24. Chapter 24 - Madison
A neon pink, penis-shaped shot glass is shoved into my hand. Tequila sloshes over the rim as Lexi slams her own glass against mine.
“I want to thank my Matron of Honor and Conor’s Best Man, Liam for planning this incredible bachelor and bachelorette weekend!” she shouts over the music bumping through the speakers. The beach at Diego’s private island is crowded with our close family and friends.
Tiki torches line the pathways and surround the white furniture placed aesthetically throughout. Warm Edison string lights glow above us, making the space cozy and romantic.
This moment feels anything but.
There is a buzz in the air that crackles with mischief and uncertainty of what’s to come.
My eyes shift to Liam who is laughing with his shot glass held high in the air. His other arm is wrapped around Lainey’s waist, keeping her tucked into his side. She too, has her glass raised along with the rest of our crew.
“We are honored to have been given the responsibility to plan this,” he boasts. His dark eyes briefly flicker to mine before saluting me with his glass and tilting his head back to take the shot.
I return the sentiment, tossing back my shot. “We are only just getting started,” I add, raising my voice to be heard over the cheers.
Liam’s eyes meet mine again before he and Lainey head towards the bar. Since we all arrived here yesterday evening, Liam has kept his distance. We have done most of our planning over the phone these last few weeks. Our dynamic has drastically changed. I mean, we knew it would. We chose this.
Still, the tequila burns a bit more than it used to.
Diego surprises me. He comes up behind me, his arms wrapping around my center as his lips press against my butterfly tattoo. “Hello, Mariposita .”
I spin around in his arms to circle my own around his waist, raising up on tiptoes to kiss him. “I missed you,” I confess against his lips.
“I missed you . I’m sorry it took me so long to get back to you.” He lowers his forehead to mine.
“Did you get any closer to sorting out your ‘big’ return?” I ask, curious as ever if his trip to Greece with his cousin went as planned. He left a week and a half ago to retrieve any ounce of information he could get his hands on. His source in the Greek Coast Guard was working alongside them. Sticking to his promise, he told me his plans and kept me informed every step of the way. He and Antonio had been working hard this last month, getting much closer to proving Geraldo was to blame for the explosion of Pontus.
“The Greek Coast Guard has limited evidence about the events of that night. Which helps my case. The only thing standing in the way of completely pinning it on my uncle is the statement they have from the officiant….I’m not worried. He will no longer be a problem.” The corner of Diego’s mouth curves up revealing his dimple .
“Diego…You didn’t .” I place my hand on his chest, staring up into his eyes for confirmation.
“No. No. I didn’t kill him, Mariposita ,” he laughs heartily. “He’s a man of God for fucks sake. I may have a laundry list of reasons to head straight to Hell when I go, but I’d like to at least try to get a pass to where you’re going.”
I shake my head at the man before me. His logic is awful.
“Where you sleep, I sleep. That means if you don’t make it in, I’ll rip off my wings and take a skydive straight down to you. Better catch me, asshole.” I slap his chest before tugging him along towards the tiki bar where our friends are gathered.
“The hell you will,” he growls as I tug him along to the edge of the bar where Lexi and Con are.
“Madison! Get your ass over here and do another shot with me,” she sings. “Oh, Hey , Diego. Welcome to the uncensored fun. Doesn’t your wife look absolutely edible tonight?”
Diego tilts his head down to look at me before licking his lips. His eyes roam the exposed skin playing peekaboo through the cut outs of this hip-hugging peach dress. “She does. In fact, I may have to steal her away for a moment after this shot.”
“Wait up! I want in.” Liam booms, making his way towards us. Wait, what?!
When he reaches us, he claps Diego on the back. “Glad you’re back. Madison has been unbearable lately. So snippy. You know what she needs to curb that attitude.” He breaks out into laughter while grabbing shots off the bar and handing them out to us. Oh…he wanted in on the shots…
“Oh, please,” I scoff. “I wasn’t that bad.
“Who are we talking about?” Killian joins us, seemingly amused. Liam hands him a shot glass.
“Madison when she’s cranky. You know what she needs.”
“Yeah… this .” Killian takes the pussy-shaped shot glass and licks the salt off the slit before slamming his shot back.
My jaw drops. Okay , fuck these men. Oh right, I already did. That’s why I am standing here as they discuss my sex life. They aren’t wrong. A good dose of vitamin D always makes me feel better. So, sue me. But for fucks sake. Do they need to be so vocal about it?
Diego is the first to speak. “I respect you all. I know you have a past with Madison, but if I hear any of you talk about her sex life again, you won’t be able to talk about it ever again. Your jaw will be wired shut so tightly…” he starts to growl. I intervene by gripping his bicep and dragging him to one of the private cabanas along the beach.
