Mafia Protection (Tomassi Series Book 1)

by AA Lee

  Angelo took out his phone and slid his thumb over the screen. He read as though she was not in the room, scrolling and stopping; then he read some more. Ella watched him concentrate on whatever it was he saw. She wondered what had caught his interest when he finally looked over at her.

  “What would you have done if I had not been there tonight?” he asked as he raised the phone to his ear. “There’s a clean-up job in the third room of the banquet hall. Handle it before anyone trips. There are probably more with Gregorio around.”

  Gregorio, she thought. He was at the hotel? Ella did not like that he was there. His daughter probably was too. With Angelo mad at her, he might go ahead and meet the daughter. Ella felt suddenly threatened with the woman and despised her. It did not matter that she did not know who she was.

  While Angelo went back to his phone, she twiddled with the ring and stood. What was his reason for the invasion on her privacy? She wanted to ask, but Angelo did not seem in the mood for questions. His eyes were intent; he seemed to focus on some other matter even though he stared at his phone. She hardly wanted to know what was on his mind.

  Ella kept stealing glances his way with anticipation of what he would say. The quieter Angelo stayed, the more nervous she became. Ella needed air. A single step was all she took when Angelo immediately snapped his fingers and pointed at the chair.

  “Do not move unless I tell you to move,” he said. Ella slouched back to the recliner and crossed her arms over her chest when Angelo spoke again. “I am utterly speechless by your actions today.”

  “With my actions,” she replied. She could no longer hold her tongue. The tracker was an unexpected disappointment that she could not let go. “You are tracking me. Is that the only reason I’m supposed to wear your ring? You made it seem like the ring was special. Am I just an object to you?”

  “Yes, you wear it so I can keep track of you.”

  “And the cameras at my house in Key Biscayne?” she asked. “You didn’t even tell me they were there. How am I supposed to feel about that? How am I supposed to feel when you say the name Gregorio? You just don’t understand.” Ella let out a hopeless breath and hung her head. How did she expect him to understand when he did these sorts of things all the time? Angelo was used to doing as he pleased. It was who he was. It was his life.

  “Come here,” he said.

  Ella sulked. She did not respond fast enough and Angelo stood instead. He grabbed her hands and pulled her directly in front of him, but she turned her head away. She avoided eye contact, until he pulled her onto his lap. His hand wrapped around her hair and whipped her face in front of his. “You know, for a clever girl, you sure can overlook the fucking obvious.”

  “What do you mean? And…what are you doing?” she asked as he started to unbutton her blouse.

  “What do you think I’m doing?” He continued to push it off her arms and then moved to her buttoned skirt.

  “You’re making me feel like you own me.”

  “Yes.” He guided her on the bed and rolled her underneath his body while pulling his shirt over his head. “You do belong to me,” he added and slipped his belt from the loops. “And I should beat you for disobeying.”

  Ella’s breathing deepened as the buckle dangled from his hands, but he dropped it to the floor and stood. “I told you that you would be subject to this life. I told you that you wouldn’t like everything,” he said and let his pants fall to the floor. She felt the heat from his body as he lay down next to her. “But you know what?” he asked. “You should know exactly why I track you. You should know that you are so far above other women that it’s almost humorous that you would question why I track you.”

  “You could have told me instead of letting me figure it out. Am I not worth at least that much?” she asked. Her eyes looked at him and then the wall. She could feel the tears prick the corners of her eyes.

  “What’s with the tears? There is no reason for you to be upset over the ring.”

  “That’s not it and you know it. It’s about respect.”

  “Ella, this is not a respect issue. My time is valuable, yet I am here with you. Do you seriously think I would be here if I didn’t respect you? I have taken personal responsibility for your safety. I have never done that for anyone else.”

