were on my mind every day and night since the moment I met you, and my need for you never diminished. It’s only gotten stronger every time I’m around you, too. The way I want to be with you – all the time,” he emphasizes, and I don’t know how much more my heart can take before I pass out or have a heart attack.

“We’d be here all day if I listed every little thing, but I have more. Trust me. I discovered a new one today. The way you go about taking your first sip of coffee in the morning. I can’t wait to watch you drink a cup every morning.”

I can’t take any more.

I grab his suit jacket lapels and close the distance between us, fusing my lips to his in a kiss that I pour every single ounce of the built-up emotions he just caused in me into.

Every ounce of love.

I can’t get close enough to him.

I press my chest to his and have the urge to climb him like a fucking tree to get even closer.

Nico breaks the kiss first, and I grunt my disapproval, which has him smiling against my lips. “Piccante, we have to slow down or I’ll be fucking you against the wall with my family waiting for us a few rooms down.”

“I love you, too, Nico,” I blurt out, and for a second, I think he stops breathing.

“Say it again,” he growls, pulling back to look into my eyes.

“I love you, Nico.” I barely finish getting his name out before his lips are back on mine, even more intensely now. His tongue delves into my mouth and tangles with mine in the hottest, messiest kiss of my life that has my body igniting and my panties flooding.

Nico pulls away again, and I grunt my protest a second time. His ragged breathing makes me feel a thousand feet tall, in that I can make this man weak for me.

“I didn’t expect you to say it back,” he admits. “I didn’t need you to say it back. I just needed to tell you, and I would’ve loved you hard enough for the both of us until you were ready to tell me.”

I didn’t think my heart could take any more, and then Nico goes and says that. It’s going to explode in my chest if he’s not careful.

I reach up and wrap my arms around him, burying my face in his neck. I kiss his exposed skin above the collar of his shirt and murmur against him, “I hate that you think I wouldn’t say it. That I don’t feel it.”

“No, baby.” He brings my face back in front of him. “I know how you feel. I see it in your eyes. I just thought you’d need more time to let yourself feel it and know it’s true enough to tell me.”

“You’re too kind and understanding to be real. How do you know me so well when it hasn’t even been that long?”

He gives me one of his sexy smiles. “I don’t know. I fucking love it, though.”

“I guess that just proves you’re my missing piece.”

“Fuck yeah, I am, piccante.” Nico kisses me hard and fast, and then steps back, leaving me off kilter. “We shouldn’t keep my family waiting any longer.” He smirks, and my cheeks heat.

“You made me forget why we were here.” I quickly run my fingers through my hair and swipe at my lips and under my eyes to make sure my makeup is still in place.

“You look perfect.” He takes my hand. “Let’s go.”

Walking into the conference room hand-in-hand with Nico while all eyes are on us feels empowering. Like I’m on stage again.

And holy Jesus, this family has good genes. Every man at the table has the air of power and dominance, with faces that could bring any woman they want to their knees.

I should know. Nico has had me ready to drop to my knees from the start.

“Cassie, meet Leo, Luca, Stefano, Marco, and Gabriel.” He points to each of them around the table. “Guys, this is Cassandra Connelly. She’s mine.” I look up to see his little boy grin, and shake my head, rolling my eyes.

“Hi, everyone,” I greet with a little wave. “Thank you for helping me and my brother. I know we’re not your problem, and I appreciate it.”

“We always help family,” Leo says, and the others nod their agreement.

“I’m not family,” I say, and Nico squeezes my hand.

“What did we just talk about not five minutes ago, piccante?” he asks quietly. “You’re family now.”

“Okay,” I say shyly, my eyes going from his to the floor so everyone in the room doesn’t see how crazy I am for Nico, and how much I want him to take me up to his apartment and fuck me senseless.

“The money is ready to go,” Marco says, pushing a duffel bag across the table towards us.

“And I’ll monitor you from here,” Stefano tells us. He’s the one Nico wrote in his note compiled the packet for me. Which means he’s also the one who dug into my life for Nico.

The resident tech guy, I assume.

I don’t shy away from him, and instead look him dead in the eyes so he’s the one who’s uncomfortable and looks away, clearing his throat.

“You’ll kill him with those eyes, Cassie,” Nico says, nudging my shoulder playfully. “Give him a break. He was doing his job.”

