Paid In Full (Vitale Brothers Book 2)

Chapter 28

Today was the day.Finally, our schedules had been cleared enough that Gin would take me driving. Anxiety made my stomach bubble with each passing second.

“Gin!”

“In the kitchen.”

I nearly tripped going down the hall. At the last second, I righted myself and ran into the kitchen. “Ready?”

Gin looked up from his phone. “Ready for what?”

Had he forgotten? “You said you were going to teach me how to drive today.”

“I don’t remember saying that.”

My stomach plummeted. “Oh.” I was certain he had. We’d talked about it. Maybe he didn’t remember.

Giancarlo pulled me close, his chest rumbling with laughter. “Shit, you’re so cute when you get the sad puppy dog eyes.”

“Bastard.”

He hummed before kissing me. I pushed up to chase after his lips. I’d never tire of kissing him.

“The car was delivered this morning. We can go as soon as you’re ready.”

I wiggled free of his hold and raced back upstairs. I slipped on a pair of jeans. Socks and shoes were next. A plain t-shirt, and I was ready.

“Gin, I’m ready to go.”

“I can practically see a tail wagging.” Gin’s dark brown eyes lit up. “Ash, pull your pants down and wag your dick for me.”

“What? No.” I grabbed my shoes, putting them on as fast as possible.

“We aren’t going until you wag your tail.”

“You can’t be serious.” I glanced up at Gin and mentally groaned. He was serious. “Gin.”

“How am I supposed to know you’re happy?”

“By the smile on my face.”

“I’ve seen you fake it. Come on, pants down.”

Every day I thought I was getting closer to understanding Giancarlo, and every day, he proved me wrong. “Yes, sir.” I unbuttoned my pants. The faster I gave in, the sooner I’d be behind a wheel. I shoved down my pants along with my boxers.

“Go ahead,” Giancarlo encouraged.

This cannot be my life.

I moved my hips from side to side as my cock swung between my legs.

“Fuck, that thing is massive.” Giancarlo stepped closer, desire written all over his face.

I hopped back and covered my cock. “No.”

Gin’s eyebrow arched up. “Did you just deny me dick?” He cracked his neck from side to side. “Ash, you’ve seen how ornery not having coffee makes me. I don’t think you’re prepared for when I’m dick deprived. Especially a dick like yours.”

My heart hammered against my rib cage as I took a few steps back. “Gin, you said we’d go driving.”

“And we will. Let me have a taste.”

I shook my head. “It’s never a damn taste. We’re going to end up fucking for the next hour or three.”

Gin chuckled. “I’m not seeing what’s wrong with that.”

“Gin,” I stressed. I was looking forward to driving for the first time. Real driving, not jerking the wheel as Giancarlo acted insane.

“Fine, I’ll be good, but you owe me for holding back.”

“Add it to my bill.” Speaking of the bill, I needed to check just how much money I had left to pay.

I yanked my pants back up just as Giancarlo closed the distance between us. His hand ghosted over my clothed cock.

“I want to clear something up. You would rather drive a car than plow my ass?”

My breath hitched, and my cock twitched. “No.”

“Good. If your answer was different, I might have needed to take drastic measures.”

“Like what?”

Giancarlo shrugged, slipping on his shoes. He led the way to the standard car. There was nothing fancy about the Honda. All black, four-door, normal.

“Tie you down and ride your dick until you can’t physically cum anymore.”

I swallowed thickly. This man is fucking insane. I went for the driver’s side, only for Gin to stop me.

“Not yet. The street with actual people for a beginner is too crazy even for me.”

I could wait. I raced over to the passenger seat and sat down. My foot started to bounce instantly.

“Nervous?”

“No.”

“Kid, you’ve been twitching like crazy.”

I slapped my hand on my knee and forced it to stop. “I’m excited. There’s a difference.”

“Sure, just don’t get so excited you piss everywhere.” Giancarlo laughed at his stupid joke. “Well, it’s not Baby, but it’s a loaner. I’m sure the dipshit wants it back without pee.”

“Whose car is it?”

Giancarlo shrugged. “Eh, not important.”

I didn’t have the mental capacity to dig any deeper. I wanted to drive.

“All right, here should be good.” Giancarlo pulled to a stop in the middle of an empty parking lot. On one side, there were a bunch of cones set up.

Did Gin have this set up for me? My heart fluttered.

“Ready?”

I fumbled with the seatbelt and was out of the car before he could take it back. I rounded the car, bouncing on the balls of my feet.

Giancarlo got out, staring at me with a huge grin. “Here are the keys.” He dropped them in the palm of my hand.

I hopped behind the wheel, every inch of my body buzzing excitedly. I flexed my fingers around the steering wheel.

“Buckle up.”

Right. I needed to calm down. At this rate, I would pass out. I was so freaking excited. I blew out a slow, easy breath before buckling. Gin instructed me on how to start the car and which pedal was what. That part I knew from studying cars, at least.