The white linen curtain swooshes shut behind us as I push him down onto the wicker couch. I straddle him, grinding myself down onto his hard as stone cock. My fingernails rake into his curled hair as my lips devour his. He reacts immediately, roughly cupping my ass beneath my dress and pushing me down onto his length. Needy fingers slide the matching lace thong to the side before he sinks one through my slickness.
“Baby, you are soaked,” he groans against my lips.
“That was so fucking hot. How you stood up for me,” I pant between kisses.
His lips find my neck as he murmurs, “You aren’t the only one who gets cranky. A week and a half is too fucking long. I need to sink so far inside you right now, Mariposita . I can’t be gentle with you right now.”
“I don’t want gentle . I need you to fuck me, Diego. Don’t foreplay. Don’t tease…” My voice shakes as I struggle to get his belt and buttons undone.
Finally, I free him, running my clenched fist up and down his length. He growls in response, lifting my ass and entering me swiftly. I cry out, my walls cinching around him. We move together, desperately grinding into each other. His fingers grip my hair at the scalp, holding me in place as his cock pounds into me .
It’s too much and not enough.
His grunts ricochet around the tent, not giving a damn who hears us.
“Yes! Christ, Diego, I missed you.”
“Me too, baby. So much. I promise you I am so close to clearing my name. You will have the life you deserve. No more hiding in the shadows. I want the whole fucking world to know you’re mine.”
As if he wasn’t already practically splitting me in half, he pushes into me harder, tearing an Earth shattering orgasm right out of me. I scream out my release into the crook of his neck as tears work their way down my face.
“In the dark, in the light. I’m yours.” I place a kiss to his collarbone.
“Feel better?” The palm of his hands skim up my back.
“Much,” I giggle, resting my head on his shoulder.
“You?” I ask, tracing my index finger up the button of his collared shirt.
“Definitely.” He lifts my head, gently clearing the remaining tears off my face. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“Not at all. It was just really intense—in a good way. That’s why I cried,” I confirm, shooting him a smile as I sort out my dress and stand.
He tucks himself back in, situating his clothes before standing. Firm hands reach out and angle my head up, his lips press against mine in the most delicate way. “It was like that for me too, Mariposita . Shall we get back to the party?”
“Yes. Lexi is probably looking for me. You think they heard us?”
“I think the astronauts on the International Space Station heard us,” he chuckles. “Come on, beautiful.” His hand twines with mine, guiding us out of the cabana and back towards the rowdy crowd.
Lexi and Conor are dancing under the Edison string lights. Her brother and his husband are there too, dancing to the lively EDM music blasting out of the speakers. A kaleidoscope of colors paint Lexi’s smiling face. She is staring at her betrothed lovingly. It makes my heart swell. I couldn’t be happier for them.
Diego spins me around, leading me into the crowd. Lexi swivels her head to greet me and squeals a tone I know all too well.
“Maddy! Let’s dance.” She hugs me tightly, brushing my hair behind my shoulder while swaying with me. “Seriously. Thank you for planning this.” Her eyes scan the crowd and the beach. “This is incredibly beautiful.”
I squeeze her tightly. “You’re welcome. You both deserve to be celebrated before your big day. I can’t believe you’ll be married in a few days,” I gush.
“I know it was a lot to plan, considering we moved it up, but we just couldn’t wait any longer.” She releases me to collect both my hands in hers, raising them between us. “Who would have thought two goody two shoes would marry hot mobsters?” She laughs before her eyebrows push together then raise to her hairline. Her thumb skims over my engagement ring. “He proposed again?” she shouts giddily.
A warm smile grows on my face as my cheeks heat. A few of our syndicate members along with Diego, Liam, and Killian turn to look at the commotion. Diego winks at me from the bar. This is why I love him. Without asking, he’s given me the space to chat with my bestie. Sel is with him, smiling up at her brother who is looking at me like I hung the moon.
“He did,” I sigh contentedly. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I didn’t want to take away from your time to shine. Lex, I finally feel like my heart isn’t wandering. This feels so right. He’s it for me. I know I may have been unsure in the past—okay, one too many times—but this feels different. He’s different than anyone I’ve ever known.”
“I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure about him from the beginning. Because of how you started off. He seemed like he always had a hidden agenda…” she trails off before we both break out laughing and quoting Ms. Ungermeyer from The Lizzie McGuire Movie .
“‘Sneaky little brown noser with a hidden agenda’,” we mimic her voice, perfectly in sync.
This is exactly why we are friends. She gets me. We can’t help but bend over at the hip, holding our stomachs and cracking up as tears leak out of our eyes.
