CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TEN
VINO
Ivan Sokolov would soon face consequences for what he did to my woman. He’d tormented Claire, breaking her spirit, and even killed innocents just to get to her. Thankfully, her friend Gia stepped in to help her escape and adopt a new identity. I wondered if Gia was the younger sister of Eon Agresta, a mafia family that was untouchable no one, least of all Ivan, could dare cross them.
Stepping through the massive wooden front door of the safe house, I watched as Claire staggered toward the full bar, its shelves gleaming with top-shelf alcohol. Her stilettos tapped a steady beat on the polished hardwood. I kept a watchful eye on her as I set her bags on the oversized black sofa.
The safe house exuded a rustic, woodsy ambiance with wooden beams across the high ceilings. Shutters could descend from above to cover the expansive bay windows, featuring built-in holes for rifles to peer through and spot threats. Next to the front door sat a decorative gold box containing AR-15’s, AK-47s, and grenades, with similar boxes located throughout the house, near the back door and at the top of the stairs leading to the four bedrooms. This was a gated property, and with state-of-the-art surveillance, my men would be alerted if anyone approached. The garage was packed with off-road vehicles and weaponry, making this place feel like a compound. We were ready for war.
“The house is secure, Vino,” Glacier reported.
Claire laughed as she poured the amber liquid into her glass. “Mr. Mafia Boss Vino Romano, not Mr. Ruthless businessman Vino Romano.”
I nodded at Glacier. “Thanks. That’ll be all.”
“Good night, boss,” he said, leaving the room.
Claire staggered toward me, sipping a whiskey, clutching the whiskey bottle in her other hand. “I’m a broken doll, Vino.”
Her big brown eyes held mine. Palming her face, I inched close to her lips. “You’re not broken. In due time, I’ll show you just how strong you are.”
Her eyes squeezed shut. “Vino, I just want to design beautiful clothes.”
“You’ll do that and be the Donna of the Romano family.”
“Fuck me, Vino.”
She ignored my words about her high-ranking position in my family.
Claire reached for my belt. “Fill my pussy with your big dick. I want to forget about everything in my life.”
“Including me?” I asked.
“No, not you.” Her beautiful face brightened. “We are about to have a good time.”
I scooped her up into my arms. “Vino, what are you doing?” She giggled as her whiskey sloshed onto the floor. Claire clutched the glass and bottle like they were her best friends.
“You’ll see,” I said as I carried her upstairs. I walked through the master-bedroom, and into the bathroom.
I stood her on her feet.
“Vino, you almost spilled all of my whiskey.” She gulped the contents.
I removed the glass and bottle out of her hands and placed them on the counter.
“Hey, give them back.”
“No.” I flipped on the water in the shower.
“Will this be a shower fuck?” Claire asked.
Standing before her, I undressed. Her tongue slipped across her lower lip. She couldn’t stop her hands from roaming my bare chest. My hands gripped her ass under the little dress.
“You said you’d let me ride your tongue.”
My deep chuckle rumbled around the space.
I slipped her panties down her legs.
“Vino, can I tell you a secret?”
I helped her step out of her panties. “Yes.”
“Normally, I’m not scared of you. Earlier tonight on the side of the road,” she hiccupped. “I was. But then I felt safe in your arms.”
I blew out a breath. “Good. I always want you to feel safe.”
After I removed all our clothes, I took her hand and led her into the shower. My cock was rock hard, but I wasn’t fucking Claire tonight.
Claire dropped to her knees the second the glass door shut. Her hooded brown eyes held mine as her small hand fisted my dick. “Come on my tongue, Vino.”
I picked up one of the detachable shower heads and streamed warm water over her body.
“Vino, what the fuck are you doing?” Clair spat.
“It’s time to sober up. I told you I won’t fuck you while you’re drunk.”
She stuck out her lip. “You’re no fun.”
Claire tried rising to her feet and almost fell to the side. I caught her and helped her stand.
“I don’t want to be sober, Vino.” She placed a hand up between us.
“I asked for one night to forget about my demons,” Claire yelled.
Tears welled in her eyes, but didn’t fall.
I pulled her close. “Claire, I bought your brand of soap and hair care products. I believe they’ll make you feel better.”
A scowl took her pretty face. “You think all my fancy beauty products will make me forget the people he killed?” Her fists curled, and she slammed them against my chest.
