by Posey Parks
Maceo snickered.
I cut my eyes to him. “What’s so fucking funny?”
“He wasn’t exactly ecstatic about waiting to eat while you and Emoni were held up in the bathroom.”
Light laughter rolled around the room.
I tossed my hand up. “Yeah, guess not.” I laughed.
“Hey guys,” I heard to my right.
“Hey, Emoni,” the guys stated one by one.
We glanced at the double doors.
Emoni stood in between the doors. Her hand swayed across her stomach over the tight navy tank top. She wore matching little shorts. My head snapped to the right. A flash of heat brushed over my skin. I scanned the guys faces. I better not detect any lusting on their faces for my wife.
A soft hand slipped over my shoulder. “Marco?”
I peeked into her dark eyes. “Yes?”
“You need to rest. We have a big day tomorrow.”
“We?” Romeo quipped.
She scowled. “Yes, we. I am coming too.”
I thought she’d bite his head off.
“That fucker is the reason the guys were hurt.”
I pulled her onto the arm of the recliner.
“Romeo, I understand your concern.”
“Do you? Because it was dangerous as shit taking you two to your parents today.” His green eyes darkened.
“Our job is to protect you both. Every time you two travel together it increases possible danger on both of your lives.”
I ignored his rant. My arm hooked around her waist and rested on her belly. “Emoni, did you know I grew up with these guys?”
Her brows rose. “All of them?”
“Yes. Some of my guards are recommended. But Romeo, Rémy, Maceo, and Tadeas grew up with me. Kagan and Kahn were too young. They’re just my pain in the ass cousins.”
She laughed.
Kagan waved me off.
“Your friendship isn’t tested often answering to Marco?”
“At times it is, but we chose to be Dillon’s and Marco’s bodyguards when they were sixteen. No one twisted our arms and made us take the job. At the time we didn’t know which family we’d work for. We just knew it was an honor to protect the Dons’ of the Magarelli and Esposito family. We didn’t learn which families we’d work for until we were eighteen.”
“Have you done anything else in your young lives?”
She made it sound like they were wasting their lives away.
“Yeah, Rémy and I attended college. Really more to have fun,” they chuckled between each other.
“But what kind of life can you have protecting someone day in and day out?”
“That’s not normally how it works.” Maceo rubbed his forehead.
“There are eight of us that split tasks and guard Marco. Tadeas or myself accompany him out of town along with one or two other guards. We work our normal shifts. You know, checking up on the gambling spots, collecting on gambling debts, and taking out the trash.” He widened his hands.
“Taking out the trash,” Emoni repeated.
“Oh,” she laughed.
“Normally Tadeas, Gage, Idan, or Gastone would be here. We usually work about three or four days a week. But since you came along…” He peeked at me, then back at her.
“…we’ve been on twenty-four-hour duty.”
She gasped. “I’m so sorry.”
I grabbed her chin, pulling her eyes to meet mine. “You don’t need to apologize. Most times these guys sit around shooting the breeze watching their stocks rise.”
“Romeo and Rémy does Dillon and Sierra follow a similar schedule?”
Rémy nodded. “Yes, like Maceo said we’re on twenty-four-hour duty because of the danger your family faces. Once the war is over, we’ll go back to a normal schedule.”
She shook her head. “Do any of the bodyguards have families?”
“Yeah, families, or girlfriends. It takes a strong woman to understand we’re working and not fucking every stripper or escort.” Rémy stated.
“Do any of you guys have girlfriends?” She pointed around the room between the guys.
“Not me. It’s not that I don’t want a relationship, it’s just that I haven’t found the right woman,” Romeo confirmed.
“More like, you don’t even look. I tell you all the time when chicks are checking you out and you dismiss what I say,” Rémy chuckled.
She glanced at Kahn. “Don’t look over here,” he grumbled.
“I like being single. No one to answer to.”
Kagan smoothed his hand over his hair. “I agree with Rémy, I don’t want the headache. Having a woman isn’t off the table though.”
