8. Celso
CHAPTER EIGHT
Celso
S tanding at the bar staring at Neve I have to clench my fists tightly to stop myself from grabbing her and dragging her lips up against mine again. Her attitude is nothing but a tease. A challenge I accept. I will wear her down. I will break her.
She will love me.
She’s so fucking full of it - talking to me like that in public. Humiliating me in that way. If we were alone, I would have punished her for this.
She would have been begging me for mercy while I set sharps slaps across her ass cheeks. Maybe I’d have to tie her up. She looks like she might enjoy putting up a fight .
I snarl, biting down hard and fighting for control.
“Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to, Neve?” I snarl at her.
“Oh, I’m not your angel anymore?” she sasses back at me, her hand on her hip as she juts it out to the side. Her lips are full and pink, and I want to kiss them again.
“You are mine .” I hiss, reaching out and grabbing her jaw. Her lips are inches from mine and the taste of her mouth is still burning on my skin. My cock stirs as I stare into her bright blue eyes. She looks fierce, but she can’t hide the fact that she wants me. Despite her words her body’s response to my touch is glaringly obvious. She wouldn’t say no.
“Celso?” Dalila’s voice is tight with anger. “What are you doing?” Nevio is right behind her, his brows knotted at me as he stands braced for anything. Nevio is a dark character. I know he is capable of things that might surprise me. But he should not underestimate me either.
“Nothing.” I say, dropping my hand down and stepping back. Neve rubs her hand over her face as though she is trying to rub the sensation of my touch off her skin.
“Neve, are you ok?” Dalila asks, looking towards her friend with concern.
“Of course I am, this asshole was just leaving.” Neve looks me up and down with disgust.
“Actually, I just got here, and I have no intention of leaving.” I smirk and it seems to agitate her further which amuses me.
“For fuck’s sake, Celso.” Dalila snaps, annoyed.
“It’s ok, Dalila - I think I’m ready to head home, anyway.” Neve sighs, turning away from the bar. I don’t want her to go. I was hoping she would stay and dance with me.
“I’ll give you a lift.” Nevio says, stepping between Neve and myself. I glare at him. I wouldn’t underestimate him - but I would take him down in a matter of seconds to get to Neve if I needed to. No one will ever come between us.
“Thanks.” Neve mutters and Dalila reaches out to take her hand .
Nevio walks right behind them, blocking my view of both girls.
I hear Dalila’s words as they walk away.
“Please be careful of Celso, remember your promise.”
The warning sends thick rage pulsing through me. She’s referring to the promise not to date any of her brothers. Even my sister is against me. But none of them will stop us from being together.
Standing alone at the bar I order three tequilas. Lining them up and shooting them back one after the other.
I order three more.
Neve’s words are looping in my head. Tainting my thoughts and fueling the fire of anger inside me. Girls like me don’t date guys like you - mafia criminal with no future -
I have more money and more power than any man she could ever be with. I can give her everything. The entire world. But she dares to humiliate me like that. She would be lucky to have a man like me. If she gave me half a chance she would see that .
I keep drinking, knowing that her words were only her way of trying to deny the desire she has towards me. But that doesn’t make me feel any better and soon the tequila is burning in my blood and my anger is out of control.
I decide to dance to work off some of the frustration.
I make my way to the dance floor. Pushing people out of my way as I pass them, leaving them angry and muttering. What the fuck do I care.
Music throbs in the air around me, vibrating against my skin, blurring my thoughts. This is what I needed. The loud pulsing base leaves no room in my mind for her words to continue looping. Sweat runs down my back beneath my shirt making it stick to me.
The heat of my emotions is fading when some fucking asshole shoves me from behind.
I spin around to face him, and he mutters something about watching where I move.
“What?” I snarl at him.
“I said watch yourself asshole.” He spits, drunk and unsteady. His pale eyes are shifting as though he isn’t ready for the challenge he’s asked for.
“Watch myself?” I laugh.
Before he has a chance to say another word, I swing my fist and the snap of his nose as it shatters is the most satisfying sound I’ve heard all week.
He screams and with blood pouring down his face he fights back.
In no time at all the dance floor is cleared and it’s the two of us, battling it out in the open space. I’m sitting on his chest, my fists slamming into his face repeatedly. I hear people around me screaming and begging me to stop, but I can’t. He crossed the wrong person today, and he’s going to learn his lesson. Everyone should know not to fuck with me. I own this city.
Hands tug at me from behind, strong hands, pulling me off and dragging me from him. Three guys flock over him. He’s not moving. His face is covered in blood, so is the floor.
The bouncers drag me out of the club and push me up against the wall .
“You fucking idiot, what the fuck was that? You might have killed him.”
“The ambulance is on the way.” Another one says.
“And the cops?”
“Yeah, they are almost here.”
I try to push off the wall so that I can leave, but two of them pin me down again.
“Fucking get off me.” I snap.
“You aren’t going anywhere.” The bouncer snarls.
I hold my hand in the air and grin. “Fine, but I need to make a phone call.”
“Yeah, call your lawyer you arrogant fuck.” One of them says sarcastically.
I don’t call my lawyer. I call my father.
The cops arrive as I slide my phone back into my pocket. They park right outside the entrance, lights flashing as they climb out, arrogant and smug.
They come at me with aggression which I could challenge - but I allow them to handcuff me. And even when the slam me up against the side of their car I’m smirking.
“What the fuck is his problem?” one cop mutters to the other.
Patting me down he digs around in my pocket, pulling out whatever he finds.
“He won’t stop smiling. Hey, fuck face, what are you smiling about? You’re going to jail.”
“He’s probably high.”
“Oh shit - I know who this is.” His partner stammers, flipping my wallet open and looking at the name on my credit card.
Nervously he shifts and glancing around himself. “Shit.” He mutters. “Ah. Dude, no, we need to?—”
“What are you doing to my son?” My father’s voice makes them both spin around.
“Uh - he was in a fight.” The nervous cop mutters. “Mr. Vece, we weren’t aware?—”
“Vincent Vece?” the other cop says in shock, finally catching up with the rest of us .
A deep chuckle rumbles though me while I enjoy their nervous discomfort.
“It’s ok boys. You were doing your job.” My father says calmly, handing them an envelope that no doubt has a thick wad of cash in it. “I understand the other guy started the fight?” he asks, his brows raised.
“Yeah, it was the other guy.” They both nod, their bodies rigid and tense.
“Then why is my son in handcuffs?”
“Oh this - it was just - it was - take them off. ” Cop number two hisses at his partner who fumbles with the key and releases me.
I turn to face them, snatching my wallet out of cop number one’s hands. “Have a nice night boys .” I smirk.
My father pulls his mouth tight and glares at me.
I grin. “Thanks, dad. It really was the other guy who started it.”
“Go home, Celso. I told you to keep your head down. ”
I nod. “Yeah, I’m going home now. This place is a shit hole, anyway.” My father watches as I walk towards my car and climb inside. When I drive off, he is still standing next to the cop car.
On my way I pass an ambulance, sirens blaring as it rushes towards the club with its emergency lights flashing and blinding me.
“So dramatic.” I mutter, turning off the main street and heading towards my penthouse.
At home I’m pacing up and down. I can’t stop thinking about what she said.
She didn’t mean it.
She will soon find out for herself that I am the right man for her.
My sister needs to stop interfering. So does Masaccio. He needs to mind his own fucking business.
Or I need to find another way to get to Neve.
If Neve wants to play hard to get, I will play harder to get her.
That night, lying in bed, staring up at the stark white ceiling, my mind is churning with options and ideas. She doesn’t stand a chance. I won’t stop until I have her.