Chapter 21
JADE
I understand why he’s holding back, why he won’t sleep with me. After everything I’ve revealed, it makes sense. But I’m not some delicate flower he has to keep in shatterproof glass. I may be breakable, but I’m strong. I want to experience everything together.
When I first told him about what I’ve been through, my biggest fear was his rejection, but he proved me wrong. He wants me still.
Finally, I’m wanted.
Finally, I matter.
ENZO
As soon as I got to work today, I told my brothers what Joelle told me about the Bianchis. We didn’t waste any time. Dante and I went after Joey Russo, but he wasn’t in his office, and according to his secretary, he took a long vacation. We knew what that meant. Joelle was right. He has info.
When we couldn’t find Joey, we captured two Palermo men instead. Jared, their accountant, and Victor, an associate, hoping they’d tell us something of value, but neither told us shit.
Jared was too scared of the Bianchis to give us a location for the women and kids, while Victor was a real son of a bitch, refusing to talk on principle.
But he did tell us one thing—Faro killed our mother. He was more than happy to rub that in our faces, recounting how Faro arranged her murder.
It was all over money. My father wouldn’t pay for protection, so he decided to pay my father back by taking the love of his life. That’s what my mother was to him.
Besides us, she was his whole life, and the Bianchis managed to take her from him three years before taking one of his sons. Their cruelty is far-reaching and unending, and it’s time they’re stopped. It’s time for their reign to end, once and for all.
I didn’t have time to get cleaned up after Dante and I took care of Victor and Jared. My knuckles still covered in their dried blood, my black hoodie concealing the crimson soaking up the material.
I hope like hell this doesn’t scare Joelle off, even though I told her what we were up to. I wanted her to know how far I’d go to find her boy.
I step up to the house, the night wind gusting past my face as I enter, finding Joelle asleep, curled up on the sofa, hugging one of the soft, fluffy pillows I bought from one of those late-night shopping channels.
It looked comfortable and was a total impulse buy, but I’m kinda happy I did, seeing how good she looks with it tucked against her.
As though attuned to me, her eyes flip open, and she instantly sits up, noticing the blood on my hands.
She rises, stepping to me, clasping her hands around my knuckles. “Anything?”
I shake my head, already despising the disappointment on her features.
“This is hopeless, isn’t it?”
“No.” I cradle her cheek, lifting her eyes to mine with a tilt of my thumb.
“It’s not nearly over. No one’s giving up and you won’t either.
” I lower my lips to her forehead, kissing her affectionately, never realizing I could be this way with a woman.
“If they had killed him,” I continue, peering back at her, “Faro wouldn’t be shy about letting us know. My gut says your boy is still alive.”
“I hope you’re right.” She lets out a deep sigh. “I need him, Enzo. Without him, I won’t make it.”
“I know, baby.” With my arms around her, I hold her tightly against me, because right now, that’s all I can do.
FIVE DAYS LATER
Once we got rid of Victor and his pal, Jared, we wasted no time following some of the other associates of the Bianchis, capturing those we could.
But none talked. It’s like they’re more afraid of Faro and his brothers than they are of dying, and their deaths were fucking painful. We made sure of that.
In these past days, Joelle has grown more anxious, the fear of never seeing her son is all she thinks about and talks about. I feel damn useless. But today, I decided to get her mind off the search, even if it’s for a few hours.
Dom would have my head for this if he knew, but he won’t. No one’s there to tell him. Dante doesn’t even know. If he thought I was putting us in danger, he’d beat my ass too.
I knock on the bedroom door, knowing she’s behind it, getting ready for the dinner I arranged at a five-star restaurant, overlooking the water in New York City. The place is exclusive, and not the area the Bianchis or their clowns hang out in. No one will spot us there.
“Come in,” she says from a distance. I enter, not seeing her at first until I step into the walk-in closet and find her staring at herself in the full-length mirror.
The tight black dress hits right above her knees, her ass snugly wrapped beneath it, her long hair curled at the ends, reaching her lower back. The red heels make her taller, only a few inches shorter than me.
“Damn, baby.” I whistle. “Turn around. Let me look at you.”
She does, a sheepish smile creeping over her.
My heart stills as I gaze at the woman I love, my attention swinging from her full red lips to those firm, tanned legs I’d like clasping my face right about now. “How are you this perfect?”
“Oh, shut up.” She waves a hand in the air dismissively. “This is too much.” She fingers the diamond studs I bought her.
