“Okay.” Annie backed down sensing my frustration. “So you want me to crawl through this vent.”
“Yes, you crawl through that vent and that’s all you have to do.”
“Fine,” she mutters. “I’ll try again.”
I take a deep breath, taking my frustration out on Annie isn’t going to help. She’s a champ though, she climbs the ladder and tries again, and again.
Charlie talks her through it with the patience of a saint while I sit down with a cup of espresso. Maybe a minute and some caffeine will do me good.
“Okay, breathe through it, Annie,” Charlie tells her.
She inches forward causing the metal to shake.
“I’m in!” she finally shouts.
“Yes! Good job!” Charlie looks at me with a huge smile on his face.
She fucking did it.
“We have a problem.” Tony breaks through the excitement with just a few words. He leans down to whisper to me. “Fucking Johnny Byrne is trying to gamble again.”
“Fuck.” I scrub a hand over my chin. “You stop him?”
“Little J. has him in his car right now.” Tony glances over to make sure Annie isn’t listening. “Apparently he’s drunk and causing a scene. What do you want me to do, skip?”
I release a long breath.
What can I do?
“You were an ass today.” Annie is glistening with sweat when she slides into the passenger seat of my Porsche.
“Yeah, well I’d get used to it if I were you.” I sift the car into gear and pull away from the warehouse where I handle business.
“Why are you in a bad mood?” She’s wearing red leggings and a tight black tank top with a sweatshirt tied around her waist. Her blonde locks are tied into a loose bun that she’s currently fidgeting with.
“Hey,” I say. “I’m sorry. You’re right, I was being an asshole.”
Her blue eyes turn to me, checking to see if I’m serious. I think she’s surprised to hear me apologize.
“Thank you for the apology.”
“You did good today,” I told her.
Her success is the first step to this job working. Now she has to get her timing down and we’d be on our way to a few million in diamonds.
Nothing is as sweet as money.
“Thank you, but you didn’t answer my question.” she redirects. “What’s going on with you?”
I shift in my seat. She’s too observant. I think I liked her better when she was too scared to call me on my shit, but then again, I like having her in my bed. “Just shit, ya know.” I give her a half answer.
She eyes me. “Shit…sure.” she sighs dramatically. “You know you can talk to me, right?”
I hum a response.
“I thought…you know, we were past this secrecy stuff. I get back there, you’re trying to assert your dominance - or whatever - in front of the guys, but in here-” she gestured between us in the car. “This is a safe space. I want us to be honest with each other.”
“Okay,” I hesitantly responded. I’m not very good at the whole emotions thing. “Honestly?”
“Yes,” she flashes me a brief smile. “Honestly.”
I inhale a long breath before responding. “It’s my ma’s birthday.”
Her lips form the shape of an O.
“So I might be a little pissy today, I’m sorry about that.”
“You don’t have to apologize,” she responds, reaching over to cover my hand that sits on the gear shift. “You’re allowed to have feelings about it. Thank you for sharing.”
“I miss her,” I add. “She was my rock. She was always there for us, no matter what, and we sure as hell didn’t make it easy on her.” I chuckle lightly. “She was amazing.”
“What happened to her?” Annie asks quietly.
I let out a low, pained noise. “This, us.” I inhale. “This life, this thing of ours, ya know? She was shot, fucking murdered because she was in my dad’s car. The shooter thought it was him.”
Annie gasps, her hand shooting up to cover her mouth. “Gio,” her watery blue eyes look at me. “That’s…horrible.”
“Yeah,” I mutter. “It’s broken us. Our family.”
“It’s okay,” Annie soothed, gripping my hand tighter. “I’m here for you.”
The words leave her mouth and settle over me. I’ve always had my family, and we were close, but not talk about your feelings close. I’m a made man. A tough guy. Men don’t talk about things like this. As Annie grabs my hand and whispers words of comfort, I think maybe I’ve been missing something.
We drive in silence like that. Her hand gripped over mine, the warmth of it makes me feel connected to her.
