Chapter 10
Hadley
I feel so bad because I’m not giving my full attention to Amos, and I know for a fact Greta can sense it. Her eyes have been on me since I walked back in from the ‘meeting’ with Massimo. Not sure what his fucking problem is, but this hot-cold shit is really starting to get under my skin. A perfect example is what just happened. He asked me a question, and when I gave him an answer, he turns into the cold dick from the diner yet again. I’m beyond tired of his cat-and-mouse bullshit.
Shaking my head to try and clear it of him, Amos jumps up from the table holding his very first ornament he made all by himself. His pure and innocent excitement at his accomplishment brings a smile to my face. That and the cute little dance he’s doing throughout the dining area. I could love this boy so easily if his father wasn’t the asshole I know as Massimo.
“He’s a hard man to understand, figlia. But I can tell you from the bottom of my soul that there is good in him; just look at that precious bambino .”
My eyes shoot to where Greta is sitting across from me. She’s watching me closely, not sure for what, with her cup of hot chocolate in her hands. Maybe I can get some insight into this whole mess I’ve found myself in. But before I can even ask some questions, she shakes her head.
“As much as I’d like to help you, that is not my place. Massimo saved my life many years ago, and the only way I can repay his kindness is by being loyal to his family, which includes Amos and Emilio. I will share with you that he carries a heavy burden. Once, many years ago, someone told a story about a Native American proverb regarding how the black wolf is everything that is bad like anger, greed, and arrogance, while the white wolf carries all the good like peace, courage, and compassion. Open your eyes, Hadley, as I just described Massimo. He walks that line between both, depending on whatever is thrown his way.”
Her words call to me in a way nothing has before. I can envision this black wolf and white wolf as if part of my own world.
Greta gets up to go after Amos while I try to straighten all the mess on the table. So deep in my own thoughts, I don’t hear him come in until he speaks and scares the shit out of me. He’s so close I swing my arm out as I turn, landing a punch on his face. When he screeches in pain, I know it’s not Massimo. He’d never show weakness in any way.
“Son of a bitch, my head. What the fuck is wrong with you? It’s me, Emilio. I’m Massimo’s brother, for Christ’s sake, you she-devil. Did no one tell you I was here?” He shakes his head still working off my blow. “Obviously not, so let me introduce myself. I’m Emilio. Which flavor of the month are you?”
Seeing the bruises on his face and the way he’s holding his body, I’d say he was pretty fucked up. And from the blood dripping down the side of his face, I guess my punch opened something up. I was just about to say I was sorry for what I did until he opened his asshole mouth.
“Emilio, you say? Well, let me tell you I’m no one’s flavor of the month, especially Massimo, that bastard. I didn’t ask to be dragged here or kept hostage. The only good here is Amos, so stay out of my way if you know what’s good for you.”
I turn to go to the kitchen to see Amos at the doorway holding his ornament to his chest with tears in his eyes. “Hadley, you don’t like my z io ? Why? He likes to have fun and always plays with me when he’s here. Did he do something to make you mad?” I feel horrible because this poor kid has no idea who or what his father is into, and I have a feeling that this big jag bag is also involved. Amos is the only one who can get the ice around my heart to crack a little towards Emilio, so I walk over and kneel down in front of him. “No, sweetie, I like your ‘zio.’ It’s just he scared me, and I got mad. Didn’t hear him come in when you went to hang your ornament. Why didn’t you hang it up, Amos?”
The resiliency of children, as he bounces back as if he wasn’t concerned for me being angry at his uncle not mere seconds ago. “I wanted you to help me. Oh, we always play a game with Dad and Zio when we are up here to see who can get around without making any noise. Dad is usually the winner; maybe he can teach you too, Hadley. Can we hang my ornament now and then maybe make another one?” Before a word comes out of my mouth, I can feel him when he enters the room. He has some kind of pull that attracts me to him even though I don’t want to. When his hands touch my shoulders, I immediately pull away. I hear him growl, and that brings a smile to my face as I turn to him. His eyes are burning, but something is wrong, not sure how I know, but I do. He’s trying to hide it from his son. Amos walks up to Massimo, holding his ornament out.
“Dad, look what Hadley and Greta helped me make. Thought you were going to come and make them with us. Is that why you’re here?”
Feeling something pouring off of Massimo, I don’t know why, but for some reason, I feel like I need to protect him. “Amos, your dad came to find your z io . Give them a little time, and then both of them will come and make ornaments with us. Okay?”
The boy nods and then runs into the other room where Greta is. I look at Massimo, who looks confused, but he glances between Emilio and then me, tilting his head. He gives me a small smile which I return. When my eyes turn to Emilio he mouths ‘bitch’ to me. Before I can say a word, Massimo cracks him across the back of his head hard. “Goddamn it, Mass, my head. Did you forget I was in an accident?”
“Next time you call Hadley a bitch I’ll do worse. Let’s go, s tupido, we need to figure out who’s after you.”
My head jerks to Massimo, and before I can even ask about what he just said, he winks at me and grabs his brother’s arm. They both stomp out of the room, leaving me by myself.
Again.
Massimo
Pushing Emilio against the wall in the basement, my hand automatically goes around his neck. “What the fuck was that about?”
