Tearing my eyes away, I look at the unlit fireplace in front of me and sip my water, needing to calm down.
“Don’t worry, Tessa,” he murmurs, low and hypnotic. “I won’t touch you until you’re ready.”
My head spins. My vision blurs.
Clearing my throat, I stand on shaky legs, realizing though, that the pajamas and silk robe leave the entirety of my legs on display, and I can feel his eyes burning my skin with their heat.
“I…I think I’ll try going back to sleep now.”
“You sure?” he taunts. “I thought we were just getting started.”
“With what?” I ask, my slight fear evident in my voice.
“With me answering your questions.”
“You answered enough.”
“If you say so,” Alec says smoothly, his hypnotic voice making me look back at him. He appears so relaxed in the way he’s sitting and watching me – leaned back, legs apart, elbows resting casually on the arms of the leather chair. But I can see the underlying current of his prowess. He’s ready to strike at his prey at any moment. And right now, that’s me.
“You look scared, bella.”
“Should I be?” I ask, sounding braver than I feel.
“I’d never hurt you,” he says, and I hear the sincerity of his words. “But everyone else…” He lifts one shoulder slightly. “They don’t get the same assurance. Especially if they hurt you.”
I shouldn’t find that so flattering, and yet I do. I know he’d never physically hurt me. I can feel that. But hurt me in every other way…that’s what I’m afraid of.
“I don’t need protection. I’ve been on my own for a long time and I’ve done just fine.”
“Just fine isn’t good enough for someone like you.”
Turning the water bottle in my hands, I look past him and out the windows, forcing a deep breath. “You don’t really know me,” I say softly.
“Goodnight, Tessa,” he says as a reply, with a gleam in his eye that says he might know more about me than I think.
“Goodnight,” I whisper, walking back down the hall to my room for the night. I crawl right under the covers and curl into a ball on my side, pinching my eyes closed.
I didn’t expect any of this.
This is why I was afraid to ever meet my mystery man. Over this past month, I’ve formed an illusion of him in my mind of who he could be, what he’d look like, and what he’d be like. And now that I’ve met him, all of those expectations have been thrown out the window.
He’s better than all of my imaginary versions.
He’s so much…more.
Chapter 5
Tessa
Waking up to the morning light, I blink my eyes open, remembering where I am the moment I see the ocean through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
I can’t believe how beautiful it is. I’ve never stayed on the top floor of a hotel or apartment building before, so I never knew views could be so nice. I see why people pay for them now.
Climbing out of bed, I pad across the plush cream-colored carpet. In the dark last night, I hadn’t noticed that there’s a balcony off of the room, and as I slide the glass door open, the thick, warm morning air hits me like a heavy dose of reality.
It’s the dead of summer, and while I love laying out on the beach, I hate the constant muggy stuffiness that hangs heavy in the air most days.
Taking a deep breath, I lean on the railing and scan the city before me.
The beach is already peppered with colorful umbrellas, and the boardwalk has a few joggers and families walking together, ready for a day of rides, games, and food.
The waves crash on the shore in a hypnotic rhythm, and after a few more minutes out here, I start to feel the heat getting to me, so I duck back inside to the cool air conditioning.
Heading into the bathroom, I comb my hair out, saying a silent thank you that it dried straight last night despite sleeping on it while slightly damp. I brush my teeth with a new toothbrush I find in one of the vanity drawers and wash my face, wincing when I touch the area around my eye.
I toss the pajamas I borrowed into the hamper in the corner of the bathroom and dress in my yoga pants and tank top from last night so I don’t have to borrow any more clothes. It wouldn’t feel right to leave here with something that isn’t mine.
Looking at myself in the mirror, I cringe, and dig around in the bathroom drawers until I find concealer. But after applying an ample amount, it doesn’t help in the least. It actually makes it look slightly worse, so I wash it off, deciding to make peace with how I look for now. Alec’s already seen me, so there’s no reason to hide behind makeup.
In the light of day, staying the night doesn’t seem like the best choice on my part. Last night, my emotions were running on high after being attacked and then rescued, and then meeting Alec. But now, I don’t know. I feel awkward and out of place.
I know I can’t hide in here forever, so I take a deep breath and open the door. I make my way down the hall and see Alec straight ahead, sitting at the dining table off of the kitchen reading the newspaper and drinking coffee.
He looks up when I approach, and his eyes immediately scan down my body and back up. His expression doesn’t change, just his eyes. They turn a shade darker as if I were standing before him in lingerie and not fully clothed, and I have to grip the back of the chair in front of me to steady myself.
“Would you like coffee?” Alec asks, his smooth voice both revving me up and calming me down simultaneously.
“Yes, thank you.”
“Take a seat.” He nods, pouring me a cup from a French press. Sliding the cup and saucer towards me, I add a little cream from the white porcelain creamer between us and take a sip, letting the liquid gold slide down my throat, waking me up further.
Mmm, it’s delicious. It’s probably some high end, quality coffee that’s better than anything I could ever find on the local grocery store shelf.