“It won’t help. Trust me, I know.” Each time her fists hit my chest, the shower head in my hand jumped and the water wet her hair.
My jaw slacked. “Shit.”
“What’s wrong?” Claire asked, swaying side to side.
I couldn’t tell her I got her hair wet. I’d have to call Luca and Lexis. They’d know what to do.
“Did you have fun tonight?” I asked as I placed the detachable shower head in the holder.
She chuckled. “Before or after you beat the man up, who flirted with me?”
I sat her on the bench. “Before, Claire.”
Her brows dipped. “Yeah.”
I poured a generous amount of shower gel on the washcloth, then got on my knees before her and slid the soapy cloth up and down her soft mocha skin.
“Do you wash up all the women you fuck?” She asked.
“No.”
Her hooded eyes darted around the shower. “You have a nice bathroom.”
“Thank you. This is just a safe house. The master bathroom at our house is much bigger.”
“Our house?” She questioned.
She pushed her index finger into my chest. “I told you there’s no us after this weekend.”
I laughed. “I’m aware of what you said. You’re still moving into our house on Monday.”
She waved her hand between us. “I’m too drunk to argue with you,” she slurred.
“You’re spinning,” she stated almost incoherently.
That last glass of whiskey must’ve pushed her over the edge.
“Fuck, Claire, hold on. Let me get you to the toilet before you vomit.”
I stood and pushed the shower door open. Her body was covered in suds.
I stepped behind her, hooked my arms under hers, and helped her out of the shower. Luckily, the other shower heads washed the soap on the floor down the drain, so we didn’t slip.
Her body slumped over the toilet. Claire placed her hands on the toilet seat.
I held her curly, wet hair back. Her hair looked much different from when we arrived.
I shouted to my phone. “Call Luca’s phone on speaker.”
Claire’s body lurched forward each time the contents in her stomach emptied into the toilet.
“I feel terrible,” Claire moaned.
“Hello, Vino? What’s going on?” Luca’s voice echoed around the bathroom.
“Luca, I know it’s early in the morning, but I need help.”
“Ok, where do you need me?” He asked.
“My woman Claire is drunk. And while I was trying to sober her up in the shower, her hair got wet. I think her hair textures similar to Lexis’s.”
Luca chuckled. “You got her hair wet. You’re dead, man.”
“What happened?” Lexis asked in the background.
“Vino got his woman’s hair wet. He said her hair texture’s like yours,” Luca told her.
“Luca, put the phone on speaker,” Lexis demanded.
Luca gave Lexis a quick update on my situation.
I grabbed a towel, ran it under cool water while still holding her hair, then wiped her face.
Her face twisted, and she leaned back over the toilet and continued vomiting.
“Nothing’s worse than getting drunk,” Lexis sighed. “Vino, she’s going to be pissed when she’s sober.”
I wiped Claire’s face again. “I know,” I replied.
“You can’t put cheap shampoo on her hair. If you do, her hair will be stiff as a board.”
“Lexis, I bought the same stuff she had at her place.”
“Good.” She gave me quick instructions on how to wash and style her hair.
“Thank you both,” I said.
“You’re welcome,” Lexis stated. “The girls and I can’t wait to meet her.” I could hear the smile in her voice before she disconnected the call.
Claire hauled herself up from the floor and sank onto the toilet. I swiftly flushed, but she went on as if I wasn’t even there. Settling onto the edge of the bathtub, guilt nudged at me. This was entirely my fault. I’d needed answers about her past, convinced alcohol was the key to loosening her lips. Dark smudges of mascara painted streaks beneath her eyes, making her look like an oddly pretty football player after a tough game.
Eyes squeezed shut, she wrapped her arms around her knees. “I shouldn’t have had so much to drink,” she groaned miserably.
Loud noises escaped her ass, reverberating sharply off the bathroom walls.
It was the first time I heard a woman, unrelated to me, fart. Witnessing a woman take a shit was definitely new. I couldn’t be grossed out. My woman was just a regular person, and everything she did was natural. I smiled, certain she wouldn’t recall this by morning. After she wiped herself and flushed the toilet, I assisted Claire back to the shower bench.
“Where did you come from?” she asked, her words slurred.
“Everything’s going to be fine.” I grabbed a new toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste.