“All right, go ahead and take her out of park.”

Nice and slow. My foot rested heavily on the brake as I put the car in drive.

“Good, see, easy. Now foot off the brake and give it a little gas.”

I did just that.

“Okay, give her just a little more gas.”

A little I can do that. My foot pressed against the pedal, and we vaulted forward. I lifted my foot and slammed down on the brake. My blood pounded in my ears as I tried to catch my breath.

“Shit!” Giancarlo’s hand shot out and landed on the dashboard.

“I’m sorry.”

Giancarlo cleared his throat. “It’s fine.” He sat up in his seat. “Don’t push down on the gas so hard.”

“Okay.” My grip on the wheel tightened as I tried again. I moved toward the makeshift course Gin had for me.

“What are you waiting for?” Gin asked.

I shrugged. I had no idea. Should I get out of the car and make sure I was lined up?

“Ash, they’re just cones. It’s okay if you hit one or two. You’re still learning.”

Giancarlo’s words eased some of the tension on my shoulders. I became one with the car. All those racing movies and videos I watched would come in handy. There was just the small issue of applying what I’d learned to the action.

I can do this.

The cones went flying over the windshield, and I jerked to the right and then the left, righting the car. I could do this. My foot pressed firmly against the pedal. I jerked all the way to the right, but instead of turning, the car skidded. Smoke surrounded us as I righted us again.

I put the car in park and smiled before I turned to Giancarlo.

One hand gripped the oh shit handle, and the other was pressed firmly against the dashboard. The car had stopped moving, but Giancarlo was still sitting there, breathing heavily.

“Gin?”

“Get from behind the wheel, Ash.”

“I didn’t hit all of the cones.”

Giancarlo shook his head. “You missed three of them. I wouldn’t call that great.” He got out of the car and bent over. “Fuck, I think I’m going to puke.”

I was up and out of the car in seconds. “Are you okay?”

“No, I saw my life flash before my eyes. Oh God, I haven’t had nearly enough sex.”

“Gin, I wasn’t that bad.”

“I nearly shit myself.” Gin swiped his hand over his face. He stood up and made his way to the driver’s side on shaky legs.

“Get in, Ash. In your rightful seat.”

I groaned. I’d loosened up while driving. It felt so natural once I got past my nerves!

“Gin.”

“Don’t Gin me. You will be a passenger princess from now on.” He pulled out of the parking lot and merged into traffic with ease.

I wanted to be able to do that one day. This isn’t fair. I wanted to argue, but Giancarlo still looked a little pale.

Fidgeting, I toyed with bits of the car. I opened the glove compartment as my eyes zeroed in on the registration. Abel Hollister. Fuck, he didn’t. I quickly shut it as Gin glanced my way.

“The stove and car are now off limits,” Giancarlo said.

“That’s not fair. I thought you were going to teach me.”

“Fuck that. I thought I didn’t fear death, but you’ve proved me wrong time and time again.”

He was being so dramatic. It wasn’t that bad.

* * *

Why am I doing this?I knew the answer and didn’t have to think very hard about it. I wanted to be happy with Giancarlo. I couldn’t do that if I kept the bastard who raised me around. The time had come for me to cut him off.

The thought was easier now. It was the action that would be like stabbing myself repeatedly. Once it was done, I was sure I’d be relieved or dead. Either way, I was going to be free.

My father walked my way, flirting every step with the hostess. She laughed none the wiser she was walking next to a vile demon.

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

She giggled. “Your server will be with you shortly.”

I don’t want to be here. Maybe this can hold off till next time.The idea made me dizzy. My hand shook as I grabbed the glass of water. No, it has to happen now. I want to be free.

“I see you haven’t cut your hair. Look like a fucking pansy.”

My father opened the menu browsing the options. I could almost pretend we were a normal father and son having lunch together. A family moment of catching up and joking with one another. The daydream held no real appeal for me anymore. I knew what real happiness felt like. My imagination hadn’t compared in the slightest.

“Rumor is that you’re a kept man. Everyone’s talking about how Giancarlo Vitale got him an innocent piece of ass hanging off his arm.” Roger looked up at me. The same blue eyes I’d known my whole life stared back with disdain swimming in their depths.

“You sold me. What did you expect?”

“More money,” Roger scoffed. “You have any idea how much it cost to raise a kid in New York? And I did it alone. Food, clothes, you just kept fucking growing and complaining the entire time.” He closed his menu.

“He bought me for one point five million dollars. You were the one with the debt. Consider it a kindness that he allowed you to pay it back.” I’d seen what Gin did to people who messed with the Vitale’s money. Roger had gotten off lightly.

He rolled his eyes just as the waitress came over. “Lucky, hardly. He stole you. I didn’t get a dime.”

“Good evening. What can I get you?”

“My son here will be covering everything since he became a whore for the mafia.”

