Chapter 26
“I heardyou were the one who found the fuck up in the accounts,” Benito said.
I wiped my sweaty palms on my pants, trying my hardest not to come off too scared. When Gin said his brother wanted to see me, I’d been prepared for the worst.
“Yes.”
Benito nodded, folding his hands on top of his desk. “I’m going to be straight with you—”
“Ash,” I supplied.
“Ash, you’re a huge distraction. My brother is all over the place lately.”
My stomach knotted. Would he offer me to leave Gin again? I don’t want that.
“But with that said, he’s been less reckless since you’ve come around. He’s so busy taking care of you that I’ve had fewer calls about him.”
Relief eased some of the tension in my body but not all of it. It felt like there was another but coming.
“Maybe having a pet is teaching him some responsibility.” Benito seemed to be talking more to himself than me.
He does know I’m a human being, right?
“Regardless, I called you in here to offer you a job. Gin sang your praises. My brother is dramatic and over the top, but he doesn’t tend to boast about most people. I looked over your work myself and was impressed.”
Holy shit. Giancarlo talked about me to his brother? Wonder if he said anything else about me.
“Are you listening, Ash?”
I snapped to attention. “Yes.”
He quirked a brow at me, and I couldn’t help but feel chastised.
“What kind of job?”
“You will be going over the accounts. We have a team of accountants, but as you can see, they either are incompetent or someone is helping rob my family’s business.” Bentio spread his fingers out as he let out a slow breath.
I doubted much got under his skin, but fucking over his family was one way to go straight to hell. “Okay, I can do that.”
“Good, your job title will be Giancarlo’s secretary officially, but your real job will be to look over all financial paperwork that comes through. I don’t have to stress that no one should know about your position or what you’re doing.” His lids lowered as his menacing gaze bore into me.
Undiluted fear shot through my veins. I locked my knees to keep from falling. “I understand.”
“Good.” Just like that, the mood lightened somewhat. Benito moved some paperwork around on his desk. “Regarding your pay, I can give you enough to pay Giancarlo back. You can consider it a hiring bonus—”
“No.”
Benito cocked a brow at me, and I realized how harsh my voice had sounded. “No, I mean.” I cleared my throat. “I’d love to help you out any way I can.”
Benito’s hard gaze never wavered from me. “But?”
Pressure laid heavily over my shoulders. Doing the work would help Giancarlo, and that was reason enough to say yes. But I didn’t want him to pay Gin back for me. I wasn’t ready for things to come to an end. “I have my own deal with Giancarlo, and it would be disrespectful of me to disregard it.”
Benito’s brows lifted. I could almost fool myself into thinking I surprised the head of the Vitale family. However, just as quickly as the expression had appeared, it vanished, leaving behind nothing.
“If you would still like for me to work here, I am more than happy to.”
Benito lowered his hands. He was a lot tanner than Gin was, and unlike Gin, he sported tattoos on his hands. Silver rings decorated his fingers. “Have a degree?”
I shook my head as my upbringing shattered another dream of mine. “I have a high school diploma.” No thanks to my father. Even outside his house, he still controlled my life. I could practically hear him in my ear telling me I wasn’t smart enough for college. I wasn’t good enough.
“While you work here, why don’t you look into going to college?” Benito said.
My head snapped up, and I stared at the man like he was insane. Well, he is related to Giancarlo, so he might be. “Really?”
Benito hit the button on the corner of his desk. “Janet, let Gin in.”
“He’s on his way, sir.”
Two seconds passed, and Giancarlo came crashing through the door. The moment I saw him, the tension in my shoulders eased.
“Why did you steal him?”
“I didn’t steal him. I saw him working and called him to have a talk. You knew I wanted to see him, remember?”
“He didn’t hurt you, did he?” Gin asked as he grabbed my chin and turned my head from side to side.
A grin pulled at my lips as I answered him. “No, he offered me a job.”
“He what?” Giancarlo looked ready to murder his brother.
I didn’t expect him to be so upset. “Gin, you don’t want me to take it?” If he said he wanted me to stay home, I would. I liked the idea of working in the office but staying home was what I was used to.
“That’s— Shit.” Gin grabbed my arm and marched me out of Benito’s office.
“Gin,” his brother shouted.
I glanced back as Benito shook his head. Even he seemed at a loss sometimes on what to do with Giancarlo.
“You trying to get a job to pay me back? We already have a deal.”