“I’ll get some electrolytes into you after I get you cleaned up.”
I yelled out a text message to my phone. I requested Xavier bring a few bottles of Gatorade upstairs and leave them outside the bathroom door.
Thirty minutes later, I had Claire all cleaned up. She smelled good enough to eat. Cotton candy conditioner coated her hair. I grabbed the tie I had on earlier, using it to pull her hair up into a ponytail. I pulled one of my clean white undershirts over her head and placed her in bed, and pulled the sheet over her body. She didn’t have on a drop of makeup. I wasn’t sure I’d seen her without it before. She looked even more youthful. I returned to the bathroom and cleaned the space before hopping in the shower.
The hot water drenched my skin as I leaned forward, resting my forehead on the cold tile wall. The way she cried in my arms on the side of the road broke something inside of me. I never had deep feelings for another woman. I knew I became obsessed with her when I first laid eyes on her. After being around her for five months, I’d fallen in love with her. I still hadn’t decided when I should tell her I was Angelo. It took a lot to get us here. She finally trusted me enough to have unprotected sex. Of course, having a doctor on standby helped. What this woman didn’t understand was I had no plans of fucking anyone but her.
I curled a massive hand around my dick, sliding it up and down.
“Fuck, Claire,” I murmured, the memory of her on her knees so ravenous and desperate for my cock setting me ablaze.
I wanted her to choke on my dick. And the desire to pound her walls and make my dick imprint permanent had been strong. Especially knowing my cock would be the only one she’d ever see and feel again. But like I said earlier, I wouldn’t fuck her while she was intoxicated.
“Tomorrow, baby,” I groaned as hot ropes of cum slipped down the wall.
Staggering backward, I ran my fingers through my damp hair beneath two of the six shower heads. The thought of her lying in my bed drove me wild. With the towel teasingly low on my hips, I stepped into the shadowy room, where a thin slice of light from the bathroom revealed her curled up on her side. I pulled back the sheet, gently spreading her legs, and my gaze fell on her glistening pussy. My tongue slid over my lips. I loved eating her pussy. It was the highlight of the last five months we shared. I’d watched her come undone for Angelo. Now, I got to watch her do the same for me without the mask.
I buried my face in her pussy that smelled like cotton candy bath gel. “Fuck, baby,” I groaned, my words muffled against her warmth.
Claire’s body jerked in her sleep. “Vi-no,” she whimpered.
As much as she tried pushing me away, I realized my woman had a hard time keeping me off her mind. Good.
I inhaled her again before sucking her clit into my mouth. Her pussy bucked my face. Was she dreaming about fucking me? Probably.
“Best dick game, ever,” Claire muttered.
A devious smile hung on my lips. I wanted to peer at her in disbelief, but I kept twirling my tongue around her clit until she convulsed and came all over my face. Slowly, I rose onto my knees and admired the look of satisfaction on her face.
I slipped a hand down my wet face before dropping next to her. Yanking the towel off my body, I tossed it onto a nearby chair. I pulled the sheet over our bodies and held her in my arms. My lips grazed her ear. “You’ll be pregnant with my baby soon, Claire. Just you wait and see.”
The sound of birds chirping and the sun heating my face woke me. I glanced to my left and swept a hand over the cold, empty space.
I sat up. “Claire,” I yelled.
Hopping to my feet, I ran to the door and pulled it open.
“Claire,” I shouted.
No answer.
Music bellowed throughout the house. And the smell of bacon wafted through the air. I strolled back into the room, tapped a button on my phone. The surveillance system popped up. I tapped the kitchen camera. Claire sat at the counter with the heel of her hand resting on her forehead. Steam rose from her mug before she sipped the beverage.
She appeared a bit hung over. Honestly, I thought she’d be worst off. I left my phone on the nightstand and moved into the bathroom. After freshening up, I chose to skip the hair products, letting my dark natural curls take center stage. I ambled into the walk-in closet and dressed in black boxer briefs, khaki cargo pants, a black t-shirt, black socks, and black leather boots.
When I reached the kitchen, my eyes scanned the empty rustic stainless steel kitchen. I found a note on the counter.
Your breakfast is in the warmer.
Claire
Looking into the fridge, I spotted a big glass pitcher of sweet tea that Claire had prepared. I poured myself a full glass of the sugary delight and then checked the surveillance footage. Claire was lounging on the patio in a heather gray chair, wearing nothing but my white t-shirt. I guessed she wasn’t wearing any panties.