  He laid with her instead of acting on his previous intentions. His body was warm. Ella enjoyed the feel of her bare breasts against the contours of his chest. She liked the way his legs locked around hers and how his arms secured her firmly against his skin. Angelo was endearing but almost desperate in his squeeze. Ella could tell something was on his mind by his tense muscles and beating heart; however, he did not talk about whatever it was.

  Another minute passed. Angelo pressed his lips to hers, kissing her with tender affection, but she knew she could not keep him there on such an important night. Ella could not have all of his time with the position he held, though her nails slid across his abdomen in a last effort to try. It almost worked. His eyes closed for a second before they opened back up and lifted up her hand with the ring on her finger. Angelo looked straight into her eyes.

  “Don’t ever question the ring again. Are we perfectly clear about that?”

  “Yes,” she nodded and looked down.

  “Don’t sulk with me either. I told you before that I will wipe the frown from your face.” She smiled. Ella could not help it. It was as though his coarse words had an underlining meaning meant just for her.

  “It’s eight now,” he started. “I need to go back to the banquet for a while and then the item’s exchange. I will take you with me if you would like to go. The exchange starts at ten; then you could see for yourself what we do. But remember, if you go, you need to stay quiet. These men don’t like newcomers.”

  “Okay,” Ella answered, even though she would rather have stayed in his arms. Still, he was allowing her to attend. She could not pass up that opportunity either.

  Angelo stretched out his hand from underneath her body and gave a confused look when he could not reach the nightstand beside the bed. “I don’t remember the nightstand being so far away,” he said. Angelo lifted her up and scooted all the way to the edge. In the drawer was a small box.

  Ella looked at the table, which was definitely further away by a foot. His notice made her a little sheepish of the reason. It seemed like a victory at the time. “I kind of had to push the furniture across the room earlier to get my purse while I was handcuffed.”

  “Right,” he replied. Angelo grabbed the box and returned to the bed. His muscles tapered perfectly along his abdomen to his pelvis. She found it completely alluring and hard to resist. She could not look away and had an idea.

  “You want me to show you how I got free?” she asked. Her face felt warm with her guilty thoughts as she grabbed her purse from the nightstand.

  “Go ahead, I suppose.” He set the box back down as she pulled the handcuffs from her purse.

  “Give me your hands.” She smiled innocently, but her eyes showed anything but innocence.

  “I don’t think so.” He yanked the cuffs from her fingers and held them out of reach.

  “You want me to show you, don’t you?” Ella gave him a sexy, sideways glance. She could see a forming curiosity in his eyes as he considered letting her have his hands.

  “Not a chance,” he said instead. Her devious grin must have given her away.

  “Don’t you trust me?” she asked in her sweetest, most tempting voice.

  “Trust a woman like you—hardly.” Angelo chuckled out the sarcastic response, making Ella sulk at his mocking tone. Her eyes gazed at his until he caved in. “Fine, but I warn you. Beware who you are dealing with.”

  “I know who you are.” She smiled. “So give me your hands.”

  Angelo took a deep breath and let her do as she wished. Ella did not wait a second. She would not give him the chance to reevaluate his consent and immediately handcuffed both of his wrists to the headboard.

  His body was gorg
eous. She raised both her legs around him and straddled his hips. Ella leaned back on her palms to admire the predicament that he allowed her to subject him to. Only she would be able to convince Angelo to allow her to handcuff him to the bed.

  “Okay, you’ve had your fun. Now release me.”

  Ella grinned at his state. She knew he was serious by his agitated tone; however, she delayed setting him free and pressed her finger against her cheek. She felt like antagonizing him a bit.

  “But Mr. Tomassi, .this position is completely suiting for a man of your status. Don’t you like being at the mercy of your sweet, innocent girlfriend?”

  Angelo cleared his throat, almost coughing, and returned a wicked smile to her words. “Mercy? Mercy is what you will be begging for when I get out of these.”

  “Well, I don’t like the threats you use against me,” Ella puffed, but Angelo did not seem fazed in the least.

  “I don’t make threats, sweetheart.”

