6. Rufino
CHAPTER SIX
Rufino
W alking into the warehouse I’m already tense and annoyed.
It’s late.
It’s Saturday.
And I don’t see any reason to be calling a meeting now.
Tuomo sounded arrogant on the phone when he called earlier, and I think that him and Masaccio have it in for me this evening.
My brothers are all seated when I step through the office door into the boardroom section. Our regular meeting area.
“You’re late.” Masaccio snarls.
I don’t bother replying.
I am late.
But who the fuck cares?
These meetings are a waste of time. They could just email me the key points afterwards instead of making me sit through hours of bullshit planning.
Everyone’s eyes are glued to me as I walk around the table to take a seat at the spot next to Celso.
He nods, a silent greeting.
I nod back. Celso is the one I have the least issues with.
I guess it’s because he doesn’t share the same mother as the rest of us and he was taunted almost as much as I was growing up - outcast from the group in his own way.
However, being the youngest of all of us he got away with everything.
Our father has a soft spot for him so despite the taunting he endured from Masaccio and Tuomo he didn’t struggle as much as I did.
“We need to discuss how the fuck we are going to make up for the lost profits on that fuck up of a shipment two days ago.” Masaccio is looking down at some paperwork, addressing all of us. “Does anyone have any ideas regarding how we can go about getting a new shipment to the client, but not lose profit?”
Tuomo is about to speak, but I end up interrupting him.
“What shipment?” I ask, not knowing there was an issue with any of the past weeks deliveries.
The way Masaccio pulls his mouth I can see he wanted me to ask this question. He baited me into it.
He shakes his head with his mouth tight and his eyes narrowed.
“Are you fucking kidding me, Red?” he shouts, slamming the paperwork against the table. “Maybe if you bothered to stay in touch or come to the warehouse more often, you would know what the fuck was going on in the family business. You are never around. You think you can?—”
“I do whatever is required of me.” I snarl at him, my defenses high and my hackles rising.
“Yeah - you do whatever is required and not a fucking drop more. That’s the problem though isn’t it. You don’t give a shit about putting in any effort over whatever the bare-minimum that is required of you.”
“Why the fuck would I? What did you assholes ever do for me?”
“We’re your fucking family.” Masaccio yells.
“Oh - now you want to pretend I'm part of the team. Now when you need something from me? I work fucking hard for this family. Don’t you dare question my loyalty to it?”
“What the fuck is wrong with you, Red? You’re acting like you don’t want to be here.” Tuomo sighs.
Because I don’t.
But I know better than to say that out loud.
As much as I will fight with my brothers I have learned over the years what the limits are. What pushing it too far looks like and what the consequences of that are. I hold back only for the sake of saving myself the annoyance and trouble of dealing with the backlash and their bloated egos.
I lean back in my chair with my arms folded across my chest.
I am clenching my jaw to stop myself from speaking that it’s starting to ache.
“Whatever. Let’s carry on.” Celso says, waving his hand in the air and gesturing towards Masaccio.
Masaccio continues to glare at me.
“You need to get your shit together, Red. I don’t know what the hell is going on with you, but your absence has been noted and the lack of effort won’t go ignored for much longer.”
“I’ve got better things to do with my time.” I snap, standing up and sending the chair skidding out from behind me.
Turning towards the door I ignore Tuomo’s heavy sigh and Celso telling me to sit down and let it go.
Fuck all of them.
I do not have to deal with this shit.
I do my job, I put the effort in. I just do it, on my own, without them hovering over my shoulder and trying to control every move I make. Masaccio isn’t my fucking boss. Not until our father hands him the reigns to the empire.
“This meeting is important.” Mas growls.
“Email me the key points.” I dismiss him and walk out of the meeting room.
My heart is pounding as adrenaline courses though me.
This was a complete waste of my time and all it’s done is to irritate me even more.
Climbing into my car I sit in the driver’s seat for a minute, trying to push the agitation out of my body - but it’s not working.
I roll my neck in a circle, flex my shoulders, and start the engine.
I have a little vixen to meet at a club in town.
That’s where I want to be.
She is the only one who has and deserves my attention.
Gravel spits out behind my car as a wheel spin away from the warehouse.
They messed up that shipment - they can figure out how to fix it.
When I get to the club Verity is already there, waiting for me at the bar.
