Chapter 9 Lorenzo
LORENZO
“So, you have the file?” Marco, the most trusted captain in the family, asks from where he’s sitting across from me on the small deck out back of the Adobe bungalow.
He showed up at the safe house about ten minutes ago, as per our agreed-upon time when I sent him a text last night. That was before everything happened with Florence, and honestly, I almost forgot about the meeting altogether until Marco called to confirm the address.
Luckily, Florence is inside taking a cat nap. Literally, she and Sprinkles were curled up on the bed, both snoring softly when I stepped outside to meet Marco.
“It’s inside,” I tell him, which isn’t a lie. Florence has the file in question. I saw her take it out of her purse earlier today before lunch. I didn’t say anything, not sure how to move forward. I already made her feel unwanted, how could I risk making her feel used as well?
“With the woman?” Marco asks, darting his eyes toward the door as if he’s considering storming inside and taking it himself.
“Her name is Florence,” I say with a little more bite in my tone than I intended.
Marco’s eyebrows lift up in surprise, then furrow with concern. “And you’re sure we can trust her? Didn’t you say she works at Hanson & Hanson?”
“You don’t have to trust her. You have to trust me,” I growl. “And I say she’s more honorable than anyone I know. Is that good enough for you?”
Marco raises his hands in a sign of surrender. “I didn’t mean anything by it. Damn,” he grumbles. “Why did you bring her all the way out here instead of straight to the Caparelli compound? Aurelio wants those documents, Lorenzo.”
“And I’m going to hand them over,” I assure Marco. “That doesn’t mean Florence should be collateral damage. We might be criminals, but we’re not so cruel as to kill innocent women.”
The tall, broad-shouldered man nods slowly, then leans back in his seat.
“Of course, she should be protected. I wasn’t telling you to throw her to the wolves.
” Just then, his phone rings. Marco looks at the screen, deciding to answer.
“What,” he spits out. It’s a typical greeting for Marco. “Yes, I’m with him now.”
I wonder who he’s talking to. Aurelio knows I’m here and I told Marco last night, but that was supposed to be it. The captain grunts a few monosyllabic responses, then hangs up. I give him a questioning look, silently demanding him to tell me who that call was from.
“Jagger,” he tells me. He must see the surprised look on my face. “Boss let everyone in the inner circle know you were at a safe house with the file in hand.”
“He gave out the address?” I ask incredulously. That doesn’t sound like Aurelio.
“No, of course not. He just said you would be on your way from one of our safe houses soon.”
“So why is Jagger up your ass about it? The Boss knows where I’m at, you can now confirm you’ve seen me in person at the safe house, and that’s that. I’ll bring the file to the compound when the coast is clear.”
“Okay, okay, I got it,” Marco says, finally backing down.
He knows something is going on, but not enough to call me out on it.
We both have our suspicions, along with Aurelio, about a traitor in the family.
I respect that he’s sizing me up, but I don’t need this shit right now. I need him to trust me.
I stand up from the uncomfortable lawn chair that was left on the back deck, and Marco does the same. He reaches out to shake my hand, and at the same time, the back door opens.
“There you are… oh!” Florence exclaims when she sees Marco.
My woman is still in the shirt I had on last night… and nothing else. Her legs are fully on display for anyone to see, and while I know Marco is the only other person around here for miles, a possessive rage races to the surface.
“Don’t look at her,” I snarl at Marco. His eyes are nearly falling out of their sockets and I barely restrain myself from breaking his goddamn nose.
“Holy shit,” he stammers, blinking a few times before averting his gaze. “I didn’t know… Jesus, Lorenzo, please tell me this isn’t what it looks like.”
“Sorry, I didn’t know we had company,” Florence says, immediately scampering back inside.
“She’s mine,” I growl, getting in Marco’s face. I don’t give a fuck about anything else except laying claim to my woman.
“Yeah, I got that,” he replies, taking a step back. “I’m not looking for a woman or a relationship or a fuck buddy, so there’s no need to mark your territory.”
“She’s not a fuck buddy,” I grit out, offended that anyone would think of my Florence as less than the goddess she is.
"Noted." We stare at each other for a few drawn-out seconds, and then Marco nods. "The documents," he finally says. "Get them to the compound sooner rather than later. Then you can continue with…" He trails off, tipping his chin toward the small bungalow.