  “I’ll have to teach you then.” Ella circled her legs tighter around his hips and let her fingers dance across his arms. His scent awakened her senses, making her eyes close with the pleasure of his form. She swept her palms around his neck, searching his eyes, tempting him as she leaned her breasts against his chest. The closeness made her breathing deepen more. Ella could not resist his masculine form. Her lips latched onto his in an attempt to remove the scowl from his face, but he did not return her affection. “Please kiss me,” she said and pressed her lips to his again.

  He still did not respond at all. His refusal started to make her nervous as she continued with her small, timid kisses. He finally let out a sigh. His return of her affection made her feel better about handcuffing him to the bed. Her moist lips moved lower on his body, and her delicate fingertips slid against the protruding muscles of his pectorals. His body started to swell between her inner thighs.

  “You are always in charge of everything,” she said. Her hot breath whispered in his ear as her nails dragged along his back. She felt inexperienced, but he seemed to like how she touched his skin. Angelo gazed at her with fascination, swallowing, becoming powerless against her advances as her mouth lowered, swirling her tongue around his pecs. She kissed them lightly; her fingers massaged his shoulders with gentle strokes of their tips.

  The sensations she roused on his skin exposed his real weakness to her, a rare sight that only she would ever have the pleasure of seeing. He entered an elated state. She knew the exact moment when her touch replaced his tense nerves. She had never tried anything like it before, but she hoped that he would be receptive. Ella swathed both hands around his width, meticulously squeezing until he parted his lips. The tighter her fingers stroked up and down, the more hypnotized he seemed to become. His reaction pleased her, encouraging her to continue. She scooted back and lowered her face. Ella wrapped her lips all the way around him.

  “Christ, Ella.” His arms jerked the cuffs above, trying to grab the body that put him in his frenzy. She felt him twitch inside her mouth. It was in much the same way that he felt before his climax during sex. She wanted him to lose himself in her finesse, but Angelo opened his eyes, looking at her with a primitive expression. “Unlock me, Ella. Now,” he growled.

  She knew with that wild look that she had better do as he said. Ella grabbed a clip from her purse when a knock on the door startled her to freeze. Rafa bolted right inside, making Ella yank the sheet over them both and hide.

  Rafa did not say anything. He merely stood there in shock. Then he shook off the surprise; his expression became humored. “Well,” he quipped. “When I called and there was no answer, I immediately came to see if everything was all right. But,” he mused, provoking Angelo at being caught in such a state.

  “Would you shut up and get my keys out of my pocket?”

  Rafa tilted his head. “I believe she has that covered, boss.”

  Angelo took a breath and glared at him. “I swear, Rafa…if I could only reach my gun.”

  Rafa’s brows rose. “There will be plenty of time to shoot me later,” he countered and let the door shut after him as though he had never been in the room.

  Angelo gave Ella an unappreciative look as she returned it with a sheepish grin and began her handiwork with the clip. Then she showed him the thin piece of metal and instantly freed him from the cuffs.

  Angelo rubbed his wrists once and then lifted her at the waist. His eyes reflected a carnal stare on her naked body as he pulled her thighs flush against his hips. He did not wait for her to adjust. Her palms slammed against his chest as he yanked her forward against his erection, consuming her body with a move of her hips.

  She only thought of him. Her keening moans exposed how he made her feel. She would never forget the consequences of seducing a dangerous man like him. She could feel his ache for relief. Angelo groaned with satisfaction of her, thoroughly dominating her. The pleasure of his control and the pain of his aggression made her more sensitive with every stroke. The friction his length created between her thighs sent small spasms to course through her lower regions. Ella scratched the skin on his back, clutching his body for support as she whimpered his name. Angelo only plunged harder and quicker at her piercing moans. He was close. She knew he was when he pumped sporadically, thrusting so hard she screamed. He quickly gripped her hair and muffled her cries with his lips. His body shook violently inside of her.

