Vincenzo (Mafia Heat Book 1)

by Ella Jade

  “Yes, but she goes by Jennie.”

  “Santino is the baby. He’s also a lawyer. He works with me.”

  “Five boys.” She placed her hand on her forehead. “You guys must have kept your mom so busy. I can’t imagine.”

  “My dad wanted a big family. My mother wanted a girl so they kept trying.”

  “I’ll bet you’re all close.”

  “My mother had us two years apart, keeping us close in age. What about your family?”

  “I have one sister.”

  “She lives in Connecticut with your mom.”

  “I went to NYU and got an internship right out of college. I never moved back but I visit often.”

  “And your dad?”

  She tensed when I inquired.

  “I... I never met him.”

  “Oh, but you’re older than your sister. Do you have different fathers?”

  “We do,” she said. “He was married to my mother for a while but he took off when I was eight. Laura, my sister, was five. My mother raised us on her own.”

  “That must have been difficult.”

  “We managed.”

  “She never told you who your dad was?”

  “I don’t care who he is.” She slipped out of my lap and back into her chair. “He left us.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be.” She placed some fruit on her plate. “I’m sure he’s a deadbeat. A criminal or lowlife. It doesn’t matter.”

  I’d hit a sore subject. Her whole demeanor changed when I brought up her father. My dad may have had some credibility issues but he would never abandon any of us. I didn’t always approve of how he made his living but my brothers and I were lucky to have him.

  Chapter Eight

  NADIA

  The Man of My Dreams

  Vincenzo set me up with a laptop and an office to work from. He’d kept his distance most of the afternoon. I probably scared him away when I overreacted about my father. I’d always been fine discussing the fact that I never knew who he was. My mother said it was a one-night stand that she was ashamed of. I wondered how much of that story was true. I hoped it was because I didn’t think I could accept that she had fallen in love and created a child with a man like Antonio. That couldn’t have happened. When this was all over, I’d have to get the truth from her. I’d reassure her that I would want nothing to do with him. Hell, if I could turn back the clock, I never would have gone searching for my biological father. Too little, too late.

  “Hey.” Vincenzo leaned against the doorframe, looking enticing in his black board shorts and exposed chest.

  Those abs...

  “The sun is setting but I was going to take a swim. Would you like to join me?”

  “Ah...” The dusting of hair that disappeared into his bathing suit rendered me stupid. “Do I have a bathing suit?”

  “I’m sure Gianni provided you with one. I’m almost worried to see what it looks like.”

  “Me too.” I laughed. “I’d love to take a swim with you.”

  “I’ll meet you by the pool in a few minutes.”

  “Okay.”

  “I’ve asked Tommy to go and grab us some pizza.” He ran his hand through his shiny, dark hair. “Unless you want something else.”

  “Pizza is great.”

  “I figured he could get some for the other guards too.”

  “That’s thoughtful of you.” He was quickly becoming the man of my dreams.

  “I’ll see you in a bit.” He turned to leave but I needed to say something.

  “Vince?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m sorry about earlier. When I got weird about my father.”

  “You don’t have to apologize.” He came into the room. “I’m sure it’s hard not knowing where you came from. I have a tendency to think every family is like mine. I know that’s not true.”

  “Every family is definitely not like yours.”

  “True.” His smile made me want to explore a whole new life with him. “I didn’t mean to bring up any bad feelings for you. I’m a lawyer. It’s in my nature to ask questions.”

  “I...” He seemed so sincere. Maybe if I explained who I thought my father was he could help me with that. He had such a tender soul. He’d understand. Wouldn’t he?

  “I’m sure there was a reason your mom never shared that information with you.”

  “Huh?”

  “I don’t always agree with my father’s decisions but I know he has my best interest at heart. Maybe your mom is protecting you.”

  “You’re right.” Sharing what I thought I knew about my father wasn’t the best choice for me to make. “I’ve made it this far.”

  “You’re not alone.”

  “I don’t feel alone.”