Huh?
“If you’re trying to go back on it—” Giancarlo shoved me against the wall, his hand moved to my throat as he forced my head back. “I’m not letting it happen.”
He crashed his lips down on mine. Every thought left my head as I fell prey to Giancarlo. One kiss from him and I was ready to nosedive into the well of desire. He forced my legs open, and his thigh pressed against my aching cock, sending tendrils of pleasure through my body. Giancarlo was making my head muddy with want. Soon I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between left, right or up and down. He did this to me every single time.
My hips bucked as I started to lose the battle for pleasure. Giancarlo’s kiss became savage. He bit me like he wanted to eat me whole.
Don’t stop. Devour me. My heart hammered against my ribcage, and my lungs burned. All that, and I never wanted Giancarlo to stop. Not when it felt so good.
Giancarlo pulled back just as spots started to dance in my vision. My breaths came out as pants while my entire body lit up like the Fourth of July. I wanted more. I locked my lips, chasing after the delightful tingles left behind from our kiss.
“You’re crazy,” I muttered.
“You haven’t seen crazy yet.”
I didn’t doubt that. “Gin, you misunderstood.”
His dark brown eyes held so many emotions I could hardly pinpoint one. I cleared my throat, forcing the desire down.
“I wanted to take the job to help you.” My face heated as I said the next part. “And this way, I can be here and will get to see you in the office sometimes instead of waiting at home all day.”
“The money.”
“Oh, that. I told Benito no to paying you back. Instead, I was thinking of using it to pay for college. Well, I didn’t have that thought at first, but Benito gave me the idea.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you wanted to go to college?”
I shrugged. “It’s never been a choice for me.”
Giancarlo stole another kiss, and I was brought back up to that place where up was down, and everything around me made no sense. All except Giancarlo and the way he made me feel.
I groaned as he pulled back before I was ready.
“Tell me whenever you want to do something. You want to go to college, tell me. Want to visit somewhere, let me know. If you want to drive, we’ll do it.”
“Can I really drive?”
Giancarlo smiled. “Okay, but not Baby. We’ll pick up a different car.” Giancarlo pulled out his phone and groaned. He stabbed at the screen. “We are still in the building. We’re heading back to your office now.” Giancarlo hung up and placed it back in his pocket. “You want to do this, right, kid?”
I nodded.
Gin stared at me before backing up. “And you won’t be using any of the money toward buying yourself back from me?”
I shook my head.
“I can pay for college.”
“Not happening.” I moved around Giancarlo and fixed my shirt. My cock was hard pressing against the seams of my pants. I glared down, willing it to go away.
“Need me to take care of that before we go talk?”
“No, I don’t want to keep our boss waiting.” I emphasized boss, knowing just how much it got under Giancarlo’s skin. I was either going to get throat fucked or get to plow Gin’s ass all night. Win-win.
“You little shit.” Gin reached for me, but I ran before he could catch me.
Benito was still at his desk when I walked in. “Sorry about that.”
He waved it off. “I’m used to my brother’s antics.” Benito’s gaze bore into me. “He’s feeding you?”
“Yes.”
“Of course, I feed him.” Gin lifted my shirt. “Look at him. He ain’t a tiny twig anymore.”
“Gin.” I slapped his hand, and he laughed as he dropped my shirt.
I wasn’t super skinny anymore. I’d filled out and was even able to put on a little muscle. It came in handy when I wanted to manhandle Giancarlo in the bedroom.
“I take care of what’s mine,” Gin said.
“Until you get bored and forget it’s there.”
They were talking about me as if I weren’t there and nothing more than a pet for him. I shook my head. It was just like the first time I’d met Benito.
“Ash is smart, and what he found isn’t small. I can’t stress this enough, Gin. This needs to be successful.” Benito stared at Gin. If looks could kill, Gin would be on the floor twitching and gasping with his last breath.
“He said he’ll work. I”m not going to stop him.”
Benito looked skeptical, but he sighed. “Good. Ash, I need you to go over those files again. This time there will be accountant names attached to certain files. I want to know exactly who all covered this fuck up.”
“Yes, si—”
Giancarlo cleared his throat. I peeked at him. He raised a brow in response.
“Mr. Vitale is fine,” Benito said.
I nodded. “Yes, Mr. Vitale.”
“Ash, you’re free to go,” Benito said.
I glanced at Giancarlo, and he nodded for me to go. I headed toward the door.
