Wicked Truths (Savannah Sharks Hockey and Mafia #1)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

FRANCESCA

My phone chimes with another text message, making me pause my channel surfing once again. I click on the link Uncle Tony just sent to confirm his outlandish story.

There it is. Right on top. In big bold letters, to be exact.

Former New York Mob Boss Arturo Marino

buys local hockey team, the Savannah Sharks.

Well, I’ll be damned. Uncle Tony wasn’t bullshitting me.

I scroll through the news article on my phone, skimming through the paragraphs.

The article talks about how Dad left New York with his two kids almost a decade ago after the tragic murder of his wife before shifting to talk about the Sharks’ losing back-to-back seasons.

The Savannah Sharks used to be good. Really good. In fact, they were one of the best teams in the league.

But that was before.

Before my whirlwind love story with Rhett. Before our break up. Before I moved away to attend the University of Georgia.

Shaking my head, I continue to skim the newspaper article, stopping when I come across a section about Joey.

Joseph Marino is the number three defenseman in the entire national hockey league. Last season, he had twenty goals and thirty-three assists, landing him as one of the top prospects to be traded to the new expansion team next year.

Pride fills my body. I didn’t think he was going to be able to work for Dad and play professional hockey, but he did it.

He somehow made it happen with all the traveling and practice. I mean, Uncle Tony had to fill in more than he usually did, but Joey has pulled his fair weight as well.

Dad and Joey still keep me in the dark, but I don’t mind as much anymore because Uncle Tony gives me weekly reports, and has since I moved away.

My phone rings, bringing a smile to my face. Uncle Tony is right on time for our weekly chat.

“Hey, Uncle T.” I say as I put the call on speakerphone and continue scrolling through the channels.

“Hey, Principessa. So, I was right, huh?”

I laugh. “Yeah, you were right, as hard as that is to admit. What is Dad even thinking?”

He sighs. “Eh, I don’t know. To be honest, we aren’t really speaking these days.”

My mouth falls open.

Dad and Uncle Tony were always close. Close like brothers, even though they aren’t related. Uncle Tony is Mom’s oldest brother, and after the accident, he and his son, Anthony Junior, moved south with us, while his other brothers and his daughter stayed in New York.

I manage to squeak out, “Why? What happened?”

“I don’t want to put you in the middle of things. He’s your father, after all, but the two of us aren’t seeing eye to eye on a couple of business ideas. I figured I’d give him a few more days before having a sit down with him.”

“You aren’t putting me in the middle of this. I won’t pick sides, you know that, but I like knowing what’s going on. The good, bad, and ugly. Where does Joey stand on these business ideas?”

Joey and Dad have always supported one another, even if their plan was risky, so I won’t be surprised if Joey is siding with Dad.

“You know how Joe is. The riskier the plan, the better the reward, and this one is just too risky right now.”

“Yeah, well, Joey has his career to worry about. Risky plans shouldn’t be a priority right now.”

Uncle Tony chuckles. “That’s what I said. He chose hockey over the family business, so that’s where his focus should be. If he wants to be involved with every business decision, then he should hang up his skates.”

“It sounds like Joey is trying to take on too much, but I don’t know all the details, so I can’t really give my opinion. ”

“You can move back and demand a say in the business.”

I run my hand through my hair. “You know they won’t ever allow that to happen. In their eyes, women are just ornaments on their men’s arms.”

“That’s bullshit, and you know it. You are more than capable of running things.”

“I know that, and you know that, but they are stuck in their ways. You gave me responsibilities and let me go on jobs with AJ while they kept me in the dark. I’ll never be more than an inconvenience to them.”

“Francesca Louise Marino, I will not have you talking about yourself like that. You’re not some fucking inconvenience to your family. You are their daughter and sister. And more than that, you are a college graduate with a master’s degree with your whole life ahead of you.”

“I know. I was just saying what they think of me. If I had been born with a fucking dick, I would be part of their plans and discussions.”

