The Vendetti Coward: Salvatore Vendetti (The Vendetti Famiglia Book 4)
Page 5
“You feel it too?”
“I can’t do this, it’s not a part of my plan. I have to follow my steps.” He releases me, except for my hand, moving backward.
“Huh?”
He shakes his head. “Nothing. I need to get back to my room. I’d popped my head into Rosa’s room when I’d heard the thumps on the wall. I came quickly to see what was going on and my shower’s still running.” He tugs me to my room, opening my door. “If you need something, let Margo know. I’m afraid what Tino may do if he catches you alone tonight, just to spite me.”
“You think he’ll hurt me? But I thought you said to let his words go,” I respond, my chest feeling tight.
“Not in the way you’re imagining. I’d like to keep your chastity intact.”
“What?” I ask shrilly. “H-how do you know?”
“I guessed, but you confirmed it. I have to go.” And with that, he leaves me alone in my room to ponder over everything that just happened along with what I overheard. I eavesdropped on some mobsters and got caught. I’m so confused over it all. The crazy thing is, it’s not the part tearing me up inside. Nope, that belongs to Salvatore standing up for me while he was only wearing a towel. The man was naked, gloriously so, and I didn’t pull his towel away. I’ll regret that for the rest of my life, especially because he’ll undoubtedly be the highlight of my fantasies for the near future.
Lying on my bed, I spread my thighs apart, imagining him standing before me, wanting to see me. My eyes fall closed, picturing his chest and remembering how it felt beneath my touch. My hand glides over my stomach to my mound. My middle finger finds my clit, rubbing fiercely as I think of how it’d feel with him thrusting deep inside me. I’m coming in seconds. I don’t think I’ve ever been so hot with pent-up sexual desire in my life, and it’s all for Salvatore Vendetti.
Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti.
Follow your own road, and
let the people talk.
- Dante Alighieri
I can’t have her. I don’t understand why I want the sweet-tempered, enticing nanny in the first place. It’s been too long since I was with another woman, and obviously it’s messing with me now. I have enough on my plate as it is, never mind adding in the destruction a woman is sure to bring.
“Have you fucked her yet, fratello?” Luciano questions as he and Santino stand across from me, gloating for whatever reason. I know they haven’t touched her; I’ve made certain of it. I have security on lockdown to alert me if it does ever take place.
Can they read me easily enough to know I want her but am yet to act on my latest object of desire? Getting sober obviously transformed me into an open book towards my brothers, among other things. Folding my arms across my chest, my hand brushes my Glock. We’re always armed, whether we’re in the comfort of our own home or not. “None of your business,” I retort briskly, my inflection laced with steel. I doubt I pull off the facade towards them. They’re my younger siblings, and I’ve always had a soft spot for each of them, even if they do want to sleep with the same woman as me.
Santino snickers and I shoot him a glare. Luciano replies cockily, “She’s a sexy piece of ass, strutting her sweet pussy around here like she hasn’t a worry in the world. Do you have any idea how appealing that is to me, fratello?”
“To have a pussy or no worries, little brother?” I toss back, just as stubborn as any other Vendetti.
His eyes light up, peering off behind me. Santino’s grin widens, full of amusement. He’s enjoying this, I have no doubt. “Ah, there she is now. Hello, dolcezza,” Luciano purrs.
I glare but keep my mouth shut as Annabella eventually pauses beside me. She flashes her attention my way before shifting it to my brothers. “Hi. I was on my way to the kitchen.”
“Mm, hungry, are we?” Santino throws out the innuendo, but she’s too innocent; she doesn’t catch on like I do.
“I’ve heard I can be quite filling,” Luciano supplies, stepping up to her. He crowds her until her back’s to the wall and his thigh is resting between hers. He leans down, caressing her jaw. “Pretty, pretty, pretty little treat. Look at her, Santino. We’ll have fun with this one, won’t we, fratello?”
Fury and protectiveness like no other washes over me. The need to defend Annabella has me stepping into him, driving him out of her space. We’re so close, I can feel every inch of her frame pressed up against my back. “You overstep, Five.” I pronounce his number with an edge to it in warning.
