Chapter 21 #2
“Where’s the bathroom?” she asks, looking at me expectantly.
I tuck myself back into my pants. “Follow me.” I down the rest of my bourbon as I lead her through my house, taking her upstairs to my room. “The bathroom is through there.” I point to the double doors on the opposite side of my room.
Bronwyn nods before heading inside and closing the door.
I crack my neck and I take my shirt off.
For the first time this evening, I finally feel like I’m not about to kill someone in front of her.
I grab a T-shirt out of my drawer and wait until I hear the toilet flush before joining her in the bathroom.
Bronwyn jumps back and lets out a small scream. “I’ll be out in a second.”
I pin her with a stare as I turn the shower on and incline my head. “Get in.”
“Can you turn around?”
“Oh, now you’re shy? Not even ten minutes ago you were moaning my name for everyone in your game to hear.” I drop my pants to the floor and step under the spray, letting the hot water erase the last bit of tension my shoulders were holding on to, leaving Bronwyn gaping at me.
“You said he didn’t hear us!”
“Babe.” I grin as I close my eyes and tip my head back, running my fingers through my hair, making sure everything is wet.
Cool air hits the front of me, making me open my eyes. Bronwyn steps inside, glaring at me.
“What?” I ask, amused. She’s so fucking cute when she’s mad.
“You know what,” she says as she crosses her arms, pushing her full tits up. “My eyes are up here.”
I drag my eyes up to hers. “Really? Because they look like they’re staring at me.”
“Grow up, Gio,” Bronwyn snaps, making me laugh as she pushes me out of the way of the water moving into my spot.
I grab the shampoo bottle as she wets her hair, no longer paying attention to me. I squirt some into my palm and lather it. Once I see her hair is soaked, I start to massage her head, working the shampoo in.
Bronwyn softly sighs. “That feels good.”
Her eyes remain closed as she leans into my touch.
I work it through her ends. I continue massaging until all the soap is gone.
Once her hair is done, I grab my body wash.
It might be a little fucked up, but I love knowing she’s going to smell like me.
I start at her shoulders, kneading them before moving on, running my hands all over her wet body.
My cock hardens, but now isn’t the time.
Her eyes slowly open, her striking blue eyes staring deep into my soul.
Neither of us says a word as I reach behind her and turn the water off. I grab a towel off the table and wrap it around her before wrapping one around myself.
“I grabbed you a shirt. Do you want a pair of my boxers?” I ask, toweling off my hair.
“Please,” Bronwyn nods.
She thanks me as I hand her the clothes. I leave her to change.
I’m not sure what the protocol is with her. I’ve never had a woman in my bedroom and in my personal space like this. In the past, if I hooked up with a woman it was always at their house or a hotel. It’s different having her in my space. It feels…more intimate. I’m hoping it doesn’t scare her away.
Bronwyn emerges from the bathroom dressed in my T-shirt. She’s swimming in it, the shirt hitting her mid-thigh. You can’t see the boxers.
“What side do you sleep on?” Bronwyn asks as she stares at the large king-size bed.
“I sleep wherever since I’m the only one in it,” I answer. I have a feeling there’s a reason for this question, though. “Do you have a side?”
I don’t remember there being an issue at her place.
“Well…” she trails off. “I need to sleep on the side that’s farthest from the door.”
“Why?”
“Because if someone breaks in, they aren’t going to get me first.”
I cough, trying to cover up my laugh. Fuck, this isn’t the time, but what kind of logic is that?
“Bronwyn babe, if someone breaks in, I’m going to fucking kill them no matter what side of the bed you’re sleeping on.”
My answer seems to satisfy her because she slides under the covers and settles in. I join her, pulling her tight to my side. She must have been exhausted because once her head hit my chest, she was out.
I gently press my lips to her temple. “I’ll always protect you.”
“You have some fucking balls calling me and telling me to meet you after the shit you pulled at Ma’s,” I say to Matteo as I get out of my car.
He’s leaning up against his with his arms crossed, waiting for me.
“I apologized to you and her. I just want what’s best for you. That’s all. And lose the fucking attitude. We’re here for you,” Matteo says as he pushes off his car.
I look at Voron Casino.
“Don’t act like you’re doing me a favor. You’re just as pissed off that Dimitri is walking all over our territory.”
