Mafia Protection (Tomassi Series Book 1)

by AA Lee

  “Ella,” he whispered in her ear. “Everyone knows her name, sweetheart. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “Of course he knows my name, and we were in the middle of a conversation.”

  “What conversation?” Ella looked at her and glared.

  “Ella,” Angelo said and made her look at him again. “Stop, I will take care of them.”

  “Fine.” She closed her mouth as he pointed at the women.

  “Both of you, leave now.”

  The women glared at her with spite but understood the dismissal. They immediately stood up and left.

  “That’s it?” she asked. “That’s all you had to do to make them leave?”

  “Nobody argues with me. You should know that.”

  “Then why…” She did not finish.

  “To make you appreciate me more,” he said. “I saw you walk in the casino.”

  Angelo’s fingers trailed across her cheeks. Then he locked them behind her head. His breath was hot against her face. It was hard to catch her breath when he kissed her hard.

  “I wasn’t the only one receiving attention tonight. Every man in this place noticed you walk into the room,” he said and pulled her against his body, kissing her more intensely than before. She felt lightheaded from kiss.

  “Angelo,” she breathed.

  “Are you afraid to kiss me in public?” he whispered back. The bulge in his pants hardened with every second that passed. She started to enjoy the way he felt underneath and pushed harder where she sat. He only had to unzip his zipper to relieve his urge; her skirt would cover the rest. Nobody would ever know that more than kissing was going on at that dark table.

  “I’m going to bed.” Rafa slumped to a chair and interrupted them. “Before you both make a scene, I would suggest that you do the same.”

  Angelo glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. “We were only kissing.”

  “It wouldn’t have taken much for that to go in a different direction.”

  “Go to bed, Rafa.” Angelo waved him away and looked at her. “I guess I should take his advice and take you to bed.” He looked at Ella and slightly grinned. “But it will have nothing to do with going to sleep.”

  CHAPTER 53

  Ella rolled over and looked at the time. She groaned. She felt like her head had just hit the pillow. Her body ached from her night with Angelo, but she scooted off the bed before she could fall back to sleep. It was already half past eight and Angelo needed to be at the warehouse by ten. He was in the shower. She was surprised to see him not ready and dressed. Angelo was always dressed before she woke up.

  Ella tapped lightly on the shower, and Angelo immediately slid open the door. She shivered from the steam that the hot water made, or was it Angelo’s body that astounded her? She should have been used to seeing him naked by now, but he always left her breathless.

  “You left the door open, so I figured I would get in with you.” Angelo did not seem to mind. He moved out of the way so she could step inside.

  As soon as she did, his arms wrapped around her breasts and pulled her head to his chest. “I leave the door open now so I will know if you are trying to leave.” He chuckled at her guilty look. Angelo never let go of anything. “You don’t have to ask to shower with me. I will never tell you no,” he said and started to lather her arms.

  Ella rinsed and looked at her left hand. Her bare finger made her sad. “I wish I could wear my rings,” she said. She closed her eyes and started daydreaming of a day when everyone would know they were married.

  Angelo gently kissed her forehead and stepped out on the mat. “You will be able to wear them soon,” he said and grabbed a towel.

  Ella had finished her shower and was drying off her legs when Angelo walked back through the door. “We are going to eat before I take you home. I want to eat breakfast with you, since I won’t see you until tonight. That gives you about ten minutes to get dressed.”

  Ella nodded and wrapped the towel around her waist. She started to walk to the closet when Angelo took out a soft blue dress. “Wear this for me. I like the way it brings out your eyes.”

  Ella smiled. She did not know that Angelo paid any attention to her clothes. She started to pull the dress over her head, but Angelo’s hands touched the sides of her body. His fingers stroked her skin up and then down again. She shivered with the cool touch of his hands.

  “I guess it will have to wait,” he sighed, “or we will not have enough time to eat.” Ella blushed. After last night, she would think he wanted a break. For being as busy as he was, Angelo had a lot of energy.

