by Harley Stone
I thanked her, and then headed into the house to think.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Dominico
“GIVE HER A little time, Dom,” Mamma said before sipping her wine.
Mamma had spent the day with Annetta before meeting up with me in a restaurant on the outskirts of Vegas to discuss a game plan. So far, the only plans my mother seemed to have involved waiting.
“I can’t give her time,” I replied. “If he finds out about her and the baby—” I gulped back the rest of the sentence, because I honestly had no idea what my father would do. Would he kill Annetta and our unborn child to keep them from getting in the way of his plans? Yes, I was certain he would. “You’re sure she’ll be safe if she agrees?”
Mamma nodded. “He can’t kill her. Not unless he plans to kill you as well as all those loyal to the Mariani name. Gio forgets that he’s not a Mariani by blood, but we all remember. He’ll have to play the whole thing off like he knew about it and supported your decision, otherwise he’ll look like a fool for letting you mess with his plans.”
“And what about the Pelino family?” I asked.
“Adamo is a hothead. He’ll be angry, no doubt. But he can’t throw too big a fit, or your father will have to cut him off. As much as Adamo spoils Valentina, he won’t risk his profits or his life for her. At least not without a better offer, which is a possibility. Adamo is not the faithful dog your father thinks he is.”
“But will he cause problems?” I asked.
Mamma tapped the table. “Probably. The efforts to cripple the Durantes are going well. Money is pouring in right now, and we have the upper hand. I hope Adamo is smart enough not to let his ambition blind him. Gio will not tolerate any sort of an uprising right now. Your father has his faults, but he knows how to keep his men in line, Dom.”
I blew out a breath, still unable to believe what we were planning, and afraid to put too much hope in the idea. Marrying Annetta! Was it really possible? Of course, there was another option Mamma and I weren’t discussing. She’d given Annetta a way out. She wouldn’t tell me the details, but if Annetta decides not to marry me, Mamma would help her take our son and disappear. The betrayal I feel over her making that offer stings.
“You should have let me talk to her first,” I said, still upset by the way I’d been blackballed from their conversation.
“I needed to see for myself what she was made of,” Mamma defended. “And this choice needs to be hers without any influence from you.”
And it was tearing me up inside. What if she chose to walk away? Could I let her?
Mamma grabbed my hand. “Trust me, and trust her. This is a lot for both of you to take in. She’ll need time to process, and you will, too. You can’t just march in there and propose to her.” She smiled. “As romantic as that sounds.”
I’d never considered myself a goddamn romantic, but everything about Annetta made me want to get down on one knee and slide a fat rock onto her finger. Which reminded me I still needed to take care of that little detail. “You’re right,” I admitted. “I need to get a ring first.”
“I’ve got it handled,” Mamma said, pulling a small white box out of her pocket and setting it on the table. “This was my grandmother’s. She was a strong woman, an anchor for my grandfather. I think she’d like Annetta and want her to have it.”
Inside the box was a gorgeous round diamond on a unique vintage band. “Thank you,” I said, admiring the ring. “It’s perfect.”
“And it will keep you out of jewelry stores. I do want you to wait a couple of days and let her think over everything first. You cannot push her into accepting this life, Dom.”
Guilt pierced my chest. Annetta deserved more than a mobster for a husband, and I was a bastard for wanting to pluck her out of her safe, normal life and subject her to the dangers of my family. But with the baby coming, I didn’t see any way around it. I had to marry her before Father found out about the baby. That is… if she’d have me.
“What if she says no?” I asked, fidgeting with the ring box in my pocket.
“She loves you.” Mamma smiled reassuringly. “I’m already working on wedding arrangements, dear.”
Relieved, I sat back down and swallowed back another gulp of beer, wishing it would chill me the fuck out. “Okay, I’ll give her a couple of days.”
“Good, because now we need to figure out where the two of you will live after the wedding.”
