by Posey Parks
“Oh, can you bring a slice of cheesecake?”
“Yes.”
After hopping into my boxers, I retrieved the champagne, glasses, and Carmen’s dessert. We sat in bed admiring the night time city lights of New York sipping champagne.
Carmen’s eyes darted from our movie ‘Point Break’ to my chest a few times. Her fingers swirled around the dark hair trailing to my cock. “This is our first…” Her tongue swirled around my neck. “…Two-week vacation. It feels good.”
My fingers grazed her thigh over her mound. “It does, baby.” I massaged her puffy lips. “Do you want to take a bath?”
Her head dropped on the pillow. “No, you rubbing my pussy while we relax is perfect.”
Carmen’s fingers danced in my hair as my lips fell upon hers. “I love us, sweetheart.”
“Me too, sweet heart.”
∞
Buzz, Buzz.
One eye opened, peeking around the dimly lit room. ‘Point Break’ played on repeat. Carmen was sprawled across my chest, snoring. I reached over, grabbing my cell off the nightstand.
Ten missed calls and four texts. My cell had been on vibrate today.
Teck text one
Sal needs to see you.
Text two
Dom, it’s important.
Text three
Sal said get your ass here now!
Text four
Why the fuck aren’t you answering?
I placed Carmen’s head on her pillow and swung my legs over the side of the bed.
I returned his call.
Teck, what the fuck?
Dom! Shit, Sal is pissed. He said you are always to come when requested.
Hunched over, the cell rested between my ear and shoulder. I gripped my hair. Shit, normally I did. This was the first time I didn’t.
What’s going on?
We can’t discuss it over the phone. He wanted you here hours ago.
All the urgent calls told me something bad happened, but I didn’t know what. Fuck, I thought.
All right, I’m not far. I’ll be there in an hour.
See you soon, Dom.
I disconnected the call.
Jumping to my feet, I ran into the closet and grabbed a suit.
I tossed it on the bed. “Carmen!”
She didn’t budge. Shit, she’s knocked out.
Slipping on my dress shirt, I tugged Carmen’s leg. “Baby, wake up.”
She turned over but didn’t open her eyes. I climbed into my dress slacks and walked around to her side of the bed. “Carmen, wake up.” I sat her up against the headboard.
Her eyes fluttered open. “What, is it?” she bit out.
“Baby, I have to go.”
Her eyes widened. “What? Go where?”
I looped the tie, then tightened it around my neck.
“All I know is my grandfather needs to see me.”
She climbed out of bed.
Stepping to the suitcase on the floor, I kneeled and unzipped the bottom of the luggage revealing our weapons. I slid into the shoulder holster.
“I’m coming with you.” Carmen ran over to her suitcase and grabbed panties and a bra. I slipped on my suit jacket as I approached her.
I placed my hands on her arms. “You can’t.”
“Why?” she hooked her bra and slipped the satin material over her shoulders.
I sighed. “He doesn’t know we are married.”
Climbing into her panties she froze.
“What the fuck, Dominic?” Her eyes narrowed and her chest heaved. She slid her panties over her ass. Carmen’s arms crossed her chest.
“Listen, I didn’t tell him because he would have demanded you sign a prenup. My dad asked me numerous times to have you sign the prenup too. No one knows we’re married.”
I raised an eyebrow. “My father might have knowledge now since we were married at the hotel. But I will sort it out. In the meantime you have to go back to California. Hugo will keep you safe. For the first few days you’ll need to stay in the house.”
Her hands flew over her face and her body shook. “I’m scared.”
I pulled her into my arms. “You remember how to use a Glock, right?”
She nodded against my chest.
I pulled back and clutched her face, staring into her brown eyes. “Good, if someone follows you what do you do?”
Dip into an alley and wait. If they followed me into the alley, I am to blow their head off.”
I smirked. “That’s my girl. You were born to marry a Magarelli.”
“Dominic, I don’t want you to leave,” she cried.
“I know and I’m sorry, baby. We’ll return to New York later this summer.”
“Ok.” She nodded, sniffling.
“Wear loose fitting clothes, a baseball cap, and place the Glocks in the holster on your waist. Your guns are in the suitcase,” I pointed behind me.
“Baby, I will call you as soon as I can. Have a seat.”
She sat next to me on the bed while I slipped on my socks and shoes.
"You cannot come to Jersey this time. I have no idea what’s going on yet.”
She fiddled with her fingers. I pulled her close taking her lips. “Baby, I don’t want to leave you. I promise to make this right with my family.”
She shoved her hands against my chest. “Dominic, you should have come clean before you married me. I can’t believe you,” she hissed.
My face tensed. “I fucked up, Carmen.”
She nuzzled her nose against my neck.
I swept my fingers through her hair. “I have to leave now, baby.”