  “Good.” He took my hand and moved to stand close to me. “As long as I’m in your life, you’ll never be alone.”

  Maybe I wasn’t in the wrong place after all...

  VINCENZO

  Diving into the deep end of the refreshing pool, I glided under the water and swam the length of the pool. Swimming had always been one of my favorite workouts. I was on the swim team in high school and college. When I hit the other side of the pool, I came up for air, finding myself in a pleasurable spot.

  “Hello.” Nadia smiled from the edge of the pool. She sat directly in front of me, her legs spread enough for me to stand between them. “You’re a swimmer.”

  “I dabbled in school.”

  “That’s where that long, lean body comes from. I thought you were a runner but now I see it.”

  “Gianni did good.” I nodded toward her as I rested my hands on her thighs. “The bathing suit is perfect.” It was a pink bikini that fit her quite nicely. “You look amazing.”

  “I like it.” She bit her lip before kicking up her toes and splashing me. “Not too skimpy, not too conservative. There’s hope for your brother after all.”

  I wiped the water from my face as she giggled. “You like getting me wet?” I gripped her calves. “Two can play that way.”

  “Oh, no!” She tried to get up. “You’re already wet.”

  “And now you are too.” I tugged her into the pool, her sexy frame made a splash as she hit the water. “Vince!” She squealed. “You’re evil.”

  “The water is fantastic.” I wrapped my arms around her as she hitched her legs around my hips. “Don’t you agree?”

  “I think you’re really fantastic.” She kissed my cheek. “I hate the way we met but I’m glad we did.”

  “Me too.” I tugged her hair, pressing her lips to mine, kissing her slowly, taking my time to explore her mouth. Deciding that whatever was happening between us wasn’t worth fighting. We met for a reason. I honestly believed that.

  “I thought you said you didn’t want to do anything we’d regret?” She rocked her hips forward, pushing into my aroused shaft.

  “I’m old enough to know that I regret plenty of things I’ve done, but kissing you definitely isn’t one of them.”

  “How about more than kissing?” She trailed her hand down my chest and to the top of my bathing suit. “Would you regret that?”

  “No.” I leaned her against the side of the pool. “We’re adults.”

  “Consenting adults.” She tightened her hold on my waist with her legs. “I’m usually not this bold.”

  “I am.” Kissing her neck, I placed her on her feet, pinning her between the tiled wall of the pool and my hips. “You’re sure?”

  “Yes, please.” Her breathless plea fueled my desire as I lowered my lips to her breasts, pushing one up with my hand. “Vincenzo...” She cried out when I bit down on her aroused nipple.

  The humid night air stilled around us but the cool water provided a welcomed relief to our steamy flesh. Skimming my fingers down her stomach, I ran them along the band of her bikini. My balls tightened when I slipped my hand inside her bathing suit, losing myself in her smooth center. As I circled my finger over her entrance, I distract
ed myself in the thought of being buried inside her.

  From the far corner of the yard, the sound of the gate swung open, halting our erotic moment. Shit! I quickly removed my hand from her bottoms, gently kissing her before creating some distance between us. Her stunned expression clued me in to how disappointed she was. Me too, beautiful.

  “Is there room in that pool for us?” Gianni called out as he carried the pizzas into the yard. Dominick was close behind, carrying a tin bucket filled with beer but he didn’t make eye contact with me.

  “Sorry.” I took her hand and led her up the steps to the patio. “That’s one of the problems with having four brothers. Someone always interrupts.”

  “It’s okay.” She winked. “We have all night.”

  “Don’t get out on our account,” Dominick said. “We can eat inside.”

  “I thought Tommy was picking up the pizza.” I took a towel from the basket on the patio and draped it around Nadia’s shoulders before I took one for myself.

  “He did.” Gianni placed the food on the table. “We intercepted these. He brought the rest in for the other guys.”

  “You shouldn’t have Tommy running errands,” Dominick scolded. “He’s supposed to stay with you.”

