Chapter 19
Ryan
W hat the fuck am I doing? I kept asking myself as I splashed my face with water. Siena wanted me. She didn’t have to tell me; I’d felt her need for me in her body when we’d kissed.
I was supposed to put Carlo, and in turn, Tony before all this shit, but the more I learned about how Siena felt about me, the more Carlo and his family slipped from my mind.
I couldn’t fight this. I wanted her so fucking much, and knowing she felt the same way meant that, at some point, we would break. There might have been too much at stake, but we were at the point of no return.
I’d jerked off in one of Carlo’s guest bathrooms when I left the kitchen. Yeah, I’m a pervert, but after getting my hands on Siena again, even if it was only for a few short moments, it had stirred up all the memories of our time together.
God, I hoped that Siena had moved from the kitchen when I surfaced fifteen minutes later. I groaned internally as I spotted her, still there in that motherfucking robe, sipping a cup of coffee as I walked back in. She was practically naked under that robe, and I felt my cock begin to stir again. Stay the fuck down!
“Is everything okay, Ryan?” Siena smirked, crossing her legs. She knew what she was doing to me, and I fucking loved her for it.
“I needed to relieve a little...pressure.” I chuckled, putting my hands through my hair. Why was my body burning? What was this aching inside of me? A woman had never made me feel this way before.
“I can imagine,” Siena mused, her eyes roaming down towards my crotch. I needed to change the direction of this conversation right now. My dick couldn’t take much more of the fucking teasing.
“I’ve taken over the East District. If you were wondering why Tony has trashed the place, that’s why,” I muttered, taking a step back. I needed to keep my distance. My dick felt like sonar in search of her sweet pussy.
“I did hear that,” she stated, standing up. I became lost, watching her robe slip off her shoulder again. My lips had been there less than thirty minutes ago. “Do you think it’s wise? I mean, Tony is never going to accept you taking over his district.”
“I have to clean up his shit. Once everything is running again, he can have it back!” I snapped, still looking at her bare shoulder.
“Always the big man, I see,” she teased. “Well, I’m going to bed now, Ryan .” I gulped. My mouth began to water, wishing I could join her. “I take it you’re going to wait until Tony gets back?” I nodded, swallowed hard, and tried to fight my stifling desire. “Are you staying here for your benefit or for mine?”
“Yours, Trixie. It’s always been for your benefit.” She was gazing up at me now, her tiny frame pressed against my chest.
“Will you ever stop trying to protect me?” Her voice was a soft whisper.
I gently moved my hand, threading my fingers softly through her hair. It was pure silk, just like I had remembered. “As long as I have a breath in my body, I will keep on protecting you,” I murmured.
Siena gasped a little, pulling away quickly from my hold. “Goodnight, Ryan.”
“Sweet dreams, Trixie,” I called as she began to climb the grand staircase. Dream of me, I wanted to add, but then I thought, When did I turn into a motherfucking pussy?
Tony came back late that night, completely wasted. That was easier for me; I watched Adam dump him on the living room couch once he had passed out.
“I know what you are trying to do, Ryan,” Adam spat just before he was about to leave.
“Excuse me?” He really shouldn’t be starting this with me. I was in no mood for this shit right now.
“You really expect us to believe you don’t want to be top dog? It’s all playing into your hands, isn’t it?”
“I don’t want it, Adam, and I don’t give a fuck what you think anyway!” I snarled. “If Tony and you boys were doing your jobs properly, I wouldn’t need to come and clean up after you.”
“We had it under control!” he growled.
“You have been losing shipments left, right and center! No one respects you or the work you do. How many protection payouts were you unable to collect this month, huh? Payouts that I had to go get because you guys fucking couldn’t!” I laughed in disbelief. Adam was fucking delusional. “None of this matters. Carlo made his decision. Carlo is who I follow, who I’d fucking die for. We are all on the same fucking side and it’s about damn time Tony realized that.”
“Who will you follow when Carlo is no longer around?” Adam smirked. The fucker and I both knew the moment Carlo died, Tony would put a bullet in my head. Like I’d said before, I wouldn’t go down without a fight.
“You and I both know what will happen when Carlo is no longer here.” I glared just as Carlo returned home.
“Mr. Valenti,” Adam dropped his eyes, “I’ve brought Tony home. I’m afraid he’s had a little too much to drink. Would you like me to carry him upstairs to his room?” No fucking way! Tony wasn’t going anywhere near Siena in that state.
“No, he can stay where he fell. Perhaps when he awakes in the morning, he’ll apologize for his tantrum earlier,” Carlo fumed, not even looking at his son. “Ryan, thanks for keeping watch while I was out.”