“You carry a lot of secrets, don’t you?” I ask him.

“I do,” Stefano confirms. “And they stay with me.”

His eyes are unwavering with his words, making me feel his sincerity. “Thank you.” I nod, and he gives me one of his own, appreciating my understanding of his burden.

“I’ll drive you two and remain in the car at the curb,” Gabriel tells me.

“And I’ll be driving Leo,” Marco adds.

“Are you sure we need so many people?” I ask to no one in particular, but glance up at Nico.

“We’re making a united front so they know who they’re dealing with and won’t keep asking you for more money or get your brother back into debt.”

“I don’t know how to keep him out of trouble after this. He already almost gambled the other night, but I was able to convince him to come home before he did.”

“I’ve thought of that,” Leo continues. “He needs to get away from here and what he’s used to. I can send him to Miami and he’ll help our cousins, Saverio and Matteo, run our club down there.”

“Miami?” I balk, surprised by the offer. “Is that any better than here to keep him from gambling?”

“We’ll give him a purpose. Responsibility. Plus, the sun and women down there will motivate him to stay in line.”

I don’t want to agree for him, but I think a change of scenery would do Sean well. “We can give him the choice, but it’ll have to be his choice. Thank you for the offer. I wasn’t expecting that.”

“We’ll help you and your brother any way you need.”

“Thank you.”

Nico squeezes my hand and I squeeze his back to let him know how much I appreciate him. I didn’t expect his family to be like this. They’re all ready and willing to band together to help me and Sean when they don’t know us. I know I’m with Nico, and I know he said family comes first, but to see it, hear it, and experience it firsthand is heartwarming. Like real families still exist.

“I don’t know where they’re keeping him. We met at Lucky’s Pub yesterday and they dragged him down the back hall, but I don’t know if he’s still there.”

“We do. I hacked into their security cameras in and around the pub, and he never left.”

“Oh, okay. Good then. At least we know where he is.”

“He’ll be fine, piccante. It’s only been a day,” Nico reminds me.

“Then let’s go.”

“You should stay here with Stef and Luca,” Leo suggests, and my head whips back towards him.

“That’s not going to happen. I already met that asshole yesterday and he doesn’t scare me. He’s expecting me, and that’s who he’s going to get. You can come if you want as backup, but I need to be there.”

“Be your backup?” Leo swipes his hand over his mouth to try and hide his smile, but I catch it.

“I like her,” Marco says, giving Nico a nod of approval, which has him rumbling next to me.

“I see why you call her piccante,” Gabriel adds, throwing me a wink.

“That’s enough,” Nico growls, and the men at the table smirk. They like seeing him mad over me, and I won’t lie, I like it too. It’s sweet. In a possessive, alpha way that makes me want to jump him again. “Let’s go.”

Nico grabs the duffel of money and we all head down to the garage. This time, we get into a blacked-out Range Rover that seems like it’s fitted with enough extras to withstand a firefight.

Our SUV leads the way to Woodlawn Heights with Leo’s following.

“Why aren’t we doing this ourselves?” I ask Nico. “Do you think we need so many extra people? What if it leads to conflict?”

“I won’t let anything happen to you, Cassie. I promise.”

“I know. I just… It was a lot for me to accept the help to begin with. Now, most of your family is involved, and…” I shake my head.

“Hey,” he says, turning my face towards his. “This is what we do. We plan and execute. Together. You’re not in this alone anymore. You don’t need to be in this alone anymore.”

I relax only the slightest, still chewing on my bottom lip as we make our way to the Bronx. When we reach the pub, Gabriel pulls up to the open spot, one car down from the front doors, and the other SUV double parks beside us.

We get out, and I take the lead, not even waiting for Nico or Leo. I walk right into the bar and scan the inside for that piece of shit, Liam. He’s sitting at a table towards the back with his two goons.

“Where’s my brother?” I demand, and Liam looks up with that stupid shit-eating-grin he wore yesterday.

“Back so soon, sweetheart? I assume you have my money then? And if not, it’s still good to see such a fiery, beautiful woman two days in a row. Especially if you’re here to offer me an alternate form of payment.”

“Watch your fucking mouth,” Nico snarls from right behind me.

“Ah, so you’re taken. Damn it.” Standing, he and his henchmen walk up to us.

