Chapter 33
Thirty-Three
VIOLET
“How is it that it hasn’t even been a week and they’ve already got walls up, the space is painted, and the floors go in tomorrow?
” I ask Mateo as we walk out of the elevator and to the waiting SUV.
Diego’s standing by the back door, and there are at least six guards out here, making a line for us to walk next to toward the vehicle.
Bobby and Lucky climb into the car behind ours.
“And why are we surrounded by so many men?”
Mateo nods at Diego, and once we’re inside the back seat of the SUV, he laces his fingers with mine and leans over to kiss my cheek.
“First, your studio is coming along quickly because I told Cliff that I want it done yesterday. And second, we’re surrounded because I have you with me and we’re headed out of the city.”
He kisses me once more and then sits up in the seat, reaches across me, and pulls the seat belt around my body, clicking it into place.
“I won’t risk you being hurt.”
“Why would I be hurt?”
“Things are tense right now, and if someone decides to attack us, I have enough men with us to go to war to keep you alive.”
I frown at him. “This doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence, you know. If it’s this dangerous, why are we leaving the penthouse at all?”
“Because we have somewhere to be.” He squeezes my hand. “I wanted to take the bike, but it’s too dangerous right now.”
“Mateo, you’re scaring me.”
“I’m just being cautious,” he says, shaking his head and pulling my hand up so he can kiss it.
“I haven’t received any direct threats against you, but since you were almost snatched at that restaurant, I’ve had a bad feeling, and until my brothers and I figure some shit out, we get your sister back, and things mellow out a bit, I’m going to be on edge.
It’s not your fault, I just can’t allow anything to go wrong when it comes to you. ”
“Okay,” I reply simply. “I have no issue with that. You know, Natasha once told me that she has the same detail assigned to her all the time, and I was wondering if I can keep Bobby and Lucky for as long as you keep me around.”
He frowns over at me.
“First of all, I’m keeping you forever. Even if something happens to me—”
“Don’t say that.”
“—you’ll be taken care of. Bobby and Lucky are your permanent detail.”
“Good. I like them. We’ve kind of settled into a rhythm and I trust them.”
“You should trust them, and you can. They’re the best marksmen on my team.”
Diego clears his throat, making me smile.
“Some of the best marksmen on my team,” Mateo says with a grin. I can tell that he and Diego are good friends.
“How did you two meet?” I ask him, gesturing to Diego in the driver’s seat.
“I’m his cousin,” Diego tells me. “Our fathers were brothers.”
I lift an eyebrow. Mateo has talked about his mom, but never his father.
“Dead,” Mateo says simply. “A long, long time ago. I barely remember him.”
I nod and decide to leave the subject alone. “All of you guys are tight. Your brothers and their seconds, it’s like you’re a fraternity or something.”
Diego chuckles, and Mateo smiles but then nods. “Yeah, I guess in a fucked-up way, we are. We’re family. And in our world, nothing is more important than that. The stronger our ties, the stronger our family is. We protect each other at all costs.”
I sober, listening to him and the conviction in his voice.
“This isn’t a movie,” he continues. “There will be moments that could mean the difference between life and death, and you need to know that now. Not that I’d ever let you go at this point.”
He smirks, and I simply lift an eyebrow.
“Any one of my men would die to keep you alive,” he says and all humor flees his face once more. “You’re the most important person in my life, above all else, and every single one of my men have been instructed to keep you safe at all costs.”
“That’s a lot of pressure,” I reply, scowling.
“If you get hurt or killed on our watch,” Diego says, “we’re all dead anyway. You’re the queen. Everything revolves around you. It’s the same for the others too. Lulu and Natasha are always protected. Scarlett, as well.”
My gaze whips to Mateo, and he nods in confirmation.
“But what about Carson’s wife?” I ask softly, and I see the grief flash behind Mateo’s eyes. “She was still killed.”
“We weren’t in power then,” Mateo says and shakes his head. “That was Julian’s dad.”
I sit back, stunned.
“He was weak, and he didn’t listen to the threats that had been rumbling around the city.
Damien had a personal vendetta against Carson.
Had for years. And because the boss turned the other way, he paid the ultimate price for it.
First with the loss of Rina, and then when Carson went to prison.
Once more when Julian killed his own father as payment for everything that happened and then took over the empire. ”
“Jesus,” I whisper. “But you, Rome, and Carson don’t work for Julian.”
“No. We’re all equal. He runs the Greek Mafia, but the four of us run this city.
We all have our hands in different things.
And because the four of us are tight, our seconds are friends, and all of our armies work well together.