Her eyes fell on Maceo.
“Nope don’t include me in this. All that matters is I’m here to protect you both.” He tapped his knee that rested on his opposite leg as he laid back in the recliner.
“What are you afraid of?”
“Emoni, if I mention her, you’ll ask about her every day.”
Her face lit up. “Shit, you are dating someone.” She grinned from ear to ear.
“Good night, Emoni. Rest up.” He adjusted his shoulders, sighed and closed his eyes.
“Ugh.” She stumped to the door like a big ass kid, long black hair swaying along her back.
I understood her curiosity. She probably wanted all the guys to find love like she had.
Pushing my palm into the arm of the chair, I grunted as I rose.
Maceo’s eye popped open.
“Don’t even attempt to ask if I need help. None of you.”
They threw their hands in the air and their brows almost touched their hairlines. Were they waiting for me to fall out?
“Good night.”
“Night boss,” fell around the room at my back.
The second I closed the door behind me, Emoni wrapped her arm around my waist. “We’re taking the elevator, big guy.”
“Emoni.” My jaw tightened.
“Marco, don’t piss me off.”
She guided us toward the elevator.
I exhaled. “Ok, baby.”
She tapped the up button and her soft gaze met mine. Her lips did a funny move. They rose, fell and rose again.
Shit, she made the right call utilizing the elevator. I rested my back against the wall as we rode to the second floor. Emoni’s fingers grazed my arm.
“How do you feel?” I traced my thumb along her lower pouty lip.
I felt my dick rise. It was almost impossible not to bend her over and slide deep inside her. Well, I take that back. In my head I could see myself bending her over and fucking her hard against our bedroom wall, but I was in no condition to fuck my wife a second time today.
“Fine.”
The doors slid open and Emoni slipped my arm over her shoulder and gripped my waist. I staggered at her side toward our bedroom.
“The bath was just what I needed. You can sit on the shower bench and I’ll get you cleaned up. I’ll have to be careful we can’t get those incisions wet. No more busting stitches, Marco.”
I slowly sat on the bed. An action movie was paused on the oversized seventy-two-inch TV hanging on the wall above the fireplace. “Baby, it was worth it.”
Emoni dropped her lips against my forehead and laughed.
“It was one of our best sex sessions.”
My big hands swayed her ass. I pulled back so I could peer into her eyes. Did we fuck more or make love?”
She tooted her lips to the side. “Definitely made love more.”
“Hmm, I didn’t even know I knew how to make love until the other day. But in my defense, I am running at half my normal stamina.”
Emoni caressed my face. “Sorry, baby, not even half.” Her lips curled at one end.
“Shit.” I paused. “I’ll get there.”
Her soft lips fell upon mine. “Oh, I have no doubt.”
Emoni helped me undress, then into the shower.
Later that night, she curled into my side and her face re
sted against my arm. I wondered was this a dream. Maybe I was in a coma. The caring, gorgeous, intelligent woman was my wife. I was truly a lucky man.
CHAPTER TEN
MARCO
The blistering New Jersey wind thrashed against the Suburban as Maceo whipped out of the parking garage.
“Marco, how do you live here year-round? It’s too cold.”
She hugged herself, rubbing her gloved hands over her arms.
“The heat will flow through the truck soon. Come here.”
She unbuckled and slid across the seat.
“We should arrive at the warehouse in twenty minutes, right?”
“We moved him to one of our safe houses.”
She buckled in beside me. “Why?”
“It’s safer, private, and no chance of anyone ambushing us at the safe house. All of our businesses I’m sure are being watched. We have to remain one step ahead of our enemy. My parents are headed back to a safe house today also. Maceo said we didn’t tell anyone where we lived. Good thing we didn’t. We don’t have to move to a safe house because we live off the radar for now.”
“True. I am thankful I could wear jeans, a blouse, boots, and a leather jacket. Although I would have preferred to wear my mink,” she scowled.