“It was no problem, Carlo.”
“Do you have time for a glass of whiskey before you go? I think my brother has a lead on this Paul Jenkins you’ve been trying to track.”
“Of course,” I replied, intrigued.
“That will be all, thank you, Adam. Ryan and I have business to attend to.” Carlo gestured as I followed him into his study.
“I think your office is the only room Tony didn’t trash,” I mused while Carlo poured us both a glass of his favorite whiskey.
“Will my son ever be as controlled as you, Ryan ? Nothing ever fazes you,” Carlo sighed, slumping back into his chair. “I knew Tony would be angry, but I didn’t expect this much destruction. His temper will be the death of him one day.”
“He’ll calm down in the morning. Something tells me he’ll have a hangover from hell when he gets up, but he’ll come round. You know how hot headed he is.”
Carlo chuckled, nodding. “What do you know of the Leoni family, Ryan ?”
“I only know of the battle between them and the Carelli family in the early eighties in Miami, why?” It had been quite a battle and cost The Boss of the Leoni family his life. His brother had taken over after his death. I couldn’t recall their names.
“Paul Jenkins works for the Leonis,” Carlo stated, watching my reaction.
“What would the Leonis need with our suppliers? They have their own contacts.”
“I’m not sure, Ryan, but we need to get to the bottom of this. Rumor is that Paul Jenkins and his boys have been seen in Chicago these past few weeks.” It suddenly dawned on me, those three fuckers at the Fight Club last night...had that been Paul Jenkins? “What is it?” Carlo asked while I was deep in thought.
“I think the asshole might have been at City Limits last night,” I glowered, downing my drink. That fucker thought he could case me. He was a dead man when I laid eyes on him again.
“I have no idea why they would suddenly take an interest in my family. We have never had any issues with the Leonis.” Carlo was keeping something back. I could see it in his eyes. I sat waiting for him to continue. “There is something that has been playing on my mind since Vincent informed me of this information, though.”
“You can tell me, Carlo,” I pressed.
“When I sent Tony away for a few days...” Carlo stopped, but I had an idea of what he was going to say.
“Tony went to Miami,” I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. What had that motherfucker done now? I stretched my hand out; it was still aching from the fight last night.
“I hope that Tony wouldn’t create trouble but...” Carlo sighed deeply, “it does tend to follow him around.
“That might not be the case, Carlo.” I tried to reassure him, even though I suspected the worst. Tony must have done something in Miami. More fucking work for me to do to when I got to my office later! “Perhaps the Leonis are getting a little greedy. You do have one hell of an empire.”
“Is that what you really believe, Ryan?”
“Tony is a lot of things, but he wouldn’t bring a war to your doorstep.”
“I hope you're right.”
“Do you want me to go after this Paul guy? He could be a rogue player. Just because he’s working for the Leonis, doesn’t mean the entire family has an issue with us.”
“I have a feeling Paul Jenkins will show himself, Ryan. He’s here in Chicago for a reason.”
“And I’ll be waiting.” Getting up, I gave him a sly smile. I would always have his back.
“Get some rest,” Carlo commented, worry in his eyes. The world was on his shoulders. It made me wonder how he did it some days. “I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon for a debriefing. I’m going to try to get some answers from Tony when he awakes.” Nodding, I left him with his thoughts.
I woke up early the next morning after tossing and turning for hours. My strong desire for Siena, Tony’s possible screw up in Miami, and the fact that Paul Jenkins might be casing me, had my mind spinning all night; it didn’t leave much time for sleep.
Siena was at the forefront of my mind. I needed to keep focused these next few weeks and that meant keeping my distance from her. That was going to be difficult.
I went for a run along the route used for the Chicago Rave Night Run once I was up. It was a favorite running spot for me, with its views of the Chicago skyline, Lakeshore drive and Lake Michigan. It was a clear morning which helped my speed and the views.
I had up-tempo music playing in my ears, helping me keep a brutal pace. I couldn’t rely on Otis today. He would only make me think of Siena. Instead, I had Justin Timberlake singing in my ear about bringing sexy back. Bennett had downloaded his workout playlist onto my iPhone last week. I wasn’t sure it was really getting me ready for the day ahead, but I continued to run regardless.
I was covered in sweat by the time I arrived back at my apartment. Jamie was already parked outside with Bennett. My boys were eager to get started.
“You guys are early,” I panted, tossing my keys as they followed me into my apartment.