The waitress’s eyes widened as she looked between us. A nervous smile stretched her pink-painted lips. “Um—”

My stomach rolled with unease. My need to cut him off and never see him again solidified the more he opened his mouth. “That’s fine.”

“I’ll take the surf and turf. Make the steak medium.”

She nodded her head and took the menu from his hands. Pity shimmered in her gaze, making me feel worse than before. I didn’t need her pity. It didn’t help me or anyone else.

“I’m okay with water.” I passed her back the menu. There was no way in hell I would be able to stomach anything. “Thank you.”

She smiled sweetly at me before escaping. I wish I could do the same. Instead, I was stuck here dealing with the lowest scum of the world. Roger sipped at his water, his gaze dancing all over the place.

“Whoever you have watching my house, tell them to stop.”

His head snapped forward. His beady eyes looked me up and down, assessing me. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Look, there is no reason for you to lie. I’ve seen them a few times when I’ve stepped out of the house without Gin. Call them off.”

Roger laughed. “Gin? You that comfortable with that sc—”

“Remove his name from your filthy mouth, or I’ll burn all the money I was going to give you today.”

“Who are you?” Roger shook his head. “No son of mine would ever speak that way to me.”

“Yeah, that Ash is dead. You’re not my father, and I’m not your son.” A weight lifted off my back, one I’d been carrying my entire life. Breathing felt easier. It might have been my imagination, but the world looked brighter.

“What?” Roger floundered as he missed his mouth and spilled water down his chin and over his shirt. “Shit, this is Armani.”

The waitress came over at that moment. “Oh, I’ll get you more napkins.”

“It’s not needed. It’s only water.”

She glanced at Roger for only a second as he dabbed at his shirt. “Your food will be out shortly.” Her gaze was still full of pity. “Are you sure I can’t get you anything?”

You can fuck off. Shit, I’ve been hanging around Gin too much.

Thinking about that gorgeous asshole made me feel lighter and happier. I smiled at the waitress, shaking my head. I wanted to make this as quick as possible; eating would only prolong the torture.

“You laughing at me?” Roger growled.

I sat up straighter, the smile falling from my face. Daydreaming about Gin right now was stupid. I was faced with a man who wouldn’t bat an eye at a child being abused. I’d chosen a public place, but Roger wasn’t above hurting me in other ways. I knew this and still let my guard down.

“No, s—” I snapped my mouth shut. The only man I called sir now was Gin. He’d be so angry with me if I said it to anyone else.

“No, what?” Roger asked.

It took every ounce of willpower to meet his gaze. “The reason I asked you to lunch was so that we can end all of this.”

“We can what now?”

Roger leaned back, a sly grin on his face. He was confident that I was under his thumb and sure I’d been for a long time. However, things were changing. I”d changed.

“No more, Roger.”

“What the fuck did you just call me?”

Bile burned the back of my throat, my stomach twisting and turning with nerves. “Roger. It’s your name. You were never a father to me.”

“You ungrateful piece of shit.” Roger shoved his chair back, his big hands slamming against the table. The tableware jingled. “You dare try to fuck me over, boy?”

I wanted to crawl into a small hole and close my eyes. “I can give you what I have now.”

“Sir, is there something wrong?” our waitress asked. She nervously looked between us, keeping some distance from Roger.

“No,” Roger said.

She waited by me, and I nodded in agreement. The fewer people I involved, the better.

“You forgetting where you come from and who raised you?”

How could I forget? Nothing in this world would ever erase the pain and trauma I went through. Being with Giancarlo helped soothe the aches, though, and to be with him, I had to stop this. I needed to cut off the man who continued to harm me. It wasn’t fair to Gin or me.

I doubted I’d ever forgive the man who raised me, not that he asked for it. At times I wished he’d died. Maybe I would have been better off. Other times I hoped he’d wake up and realize how much he was hurting me. Now all I wanted was for him to forget I existed and continue to live his miserable life.

“I asked you a question.”

Pain shot up my leg as Roger kicked me under the table. I jerked forward, biting my tongue to keep the sound at bay.

Another bruise. Fuck, I don’t want to lie to Gin anymore.

I moved my legs. Determination battled the fear and anxiety that riddled my body. “This is it.”

I pulled out my wallet and grabbed every bill I had. This shouldn’t be so fucking hard. Years of being under his thumb came flashing before me, and sweat sliced down my spine. It was cool in the restaurant, but it felt like the sun was beating down on the back of my neck.

Roger snatched the money from my hand, his lip twisting into a frown as he counted it. “There is no way this is enough. You will have to give me more.”

No, no, no.I couldn’t be tied to him any longer. “That’s not—”

“What the fuck is happening?” Giancarlo’s deep voice echoed through my body, sending a new kind of fear pulsing through me. I turned to stare up into his furious dark brown eyes.

Why is he here?This couldn’t be happening. This had to be a nightmare.