I quirked a brow. “Emoni?”
“Marco, I’m joking. Not joking, but I’ll survive. The fifty-degree weather can get pretty brutal in Portland.”
“What?” I threw my head back in laughter.
“Yeah, the cold air mixed with the rain pounding against your skin can wreck your day.” She smiled.
“Get used to the cold weather, princess. Because you ain’t going nowhere.”
Her arms snaked around mine. “As long as we’re together, I’ll be just fine.”
∞
We walked into the oversized wood cabin in Camden, New Jersey.
“Wow.” Emoni shrugged off her jacket as she marveled the detailed woodwork on the walls in the living room. I grabbed her jacket and threw it on the tan sofa.
“The manila wood walls against the mahogany ceiling beams are beautiful. I love the large window too.” She stepped to the middle of the room.
Maceo stalked around us and closed the wooden shutters over the window. “We can never be too careful.”
Emoni glanced over her shoulder at me.
“He’s right.”
I rubbed her shoulder. “We need to dress for the occasion.” I threaded our fingers and walked toward the master bedroom.
“Boss, I turned the heat on. I’ll take your tools into the basement.”
“Ok, we’ll be right down.”
The moment we stepped into the room; I tossed my navy wool coat on the black leather chair in the corner.
“Marco, I’m worried.” I heard at my back.
Sitting on the bed to collect myself, I stared up at her. Panic struck her beautiful features. “Yesterday, you busted your stitches.”
I gripped her waist and pulled her between my legs. “I’ll be fine. I’m just a little winded.”
“I understand you have to do this.”
“Good we’re on the same page. If it weren’t for his actions, we wouldn’t be at war right now and I’d remember my wife.” Clenching her chin, I lowered her lips onto mine.
Her long lashes lowered as her tongue slid between my lips. Emoni’s fingers trailed along the nape of my neck.
I reluctantly pulled back, and my heavy hand smacked her ass. “Let’s move, baby.”
Emoni and I walked toward the basement.
“I don’t remember what I taught you, so I’ll explain again.”
“Ok.”
Our boots pounded the wooden steps as we descended.
It was frustrating not to remember her or the shit I’d done over the last few months.
With every step, I internally grunted. Every wound pulsated. Emoni was right to be concerned. This wasn’t a good idea. My boots landed on the cement floor. The bright lights overhead heated my head and neck.
Clad in a black suit, Rémy stood in the corner off to the right, hands clutched in front of him.
“Boss, everything’s laid out the way you like it.” Maceo stepped back and stretched his hand.
I peeked at the stainless-steel table lined with a sledge hammer. My tool of choice when I was stronger. A hammer, a long screw driver, and Emoni’s knives. AK-47’s, AR-15’s, and double barrel shot guns graced the wood panel walls. This was a kill chamber point blank.
Two long leather aprons rested on Romeo’s arm. In our life, killing someone was like taking out the trash. Messy, rotten, smelly trash. Maceo retrieved a cigar from his inside blazer pocket.
“Marco,” Emoni snapped.
I grabbed the cigar from his hand and placed it between my lips. My stern gaze held hers as he lit the cigar. No words. My eyes said it all. She needed to fucking chill. I took a long pull on the cigar, then tilted my chin to the ceiling. The sweet tasting smoke rolled from my lips. Her lips tightened, and she tapped her foot.
A chuckle fell from my lips.
The cigar rested between my fingers, and I gripped her ass, pulling her closer.
My lips fell against her ear. “Now ain’t the time to get pissed off about a fucking cigar. We have a job to do. I want to see a smile across those lips or I’ll take you upstairs, and fuck you on the tiny bathroom counter. Not nearly as nice as my parents. You’ll scream so loud the neighbors will hear you five acres over. Now fucking relax, baby.” I bit her earlobe, and she fucking moaned.
The sound made my cock hard. Shit, this woman was killing me.
I stood to my full height and placed the cigar between my lips. A slow sexy grin slid across those sweet little lips. “Emoni, later,” I warned.