  On the lobby floor, Angelo left Ella standing alone while he spoke to the attendants at the front counter. The lobby was gorgeous. Tall plants surrounded a massive fountain in the center. The sound of the falling water absorbed all other noises. Ella enjoyed the tranquil scenery.

  As soon as she started to sit down, a group of four women started to pass her when they suddenly stopped in front. She thought they were going to ask her directions or something else like that. They confused her when they stared at her at first and said nothing at all.

  “You were the woman with Mr. Tomassi last night.”

  Ella looked at the woman with dark curly hair, the same that was talking to Angelo the night before. She thought about it a moment. This exchange would not be good.

  “I would be embarrassed to show my face today after that public display.”

  “You have no self-respect. You should be ashamed.”

  “What?” Ella became exasperated and attempted to walk away. They were not worth her time.

  “Why are you here anyway? Mr. Tomassi must have thrown you out of his room.”

  “She must be waiting for a ride.”

  “Excuse me? Can’t you see that I’m trying to leave?” Ella turned but one of the women grabbed her arm. Ella glared at her. With everything going on with her life, she hardly wanted to take out time and counter these ridiculous accusations. She looked at the counter for Angelo, but he was not there anymore. “Just get away from me,” Ella advised.

  She was trying to ignore them. She started to turn away again when one of them pulled her hair and broke the hair tie holding her hair in place. Ella looked down and gasped as her hair fell around her face. Then she spun back around to face the women.

  “If you touch me again—” she started. Ella did not finish her sentence and did not want to cause a scene. Then, the same woman pushed her. Ella thought the woman was crazy.

  “What are you going to do?” The woman yanked her purse straight off her shoulder, scattering the contents across the floor. Ella looked at her strewn belongings. That was all she could take. Ella yanked out her gun and pointed it at them.

  “I told you to leave me alone. You should have listened to me. You have no idea who you assaulted.”

  “What the hell is going on here?” Angelo walked up behind her and looked at the four women standing around.

  “This is not my fault,” Ella defended herself. “I tried to walk away and gave them plenty of chances to leave me alone, but they wouldn’t stop.”

  “Pick up her stuff,” Angelo ordered and pointed to her broken purse. They did not hesitate to listen to him. When one woman bent down to pick up Ella’s open wallet, Ella jumped to intervene. She did not get it in time.

  “Oh my god,” the woman said.

  “What?” another asked. “What is it?”

  “They’re married,” she said, and all of the women looked up with shock.

  “Perfect.” Angelo threw his hand in the air. “I didn’t have time to deal with this shit today.” He scowled at them and then took out his phone. “I need you and Brett. There is a problem in the lobby.”

  Angelo crossed his arms and waited while Ella kept pointing her gun. She was not giving them the opportunity to run. She did not want Angelo any more upset than he already was.

  “What happened?” Rafa asked as soon as he approached. The women looked at him and seemed sorry for t
heir actions. It was too late now. They had made the choice. “These women are regulars at the casino. Is this because of Ella?” he asked.

  “They probably all came together last night,” Ella mumbled and tried to fix the strap on her purse. “They saw my license. They know we’re married.”

  Rafa shook his head. “That’s the problem with regulars. They think they can get away with whatever they want.”

  When Brett walked up, Angelo finally spoke. “Take them to the conference room. Make sure they understand.” Ella did not know what they were going to say to them. Maybe it was better that she not know.

  Brett did not seem to care one way or the other. He grinned at the women. “Well,” he shrugged. “That wasn’t very smart to attack the daughter of one mob boss who is also the wife of another. I guess we will have twice the fun with you.” Brett’s voice sounded cheerful, but his words caused a look of dread on their faces. He gestured them to follow with a tilt of his head. The women looked at Angelo once more, as they dragged their feet behind Brett. Rafa followed them all and made sure they did not run.