I pulled the plate out the warmer. The T-Bone steak, scrambled eggs with cheese, four strips of bacon, and the shrimp and grits smelled amazing.
“Good afternoon, Claire,” I greeted as I walked onto the patio, feeling the heat from the sun on my head.
“Good afternoon, Vino,” Claire replied, eyes still closed.
“How are you doing?” I asked, settling into a chair at the table.
“Like I’ve been run over by a semi-truck. I took some aspirin,” she replied.
“I asked Xavier to get some groceries for breakfast, along with ginger ale and saltine crackers, to ease my hangover.” She pointed to the ginger ale can and cracker pack on the small table beside her.
“He arranged for someone to pick up the items I needed. I tried to pay him, but he refused. You must pay him well.”
“Indeed, I do. I maintain a safe that Xavier can access. He has both cash and a company credit card to cover groceries and any other necessities.”
Claire chuckled. “A mobster with a company credit card.”
I shoveled shrimp and grits into my mouth and savored the flavors on my tongue. Fuck, the food was delicious.
“I’d imagine you think everything the Romanos do is illegal?”
She didn’t say a word.
“We own Romano Enterprises that has been in our family since the nineteen fifties.”
Claire sat up, eyes wide. Her back was ramrod straight. “Let me make sure I’m understanding you correctly. You own a corporation?”
“Yes, we have a high-rise building in downtown Hackensack. Each of the five. I mean, four families own a corporation.”
She nodded, taking in everything I said. “You mentioned other families. Explain please? I’m not well versed in the world of all things mafia.”
I shook my head and chuckled. “I’ll explain everything, including your role in our family.”
She leaned back and waved her hands frantically. “I’m not going to be a part of your family.”
“Oh, you will, gorgeous. Even if I have to drag you down the aisle,” I gritted out before taking a sip of the sweet tea.
“You’re sounding like my ex. Telling me what I’m going to do.”
“Claire, this situation is totally different. I’m telling you, you’ll be my wife. No fucking goomar shit,” I growled. Irritation in my tone.
She compared me to that fucking woman beater.
“At least I know what a goomar is from Goodfellas and the Sopranos.”
“Well, baby, then you remember the discussion of mafia families from the Sopranos?”
She smirked. “I just wanted to hear it from your lips.”
Claire waggled a finger at me. “I remember on the Sopranos they expressed the importance of marrying Italian. Won’t you get in trouble for stepping outside the box?”
I gritted my teeth. “I’m the boss of my family. No one tells me who I can or cannot be with.”
She shrugged. “Continue, Vino.”
I gave her a play by play of how the five families once worked and how the fifth family was removed from the hierarchy. Once I got to her role, she stared at me like I had two heads.
“I have to sit and talk to wives all day?” She questioned.
“Hardly,” I shrugged. “You’d just have to work them into your schedule.”
“That’s interesting but like I told you before, I’m not marrying you, Vino. We haven’t even known each other that long.”
“That doesn’t matter. I know I want you to be my wife,” I stated.
“How do you feel when you’re with me?” I asked.
She stared out into the distance and visibly swallowed. “Safe. Cared for.” Her words came out shaky on that last part.
“It’s odd. We don’t see each other every day but when we’re together I like the attention. You make me feel like I’m all that matters. Vino, I’m just so afraid of being hurt again.”
“Look at me, Claire,” I demanded.
Her teary eyes met mine. “I am a monster. I do very bad things to my enemies. But you, Claire don’t have to worry about me treating you like shit, ever. Nor will I force you to snort fucking cocaine.” I growled.
“In the mafia world there are arranged marriages. And men do have goomars. I’m telling you the only woman I’m interested in is you. I don’t want other women.”
She swiped a tear from her face. “When would we get married?”
I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me, but I recovered quickly.
“In August.”
“Why the rush?” Claire asked.
“I’m thirty-four. I need heirs. So it’s time to have children. We’re getting started on our family asap.”
She slid her hands over her face. “I’m at the peak of my career and you want me to have babies? I don’t even know if I want children.” She admitted.
“Claire, you’d have the help of a nanny.” I smiled. “I know our children would be beautiful. A mix of me and you.”
