Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Daria
Walking into my office, I set the bag down on the desk and grab utensils from the small kitchenette area.
The aroma makes my mouth water and my heart thump harder.
He thought of dinner for me too. It’s the sweetest thing a guy has ever done for me.
Opening the container with the hearty Irish stew, I take a big sniff as my stomach growls.
One large bite with a chunk of meat and potato, and I can’t stop the moan that passes my lips.
As if on cue, my phone pings with a message, which reminds me to set a tone for him.
His
I’m on my way to see my aintín, and all I can think about is fucking you again. How tight and wet your pussy gets. Fuck, sweets, what have you done to me? I’m so hard right now, it’s indecent.
I giggle at the image and can’t help myself but to tease him.
Me
Poor baby. I’ll get on my knees for you later and lick you like a lollipop.
His
That’s it! We’re turning around and coming to get you right now.
Me
I send him a string of laughing emojis.
Me
You can’t. I have work to do.
His
So do I, but I can’t work when I’m this hard and the image of you on your knees in front of me with my cock between your amazing lips burns in my mind.
Me
I don’t know. Maybe I should practice on someone else so I’m good when I finally see you.
I add a devil emoji to my message.
This man makes me say and do things I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help myself. I feel free and alive when I’m with him.
His
I told you already. Only me. No one else. You fucking try to practice on anyone else, I’ll cut off their dick and feed it to them in front of you. Then I’ll spank you until you can’t sit for a week.
I laugh so hard I almost spit out my amazing stew.
Me
If I can’t fool around with anyone else, you can’t either. No one but me.
His
Sweets, I’ll be honest with you here. You’re the only woman I want. The only woman I’ve wanted for a very long time.
I scoff and respond back.
Me
Sure. I’ve heard the rumors.
His
Sweets, I told you already, and you know I don’t say anything unless I mean it. All those are just rumors. That’s all. I haven’t been with a woman in God knows how long. You’re it for me. I’m it for you. I’ll fight everyone for you. Are you going to say the same about me?
His words hit hard. How many rumors are flying around Vegas about Alek or any of the other guys?
So many that are false. Women will make up stories to get notoriety and use the Bratva men as pawns.
The same could probably be said about Patrick.
But his final statement is what gives me the most pause.
I sit there, staring at the food he got me. The way he tracked me down and put his own personal guard on me. How he has been focused on me since the moment he saw me.
Me
Yes. I’ll fight my brother, the Bratva, and the Italians to keep you.
His
Phew. I was beginning to worry when it took you so long to respond. But don’t worry. I’ll never let you leave me, even if I have to lock you up in my house and keep you barefoot and pregnant. See you tonight, sweets. I have to get to work.
Me
See you, Patrick. Kisses and hugs. Yours.
His
He sends me back a heart emoji. I’m about to respond when there is a knock at my door.
“Enter,” I call out.
My brother walks in and takes a seat in one of the chairs across from my desk.
“What smells amazing?” He lifts his chin slightly to look at my food.
I take a bite of my stew, loving the savory taste of the broth.
“Irish stew for lunch and bangers and mash for dinner.” I point at the bag holding the other food.
“Hell yeah.” He dives for the bag and grabs the container. “I love a good banger with mash. Where did he take you to get these?”
I slowly lean back in my chair and try not to get upset. I want to, but I hear the words he’s said countless times to his wife in my head. It’s his job to protect her. Then I remember Patrick’s words. I’m now his to protect.
“He stopped at O’Bannon’s. I’ve never been there. This is the best Irish stew I’ve had in town.”
“They’re the best. He would know where the best is.”
I watch as he cuts off a chunk of sausage link and scoops it into the mashed potatoes with gravy before taking a bite. Alek closes the container and leans back, slowly chewing before swallowing.
“That’s good. Just like I remember. I’ve ordered from there before. I think I’ll have to do that again. I bet Lyric would love it. Her stomach hasn’t been feeling the best lately. Maybe stew would be better for her.”
As soon as he says that, it reminds me Patrick won’t let me take the day-after pill. I think over how I feel about that. I want a family so much. It doesn’t cause me to panic thinking of him being the father. Honestly, I like the idea.
“I’m sorry I threatened to leave. I just don’t understand why I can’t do anything on my own. Why do I have to have guards?”
I stare as a flurry of emotions pass across his face.