  Ella could not move at all. The air seemed thinner as she struggled to breathe. Ella collapsed against his shoulder as all strength left her body. She could not seem to stop trembling.

  “God, Ella,” he mumbled and gently massaged her back. “How did I ever survive without you?” She did not think her pulse would ever return to normal.

  “You still have to leave, don’t you?” she panted. He slowly shook his head.

  “I need to make an appearance at the exchange, and I wore you out too much to come with me.” Angelo rolled her to the pillow beside him and stroked his fingers through her hair. She liked the gentleness of his touch. She did not want him to leave her alone. “I’ll be back when it’s over, so don’t worry.”

  Ella pulled the sheet over her chest. He was right. She felt so tired that she lay still without arguing. She did not even have the strength to talk.

  “I bought you something,” he said. “I know this doesn’t replace your mother’s jewelry, but I took some effort to pick it out.” He handed her the small box that had started the entire ordeal with the cuffs.

  Ella smiled. Her hands trembled but she managed to untie the small red bow. She pulled out a gorgeous gold rope chain with a lovely teardrop pendant. She looked up at him and back at the necklace. She could not believe he had bought her a gift. “It’s beautiful.”

  “You will make it look beautiful,” he said and waited for her to lift up her hair before fastening it around her neck. She froze. Angelo cared for her so much more than she knew. She felt adored. She could tell it in his gaze. Maybe he acted harsh because he did not want to lose the one thing he actually loved even though he had not said those words.

  “Get some rest, okay?” He scooted forward when she threw her arms around him, preventing him from moving an inch.

  “Thank you.” She hugged him tight as he caressed her arms. Who else could love him like her? It was a shame he had to go and leave the empty spot in the bed.

  “You are something, Ella. You know that?” He breathed out and kissed her forehead. “And the handcuff trick was impressive.” He winked and left her to rest.

  CHAPTER 39

  The next morning, Ella rolled over and slid her hand through the air. Her eyes opened as her arm fell flat to the empty spot in the bed. Angelo had not come back the night before as he said he would. Where was he?

  She sighed. Getting out of bed had seemed to be a chore ever since she had gotten together with him. Her body ached and would not do as she wanted. She groaned as she dragged her feet to the restroom, freshening up and then back out again. Ella did not bother with clothes.
She slipped on a simple robe and stared at the front door to the room. The manager would not fall for the trick twice, would he?

  Ella sat down and waited. She had no phone and cared little for television. As nice as the suite was, she could only stand to be cooped up for so long. She found the silence monotonous and lonely. There was nothing to gain her attention until a knock came at the door.

  “I’m awake. You can come in,” she said, feeling insulted that she could not open the door. Then the same manager as the night before and two assistants entered behind him. She smiled. They must have been worried that she would try something again. Three against one, she thought and shook her head. Did they feel threatened by her?

  “Mr. Paolini wanted us to bring you breakfast this morning, even though it is closer to lunchtime.”

  “And who is Mr. Paolini again?” Ella asked.

  “Rafael Paolini.”

  “Oh, yes,” she pondered and then looked reflectively at the manager. “About yesterday, I’m sorry for the trouble I caused you.”

  “That’s all right,” the manager said, moving his hand through his straight blond hair. “One time, I had a guest lock me in the restroom for an entire day because I had brought her two towels instead of three. This woman didn’t give me a smile and an apology after doing so. At least you left me refreshments.”

  “Sir,” she said with a smile. “When should I expect Mr. Tomassi?”

  “Well, I couldn’t tell you. He had some important meetings this morning—one with Mr. Gregorio and another with an investor.”

  “Thank you.” Ella’s smile faded as the manager left. Gregorio and his infamous daughter. Angelo had agreed to meet with him after all.

  Ella’s anxiety grew. She could not sit but only pace around the room as she thought. She needed to see Angelo, yet she was restricted to the suite. Did he agree to marry the daughter? What would happen to her if he did?