“This is a lot to take in, Vino.”
“I know,” I said before tearing into my steak.
“If you’d like, you can talk to Lexis. She’s Luca Esposito’s wife.”
She nodded. “Right, one of the four families.”
“I called her last night to get assistance with your hair after I’d gotten it wet.”
Claire cut her eyes at me. “What would she know about black hair?”
“Well, let’s see. Lexis is black. And your hair type looks similar to hers.”
Her eyes widened. “Really? Wow. That’s cool.”
“She’s a complete badass. And she can’t wait to meet you.”
A smile lifted the corners of her lips. “Yeah, that would be nice.”
“What other questions do you have?” I asked.
“Have you ever been to jail?”
A chuckle escaped me. “Back when I was a teenager, I got arrested for beating up a kid named Trent in high school. His parents pressed charges because I beat up their ‘precious’ son, and I ended up in juvenile detention for two hours. My father wouldn’t let me stay overnight; he couldn’t risk someone trying to kill the future mafia boss of the Romano crime family. Instead, he beat Trent’s father mercilessly, warning him that his entire family was in danger. The fear he instilled was enough to drop the charges.”
“Yup, sounds like a scene from a mafia movie,” she snickered.
Claire peeked at me. “Did I tell you Polina is friends with Margo?”
I arched a brow. “No, you didn’t.”
“Thank you for trying to fix my problem. I don’t blame you for confronting her. You had no way of knowing they knew each other. That’s how she found me. She said Margo’s under her protection, now,” Claire exhaled.
“Don’t worry about Margo. My little cousin Maddie will take care of her.”
Her brows squeezed together. “Little cousin?”
“Yeah, she’s seventeen. Maddie turns eighteen next month. She’s one of our up and coming hit women,” I stated.
Claire’s mouth dropped open. “I can’t believe this is my life.”
“I have a benefactor, Vino. I can’t have a mafia boss boyfriend. If they find out, they’ll probably stop my funding.”
“You no longer need the benefactor. You have me.”
“No, Vino. I want to stick with my benefactor. You can’t pay for my condo and all the material needed for my designs.”
“I can afford it, Claire. You’re about to become my wife, anyway.”
She laughed. “I love how you didn’t ask me to marry you.” She threw her hands up. “You just told me.”
“You’ll get your memorable proposal.”
She rolled her eyes. “Vino, you’re very possessive.”
I ignored her words. “What do you need from your condo?”
Her eyes fell on me. “My flat iron and curling cream. You know, since you put my hair up in this ponytail.”
“Gorgeous, I did the best I could. I washed your hair, then conditioned it. I didn’t have an ouchless elastic band that Lexis said I needed. So I used my tie from last night.”
She rubbed her legs together like two sticks sparking a fire. “Some events are spotty from last night. I was in and out of consciousness for some of it. I remember you brushed my teeth, washed my entire body and dressed me for bed.” Her lip was between her teeth now. “I can’t believe you took care of me like that.”
“I care deeply about you, Claire.”
She tugged the hem of the shirt down like she was trying to keep her arousal from lighting the air.
“Early this morning, I ate your pussy,” I admitted.
Her breath hitched. “I thought I was dreaming. I wondered why my pussy felt…good,” Claire muttered.
“I really need panties or I’m going to come all over your furniture.”
Standing to my feet, a growl rumbled in my chest. “None of our men will touch your panties.”
I strolled toward her. “Open your legs.”
“No, because my pussy’s gushing wet.”
“Open your fucking legs, Claire,” I demanded.
She opened her mouth to object again. Her legs slowly opened.
“What if one of your men walks by?” she asked.
I reached into my pocket, took out my phone, and turned off the surveillance cameras. I also sent Xavier a text.
Me: If there’s a problem, speak over the intercom.
Xavier: Understood, boss.
I placed my phone on the small table and kneeled before her. “The way you came in my mouth this morning. I wondered if you were dreaming about me fucking you or eating your pussy.”
She blushed. “I don’t know, but it’s not my first naughty dream about us.”
I ran my thumbs along the soft folds of her skin, parting them slowly to reveal the warmth beneath. A quiet moan escaped her lips. She was still glowing from our heated conversation.
A cocky smirk curled my lips as I murmured, “You came.”
“I did,” she whispered, her voice thick with desire. “What you said was such a turn-on. I’m not used to a man caring for me like this.”