“Ooo,” he chimes mockingly. “Throwing out numbers, are we? Is she yours then?” He reaches around me, caressing her jaw. “What are you going to do when she finds out? When she wants it?”
“Shut up!”
“You know she will. They always do. They get one brother, yet want us all in the end. It’s a curse really—to be desirable, but also never fully enough. We’re the Vendetti seven, the Empire, the famiglia...Cursed to claim, yet share them all.” He whirls around, driving his fist into the wall. He strikes it a couple of times, roaring in rage, until Santino shuffles him away.
Annabella remains behind me stock still, glued to my back. Goddammit, I don’t want to face her after all the emotions that took place moments ago. I have to fix this somehow, make sure she’s okay…comfort her, something. Clearing my throat, I inhale a deep breath and turn around. Her teeth have sunken into her bottom lip as she peers up at me, her irises dancing with far too many questions. She’s smart, and when you’re a made man, that’s both a good and bad thing where the opposite sex is involved. Luciano’s right about something though: her innocence calls to you in an alluring aphrodisiac.
She releases the enticing lip and asks, “Salvatore? What was he talking about?”
I clench my mouth closed, my jaw flexing as I fight back my irritation towards my brother. Fuck, I want to kiss her right now. I won’t, but Lord do I want to. My fingers move to graze her flesh, but I manage to clench my hand, fisting it, and I grit my teeth before she draws me in any further. I have a feeling once I get started with her, I won’t be able to stop myself. Self-control has never been my strongest asset—more like a weakness with indulgence. Having a clear head does actually help a bit.
“I can’t tell you. Trust me, you wouldn’t want to know our warped famiglia history anyhow.” I move to step away and give her some space, but she stops me, fisting my shirt. It’s bold, unexpected from her, and has me shaken up from her touch. If this tiny bit razzes me, I can hardly fathom what it’d be like to have her naked frame underneath mine while she moans in bliss.
“But I do…want to know, I mean. You fascinate me. I want to know whatever you’ll tell me.”
“Oh great, fascination was clearly what I was aiming for,” I mutter, earning a smile from the woman in front of me.
“There’s so many of you, and your dynamic is intriguing.”
“Of course it is. Women are always captivated by us. How we tend to look like, how we coexist, and let’s not forget- how we belong to the most powerful famiglia in New York. One constant request is to know if we all have the same-sized cock.”
Her eyes widen with a soft gasp. I catch myself, dialing it back. I was getting pissed thinking she’s like all the others, always wanting to fuck us, marry us, and become a Vendetti Queen. Little do they know the title is earned and not easily.
“I would never ask you…”
“Right. I seem to keep catching you in compromising positions where my brothers are concerned. You should heed my warning and stay in your room when possible. This will only draw them to you more. They salivate over a possible challenge.”
“They don’t frighten me.” She shrugs it off, all too blasé for my liking.
“They ought to. Tell me, Annabella, do I scare you at all?”
She confidently meets my stare, shaking her head. “No.”
“I should. I’m the Vendetti who gets away with acting crazy, without having any serious repercussions. I have big brother always around to clean up my messes whe
n I can’t do it myself, so it’d be smart to be careful.” I clench my hands again, saying, “We’re wolves in three-piece suits, just waiting for our next meal. My brothers want to fuck you, and I can’t blame them for it.”
“No…”
I nod. “Si. All of them. Well, except for Matteo, but I wouldn’t put it past him to consider it. You don’t have to worry about it with him though. The Vendetti Queen would kill you if the chance ever came up. Violet’s calm and patient, allowing you to feel safe and comfortable around her before she stabs you to death. Remember that warning, should the Capo ever glance in your direction.” I’m scaring her, but I’m also enjoying playing with her a bit too much. I’m a bad man, always in pain, tortured…but I couldn’t be fucked about the dose of truth. It’s my reality. I wake up and live with it every day.
“I...Wow. This has to do with what Luciano was hinting at, I assume?”