“I know we’re new to this,” he says, waving his hand between us.
“But I want you here. If I had any inkling that you existed, I would have found you and Lena sooner. I would have torn the world apart to find you. You deserved to have me and our father there for you growing up. I’m sorry I’m overprotective of you, but I know this world is dangerous.
I don’t even have to be a part of the Bratva for you to have a target on you.
Just you working here and being as beautiful as you are puts that target on you.
Men will use anything they can against other men.
It’s why I had the guards on you. I should have told you. ”
I’m about to say something when he pauses, but he holds his hand up.
“I’m not done.” He takes a deep breath and leans forward in his chair.
“I’m sorry I said what I did about your relationship with Patrick.
You deserve to see whomever you want, regardless of their affiliation.
I just know that waiting for the right person was what did it for me.
Don’t rush into anything. If you want to date more, do that.
I never wanted you to feel like you couldn’t.
I just don’t want you to settle with someone the first time. Take your time.”
I drag my top lip through my teeth, unable to hide my smile.
“Alek, this is more than seeing each other. He claimed me in the convenience store, threw me over his shoulder, and carried me out. I want to be with him. I like how he makes me feel.”
“Just so you know, an anonymous call came through the casino switchboard a bit ago.”
“And?”
“A woman claimed Patrick is only seeing you because of your connection to Andrei. You might want to let him know one of his other girlfriends is jealous.”
“Alek, he’s not seeing anyone but me. He told me, and I believe him.”
“Well, he has his own connection to Andrei, and I told her that. Are you sure he’s not seeing anyone else? He gave ante money for Sparrow before Andrei set him straight.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. That’s a conversation I’ll have with Patrick to get clarification, but I’ll explain to my brother what I do know.
“Alek, even in Laughlin, you had a reputation I’m sure wasn’t completely true.
I haven’t had a chance to talk to Patrick about the Sparrow situation, but I will.
She’s too good of a friend of mine, and I don’t want to hurt her when Patrick comes around. ”
“So, he’s going to be coming around?”
“Yes. This evening he’ll have Hayes come get me and take me to see him for a bit. I’ll probably spend the night here at the suite unless I stay with him.”
He takes a long, deep breath as he stands. “Heathens” plays from my phone. It’s fitting that most of the guys in my life are assigned Suicide Squad songs. Alek stands there, hovering. He must think it’s Patrick.
“Hello, Zio.” I smile into the phone.
“Nipote, meet me at the restaurant for dinner this evening. We need to talk. Bring your brother. I have a driver picking up your mamma.”
“What time?”
My smile falls. You don’t tell the head of the mafia you have other plans. I’ve always given my uncle the respect he’s due. He did so much for Mamma and me when I was growing up.
“Six.” He hangs up.
“Well, Alek, we have dinner plans this evening with Uncle Aldo. He’s sending a driver to pick up Mamma.”
“Well, fuck. I’ll have Lyric go wait there with her so she comes too.
I’ll text Barone and Andrei. Are you going to be able to handle this?
” He looks at me squarely. “I thought you didn’t want to be in the family.
Isn’t that why you kept turning down your cousin’s offers to go out to parties and any of the men Sparrow tried setting you up with? ”
Standing from my seat, I walk around my desk and straight to him. “I didn’t think I wanted to be, but Patrick changed everything.”
“I get it. It was the same with Lyric. The moment I saw her, I knew.”
He pulls me into his chest for a quick hug, then turns to walk out. My phone rings again, and Alek stops. We both turn toward the sound. I know who’s calling. “Gangsta” keeps playing, Patrick’s new ringtone. I pick up the phone and hold up my hand to Alek.
“Hello.”
“Sweets, doesn’t your brother carry a cell phone on him? Where is he?”
“He’s standing right by me. What’s up?”
“Are you going to Barone’s tonight for dinner?”
“Yeah.”
“Hand him the phone,” he orders.
I hold my phone out to Alek, tempted to turn on the speaker so I know exactly what’s happening.
But this is what my new life with Patrick could look like.
I need to understand my place. And at the same time, Patrick is going to have to learn I’m not a sit-back-and-watch kind of girl.
I’m all in, and I get my hands dirty too.
Patrick
As soon as we walk out of the hospital where my aunt is, my cell phone rings. I pull it from my pocket and see Barone’s name on the screen.
“Aldo,” I answer.