Mafia Protection (Tomassi Series Book 1)

by AA Lee

  “Don’t give me that. I never said you could take her anywhere but home. I never gave you permission to be out this late with her. The sun set two hours ago.”

  “Are you jealous? Is that what this is about?” Rafa shook his head. “Fine, no more late nights with her, but here’s a thought: you should have never asked me to take her home if this is how you felt. You should have kept her with you.”

  “She couldn’t be with me with Gregorio traitors and bullets flying through the air. I don’t need to expose her to that,” Angelo declared with a wave of his hand. The idea was unthinkable.

  “What did you want me to do, Angelo? Did you think I would keep her hostage in this house? There will always be some sort of crisis with the ranks. That’s the way it is. You can’t lock her away from the world.”

  “I can do whatever the fuck I please. When her life is what they want, I will do what’s necessary. I don’t care if she likes it. I will do what I have to do to keep her safe.”

  “You know what? I think it’s time you did announce that she’s your wife. Speed this Bonadio bullshit up. Keeping it secret isn’t helping you. This morning is a prime example. They are still hunting you down, aren’t they?”

  “Get out of my house,” Angelo demanded and pulled out his gun. If Rafa said another word, he was going to shoot him. He was not in the mood to be challenged.

  Rafa took a step back and looked him square in the eyes. Angelo knew what that cautious step meant. He was about to cross the line.

  “Do not point that at me. I swear you need to get a grip on your temper. What you are doing with Ella is going to push her away. You can’t watch her every second of the day, and it’s driving you crazy. Give her something to do with her time. That restaurant has been ready for three weeks now. Give it to her. She will see no more risks than what you both have already faced. Then maybe she will stop focusing her attention only on you.”

  Angelo slid his finger to the trigger of the gun when Rafa slammed the front door to his house. Angelo stared at it for a second as he put away the gun. He would deal with Rafa later. Now he needed to deal with Ella.

  Inside their room, he watched her walk to the dresser where several new dresses lay covered in plastic. As she hung them in the closet, Angelo pondered Rafa’s words. He could not always have her with him, and he did not want her with anyone else either. He could not have it both ways, so what was he supposed to do?

  Angelo ignored the issue instead. As Ella was pulling the plastic from the last dress she purchased, he walked straight up to her and grabbed both of her wrists. She looked at him with shock, but she could not fool him. She knew how he would react.

  “You shouldn’t have been out that late with another man,” he said. He brought his face directly in front of hers.

  “I’m sorry.” She looked back at him but could not keep eye contact. She felt intimidated. “I guess I was happy to be out and I tried on more clothes than I should have.”

  “You tried on clothes for Rafa?” he asked. Angelo could feel his veins tighten with the image he received. If he had only known about this when Rafa was there.

  “He was telling me what you might like.”

  “If you want to know what I like, then guess who you need to talk to?” She did not need Rafa’s opinion when he saw her every day.

  “I thought you said that you trusted him. That’s why you sent me home with him.”

  “Whose wife are you?” Angelo asked.

  “Yours,” she answered.

  “That’s right, and as my wife, you are not to try on anything for any other man. Ever. Is that clear?”

  “Yes.” She looked down and then back up. She frowned at him. Her helpless expression made him let go of her arms.

  “Go to bed,” he said. He could not be around her anymore. He was making her dislike him more than she already did. Angelo walked out of their room and through the back door to the patio.

  ***

  He felt empty. He sat down on one of the armless patio chairs and thought about the situation with Ella. Rafa was right. He was pushing her away. He did not know how to keep her safe without forcing her to stay outside of the public’s eye. She was always in danger. The stresses of his businesses and leading his group were not helping. Nothing was constant. He did not know if she could handle him or his position. She was bound to get sick of him. Why would such a beautiful woman want to stay with him when he always disappointed her? He did not offer her anything special, and there were men out there a lot nicer than he was.

  He blamed it on his upbringing. His father fashioned him for this role. He became better than his father was. His priorities lay with the group. He had tripled the profits since taking over. It was his way or none. He never compromised what he wanted, and he never made exceptions. His marriage was necessary to further relations and make profits. It had always been the group first and family second. He never cared until he met Ella. The problem was…she was more than a business deal. She was different—special. He put her in a separate category. She was important. He needed her in his life, but taking care of a woman was much different than making her happy. As good as he was with everything else, he could not keep her smile on her face. Sometimes he just felt lost.

  He closed his eyes and imagined her. Whenever he saw her smile, he relaxed no matter what he faced. Just thinking about it made him feel better. He needed to try to make her happy. She deserved better, but there was no escape from this life. Being born in it meant dying in it. His last name dated back for generations and enemies would never forget a name.

  “Hey,” Ella whispered. Her soft legs descended around his hips as he opened his eyes back up. It was like looking at the face of an angel. She barely hid her sexy curves with a silky tank and matching panties.

  Beautiful, he doted as she laid her palms on his chest and dragged her nails down his bare skin. She looked worried. She expected him to scold her or send her away. He did not want her to build walls against him. Her fear of him made him feel like a miserable person.

