Chapter 11 Cesare
Fucking Rafael that other day still had me all tied up in knots.
It had been a long time since I'd lost myself like that.
Usually when I needed to get off, it was me, some paid woman, and an easy, transactional thing that ended in a tip and a smoke before I headed back to work.
Rafael was a complication. Yet after one time I was already thinking about doing it again.
"You listenin'?"
Rocky looked at me with a raised brow. His square jaw, dark eyes, and persistent scowl were familiar.
Out of everyone, he'd known me the longest. I didn't use him for most things because sometimes you needed to separate yourself from the job.
Now, however, I needed him. Mostly so I didn't have to deal with anyone else.
I talked to him, and he talked to all of my backers. It kept it clean. Steady.
"Cesare."
I blinked. "What?" I grumbled, smoking my cigar.
"You didn't hear a word I said."
"What did you say?" I sighed. "Maybe if you weren't mumbling…"
"Bullshit." He laughed and tapped ash from his cigar into the glass tray between us.
"You were off in your own world. Don't give me that crap.
" Rocky pointed his cigar at me. "I said Benito is losing contracts based on the reports.
There are rumors swirling. Embezzlement, unscrupulous behavior, dangerous connections.
The world always wants to eat the ones they see as the most right out.
And your son has built himself up to be something of a saint.
" He shrugged. "Things are going well. Once Benito is destabilized, it'll give you an easier opportunity to take the lead again. "
"Good," I grunted. "I need this hurried along. I'm not gettin' any younger."
"No, you are not," Rocky mused.
I glared. "You know, if I hadn't been around you for so long, I'd kick your ass."
Rockey snorted. "Yeah, yeah, I've heard it for years. We've fought, what? Three times in our lives? I think we're both too old to do that shit again. We'd pull something." Rocky looked me over. "I know you don't want to hear this—"
"Don't," I started.
"Are you sure you want to do this? Right now, things are already tentative between you and the boys. I'm worried about what will happen if they feel threatened enough to gang up on you. Taking out Benito, fine. But he's got brothers who would do anything for him. That makes him dangerous."
I snorted as I picked up my glass and drained the amber liquid down my throat.
"They're already together. You think they're not?
" I shook my head. "They're never going to be alone.
That's why I have to do this smartly." I exhaled smoke to the ceiling as we sat in my office, the cold white walls a shield against the outside world.
"Keep things going smoothly for now. That's what matters. "
Rocky nodded. "I'm on it," he said. "I'll see what else I can do."
"Good. Get out."
He shook his head. "You ever get tired of being a bastard?"
I lifted an eyebrow. "This is me being hospitable."
"Goddamn, if this is you being hospitable, I'm scared for the rest of the world."
I flicked ashes in his drink. "Shut up and get the fuck out."
Rocky shook his head as he stood. He put his cigar out, adjusted his jacket, and gave me a look like I was some kind of barbarian.
Not my fault he wanted to get on my nerves.
I was entirely too wound up today to deal with his crap.
I'd spent the better part of my night dealing with Joe.
Asking questions, getting nonsense answers, trying to be civilized when the world wouldn't allow me to be.
By the time I was done, Joe was a mushy pulp of flesh and insides, and I had relieved my irritation that one of my guards decided to touch what wasn't his to touch in the first place.
I'd paid a pretty penny for Rafael. If no one else was splitting the bill, then why the hell should they get even the slightest taste?
When Rocky slinked off, I walked out of my office.
Rafael wiggled his fingers at Rocky and then looked up over his phone to stare at me.
I still wasn't sure how I felt about him.
Something about the man tugged at me. It was like this niggling thing in the back of my mind that I knew him, saw him, had been around him before.
Every time I tried to figure it out, I couldn't place his face.
Maybe I was getting old and paranoid like my sons said I was. Or maybe he was someone else entirely.
I walked over to the couch he was laid out on.
He was wearing another ridiculous outfit.
Shorts that showed off too much thigh, a shirt that was more skin parading than anything else.
I reached up and grabbed a handful of his hair at the nape of his neck.
It was silken in my palm, and I squeezed tighter to make sure he wasn't going to go anywhere.
"What are you smirking about?" I asked.
"Nothing," he grunted. "I was looking at my phone."
"Yeah, keep your eyes on that phone instead of my men.
Or I'll take your pretty eyes out, turn them into jewelry, and make you wear them for the rest of your miserable life.
" I shoved him away from me. Rafael tilted on the couch before he looked up at me with those hazel eyes that said he didn't want to be anywhere but right here. He really fucked with my head.
