“How could you do that?” His eyes narrowed at me. “We don’t know what Sebastian’s planning. If he hurts you or tries to...”
I placed my finger over his lips to shush him. “He won’t, and he’s agreed to talk to you whenever you’re ready.”
“I’m going to talk to him right away.” Aaron started to get up, but I gently pushed him back onto the bed.
“There’s no need. Sebastian thought you were like Roberto and made a few mistakes, but I’m sure he’ll find a way to repay you. If you insist, he might agree to divide control between you and him. You can be co-leaders. I don’t see why not. He doesn’t even know what he’s getting himself into.”
“If I insist?” He snorted. “That’s my life, my...”
“Isn’t this your life now?” I pushed myself up a little.
“This... What?” He blinked at me.
“Us.”
“Yeah, but I could’ve convinced my men I could lead them. I could’ve regained their trust, but now...”
“You just don’t want to lose control, do you?” I grinned.
“It’s not that. What if Sebastian turns out to be just like my father? What if all the power gets to his head?”
“Then we’ll be here to stop him.” I tapped his nose and he caught my fingers.
“You don’t understand. My father never thought I could lead anyone. He thought I’d ruin the business and that I wasn’t capable of doing anything right. If I just hand over everything to Sebastian, then I’m proving him right.”
“What? No!” I scowled. “You’d just be shifting your priorities. Did you ever really want to be a drug lord, or is that something you feel like you have to be?”
“I don’t know what else I could do,” he admitted. “The drug business is all I’ve ever known.”
“Okay, but the question is, what do you really want to do? If being a drug lord is what you want when you’re not thinking about living up to your father’s messed up standards, then go ahead. Make a deal with Sebastian or something. I’m not going to stop you if that’s what makes you happy.” I wouldn’t be too thrilled about that, but it was his choice and it would always be. I’d expect the same from him if there was something I wanted. “Although, I might try to dissuade you in case you want to do something that affects us both, like go to war with him over this or something.”
“But if we just give up everything and leave it all behind, then what? What are we going to do?”
“I don’t know. Rob banks?” I offered him a wide smile, then burst out laughing. “Who cares? We’ll figure it out.” I reached out and rubbed his forehead. “Hey, don’t frown! I like you better when you’re smiling.”
He made the most serious face he could muster, making me roll my eyes, but his eyes were sparkling. His lips finally pulled up into a smile.
“There it is,” I said. “Seriously, whatever we choose, I’ll be fine with it as long as it doesn’t wipe away your smile.”
“And I’d do anything to make you smile.”
“Okay, then we can be two smiling idiots together. How’s that for a plan?”
“Sounds good to me.”
“It kind of does.”
A knock sounded on the door.
“Come in,” I said, moving away from Aaron and sitting up. Lora cracked the door open, then walked inside, her high heels clicking against the floor.
“Hello, Aaron,” she said. “I hope you’re recovering well.”
“I should leave you two to talk... about Yvette and everything,” I said so Lora would know I’d told Aaron about his mother, and I got to my feet.
Aaron caught my hand in his. His face had turned impassive, his eyes guarded. Great. It would take him some time to get used to his aunt. I waited until he met my gaze.
“Okay?” I said. If he wanted me to stay, all he had to do was keep holding my hand, but then he reluctantly let go, and I started for the door. A moment before I closed the door behind me, I heard Lora speak.
“I know you have a lot of questions, and I’ll try to answer them as best as I can,” she said. “But there’s one favor I have to ask of you. I need you to help me find my sister.”
Chapter 19
I gently pushed at the door to Tony’s room. He was getting better and better as each day passed, and his infection had cleared. The psychological effects of what he’d been through wouldn’t heal so easily, though. He still woke up in the middle of the night screaming, and he didn’t want to be alone. Michael looked up at me. He was sitting in the chair next to Tony’s bed and reading a book while Tony was watching some show on the TV.
