“Five years, Gisella?” Collin asked.
She nodded. “I was in college. I thought I was in love. I was in love.”
“That was the last time you were ever with a man and had sex?” Fedarro asked her. She nodded.
“Seriously?” Collin pushed.
“I’ve avoided sex for this long for so many reasons, for a lot of reasons.”
“Like what?” Fedarro asked.
“Danger.” She pulled back and closed her shirt.
They stood in front of her.
“Explain,” Fedarro stated.
She swallowed hard. “I met a guy in college. We dated for four years and were in love. In the last year he got involved in things, dangerous things, and he promised me that he would be safe and I would be safe.”
“The guy—Vender—Emanuel and Iglesias mentioned?” Collin asked.
She nodded.
“Vender Picatta, their cousin.”
Fuck.
“That’s why you’re close to them? What about this Vender guy? Where the fuck is he now? You still keep in contact with him?” Collin asked, raising his voice and getting angry.
“He’s dead, Collin.”
Fedarro didn’t like the feeling he had. She loved this guy. He had her heart, and she felt so strongly about him that she had sworn off all men for five years? A woman like her? Gorgeous, successful, perfect—why?
“They took it upon themselves to remain part of my life, part of protecting me or being here if I needed them. It was loyalty to Vender.”
“And did you? Need them?” Fedarro asked, feeling jealous and like maybe she had lied about her relationship with the two men.
“No, I didn’t need them. I didn’t sleep with them either despite them wanting me to be theirs. When I said it had been five years, I wasn’t bullshitting you.”
“What happened that made you wait so long?” Collin asked, pushing her.
“Besides not ever meeting a man I felt compelled to have sex with, I suppose it was the fear, the guilt maybe, that held me back, still being part of Vender’s family, other things.”
“This is why you were so resistant? Because of guilt?” Fedarro asked.
“Not just guilt but fear, too.”
“Fear? Of getting hurt? Of loving another man as much as you obviously loved him?” Fedarro asked, hearing the jealous, angry tone in his voice.
She held his gaze. “The fear that comes along with being involved with a made man and knowing what it feels like to watch him get killed in front of me and almost getting killed in the process.” A tear rolled down her cheek.
Collin gripped her upper arm. “He was involved with his cousins in the business, in criminal business?”
She nodded.
“You watched him die? How? What happened?” Fedarro asked.
As she explained in detail about the night her lover had died, how she had watched, how the men had attempted to take her with intentions on raping her and killing her to seek revenge against Vender, he understood her fears more clearly and why she had resisted getting involved with them. He reached out and cupped her cheek.
“You do realize that we are very powerful, well-guarded, and respected businessmen? That us being targeted by low-life drug dealers and gang members is never going to happen?”
“I was afraid, Fedarro. I don’t know what your businesses are or what you’re involved in. I don’t. I just know your reputations, the respect so many people give you, but also the fear. I see all the guards, the security measures, and I know you’re more than capable of protecting what you cherish and care about.
“But what I experienced changed my life forever. I closed up my heart. I pushed myself to accomplish everything in business on my own and shut out the possibility of giving a man my heart, even my body, because of it. That fear has stuck with me.”
“Maybe remaining close to his cousins wasn’t the best thing to do?” Collin said to her.
“I dated him for four years. I met his family. I thought it was going to be forever, and so did everyone else. He got stupid, greedy, and it cost him. If Iglesias and Emanuel hadn’t shown up with their friends, I would have died a terrible violent death at the hands of monsters. I had nightmares for years, would see their faces and know they planned to rape me, beat me, then kill me.”
“Don’t.” Collin caressed her hair.
“That’s what awoke you this morning, isn’t it? Thoughts of Vender dying?” Fedarro asked, knowing he sounded as jealous and angry as he felt.
“Sort of, but instead of just him dying, as I called out to you and Collin to save me, those men killed you as well, and once again I was alone with a broken heart and an emptiness and pain I never want to feel for real. Never.”
Fedarro pulled her into his arms and held her tight. He locked gazes with Collin, who looked upset but caressed her back.
“We’re not him, Gisella. We will protect you better than any person ever could. You’re safest with us—not with the Picatta men but with us. Your time of leaning on them, letting them be such a major part of your life, is over. It’s time to move on. You’re our woman, and we will help you with everything and anything you’ll ever need.”
“I’m worried, Fedarro.”
“Why?” he asked, pressing between her legs, pushing aside his dress shirt she wore, and exposing her body to him. The sooner she realized how possessive he and Collin were, the better off she would be.
“I have my life, my career, and I’m starting a new business. I saw your expressions while I was just on the phone with a client.”
“A male client who sounds like he has the hots for you,” Collin stated. He leaned against the island right next to her.
Fedarro cupped a breast and stroked the nipple. Her lips parted. “It will all work out if you trust our judgment and respect our orders.”
“Orders?” she asked.
“Rules, Gisella, rules that you must follow and obey if this relationship is to develop into more.”
Suddenly tears welled up in her eyes. She squinted at him. “If?”