“I need you to do something for me.” I finally say, breaking the quiet calmness of the car.
Her pink lips curve up into a smile. “Something else?” she teases.
“Yeah, my cousin is getting married. I need a date.”
Her blue eyes lock onto mine.
She was all in, but she had no fucking clue.
I was claiming her, putting it out to the world.
Gio DelGado owns Annie Bryne.
I fucking loved that.
There’s a pile of discarded dresses on my bedroom chair.
I’m standing in front of the full-length mirror dissecting myself. I’m being stupid, I think, but I can’t help the idea that Gio DelGado could have any woman in the world, yet here I am. I can’t possibly be up to his standard.
I smooth the skirt of my sapphire blue dress. It has spaghetti straps with a low cut top that dips deep enough to give a glimpse of my cleavage, there’s a fabric tie wrapped around my waist above the skirt that flows to mid-thigh. It’s pretty but cheap. Twenty bucks from Forever21 to be exact.
I part my blonde hair down the center and let it fall in loose waves to my shoulders. My eyes are smoked out with black eyeliner and I paint my lips a pretty shade of pink. I throw on a strappy pair of nude heels to finish the look.
Pounding on the front door tells me my time is up, this is going to have to be good enough. I grab the matching nude clutch and answer the door to meet a stunning Gio. He’s wearing a black suit with a white silk shirt and a glossy black bow tie. His leather shoes are shining, and I’m pretty sure there are real diamonds on his cufflinks. He looks like wealth, and sin, and sweetness all rolled into one beautiful package.
“Hi,” I manage to say as my eyes rake over him.
His lips lift into his infamous grin. “Hi, sweetheart.”
He lets his eyes wander over me from head to toe. “You wearing that?” he licks his lips.
“Oh, this old thing?” I tease, secretly thrilled.
He chuckles, “Babe, I already want to fuck you and I don’t think I’ll be able to make it all night if you’re wearing that.”
“Oh,” I feel the heat rising to my cheeks.
Damn, I love that dirty mouth of his.
He checks the Rolex on his wrist. “I think we can make time.” He looks over me again, then winks. “If you want.” He says lower.
God, do I want to.
My core is tight, and I can already feel that I’m wet and ready for him.
“Yeah,” I say, the heat rising in my body. “I want that.”
He smiles a grin that stretches his lips and makes him look like a predator, ready to strike.
“Strip,” he demands. “Leave the shoes.”
I oblige. Slowly let each strap drop off my shoulders, then undo the zipper on the side of the dress, and let it fall to the floor in a heap of fabric.
“Fuck,” he whispers, running his thumb against his lip. “
I stand in before him in nothing but nude lace panties and the strappy heels. There was built-in support in the dress and I didn’t really need a bra, the look on Gio’s face says he doesn’t mind.
His eyes rake over my body before he lifts one finger and motions for me to come closer. I reach him in two steps, lifting my gaze to look up at him. He brings his hand to my breas
t then down to my ass giving it a squeeze.
“Jesus, Annie. You are absolutely stunning.”
I don’t think I’ll ever tire of hearing him say that. I reach for the shiny black buttons of his shirt, undoing each one with careful consideration. He removes the bow tie, tossing it to the couch. His jacket and shirt follow one after another.
“I want to feel your lips wrapped around my cock.” He whispers into my ear.
I flash a sinful smile as I drop to my knees in front of him. He slides down his pants and briefs exposing his cock in all its glory.
I wrap my hand around the base and stroke to the tip, he moans as soon as he feels me there. I lean in close, running my tongue along the length of his shaft and then pausing at the top to suck in the tip.
“Fuck,” he moans, a hot breathless sound.
I feel the power dynamic shift. This powerful rich man has all the prestige in the world, unless I’m on my knees before him. Suddenly, I feel drunk with control.
I swirl my tongue around the tip, collecting all the salty sweetness of his pre-cum.
I suck him for a moment before sliding him deeper into my throat, taking as much as I can almost the entire way to the base.