“Bennett can’t wait to see Tony’s face this morning at the debriefing. I mean, he lost the East District, the fucking idiot,” Jamie smirked. Bennett had already wandered into my kitchen and was helping himself to food from my fridge.
“Make yourself at home, Bennett,” I chuckled as I went to grab a shower and get changed.
Bennett was munching on some leftover mac and cheese when I emerged, fastening my cufflinks as I walked.
“Is there anything you won’t eat?” I asked, pouring myself a fresh cup of coffee.
“You need to get some new music on your sound system, Ryan. Some of that shit I’m sure my mother wouldn’t even know.” He snorted into his food.
“Funny.” I rolled my eyes, looking at Jamie, who was trying to hold in his amusement. “It’s not my fault you have no taste in soulful music.”
“Soulful? Ryan, it has too much meaning for a heartless bastard like you. I don’t get your love for it.” Bennett would never understand. My love for Motown music came from my mother and her preacher friend who put us up when I was younger.
“Come on, you can finish that in the car,” I called as I began to head outside toward the Cadillac Escalade. “I’m taking my car, too. I have a few errands to run on my own after the meeting.”
“Can I come in your car?” Bennett teased. The fucker knew I wouldn’t let a single drop of food near my baby. “Is that a no?”
“That’s a fuck off,” I replied, getting into my car.
I arrived at the Valenti mansion before the boys. I wondered if Carlo had already had a chat with Tony. I strolled up to the big grand doors, noticing him smoking outside.
“How’s the head?”
“Fuck you, Lawson!” Clearly he still had a hangover.
“Nice,” I chuckled, leaving him with his temper.
“You think you’ve fucking won, don’t you?”
“I’m just doing my job. I really don’t understand why you hate me so much. We used to be friends.”
“You really think you can run the East District better than me?”
“Your father and uncles made the decision, Tony. I didn’t ask for it. We need to end this feud. Enough already. We’re on the same fucking side.” I needed Tony on my side if I was ever going to work out what this motherfucker had been doing. He wouldn’t have told Carlo the truth, if he had said anything to him at all.
“It’s never going to be like before...and you know why that is.”
“Please tell me this still isn’t about Trixie,” I sighed, undoing my jacket. This asshole was already giving me a headache.
“I asked her to marry me yesterday.” Oh fuck, here we go; get the motherfucking violins out.
“She said no.”
“Tony, if you stopped fucking around and treated her with the respect she deserves, maybe she would have said yes.”
“She’s given me six months to change my ways.”
“Do you think you can?”
“Honestly?” Tony smirked. Yeah, motherfucker, I know you, and so does Siena; you’ll never change. “I’m not sure I can.”
“Then you don’t deserve her,” I glared as I wandered into the mansion.
“And you think you do?” Tony spat, following me inside and grabbing my arm.
“Grow the fuck up.” I rolled my eyes. “There are more important things for us to fight over than a fucking hot pussy.” I didn’t mean it, but I groaned internally as my eyes met a shade of chocolate brown. Trust Siena to hear me say that. I couldn’t even defend myself, not with Tony standing there watching me.
Siena dropped her eyes from mine and rushed up the main staircase. Fuck, please don’t say I’d upset her!
“Trixie, I thought you were heading to the club?” Tony called up after her.
“I am, I forgot something,” she mumbled back at him. Fuck, I had upset her, but if it meant I could gain a few weeks distance while I worked all this shit out, it probably wasn’t a bad thing. Why did it fucking hurt so much, though?
“I know I’m a lucky motherfucker,” Tony gloated, licking his lips while watching her walk up the stairs. “I will make her marry me, Ryan. That woman will be my wife.” I didn’t like the dark tone he used.
“Keep your dick in your pants then,” I muttered as I walked into Carlo’s office.
“Yeah, okay.” He patted my back, his face almost sincere. “You want a truce. I’ll give you that.”
“Really?” I asked in surprise. He was up to something.
“So if you’re taking over the East District, does that mean I get your office in Cherries?” Tony teased.
“You with that many women on tap? I don’t fucking think so. You’re supposed to be changing your ways so Trixie will agree to marry you, remember?”
“I just need to be more careful and not make it so obvious.” This motherfucker was a piece of work.
“No, you need to stop dipping your dick into every bitch who spreads her legs for you,” I pointed out just before everyone else began to arrive.
I had so much shit ahead of me in the next few weeks, but all I could think about while I sat in the debriefing was that I hoped Siena wasn’t too upset from my outburst earlier.
The thought of her being hurt by my actions cut me fucking deep, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say that scared the motherfucking shit out of me.