“I don’t care if that’s what they think. I don’t think that way, and if your mother was still alive, she wouldn’t think that either.”

A lump forms in my throat at the mention of mom. The years keep passing, but living without her never gets easier. A girl needs a mom in her life.

Uncle Tony clears his throat. “Anyway, how’s the job search going? Have you found anything worthwhile up there?”

I shake my head even though he can’t see me. “ Unfortunately, no, but I still have enough money in savings to not stress about the lack of jobs up here right now.”

“You can come work for me. No one has to know. You can even live with me rent free or get your own place.”

He yells at someone before apologizing.

“I’ll think about it. The offer sounds great, but I don’t think I can lie to Dad and Joey like that. I’m tired of lying.”

Lying has already ruined the best relationship I’ve ever had. I don’t want it tearing my family apart.

My phone beeps. Looking at the screen, I frown. “Hey, Dad is calling me now.”

“Take his call and think about what I’ve said.”

That’s probably all I will think about today. “I will. I love you.”

“I love you too, Principessa.”

I end his call and answer Dad’s. “Hey Dad, what’s up?”

His normal deep but calm voice comes through the phone. “I have some news to share with you, and a question to ask you.”

“Oh, yeah?” I try to act surprised, but I already know this call is probably about his latest multi-million dollar purchase.

“I have recently expanded the Marino business.”

“Like the family business?”

Is he planning on using the hockey team as a front ?

“I just figured with Joey on the team, and with their losing seasons, it was time for a change.”

“Why buy a losing team, though? Especially a team Joey is on. Don’t you think players, press, and fans alike will think you’re playing favorites? Fan attendance is likely to be low as well, meaning less revenue.”

I pause for a moment and take the call off speakerphone. I don’t need my roommate and best friend, Mandy, overhearing.

Pushing the phone against my ear, I say, “Unless you are using the team for another reason.”

“I just want Joey to be a part of a winning team since he’s a skilled player, and I want you to come work as the director of public relations.”

“You’re offering me a job?” I did not see that coming.

“I want the team and the family to be represented by someone that has our best interests in mind.”

“So you want me to be the middleman and lie about what’s really going on?”

“Francesca, there are things we do in life that others don’t understand. You don’t have to lie. You can deflect from the negative and talk about the positive things that our family does.”

Dad yells at someone in the distance, reminding me of the way Uncle Tony is always yelling when we are on the phone together.

“That’s all well and good, but you do remember that my ex-boyfriend is a player on the Savannah Sharks, right? ”

Even though I broke up with Rhett Montgomery, I still track his career and game stats. But working that close to him has my heart pounding in my chest and my mind wanting to shut off.

“I’m well aware of your past relationship with him.”

“And you still want me to work as Director of Public Relations?”

“Yes, and I want you to start on Monday.”

I mull over both job opportunities I’ve been given today. I can work for Dad at the arena and occasionally work for Uncle Tony.

“Since I don’t have any job prospects here, I will agree to come work for you as long as I can be behind the scenes and stay as far away from the players as possible.”

“There will be times you have to interact with the players to smooth over their indiscretions, but I think they will be few and far between.”

“Then we have a deal. Also, can you pick me up from the airport this weekend since my car broke down and is in the shop? I’ll try to find an apartment that will allow me to move in on such a quick notice.”

“You can move back home, and we can carpool until you get a new car, or Joey can drive you.”

“Thanks, but no thanks.” I don’t want to be a twenty-five-year-old that has to move back into her parents’ house.

“Why? You would have privacy and be in your own wing of the house.”

His roof, his rules. That’s how it’s always been. I want the freedom to do whatever I want. I want to bring a guy over after partying all night.

The thought of bringing a guy over changes my mood in an instant. Truth be told, there’s only one guy I want to bring over, but that went out the window the second I walked away from the life I used to have.

“If I’m moving back to Savannah, I’d like to have my own place.”

