Chapter 38
Rico
“Congratulations on the marriage,” Marquise celebrates with a shot of whiskey in the air. He knocks it down in one smooth swallow.
“Thank you,” I reply genuinely. “How long has it been for you and Jade?”
“Twenty-five years now,” he fondly says. We both then turn our attention to our wives who are down on the club floor below. While I had violently rejected the idea of Imogen not being by my side I understand her need to enjoy herself. And the fact Jade is with her.
Our meeting is being conducted in his office upstairs. The noise is at a minimum but the vibration of the bass thrums below our feet. You can see the sweat glistened bodies grinding and dancing from the one sided window pane.
Nightclubs for me are an absolute nightmare. The noise is at an obnoxious level and the mass crowd who allow no personal space sends my mind in a frenzy.
But Imogen seems to be enjoying herself. Dancing with Jade and laughing easily with her. As long as she’s happy.
“I would ask how you two met but I know arranged marriages are still a thing on your side of the business.”
“I stole her.”
He chokes. “You stole her?” His eyes are comically wide. “Listen man, if you guys are into the trafficking business I have to see myself out. I ain’t getting caught up in that fucked up shit.”
My lips twitch. Morale is such a funny thing. Criminals can justify certain crimes but others are considered irredeemable. Not that I disagree on this particular matter. If there is one trade The Donati Famiglia will never partake in, it's the human trade.
“Settle down, Marquise. The Donati Famiglia has never been and will never be part of the flesh trade.”
“Right, right,” he says unconvincingly. “Care to explain the stolen part then?”
“She was my captive. At first she was just leverage against her father, Seamus.”
“And then it became more.”
I nod my head. “And then it became more.” So very much more to where I don’t know how to exist without her.
His laugh is one of disbelief and shock. “You certainly have a great story to tell the kids one day. One twisted fairytale you two have.”
I’m well aware our story isn’t conventional. Our love wasn’t cultivated in the light of day. It was born in the shadows. A dark bloom.
“Not everyone has the luxury of being high school sweethearts.”
“True,” he laughs. “Now,” he claps his hands together as his face becomes serious, “what has you here with me instead of enjoying your wife on the honeymoon?”
I appreciate the cut of pleasantries. If we were about to talk about the weather I might’ve killed myself. “Don Constantine Donati has brought me to propose a lucrative new drug deal.”
A smile splits his face ear to ear. Excitement buzzes beneath his skin. “Lay it on me. What are we playing with, Rico?”
“Alavro Acosta has a new drug called Eden. It’s promising. Those who take the drug will be in a euphoric out of body state of mind. We need someone trustworthy to distribute. You and your men run a tight ship. You’ll have a pay raise, of course. And if it runs smoothly you can expect a bonus.”
He rubs his chin considering. “This is the mogul from Cuba, right?”
“The very same.”
“How big a pay raise are we talking here? You’re asking me to store a whole new drug and have my crew do double the work with the drugs they’re already running. Big risk for them.”
“We’re talking a twenty-five percent pay raise initially.”
He whistles sweetly. “I like the sound of that. When’s the drug coming?”
“A shipment will be here in two days.”
“Soon,” he comments. “What if I would’ve said no?”
“I would’ve convinced you,” I respond vaguely. Marquise is a smart enough man to pick up on what I’m hinting at.
“Well,” he singsongs. “It’s a good thing I didn’t need any convincing.” He extends his hand for a shake to confirm the deal and I shake his hand firmly.
My eyes desperately find Imogen once more and when I do my blood boils. A man has closed in on her and is trying to dance with her.
Sensing the shift in the air Marquise tsks. “Fella has a death wish, doesn’t he?”
The vein in my neck pulsates as Imogen roughly pushes his unwanted hands off her hips. I’ll make sure his hands go first. Stupidly he persists. Manhandling her once more and thrusting up against her.