I know he wants to say more, but I’m thankful he’s not pressing me for information. He’s giving me the chance to earn his trust, and right now, I understand the importance of that more than ever.
We say our goodbyes and I watch him get into his car and drive away, a cloud of dust and sand following behind him. I only step inside when he’s completely out of sight.
“I didn’t know anyone was here,” Florence says as soon as I enter the living area.
“And that makes it okay to go outside, showing off what’s mine?” I ask, prowling toward her.
She puts her hands on her hips and narrows those emerald eyes at me. “Excuse me, sir. I won’t let any man tell me where I can and can’t go.”
The corner of her lip curls up into a deviant smirk, making her green eyes flash in challenge. She loves pushing my buttons. And I love her.
I don’t fully have time to process that last thought, but it can wait. Right now, my woman needs me as much as I need her. I have a feeling I’ll always be this ravenous for her.
“You can go anywhere you want, beautiful,” I tell her, circling around my prey. She looks at me over her shoulder, lust shining in her gaze. “But you have to at least wear panties when meeting my colleagues.”
I circle an arm around her hips with every intention of kissing her breathless, but the little siren spins out of my embrace, giggling as she gives chase.
“I have a dress code now?”
“You do if you don’t want me to snatch the eyeballs from every single person who looks at you,” I reply, catching up to my woman in two strides. She lingers in the kitchen, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
“So you’re planning on keeping me around?” she asks. Florence is trying to be playful, but I see the doubt beneath her words. I’ve already given her a reason to doubt me, but I’m trying with every goddamn thing in me to make it up to her.
“As long as you’ll have me,” I tell her truthfully.
“And even then, I can expect you to stalk me until the day I die?” Her lips pull into a playful smile, but I growl at the thought of her leaving this earth.
“You’re not dying. Ever. Not on my watch.” We’re only a few inches apart, and I reach out to touch her, needing her warmth to rid the thought of death from my mind.
Florence tries to get away from me again, but I catch her by her waist and haul her into me for a devastating kiss. She moans as I slip my tongue into her mouth and consume every inch of her. My hands slide down her thick curves and grip the hem of the shirt she’s wearing, slowly inching it up.
We break the kiss only long enough for me to take the piece of clothing off completely and toss it to the side. Florence jumps up into my arms and hooks her ankles together behind my back. I growl and kiss down her neck as she arches her back and presses her body into mine.
“Need to show you who you belong to,” I grunt before nipping at the sensitive skin below her ear.
“I belong to you,” she pants, rubbing her hot little pussy over my stomach letting me know she needs this, too. My woman talks a big game, but she likes being mine. She knows deep down that I don’t want to smother her or dictate where she goes or how she dresses. I taste it in her kiss.
“Take a shower with me.” It’s not a question, it’s a command.
She nods her head and twists her fingers in my hair, pulling me down for another kiss.
I carry her into the bathroom, only breaking the kiss when I set her down on the counter. She claws at my shirt and I help her take it off of me. As soon as it’s over my head, Florence runs her hands up and down my chest and abs.
“Love your touch, beautiful. The things you do to me…”
I groan as her hands trail lower and she palms my already hard cock. I step back, chuckling when she scowls at me. Turning on the shower, I adjust the temperature so it’s hot, filling up the bathroom with steam.
I quickly get rid of my pants and boxer briefs before turning to face Florence again. “Can’t be showing off what’s mine,” I grunt as I stalk toward my pretty little prey.
“Does this mean you’ll have to punish me?” The challenging look in her emerald eyes nearly brings me to my knees. How is she so goddamn perfect?
“Is that what you want?” I growl. “To feel me spank that thick ass of yours?”
She bites her lip and nods, staring me directly in the eyes, daring me to take her up on her offer.
In one quick move, I spin her around and shove her down on the counter so her ass is presented so beautifully for me. Before she has a chance to protest, I crack my hand over her soft flesh, loving the way it jiggles and turns pink.
Florence cries out in shock and then lets out the sexiest fucking moan.
“Again,” she begs.
I wrap her hair around my fist and tug, lifting her head up so she’s looking at me in the mirror.
“I’m in control, Florence,” I tell her firmly. “Say it.”
Her eyes go dark and her nostrils flare. Fucking hell, I love knowing this turns her on as much as it does me. I didn’t expect that from someone so inexperienced and young, but it only confirms that she’s perfect for me in every way.
“You’re in control,” she says.
I spank her again, harder this time.