“Fuck, yeah, just like that baby.” He’s breathless above me as I work him with my mouth. Sliding up and down on his cock.
“Stop,” he pulls me off quickly, before I can make him cum like this. “Not yet.” He leads me back to my bedroom and pushes me back onto the bed. His palm presses against my pussy as he leans over me. “You already wet for me?” he smiles as I grind against his palm, his question answered with just that movement.
“Please, Gio.” I moan.
“Yeah, I love it when you beg baby.” He winks.
He grabs the lace panties and slides them down my legs, tossing them away. Trailing light kisses along my legs he works his way back up to my pussy slowly. “Just as I thought,” he slides a finger through my folds to find me already wet. “You’re ready for me.” I watch as he brings that finger to his lip, sucking my juices off.
He trails more kisses up my abdomen to the column of my throat until he reaches my lips. “Do you want me to fuck you, sweetheart?” he asks, the tip of his erection so close to pressing into me.
My whole body is shaking, I want him inside me so bad, more than I’ve ever wanted someone.
“Yes. Please.” I moan.
“Yeah, baby. Tell me what you want.”
“Please, Gio. I want you to fuck me.” I writhe underneath his touch.
“Anything you want, baby.” He presses into me, eliciting a moan of satisfaction.
He feels like heaven inside me.
I meet each of his thrust, each time a small moan leaves my lips.
Stars linger in my vision as he pumps in and out of me in sweet succession. His touch on my skin is electric, one hand gripped onto my hip and the other around my head. Squeezing, feeling, loving.
He presses his lips onto mine for another burning, bruising kiss.
“Yes!” I yell as the beginning of my orgasm comes into sight. “Fuck, Gio.” I can barely even recognize my own voice as I whine and beg for him.
“That’s it baby,” he growls into my ear. “Give it to me. Give me everything.”
I feel the pressure explode from me. I scream, a deep sound as everything inside of me releases.
“That’s it baby.” His pace becomes more rushed and erratic until he comes undone with me.
I can feel the wetness between my thighs, his cum dripping out of me.
“You didn’t use a condom?” I ask in a breathless whisper.
“No,” he looks at me. “You’re not on birth control?”
I stand, going to the bathroom to wash away the sticky remains of our sex. “No. I’ll grab some Plan B. Don’t worry.” I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, my waves are shaken up and my lipstick is smeared. I look well fucked.
“Why aren’t you on anything?” He asks, following after me. His arms wrap around my waist as he studies me in the mirror.
“I haven’t needed it,” I mumble.
Through the mirror I can see a smug look cross his face. “Just me?” he asks.
“There have been others,” I trail. “But not for a while.”
He spins me around quickly, caging me against the bathroom counter. “Just me now, though. Only me, Annie. Say it.” There’s a dark look in his eye as his possessive side comes out to play.
“Just you,” I whisper.
He presses quick kisses up my collarbone, neck, and lands on my mouth. His dark chocolate eyes meet mine. “You really are beautiful.”
“Gio!” The father of the bride is the first to greet us when we arrive. We missed the ceremony, a big Catholic church wedding because we had to stop at the pharmacy to pick up the Plan B pill. The man claps a hand on Gio’s shoulder. “Thank you for coming.”
“Uncle Dom,” he kisses the man’s cheek. “This is Annie.”
Dom presses a light kiss to my hand. “Nice to meet you, dear. You dating this fool?” He laughs.
“Something like that.” Gio answers for me.
Dating.
To be honest, I haven’t thought that much of what is happening between us. I was really too busy trying to get him out of my system. Were we dating?
No.
Right?
I didn’t want a relationship with him.
His demand from earlier flickers through my thoughts.
Just me. Only me.
That was a commitment. A relationship.
The thought of his possessiveness only serves to make my thighs clench. I loved it, even while my head was screaming.
We meet his cousin next. There’s a huge smile on his face from seeing her sheathed in white and lace. He hugs her, whispering something in her ear that makes her laugh. “This is Annie.” He gestures to me. “Annie, this is my cousin Ariella.”
