She looked at the files on her desk and refocused on work. She didn’t know why she worried about Iglesias and Emanuel getting involved in a deal with York St. James. They were all made men. Emanuel and Iglesias always showed protectiveness to her, especially after Vender was killed. She hoped this deal worked out for them, if that was truly what they wanted.
* * * *
“We get into this club, and we’ll be making cash fist over fist. You understand that?” Iglesias said to Emanuel.”
“Of course I do, and everything is in place to take over as soon as contracts are signed,” Emanuel replied.
“If they sign. What was with Saint James insisting that Gisella be there?” Iglesias asked.
“Probably the reason why most men want her around. She’s fucking gorgeous, all class, and makes heads turn. Any man would want her on their arm as their woman. Us included,” Emanuel said.
“You’re not worried about her being seen with the Fiorre brothers?” Iglesias asked.
“We’ll talk to her about that on Saturday night since she isn’t taking any of our calls.”
“She was pissed about the lunch meeting.”
“We’re trying to take care of her. It’s what we promised ourselves after Vender was killed. She needs to accept that and the fact that she belongs in the Picatta family. She should be one of ours. Everyone in the family adores her.”
“Emanuel, she wants nothing to do with this type of business. Look at her. She’s accomplishing so much on her own. I don’t even think the woman has to work if she didn’t want to she has made so much money. She’s scared of being involved with made men.”
“Then we don’t have anything to worry about if she’s seen with the Fiorre men,” Iglesias stated confidently.
“I worry because they could ruin her life. They’re the reason why our family’s businesses can’t grow. The Fiorre family dominate the streets and the main aspects of business. Finding out about this club on Fourteenth Street and buying it from York is going to expand our territory,” Emanuel added.
“What about that gang, the ones that work for Puentez? They aren’t just going to get pushed out. It looks like they’re already pissed now.”
“We handle them accordingly. It’s all about showing power and control. We’re way bigger than some street gang. If they want a piece of the action, then they should work for us. It’s how it goes.”
“I hope you’re right, and I hope this deal goes through because if it doesn’t, then we might be in an old-school street fight with these little fucks instead.”
“I’m always ready for that. You know it.”
Chapter 4
“Gisella, how are you?” Brad Monroe, a millionaire she had known for the last several years, said.
She had worked with his sister, Edith, for two years, and they had hung out several times at his grand parties in his mansion in Chappaqua. She had also hooked him up with his first penthouse in Manhattan.
He kissed her cheek in greeting. His cologne enticing, the man was drop-dead movie-star gorgeous, but he was into one-night stands, and she wasn’t really attracted to anything else but his looks. After he kissed her cheeks and hugged her, he looked around the entryway. He squinted.
“What? No date?”
“Me? No way. I like to attend these things solo. Besides, I’m not seeing anyone, and I like it,” she said and winked.
“Well, I like attending these things solo, too. You never know who might be around to hook up with.”
He eyed the designer dress she wore. The dark burgundy hugged her figure, and the plunging neckline accentuated her large breasts, showing off a bit more cleavage than usual. The thin black straps over her shoulders crisscrossed low down her back. It was a sexy dress, but she was possibly heading to the martini bar and nightclub to meet Fina, Giada, and Donata later, and she needed to dress as sexy as possible so they could get in. They had decided to hit the club together, especially after Giada had talked them into making the best of a great night out and getting an Uber driver to take them all home. Gisella had a feeling that if she got through this evening, she was going to need the night out.
“Damn, Gisella, you get more and more stunning every time I see you. You’re exceptional, in too many ways to count,” he told her and growled.
She chuckled. He was always such a flirt, and she didn’t mind one bit walking into the venue with him on her arm as an escort. “So how long before the woman you’re trying to make jealous arrives?”
He laughed, looked around, and leaned closer to whisper in her ear. “That’s why I adore you so. You know me almost as well as my mother.”
She gave his shoulder a light tap. “You wouldn’t look at your mother’s cleavage the way you’re looking at mine,” she said back, and when he growled against her shoulder, she shoved at him. “You are impossible.”
“You look edible. Now come on. She isn’t here yet.”
“Wonderful,” she said with a smile.
He was escorting her through the crowds when she spotted Fedarro and Collin. Both men looked right at her, and she gave a small smile, but then Brad pulled her to the right, and off they went. She placed her hand over her belly, feeling a bit nervous. What were they doing here?
The music was playing, people were dancing, and the next thing she knew Brad was leading her onto the dance floor. She knew what he was doing, and she wasn’t quite in the mood for this, yet the moment he grabbed the rose from the vase on one of the tables near the dance floor and pointed to the orchestra, the whole mood of the place changed. There she was, transitioning from one move to another, putting on a show, making him appear like some fantasy knight and her his latest love quest. It was all a game, and as usual the crowd parted, and they took over in the center of the dance floor, with him whisking her off her feet and her pretending to be unwilling to accept his moves. It was all a choreographed number they had done several times before and always got the same response—he took some sex symbol to bed, but she got only what she was in the mood for, stopping at anything more than a good make-out session. She sure wasn’t looking for that tonight.