  “Why are you out here bothering with an asshole like me when you could be sleeping in a warm bed?” he asked but wrapped his hands around her lower back. He was not letting her go.

  “I couldn’t sleep without you,” she replied simply and gazed in his eyes.

  “You will catch a cold with so little clothes around your body.”

  She must have been cold. The air grew significantly cooler as night fell, but she concerned herself with him. “You aren’t wearing a shirt. You will catch a cold, too.”

  He laughed, almost mocking what she had said. “If you haven’t noticed, I am hot-blooded. This temperature suits me fine.”

  Ella’s eyes looked sad as she slipped her hands around his neck and let them sag against his back. Having her there almost made him feel worse. She opened her mouth to speak but paused. She moved her lips against his and left him with the warmth of a small kiss. “I love you, Angelo.”

  He never expected her to say those words. Her sweet voice caught him completely off guard, and he treasured her more than he cared about anyone in his life. He could not resist the heat from her breaths against his neck. He wanted to give her a reason to stay with him. He wanted to be much closer to her than he was now.

  “I guess if you’re staying out here with me, I will have to keep you warm,” he whispered and started caressing her bare legs. He was certain that his touch caused the chills on her skin instead of the crisp, evening air. His hands skimmed higher along her sides and across her breasts, until he pulled her face directly in front of him again. “I’m sorry I’m such a jerk, Ella. I love you, too. More than anything.”

  Her breathing stopped as she tried to keep the glassy look from her eyes. He moved his face even closer. She mesmerized him. He could not believe that fate granted him to have her as his wife. “I want you, Ella. I want to feel all of you. I need to know that you’re mine.”

  Ella let out her breath. Her fingers traced the muscles that t
ightened on his arms. Her lips closed the distance between his. “I have always been yours, Angelo, since the first time we met. Please come to bed with me.”

  “What if I can’t wait that long?” he opened his mouth and kissed her. The sweet taste of her lips made him press harder and kiss her deeper. His fingers slid behind the band of her panties and pushed. “Stand up for me.”

  He slid them down easily and raised his own hips to pull down his thin cotton pants. He was ready for her as soon as she sat on his lap. He hoped that she was ready for him.

  “Somebody might see,” she purred as he pulled her back down. Ella was ready for him. Her slippery passage slid onto his arousal with ease. He groaned at the feel of her; her mouth half opened with the shaky breaths that she breathed. Her entire body trembled against his groin. She tried to hide her face in his chest but he would not have any such thing. Her eyes were important. He must see her eyes. He eased his hand between her thighs and placed his thumb directly against her sensitive spot underneath. Ella must have wanted him bad. She was an easy woman to please, but never this easy. Angelo thought she would hit her climax within seconds now that he touched her.

  “Ella, turn around for me. I want to make you feel even better than you do now,” he whispered and pulled her forward again. It could have been sheer selfishness, but he wanted to make her lose control. He wanted to see her pleasure. He wanted to make up for making her afraid, but he doubted that she cared about that now. Ella was busy with moaning in his mouth. She thought of nothing else but him, and he loved every second of it.

  “Stand up, sweetheart,” he repeated. It was as though he put her in a trance. He had to help her. He gently raised her waist, turned her around, and guided her down to his hips again. She nearly screamed at the friction. She grabbed the sides of his legs and pulled until she could take no more.

  “Please,” she whimpered. He never remembered her being this sensitive to his touch. He pulled the back of her head against his shoulder and spread her legs. His fingers immediately slid against her throbbing sex. All she could do was cry out. She forgot about being quiet. It was exactly how he wanted—her focusing on him.

  “Come for me. Then I can stand you up and fuck you,” he ordered. He never talked to her that way, but he did now. His vulgar mouth sent her to the edge. Ella held her breath. She clenched her hands around his wrists. A second later, she was crying out his name.

  “Christ,” he breathed. Keeping himself from coming as she gave into him was a chore. He loved how her walls clamped around his erection and wanted to feel her orgasm again.

  “Up,” he said and lifted her off his lap. He stood up behind her and grabbed both of her hands. He guided them to the rails and waited. When she gripped the metal bars, he bent her over at the waist and positioned his shaft at her entrance. He barely pushed inside; then he wrapped his own hands around hers and thrust into her hard. He wanted to make sure that she came on him again.

  “You…Angelo, God…” Her words made no sense as she pushed back against his hips, matching the steady rhythm of his speed.

  “That’s good, Ella. Let yourself go.” He slowed way down. He wanted her to enjoy every second of her high. Then he pumped into her again.

  “Relax,” he whispered when she tried to move away. “I won’t let you go.” For a moment, she realized that he exposed her body to the world. No one could see, not with his six-foot fence as they both faced the water that trickled onto his lawn. No one was in the backyard.

  He freed one of his hands and lifted up her shirt. Her breasts were like silk, firm and smooth. He squeezed one and then the other. Ella arched her back and pushed her chest out. She forgot about being timid again and went along with his charge as he laid his hand her spine.

  He loved the feel of her hot skin and caressed the entire span of her back. Then he pushed her head down and plunged into her again.