"What's your full name?" I asked.
Rafael raised a brow. "Rafael Barbosa,” he said as he pushed himself up. "Why?"
I didn't answer him. I was going to send some of my guys out to check up on that name.
I was leaving most of it to Rocky, but it couldn't help to have some extra eyes and ears out there.
Besides them, I had myself, my phone, and a laptop that I could use to monitor Rafael.
Whatever he was hiding? I would figure it out one way or another.
Eventually, everything came to light. I would figure out who he was, what he really wanted. And then?
Well, if I had to put a bullet in his head? I would. No hesitation.
My hand reached down and gripped his thigh. "Don't ask why. Just do what you're told."
Rafael glanced up at me and bit his lip. "What do you want me to do, Daddy?"
I shoved his head into the couch and held it there until he started to flail. When I let go, and he sat up gasping and coughing, I smiled. Ah, that felt better. I slipped a cigarette between my teeth and looked at him. My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out.
Santiago: Words going around Benito is cutting a new deal on merch.
Cesare: Where did you get this from?
Santiago: Just the whispers.
Santiago: We gotta make a move soon. People are starting to talk.
Santiago: People are questioning if you should have even come back to New York.
Cesare: Then I suggest you get to shutting them up.
Fucking moron. Did I have to do everything for them? I pocketed my phone, all too aware of the eyes on me. Rafael’s head was tilted slightly, his brown hair fanning around him. His lips looked soft enough to caress. I knew from experience how great they felt around my cock.
I cleared my throat. "I’ve got work."
Rafael sat up. "Doing what?"
I raised a brow. "You in my business?"
"No," he said. "It's just… boring here when you're gone. There's no one to talk to."
My stomach tightened. An odd sensation went through me, and I glanced away before I looked back at him.
"That's pathetic," I said. "Don't you have friends?"
He pulled a face. "Why do I need those?"
Jesus. Even I had people I considered close. Rocky, yeah, Rocky might be a friend. He was one of the only people I trusted to get close to. I looked down at him, and he stared up with eyes the size of saucers. It was damn sad.
"What?" I asked finally.
"Can we go out?"
I blinked. "Out?"
"Yeah," he said, smiling. "Dinner sounds good. I could eat."
"Did I not just fuck the shit out of you the other day? What is wrong with you?"
He lit up. "I had fun. So… dinner?"
What the hell was wrong with him?
I pushed a hand over my face and looked down at him again.
On the one hand, going out with him in public was risky.
On the other hand, I was exhausted. Work, scheming, moving all the pieces on the board without getting my fingers chopped off was getting annoying.
Maybe I needed a break. A moment to breathe where I wasn't constantly surrounded by business.
I ran a hand over the stubble on my chin.
"You want to go out? Fine. Put some clothes on. Decent clothes," I reiterated. "If you come out with anything resembling a skirt, dress, heels, or hose, I'm going to drown you. People keep an eye on me. I need to make sure my image is intact."
"But you like it when I wear panties," he said.
I bristled. "That has nothing to do with it," I growled. "Can anyone see them? No. So I don't give a damn."
Rafael looked like he was considering my offer. Which was an insult in and of itself. Here I was actually contemplating taking him out somewhere, and he was tapping a finger along his chin like he had to check his calendar. I growled.
"Ah-ah," he said. "I was planning out my outfit in my head. Can you give me a bit to change?"
I grunted.
Rafael stared at me.
Scoffing, I threw up my hand. "Fine!" I snarled. "Hurry up."
Click.
There it was again. I blinked at Rafael, and he was smiling at me.
I didn't know what to make of that. He hopped off the couch, and I watched as he hummed and made his way back to his room.
As I stood there, trying to figure out the damn clicking sound and why the hell I had agreed to this in the first place, I stared at his retreating back.
My cock twitched. We would be lucky if we made it out of the restaurant before my hands were all over him. Discreetly of course, but still…
I took out my phone and quickly typed in the number for a restaurant.
Checking him out could wait until I got back.
He'd been working for Silver Dreams, and I knew Grand Myah didn't do mishaps.
She vetted each and every one of her escorts.
For now, it could wait. I put the phone to my ear and the call was picked up quickly.
"I need a table for two. Yes, for tonight. I need it to be good too." I hummed as I watched Rafael move through the open door of his room. He was humming, happy. Seriously, what was wrong with him? "Get it done."
I hung up the phone and watched as he got ready. Asking what was wrong with him was a problem, because I was still watching. So, what was wrong with me?