  “He was gone twenty minutes and we have a house full of guards.” I dried off. “Gianni, this is Nadia.”

  “Hi.” Nadia extended her hand. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

  “Really?” He took her hand and brushed her knuckles along his lips. “I like to make my own impression. That bathing suit is perfect.”

  “Thank you.” She clasped the towel. “You have impeccable taste.”

  “I have a friend who owns a boutique in the city.” Gianni leaned against a chair. “She gets all the credit.”

  “Hello, Nadia.” Dominick took a seat at the table. “You seem to be holding up well especially after witnessing such a gruesome ordeal.”

  “I have Vincenzo to thank for that.” She stood closer to me. “He has a way of calming me.”

  “I’ve seen his way.” Gianni snickered.

  “What brings you two here?” I asked. “I didn’t expect you back so soon.”

  “Just checking on you.” Dominick flipped open the pizza box. “Making sure you’re okay. Not making any mistakes that you can’t get out of.”

  “I’m going to go inside,” Nadia said. “Leave you guys alone.”

  “Don’t you want to eat with us?” She was uncomfortable around Dom but he was in protector mode. Once he realized she wasn’t a threat, he’d back off.

  “I’m really not that hungry.” She smiled at my brothers. “You stay here. I’ll see you inside later.”

  I took her hand and walked her to the patio doors. “Our night isn’t over.” I kissed her cheek. “I’ll be inside soon.”

  “I hope so.” She caressed my jaw. “Don’t take too long.”

  Fuck! My erection strained in my pants. I would have left my brothers to be with her but I needed a progress report. I needed to know where we stood with Franco.

  “I’ll be up soon.” I kissed her. “Now go before I toss you over my shoulder.”

  “How very barbaric of you.” She went into the house, hips swaying, and her hair flowing.

  You have no idea.

  “Someone’s got it bad.” Gianni cracked open a beer. “You work fast.”

  “Too fast.” Dominick dropped a slice of pizza onto his plate. “Don’t you know you have to be careful?”

  “She’s not the bad guy.” I sat. “Do you have any news?”

  “Dad is meeting with Antonio tomorrow.” Gianni glanced at Dom. “He hasn’t found anything out of whack with your girl.”

  “I told you.” I took a beer from the ice bucket in the center of the table. “Now are you satisfied?”

  “That doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to find,” Dominick warned. “We just haven’t found it yet. It’s early.”

  “I’m starting to see it Vince’s way,” Gianni said. “If it didn’t happen the way she said, how could she have made him her mark? The client he was with that night checked out. There was no way she could have set that meeting up. That was a coincidence.”

  “Thank you.” I sipped my beer. “I already knew my client checked out.”

  “Now we know for sure,” Dom said. “I’m still not sold on why she was at the warehouse. That doesn’t make any sense. I think she knows Franco.”

  That didn’t add up either. She was terrified of him and he had no idea who she was when I intervened.

  “I want to get her away from the Collandras. We have to get her out of this mess.” My father could do it. I was certain of that.

  “Be careful,” Dom said. “Keep your wits about you.”

  “I put some condoms in the nightstand.” Gianni punched my arm. “Make sure you use them.”

  “How about you don’t use them.” Dom shook his head.

  “Then she’ll end up pregnant.” Gianni pointed at me. “Use them.”

  “I meant don’t get into a situation where you need them.” Dom bit into his pizza.

  “You saw them in the pool.” Gianni shrugged. “He’s already in the situation.”

  “Can we stop talking about this?” There was nothing worse than having my two older brothers talk about my sex life. “We’re not eighteen.”

  Gianni stretched out his legs as he drank his beer. “It’s the economy size box.”

  “Enough!” I shouted as they laughed at me.

  WHEN GIANNI AND DOMINICK went to visit with the guards, I searched for Nadia. She was in the shower when I came upstairs, so I went into my room to do the same. Finding out my father was meeting with Antonio tomorrow put my mind at ease. It had only been two days but putting my life on hold wasn’t something I wanted to do again any time soon.