***
Two days later I stood on Annetta’s doorstep, clutching the ring in my pocket with a sweaty hand and clinging to the hope that the woman I loved wouldn’t say no. I couldn’t sleep, so I’d gotten up early and parked down the street, where I watched her father climb into his truck and take off for work. I wasn’t afraid of her old man, but no matter what Annetta decided, I wanted it to be between me and her first.
She answered the door wearing a summer dress that hid her expanding belly, but not much else. My gaze traveled down the straps to her breasts, which were bulging against the fabric. The dress ended midthigh, showing off her perfect legs. Pregnancy looked good on her.
“You look amazing,” I said.
Color crept up her cheeks as she patted her stomach. I’d never grow tired of seeing her blush… making her blush.
“I look fat, but thank you. Come in.”
She stepped aside, and I walked in, closing the door behind me. Annetta started to walk away, but I caught her hand and spun her back around to face me. My nerves were going crazy, and I needed to taste her lips and reassure myself that this thing between was real. She opened her mouth to me and wrapped her hands around my waist, pulling me closer. Encouraged, I kissed her senseless before leading her to the sofa. Then, heart in my throat, I dropped to my knee, pulled out the little white box, and popped the question.
Annetta’s eyes misted over as she looked from me to the ring. “This isn’t about the baby, is it? I mean you want to marry me, right? I don’t want you to feel obligated, because you don’t have to—”
She was scared, worried, uncertain. Grabbing the back of her neck, I did my best to kiss those fears away. How could she question what I felt for her?
When we pulled apart, her gaze searched mine.
“I love you, Net, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t grateful for this little peanut.” My hands drifted to her stomach. “He kinda kicked my ass into gear and made me realize that I do want to marry you. Hell, I’ve thought about nothing else for the past three days.”
She flashed me the most beautiful smile I’d ever seen before turning away. “It’s so soon.”
I grabbed the sides of her face and gently turned her to face me again. “Look, I know we haven’t been together long, but you and me… We can do this. I know we can. Marry me. Please?”
Cheeks wet with tears and eyes full of trust, she nodded. “Yes. Okay. I will.”
It was too good to be true, so I wrapped her in my arms and asked her to repeat herself.
She giggled. “Yes. I’ll marry you, Dom.”
Relieved, I knew just what I had to do. I stood, picking her up. She let out a little squeal as she leaned against me and settled in my arms.
“What are you doing?”
I headed for her bedroom. “I plan to make sure you don’t change your mind.”
She laughed. “Oh? And how do you plan on doing that?”
I pushed open her bedroom door and went in, gently lying Annetta on the bed. Pushing her dress up around her waist, I slowly slid her panties down her legs and flung them on the floor. Then, I leaned back and looked at her. She’d be my wife soon, but I’d never get tired of this view. Goddamn, she had great legs leading up to an hourglass figure, long neck, full lips, half-lidded eyes, and long dark hair. I wouldn’t change a thing about her.
“You’re so fuckin’ beautiful.”
“Sweet-talk, Dom?” she asked, shaking her head. “You’re gonna need to do better than that to keep me.”
“Keep talking, and I’ll give y
ou something constructive to do with that mouth.”
Laughter danced in her eyes. She opened her mouth, but I cut off her reply when my lips landed on her clit. I kissed and blew before sucking and tonguing. Annetta writhed in pleasure beneath me, encouraging me to keep going. I licked and sucked for a while longer, enjoying the reaction of her body, until she started raising her hips, silently asking for more. She wanted more? I’d give it to her. Dipping two fingers into her wet pussy, I stroked her g-spot as my tongue flicked her clit.
“Oh god,” she breathed, gripping the sheets at her sides.
I added a third finger and sucked her clit until she came. Then I replaced my fingers with my tongue, licking away her sweet wetness.
“I think you killed me,” she said, her fingers still tangled in the sheets.
I chuckled. “I’m not done yet.”