“Hey,” I said, and Tony offered me a smile and waved with his non-injured hand. The Ferlantes had cut off his index finger, and when he was in a particularly good mood, Tony would joke that he would still be able to type quickly on his computer with his other fingers.
We hadn’t let him go to the computer room or given him any of his electronic devices just yet. He still needed to recover before he could work on anything, and we didn’t know how he’d react if he saw the faces of those who’d tortured him. The two Ferlante leaders were still on the run, along with Yvette.
“I’ll go grab something to eat.” Michael immediately hopped to his feet. “Either of you want anything?”
“No,” I said, and Tony shook his head.
“What are you watching?” I asked, taking a seat on the bed next to Tony.
“Nothing important.” He picked up the remote and switched off the TV.
“Okay, then. I came to ask you something...”
“What is it? Do you need the code to get into the cameras? Because I can...”
“No, it’s nothing like that.”
“You’re keeping me here like I’m incapacitated. I can still help you.” Tony pressed his lips into a white line. “Why won’t you let me?”
“You’ll get back to work. Don’t worry. And if we need something, we’ll come to you right away. You’re irreplaceable to us computer dummies.” I grinned, patting his arm, and a small smile quirked his lips.
“What did you want to ask then?” Curiosity filled his brown eyes.
“It’s about Sebastian Viteri.”
Tony’s smile faded. “If you think that now I’m well enough so you can lecture me about how stupid and dangerous it was to meet with him, and that I should’ve told everyone about it so Jason could lose his mind and do God knows what to Sebastian, then just don’t say it. Please. I’ve had enough of it from Mom and Dad. But yeah, I get it. If I’d told you, I wouldn’t have...”
“It’s not your fault, Tony.”
“That’s pretty much what everyone keeps saying too.” He worried on his lower lip.
“And they’re right, but that’s not what I came here to say. Sebastian wants to see you, and I don’t know if it’s okay with you to let him.” Tony didn’t have his phone back yet, and Sebastian had been busy dealing with the Viteris’ business, although he’d been calling every day to get an update about Tony’s condition from us. And now that he was here, he insisted we asked Tony if he wanted to see him again, as he was afraid Tony connected their not-so-secret dates with what had happened to him.
My parents had also told me Tony hadn’t expressed any desire to continue his relationship with Sebastian when they spoke to him, but maybe that was simply because they were also going on and on about how he should’ve told us about Sebastian in the first place.
“He does?” Tony immediately perked up.
“Yeah. The only question is what you want.”
“I’d love to see him, but I don’t know if Jason and everyone else is going to object to that.” He folded his arms.
“They have no right to do that, and we’re keeping an eye on Jason. Nothing will happen to Sebastian, especially not now that he’s a lord too.”
“What?” Tony’s jaw dropped. “But Aaron...?”
“Roberto left everything to your boyfriend, not mine.” I winked. “I guess it’ll be your job n
ow to unite the two families.” Although, Aaron was still a Viteri, even if he wasn’t in power right now, but it was fun to tease my brother.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me that?”
“Why? You find it more fun to date a drug lord than a regular guy?”
“Ha ha.” He smacked me on the arm. “Quit teasing me. I’m just surprised.”
“I know. Imagine if you end up marrying Sebastian. Roberto will be turning in his grave.” I almost choked on a laugh.
“Now seriously! Stop it!” He shook his head at me. “I’ve only known Sebastian for a while, but he’s...” A special kind of a glow filled my brother’s eyes.
“Hot?” I offered.
“I was going to say nice and charming, but hot is fine too.”
“I guess it’s okay for me to tell him he can come in,” I said.
“What?” He gasped.
“Sebastian’s just down the hallway. He’s helping us out with something.” Locating the Ferlantes, to be exact, along with Aaron’s mother, but Tony didn’t have to worry about that right now.
“I...” Tony glanced at the mirror that was on the closet across from the bed and ran a hand through his messy brown hair. “I’m not... God, I look like shit.”