“Breakfast is on its way up.”
“Oh, okay. Thank you.”
“Why are you nervous, Tessa?” he asks, studying me as he takes a drink of coffee. “I thought we would be past that after last night.”
I divert my eyes, studying the coffee in my cup. How could I not be nervous around him? His presence is formidable. And he can’t be serious that I would be less nervous around him after last night. He said he wasn’t going to touch me until I was ready…
What does that even mean? I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for his touch. It’ll ruin me for every other man. I already know that. A man like him doesn’t touch without fire.
“Don’t worry, we’ll have plenty of time for you to get used to me.”
I look back up at him and see that same almost-smile as last night that makes my insides churn and take flight. “I will?”
“Yes,” is all he says, going back to reading the paper.
A minute later, Enzo strolls through the door with a small food cart. He brings over covered plates to me and Alec and then takes the third for himself over to the kitchen island where he takes a seat at a stool to eat.
“Thank you, Enzo. Why are you over there?”
“Because I told him not to bother us.”
“You’re not still mad at him for last night, are you? I told you he helped me.”
Alec’s eyes dart to mine and holds them with a hardness that sends a chill through me. “He was too late. Did you not see yourself in the mirror?”
“I did.” I look away, biting into a slice of crispy bacon, deciding to let it drop. I know he’ll never see it my way.
We eat in silence, and I don’t realize how hungry I am until my plate of eggs, bacon, and toast is clean.
“I have to get home and get ready for work. Will Enzo be taking me down to my car? I can’t access the elevator myself.”
“You don’t have work today.”
“What? Yes, I do,” I answer, confused. “I work the lunch shift at Lucy’s Diner Saturday afternoons.”
“N
ot today.” Alec folds the newspaper neatly and places it on the table, pouring himself a fresh cup of coffee.
“And why not?”
“Because I already had your boss informed that you’re unwell and will be out for the next week. At least.”
“You did what?” I ask incredulously, my eyes widening. “You had no right to do that. I need to work, Alec. I have bills. Rent.”
“That’s taken care of. You just have to worry about healing.”
“I’m fine.” I sigh. “And what do you mean about it being taken care of?”
“I took care of everything,” he tells me casually, continuing to drink his coffee like he isn’t telling me something absurd.
“No.”
“No?” His eyebrows raise and a little smirk graces his lips.
“I don’t need you to take care of anything for me. I manage just fine,” I say proudly, squaring my shoulders.
“I never said you didn’t, or couldn’t. I’m telling you that from here on out, I’m here to take care of everything.”
“Alec,” I say through a laugh. “You can’t be serious.”
“Why can’t I be?”
“Because that’s crazy. You’re crazy.”
He shrugs. “I’ve been called worse, bella. And there’s no debate to be had here. You don’t have work at the diner or the dance studio this week.”
My anger flares. “How dare you. You called the studio too? Those kids need me. They really look forward to class.”
“There’s a substitute lined up.”
I place my palms flat on the table and take a deep breath. “Alec,” I say calmly. “You can’t just swoop in and start controlling things. I already thanked you for everything you did in helping me last night, but my life is my own. I like my job at the diner and I love teaching dance to those kids.”
“But you love your Friday nights more,” he counters. I open my mouth to deny it, but he cuts me off. “Don’t try and tell me otherwise, Tessa. I’ve seen you up there.”
He’s right. But what he doesn’t get is that I can’t be her full-time. I can’t be that Tessa more than just Friday nights. She’s my escape from reality, and I worry that if I play her too often, she won’t be effective anymore, and I never want that Tessa to become mundane or a chore to be.
“I’d like to go now.” I look over to Enzo who I know is trying not to listen to our conversation, but I know has heard everything. “Will you take me down, please?” I ask him kindly.
He looks to Alec and then back to me. “Sure.”
“I’ll just grab my bag.” Standing, I go and get it from the room I was in and then meet Enzo at the front door. I was only gone a minute, but Alec isn’t at the table anymore, and he’s not in the kitchen or living rooms either.
“He had business to attend to,” Enzo tells me, seeing me looking around.
“Okay.” I nod. “Let’s go.”
Chapter 6
Alec
Tessa is going to be the death of me. Punching in the code for the elevator, I ride it down to the basement, shoving my hands in my pockets to keep from hitting the fucking the walls.
I’ve never felt so out of control and in need of controlling someone else so much before.
But one of the reasons Tessa is so fucking insanely beautiful is her air of freedom. On stage, she’s wild and free, and I wouldn’t dare tame her. Although when she was sitting in front of me last night, vulnerable and hurt, all I wanted was to hold her. I would do anything to help her and keep her safe – a concept as foreign to me as letting someone out of a gambling debt. Never happens.
I’ve never cared. That’s how I’ve been able to run this city and keep it mine.
Reaching the basement, I walk into our offices to call Leo on my secure line. I would normally do business like this in my penthouse office but I had to leave before I dragged Tessa into my bedroom and never let her leave.