  “Angelo,” she whispered as her body shook. He steadied his breathing and drove into her with as gentle a rhythm as he could manage. He would not be able to hold off much longer. Her beautiful body and the sound of her voice were tipping him to the brink. He closed his eyes to hold himself back.

  “I love you,” he said. His hand slithered to the front of her body again and gently wrapped around her throat. He let go of the rail with his other and let his fingers drift to her sex. The insides of her thighs were wet. It pleased him that she was a disoriented mess because of him. He never wanted her to forget that she felt this way with him.

  “Come,” he said and slid his fingers against her soft folds. “Then I can,” he added. She was getting tired and he could not control the urge of his length. As soon as her breathing hitched, he charged against her hard. She was close and her hands clenched the rail with all of her strength, bracing herself with the force of her climax that would be followed with his release. He had no desire to wait any longer. He gave her what she was ready to receive. He held off long enough and his body ached for relief of her. He let himself go. He enjoyed giving her that part of him and all of him. Ella gave him feelings that he had never felt before. She deserved to have it all.

  After they had returned to the bed and fallen asleep, Angelo groaned, forcing his eyes half-open with a distorted glare. Why was he awake? He felt like he had only slept for seconds when he heard his phone ring again. He stared at Ella. Her arm draped around his shoulder with her bare breasts pressing against his chest. How was he going to reach for his phone without disturbing her? As much as he wanted to ignore the annoying ring, he knew that no one would call in the middle of the night unless there was trouble.

  “Yeah?” he mumbled into the receiver. His voice sounded low and scratchy with the hour worth of sleep he had received. “What? There was an explosion at the warehouse?” he repeated and was suddenly wide awake. “Yes, bring them with you and go check it out. Hell,” he squeezed his eyes shut and then looked at Ella. He did not want to leave her, but Sammy and Thomas were staying in the guesthouse. She would be safe with them there to guard her. “Yes, yes, okay…I’ll be there in ten minutes,” he said and scooted from underneath Ella and out of the bed.

  CHAPTER 57

  “It’s too bright,” Ella grumbled and rolled away from the window. She opened her eyes with the morning sun and then closed them back. Then she opened them right up again. Where was Angelo? He was not in bed anymore. She looked at the restroom but the light was still off. She heard no sounds in the house. After a night like last night, she wanted to wake up next to him. She wanted his arms around her, his hands touching her, the feel of his skin. She needed him now more than usual. Whatever he did last night, she wanted to feel again. Instead, she was left with his empty spot and her wandering thoughts.

  The clock already showed ten. She was not surprised he had left since he always left early, but he should have woken her up before he went to the hotel. It would have been better than waking up alone. How could she sleep that long anyway and still be tired? The hot shower did not even help. She was feeling out of sorts. Maybe she did not sleep well or yesterday caught up with her.

  She started to drag her feet to the door of her room but remembered the watch. She left it in the drawer the previous night. She was going to give it to Angelo, but then he ended up tiring her out. She barely remembered coming to the room or going to sleep at all. She hoped that this day would be less eventful than the previous.

  “Thomas?” she asked when she walked down the hall and saw his slicked brown hair and lean body sitting on the sofa. Either he was there to protect her or he was babysitting. It was sort of the same.

  “Sammy is here too,” he said. Ella looked over at Sammy on the recliner; his parted brown hair had fallen over his eyes, covering the birthmark on his left cheek. Angelo had never introduced her to him, but she saw him at Angelo’s last meeting.

  “Were you here all night?” A chill ran up her arm. Had they been in the house the entire night? Did they hear? She felt utterly embarrassed. “Where did you stay?” she a
sked.

  “In the guest house to the side. We came with the boss yesterday.”

  She could not tell if they heard her with Angelo or not. She should have known that he would not be alone, but she did not think about it at the time. Either they could not hear or Angelo did not care. She groaned to herself. Angelo should have warned her before it all started. Knowing him, he probably did not care.

  “So.” She changed the subject and tried to put the other out of her mind. “Are we staying here today, or are you bringing me to the hotel?”

  “Well,” Thomas started, “there was an explosion at one of the warehouses last night. He went to the hotel while Rafa and some others went to check out the warehouse.”

  “Okay. Are you bringing me there or am I staying here?” She really wanted to give Angelo the watch.

  “We’re supposed to take you there whenever you’re ready,” said Thomas.

  She was sure that Thomas and Sammy were tired of being at the house. They did seem eager to leave. “All right, just give me a minute,” she said. “I need to eat something first and then I’ll be ready to go.”

  ***

  Ella held onto the soft pouch that covered the watch. If Sammy and Thomas would hurry and finish talking to the woman behind the counter at the Royal Flush, maybe she could actually give it to Angelo. She wanted to see what he thought about the watch, but more importantly, she wanted him to read the message on the back. The message meant a lot to her and she hoped he would like it too.

  Ella tapped Thomas on the arm. She understood they had matters to discuss, but she had to use the restroom. She must have had more water than she thought.

  “What is it?” Thomas asked.

  “I’m going to the restroom over there. I’ll be right back.”

  He nodded and watched her for a minute until she was at the door. She was about to open it up when an employee walked up to her.