Romeo laughed as he slipped the apron over her head, then the other over mine.
“Orlando, the man of the hour.”
His muscled arms dangled from thick tan ropes, hanging from the ceiling. His feet dragged along the plastic sheet covering the floor. He had to be about five-ten in height.
The bright lights shined in his eyes as he raised his head. He squinted. “You have the wrong guy. Someone set me…”
He choked on his words.
I braced myself against the table and slipped the blue booties over my Gore-Tex boots.
“Someone bring me a bottle of water,” I yelled over my shoulder.
Maceo slammed the bottle on the table next to my hand.
I grabbed the bottle, twisted off the top and stepped forward.
“You’ve had it tough for a few days. I take it your parched.” I smirked.
The guys laughed behind me.
He opened his mouth. I poured a little water down his throat, and the rest over his bruised face.
He welled.
“What happened to his face?” I glared at the fucker, waiting for an answer.
“Boss, he had a little accident. His face hit the stairs several times on the way down here. Oops.” Maceo snickered, and the others followed. Even Emoni laughed.
“Maceo has been my friend since we were kids.” I gripped the rat’s ear. Blood streaked through his short blond hair.
“He wouldn’t lie to me. If he said your rat fucking ass planted dud vests in my condo, then you did it,” I growled staring into his beady blood-shot eyes.
“Now complete that sentence. Someone set you…?”
His eyes widened. “I’m not saying Maceo is lying. Someone else must’ve told him I planted the vests.
A loud thud sounded behind me.
“Boss?”
I turned, glaring at Rémy. “What?”
His lips tightened. “Nothing. It’s just a chair.”
He walked away.
I tossed my hand in the air. “What the fuck?” I grumbled.
He did the right thing. My eyes were playing tricks on me. I saw two of the fucker.
Slowly sitting in the chair, I removed the sledge hammer from the table. I rested my palms on the wooden cir
cular round end.
“Romeo, Orlando here said he was set up. What do you have to say about that?”
Hands deep in his navy suit pockets, he stepped beside me. “We’ll play. You like to gamble, but you didn’t place bets with us. That part you were smart about. You placed your bets with the Pitucco’s.”
“There’s no crime in that.”
“Nope there isn’t. The Esposito’s inherited you from the Bertozzi’s like the other four families. We don’t trust anyone that was associated with that piece of shit family.”
“Romeo, financials?”
I placed the cigar between my lips and pulled again as he rambled on. Emoni’s eyes were burning a hole into my head. I peeked at her for good measure.
“Something the matter, sweetheart?”
She flashed a plastic grin. “Not at all, baby.”
Then it hit me she was standing. “He didn’t offer you a chair?”
“Romeo did. I refused it.”
“Wait, was the chair I’m sitting in your idea?” I pointed downward.
Her lips fell against my temple. “Yes, sweetheart, now be a dear and take the pills. You’ll thank me in an hour.”
I glanced down at her palm. She brought her hand to my mouth, my lips parted and Emoni tossed the pills inside. Maceo tapped a plastic bottle of water against my shoulder. I grabbed the bottle and sucked down the cold water, washing the pills down my throat. Maceo retrieved the empty bottle from my hand. My wife had my men wrapped around her finger, Jesus.
My ears honed in on Romeo’s words. “Tell him about that transfer, Kagan found.”
A smile curled Romeo’s lips. “Yeah, funny thing. There was a wire made to a Cayman bank account in a fictitious name that was traced back to you. All of a sudden, your gambling debt was paid off. That nice car you bought for your sister was paid for in cash.”
“Yeah, that car don’t exist anymore. We blew it up. She was just about to go with it if she would have stepped any closer,” I snarled, placing the cigar on the table.
Laughter filled the room.
I rose, pressing on the handle of the sledge hammer.
“You think the Esposito family would pin an attempt on my life on just anyone? Oh no, that’s not how we do things.” Stepping closer, I dragged the sledge hammer behind me.