Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Idrop the last box in the living room.
“I really hope you know what you’re doing,” my father says, looking around my new apartment.
“I do,” I tell him.
“I will always have your back, Emilio. I just want you to be one hundred percent sure before I have to possibly start a war with my best friend,” he says.
“It’s not going to come to that,” I tell him.
“Let’s hope not,” my father groans. “But if it does, just know we will win.”
“Obviously.” I roll my eyes. No one stands a chance against my father’s empire. Anyone who thinks they do is a fucking idiot. Many have tried and failed to take us down. “Papa, I appreciate the support. But I’m not going to let the family get dragged into any kind of war. It’ll be fine.”
“Does she know yet?” Elias asks.
“No,” I tell him. When Frankie finds out I’ve moved into the apartment right next door to hers, she’s either going to kill me or kiss me. Odds are 50/50.
After Christmas, I decided something had to change. I was done waiting for her to come to some kind of realization that her pushing me away isn’t helping either of us. Which is why I decided to stop making myself scarce around her. I figured moving in next door puts me right in her path.
She won’t be able to avoid me. And hopefully, she’ll give in to what she really wants. I know what I want, and now I’m going to make sure I get it. Frankie Giuliani isn’t going to know what hit her.
“Okay, well, I’ve got shit to do. Call if you need anything,” Dad says.
“Thanks.” I nod and watch as he and my brother leave my apartment. I get to work unpacking boxes. I hate mess. I make sure everything has a place for a reason. I like things orderly.
Two hours later, there’s a knock. Pressing mute on my phone, which was blaring music, I open the door.
The smile of the woman on the other side drops the moment she sees me. “What?”
“Afternoon.” I smile at her.
“Why are you here?” Frankie asks.
“I live here. Why are you knocking on my door?” I counter.
“I was bringing the new tenant cookies. It’s a thing my mom told me I should do. But now that I know it’s you, I’m keeping them.” She holds the container closer to her chest.
“Should I call Aunt Charlotte and let her know how exceptional your hospitality skills are?” I laugh. “Want to come in?” I hold the door open, and to my surprise, Frankie actually walks inside.
I close the door and step away. The last thing I want is for her to feel trapped.
I know she doesn’t do well when she feels trapped.
Not since that asshole took her into that dark alley when we were sixteen.
She never did find out that I killed him.
I’m sure she suspected it when he disappeared never to be seen or heard of again, but she never asked.
“Why are you here, Emilio?”
“I wanted a fresh start. This seemed like as good a place as any,” I tell her.
“Here? Right next door to me?”
“Well, yeah, it’s a nice building, secure and all that shit.”
“Are you purposely trying to torture me?” she asks.
“Is that the kind of kink you’re into? Because I gotta say… I didn’t pick you for a BDSM girly. I’ll give it a go if you want, though. I’m pretty good at dishing out punishments. Maybe it could be fun.”
“You think hurting me would be fun?” Her brows rise high on her forehead.
“No, I think pleasuring you would be fun. I never said I’d hurt you.”
Frankie blushes. “This isn’t happening. Whatever it is you think you’re achieving by living here, it’s not going to work.”
I watch, trying not to smile at her pissed-off face.
She drops the container on the coffee table. “Keep the cookies. Hope you choke on one.”
And then with a slam of my apartment door, she’s gone.
Seconds later, I hear her apartment door slam shut too and then I can hear her walking around.
She’s stomping, opening and closing cabinets as loudly as she can.
A laugh escapes me as I peel back the lid on the container and take out a homemade chocolate chip cookie.
My aunt’s recipe. There was no way I was letting her leave with these. Best fucking cookies I’ve ever had.
A few hours after that, when I’ve just made my bed and prepared to lie down, I hear her again.
Through the walls. I didn’t realize how thin they were.
My apartment is a mirror image of hers. Our bedroom walls are joined.