“Perhaps one day I can tell you about our famiglia’s curse, but that’s not going to be today.”
She sighs and I gesture towards her room. “I understand,” she gives in, making my cock stir a bit more from her obedience.
My hand reaches out to rest on her lower back as I escort her down the hall. I swear an electric shock of some sort passes through us at my touch, and we both jump a part. I lean in, muttering, “You don’t. Once I tell you about our fucked-up past, you won’t ever be leaving, and I don’t see your future being here.”
Annabella’s shoulders stiffen, her neck flushing as she quickly retorts, “You’re right. My mistake.” Her stride picks up, and in the next beat, she’s spinning around towards me in her doorway. “Thanks for the hallway help, again, and for the wake-up call.” She steps backward and effectively closes the door in my face.
I release a tense breath, my chest deflating as some of the strain leaves my muscles. I enjoyed shaking her up a bit, but I have a feeling I’ve somehow hurt her, and that wasn’t my intention at all. If anything, it was the opposite, wanting to warn her and help keep her safe. She’s one of the most important people in Rosa’s life now, and I’ll do whatever I can to make sure nothing happens to fracture that relationship.
“The fuck is your problem? You get sober and suddenly you’re the Pope?” Valentino confronts me in the same damn hallway I just had words with Luciano and Santino in. What the hell is it with this hall? I need to have Annabella moved to the suite on the other side of my room. Her current room may be more convenient for her, but my brothers are sharks swimming like there’s blood in the water, waiting to have their next meal.
“Did they call you?”
He shrugs, admitting, “I may’ve gotten a text.”
Bastardos. “So you ran up here to their rescue?”
“No. I was simply curious what is so special about this woman’s pussy to have you fighting with all of us? We’re you’re famiglia, not some fica who babysits for you.”
My fist is flying towards his face before it has a chance to register what I’m doing. We don’t fight with each other. We’ve always gotten along typically well. He comes at me, returning the knuckle kiss to my face and, I’ll admit, I stagger a bit with his force. Valentino’s a beast, and any other case I’d be proud, but our scuffle only drives me on harder, fueling me to punch him again and again.
We’re wrenched apart, tossed to opposite sides. Who knows how long has passed since we began arguing with our fists, but apparently it was enough time for backup to arrive. I’m up against one wall, while he’s shoved into another. Four pissed-off Vendettis stand between us, blocking me and Valentino from each other. His lip’s busted and his cheek is wearing my marks. My mouth twists into a pleased smirk. I got some good licks in, a few he won’t be forgetting any time soon.
Matteo roars, “We have too many enemies for this nonsense!” He glowers at me before spinning to Tino. “And you! I thought we went over this with Cris? Enough fighting with our fratelli. You are underboss. Act like it!” He runs his hands through his hair, a sign he’s beyond pissed and about to lose it. He exhales deeply and mutters to himself, “I need Dante home. I’ve had enough of this back and forth. We’ve been spread apart for too long.”
“Matty…” I swallow, guilt swimming in my gut at his obvious stress. I’ve put him through more than enough in my lifetime. The last thing he needs is extra pressure from my direction. “It got out of control.”
He barks, “Silenzio! I’ve had enough. You all want to cause havoc and fight each other? I’ll put you to work. If Romano were in my shoes right now, he’d put a bullet in you. Count yourselves fortunate today. Now, Valentino, drag every last Irish thug you can find to the warehouse. I want them questioned and taken care of.”
“I’ll text with updates,” Valentino replies emotionlessly, wiping a bit of blood from his chin.
“Luciano, go help him. I don’t care what you have to do, but lose your fucking superior attitude while you’re there or I’ll whip you myself,” the oldest threatens, and Luciano moves like his ass is on fire. Not sure sending him with Valentino is the right thing to do if he’s attempting to alter his attitude, but I keep my opinion to myself.
“Consider it taken care of.”
“Santino, get on the jet and go to Dante. Raze those goddamn famiglias down if you need to, so Dante can be head of that city. Playing nice with the table of the Five Famiglias is growing taxing. Handle it.”