She elbows him hard in the gut causing him to double over in pain. Then she brings her knee up and drives it into his face. His head snaps back and blood pours from his nose.
A vicious sneer curls the man’s lips. He’s about to reach her again when she takes a hold of his wrist, collects his fingers and bends them backwards. Marquise hisses beside me, shaking his own hand as if he can feel the pain.
As beautiful as it is seeing her in action I can’t stand by and allow this to happen any longer.
Briskly I nod my head and stride to leave the office. Marquise calls out playfully, “Kill him just not on my dance floor.”
I wave my hand in the air acknowledging his quip and he howls with laughter.
Reaching inside my suit jacket I retrieve my wireless soundproof headphones. I slip them on as I take two stairs at a time to reach floor level. And while it quiets the outrageous thrum of music it does not silence the thunderous pulse ringing in my eardrums.
I push past bodies. Knocking many to the ground with the brutal chuck of my shoulder. It isn’t long before people catch on to who’s on the dance floor.
They part then. Shrinking away with fear as I make my way to my wife who is still handling the asshole who just can’t seem to stay away from her.
Eyes on my wife I grab the man and effectively put him in a headlock.
Her eyes warm at the sight of me as her body visibly relaxes. “Hi, shadow,” she mouthes.
The man in my arms flails about but I tighten my hold. In only a couple of seconds he’ll be out cold. Once he’s unconscious I’ll make a display of dragging his body across the floor and taking him outside. Let the world see then what happens when you touch what’s mine.
“Hello, little warrior,” I say warmly. I keep my eyes on her as I feel her assailant’s body become limp. Uncaring to protect his head I release the hold and he crumples to the floor like a sack of potatoes.
She steps over the body in her heels that look like a walking hazard but she moves in them gracefully. Her arms loop around my neck. I remove one of my earbuds to hear her better. “My white knight,” she sighs dreamily.
“Hardly a white knight,” I comment dryly. “You did well handling him. Is breaking noses a thing of yours?”
“The crunch when it breaks is satisfying.” The corner of my mouth tugs upwards. “What will you do with him?”
My hands find purchase on her hips. “What do you think?”
Her eyes twinkle with mischief. “Something nefarious.”
I thrust her against me and she can feel how hard I am against my slacks. Seeing Imogen fight. . .it drives me mad with lust. Maybe we’ll have to add sparing as part of our foreplay.
“I knew you in this dress would leave a trail of dead bodies behind you.” My hands slide from her hips to palm her barely covered backside. Her beautiful mouth parts. Those eyes of her glaze over with lust.
“Are you insinuating it’s my fault a man can’t keep his hands to himself?” She asks coyly.
“Fuck no,” I rumble. Though right now I’m not any better than a perverted man. My hands roam over every inch of her shamelessly. They leave embers in their wake. I promise to stoke the fire once we’re in private.
My cock is already aching to be inside her snug cunt as my wife. I bet she tastes sweeter, too.
“But I will slaughter any man who disrespects you.”
“Why, Rico,” a lazy smile plays on her lips, “I think you might be possessive of me.”
I spin her around and press her ass against my cock. I grind against her. My cock nestles between her asscheeks. She lays her head against my shoulder and looks up at me through fluttering lashes.
“Possessive. Obsessive. Consumed. At your mercy and command. I’d go to mad lengths for you, Mrs. Maroni.”
“It seems to me I have you wrapped around my finger, Mr. Maroni.” Her hips move in a rhythm that’s downright sinful.
I flatten one of my hands against her stomach and wrap my other around her neck. Her pulse jumps beneath my fingers. Blue eyes of desire hold me captive. “You do. Wear it like a badge of honor. Wield it like a fucking weapon. The true power has always lied with you.”
I capture her lips in a searing kiss. One that leaves both of us breathless and longing for more.
“Then I’m thinking you better take care of this man so you can take care of me after,” she says huskily, adding in a flirtatious wink which renders my heart skipping a damn beat.