She’s too distracting and I have shit to do that requires my full attention. Also, Tessa fired up and directing it at me… I was close to laying her out on the table and giving her a better use for her passion.
I want to hear her scream.
I want to hear her moan my name as I sink deep inside of her.
Fuck.
Pounding my fist on the table, I punch in Leo’s number. While I was in New York last night, my men broke up another underground gambling ring by the Triads. They’ve been steadily trying to gain a foothold in Atlantic City over the past six months, and this is the third time I’ve had to break up one of their underground games.
I snuff them out every time, and they just come back up like weeds in the darkest corners of my city.
I got the intel Thursday night from one of my private gambling room waitresses. She was asked by a higher-up Triad to come work his underground game, and the fucking bastard didn’t think she’d tell her boss, who then told me.
Loyalty runs deep in my casino. I don’t tolerate anything less.
Sitting back in my chair, I close my eyes briefly while the phone rings, and see Tessa’s hazel eyes staring back at me, begging me to challenge her. Jesus, she’s fucking sexy when she’s riled up. The automatic tightening of my pants is evidence that a woman with fight turns me on more than I thought it would.
I usually need a woman completely under my command, but now the thought of Tessa giving me the same fight and fire in the bedroom as she did this morning has my dick harder than it’s ever been.
“Alec,” Leo answers, his voice clipped. He’s always wound so tight. I don’t even think getting laid would relax him. “What’s this shit with the Triads? I thought we dealt with them.” I can always count on him for getting down to business straight away.
“I have. This is the third fucking time they’ve crept back up thinking they’re going to outsmart me like I don’t have eyes and ears everywhere.”
“Well, clearly they weren’t put off by your other talks with them,” he says harshly, implying I’m not doing my job.
“I did everything but wipe them all out. Is that what you’re suggesting I do, Leo? Because I think we’d have a bigger shit storm on our hands if I did that.”
“Don’t think it hasn’t crossed my mind once or twice. I’m going to schedule a sit down for us with their leader. They need to be shut the fuck down. They can run their shit underground games from here in the city. But that’s it.”
“Agreed.”
“And with that business done for now, I’m going to need you to tell me why the fuck you think it was a good idea to walk out of the meeting yesterday for some pussy?”
My blood boils. “Don’t ever refer to her like that again,” I tell him low, my implications clear.
“You know who you’re talking to, right?”
“Yes, my older brother, not my boss.”
Leo let’s out a sigh that’s barely audible through the phone and I know he’s rubbing the bridge of his nose like he always did when we were younger and Luca and I did something he didn’t approve of.
“Alec, you know getting involved with a woman in any serious capacity isn’t going to end well, right?”
“Who said anything about it being serious?” I counter, not wanting him to know how serious I already am about her.
“Because you walked out of our meeting last night. If I didn’t hear you say something about her being hurt, then I never would have let you leave.”
Let me leave?
My fist clenches on top of the conference table and I force myself to not say something I’ll regret later. Leo is the head of the family but he’s also my brother, and that fact seems to slip his mind more and more lately. He’s started detaching himself from the rest of us these past couple of years, and I don’t know how to reel him back towards us before we lose him.
“I had to.” I don’t want to explain myself further.
“Is she okay?”
“Yeah, I dealt with it.”
“Is there something I should know?”
; “No. The guy who hit her has been taken care of.”
“Jesus,” Leo breathes, but I don’t want to talk about this over the phone. Our lines are clean, but I still don’t like it.
“Did I miss anything after I left?”
“We discussed some shit going on in Miami and the club being challenged by the Cubans. Saverio and Matteo have it covered though, and a meeting is in place with them down there to clear up a few misunderstandings.”
“Good. Why anyone thinks they can try and come in and push us out of our cities just shows how little they value their lives.”
“Exactly. And Alec, we need to talk about Katarina.”
“What’s wrong?” I ask quickly, my blood running like ice at the thought of something being wrong with our little sister.
“She’s fine. She’s just driving me up a fucking wall with her talk about needing her freedom.”
“She’s just being dramatic. It’ll pass.”
“No, it won’t. She tells me every chance she gets that she needs more from life than what we allow her to have.”
“Leo, brother, I know the thought of loosening the reigns on her will result in something bad happening, but–”
“No fucking buts, she needs protection. This city is full of men ready to take advantage of her, and I won’t let that happen.”
“You think any of us want that?” I fire back. Katarina is only 21, and she’s too beautiful and naive to know the world will chew her up and spit her out before she even realizes what hit her. “Look, her birthday is coming up, so why don’t we throw her a party at The Aces? She can have a little fun and feel like she has the illusion of freedom for the night.”
Leo is quiet for a moment, thinking it over. “Fine. I think that’ll keep her at bay for a while, then.”
“You know she’s getting older, right? And what that means for you?” It’s Leo’s job now since our father is gone to make sure she’s married off to a man who will be a good match, but also benefit our family.
Casino King: A Dark Mafia Romance (Carfano Crime Family Book 1) Page 5