I trailed a gentle kiss to the center of her, promising, “I’m going to take care of this pretty pussy.” Her body trembled, and I let my tongue travel from the curve of her ass to the soft mound above, savoring every drop of her sweet release.
“I’m falling for you, Vino,” she confessed, the vulnerability in her eyes breaking my heart.
It was clear she wanted to trust me completely, even though a part of her was terrified I’d betray her.
“I’ve got you, baby,” I murmured as I lavished attention on her clit, eliciting a shudder as she arched her back, pressing her warmth against my lips.
“Vino, I—I’m scared,” she admitted softly.
My heart pounded with the secret I still carried that I was also Angelo. That information would hurt her. I had to push those thoughts aside for now. I unzipped my cargo pants and freed my throbbing cock from its confines. “Do you miss my dick?” I whispered.
I pressed her knees against her chest, sliding my big, hard cock to her inviting entrance. Slowly, deliberately, I pushed inside her warm, velvety walls, gripping the top of the chair for support. “Vino,” she murmured.
Deep inside her, I gritted my teeth. “Your pussy’s so tight I love the way it clutches me, straining around my raw cock.”
I closed my eyes, fighting the urge to come too quickly; I didn’t have unprotected sex. So the sensation of my raw cock buried in her walls had me on the edge of coming.
With a swift motion, I reached behind, yanked my t-shirt off, and tossed it aside. I adjusted the chair until it lay flat, opening us up to each other entirely.
Claire reached out for me.
“After I beat up this pussy, I’ll hold you.”
I pulled back until my dick was at her entrance again, then thrusted into her hard. With my body flush against her body, I delivered long strokes.
“Fuck Claire, your pussy’s so good. I’m fighting hard not to come too soon,” I admitted, my hand gripping the top of the lounge chair so tightly I feared I might break it.
“Vino, I need to feel your lips on mine,” she breathed.
Resting one of her knees in the crook of my arm, I hovered over her body and took her lips.
“I want you to come inside me,” she begged between gasps, “fill me with your come. I want to watch it drip out.”
A devious smile spread across my face. “My little freak wants her mans come,” I teased.
She nodded against my lips, her fingers clutching the back of my neck. “I’m yours, Vino.”
“You’re mine, and this pussy is mine,” I growled, circling my hips and driving into her with renewed fervor.
“Oh fuck, yes. Why are you so damn good at this?” she gasped.
“Soon to be wife. I work hard to make it good for you. I watch your cute little faces when I hit this good ass pussy a certain way.”
A soft laugh left her. Then her lips pressed against mine. “You’ve got me hooked.”
Teasingly, I added, “I hope you’re not only here for my dick skills.”
She didn’t answer. Instead, her tongue slipped between my lips, and our tongues entwined in a heated dance.
She threw her hips, chasing the pleasure. I drove deeper inside her. “You’re hitting a spot I never knew existed.” Her lust filled eyes held mine.
It made sense why she met Angelo at the sex club. And why Claire was addicted to my cock. She was looking for something she never had before. Tons of fucking pleasure.
“Yes, Vino,” she moaned.
Claire was addicted to my cock. Something told me she never had it this good.
Lifting her shirt, I sucked one of her hardened nipples into my mouth. “Take your cock, gorgeous,” I murmured. “It’s all fucking yours.”
She grinned wickedly. “I know it’s mine. I’d cut any bitch who dared come between us.”
I released her nipple with a playful pop and locked eyes with her. “And I’ll hand you the knife,” I said with a smirk.
She smiled like a lunatic. A look that made me wonder if I had driven her crazy.
I had my woman. She was fucking mine.
“Vino,” she moaned as I plowed into her pussy with such force that the sound of my balls striking her ass was unmistakable.
Her body went limp. “I’m coming,” she hollered out.
“Come with me, Vino.”
I could feel her breast jiggling with every powerful thrust as my movements grew ragged and wild. Eventually, I reached my peak, and my cum exploded deep inside her.
She moaned, “Oh, this feels amazing,” as I pulled back, releasing the rest of my load over her glistening pussy and belly.
Sitting on my knees, I wiped at the sweat dripping down my forehead.
I stared at the ropes of cum covering her skin.
She ran a finger through the sticky mess, then slipped it between her lips, whispering, “You taste salty and sweet. So good.”