“Then how about the new apartments that are a few minutes’ walk to the arena? I can send you the information.”

“There’s an apartment building near the arena? Where?”

The last time I attended a game at the arena, nothing was around except a couple of small houses and dozens of warehouses.

Mandy walks into the living room and plops down on the couch next to me. I can’t get up and walk away without seeming rude, but I don’t want to overhear my conversation with Dad about moving.

Clacking of a keyboard comes through the phone before Dad says, “I’ll send you the website and you can decide if you want to live there or at home.”

“If it’s really only a few minutes’ walk away, not a shitty place, and they have availability, then I’ll move in this weekend and start the job on Monday.”

Mandy gasps from beside me and sits up straighter in her seat as she eavesdrops on my conversation.

“I just sent you the link for the new apartments. Give it a look and I’ll see you this weekend. Just let me know when your flight lands and I’ll be there. We can have a nice family dinner.”

Dad is unusually chipper right now. Is he happy that I’m moving back to Savannah?

Is it because I accepted his job offer?

“Sounds good, Dad. I’ll let you know as soon as I book the flight and get in touch with the apartment complex.”

We say our goodbyes and I end the call before turning to face Mandy.

“You’re moving already? Classes just ended. Graduation hasn’t even happened. Besides, what about Jax?”

I knew she would react like this, but I never imagined she’d ask about Jax.

“I’m moving in a few days. It’s normal for graduates to move when the semester is over. As far as Jax, we haven’t seen each other in months. Our situationship wasn’t anything serious.”

With my family’s line of work and me being the mafia princess, nothing can be serious. At least not unless you’re already a made man.

No one has been a part of that side of my life, not even Rhett Montgomery. I was close to confessing all my secrets to him, though.

But in the end, I just couldn’t bring him into that side of my life. I couldn’t have him risk his hockey career or his life just to be with me.

Jax, on the other hand, was exactly what I needed to help get over Rhett. But that was only temporary, which is why I stopped seeing him.

He was the notorious asshole bad boy that knew how to fuck a woman properly. It was always a hard and fast fuck with no emotions involved, and that’s what I craved.

If I’m being honest, that’s still what I crave. Hair pulling, ass smacking, and a hard pounding with a little danger mixed in.

If only I could mix Jax and Rhett to create the perfect man. In and out of bed.

Mandy stands and heads into her bedroom for a few moments before returning with a birthday gift bag.

“I was throwing you a surprise birthday party tonight, but since you’re moving, I guess it will be both a birthday and going away party.”

“My birthday isn’t until next weekend.”

“Well, I have to work at the bar every weekend, and everyone couldn’t make it since most of them are moving back home for the last few weeks of summer break.”

That’s just one of the joys of being friends with college students. At the end of the semester, we split up.

Except for me. I rarely went back home. I chose to take extra classes during the breaks.

She hands me the gift bag.

I pull out the tissue paper and peek inside the bag. “You got me a suction dildo?”

She nods enthusiastically. “It also vibrates and is waterproof, so you can use it in the shower. You’ve been lonely, and you said your vibrator just died, so I figured you needed a new one.”

My face blushes. “Oh my God, Mandy.”

She giggles. “Just give it a try. I have a similar one and it’s incredible. That one is made with a real feel material, and I swear it’s almost as good as a real one.”

Curious about the real feel material, I take the dildo out of the packaging. “If you tell anyone that I felt up a dildo, I’ll never be your friend again.”

I run my fingers up the fake shaft. “Oh! That’s so weird. Why does it feel so lifelike?”

She shrugs and laughs. “I don’t know, but I do know that it feels incredible. Go try it out, and then change for your party.”

I carry my gift into my bedroom. When I’m alone, I stare at it. It’s not too long or too wide, and just like Mandy said, it feels just like a real cock.

It’s similar to Rhett’s in size and shape, making me nervous and hopeful to see him next week at the arena.

Will he feel the same about seeing me?