I stripped, and then, kissing my way up her curves, removed her dress and unfastened her bra. She’d had great tits before she got pregnant, but now… now I could get lost in them. Pinching one nipple, I sucked on the other as her hands released the sheets to roam over my back. My lips moved up to her collarbone as my hands played with her big, round breasts. I nibbled at her neck, sucked on her earlobe, and then brushed kisses against her jawline.
Annetta’s lips parted, so I shifted my weight and kissed her deeply, letting her taste herself on my tongue as my hands roamed over her body before settling back down to play with her folds. Her wetness made me want to plunge my cock into her and fuck her until she screamed my name, but before I could, Annetta broke off the kiss.
“My turn,” she whispered, pushing me off her.
Gladly relinquishing control, I laid back and watched her kiss her way down to my swollen dick. She rolled her tongue over the head and around the shaft, teasing. Watching me, she opened her mouth and slid me in, her lips closing around my shaft. She took me in deeper, until I felt the back of her throat, and then flicked her tongue up and down. I’d never encountered anyone who could challenge my control like she could. I moaned, struggling to hold back.
Her eyes sparkled with mischief and she picked up her pace, wrapping a hand around the base of my shaft while she fucked me with her mouth. Squeezing me with her hand, she continued. Knowing I was about to come, I tried to push her off, but she’d have none of it. She fucked me until I released into the back of her throat.
When my dick finally stopped throbbing, her mouth released me, but her hand stayed wrapped around my shaft. Eyes full of love and adoration, she stared up at me, and I was done for.
“I love you so damn much,” I said.
“Good.” Her hand drifted down to give my balls a little squeeze. “But I’m gonna need you to get hard again so you can convince me to marry you with more than your tongue.”
I chuckled. Not only was she beautiful, but I’d turned her into a freak. My freak. How the fuck had I gotten so lucky?”
“You already said yes,” I reminded her.
She licked my shaft from balls to tip, smiling seductively at me.
“What’s wrong, Dom. Scared of a little challenge?”
Her sassy mouth and hot body already had me growing hard again. “Why don’t you get on your hands and knees and I’ll show you just how scared I am.”
She did as she was told, and I grabbed her hips and buried myself deep inside her. Reaching around to play with her clit, I fucked her until we both came again. Then I held her and watched her sleep. Mario was covering for me today, because I refused to leave her side until I had a conversation with her old man.
***
Just a handful of days after Annetta agreed to marry me, I stood beside the priest and watched her walk down the aisle on the arm of her smiling father. She wore a vintage white dress and all I could think about was getting her out of it. The wedding was quick and small, with only my mother, Annetta’s father, Mario, Adona, and the priest in attendance. We said the customary words, followed the traditions Mother insisted on, kissed, and then were announced as Mr. and Mrs. Dominico Mariani.
She deserved so much more, but I couldn’t give it to her. At least, not yet. We’d done it, though. Annetta had my name, and Mamma promised that Annetta Mariani and our child would be safe… even from my father. I’d never felt more happy and relieved in my life as I did when we left the church and she climbed into the passenger seat of my car.
Because I no longer cared about discretion, I bypassed our usual room at the Davenport and booked the honeymoon suite at the Caribbean, one of the neutral casinos. We’d barely checked in when Father and Michael burst through the door.
“Annetta?” Michael asked, his eyes wide with shock as he took her in. “The cook from the restaurant?”
The look she gave me told me she couldn’t believe I hadn’t told my brother about us. To him, she said, “It’s nice to see you again, Michael.”
Father stepped forward and introduced himself, hugging Annetta and kissing her cheeks, very publicly accepting her. She had to be confused. Mamma and I had told her Father and Michael couldn’t make it to the wedding because of work, yet here they were.
“Welcome to the family, daughter,” he said.
She glanced at me before smiling at him. “Thank you. We missed you at the wedding. I was sad to hear that you were detained with work.”
