Chapter 18 #2
“Believe it or not, even bad men have scruples. Donatello’s younger brother, Michael was at a party when he was fifteen years old.
It was supposed to be chaperoned and it was, which was the only reason the kid was allowed to attend.
He wasn’t like Donny. The kid was a brainiac, headed to MIT.
Early admittance. We were all proud of him.
Donny helped raise the kid. Anyway. There were some kids there with mollies.
They claimed they were harmless. Peer pressure.
You know? You pick on the kid who has no friends and tell him he’ll be a part of the cool crowd. ”
I sucked in my breath.
“Michael knew better. I mean Donny spent time ensuring the kid knew that taking drugs wasn’t in his future.
” He laughed bitterly as he shifted in his seat.
I sensed how close he was to his friend and in turn, to the man’s younger brother.
“Michael wanted to be that cool kid, so he took one of the pills. It was laced with fentanyl. By the time Donny got the call, Michael was already dead. There was nothing that could be done. You don’t know what it does to someone to see a big, strong man who never feared anything in his life break down.
Something like that scars you for life.”
When I didn’t say anything because I couldn’t, he slowly turned his head in my direction. “I’m so sorry,” I managed.
He nodded. “We started phasing out drugs in our organization the day after that happened. With this incident, the decision was made we’d neither buy nor sell any longer.
Yes, up to this point we’ve sold some to high-end clients, but they are required to go through some strict rules and we sell less and less.
No drugs are allowed in our clubs. None. I don’t give a shit who you are.”
Very little surprised me any longer, but his words and his vehemence with what he was saying did. “That’s admirable.”
“I can’t bring Michael back, but I refuse to allow anyone to suffer like my best friend did.”
“I’m curious. Did you ever find out who supplied the drugs for the party?”
His snort was followed by another round of silence. “Do you really want to know, Anna?”
“Yeah, I do.”
When he twisted his hand around the steering wheel, the leather squeezed from the force used.
“What you saw tonight was a reaction to you being under duress. That man had every intention of using you as a shield. I’m thankful you knew what to do.
While I wanted to grill Damien regarding the person responsible for breaking his loyalty to the family, I had no intention of putting you further in harm’s way.
That meant I needed a clean shoot without hesitation or utilizing my normal tactics in handling situations of that nature. ”
“But…”
“But with the man we discovered had sold the kids the drugs, he spent some quality time in my presence and under my knife.” He swung his head over his shoulder once again to test my reaction.
“And I assure you he suffered. If you had any question before about whether I was a decent man, I just answered it for you.”
I shrank further into the supple leather, still clinging to Zorro as if he could fix all the wrongs of the world.
Meanwhile, my heart was thumping erratically against my chest. I concentrated on the sights outside the windshield and it took a few seconds to comprehend that he wasn’t headed back to Emmeline’s house.
“Where are you taking me?” For the first time around him, I was frightened. I could hear it in my own voice.
“Whether or not you were working with Damien or the Russo family remains to be seen. Regardless, your appearance and reappearance are cause for concern. You’re more than you say you are and I need to find out what you’re hiding.”
There was no way of arguing with him. How could I at this point? I sat back in the seat, uncertain what to say. “I’m a ballerina from New York.”
“By now, Sergio Russo and his brother, the Don of the Cosa Nostra currently residing in New Orleans are well aware that not only are they out several million dollars from drugs that were confiscated but also that several of their men are dead. Now, given your appearance this morning, the fact I allowed two of the men you noticed who were positioned on their knees to leave and what happened tonight, it won’t be long until a target is placed on your back. ”
“What?” My God. I’d fallen into a situation of retaliation, one mafia and another.
Italians. Cosa Nostra. Very few people understood the hierarchy of the Italian mafia.
In order to be called a Cosa Nostra, syndicates had to pay homage to both the Five Families in Italy and to the boss of all bosses.
No matter the size of the organization, if they learned who I was, which was likely even though my father had ordained using a false surname to keep my identity hidden, the target would be huge.