I pressed a tender kiss to her lips. “I’ll be right back.” After tucking my dick into my boxers and zipping up my pants, I went to the first-floor bathroom and returned with two towels. One wet and the other dry.
When I stepped onto the patio, Claire’s eyes were closed. Her shirt was still pushed up, revealing her breasts and my cum on her beautiful mocha skin. What a sexy sight.
Once I’d gotten Claire cleaned up, I carried her to our bedroom and placed her in bed. I’d let her sleep for half the day. She needed to rest. I left two aspirin, a chilled can of ginger ale, and a glass of water on the nightstand.
I sent a text to Xavier.
Me: Go to the mall. Specifically, to the lingerie store that also sells clothes. Find a sales associate that wants to make some extra money and FaceTime me.
Xavier: Talk to you soon.
My phone rang just as I loaded the dishwasher.
I peered at the screen.
“Hi, the big scary guy said you have a job for me. And if I can do it, you’ll pay me handsomely.”
I chuckled. “Yes, I do. Let’s pick out lingerie and clothes for my woman. When we’re done, Xavier will pay you five hundred dollars.”
Her eyes widened, and a smile lifted her mahogany cheeks. “Oh, wow.”
“Tell him I said to show you the money.”
Her eyes moved to Xavier, and they exchanged words. She grinned again at me. “He said he’d wait near the door while I worked. I just hope he doesn’t scare away the customers.”
Her eyes lingered in his direction a little longer before meeting my gaze. “I’m ready. Where would you like to start?”
“Panties,” I stated as I peered into the camera from my seat in the living room, nursing a whiskey neat.
Monica had good taste. We agreed on a lot of the lingerie she chose. I loved the lavender panty and bra set.
I cheated a little since Claire lived in my condo. I knew what size clothes she wore because I’d gone there while she was at work. To make matters worse, I’d stolen a couple pair of her panties and kept them at my house. Yeah, I was fucking gone for that woman.
Monica walked toward a rack of clothes.
“Let me see those baby pink shorts and the matching top,” I told her.
“This is cute,” she beamed.
Monica gathered a few more outfits.
“Wrap the items in tissue paper. I don’t want Xavier’s hands on her underwear and clothes.”
“I understand,” she replied as she waved Xavier over. “Time to check out.”
He approached and placed five one hundred-dollar bills in her hand.
Monica squealed. Customers glared at her as they stepped around her.
“Calm down,” Xavier told her. “You’re scaring the customers.”
“Don’t use what I said about you on me,” she bit out.
Xavier chuckled.
What had I done? Made a love connection. I shook my head.
Her brown eyes met mine. “Thank you. I’ll give my phone number to Xavier. If you ever need a personal shopper again. I’ll be happy to help. That’s the only reason he should ever call me.”
I heard Xavier smack his lips in the background.
Did they know each other? I’d have to ask him when he returned.
“Thanks, Monica,” I said before disconnecting the call.
Monica might have a new side hustle shopping for Claire’s lounge wear, even though my woman designed and sewed most of the clothes she wore.
I had a major surprise for Claire after dinner. She’d probably lose her shit. But I would be ready.
After an hour nap, I woke up and called Vince.
“How are we looking in the streets?”
“Grim, big bro. That motherfucker tried to take an entire block out in our territory.”
I gritted my teeth as I rubbed my brow. “We’ll hit him just as hard tonight.”
“We sure fucking will,” he bit out.
“On a brighter note, how are you and Claire doing?” He asked.
I smacked my lips. “I can’t believe you pushed me to tell her who I was.”
“What? It wasn’t like you were going to do it.”
“Vincent, yeah, I was. Today.”
He chuckled. “Well, if you hadn’t busted the bottle over that motherfucker’s head, I wouldn’t have had to push you.”
I changed the subject. “I’m taking my soon to be wife to meet mom and dad on Wednesday. Make sure you’re there.” I sipped my drink.
“Family dinner. Wouldn’t miss it,” he added.
“Keep your eyes open,” I said.
“I’m focused. Talk to you later.”
I disconnected the call.
“Boss,” Glacier called from the front door.
“Yeah, come in.”
His hulking six foot one frame walked into the room. His brown hair was tucked under a dark baseball cap.
“Sir, we have something for you in the meat locker.”