“You most certainly don’t. And even if you did, I bet he wouldn’t even notice. He seems to care about you.”
Tony’s cheeks were flushed. “I want to see him. Send him in.”
“You sure?”
He vigorously bobbed his head.
“Okay then.” I got to my feet, strolled into the hallway, and waved at Sebastian who was leaning against the wall. “He’s ready. You can come in,” I said, and Sebastian slowly made his way toward me, straightening his gray shirt even though that wasn’t necessary.
When he brushed past me and strolled into the room, my brother’s lips pulled into a wide smile. He hadn’t been this happy for a long time. It was a different kind of a smile than he usually wore. I closed the door behind me and went to find Aaron.
Chapter 20
“Still nothing?” I asked as Aaron loosened his tie and nearly ripped it off in annoyance. After he recovered, he’d been looking for his mother for a couple of weeks now.
“No. Lora believes Yvette... my mother...” His voice sounded off, as if he couldn’t quite get used to calling her that. “...is looking for me, but she’s probably confused.”
“I’m sorry you haven’t been able to track her down, but I’m sure she’ll be fine and we’ll find her.” I pushed myself off the wall I’d been leaning against and stalked toward Aaron. He was way too hot with his hair sticking out at all angles, as if he’d run his hand through it multiple times, and with the top two buttons of his shirt undone, he was just sexy as hell.
“But I can’t stop thinking about...”
“I can be your distraction, if you want.” I placed my hand on his cheek.
“I always want you.” He wound his arms around my waist and let his hands roam down my back until he cupped my ass and squeezed. Dipping his head, he captured my lips with his.
I put my hand on his chest, pushing him back a little. “And I want you out of those clothes.” Getting hold of his tie, I wrapped it around my hand and pulled him to me for another searing kiss. When I let go of him, I undid his tie and tossed it on the floor. “Take off your shirt.”
He was slowly unbuttoning his shirt as I pulled my purple top over my head and threw it away. Aaron’s gaze fell on my bare breasts as he shrugged out of his shirt. I stepped forward, cupping his already hard cock through his pants and rubbing gently. His lips parted, searching mine out for another intense kiss.
“I want these off.” I hooked my finger into the waistband of his pants. It didn’t take him long to undo his belt, kick off his shoes, and slip out of his pants and boxers. I tugged down my pants and underwear and stepped out of them. “Come here.” I gestured with my finger for him to follow me as I backed toward the bed.
Climbing on the bed, I settled on the pillows and lifted my knees up, spreading my legs. “I’m yours tonight, Aaron.” I put my finger in my mouth and bit down on it as I gave him a seductive look.
He made his way toward me on his hands and knees, and the warmth instantly pooled between my legs. I smiled at him as he took my foot in his hand and lowered his lips to it. He planted soft kisses on my toes, then drew them one by one into his warm mouth. When he licked across my instep, a moan escaped my throat.
He moved up, leaving a path of kisses up my leg and stopping when he reached my inner thigh. I widened my legs, burying my hand into his hair and pulling hard at the soft strands as he lightly sucked on my skin.
His hand glided up and down my thigh as he rubbed his nose over my pussy, then plunged his tongue inside me. My breath got caught in my chest as he twisted his tongue, moving in and out, increasing the tension low in my stomach. He drew back and watched me for a moment as I lifted my hands over my head and pushed my hips up. His mouth locked around my hard nipple, his tongue rolling around it, his teeth grazing my skin, as he kneaded my other nipple. After sucking and pinching my tender flesh, he lowered himself down my stomach, leaving soft kisses as he made his way to my entrance.
“Aaron... I need you...” I said, and almost lost myself in a wave of ecstasy as he slowly licked my slit, then flicked his tongue over my clit so fast that I gasped. He fucked me with his tongue until my body shuddered and the pleasure spilled over.
Before I could recover, he slipped a finger inside me, curling it a little, while stroking my clit with his thumb.