“But in all seriousness, from what I see on your face, and how that man is currently looking at you—as we act like complete weirdos…I’d say you are right where you belong.” Her smile broadens and she pulls me in for another hug.
“Alright, alright,” I sniffle, wiping a tear from beneath my eye. “Enough of the sap. Let’s get this party started!” I holler.
The two of us will always be thick as thieves.
At the thought of friendships, Lainey comes up to us. I should extend an olive branch.
“Hey, Lexi. Congrats, again! Can’t wait for the wedding. I’ve never seen Conor so happy.”
“Thanks, girly,” Lex says smiling at her. Her eyes shift to mine before Lainey turns to me.
“Madison, would you mind talking with me?”
“Yeah, sure,” I murmur hesitantly. I nod my head to the giant bean bag chairs around the bonfire. “Let’s sit,” I suggest.
We walk through the lunatics—as in my favorite men of the Tri-State Syndicate—now dancing and hugging each other in typical drunk male fashion. When we make it to the chairs, I plop down on one and she does the same. Lainey shifts so that she faces me and I awkwardly do the same. Get it together, Madison. You have nothing to feel awkward about. It’s not like you are fucking Liam.
“I wanted to thank you,” she starts. “Liam told me that you both held off in reuniting…sexually…and it could have gone in a completely different direction. I wouldn’t have been angry with you if it had, but it showed me that you and him really do respect Diego and I.”
“Oh. Yeah, of course. I mean we came close…but it just didn’t feel right anymore.” I spin my engagement ring around my finger, anxiously giving myself something to do with my hands.
She notices, eyes like a hawk. A genuine smile crosses her features. “Does this mean you are back to being Mrs. De La Cruz?” She nods her head towards my ring.
I look down at my ring for a moment before looking back up at her. “It does. Liam and I always thought we were going to do this one day. But he and I never realized how toxic we were. How we only fed each other’s fears...or how we brought out the worst sides of each other… It wasn’t always the best. Certainly not sunshine and rainbows. He’s an incredible man, Lainey. Since you’ve been dating him, I’ve seen him calm down with his temper. He’s smoking less, drinking less. You are so good for him. I hope you know that I am no longer trying to be in the race. I accepted Diego’s proposal again because we help each other grow. I need that kind of partner. I truly wish you guys the best.”
“I can see that you and Diego have that connection the way Liam and I do. And I trust that we are going to keep the lanes parallel and not let them intersect. But I am not stupid. Liam may have chosen me, and I can tell he is serious in his words and his actions…but there is always the past that will haunt him. It’s moments like today that I worry he shows his cards too much. About how you still hold on to a piece of him—even if you don’t mean to.”
I shrug, not knowing how to respond. “I can’t help that. I don’t think anyone can. Life is fucking messy, Lainey. Breaking up is like trying to mix iced tea powder into a glass of water. At first it all settles to the bottom, sitting there and heavy. It takes time mixing it for the majority to dissolve. And that’s what this is. Dissolving our past relationship. I can’t control anymore than he can the few granules that will always sit there at the bottom and never go away. That’s just life.”
“Damn. Using a drink analogy to explain to a chef that her man will always have lingering feelings for his ex.” She giggles and places her hand over mine, giving it a sympathetic squeeze.
Looks like we are in the clear.
“I get it. You both had an incredibly chaotic past. I also think had Diego never come into your life, you would still be with him. However, I do have one request, to ease my worries. If Liam gets all sentimental and even flirty with you, can you tell him to stop?”
“Uhh…Yeah? I mean he shouldn’t be doing that. If he does, I think you need to evaluate where you stand.”
“I want him so bad, Madison. It sounds pathetic. Since I was a kid, I have always had a crush on him. He never noticed. Not until a few months ago. I don’t want to lose him. We really are good for each other. I just fear my love for him will never be enough.”
My lips purse as I contemplate my words. “Would you like me to talk to him? I won’t say you said anything,” I offer politely.
“Could you? I don’t want to have to break things off with him. I was willing to wait while he figured out his feelings for you. It’s already been a few weeks and he still has moments where he is cranky for no reason. Or he just got off the phone planning things with you and he’s got a smile on his face that wasn’t there before you called. I guess I sound like a jealous, paranoid girlfriend. I just don’t want to always be dealing with your ghost. No offense.” She shoots me a fake smile that makes me uneasy .
“None taken,” I laugh, holding my hands up in surrender. “I’ll talk to him,” I stand, hinting that this conversation is over.
I can’t talk about this anymore.
Liam needs to stay in my past.
He’s not helping by making his current girlfriend insecure about where I stand in his life.