“I am,” I confirm. “Not that you ever had a chance. Where’s Sean? I have your money.”

“Already? How did you get it so fast?” he asks, giving me another crooked grin and a wink.

“If you don’t watch how you speak to her, you won’t get your money or be breathing in the next five minutes.”

I ignore Nico’s threats and step towards Liam, which results in a grunt of disapproval from him. I know exactly how to play this idiot. “Actually, I got it exactly how you think,” I tell Liam, smirking. “I’m as good as you’re thinking.” It’s my turn to throw him a wink, and he laughs. “Now, bring my brother out or my man will follow through on his threats.”

Liam laughs and takes a step back. “Go get him,” he tells the guy on his right.

“I should’ve asked for more money if I knew you had such a generous benefactor.”

I know right away Nico isn’t going to take one more insult out of this guy’s mouth.

“Now you don’t get any money,” Nico says calmly. Too calmly. And Liam just laughs. I think he has a few screws loose for taunting Nico and not realizing the danger he’s in or who he’s talking to.

“Is that right? And who are you to threaten me and get away with it?”

“Nico Carfano.”

Liam’s eyes flash with recognition, and his smile is wiped from his stupid face.

Leo takes a step forward to stand right beside me. “And Leo Carfano. It’s nice to meet you, Liam. Every encounter I’ve had with the McLaughlin family has always been somewhat cordial. Until now.”

Liam doesn’t say anything, but it looks like he’s going to shit a brick.

“So,” Leo continues, “we’re going to call the rest of this debt cleared since you caused us the trouble of coming all the way here. You won’t come after Sean or Cassie or anyone associated with them from this moment forward. If we continue to have an issue, then I’ll be forced to tell Conor how you conducted business with my family.”

“Yes, Mr. Carfano. I understand,” he says eagerly.

Wow, are you serious?

Leo has rendered this idiot speechless and turned him into a complacent soldier with manners in seconds. He must have a big reputation and hold a lot of power in this city if his name and presence hold such weight that it crosses over to the Irish mob as if he was their boss barking out orders.

I look past Liam and see Sean being led towards us. Luckily, he doesn’t look any worse than yesterday besides dark circles under his eyes like he didn’t get any sleep.

“Sean!” I breathe a sigh of relief and push past Liam to give him a hug.

“Hey, Cass. You’re early,” he jokes, coughing on a short laugh.

“I’m just glad I’m not too late. How are you?”

“Fine. I’m ready to get out of here.”

“Let’s go.” I loop my arm through Sean’s and lead him out, with Nico and Leo following close behind.

“Sean, you’ll ride with me. I have something to discuss with you,” Leo says, his tone leaving no room for discussion, but Sean still looks at me.

“Listen to what he has to say, Sean,” I tell him, and give him a hug.

“I will. Thank you for saving my ass. I promise I’ll be better.”

“I believe in you.” I kiss his cheek and he gets in the SUV with Leo while Nico opens the back door for me and I climb up inside.

“He’ll be fine, Cassie,” Nico consoles, and I lean my head on his shoulder.

“I know. I hope he takes Leo up on his offer. It was really nice of him.”

“He has his moments.”

“I like that Liam was scared of him.” I smile. “That guy needs to be punched in the face.”

“I would’ve gladly done it, but you had him under your thumb.”

“It’s easy to play someone so simple with a one-track mind.”

“You mean telling him you earned the money through sex with me?” Nico asks, and I laugh when I see Gabriel’s eyes shoot towards me in the rearview mirror – humor dancing in them.

“Yes. Exactly.” I stretch my neck up to whisper in his ear, “Besides, you know my pussy is worth it. And my mouth. More, actually. I would give you a reminder of both if we were alone right now, but I don’t think you want your cousin to see or hear how much I love having your cock choke me and stretch me open.”

Nico’s hand resting on my thigh presses into me, and I smile and kiss his ear before going back to sitting normally.

I peek up at him after a minute and smile, loving that he’s fighting with himself to gain control.

A little giggle spills out of me, which only has his eyes cutting to mine sharply.

“Is something wrong, Nico?” I ask innocently.

“No,” he says gruffly, and I pucker my lips in a silent air kiss.

His eyes turn to slits and he leans down to whisper in my ear this time, “You’ll pay for that, piccante.”

“Gladly.”