“I received a call from Alessio Fallaci. You came inside of Marco’s damn car?” Benito slammed his hand on the desk. “Gin, we don’t need the damn Fallacis nipping at our fucking ankles.”
“They’re trash anyway.”
“Yes, but they still hold ground here. You’re paying for the detail.”
“I ain’t paying shit.”
The door closed behind me. I didn’t want to be there for that conversation.
* * *
The shopI’d found online was small and family-owned. There was high-end leather attire all over the store. Besides me, there were only three people, and each one had someone assisting them. I tugged at my shirt nervously. It took me an entire two weeks before I’d decided on what to get Gin.
“Have you been helped, sir?” an older gentleman asked me. His silvery locs were pulled back. His gray eyes were soft, and the gray mustache made him look kind and regal.
“Oh, no.” I smiled back at him.
“I can assist you over here. Tell me exactly what you’re looking for.”
“It’s a gift.” I pulled out my phone to show him what I’d been looking up. His shop specialized in custom attire, and I wanted it to fit perfectly.
“Would you happen to have measurements?”
“No, sorry. I didn’t think about that.” My shoulders slipped as disappointment slid down my spine.
“Is it possible to ask this person to take a picture next to a quarter?”
It couldn’t hurt to ask. “One second.” I grabbed my phone and sent Giancarlo a message.
Me: Send a picture of your hands next to a quarter.
Gin: Who the fuck has a quarter
Me: Gin, please.
The picture came through a second later, and I handed it over to the clerk. He looked the phone over. He placed a quarter on the screen and zoomed in until the picture lined up. Nodding, he took multiple measurements before handing the phone back to me.
“I should have them ready in two weeks.”
“Perfect.”
The clerk smiled and brought a few colors for me to look at. I knew instantly which one would match Giancarlo. I didn’t hesitate as I pointed to the one I wanted.
“Good selection, sir.” The clerk grabbed the book and wrote down my order. “There is an embroidery option.”
I chewed my lip. Embroidery was nice, but in the case of the police ever getting ahold of them, I didn’t want anything to lead back to Giancarlo. I shook my head before a thought occurred to me. “Yes, can you put this on the inside?”
Puppy!I wrote the word on the slip, and the clerk took it.
“Would you like for them to be delivered or picked up?”
“Delivered, please.”
The clerk nodded. As he rang me up, I jotted down my address for the delivery. I had more than enough money to pay for the gloves and the express option.
Gin: When are you coming home?
I smiled at the message.
Me: Miss me?
Gin: Miss that fat ass dick.
I hurriedly buried my phone as the clerk came back. My face was hot and no doubt redder than a tomato. If he noticed, he said nothing. Thank goodness. My phone buzzed in my pocket again, and I was reluctant to pull it out. Knowing Giancarlo, it would be another insane message. Or a dick pic.
Gin: Come home already.
Me: I’m on my way back now.
I finished everything up and left with a pep in my step. I’d purchased Giancarlo a gift, and he was at home waiting for me. My life couldn’t get any better. I hoped he liked his present. His knuckles were steadily being torn up. Yeah, he said he used Silvy, but from all the injuries and what I witnessed, he used his fists more. Probably to keep from damaging the damn hammer.
The fine hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention, and I stopped moving. I could feel eyes on me. I looked around, but I didn’t see anyone at first. Three men stood out as they moved toward me. I swore I’d seen them before.
The time I was left at Gin’s place came to mind, and I briskly walked to the crosswalk. I slapped the button repeatedly, knowing it didn’t make it go any faster. Still, I needed something to do. The moment the walk symbol came on, I jogged across the street. I didn’t stop moving as I glanced over my shoulder. They were still there.
Fuck.I reached for my phone to call Giancarlo. Not looking where I was going, I ran right into another body.
“I’m so sorry,” I grunted as I backed up. “Are you okay?” I looked up and met my father’s steely gaze.
“Da— father.”
“Took you long enough.”
For what?It took my brain far too long to remember he’d demanded I go out alone to give him more money. I’d been so wrapped up in Giancarlo, work, and looking into schools it had slipped my mind.
“Oh, I—”
“What is this?” He grabbed my hair and tugged me around the corner. “Cut this shit. You look a mess.”
Gin likes my hair like this.I reached up to touch it. My brunette strands touched just below my ears. There was a slight bump at the ends now.