“Yes, Capo,” he murmurs, shooting off in the opposite direction, I’m assuming to pack.
“Cris?”
“Whatever you need. I have your back.”
Matteo bobs his head. “Go back to the office and handle everything there. I need to fuck my wife before I kill people I care about.”
It’s not what Cristiano wants to hear, but it’s his reality and it always will be. He’s the youngest, the baby of the famiglia, even if he is a made man at this point. “Capo,” he dutifully acknowledges and spins on his heal.
“Me?” I ask. It’s been a fairly long time since he’s given me a task to complete. I normally get drunk or high and go rouge. It’s the only way I can be involved but on my own terms. Before I sobered up, it’d gotten to the point where Matteo would tell me nothing about what was going on with the Empire. You know what’s worse than having too much responsibility in the mob? Being cut out of it.
“You’re supposed to be taking it easy and concentrating on getting better. One day at a time, remember?”
“Don’t do this to me, Matteo.”
“Do what? Expect you to concentrate on your sobriety? Give you the opportunity to be a father to Rosa?”
“I’m sober. I’m better.”
“You’re getting there. You’ve told me yourself you still struggle.”
“I didn’t confide in you for it to be used against me.” I press my finger against my skull and grumble, “I keep a record of my fucking wreckage in my mind. It plays on a constant loop so I can never forget it. I don’t have to be reminded of being a fuck-up. I already know it. I’m strong enough to help you in this famiglia. I let you down for far too long and I don’t want to do that anymore. I want you to count on me.”
“No.”
“Ex-excuse me?” I’m caught off guard and nearly stammer because of it, my response laced with shock. I know I was a wreck and I’ve talked my fill of shit, but I can handle my own. I’ve had my share of killing. I’m mafioso. I have a taste of my enemy’s blood and a special set of skills to demolish them…yet Matteo’s going to shut me down? “I’m a part of this famiglia too. I’m a Vendetti. I can handle a job.”
“I owe you nothing, Salvatore. I’ve given you my loyalty as your fratello, but as Capo, I’m not ready to depend on you—”
“Right,” I cut him off coldly. “I’ll um, let you get to Violet then.”
“Sal…”
I wave him off. “I’m going to shower and grab something to eat.”
“Good. I’ll catch up with you later,” he assures, but it’s not what I want to hear at the moment.
“Roses” by SAINt JHN pumps through the club and I can’t help but tug her along behind me, my stride swift with exhilaration. A loud laugh escapes, my chest rumbling with the freedom. I’m flying high, my first hit after so fucking long, and I’m just free.
My hips move side to side, my body jolting and jumping to the upbeat tempo. Annabella beams, and rather than wilting away, she embraces the rhythm, her hips swaying and arms moving to keep up with my moves. Pulling her frame to me, I drive my legs between hers, my thighs hugging hers. I’ve kept my distance from her far too much for my liking, and I want to touch her everywhere.
“I’m going to kiss you!” I shout over the thrumming music. Right now, I won’t take no for an answer. Rolling on Ex and popping Xanax does that to a person though. Everything is vibrant, fun, and you have so much fucking courage to just let go.
One hand cups the back of her head, tangling in her silky hair. Her locks are the softest fucking thing I’ve ever felt before. My other hand reaches for her shirt at her breasts. Fisting it, I yank her into me and my mouth takes hers. It’s not soft or sweet; it’s blistering heat. I’m feeling like a million bucks right now, so-so good. I want to fuck her in this very spot. My tongue dives between her lips, and then I’m owning her mouth. There’s no doubt in my mind, even if it’s only for tonight, this woman is all mine. She never stood a chance showing up on our doorstep.
“You taste good,” I rumble, pulling away, sucking on her bottom lip as I do. “Cazzo, you’re hot.” Then I’m tugging her shirt up.
“What’re you doing? I need my shirt!” She laughs and it instantly has me feeling lighter.
“Trust me?” I shout. After a second, she nods and I peel the offensive material off and toss it somewhere into the crowd behind me. The multicolored laser lights flash over both of us, making her bra into her very own rainbow.