He frowned. “Me too. But that’s why we’re here. We have some business requiring Dom’s assistance. I apologize for stealing him away on your wedding night, but it cannot be helped. We’ll have him back before morning, and he can take tomorrow off.”
Annetta looked to me, her eyes full of questions.
“Please let me take her up to the room,” I said.
Father nodded, the warmth he’d shown Annetta disappearing. “Be quick.”
Annetta opened her mouth to protest, but I ushered her into the elevator. The moment the doors were closed, she turned on me.
“But we just got married,” she protested. “Don’t we get one night?”
“I know. I’m sorry, Net. Something important must have come up.”
But I couldn’t think of a single thing they’d need me to handle. This had to be some sort of power play to put me in my place. No doubt, I was about to get punished for my misstep. It didn’t matter. At least he’d accepted Annetta. She and our child would be protected no matter what.
“I’m sure it won’t take long, but why don’t you call Mamma and have her come sit with you. Maybe the two of you could watch a movie or something.”
The elevator doors opened, but she made no move to follow me out.
“This is my wedding night, Dom. I don’t want to watch movies with your mom.”
And I didn’t want to go defend my decision to my father. I closed the distance between us and kissed her, tugging her into the hall with me. “You think I want you to?”
When she still refused to move, I picked her up and carried her into our room. Setting her on the bed, I checked the room to reassure myself it was empty. It was dangerous to keep my old man waiting, and I was already in enough trouble, so I kissed her one last time before hurrying out to see what he wanted.
Father didn’t say one word as we piled into his Cadillac. He drove northeast on Highway 147 until we were outside the city, turned down a dirt road, and killed the engine. We all got out of the car and Father handed us each a cigar.
“In celebration of your child,” he said.
Wondering if I’d somehow managed to dodge a bullet, I smoked a cigar with my old man and brother as we discussed the recent Dodgers game. My old man had always been a baseball fan, but this shit felt surreal. It was like Father wanted me to think he and I were cool, when I knew we weren’t.
When we stomped out our cigars, everything changed. Father gestured at me, and said, “Michael, your brother’s stepped out of line. Set him straight.”
Knowing better than to block him or to fight back, I stood there as Michael punched me in the stomach until I folded over. Then he kneed me in the face. S
tars danced in my vision. He backed up and punched me in the side, and then swiped my legs out from under me with a kick. When I hit the ground, he rolled me onto my back and started working over my stomach again.
I knew my brother didn’t want to hurt me, but he’d learned long ago not to pull his punches. The old man could always tell. By the time Father told him to stop, I could barely get off the ground. The two of them returned to Father’s car and drove off, leaving me alone in the dark.
It hurt to even breathe, but I managed to pull myself up and start limping back the way we’d come. After all, I had a bride to get to, and at least the bastards had left me alive.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Dominico
ANNETTA HAD BEEN spitting mad when I finally showed up, beaten and bloody, the morning after we got married. She’d spent most of the night on the phone with Mamma, and the moment I limped through the door, she made sure I was okay and then demanded an explanation. Since I didn’t have the energy to dissuade her, I redirected her, requesting a medical kit and some pain killers.
“Okay, but this isn’t over,” she said, heading out of the hotel room.
I laid on the bed and promptly passed out.
I must have slept through the day and night, because the next time I awoke it was morning again. Bruised and sore, but able to move again, I checked us out of the hotel and we drove to the newly-built four-bedroom house I’d closed on the day before.
Every inch of my body hurt, but it didn’t stop me from carrying my beautiful bride over the threshold, despite her many and loud objections. Finally, she stopped trying to wiggle free and just relaxed against me.
“This doesn’t mean I forgive you,” she said.
“For getting beat up?”
“Yes. Next time, you kick their ass.”
Chuckling, I kissed her forehead and set her down in the stone entryway.
“Welcome home, Net.”
She gasped, her eyes wide as she spun around. “We’re living here?”