by Stone, Piper
The ramifications were disturbing as fuck, but at least I had the confirmation I’d been looking for.
“Be careful, señor. There are many who will enjoy carving a new life within the States, if you know what I am telling you.”
The meaning was clear. Morales couldn’t give a shit about the amount of blood spilled, including if innocent people were caught in the massacre. I nodded before rising to my feet. There was no reason for pleasantries. I would never see the man again and if I did, Dagger wouldn’t hesitate to pull a trigger or attempt to slice my throat.
After walking outside, I took a deep breath. Things were coming to a head more quickly than anyone in the family had realized. A King meeting would be necessary upon my return.
For now, I would allow myself to enjoy my new bride.
As I headed back to the hotel, the vision from before settled into my mind once again. Whatever blood was shed would come at a hefty price.
I would stop at nothing to keep my family safe. Nothing.
* * *
Radiance.
Genevieve was radiant, her skin glowing in the flickering candlelight. While I’d wanted to remain close to the hotel after the meeting, the restaurant was well known for its selection of fresh fish and an incredible cellar of wine. While she’d seemed to enjoy her meal, our conversation remained tense.
She’d selected the vibrant red dress that had been purchased, no doubt on purpose to push yet another boundary. Even the way the dress highlighted her voluptuous figure was stunning. A part of her remained the sweet girl who believed her life would be involved in some kind of art. Yet she’d already changed, the new requirements weighing heavily on her mind and actions. Maybe a part of me hoped to keep her all to myself, a special secret.
I knew better than to think that was going to happen.
I sat back as the waiter took our plates, studying the way she was humming to the local musician, the melodic sounds of Spanish guitar obviously delighting her.
“Will there be anything else, sir?” the waiter asked in flawless English.
“Cognac for the lady and myself and something chocolate. We are celebrating the start of our new life together.” As soon as I issued the words, she finally gave me her attention.
The waiter grinned as he glanced at Genevieve. “That’s wonderful, sir, and congratulations. I will have the chef prepare something very special for you.”
“I do appreciate that.” When he left, she remained quiet, fiddling with her wineglass and doing everything she could not to glance in my direction. “Did you enjoy your seafood stew?”
“The Cazuela de Mariscos was wonderful.” Her accent could allow her to pass for a native even if her striking blonde hair gave her away.
I chuckled, leaning over the table and rubbing the tip of my index finger across her jaw. “I want you to enjoy this life. Whatever your heart desires, just name it.”
“Don’t try so hard, Lucian. I am enjoying myself. I’ve just never felt so lonely in my life.”
Loneliness.
That was something I knew a hell of a lot about.
The tenseness between us remained even after the cognac was presented, the dessert a dark chocolate pâté surrounded by berries.
She stared down at the plate, a look of sadness in her eyes.
“Take a bite for me.” My tone was more instructional than I’d wanted.
Sighing, she lifted the fork, delicately dipping into the thick mousse. After tentatively taking a bite, I was awarded the single smile of the evening. As she licked the fork, I couldn’t take my eyes off her, memorizing every detail of her gorgeous face. She took another bite, then a third, finally laughing then pressing her fingers against her mouth.
“I’m sorry. Would you like some?”
I waved my hand, taking a sip of cognac instead.
“I insist,” she said as she gathered a heaping amount, her eyes twinkling as she waited for my reply.
For the hard man I’d become, the tender moment was one I hoped to remember. “If you insist.”
“I do.”
I leaned forward at the same time she did, waiting until she eased the fork closer before opening my mouth. The moment she slipped the fork inside, I wanted nothing more than to drag her over the table.
Purring, she forced me to take the entire bite then swirled the fork across my mouth to my cheek. Her laughter was fresh, forcing every cell in my body to erupt. I was suddenly unaware of anyone but the two of us.
The second she tried to pull away, still laughing at what she’d done, I snagged her wrist, yanking her out of her chair and onto my lap. “Not so fast, little girl.” I captured her mouth, remaining still as she pushed against me. I expected her usual fight, but as the passion grew between us, she uncurled her hand, stroking my chest as she darted her tongue inside.
Tasting her was even more exquisite. When she shifted in my lap, sliding back and forth across my aching cock, I had difficulty breathing. The heat continued to build between us, the electricity soaring. She moaned into the kiss, her hand kneading my chest. I knew she could feel the hard ridge of my cock pressing against her, an indication of what I would soon do.
Genevieve leaned back, breaking the moment of intimacy but keeping her grip, her breathing rapid. Very slowly she slid her tongue around the edge of my mouth, gathering the remaining chocolate. The sensuous moment we shared was likely rare, but one I would treasure. Perhaps the little flower was slowly opening, allowing herself to feel the electricity between us.
When she pushed away, a single spot of pâté remained on her lower lip. She dragged her tongue across it, a slight blush creeping up from her throat.
“You’re blushing, Genevieve. Why?”
Stiffening, she looked away, forcing me to tug on her jaw.