I wiped her tears and stared into her sad eyes. “Carmen, I love you. Don’t ever forget that.”
“Jesus, Dominic, you sound like you aren’t coming back.”
“You better figure out a way to call me. Don’t make me wait forever. I can’t handle that, Dominic. I fucking mean it,” she growled.
I kissed her salty, wet lips again. “Ok, I will.”
Grabbing my luggage, I peeked at Carmen, then walked out the front door.
“Hugo.” I gripped his shoulder and whispered in his ear. “I need you to take Carmen back to San Jose. Keep her locked in the house for a few days. Don’t let anything happen to my wife. She understands there will be no Jersey trips. My grandfather called an important meeting. I don’t know how long I’ll be away. The jet will be fueled and ready to take you both back tonight.”
“I understand, Dom.”
“Brian, let’s move.”
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
DOMINIC
My grandfather’s maid greeted me in her pristine black and white maid uniform. I strolled into the massive foyer.
“Mr. Magarelli, have a seat in the living room.”
I nodded, slipping my hands in my pockets.
“Dominic.”
Tornado stood in the middle of the living room holding his hands at his sides.
I had an uneasy feeling. Tiny hairs stood on the back of my neck. Glancing around the room, I continued inside, and placed my hand on my Glock.
“What the fuck is going on? Where is my grandfather?” I hissed.
He raised his hands in a surrendering manner. “Dom, you would kill me?”
“If you harmed my grandfather, you bet your ass I would.”
A devious smile rose on his lips. “Good answer. But you can relax. Sal is fine. He asked me to take you to him.”
“Where is he?”
“Safe. Look I’m going to cut the shit. There’s no easy way to say this.”
The uneasy feeling was still there in the pit of my stomach lingering.
“Your brother is alive.”
I threw my hand in the air and turned on my heel. “Fuck this shit I’m out of here.”
“It’s true.” His words slammed into my heart like a freight train.
I stood sideways, glaring at him. “How?”
“I don’t know how. He’ll have to explain to you himself.
/>
We need to move.”
“Tornado, if this is a trick, I won’t hesitate to blow your brains out.”
His huge frame stalked over, wrapped his arm around my neck, and kissed the side of my head. “I’m proud of you and Sal is too. Come on.”
~
Dillon was alive. I tossed the thought around in my head the entire hour and twenty-minute drive. My brother was my best friend. Someone who’d do anything to protect me. How could he supposedly die, shatter our family, and now walk back into our lives fourteen years later. I was fucking baffled and angry. Maybe I was sad and shit, confused.
I twisted the flesh where my wedding ring rested a couple of hours ago. The platinum wedding band sat in my pocket. The plan was to ease my grandfather into the fact that I was married. What the fuck was I thinking? I should have told him about Carmen two and a half years ago. Maybe I was still bitter at the way he manipulated me with Angefuckinglita. Crazy bitch. Anger rushed the blood pumping through my veins. The wrong statement could send me over the edge.
“Dom?” Tornado gawked over his shoulder at me. His gaze held a touch of pity. He didn’t need to fucking pity me because my brother came back from the dead.
“What are you waiting for?”
I ran my fingers through my hair. “Give me a minute,” I growled.
Darkness engulfed the secluded ranch style safe house. I remembered uncle Mick brought Dillon, my cousin Mario, and I along to check all the safe houses in New Jersey.
I wish uncle Mick wasn’t dead, but unfortunately, I knew he was because his remains were found last fall. My father assigned me the task of investigating his death. Imagine trying to complete your last year of school and being tasked with beating the shit out of people trying to uncover the truth. No one cracked. If any of the men I killed this year knew the truth, they took the information to their graves.
“Why are we at the safe house?” I straightened my back and waved my hand. “Never mind.” Opening the car door, I stood and observed the land. The summer air was still and warm. If I hadn’t been delivered the news about my brother, the pleasant night sky would have brought a smile to my face. Instead my face encompassed a permanent scowl. Tornado retrieved my luggage from the trunk. He followed me up the lit paved walk. Circular round led lights shimmered out of the earth along the edges of the grass.
The door flew open the second I stepped foot on the porch landing.
“Hello, Dom.”
“Cruise.” I stated dismissively, walking into the house.
Who was I expecting to open the door, Dillon? Standing in the large atrium, I peeked into the living room, then down the hall.
“Where is Sal?”
Cruise’s eyes grew the size of saucers.
I never called grandfather by his first name, but today was different. I had to leave my wife in New York to returned to New Jersey earlier than planned because my brother rose from the dead. Could you tell I was bitter?
The veins popped out along Cruises temples. His neck reminded me of a tree trunk it was so thick. He was an attractive guy, but was the loner type. I never knew when any of these guys saw or had a piece of pussy. They catered to my family twenty-four hours a day mostly. Getting this dog and pony show over with was my focus, so I could get back to my wife’s pussy.