  “You can’t help but attract attention, can you?” Angelo draped an arm around her shoulder.

  “I think it has more to do with the clientele of your hotel,” she countered.

  “Well, we will have to eat quickly now. Those women cost us ten minutes of our time.”

  ***

  Ella took a bite of her food and thought over what Angelo had said. The renovations on the restaurant would not take much longer. They removed the old tables and the walls were complete. The tiling of the floors would take another day. Then it would be ready for furniture and appliances.

  “No, I think I want to keep the name,” she said. “I know it had a bad reputation, but if we invited special guests in the city on the first night it opens, I think that they would see how much it changed. Then by word of mouth, more people would go eat. I think the improved menu will restore pride in the name.”

  “The Sandy Shores,” Angelo said and looked up. “If you want to keep the name, it doesn’t bother me. It’s an appropriate name for the area, especially since it’s on the beach.”

  “So how long do you think until it can open?” she asked.

  Angelo shrugged and looked away. He had not given her an estimated date yet. She thought he was deliberately avoiding the question.

  “I think it will take a week to move everything in and make it ready for opening. You will still have to hire employees and taste the menu first. It could take another three weeks, maybe a month.

  Ella thought about it. It took Angelo around eight weeks to remodel a hotel into a club. She felt like he was delaying the progress of the restaurant. It was only a one-story building.

  “All right,” she said. “Will you let me know when the floors are installed? I know I saw it before, but I would love to see what it looks like with those old yellow walls removed.”

  “Yes, I will let you know,” he said and pushed his plate to the middle of the table. “Do you want another cup of coffee before we leave?”

  Ella smiled at his consideration. “No, thank you. I think I’m finished.”

  He took a breath and looked for their server. She wondered if he worried about the meeting today. Maybe he worried about taking over her father’s ranks. Maybe he worried about everything. After the morning’s narrow escape with their marriage getting out, Angelo would probably worry about a child walking by. She could not imagine all the thoughts going through his head. No wonder Rafa told her that he needed her support.

  CHAPTER 54

  Angelo held Ella’s hand and led her out of the hotel after they ate. Now it was after nine and he had barely enough time to take her home and make it to the warehouse. While he quickly walked down the steps to valet, Ella stopped in the middle of the steps to admire his beautiful car. His body jerked with her sudden stop, and he looked back quickly to see if there was an issue. Then he huffed. He must have seen that his Mercedes had captured her attention.

  “No way,” he said and pulled her down the steps.

  “Just once,” she pleaded. “Your car is begging me to sit behind the wheel.”

  “The answer is still no,” he stated flatly and opened the passenger door.”

  “Once,” Ella smiled, “and I’ll never ask again.” She did not expect him to change his mind, but her smile was the only chance she had with getting her way.

  Angelo clenched his jaw and ran his hand through his hair. “Fine. Once, if it will appease you.”

  Ella smiled wide as she stepped through the driver’s side door. She had never expected him to relinquish his seat. After they both fastened their seatbelts, Ella looked at him and gave him a devilish smirk. It was just like the moment when she handcuffed him to the bed.

  “Watch it, little girl,” he said and crossed his arms. “I’m on a schedule here. Let’s go.”

  Ella glared at him for calling her that name again and slightly pressed the gas, sending the car forward. “I don’t like your nickname for me, Mr. Tomassi.” She frowned. Then she pressed the brakes without warning. “Sorry,” she said, faking the apology.

  Angelo scowled at her and snapped, “You need to switch places with me, now.”

  “Too late,” she said. Ella pressed the gas again and drove onto the busy main street. “Where to, Mr. Tomassi?” she asked but did not dare look at Angelo’s face. She fully understood his irritation but knew he could not force her from the driver’s seat now.

  “You already know how to get home.”

  Ella entered the freeway and looked at the radio, thinking some music would make him forget what she had done. “Do you ever listen to the radio?”

