Chapter 2
Rico to the Rescue
Oni
What the fuck? Is he kidding me? How am I supposed to stay calm?
My heart is racing as I watch the officer climb out of his vehicle and make his way toward us. I grip the steering wheel tighter and bounce my knee while debating whether or not to take off. I can outrun this guy in this car, I know I can.
My palms are sweating, and my mouth is suddenly dry. I’ve never been caught for stealing a car. I’ve kept out of a jail cell and don’t plan to end up in one now.
“I’m gonna run,” I murmur.
Rico places his warm palm on my thigh and gives it a squeeze. “Calm. Down,” he bites out.
I bite my lip and try to ignore how his touch has my body tingling all over. I don’t have time for boys. The last thing I need is to fall for the son of a crime boss. Rico is next in line, from what I’ve heard about him.
I’m sure he’s not interested in me. I think he has me by a few years. He’s probably like twenty or something.
I’ve only been on two dates in my life. One of which I probably shouldn’t count because he was my best friend, and we went to the movies together all the time.
The only reason I count it is because he tried to kiss me, taking me by surprise. Mason is handsome and every girl’s dream back home. I guess I’m just too close. I know all the things about Mason he doesn’t want anyone else to know.
I’m starting to think I’m a magnet for dangerous guys. Who am I kidding? This guy isn’t thinking about me.
I shake my stupid thoughts off and roll the window down as the officer taps at it. Shit, I should have run. The sour look on this guy’s face tells me I should have taken off and gotten my behind the heck out of here.
“License and registration,” he commands.
“Good evening, officer. How you doing?” Rico croons as he leans across me.
The scent of his cologne hits me and makes my mouth water. It’s been lingering in the air since we got into the car, but now it’s so strong I can taste it. He gives my thigh another squeeze as I begin to squirm.
“License and registration,” the officer repeats.
“I’m sorry, officer. My girlfriend doesn’t have her license. Here’s my information. She’s driving because I twisted my ankle while we were at mini golf. Shit’s embarrassing.
“The house wasn’t that far away, so I didn’t think we would run into any trouble. She got hungry at the last second and I thought I’d grab her something to eat from a drive-through or something.
“She came a long way to spend the weekend with me and so far, it’s turning into shit, bro. I’m so sorry, baby.” He says the last part to me and kisses my temple.
My cheeks heat and I turn to him. Instead of pulling back, he ghosts his face against mine, breathing me in as he holds his information out to the cop. I feel like I’m falling into his gaze.
Rico isn’t just handsome. He’s gorgeous. His Italian heritage adds to his good looks. Those eyes.
They are gray, but his irises are surrounded by a light brown and the outside of the gray is circled by a dark blue. His dark lashes are so long and full, emphasizing how gorgeous his eyes are. He licks his lips, drawing my attention to his mouth.
Gah, his lips are sexy. They look fleshy and have the sexiest lip lines I’ve ever seen on a guy. I bite my lip as I stare at his.
He smiles and kisses the tip of my nose. I thought my heart was racing before, but it’s ready to burst from my chest now. I almost forget all about the officer standing right outside my door until he speaks and pulls me from the trance I’m in.
“Oh, Mr. Gallo. I didn’t recognize you. Let your father know Officer Andy said hello. You two be safe. Get some ice on that ankle.”
“Thank you, Officer Andy, will do,” Rico says.
“This is a nice car, sweetheart. Drive carefully. Have a good night,” he says as he hands Rico back his documents.
“Oh my God,” I breathe and sag in my seat.
I wait for the cop to get back into his car, then turn to Rico with my mouth hanging open. He’s sitting there with a smug grin on his lips. I toss my thumb over my shoulder.
“What the fuck was that?”
He winks at me. “I told you I had it. Come on. Let me get you fed. I have some shit I need to do tonight once I get you to the house.”
“Hot date?” I tease before I can stop myself.
My face begins to burn. I want to palm my forehead. Way to put my foot in my mouth.
“Jealous?”
His eyes light up as he looks me over. I squirm in my seat, feeling flustered. Not wanting to answer him, I turn and start the car to take off.
Rico roars with laughter beside me. I’m glad he’s so amused. I’m starting to wonder if this was such a great idea.
But what other option did I have?
He reaches to brush my braids from my face and tuck them behind my ear. I shiver a bit, causing him to chuckle, making me feel stupid. I need to get my shit together.
I’m here for the summer to pay my debts and stay alive. Nothing more, nothing less. I’m not a silly girl.
I have one weakness: cars. I’m not about to add a second. Catching feelings for Rico Gallo is out of the question.
“Stop overthinking, Oni. I’m here for business. Pleasure is the last thing on my mind. I have to keep focused. If I want to sit at the top, I have to set myself apart and prove to my uncle I’m the one.”
“Your uncle?”
“Yeah, I want more than my father’s capo position. I want to be Don.”
Rico
“Do you mind if I ask you a question?” Oni says as she wipes gravy from her mouth.