As the music ended and people gasped and then cheered, he slid the rose down her lips, her throat, and her breasts; pulled her up close; and hugged her tight. They were both breathing rapidly.
“I hope she’s worth it?” she whispered.
“She’s worth it for tonight, and you, gorgeous angel, will not be alone for the rest of the evening.”
He winked, and she laughed as they made their way off the dance floor, getting compliments and smiles. Then her eyes landed on Fedarro’s as he caused Brad to stop in his tracks. Brad seemed shocked and looked at Gisella, who just stared at Fedarro.
“Jesus, woman, do you know what you’re getting yourself into?” Brad asked.
“Brad Monroe, I would like you to meet Fedarro Fiorre.”
Brad stuck out his hand for Fedarro to shake. “Nice to meet you, sir.”
“Impressive dance moves, Brad,” Fedarro said.
She felt hands on her hip from behind and gasped. Brad stepped to the side, and Collin was there, kissing her shoulder.
“You looked sensational, Gisella,” Collin told her.
“Thank you. We were just letting off some steam, right, Brad?”
“Honey, you know I like to let off steam with you whenever you’re willing.” Brad winked.
“Really?” Fedarro asked in a tone that had Brad looking white as a ghost and Gisella panicking.
Fedarro stepped closer, and Gisella moved between them. She placed her hands on Fedarro’s chest. “He’s a good friend, not a lover, an ex-lover, or anything else. Just a very good friend,” she told him, feeling like she needed to save Brad’s life.
“I’m going to leave now. You’ll be okay?” Brad asked, still ready to die protecting her.
She turned to look at him. “Of course I will be. I’ll talk to you soon, and good luck with the woman you wanted to impress.”
�
�I’ll need it,” he said and walked away.
She went to step away, but Fedarro’s hands were on her hips, and then he slid an arm along her lower back and pressed her close to him. She wasn’t expecting such a show of jealousy or possession. Nor did she expect the feel of his gun against her ribs to be a turn-on. But she did. Oh God, him in a tux was not fair to her resolve. How the hell was she going to stay clear of them?
“The man could have died dancing so sexy with you and then saying what he did,” Fedarro told her.
She swallowed hard. “Fedarro, I thought we discussed this the other night.”
“I didn’t discuss anything if you recall. I remained quiet. Not tonight. Not with you looking like this, so beautiful, sexy, and classy. Come have a drink with us.”
“I’m supposed to meet some people just as an introduction.”
Collin pressed up against her back and placed his hands on her shoulders. “We’ll see about that,” Collin said as if he had an idea about who she was meeting. How could he?
They grabbed some champagne and stood near a window overlooking the city streets. Fedarro kept a possessive arm around her waist and stroked her lower back. His long, thick fingers played with the cross strap of velvet. On her other side, Collin sat on a high stool by the table, holding her hand and playing with her fingers, gently stroking each digit. Her heart hammered inside her chest.
She locked gazes with Fedarro and then Collin. “This isn’t fair, you know. The two of you doing this to me.”
“Doing what, Gisella?” Collin asked, brought her fingers to his lips, and kissed the top of her hand.
She pulled it away and stepped forward only for Fedarro to turn her, blocking anyone’s view from them. He stroked his palm up her neck to her jaw, gently controlling her. Her lips parted as her eyes locked onto his dark ones. He was a force—a damn powerful sexual force—and she couldn’t move. He stared at her lips.
“Tell me to kiss you, that you want me to despite the fears, the thoughts running through your head. Tell me,” he demanded in a way that made her pussy clench and her heart pound.
“Fedarro.”
He shook his head. “Do you want to, yes or no?”
“Yes.”
His lips pressed against hers softly, tenderly, passionately, and so different than his brother’s kiss the other night. That thought changed when he plunged his tongue into her mouth, wrapped his arms tight around her waist, and made her feel so wild, so protected, and so important that she moaned into his mouth. The fingers that gently gripped her chin and jaw smoothed up and down her throat in a possessive manner. Then he slowly began to release her lips, and she followed, moving toward him, wanting more of what this man made her feel. She was under his spell when she opened her eyes to see his narrowed and Collin smirking.
* * * *
Fedarro was in complete shock. He had never reacted to a woman like this before—or should he say overreacted? He would have strangled the blond movie star if it weren’t for Gisella getting between them. He also feared that she would try again to push them away when they finally were making progress, and he couldn’t allow it. He just reacted again, gripping her tight and making her admit that she wanted to feel his mouth over hers. Here he was staring at her dazed expression and then her reaction to his expression.
“I think you stunned my brother, baby,” Collin told her, then brought her hand to his lips again, and kissed it.
“Stunned is an understatement, I think, for both of us,” Fedarro told her and pulled her close, keeping a hand on her hip. He gazed over her breasts in this gorgeous dress she wore. The woman was a ten-plus, a perfect, classy, professional goddess, too good for the likes of him and his brother, yet if they chose to date, she would be more than they could dream up in their heads.
“How about another drink?” Collin asked and raised his hand to get someone’s attention, but along came Roman carrying three champagnes. He looked at Fedarro, and Fedarro knew something was up.
“Excuse me a moment.”
He stepped back, and Roman held his gaze.