“I’ve been waiting too long. Hand it over.”
“What?”
I knew better. My back hit the light pole. My father moved fast as he kicked me. I barely moved in time. Instead of the torso where he had aimed, he hit my hip hard. Pain sliced through me, making me see double.
Fuck.
“Get up, Ash, right now,” my father said through gritted teeth.
My body responded without thought. I got up off the dirty sidewalk, pushing past the pain. He straightened my jacket and pulled me close once again.
“Try playing dumb again, and I will drag you down for a lesson.”
My entire body shuddered at the word. My trembling fingers shoved into my pocket, wrapping around the loose dollars I had on hand. I took them out and passed them over.
“Sorry, father.”
“Forgetting yourself hanging out with trash.”
My head snapped up. “He’s not trash.”
The hand smacking me against the back of the head was expected. He could put me down all he wanted, could call me worthless or any name in the book. However, I wouldn’t stand for him doing the same to Gin.
My father stared at me after counting the money I handed him. “I know you have to have more. You were in Brix and Son’s leather shop.”
I had thought he’d been watching me or had someone watching me, but this proved it. A slimy, disgusting feeling crept over my skin at the knowledge. I pulled out my wallet, wanting our interaction to be over already. I pulled out the remainder of the cash. Good thing I left the credit card Gin had given me at home.
“Eight hundred. Finally showing some promise.”
I wouldn’t even be carrying around that much, but I hadn’t been sure how much Gin’s gift would cost. “Can I go?”
My father’s smile vanished as he glared at me. “Fuck off and bring me more next time.”
I moved to the side and headed back the way we’d come.
“Ash.”
I didn’t want to stop. My stupid feet halted regardless of my feelings. I want to go home.
“Don’t make me wait again.”
I nodded, hoping it was the end of the conversation. If I went the rest of my life never hearing the sound of his voice again, it would be a miracle. He was my father, but he made me wish he wasn’t. I used to be riddled with guilt from those kinds of thoughts, but as I briskly headed home, I felt nothing.
I practically raced into the house, slamming the door behind me.
“Kid, that you?”
I forced down all thoughts of my father and everything outside the house from my mind. “Yeah.” Good, my voice was a lot steadier than I felt.
“I’m making popcorn. Want some?”
“Are we watching a movie?” I asked as my nerves settled the longer I was in the house.
“Regular tv.”
“Yes, I’ll have some. I’m going to shower really quick.” I raced for the bathroom before Gin could ask me why. My room was a welcome sight, and I sighed. I rushed into my shower, wanting more and more to be next to Gin.
My hip hurt like a bitch, and the moment I was out of the shower, I examined it. The skin was already darkening with a bruise. Shit, I’d have to hide it from Gin. My stomach knotted with unease at the thought. Great, more lying.
I leaned over the sink, staring down at it. “Why can’t he leave me alone?” My voice was barely above a whisper. My father had already sold me. What more did he want from me? I knew the answer to that question, but no amount of money would satisfy him. At least this time, I gave him only the money I got from work and nothing Giancarlo had given me.
I slipped on comfortable clothes doing my best to avoid too much pressure on my hip. I toweled and dried my hair as I headed to the living room. Gin was already lounging on the couch, the television blasting some action-packed show.
“Why cartoons?” I asked as I took a seat next to him.
“First off, it’s anime. Second, I’m in a rewatch mood.”
“They’re speaking Japanese.”
“No, really?”
“You’re Italian,” I said.
Giancarlo looked ready to murder me as he glared my way. “Ash, there are subtitles.”
“But it comes in an English version.”
“Kid, hush and just watch it.”
I settled further on the couch next to Gin, prepared to enjoy whatever this show was.
“Can you speak Italian?”
Gin’s gaze never wavered from the anime. “Yes. Chiudi il becco. Fammi guardare il mio programma.”
“What did that mean?”
“If you don’t stop talking, I’m going to get the duct tape from the trunk and wrap your face up.”
Did it?I pulled my phone out and typed in google translate. “Hey! You told me to shut the fuck up.”
“And yet, you’re talking.” Giancarlo glanced down at me, and his gaze moved to my phone. I watched in slow motion as his eyebrows furrowed. “What happened to your screen?”
Shit. I meant to get it fixed but most of the money Benito paid me went to Gin’s gift and the rest to my father.
“Sorry.”
“I’m not angry, but you could have told me you broke it. I’ll get you a replacement.”