It’s why I wanted this one. I might have threatened and bought my way into it, making the previous owner move out within a week.
Worth every fucking penny.
“Damn him!” Frankie curses, no doubt talking about me.
And then there’s a quiet buzz. There’s only one thing I know that makes that sound. Is she?
Oh shit, she is. I hear a very faint moan. She’s in there with a vibrator.
My dick instantly hardens as I picture her teasing herself, fucking herself with the toy. My hand slides into my pants, gripping my cock. The vibrator gets louder. She’s turned it up.
Then her moans get louder too. “Shit. Oh god! Yes.”
That’s it. Don’t stop.
I keep my own sounds to myself. I don’t need her to hear me and stop what she’s doing. I free my cock, and my fist strokes up and down as I picture her spread out on a bed. Her legs wide open and the vibrator fucking into her wet cunt.
It’s when she calls out my name that I come. It’s through the wall, barely a whisper, but I know I heard it. I’ve imagined her screaming my name a million times. Nothing beats actually hearing it, though. Well, maybe being the one to pull it out of her…
“Fuck.” Her voice is louder. “I’m screwed.”
Yes, you are. I nod my head in agreement before I stand and make my way into the shower. Best first night in an apartment ever. Living next door to Frankie is going to be better than I ever thought.
I wait at the front of the building. I know Frankie gets home at around two pm on Wednesdays.
Over the last week, I’ve been watching her comings and goings.
I’ve kept as much distance as possible, letting her get used to me being next door.
Only “bumping” into her in the hall or the elevator a few times.
She looks up as she makes her way down the footpath. She’s not alone. That Kevin guy is with her. I watch as he says something to her and she shakes her head.
“Frankie, got a moment?” I ask as she reaches the door to our building.
“Not really,” she says.
“It’s important,” I tell her.
“Fine, one moment. That’s all you get,” she grumbles.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to let her know I take up a lot more space in her head than one moment. I’ve listened to her masturbate every night over the last week, and she says my name every single time.
I don’t say that, though. I like listening to her, and if she knows I can hear her, she’ll stop and that’s the last thing I want her to do.
“What do you want, Emilio?” Frankie glares at me as if I’m taking up her precious time.
“We both know what I want,” I deadpan. “I have to go to Mexico tonight.”
“And you’re telling me this because?”
“I want you to come with me.”
Frankie blinks. “Why?”
“Why not?” I counter.
“There are a million reasons why I shouldn’t go to Mexico with you, Emilio, and you know it.”
“There’s one reason why you should, though,” I tell her.
“What’s that?”
“I asked you to come with me. I want you to come with me.”
“How long are you going for?”
“The weekend. We’ll be back Sunday night.”
“And where exactly will we be?” she asks.
“The Lopez estate. You’ve been there.”
She nods. It’s been a while since Frankie’s been to Mexico, but I have to go back for work and I want her to come with me. “You can see my mom and Eliana. They’re both there.”
“Your sister hates me,” Frankie huffs.
“No, she doesn’t.”
“Actually, she really does. She basically told me.”
“I’ll talk to her. She’ll be on her best behavior,” I lie. I’m not telling Eliana who she has to like. If Frankie pissed off my little sister, she must have done something bad, because Eliana doesn’t hate anyone.
“Don’t do that. She’s just looking out for you. She said I wasn’t good enough for you and I need to work my shit out.”
I laugh. That sounds more like my sister. “She’s wrong. You’re too good for me. But let’s pretend you’re not and you come to Mexico with me anyway.”
“What time are you leaving?”
“Six.”
“Okay.” Frankie nods.
“Okay, you’ll come?” I ask, almost doubtful.
“Sure, why not? I could use a free weekend away.” She shrugs.
I watch her walk back over to Kevin, who waves at me. Strange fucking guy.
I can’t wipe the smile off my face. She’s going to come with me. I text the pilot to have her name added to the flight list and then head upstairs to pack an overnight bag.