I walk towards her, grab her in my arms and kiss her.
She tenses and pushes me away. Tilting her head she looks amused and curious.
“What the hell are you doing? My security guards are down here somewhere watching.”
“Then let’s go up to VIP. Let them sit with the commoners and wait.”
I grab her hand and pull her along with me. She laughs, shaking her head.
“Someone put you in a foul mood.”
In our private area, with the heavy velvet curtain pulled closed, I drag her towards me again. “I’m tired of sneaking around. I want you. Let’s go away for a weekend together.”
Somewhere in the back of my mind I know it’s not possible. It would stir up chaos if we were caught - but at this moment, I don’t even want to think about anyone else opinion and driven by a fiery desire to be with her.
I am tired of waiting. I’m tired of not just being able to have her anytime, anywhere, all the time.
“You’re really sexy when you’re angry.” She whispers seductively, running her fingertips over my jaw.
I slide my hands down her back, over her ass, and then lift her in my arms - wrapping her legs around my waist.
Her laughter turns into a sharp gasp when I grab a handful of her silky, long hair and yank her head back so that I can kiss the curve of her neck.
Every cell in my body is electrified.
My cock is so hard it’s aching as it pushes against my pants.
I know what I need.
And I don’t give a fuck about risk right now.
I push Verity’s back against the wall, still holding her in my arms.
Tugging my pants open she squeals as I rip her panties to the side and shove my cock into her pussy.
Her body shudders with pleasure and her words come out in a struggle between heavy breaths. “They’ll - they’ll see - us.” She moans as I fuck her against the wall.
“Let them watch.” I growl against her hair, not willing to stop.
Her nails scratch down the back of my neck, leaving red raw lines on my skin.
I can’t stop and she isn’t even asking me to.
My cock plunges into her, over and over again, thrusting hard and moving fast. She cries out louder, not bothering to hide the sound of her pleasure - it’s all lost in the heavy beat of music, anyway. No one can hear us up here.
Between the intensity of my outburst, the danger of what we’re doing and our fierce connection - she is already close to coming all over me. I can feel it. I can see it in her eyes.
I push harder, grabbing her around the throat and squeezing just enough to make her lips part.
Gasping, she tightens her pussy over my cock, then closes her eyes and loses herself in the orgasm that waves through her.
I slam into her again, her body jolting against the wall behind her.
A deep growl thunders through me when I explode into her.
When it’s over I step away, letting her feet slide to the floor.
She is grinning a wicked, delightful smile.
“I think people should piss you off more often.” She teases me.
Grabbing her face in my hand I press my mouth over hers.
“I think we should run away together and escape this bullshit city.”
She walks away from me, towards the bottle of vodka waiting on the table.
Pouring us each a shot she lifts her in the air.
“Who knows what the future holds?” Verity bites her lip, narrows her eyes and then throws her head back to take the shot.
I stare at her for a moment, wondering if anything rattles her. Wondering if anything I do would push her too far - past the point of risk she will take. So far she has proven herself to be just as adventurous as I am. Just as wild and fired up and dangerous.
In my eyes we there is no more perfect person we are made for each other.
In my mind I’ve already decided that we are going to be together. All I need to do is figure out a way to make that happen.
By hell or high water I will make her mine. I’m not willing to let her slip through my fingers.
“Do you want another one?” She asks, already pouring it.
I step behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her back against my chest. “Run away with me, little vixen. I’m serious.”
She sighs and shakes her head. “My father would kill us both.”
“If it wasn’t for your father - would you want to be with me?”
She turns in my arms, looking up at me with a trace of confusion on those beautiful blue eyes.
“Do you mean - like a proper relationship? Something serious?”
I chuckle. “I’m asking you if you like me - or if this is just a fun thing on the side for you?”
“Mm.” She says, a sly grin on her lips. “Do you like me? Would you want to be in a relationship with me?”
I take her jaw in my hand and lock my gaze with hers. “Let me put it this way - if another man ever touches you I will tear him to pieces and leave him scattered across the city for others to see as a warning.”
She giggles.
A sound that ripples through me like a silver bullet.
“Yes, I’d date you.” She says and not committal. Always keeping me on my toes.
I love the fact that I can’t work her out. I love the way she makes me work to understand her and how she makes me chase her.
It’s the hunt.
It’s been the hunt since the moment I first saw her.