We’re bigger and stronger than ever before.
No one would dare fuck with us, especially here in Vegas. ”
“Fascinating.”
I’m watching him, sitting there in his gray slacks and black button-down. His sleeves are rolled up his forearms, and damn if he’s not the sexiest man I’ve ever seen in my life.
I glance out the window and see that we’re on the outskirts of town.
“Are these windows tinted?”
Mateo’s brow lifts. “Yes. They’re blacked out.”
“Diego, I need you to pull off at the next exit and step out. I need to say something to my man in private.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Diego’s face is perfectly sober as he takes the exit and finds a parking lot. He shuts off the engine and opens his door. “I’ll be right outside.”
I’m already taking off my seat belt, and when the door shuts behind him, I scoot over to my hot man.
“Now?” Mateo asks with a wide smile. “Fuck, you’re fun. What brought this on?”
“You’re sexy as fuck,” I inform him as I grab for his belt and get it unbuckled and then pop the button on his slacks. “You woke me up with your mouth on my pussy, and I’m feeling the need to return the favor, right now.”
I pull him out of his pants, kneel on the seat, and lean over to take him in my mouth.
“Fucking hell, Savage.” His hands dive into my hair, and he starts to guide me up and down his shaft in the rhythm he likes best. I cup his balls, and a thrill skitters along my spine when he sucks in a breath and growls my name. “God, you’ve got the best fucking mouth.”
I hum and relax my jaw, letting him fuck my throat, swallowing around him, and I feel his thighs tense beneath my hands.
“God damn it, I’m going to come down your throat, and you’re going to swallow every fucking drop.”
“Mm-hm,” I manage, and then he’s pushing his hips up and pressing my head down on him as he comes, painting the back of my throat, and I do as I’m told, swallowing all of him.
And when I’m finished, I sit back on my haunches and wipe the back of my hand over my lips, grinning at him with smug satisfaction.
“Jesus fuck, you make me crazy.” He cups the back of my neck and pulls me to him, kissing the hell out of me. “You’re perfect for me.”
“Good, because you’re stuck with me.”
He kisses me once more and then opens his door, letting Diego know we’re ready to keep going. I glance back and notice that all the other cars pulled in behind us.
“I’m not really sorry that I made all of them wait.”
“You shouldn’t be,” Mateo says with a laugh as he fastens his belt and I return to my own seat.
“Where are we going, anyway?”
“We’re having family dinner at Rome and Lulu’s new house. They just finished moving in, and Lulu wants to show it off.”
“Oh my God, that’s exciting. I can’t wait to see it.”
We only drive for another ten minutes or so, and then Diego pulls up to a gated driveway and rolls down his window. There are at least half a dozen guards in the gatehouse, all armed.
“You’re not the only one being cautious,” I mutter, and Mateo squeezes my hand.
The gate slides open and we roll through. The drive is lined with trees, and when we turn a corner, the house comes into view.
Except, this isn’t simply a house.
“This is a freaking mansion,” I blurt out, and feel my jaw hanging open as Diego parks. “Mateo, this is huge.”
“And you can play with it again later, but for now we’re going to go check out my brother’s humble house.”
I snort and give him a mock glare. “Your ego is firmly intact.”
“I have no idea what you mean. Come.”
He unbuckles my belt and tugs me out of the SUV, and when we reach the front door, a door that rivals the Taj Mahal in size, it opens, and Lulu claps her hands as Rome watches her with adoring eyes.
Also, he’s not in a full suit, which is what I’ve always seen him in. He’s just wearing his black button-down, also rolled at the sleeves, and he’s as covered in ink as the rest of them. I’m not one to ogle another woman’s man, but Rome is . . . wow.
“You’re here!” Lulu waddles over to hug me. “Welcome. I can’t wait to show you everything.”
“It’s so beautiful,” I assure her, and she smiles proudly. “But please tell me you didn’t cook because I’m not comfortable with you being on your feet like that for us. You should be resting.”
“I don’t need rest,” Lulu says, shaking her head, but Rome is nodding in agreement with me, and Lulu shrugs.
“Okay, I do. I’m tired, you guys. I can finally admit that my back is killing me.
But I didn’t cook. Rome hired someone to come help us with stuff like that until after the baby is born and I’m feeling up to it again. ”
“Good.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders as we walk inside. “Are the others here?”
“Yes, in the kitchen as usual. We were waiting for the full tour until you got here.”
The house is . . . cavernous. And so damn pretty.
“Do you ever get lost in here?” I ask, surprised my voice doesn’t echo.