  “The radio,” he huffed. “I wouldn’t be worried about the radio if I were you. I would be worried about how you pissed me off and what I will do to you later.”

  “You can’t be that mad at—”

  Ella never finished what she was saying. She caught something strange in the mirror on the side of her door. The car behind them drove too close, blocking the headlights from her sight. Ella was about to change lanes and let them pass when the Mercedes jolted forward and jerked.

  “What the hell was that?” Angelo looked back and saw a white Excursion just before it slammed into them again. “Ella!” he shouted. “Step on it!”

  Her foot already stomped the gas pedal to the floor. At that speed, she nearly missed the exit and suddenly veered right. The car hopped over the small bumps in the markings on the road. She barely managed to straighten it out.

  “Go through the light!” Angelo yelled. “Then take a left at the stop sign!”

  Ella glanced both ways and then drove straight through. With mere seconds, an oncoming car had to hit the brakes to avoid hitting her, but she could not think about that. The stop sign was straight ahead. Ella swerved hard to the left. She was sure the car was going to tip over when it balanced on the two right tires. As it landed back on all four wheels, she stomped on the gas and accelerated fast, but she never lost the Excursion that followed.

  A shot fired at the Mercedes and then another hit the door. Whoever drove behind them was not alone in the car. She could see a second person in the passenger seat through the side mirror on the other door. Her head and Angelo’s head immediately ducked down.

  “Son of a bitch,” he growled. Angelo climbed over the front seat to the back and pulled out a twelve-gauge shotgun. Then he kicked the rest of the broken glass out of the window with his boot. Ella watched through the mirror as he aimed at the passenger who shot at his car. Angelo pulled the trigger twice. The front windshield of the SUV shattered and the passenger slammed against the door with the shot. “Take a right on the dirt road coming up!” he ordered.

  Ella took a hard right. She thought she could lose the Excursion when a second one screeched beside the first. It bashed the corner of the Mercedes, and Ella had to quickly correct the wheel to compensate for the impact.

  “Shit!” she cursed with the move
ment as she straightened up the vehicle. One of the Excursions sped directly beside her with the other against the passenger side door. “Angelo!” she screamed and glanced over at his face. “Hold on!”

  When he saw the look in her eyes, he braced himself on the seat and Ella hit the brakes hard. She only had seconds. She looked at both the SUV’s that were now in front and mumbled as she picked up her foot.

  “I’m really sorry about your car, Angelo.” Then she gassed on it and knocked one Excursion directly into the other, causing them to both spin around and crash into the trees. Then everything seemed to stop.

  “Are you all right?” Angelo’s hand immediately reached over the center to her arm.

  “Yes,” she panted and tried to catch her breath. “Are you?”

  “Yes, I’m fine.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m stiff after that chase. That was good driving, Ella – very good driving. You kept us both alive,” he said and jerked the handle on the door. “Stay here. Have your gun ready. I’ll be right back.”

  Angelo walked slowly to the wreckage of the first vehicle. His finger was on the trigger of his gun as he ducked to the ground, searching for people inside. He pulled the trigger twice. Then he turned around. A man from the second SUV was trying to escape through the window, but the window was half closed. He could not squeeze out in time before Angelo stood in front.

  Angelo yanked him from the overturned window and launched his body to the ground. The man did not move at all with the gun pointed at his head. Angelo’s focus teetered between the vehicle and the man. Ella guessed he was looking for more people who might be inside. He seemed satisfied with his search; then he kicked the man in his ribs.

  “Who the hell sent you? Who are you with?” The man did not answer. Angelo kicked him in the stomach again, forcing the man to roll in a ball. “Answer me!” Angelo demanded.

  Ella had to look away. She could not watch this part of Angelo. The rage that took over his mind was too brutal to watch, but she still could hear him shouting at the man. She flinched with every kick he made. She heard the ruthless threats and assaults, until the man finally gave in.