I cut through a few steps until I’m near enough to kiss her, my mouth brushing softly over hers. “It’s not nearly enough.” I reach a thumb up, flitting it down the side of her face, careful not to ruin her makeup. “You deserve everything, and I’m gonna be the one to give it to you.”
Her brows dip, exhales a harsh pant, her eyes glazing over. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think I was dreaming.”
“Not yet, baby. But you will be. When they’re all dead, you, me, and Robby, we can be a family.”
“You’d really want that? Because I don’t want you to feel like you have to take on a child. I’d understand if—”
“What did I tell you?” I cut her off, leaning in, whispering low with a hover against her ear. “I don’t say anything I don’t mean.” I pitch back. “I want this. I want us to be a family.”
She grins wide, blinking through the thick tears threatening to spill down her face. Her arms fold over my shoulders, lips landing on my cheek, and damn, I feel it everywhere.
“So what exactly do you know about raising a kid?” she asks, eyes narrowing with a tease.
“Nothing whatsoever.” I chuckle. “But you’ll be there to teach me.”
“Not sure I know much either.” A weak laugh stitches through her voice.
“Then we'll learn.” I clasp her hands in mine. “Together. You’re not alone anymore, Joelle. You’ve got me.”
She sniffles. “You’re an incredible man. You know that?” Her features ride with adoration and it warms every fucking part of me. I never knew how good it could feel to fall in love.
“Yeah.” I shrug with a smirk. “I know.”
“Cocky bastard.” She shakes her head with a playful sigh.
I plant my palms on her hips, pulling her up against me with a groan as her lustful gaze aligns with mine, the mood shifting. Her hand crawls down my stomach until a finger swipes over my hard-on, thick, straining within the confines of my pants, wanting inside this woman like a damn beast.
“Shit. What are you doing?” My words turn gruff.
“I need you to stop holding back, Enzo.” She doesn’t turn her eyes away. “I’m not scared. I’m not broken.” A tight fist wraps around my cock. “I want to taste you.”
“Fuck, baby,” I grit. “If you don’t stop moving that hand, I’m gonna fill that filthy mouth of yours.”
“Is that a promise?” There’s a light in her eyes, a devious one. She wants this. And I’m not about to deny her.
My hand jumps to the back of her head, hair rolling around my wrist as I yank hard, my teeth grazing the edge of her jaw. “You wanna be a dirty girl for me? Don’t you?”
“Yesss…” The word crawls with a whispery moan.
“You wanna suck my cock and let me fill that mouth?” I let my free hand slink down her body, sliding under her dress, two fingers roughly yanking her damp panties to the side, stroking her soaked clit.
“Yes, Enzo…” She throws her head back as I slowly ease two fingers inside her.
“Such a wet pussy.” I fuck her harder, fingers thrusting rough with deepened strokes.
Her breaths hitch, gasping. “Oh God, just like that….”
“Mmm, want my cum dripping down your chin, don’t you?”
“Enzo!” she cries as I ram into her G-spot, harder each time. She clamps around me, damn hungry for my dick to stretch her. “Fuck me… I want you so bad,” she gasps. “Don’t treat me any different. I need this.”
But she is different. Not just because of what she went through, but because she’s the only woman I’ve ever loved, and the last thing I want is to fuck this up. But if she really wants this, then I’ll give it to her.
“Want me to stuff my cock down your pretty little throat?” I tug her lower lip between my teeth.
“Yes, please,” she groans, rubbing her thighs against my touch as I increase the tempo.
“Mmm. So desperate for me.” I stretch her as I widen my fingers inside her. “I think we can be a little late to dinner.” I run a thumb over her clit, and her hands jump to my arms, nails clawing my biceps.
“So fucking desperate.” She sighs, her thighs trembling.
“Yes, you are.” I slide my fingers out of her, slipping them into my mouth and suck them dry while she watches hungrily.
“Get on your knees,” I growl, and she exhales my name, her eyes aroused, cheeks flushed. Fucking sexy as hell.
I tug on her hair, my lips brushing up her neck, teeth nipping her earlobe.
“I said, get on your knees and open your mouth.”
Her breaths are heavy, groaning as I drop my hand away and she lowers herself onto the floor, looking up at me. The eagerness in her gaze has my balls on fire.
Undoing the belt, I yank it off, wrapping it around the back of her neck, pulling each end until her lips meet my cock, still trapped within my pants.
“You feel how hard I am for you? Hmm? That’s how badly I want you. Now, you’re gonna show me how badly you want me.”
A luscious moan slips past her lips and over my hard-on, her tongue darting out, licking up, our eyes locked as she does.