“No need. It still works, see.” I swiped over the screen, showing it mostly responded to my touch.
“Don’t worry, I’ll add it to your bill.” Gin smirked at me as if he was clever.
“At this rate, you’re going to end up keeping me forever.”
Giancarlo turned away from me, but I still caught his smile. Damn asshole would drown me in debt. At the rate we were going, I was never going to pay my bill in full.
I stuffed my phone in my pocket and moved closer. Gin slouched down slowly, leaning closer to me. We were opposites in so many ways, and yet there was an undeniable pull between us. Even now, on the couch, I wanted to be closer. If he’d let me, I’d sink my cock inside of him and be flush against him. It wasn’t even about sex. I just wanted to be as close as possible with Gin.
Pain seared through my flesh as Giancarlo’s elbow pressed firmly against the bruise on my hip. I sucked in a sharp breath, trying to hold back the cry that wanted to break free.
“What’s wrong?” he put the bowl of popcorn on the coffee table. The concern in his voice did funny things to my heart.
I shook my head. “Nothing.”
“It’s something,” Giancarlo growled. He yanked me off the couch, shoving up my shirt and tugging down my shorts just enough to expose my hip. “Where the fuck did this come from?”
“I must have hit something.” I shrugged as if it was no big deal. I’d been lying about bruises since elementary, and it wasn’t until high school that I didn’t have to lie anymore. That was when things had become worse, but an old habit wasn’t exactly easy to get rid of. Making up a story about where the bruise came from slipped free before I could even think about it.
Giancarlo stared at me. “Ash, this doesn’t look like you ran into something.”
I pulled my shirt down, and instead of telling him the truth like I wanted, I pushed on. “Random bruises pop up all the time. I’m fine. It’s just a little tender.” I grabbed the bowl of popcorn off the coffee table, desperate to move on from the topic. I hated lying to him; it felt like a razor blade was slicing into my tongue with every lie I spewed.
“Ash.”
I pushed him back and plopped down on his lap. “Gin, I’m fine. I’ll be more careful,” I said as he started to get up mumbling about pain medicine. The next time I saw my father, I’d tell him he had to stay away from me. That I was never coming back. Right now, I just wanted to be close to Giancarlo. “Sit down with me.”
The thought of standing up to my father made my hands tremble. I clutched the bowl tighter and pressed firmly against Gin. I could do this. Fear laced through every fiber of my being, screaming I couldn’t. That it was best to stay quiet and good. However, if I stayed the way I was, I couldn’t continue to be at Gin’s side.
That was far more terrifying than any of my father’s many lessons. Gin’s arm wove around my waist, settling my chaotic nerves further. I sucked in a slow controlled breath. Grabbing a handful of popcorn, I stuffed my face before offering some to Gin. He ate out of my hand as we watched the green-haired guy bounce off walls.
“Wait, does he have superpowers now?”
Giancarlo groaned. “Five seconds! You were quiet for five seconds.”
“It’s a legitimate question. No one could do what he just did. And wait, the pink-haired girl is his love interest, then why is the blonde elf now interested in him? Does he have to choose?”
“Ash, watch the fucking show.”
“I’m trying, but wait a minute, is that— Isn’t that his sister? Why is she pressing her boobs all on him like that?”
“It’s anime!”
“That explains nothing. And why in the hell is his guy best friend more girly looking than his love interest? Wait, isn’t this supposed to be actiony? It started off with a huge fight, and now he’s getting girls.”
“I’m going to turn it off.” Giancarlo reached for the remote, and I hurriedly grabbed it and tossed it across the room. We both sat there in silence, the anime blasting in the background.
“Really?”
“I want to watch it. I’m just trying to understand,” I stressed.
Giancarlo blew out a breath. “Fine, I’ll explain it, but you have to shut up and actually watch.” He pulled me tighter against him, avoiding my bruised hip. “Might learn something from it.”
“Like what? How to pick up a group of women?”
Giancarlo groaned. “I’d cut your dick off before I let anyone else have a taste of you.”
Warmth encompassed me as Gin’s words settled deep in the pit of my soul. He didn’t want to share me.
“You make it sound like I belong to you or something,” I teased.
Giancarlo gripped my chin and turned my head. Our eyes met, and I was stricken by the severity of his gaze. “You’re mine.”
I waited on bated breath for the until or for now, but it never came. Fuck this. Hope would be the death of me.