“Calm down, Mass. She punched me in the head, said I scared her. Who the fuck is she anyway? And since when do you bring strange women here, especially with Amos here?”
I cut off his air supply to shut him up. I’m so pissed at him I could break his neck. “ Fratello, if not for Hadley being here, Amos would be dead. She saved him when he fell into the icy water. And when do you question me? They found one of the men who was chasing you. What are you involved in, Emilio, that made that motherfucker cut out his own tongue so he couldn’t answer my questions? Don’t try my patience, I’ve had enough bullshit and lies for one day.”
By the time I leave Emilio, the sun is down, and it’s evening. I’m starving and haven’t spent any time with Amos. I’m tired and just want a moment or two of peace before the next catastrophe comes barreling my way. I make my way upstairs to find Amos and Hadley cuddled under the tree, sleeping. It takes my breath away, which pisses me off. I don’t want or need the headache of having this one be part of our lives. But I brought her into it with the lie of saving her from getting killed. If I was honest with Hadley from the beginning, she’d be so far away from here and me. She has no idea about her past, and I don’t know how to explain it to her. It’s a total clusterfuck.
She stirs and then glances directly at me, “What has you so pissed off now? Come help me get Amos upstairs and into bed.”
I look at this tiny woman who is giving me, Massimo Costa , orders. What shocks me is not only do I respect her for it, I do exactly as she’s told me to. I pick my son up, and we make our way upstairs where Greta is waiting to help Amos into bed. He wakes for a moment and looks at me with sleepy eyes.
“Love you, Dad. Hadley, thanks for today. I had fun. Love you too.”
I almost fall to my knees. What have I done bringing her into Amos’ life? He will be crushed when she’s gone, and the more I’m around her, so will I, though I’d never admit that to anyone, especially Hadley. When I look into Greta’s eyes, I can tell she sees it but won’t say a word as she is as loyal as they come.
I grab Hadley’s hand and we walk out, closing the door behind us. Walking to my room, I pull her in and turn on the light, never letting her go until she pulls away. I have no fight left in me, so I go and sit on the edge of the bed, elbows to my knees and hands on my head, squeezing to relieve the tension. I try to control my breathing as I search for the words to explain the mess we are in. So lost in my thoughts, I almost jump when she pulls my head into her stomach, running her finger through my hair, scratching her nails on my scalp. My God, that feels so good. Her smell is a pull I can’t fight, especially tonight. My hands ghost up and down her outer thighs, and I can feel the trembling going through her body. Standing, I pull her closer to me so she can feel how much she is affecting me. Her moan tells me she can feel my length pushing into her stomach. Without thought, I lift and toss her on the bed. I crawl up her body before she can move.
Tonight, I feel the need to play, so I slowly remove her clothes while driving her crazy with my mouth and hands. Every time she reaches for me, I push her hands away. When my mouth is inches from her dripping cunt, she’s moaning my name, which has my cock leaking against my boxer briefs. Something about this woman drives me insane. I suck her clit into my mouth, and she lets loose, whispering my name over and over. I feel her flood my mouth and face as her body thrashes left then right. Before she can come down, I pull myself up her lithe body and plunge into her tight, wet, hot pussy. I can still feel her walls constricting, which I can tell is going to make me lose my control. Her tight-as-fuck cunt is going to have me blowing my wad a lot quicker than I want to. We merge together as I thrust in and pull out. The harder I go, the more she moans. The faster I go, the more she urges me on. Her nails are scouring down my back, and the feel of it is driving me crazy. Sweat is running down my face, and when I look at her, those eyes are watching my every move. Reaching down between us, I find her clit and squeeze. It sends her over the edge, and goddamn, I’m not far behind her.
We’re both panting as I pull out. She mewls as I pull her body closer to mine. I can almost hear the questions running through her head, but when she finally asks me a question, it’s something so out of the blue that I immediately feel my muscles clenching, giving away part of my answer.
“When do you plan to kill me, Massimo? More importantly, do you plan to explain to me why before you do?”
I glance down at her face, feeling that unfamiliar feeling deep in my chest. Fuck, looking into her eyes, I’m doubting I’ll be able to finish her off when I’m done with her. That right there can be a problem. Not only for me and mine, but more importantly, for the Uccello family that I’ve pledged to always put first, which I have with the exception of Amos. Feeling those eyes on me, I give the only answer I can at the moment. “Killing is easy, Hadley; it’s living that's a total bitch. Let’s take this one day at a time, alright?”
I wait impatiently until she finally nods. I close my eyes and pull her body even closer. The thought of her not being here for Amos, Greta, Emilio, and even me gives me heart palpitations. I’m totally fucked. Better lay down the groundwork because I owe her that at least. “Hadley, not tonight, but in the morning, we need to talk. I know things that you need to hear. No, not now, because I need that mouth of yours sucking my cock and I don’t want to hear any words.”
I watch as she gets a shy, sexy smile on her plump lips, then slowly moves down my body, nibbling, sucking, and biting. When she reaches for my cock, it leaves pre-cum on my stomach. Before I can tell her anything, she deep-throats me. My head flies up as I watch her mouth work me like an expert. I realize at that moment I’m totally fucked, as my hands gently pull her hair from her face.