“They’re all here, including her bosses.”
“Are they looking for her?” he asked, but then he saw Gisella reach into her bag and look at her phone. Her eyes widened, and she looked upset. She put the phone into her bag, and Collin clenched her chin, making her look at him. “You don’t need to go meet them.”
“What?”
“We know about the meeting between your bosses, the Picatta brothers, and York Saint James,” Fedarro said to her.
She looked at him and Roman. “I don’t understand. How do you know, and what do you mean I don’t have to go meet them? You don’t understand.”
“Sure we do. Your business with them is over before it even got started. A smart choice on your part, Gisella, or it would have brought you into something you know nothing about,” Fedarro said to her.
“I know more than you think,” she said, and Collin widened his eyes, “which is why I declined being involved with their business deal. However, Emanuel and Iglesias are friends, my bosses are still my bosses, and York insisted that I be here for the initial introduction.”
“Why is that?” Collin asked, sounding pissed off, like Fedarro was feeling.
“I don’t know. I made it clear that I would be here for the initial introduction but nothing more, and that’s my plan.”
“And if York or the others insist you stay, putting you at risk?” Fedarro asked her.
“They won’t. Iglesias and Emanuel have always been protective of me. They know where I stand, Fedarro. They made a mistake the other day including me in that plan with York.”
“They never should have exposed you to their business dealing with that man,” Fedarro stated firmly.
Her phone went off again. She glanced at it and reached for it.
“Ignore it. You’re with us,” Collin stated.
“I said I would be there.” She looked at the phone. “It’s Giada. I’m meeting them in a little while.”
“Where?” Fedarro asked. Roman remained right there listening in.
“Madrid Lounge.”
“The martini bar?” Collin asked and squinted at her.
“It’s why I wore this dress.”
Collin slid his palm along her waist to her ass and pulled her to his side. “It’s why you won’t be going there alone. You’ll have an escort.” Collin kissed her neck.
“He found her,” Roman said.
Fedarro looked at him then back toward the crowd in the distance. Sure enough, Iglesias Picatta was making his way toward them. Ziek stopped him.
Iglesias lifted his hands. “Seriously?”
Fedarro walked closer with Roman, leaving Collin with Gisella. Fedarro was a couple of inches taller than Iglesias. He stared into the man’s eyes. “What do you want?”
Iglesias looked nervous. He should be. “To talk to Gisella. We have plans this evening.”
“Those plans have changed. She’s enjoying the evening with us,” he told him.
Iglesias’s eyes widened, and then he looked toward Gisella.
“She doesn’t need to be involved with whatever you have brewing, Iglesias.”
“She told you?”
“Do you think she needs to? Whose city is this?” Fedarro asked.
“It’s important she comes along. It’s only for a few minutes.”
“Gisella thinks you would protect her. I don’t. Therefore, she isn’t going along. Now don’t ask her to even come close to your business. Understood?” Fedarro stated firmly.
Iglesias looked angry, but he knew better than to mess with a man of Fedarro’s power and position. “We’ll talk tomorrow, Gisella,” he called out to her and then headed away.
Not if I have anything to do with that.
* * * *
“Where is Gisella?” York St. James asked when Iglesias returned without her.
He ran his fingers through his hair and exhaled. “She’s with Fedarro and Collin F
iorre.”
“What? How does she know them?” York asked.
“She does some real estate with them. She’s showed them something last Sunday,” Emanuel stated.
York looked at Stollen, his main guard who was always nearby. “It was them. You realize that?”
Stollen nodded.
“What are you talking about?” Keller asked, joining the conversation. York looked at them.
“Let’s go over the deal. We’ll talk about Gisella and me meeting when we’re finished,” he stated, and then Keller and Hawk talked about numbers and contracts as York half listened, his focus on Gisella and whether she was important to the Fiorre men or just their latest fuck toy.
Chapter 5
“This isn’t exactly fun with your new escort stopping every guy from approaching the table,” Fina said to Gisella.
Gisella looked over her shoulder at Ziek, who stood by the bar. Every time some guys approached Gisella and her friends, he would scare them off. “It wasn’t my idea. Shit just happened tonight, and it turned into a mess. I don’t even know what I’m doing. I’m confused.”
“Well, you’re not exactly handling this like any of us would,” Giada stated.
“What do you mean?” Gisella asked.
“Woman, if two men as sexy, hot, and loaded as Fedarro and Collin Fiorre kissed me and wanted me to be with them, I sure as shit wouldn’t be here with you guys.” Donata laughed.
“She’s right, hon. I wouldn’t be here either,” Fina added.
“But what about who they are? What they’re involved in and the dangers?” Gisella asked.
“Honey, they have security. No one can get within a few feet of them if they wanted to. Surely if you were their woman, they would do like what Mateus and Major do with Bella, and Caprice with Angelo, Vito, and Morano,” Donata said.
“It’s not that easy for me. I don’t trust easily, and I don’t sleep around. You guys know that.”
“Boy do we know that. You get more opportunities and chances than we do in your professional career, yet you’re no slut. So jealous of you right now. It’s crazy,” Fina said, and they chuckled.
Made Men 4: One More Time (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 7