Fedarro wasn’t the kind of man to pour his soul out to anyone. He was hard, closed, and cautious at all times. This woman had invaded his heart and his soul, yet he couldn’t tell her that or let her know how much power she actually had over him. He pinched her nipple, and with the other hand he caressed her hip and up and down her thigh.
“Rules.”
“I’m not sure I like the tone you use when you say rules.”
He gripped her by her hips and lifted her onto the island. She gasped and held on until he pressed his lips to hers, plunged his tongue into her mouth, and lowered her back to the island. From there he trailed his tongue, lips, and teeth along her skin, over her breasts, down her belly to her clit. He nipped and teased her pussy until she was gasping and moaning.
“On the contrary, angel, I think you’re going to enjoy our rules a lot.” He undid his pants, shoved them down, and pulled her by her hips to the edge as he aligned his cock with her pussy.
She reached for him. He shook his head. “Arms up. Give us complete control. You’re ours now, and the first rule is to obey your men entirely.” He slid his thick, hard cock right into her very wet, tight pussy, and they both moaned. He felt dizzy and light-headed, and everything about their conversation, her response, and his counter response had him determined to make her come, and come hard.
Fedarro rocked into her steady and fast while Collin watched, undressed, and waited for his turn.
“She needs both of us inside of her, Collin.”
“Yes, she does.” Collin cupped her breasts, held her gaze, and gave a wink.
Fedarro lifted her off the counter, his cock still inside her, and walked her toward the couch in the living room.
He sat, and she grabbed onto his shoulders, rocking her hips back and forth, clenching her teeth, and looking so damn hot that he wanted to release his seed and let go. He waited for Collin, who appeared with the tube of lube, got in
to position behind her, and prepared her for double penetration.
“Ours—when we want you, however we want you, and wherever we want you,” Collin said to her.
Smack. Smack.
She gasped as his brother spanked her ass.
“Holy God, Collin. What are you doing to me?”
Smack. Smack.
“Oh!” she moaned.
“Letting you know who own this ass,” he said.
“And this pussy,” Fedarro stated, thrusting upward.
Collin gripped her shoulder and a moment later penetrated her ass. She rocked back, closed her eyes, and moaned, and it was on—wild, deep, so incredible that Fedarro knew this was not just some love affair or a temporary lustful encounter. It was more. He wanted more, and so did Collin. Proving to Gisella how perfect this relationship could be and making her feel safe and secure yet maintaining some independence would be key. But he knew right at this moment as he and Collin thrust into her pussy and ass, claiming her, that he would never let her go—and any man, or person for that matter, who attempted to hurt her in any way was as good as dead.
Chapter 9
“We have a problem,” Emanuel said to Iglesias over the phone.
“What is that?” Iglesias asked.
“We were fucking ripped off last night. Multiple times.”
“What do you mean ripped off?” Iglesias asked.
“I mean five separate dealers all doing their business when guys in black attacked them, ripped off the drugs and any money the dealers had on them. My phone has been ringing off the hook all morning from our clients needing supply and saying they’re going elsewhere.”
“Who the fuck did it?”
“No one on the streets is talking. I just got a call from York Saint James asking me if there’s a problem. He’s wondering what the hell kind of operation we’re running and thinking that maybe he needs to consider someone else to sell the club to.”
“What the fuck is going on? Can’t you find out who did the hits? Was it professional, or was it amateur?”
“Sure as shit didn’t sound like an amateur job and more like a strategic operation. Do you think the Fiorre brothers had a hand in this?”
“Emanuel, there’s no fucking way. Why would they? Because of Gisella, and to send a message? They don’t want our petty operation.”
“No, they don’t need it, but they do have the balls, the power, and the ability to fuck with us. I don’t like those fucking guys.”
“That’s because you’re jealous. You expected Gisella to be in our bed and our woman for a while now. I’ve about given up on that.”
“I don’t like this,” Emanuel said to him.
“Who else is a possibility and has something to gain by ripping us off and possibly ruining this deal with York?” Iglesias asked him. “The Puentez gang has been pushing to overtake us and especially near Fourteenth Street and York’s club. We get that real estate, and Puentez is done.”
“We don’t, and Puentez could be taking over that entire area right out from under us. We need a plan here. We need to do something back.”
“You need to confirm that it was Puentez before we strike. Call Uncle Romando. I’ll gather the others and have them be on alert. We lose this deal with York, and we lose a hell of a lot of business and power. Power we’ve worked hard to gain. I won’t lose that four-square block of action and moneymaking area. I won’t,” Iglesias said.
“Understood. Let me call him now,” Emanuel stated.
* * * *
Emanuel was pissed off, and so was Uncle Romando. This was part of their family operations—their livelihood and their bit of influence on the streets and with their other businesses.
“I hated that fucking family for years. The Fiorre family think they can do anything they want, and the Puentez gang, fucking thug street-gang assholes with nothing but guns to pull their weight. We need to do something.”
“What? That’s the question. We need to figure out who is trying to destroy our business. Everything is suddenly turning to shit,” Emanuel stated.