“Let’s get this over with.”
Matteo and I head inside. The second the smoke-filled air hits my nostrils, I know we’re being followed. I clock a guy in a black suit on my right speaking into his elbow like he’s trying to cover a cough.
“They’re not very good at this, are they?” Matteo asks low enough for only me to hear.
“Nah. They fucking suck.”
We weave our way through the slot machines and people moving about.
“Ah, the Adducis!” Dimitri calls out loudly, drawing attention to us as he approaches us with outstretched arms.
This dude is too fucking much.
“Dimitri,” Matteo greets him as he moves in to shake his hand.
“It’s been too long, Matteo.” Dimitri smiles, but it doesn’t meet his eyes. This guy is all for show. He’s an idiot if he thinks people can’t see through the bullshit. “Are you boys here to try your luck?”
“Unfortunately, this isn’t that kind of visit,” Matteo responds. Dimitri’s smile stays in place as his eyes narrow ever so slightly. “Is there somewhere we can talk? Privately.”
“Of course.” Dimitri recovers quickly as he motions us forward. “We can talk in my office.”
I clock more men dressed in the same black suit coming out of the shadows. Some are sitting at a slot machine not playing, and others are at one of the bars or walking around with a drink. Every single one of them is watching us.
I make sure to make every contact with every single one as Matteo and I follow Dimitri to his office. He leads us down the hall opposite the private room I was in before.
Thick gold accents decorate the office, making my eyes hurt. It’s almost blinding.
“Please, have a seat,” Dimitri motions to the velvet chairs in the sitting area in his office. I follow Matteo’s lead, sitting down next to him and across from Dimitri. “Can I offer you a drink?”
“No. This won’t take long.” Matteo pins him with a stare I’ve been on the receiving end of more times than I can count as he leans back in the chair and adjusts his suit jacket.
“Well, now I’m even more intrigued.”
“I’d like to know why you think it’s okay to send a man to one of my businesses?”
Dimitri’s sleazy smile falls into a hard line, his narrowed, hard eyes darting to me. “You,” he hisses. “You’re the one who sent me Brian’s…Brian’s parts in a box?”
“Me?” I gasp in shock as I point at myself, knowing damn well I did that shit. “You better have some evidence to back that up before you come at me like that.” I sit back in my seat and cross my leg over my thigh as I tap my finger on the armrest.
“I don’t need evidence,” Dimitri says, the fake-friendly and inviting tone long gone. “Your reputation precedes you.”
“And what reputation might that be?”
“Don’t sit here in my house and take me for a fool.”
“Well, you know what they say when you assume shit.” I shrug. “It makes an ass out of you and me.”
“You bastard,” Dimitri hisses. “You will treat me with respect!”
“Enough!” Matteo yells, slamming his fist down on the coffee table. “You’ve got some fucking balls to sit here and accuse my brother of something when you sent a man to my business.”
Dimitri’s heated glare moves to Matteo. “I wasn’t aware you owned the alley.”
“I didn’t peg you for an idiot, Dimitri.”
Dimitri’s face turns red. “How dare you?!”
Matteo throws his head back and lets out a humorless laugh. “How dare I? How dare you for pulling that shit. You know damn well that alley is mine. So humor me and tell me your bullshit excuse as to why you thought it was okay to pull that shit.”
Anger is radiating off Dimitri’s body in waves. His clenched fists are resting on his thighs, his calm, cool, and collected composure slipping. “I was looking for someone.”
Matteo settles back in his seat. “And who might that be?”
I don’t move as I wait for him to say Bronwyn’s name. That’s all I need before he gets a front-row seat to what my reputation is all about because he hasn’t seen anything yet.
“A woman who I got a lead on, who lives in an apartment around there.”
I move to get up, but Matteo silently holds his hand up, stopping me.
“I own the whole fucking block, Dimitri. So forgive me, I’m having a hard time understanding why you think that apartment is fair game for you to scope out?
I don’t appreciate you harassing my tenants.
It won’t be tolerated. Do you understand, or do we have a problem? ”
A tense silence settles over the room as we wait for Dimitri to answer. His face is set in a hard line.
“It’s understood. It won’t happen again,” he finally says.
“Good. Glad we understand each other.”
“So glad,” Dimitri mocks. “Now get the fuck out of my casino.”