My lips tipped up at one end. “Great.” I tossed the contents in my glass to the back of my throat, then sat the empty glass on the coffee table.
Glancing at my watch, I ambled over to the gun case on the wall, my fingertips trailing over the cold metal bar, unlocking the case. I’d let Claire sleep a little longer, just enough time to scope out the situation in the meat locker and even whip up dinner later. I grabbed the sleek, black leather holster hanging inside, slung it over my broad shoulders, and stuffed two Glocks inside before shutting the cabinet. Without missing a beat, I followed Glacier out the front door.
He slid behind the wheel of the Bighorn Explorer, and I jumped into the passenger seat as he roared off toward the meat locker. I couldn’t wait to get back to Claire, but duty called.
Stepping into the meat locker, a sudden, icy chill ran through me. “What do we have here?” I snickered.
A muscled man sat in a wooden chair, his hands and ankles bound with his head drooping between his shoulder blades. His body shivering uncontrollably in nothing but a pair of boxers—was he asleep, or had he been knocked unconscious? I planted my booted foot on his muscular leg. “Wake the fuck up,” I barked.
I took in three of my bodyguards in heavy winter coats, their stern faces silhouetted against the hanging meat. I slipped on a pair of leather gloves and asked, “Glacier, where did you find him?”
He replied coolly, “In the Romano territory. He was fleeing the scene of the burning buildings he set on fire.”
I nodded. “I just talked to Vincent about the fire.” ? Glacier continued, “He wanted to send this asshole as a gift. A surprise package, if you will.”
A smirk hit my lips. “It’s a welcomed surprise.”
I picked up a crowbar from a table nearby and swung it, catching the man’s arm with a heavy thud.
“Ah!” he screamed, his body convulsing in pain.
“Your boss keeps sending you guys to your death. What kind of boss does that? Not a very good one,” I said.
My brows furrowed with raw anger. “I’m sick of you assholes coming into my city and demolishing everything the Romanos built, all because your boss is fucking greedy.”
The man grunted, teeth chattering, “He’s coming for you next.”
Rage surged through me, and I raised the crowbar, hammering it repeatedly into his arms and legs. The sharp scent of copper filled the air as blood poured down his body. “I’m waiting for that motherfucker,” I roared, white puffs of smoke curling from my lips. “Better yet, I’m coming for his ass.”
Just as I swung the crowbar down on his head, causing blood to splatter all over me, I caught a glimpse of someone from the corner of my eye. I turned to my left. There she was, wearing a different t-shirt that stopped at her knees. My basketball shorts hung just below her knees, and a pair of my socks covered her feet.
She hugged herself tightly, shivering, her eyes wide and fixed on the bloody figure in the chair. “Glacier, finish him,” I instructed, placing the crowbar in his gloved hand. I walked over to the doorway and stopped in front of her, blocking her view.
“I still don’t know you,” she murmured.
“Look at me,” I commanded. After a beat, she met my gaze. “Do you think I’d hurt you?” I asked, my voice low with sincerity.
She squeezed her eyes shut. “I want to believe you wouldn’t. But I don’t know…” she whispered. Despite her uncertainty, her hand softly traced the side of my face, and for a moment, I closed my eyes.
“Claire, remember: I don’t hurt women and children,” I said firmly.
I peered at her. “Gorgeous, I wouldn’t harm you.”
Claire shook her head like she wanted to believe what I said was true. But how could she, when she’d been physically abused?
“I need to wash my hands and burn my clothes. You can come with me or wait in the ATV.”
“I’ll come with you,” she replied.
“Claire, at least put on a coat.” I jutted my chin to the row of coats hanging on the wall.
She grabbed one and shrugged it on. We walked deeper into the meat locker to my clean up area.
Claire observed as I washed my gloves and face, watching the crimson blood swirl down the drain. Afterward, I took off my cargo pants and shirt, tossing them into a barrel. I added lighter fluid, struck a match, and tossed it onto my clothes. The flames, orange and blue, consumed the fabric. “This is your life,” she murmured. “It’s so different from mine.”
“This part of my life doesn’t have to involve you. We happen to be at one of my safe houses for the weekend where I torture my enemies.”
Claire’s fingers brushed against my cold abs. “I hate myself for having feelings for you.”
I ignored her words, knowing she was in shock. In time, she would adjust to our life.