Ariella’s smile is infectious, she’s a pretty blonde with round eyes and a slim figure. She reaches out to grab my hand. “Nice to meet you.”
I withstand a slurry of introductions throughout the cocktail hour. Gio has what feels like a million family members, all with Italian names I can’t remember, some I can’t even pronounce. Each one kisses both of my cheeks and gives Gio a sly looks that says finally.
I get the feeling that he doesn’t normally bring women around his family.
I think maybe he’s a good guy. He seems to love his family, greeting each member with a hug and kiss to the cheek. He shares inside jokes and gives the kids big bear hugs that make them squeal. Each interaction brings a smile to my lips.
I can’t help but laugh.
Gio eventually leads me to a round white-clothed table assigned to his immediate family. Only one seat is taken by a raven haired-beauty wearing a tight, long-sleeved red dress that dips low to show off her cleavage. Her long hair falls in loose curls past her shoulders and she wears a matching shade of red lipstick. He eyes veer from the phone she was furiously typing on right to me when we approach. Standing over her shoulder is a man I assume to be Gio’s brother. They share similar features: tanned skin, sharp jaw-line, and dark hair. He looks like another version of Gio. One that is dressed just as well but somehow looks more sophisticated.
“You brought a date.” The woman’s eyes are wide, her lips slightly opened in shock.
“Annie, please meet my sister Gemma and my brother Gian.” He gestures to the pair.
Gemma stands from her seat, quickly giving me a glimpse of the red soles on her black pumps. The other DelGado’s screamed wealth. From the clothes, shoes, Gemma’s perfectly made face. It was clear they had money. She touched my hand and feigned a look of shock at Gio. “She’s real. I’m not imagining this?”
“Ha-ha.” Gio deadpanned.
“You’ll have to excuse us.” Gian gave me an easy smile. “Our brother doesn’t bring women around often.”
“Ever, you mean.” Gemma corrects. She smiles at me, exposing he
r perfectly white teeth. “It’s nice to meet you.” She leans in to kiss each of my cheeks light so as to not leave lipstick stains.
“You have a sec?” Gian’s tone changes from the light and easy teasing older brother to something more serious when he looks at Gio.
“Yeah. Gemma, keep her company, hmm?”
“Of course. Let’s get another drink.”
Gio presses a kiss to my forehead before Gemma drags me away. I steal a glance behind me to watch Gian pat his hand against Gio’s shoulder and lean in to say something.
What were they whispering about? My mind runs wild with ideas. The Mafia? Murder? Theft?
There’s a crazy list of possible crimes running through my mind. The truth is though, I don’t know what Gio did, or what I’m getting myself into by being with him.
“Two martinis.” Gemma orders from the bartender, leaning her tanned arm on the edge of the bar. “How long?” she looks expectantly to me.
How long?
“Um, I…” I brush my hair behind my ear nervously.
“How long have you been together?” Gemma clarifies.
Gemma is intimidating. She’s tall, slim, and drop-dead gorgeous. She looks every bit a mafia princess and her commanding demeanor tells everyone around her not to fuck with her. I’ve never felt beautiful, and I surely don’t process the features Gemma does. I can’t talk about my relationship with this beauty, let alone my relationship with her brother.
How am I supposed to answer that?
Well one day when I was helping my brother rob him…
“A month.” I settle on saying.
Was it the truth?
Vaguely.
“Wow.” Gemma mouthed. “That’s insane, I can’t believe he’s in a relationship.”
“Oh, no, I-”
What was I trying to say? No, we’re not in a relationship? No, he’s not committed? I have no idea what is happening?
“Yeah.” I settled on. “What are they talking about?” I change the subject, saving me from myself.
“Business.” Gemma waves a hand. “Always business lately.”
Our eyes meet for a brief moment like Gemma’s assessing if I know what “business” means.
“Oh,” I sip from my martini and let Gemma lead me back to our table.
Gio: The DelGado Trilogy (An Enemies to Lovers Romance) Page 10