I’d stepped into a pile of shit that I doubted I could break free of.
Close to hyperventilating, I studied the road while I tried my best to calm my nerves and figure out how I could get out of the mess I’d put myself in. There was no easy way with one exception. Giving up and returning to Italy. I didn’t want to do that.
“Where are we going?” I finally asked, considering jumping from the car. Oh, great. Then what? All my things were at his sister’s house. I was in the worst place I could be in.
“To my house. You’ll be safe there.”
“For how long?”
“For as long as it takes.”
“Which means I’m your prisoner.”
Why was it that his deep chuckle sent such a wave of tingling sensations through me? “Call it what you will.”
I rubbed my hands on my skirt, fighting tears.
I’d never felt this lost or helpless in my life. It was either return to Sicily or place my trust in a man who believed in his heart I was his enemy.
I hugged Zorro and shed a few tears, something I hadn’t done in a very long time.
“When I was a little girl, I was afraid of monsters. Before my papa used to tuck me in, he’d check everywhere to ensure there were no hairy creatures hiding in the shadows.
Under the bed. In the closet. In the bathroom.
He’d leave the door ajar and a nightlight on, issuing a hex on monsters he created just for me.
Only when he went through the entire routine was I able to sleep. ”
I wasn’t certain if he was paying attention or even why I was bothering to share something so personal.
Perhaps because he’d done so in telling me about Michael.
I didn’t look at him, my voice little more than a hoarse whisper.
“One night, I heard a noise and it woke me up. I called for my papa but heard nothing. I was terrified but finally went to the door and peered out. It was dark. Even my nightlight was off.”
Jaxon shifted in his seat and I sensed he was paying very close attention.
“I heard voices, loud voices. And more noises. Then I heard gunshots. I knew what they were. My papa told me there were dangerous people in the world. He taught me how to react if I heard the sound. I tried but I was so scared. I needed my pappy. But he wasn’t coming.
Then a masked man came into my room. He told me to be quiet, or he’d hurt me.
I thought… I thought I’d never see my pappy again. ”
“What happened?”
I cinched my eyes shut, willing the images that had been haunting me for weeks.
The same nightmares I’d managed to push aside had returned with a horrible vengeance, only the details were different every time.
In my mind they were a warning, a telling statement that my life, while already turned upside down, was about to end as I knew it.
There was nowhere on this earth where I was safe.
“Someone else came into the room and the horrible man dropped me. I crawled under my bed with my teddy. I just remember being curled into a ball, trying to block out the sound with my hands. There were several men. Thuds. Shouting. Gunshots. Then silence. I don’t how long I was there, but my father appeared, coaxing me into his arms. I just remember his scent, cigar smoke and whiskey.
And gunpowder. But I felt safe in his arms. I knew he’d never allow anything to happen to me. ”
I could not believe I’d admitted to him that I had a family.
If he checked with his sister, it would prove I’d been lying all along.
For all I knew this offer of bringing me to New Orleans had been orchestrated.
I bit back a laugh. Orchestrated corruption.
I was a find after all. The man sitting next to me could have easily maneuvered the situation, including sending thugs to New York to convince me to leave as a backup.
Yes, the idea was creative, wild and outlandish, but what was I supposed to think at this point? Maybe the handsome stranger was right and there was no such thing as coincidences. He’d crashed into my life instead of the opposite. I eyed him warily as he turned down a neighborhood street.
“Your father sounds like a wonderful, caring man who was intelligent enough never to keep secrets about the dangers of his life from his daughter. I can tell he loves you very much.”
He was being very careful with his words, but the tone had changed, deeper and more controlled. The two of us were like strangers passing in the night, unable to trust yet drawn together as if moths to a flame.
The rush of desire crackled within the tight space, electricity driving me into a state of longing that had already dampened my panties. I sensed he felt the disturbing connection as well, every muscle in his body tense while the bulge between his legs continued to throb, drawing my attention.
But with all acts of passion, we were on a rollercoaster ride to disaster.
