Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Joey
She blinks at me in total disbelief. “You gave me your phone.”
“Yeah.”
“The one item that has all your secrets. Your internet search history, banking info, game saves…” She scoots over to a different cushion on the couch, a little closer to me.
Oh… I see. I just handed it over to her. I’ve got guys on my team who won’t even give their wives the unlock codes, much less willing to hand it over without a thought. I should have a swell of panic and fear. An urge to snatch it out of her hands. But I don’t.
The phone buzzes, and she types away for a few seconds then looks back at me. “You’re not worried that I’m going to hand this over to the FBI or something?”
“Noooo,” I say, and the word sounds as confused as I feel. Why am I not freaking the fuck out? I punched Uri for violating my privacy because he told me I had three missed calls notifications.
She throws her feet on the couch, wiggles, frowns, and tosses the phone back. “For a mob boss, you have a terrible sense of personal security."
I hate that she’s right.
The phone buzzes again, and it’s Donny, with a text: “I bought two.”
“Did he buy two 3D printers?”
Jenny rolls her eyes. “Yeah, to build an army of penises. I’m gonna be honest, I don’t know how effective they’ll be in the field of battle.” She adjusts her body on the couch and winces. “He doesn’t really have the heart of a hardened warrior, does he?”
I shake my head. “No, and we give him all the messy jobs in hopes to toughen him up. I don’t know what the fuck he wants, but it’s not this. A general in an imaginary army seems like as good of a choice as any.”
When she shifts on the couch for a fourth time, I ask, “What’s wrong?”
Jenny dips her head and pushes her hair behind her ears. “I don’t understand how you can sit like this.” She gets up and grabs her weird fluffy pillow and sits it behind her. She shifts her weight again and tries to get comfortable.
I feel betrayed by my leather sofa. It’s got two jobs—to be functional a place to sit and fuck on and to be comfortable. And right now, it’s fucking up fifty percent of its job. “How can I help?”
“Do you have a blanket? Or a throw pillow?”
I raise an eyebrow. “What part of my personality makes you think I would have a throw pillow?”
She smirks like she’s holding secret information. “Oh, buddy, you don’t know what you’ve been missing.” She adjusts to pull the cushion from behind her and hands it to me. “Try it.”
I position it behind me and lean back. And… my whole head gets a hug in a cloud of fluff. “Oh.” I think I might have said a word; it might’ve been a sound. I’m not sure. I hand it back to her. “This could get dangerous.”
“Wait until you try a fuzzy blanket too.”
I don’t know how it happens, but I’m on my phone, ordering pillows and blankets that Jenny approves of, and before long they’re delivered to the office, and Silvio is bringing them up to my condo.
He makes a comment about how his wife would love one of these, and I slam the door on him. He’s totally trying to steal one.
Next thing I know, I’m snuggled down in Fort Comfort. Jenny claims most of the pillows and blankets for herself, but my head is resting on her breasts, my body wrapped in warmth, and Kingston is sleeping between my legs.
I’ve never felt this relaxed. Shit, I’ve never felt relaxed, period.
Terror stabs through my brain and splinters into every cell of my body. I’m relaxed. I shouldn’t be. My family is at war. I have enemies at every corner. I never minded the constant looking over my shoulders… until now.
Why?
Kingston lifts his head and places it on my leg. Jenny is reading on her phone but playing with my hair.
I’ve got projects to manage, buildings to build, and an empire to run. But I don’t want to leave this couch. Everything that matters is already on here.
And there’s more.
Last night, the sex was… fun. And it’s fun being here now. The new positive feelings and the familiar instincts that have kept me alive this long battle each other. Time to call reinforcements.
Me: Have you guys ever had sex that was fun?
Donny: I’m fucking confused… what have you been doing?
Thiago: Are you doing taxes while you’re slamming your dick?
Dimitri: Why do you think we have so many people at the club?
Donny: Again, I am very confused.
Me: Shut up. Did you know breasts make excellent throw pillows? I own five now.
Donny: Boobs? What? Five? I don’t understand.
Uri: I wasn't aware that tits could be pillows.
Dimitri: That’s the best part! They’re squishy.
Me: I think I’m… comfortable. Is this something that’s supposed to happen?
Thiago: Send pics or it didn’t happen.
Donny: If someone doesn’t fucking translate what the hell is going on, I’m going to break some legs.
I lift my phone and take a picture of my head on Jenny’s lap.
Donny: Ohhhh. Joey’s got himself a cozy girl.
Me: Cozy girl?
Donny: Likes to read, would rather be with animals than people, owns every blanket on Target’s shelves.
Lance: Ohhh lucky. Cozy girls are the best. I’m about to marry one.
Donny: No, this is terrible news.
Donny: Joey will never feel this level of comfort again.
He’s known the joy of fuzzy blankets, throw pillows, and sippy cups.
He will have everything he needs within arm’s reach of the couch.
She’ll never watch a show without you. And once you fuck things up, you’ll never feel the safety, snuggly joy again.
Me: Who says I’m going to fuck it up?
Thiago: Life experience.
Lance: Anyone with half a brain cell.
Uri: In the week you’ve known her, you’ve insulted her multiple times, told your whole family you fucked her, and thrown her into a mob war.
Uri: Who wants to take bets on how fast this thing implodes?
Dmitri: I’m a romantic, so three months…Tops.
Me: Fuck every single one of you.
Lance: Naw! He’s going to marry her and die in her arms to be petty.
Donny: Best fucking advice: You’ve got a cozy girl and a dog… LOCK THAT SHIT DOWN.
Donny: Mostly so she can teach me how to use a 3D printer.
Dimitri: What’s she doing right now?
Valid question. Her eyes are darting back and forth as she stares down at her screen. “Whatcha reading?”
“A girl is getting railed by two demons while the seven deadly sins watch,” she says.
“Oh.” I’m not sure what to do with this information.
“You can tell them.” Her eyes are still focused on the screen. “I’m not ashamed. If you are, then that’s your issue.”
Valid point. Okay. Fine.
Me: Reading demon smut.
Donny: DIBS!!! ME!!! I CALL DIBS!!! When Joey fucks this up, and we all know he will, I want first shot at her.
Lance:..
Dimitri:...
Thiago: ::awkwardly looks around chat::
Uri: Why are you calling dibs? You’re the only one who’s single.
Donny: Fuck all you guys.
I toss my phone on the table and adjust on the couch so I can see her better, which makes Kingston grumble. “Will I be benefiting from your reading endeavors?”
The side of her lips curl. “Don’t know. Benefits mean you would have to move. Are you ready for that?”
Hmm. “Five more minutes, and then I’ll start moving.”
“Good choice. Because now she’s about to take on a third demon. Hands, horns, and tails are everywhere.”