I got us some pasta from my favorite spot. Since my family owns the place, I was able to walk right in and collect our order before heading home to come out here by the pool to sit and eat. Oni is sitting cross-legged with her plate in her lap.
I shrug my shoulders as I chew my food then clean my teeth with my tongue. She tilts her head and stares at me. I can’t help feeling like she sees through me.
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“You said you want to be don, right?” she whispers.
I smile and nod my head. I don’t miss that she understands this isn’t something to go around yelling about. I’m liking this chick the more I’m around her.
That’s probably why I’m sitting here with her, instead of making sure that car is unloaded. My guys will get it done. They all know the consequences if they don’t.
“Yeah, you got it.”
“What’s the difference?”
“As Capo, I will only run things in my father’s New York territory. As Don, I get it all. Italy, New York, Miami, Vegas. I’d sit at the top and run shit. None of this small-time shit to prove myself.”
“Okay, I think I get it. Capo, we’re stuck in New York. Don, we-own-the-world-type shit,” she says.
I can see the wheels turning in her head. I’m not going to lie. I love hearing her include herself in the equation.
“Something like that.” I nod.
“Okay, how do we get you the world? I’ve always wanted to go to Italy. Maybe I can come back next summer too.” She looks around and smiles. “This place is nice. It’s been so long since I’ve lived like this.”
I lean in and reach to wipe the gravy she missed with her napkin. Her lips part as she looks back at me with wide eyes. I pull my finger back and stick it into my mouth.
“It’s simple. I run the product I’ve been put in charge of and keep the businesses on my books earning until my twenty-first birthday, and then I get a promotion. My uncle doesn’t have sons of his own, so he’s going to choose between me and one of my cousins.
“I’m in the lead so far, but I’m also the oldest. Al, and Fredo haven’t turned eighteen yet. Ed just did. I have a head start, so I’m making the best of that,” I explain.
“How old are you?”
“Nineteen, but I’ve been running point since I turned eighteen. My uncle is grooming me. Has been since I could walk and talk.”
“Do your cousins want it?”
I shrug. “Not Aldo or Eduardo. Fredo, now that’s another story.”
I’m not in the mood to get into that, so I change the subject. My family can be complicated at times. One minute, you think you know where you and everyone else stand. Then, in the blink of an eye, it all changes.
I’ve learned to keep my head down and bring in my earnings. As long as my uncle gets his points, he doesn’t give me shit. I prefer it that way.
“Let me ask you a question.”
“Okay, shoot,” she says over a mouthful of garlic bread.
She’s cute while she eats. I could watch her like this all night. I did a lot of digging to find out more about this girl. My father was as impressed and intrigued as I was. When her father and uncle came up, my pop knew of them.
That’s how I got permission to spare her and collect my debt some way other than in blood.
Oni lucked out because we run a chop shop that runs parallel with our pharmaceutical business.
We scrape the VINs on the more expensive cars that can fetch us a nice price.
Then load them with product before they’re shipped out.
Some cars have sat right in auctions as our distributors bid to pick up their work. The system works for us. It’s not often that someone outbids one of our distros.
It’s happened once or twice, and the party has been dealt with. Most auction houses know our cars and will ignore bids on purpose to avoid problems.
I’m about to use Oni to take that business to the next level. I’ve got it all set up. She’s the final piece.
“You mentioned not living like this anymore. What happened?”
She puts her plate aside and slumps her shoulders. A sad look comes to her face. I have an idea what went down, but I want to hear it from her lips.
I need to know if Oni is as tough as I think. If she is, this is going to be a lucrative relationship for us both. I don’t bring many in close, but when I do, it means I see something in the individual.
“My dad was locked up for some BS. All our things were seized. He never made it out.
“My mom didn’t want my uncle’s help or whatever. After my dad was killed, he left and moved down here. He sends me money, but I can’t tell my mom or use it for anything nice enough to get her attention.
“I couldn’t even let her know I had the money for my ticket here. I had to let her use her last bit to ship me out. I’m going to pay her back,” she says.
“You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll take care of it.”
“Yeah, about that. I know you said you would be sending her money, but my mom wants nothing to do with your world. I doubt she will take it.”
“You let me worry about that. She’ll be straight. I take care of my own,” I reply.
“How long will I be one of you? What happens to me after this summer? What if I still owe when the summer is up?”
I allow my gaze to search her face. Reaching to finger a few braids from her face, I then drag my finger down the side of her cheek.
“I think you will be one of us for a long time, Oni. If you prove your loyalty to the family, you will have a place here long after the summer ends. For now, we’ll take it a day at a time.”
I think about leaning in to take her lips, but remind myself not to mix business with pleasure. I need Oni. If I’m going to impress my uncle this summer, I need her to do it.
I have plans. Big plans for Oni Raven and none of them involve having her in my bed or my arms.
“Come on, I’ll take you to your room.”