I felt that with every ounce of my being.
Dramatic as it was. “My father is a very dangerous, sadistic, powerful man who would do anything to protect his daughter. Anything. As I’m certain your father tried to do with his family before he was murdered. ”
Jaxon said nothing at first, slowing down and making another turn.
The street was well lit with incredible streetlights.
There were tree-lined sidewalks on both sides of the road, the houses also lit up with sparkling lights as if expecting guests.
The gothic, Victorian theme was evident, beautiful exteriors and landscaping highlighting wealth and prosperity.
I’d found myself in a magical fairyland of opulence and danger.
And God help me, I was still attracted to the man sitting next to me, the one determined to break me in bits and pieces until he obtained what he wanted. Full control. Over me or over my father’s regime?
“You’re right, il mio fragile angelo. My father was much the same, refusing to understand that there were dangers everywhere. And his children were forced to learn the hard way. I assure you that I won’t allow anything to happen to you. As long as you place your trust in me.”
Trust. I almost laughed. “I’m not the fragile little angel you think I am, Jaxon. I’m much stronger and more resilient than I appear.”
He pulled to a stop in front of a massive and gorgeous home, shifting the gear into park. Immediately Zorro was wiggling, eager to jump out. “I know, little ballerina, that you are resourceful, defiant, intelligent, and strikingly beautiful. Yet you are much more vulnerable than you believe.”
Maybe he was right.
As soon as his door was opened, Zorro fought his master to try to be the first one with paws on the aggregate.
With a slight turn of my head, I could tell how connected the two of them were.
I remained in my seat, wondering how a man with such close ties to a furry creature could be such an arrogant bastard in every other aspect of his life.
He didn’t allow me to take much time debating the merits of his honorability before the door was jerked open. I ignored the gesture when he thrust his arm inside, daring to beckon me with his fingers.
Taking a mafia princess hostage would certainly be a power play unless he had no clue who I was.
That much wasn’t easy to decipher but was something I had to keep in the back of my mind.
I wanted to put a wedge between us both physically and emotionally.
And why? Because he oozed darkness and I craved his touch, both the tender slide of his fingers as well as the roughness of his savage smacks on my behind.
And he knew it.
He was using the crazy amount of current against me, hoping I would break. Forget it. I wasn’t interested.
Yet as soon as I planted one foot on the stone driveway, I lost my balance and was pitched against him. The moment of fire and heat between us burned hotter than before.
The hard oomph pushed air from my lungs while he smiled as if learning my vulnerabilities and planning on using them against me.
The push and pull between us was mindboggling.
As much as I wanted nothing more than to shove him aside, hating him with everything I had, being so close was enough to create a feeling of lightheadedness.
An unwelcome spark pulsed through every muscle and tendon as he held me. Everything about the man was overwhelming and the odds of escaping his scrutiny or his presence was fading.
“I’m not who you think I am,” I told him, meaning I wasn’t his enemy.
The hollow sound of his irritation was followed with a hint of a smile. “No, you are not. You’re much more.”
Just like before, he curled his fingers and pulled his hand away, but even after doing so, his touch lingered, softness caressing my cheek. We remained in the same spot as if frozen in time, loitering on his driveway as if we had all the time in the world.
If he was nervous his enemies were close, I wouldn’t know, the air of confidence he portrayed as sexy as everything else about him.
“You should be very careful around me, il mio fragile angelo. I’m not the type of man who gives up easily. There are things I crave doing to you that you would consider sinful.”
A rush of electrified heat blazed over my skin from his filthy words. “Such as?”
The smile was now coy as hunger erupted even more. “Do you really want me to answer, or… would you prefer I show you?”
There was no rhyme or reason to the explosion of feelings and needs I had for the man. None. However, what had become painfully clear was that as hard as I’d tried to shove him from my mind so my body would refuse to respond, I’d failed and would continue to do so.
What choice did I have but to give in to my desires?
I pressed my hand against his chest, able to slide my index finger between buttons on his shirt. “By all means, show me.”