“He’s in the bedroom next to the study.”
I stalked down the hall leaving Cruise and Tornado to twiddle their thumbs.
Grandfather sat in a tall back green chair resting his feet on a matching ottoman by the large window. “I’m here,” I stated waltzing in the room.
His green eyes narrowed at me. “Well, it’s about fucking time,” he roared.
“What’s this I hear about Dillon being alive?”
I unbuttoned my suit jacket and sat in the matching chair across from him.
The lights brightened his olive wrinkly face.
“Your brother is in fact alive. He and Tony have been living in Portland for fourteen years.”
I gripped my hair, clenching my eyes shut. “How is that fucking possible?”
“They faked their deaths because Dillon had a run in with Filippo.”
I ran my hand along my bare chin. “I can’t stand that piece of shit. He’s always crawled under my skin like fucking maggots.”
“Your father and Mick hated his guts.”
“Who gave you this information about Dillon?”
“Your father?”
My jaw slacked. “Great, I’m sure he jumped for joy when he learned his precious son was alive.”
“Dominic, I wish you’d get over that shit. Your brother is back,” he said with a stern tone.
I didn’t want to speculate shit even if I did put two and two together. I slouched in the chair. “So, we’re at the safe house because?”
“Your mother and sister are here. We won’t know the entire story until Sergio and Dillon arrive.”
“But if we are here that means we are at war.”
“Right now, it’s a safety precaution.” He retrieved the steaming hot mug from the small table beside him and sipped.
“Are you still upset after all these years about Angelita?”
I tapped my fingers on the arm rest. “It was a tough pill to swallow but I’ve…I’m still processing the situation. I love you Grandfather. You know that. It’s just…”
“You don’t like to be manipulated. I understand.” He threw his hand in the air.
“You’re my grandson and I love you. That situation had more to do with keeping my foot on Alvin Terenzio’s neck.”
“I should have ended it a while ago. It’s in the past now.”
“It is. How was New York?” His eyes studied my every move.
Did he know about my meeting with Demetri? No.
“New York is always beautiful this time of year.”
He didn’t say a word, and didn’t take a breath.
“I know I should have told you I was getting married.”
His skin turned tomato red. Shit.
“Dominic, which head were you thinking with? What would make you not have her sign a prenup?” he roared, slamming his fist against the small table. The mug rattled.
I didn’t flinch. “I wasn’t thinking with my dick because we hadn’t had sex until we were married. My wife ain’t a money hungry bitch. She could give a fuck less about our money. Her brothers play pro ball.”
“Never underestimate a woman.”
“Grandfather, I understand your concern. My father and I talked about the situation for months. But I didn’t want my wife to sign a prenup. Once all this shit is over, I’ll bring her over for dinner. Please don’t mention my marriage to anyone. I will announce it to the family.”
“I don’t get you. Do you hate your family so much you couldn’t have a proper wedding? What Italian elopes?”
“Carmen wanted a private intimate wedding.”
He tossed his hand in the air. “You two will have a reception amongst family.”
“Ok, grandfather.”
“I won’t say anything for now.”
Stepping over, I kissed the top of his head. “Thank you, Grandfather. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Um, huh.”
Who the fuck was watching me? I strolled down the hallway to an unoccupied bedroom.
The person must have been one of my father’s men at the casino. I removed my suit jacket and threw it on a corner chair. Slumping on the bed I held my head in my hands. Good thing I told Hugo to watch over Carmen.
Once in a safe house, we weren’t supposed to make contact with the outside world. The system was designed to keep our enemies from getting to us or our loved ones. As long as I was away, I couldn’t call my wife. Hopefully, the situation with my brother would blow over soon.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
DOMINIC
I hunched over the large kitchen countertop, sipping coffee dressed in a pair of navy basketball shorts and a white undershirt.
A hea
vy hand landed on my shoulder. My father’s distinctive after shave filled the room. My heart thudded my chest. My father was the only man who could get under my skin.
“I guess congratulations are in order,” he smirked leaning on the counter next to me holding a huge smirk on his face. He was in a good fucking mood.
“Thank you. And I already talked to grandfather about my new life, last night.”
The smile disappeared and he gripped my shoulders. “I’m your fucking father and the boss of this family. You were to follow orders like a good little soldier.”
I tried shaking out of his grasp. “I’m your fucking son. Not your goddamn soldier. My wife Dr. Magarelli wasn’t signing a fucking prenup. You met her. She doesn’t care about money. She cares about her research. How about being happy for your son for once. Oh, wait your favorite son is back from the dead, so we can forget about you being happy for me.”
He removed his hand.
“After we’ve dealt with this Dillon shit then I’ll announce I’m married. Which one of your employees from the casino ratted me out?”
I wanted to break their fucking neck.
He smiled. “Don’t worry about it.”