“Don’t turn away from me.”
“What do you want me to say, Lucian? You can be so sweet at times, bordering on the romantic that you can’t seem to stand, yet there’s so much darkness hiding just below the surface. I don’t know what to expect from you.”
I eased her off my lap, moving to stand immediately. When I did, I could see the look of fear in her eyes. “Will you dance with me?”
She darted her head toward the musician. “There’s no one else dancing. I don’t think we’re allowed.”
“Rules are meant to be broken.” As soon as I made the statement, she gave me a mischievous look.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Laughing, I pulled her toward the guitar player. “Cuando Me Enamoro?” I asked him.
She studied me carefully.
“Una excelente eleccion, señor.” The musician nodded before strumming his guitar.
“He is correct that your choice is an excellent one. Should I be surprised that you are even aware of Enrique Iglesias?”
I took her into my arms, pulling her close. “There are many things you don’t know about me. Music is a passion that I don’t get to enjoy often enough, but that doesn’t mean it’s not important to me.”
She slipped her arms around my neck, molding against me. There was no longer any tension as I held her, moving slowly with the romantic music. I adored the way she felt in my arms, more so tonight.
“Hmmm… All right. Tell me something else that will surprise me.”
Chuckling, I had to think about my answer. “I’ve been known to enjoy poetry in my life.”
“Poetry?” Now her eyes opened wide.
“I had a teacher in high school who was passionate about the classics. She gave me a love of them, believe it or not.” I swung her around in a circle. The moment was beautiful, even though I knew it would be short-lived.
“That does surprise me, but not as much as you would think.”
“Tell me why?”
She took a deep breath. “You are very observant and whether you know it or not, you reek of passion.”
“Tell me something about you, a little secret that you’ve never told anyone else.”
&
nbsp; Genevieve scrunched her face. “When I was a little girl, I wanted to be an astronaut. I never told my father that because he would have laughed in my face. He is very old-fashioned that way.”
“I think you would have made an excellent astronaut.”
Her laugh was genuine, the lilting sound floating through the restaurant. I could see several pairs of eyes on us, watching us intently. I hated the fact that Brick remained at the bar, watching for any sign of disturbance. If she’d noticed his appearance, she hadn’t said anything.
“I’m sorry your father wouldn’t understand,” I said, which surprised the hell out of me. What did it matter?
“Would your father have accepted the fact you wanted nothing to do with being a mobster?”
“No, at least not until later in his life. My brother was allowed to join the Marines. He served three tours of duty for his country with pride.”
“Really?” She tangled her fingers in my hair, darting her eyes back and forth. “That’s wonderful.”
“My father is a complicated as hell man, but I think he always wanted one of his children to serve in the military.”
“And what did you want to do?”
I hadn’t been asked that question in one hell of a long time. “I was never given that opportunity. It was expected that my older brother would take over and I would serve as the Underboss.”
“Sounds ominous.”
“The position isn’t one to be taken lightly. If anything happens to Cristiano, then I am required to take over our empire.”
“Empire,” she breathed. “You make it sound glorious as if you have a kingdom and you are the prince.”
“That’s exactly what it’s like.”
“Except that you kill people for a living.”
I took a deep breath. While I didn’t want to lie to her, I also wasn’t prepared to tell her the lengths I would go in order to protect my family. “I’ve done some bad things in my life, Genevieve. That’s the way of our life; however, I’ve never taken an innocent life. I refuse to do that. I respect the sanctity of family and honor, including the preservation of life. Sadly, the majority of our enemies aren’t as honorable. They would exploit every weakness if it suited their purpose.”
“Do you have many of them?”
“I refuse to allow anyone to know if I do. That would only cause difficulties.”
“Now I’m one of those weaknesses. Isn’t that true?”
I swung her around several times as the song ended, still holding her close. I lowered my head, drinking in her exotic perfume. “Yes, you are my weakness, perhaps the biggest one of all.”
The sound of others clapping was a reminder that her life was precious.
“Is it time to go?” she asked, a hint of regret in her tone.
“Yes.” I wasted no time before taking her hand and leading her out of the restaurant. As we walked along the corridor, I was surprised when she tightened her grasp on my hand. The slight clip of her heels on the tile as we walked gave me a smile. What few women I’d allowed into my life had been by device instead of by choice. If the coupling suited the empire, even for a short period of time, then I did what was required of me.
Perhaps my requirement of marriage had started from the same methods, but now, she belonged to me in every way.
We walked slowly toward the suite and I sensed she’d become more relaxed than before. Even her breathing had changed, becoming less labored. As soon as we entered the room, she removed her shoes, walking immediately toward the set of French doors.
“Do you think I could be allowed to enjoy a dip in the pool?”
I walked outside, checking that there’d been no attempt at getting into our room. I sensed she continued to watch my every move, although she wasn’t making snide remarks. “I think that’s a wonderful idea.”