  After drying off and slipping on a pair of sweatpants, I stepped out into the bedroom to find Nadia sitting on the edge of the bed. Her hair was in a ponytail, still damp from her shower. She wore a tight pink tank top and a small pair of shorts. Her legs never seemed to end.

  “My father is going to meet with Antonio.” I joined her on the bed. “It could be over by this time tomorrow.”

  “Then we should make the most of tonight.”

  When she crawled into my lap and wrapped her legs around my waist there was no hiding my arousal. Despite Dominick’s warnings, I could make my own choices.

  Chapter Nine

  NADIA

  I Won’t Deny You Twice

  I’d been through hell and back these past few days. The only good thing to come out of this ordeal was meeting Vincenzo. I’d never been drawn to anyone the way I was to him. If this was going to be our last night here, we needed to make the most of it. As much as I wanted to begin a relationship with him, I wasn’t sure how that would work. What if I was the daughter of the rival crime lord? That could complicate matters.

  Straddling his lap, I was alerted to how much he wanted to continue. After tomorrow it could all be over. I’d almost lost my life the other night. Taking a chance and going to that dock proved to be a mistake. Tonight was different. If there was ever a time to act on impulse this would be it. When was the last time I had the opportunity to sleep with a hot, sexy, caring, beautiful man who had his shit together? Um... never!

  Kissing his neck, I glided my palms along his taut chest. “I need to be with you.”

  “I won’t deny you twice.” He kissed me, harder, more forceful than he had in the pool, building an arousal in me that was so powerful that I pushed into his erection without hesitation. He hissed over the contact. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

  “Can’t you tell?” I sucked his bottom lip between my lips before swirling my tongue inside his mouth. “What happened the other night made me realize that life isn’t guaranteed. There are moment’s you shouldn’t pass up. This is one of those moments.”

  “I couldn’t agree more.” Flipping me onto my back, he hovered over me. “I’ve wanted
you from the moment I saw you.”

  “When I was sweaty and out of breath?” This man was a keeper.

  “There’s nothing wrong with being sweaty and out of breath.” He slithered his hands underneath my shirt as I arched my back. “That’s my goal for tonight.”

  “What are you waiting for?” Hitching my leg over his hip, I thrust into his center.

  “You keep doing that and I’m going to rip those little shorts right off you.”

  “Don’t tease me.”

  “Teasing could be fun.” He circled his fingertip around my nipple. “See.” He tweaked it between his thumb and finger. “How about if I do this?” He lowered his head, taking my tortured nipple into his mouth, licking it and scraping his teeth along it.

  “Then I would do this.” I shifted my pelvis into him several times, simulating how I’d want him to take me.

  He followed my lead, taking my hips in his firm hold as he connected with my wet center. “These are in my way.” He tugged my shorts down my legs and over my ankles, leaving me bare and ready for him. “Hmm...” He licked a path down my stomach to my intimate area. Dropping to his knees at the foot of the bed, he brought me to him.

  “Ahh...” I lifted my backside off the bed as he pleased me with his tongue, mouth, and fingers. Clasping the comforter in my hand, I trembled into his face. My breaths morphed into short pants when he roughly spread my thighs apart, giving him full access to all of me.

  Squeezing my eyes shut, I saw stars behind them as I reached down, gliding my fingers through his hair. Sitting up, I moved into his rhythm until the vibrating inside my stomach shot lower. Holding onto his shoulders, I screamed out my pleasure. He licked and kissed my thighs before standing up, guiding me onto my knees to face him.

  “You’re out of breath.” He raised the tank top over my head, removing it quickly. “Now let’s get you sweaty.” He took my chin in his hand, kissing me long and slow, allowing me to taste where he’d been.

  “We have to get you naked.” I tugged on the string of his pants, releasing them from his waist. He stepped out of them once they hit the floor. “That’s better.” I gazed down at his glorious shaft, excited by the notion that he’d be inside me very soon.