“Let me think about this and handle things on my end. Put some feelers out. Get a group of guys together and do a little retaliation on the Puentez gang, something small but enough to send a message that the Picatta family will push back and push back hard. Then leave the Fiorre brothers to me.”
“What are you going to do? You know that they’re interested in Gisella. By now they probably have her in their beds. She won’t ever be ours. We’re losing her.”
“Emanuel, I’ve been telling you guys for years that you needed to make a move and make demands. That’s what the Fiorre brothers did, and they took control and got her into bed. You really want her back? You want to hit the Fiorre men in the balls? Then let me handle this. By the time I’m done, Gisella will be running to you and Iglesias for support and protection. Just be ready.”
* * * *
“So, Brad, as I explained the first time around, you can change anything you want to, although I have to say that this penthouse is stunning. All the stainless-steel appliances. The balcony with the large sitting area to entertain guests is a gold mine in itself. I think I can get them down a bit in the price, too.”
Brad stood next to Gisella and gave her elbow a squeeze. “What’s with the big guy hanging around so close?”
She glanced over toward Lenox. He was very large and didn’t smile at all. “Don’t mind him.” She gave Lenox a pleading look. He walked out of the room, and she sighed. “So what do you think?” she asked Brad.
He looked through the sliding glass doors that led out to the patio. “I could imagine myself entertaining here, sipping a fine wine, enjoying the company of a very beautiful woman. I think,” he said and eyed her over. He reached out his hand. “Come take a look with me.”
She felt a bit uneasy. She didn’t take his hand but, instead, stepped toward the sliders. His hand went to her lower back, and they walked outside. “It surely is a beautiful view.” She looked around the area. “You could do so many things. Set up a sitting area here, a small bar over there. Maybe even a gas fire pit in the center. That would be very cool,” she added, thinking of all the ways she would design it. She felt his hand on her hip and turned to look up at Brad.
“You’ll join me for wine here once I move in? It’s what I imagine when I look at this place, Gisella.” He reached up and stroked her jaw.
She stepped back. “Brad, I’m seeing someone.”
“Gisella, do you need me to take out the trash?” Lenox asked, and Brad looked frightened. She really didn’t care.
“No, Lenox. That won’t be necessary. I think Brad is done looking around.” She looked at Brad and smiled. “Why don’t you think it over and then let me know if you would like to put in an offer? I do have two other clients looking at this place. I held them off on bidding so you could have first dibs.”
“Offer the asking price. I’ll take it, Gisella. Have the paperwork ready as soon as possible, and we’ll meet to discuss the details and closing date.”
“I can e-mail you everything and fax the contract.”
“Excellent.”
He went to kiss her cheek good-bye, but she pulled back and stuck out her hand. He gave her an odd look but shook her hand and brought it to his lips. He kissed the top of it.
“Until we see one another again.”
As he walked out, Lenox followed and closed the door behind him. She looked out at the beautiful view. She would love a place like this. She would set her office up by the window so she could look out all year round, and in the spring she would open the sliders and feel the gentle breeze enter the penthouse. This was luxury indeed, although Fedarro and Collin’s place was so much bigger and more luxurious. She thought it had a large balcony for entertaining, but that wasn’t the part of the penthouse she had spent most of her time in. It had been the bedroom.
She felt that ache in her heart. It was a longing that seemed to be getting worse as the day went on. W
as she missing them? How silly was that?
She turned around to see Lenox standing by the doorway.
“I just need to lock up, and we can head out,” she told him. She closed, locked, checked the doors, and went through to make sure all the lights were off. She pulled on her jacket, Lenox helping her, and they headed down in the elevator. She got into the SUV.
Her cell phone rang, and she saw it was Adelina calling. She answered it, smiling and knowing that they were going to see one another Friday night.
“Hello, Adelina.”
“Hello to you, too. What’s going on? How did the showing go?”
“Oh, I think it’s a done deal. Brad was impressed with the place, and the walk-out balcony for entertainment was a huge plus.”
“Of course it was. A penthouse with that is rare. So, when were you going to call me and tell me about the new relationship you’re in?”
Gisella’s cheeks warmed as she eased back in the seat. Lenox was in the front passenger seat while the guy she just met—Scotch, Lenox said his name was—drove.
“What new relationship?” she asked and chuckled.
“Don’t even try it. My God, Gisella, Fedarro and Collin Fiorre. I can’t even believe it.”
“You can’t? I’m not believing it. I’m trying to get used to it, and it’s only been a couple of days.”
“What’s to get used to, except the sex?” She chuckled.
“The sex isn’t the problem.” She felt her cheeks warm when Lenox cleared his throat.
“Listen. I can’t really talk. You see I have personal escorts wherever I go now.”
“Oh yes, definitely a necessity and something to get used to. Perhaps talking to Bella and Caprice about that might help?”
“Maybe.”
“So can you do lunch this week, or do your men make you meet them at their penthouse so they can have you?”
Gisella gasped. “Adelina.”
Adelina chuckled. “Don’t be surprised if they do. Word is that they are pretty into you.”
“Really, and where did you hear that?”
Made Men 4: One More Time (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 13