She shifted past me, wasting no time before removing her dress. She’d worn only a thong underneath and as she shimmied out of the thin lace, I shook my head.
“Are you just going to watch, or will you be joining me?”
Her question was rhetorical, at least in my mind. “Let me make a phone call. Would you like a glass of champagne?”
“That would be nice.”
I waited until she slipped into the water, shaking my head. While I wasn’t certain that she wasn’t playing a game, I didn’t give a shit, at least for tonight. I grabbed my phone then yanked off my jacket, taking the time to remove my holster, placing it inside the nightstand in the bedroom. Then I dialed Cristiano’s number, fully intending on leaving a message and nothing else.
“I didn’t expect to hear from you, brother.”
I snickered and returned to the living room, keeping her in my sight. “I assure you this is the last time you’ll hear from me. You’ll need to call a family meeting when I return.”
“The person you met provided what you were looking for?”
“Yes, and my assumptions were correct.” While our phones were rarely tapped by any federal agency, there was always a chance that would occur, especially since a certain prosecutor had continued to ask questions after my brother’s unwarranted release from prison several years early. Maybe I was just the cautious one, refusing to provide the scum of the earth with anything he could use.
“Then we prepare. I would be careful if I were you.”
I was well aware that if hints of my arrival surfaced, Morales might find the invitation to remove one of the King family too enticing to walk away from.
“Brick is watching my back. I have a suggestion.”
“I’m listening.”
“Talk to your old buddy, Giancarlo. Perhaps we could form a tighter alliance.”
He didn’t reply for several seconds. “Agreed. That might be a good idea, although I don’t know how keen he’ll be on the concept.”
“Tell him that our entire coastline will be compromised.”
Cristiano growled. “Then he and I will have a long conversation. Don’t do anything stupid, Lucian. We need to formulate a plan.”
“I assure you that my business has been concluded for the remainder of the trip.”
“I’m glad to hear that, brother. Enjoy. I will look forward to meeting your bride. Angelique has planned a lavish reception.”
“Of course she did,” I said, chuckling. My sister was entirely different than the rest of the family. She was a true free spirit, following her heart and not the family requirements. “And I plan on enjoying it.” I tossed the phone on the coffee table then undressed, tossing my clothes on the couch. I grabbed the champagne and glasses, returning to the patio.
I realized that in my world, my level of enjoyment had been accomplished with few methods, but never getting to know someone.
Genevieve swirled her arms in the water as I poured two glasses, sliding the bottle in the holder that had been positioned near the small pool. When I stepped in, I was surprised at the level of warmth.
“You seem tense,” she said as I handed her a glass. There was no pushback, no hesitation on her part.
“I have reason to be, but that doesn’t concern you.”
“Because information is dangerous.”
Chuckling, I sank into the water, surprised I found it soothing. “Now you’re beginning to understand.”
“But you’re worried.”
I took a sip, sighing after doing so. “I will always be worried when I don’t have the required backup, but this hotel is in a safe part of town and I’ve taken precautions. You can relax.”
“But you’re not allowed.”
“And you’re going to continue to be a handful.”
“I don’t know what you expect of me, Lucian, but I’ll try and follow your rules as long as you explain them to me and at least a reason why. I don’t know myself any longer. I have no idea where we’re going to live or what you’re going to allow me to do. When I imagined my life, it wasn’t about this. You’re going to have to give me some slack.” Her defiance was increasing.
&n
bsp; “Fair enough. I will do my best, but I won’t tolerate arguments.”
“Understood.”
She slid further away from me, acting as if I’d disciplined her. I’d never hated myself until that moment. I’d allowed her into my world then yanked it away. That’s all I knew what to do. I eased the glass onto the back rim of the pool, taking her glass out of her hand.
Her gaze was wary, her mouth twisted.
I reached out under the water, taking her hand into mine and very slowly pulled her closer. She didn’t fight me as I turned her around, forcing her to straddle my legs.
“You don’t take no for an answer, do you?”
I nipped her lower lip and brushed my hands down her back. “Never.”
A playful side to her returned as she palmed my chest, kneading my skin with her fingers. Her expression was coy, her eyelids half closed.
“You are one beautiful woman.”
“No one has ever called me beautiful.”
“Then they were fools.” I slipped a finger under her chin, lifting her head. “They have no idea what they’re missing, but they will never have the opportunity to touch you ever again. Is that clear?”
“Yes. Sir.”
Everything about her was intoxicating, even more so tonight. I slipped one hand around the back of her throat, tipping her into a slight arc. She whimpered from my touch, her fingers digging into my skin. When I lowered my head, blowing across first one nipple then the other, she purred, the sound filtering into my ears.
I was hungrier than I’d been, my dark needs breaching the surface. Every sound I made was guttural, my heart pounding against my chest. The understanding that I wanted nothing more than to keep her safe was almost far too overwhelming. We were about to step into a hornet’s nest. There would be far too many casualties, including the possibility of losing innocent lives.