“Do you like this?” he asked, although I was sure he could see that.
“Mmm-hmm. Don’t... stop...”
He obeyed, and my body rocked with the force of my prolonged orgasm.
“I want you...” Every inch of me was pulsating, and I felt the bed shift as Aaron went to grab a condom. When he returned, he moved on top of me, finding my lips and giving me a long, wet kiss. I trailed my hand over his back, pulling him closer to me. I groaned as I angled my body toward his thickness, and he teasingly rubbed the tip along my slickness, then pushed himself in just a little and pulled out.
“God, Aaron,” I said, digging my nails into the skin of his back. “Just...”
He slammed himself inside me so deep and hard that I was no longer able to think, so I just let myself feel his body pressed against mine and his urgent movements inside me. I arched my back, meeting his quick and hard thrusts. His hand found mine above my head and he interlaced my fingers with his.
I threw my head back and cried out, clenching around him, my whole body throbbing with my release. His name tore its way out of my lips. He rammed himself inside me one more time, and I felt the pulsating of his cock as he grunted. We both cried out a moment later, our bodies like one, and he buried his head in my hair.
A shudder shot through my body, the waves of pleasure still spreading all over me when Aaron collapsed onto the bed next to me, his chest heaving. I turned my head toward him, offering him a wide smile as I tried to catch my breath.
His eyes were smiling back at me, and I rolled onto my side so I could wrap my arm around him. He kissed my nose and then my lips, and I caressed his cheek. We had each other, and I knew that we could go through anything together.
Chapter 21
When my father called to urgently convene a meeting to which he’d invited Sebastian and Lora too, I knew his men had found something, probably the location where the Ferlantes were hiding. But he hadn’t wanted to say anything over the phone, so he’d just told us all to come to one of our other residences that was closest to the free zone.
It was just a two-story house hidden among family homes. It had a nice little yard and a high hedge that prevented the neighbors or passersby from looking inside, and there was plenty of space for the guards. The meeting room was underground and it was equipped as a panic room, just in case anyone decided to attack.
After we’d all attacked the Paytons and Ferlantes, everything ha
d gone quiet, and everyone seemed to be waiting for the outcome and response from the remaining Ferlantes’ leaders. I doubted anyone was stupid enough to attack us now.
I took a seat at the large table next to Aaron, and slipped my hand into his. “Did my father tell you anything?” I whispered into his ear.
“No.”
I supposed my father was waiting for everyone to gather here so he wouldn’t have to repeat himself over and over again. Lora gave me a small smile when her eyes met mine, and Sebastian’s face was serious. Jason was eyeing Lora, Sebastian, and Aaron, but his face was blank. I was sure he wasn’t happy about how things were going, but whatever our father had told him was probably enough for Jason to realize he should overcome, or at least not act on, his hatred for the Viteris.
“I’m glad you’ve all come here on such a short notice,” my father said as he stood up at the head of the table. “Ruben and Cary have been located, and we are devising a plan of attack. They don’t know we’re onto them, but if we don’t act fast, they might escape before we reach them.” He looked at Lora and Sebastian. “This would be a lot easier if we had the Viteris’ and the Hulseys’ forces with us. Then we could surround the Ferlantes from all sides, and no one would be able to escape. If you don’t wish to take such a risk, I’ll proceed with the mission myself, but the chance that some of them run away will be greater, and then we might not find them. We might have defeated them, but if we leave any of the important members alive, then they could seek an alliance with someone and come back stronger to retaliate.”
“Is my sister with them?” Lora asked, her eyes filled with worry. “If she is, I don’t want anything to happen to her. She doesn’t know what she’s doing, and the Ferlantes are manipulating her. I want her to come back to me alive.”
“I’m afraid Yvette isn’t with them, or at least she hasn’t been seen around any of the Ferlantes,” my father said. “I understand if you wish to focus all of your attention on finding her instead of joining us against the Ferlantes.”
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