Slowly she took position behind the last woman, Cathy. You only live once. Things had worked out for Caprice; maybe they would work out for her, too. As she waited her turn, that nervous feeling filled her gut, especially as Meredith stormed out of the place cursing and carrying on, and then Victor took front position next to Mickey and Ivan, plus a few other people who helped run the show and create the performances. It seemed to take forever, and some of the girls were really good. Mickey wrote down their names, and then asked for the next ones to go. Brandy was getting tired of hearing that same song over and over again. She had thought about a different act, another song with a whole new vibe that accentuated her voice better. She was shaking, she was so nervous. She ran her palms down her hips. The sexy outfit would surely add to the performance. God, she hoped that Victor liked her voice. The man was so intimidating and scary. She feared him as much as she’d feared Ivan when he first met him.
Ivan was a salacious lover. He demanded a lot in bed, seemed obsessed with her large breasts and needing to dominate her, then cuddle afterward.
Everyone clapped and Cathy walked off stage, smiling wide.
“Anyone else?” Mickey asked.
When Brandy walked onto the stage they all seemed shocked, especially Ivan, as he squinted and sat forward in his seat.
“Brandy?” he asked.
One look at Victor and she felt like running backstage. She heard Victor ask Mickey and Ivan if they knew she could sing. Both men shook their heads.
“Same number, Brandy?” Mickey asked.
“No, sir. I’d like to do something a little different.”
“Different? We can’t do different, Brandy. We need Meredith’s songs done for tonight.”
“Well, Meredith isn’t here anymore, and I’ve spent a few years backstage thinking of some great ideas that could really make a difference in the show and in this club. Since you’re giving the opportunity for the rest of us to show what we’ve been holding back, I’d like to let you see my ideas.”
Mickey looked at Victor and Ivan. “Let her do it,” Victor said.
She said thank you and then went over to the band and told them what song to do. “Are you sure, baby? That song is super tough and requires a deep, strong voice. You’re a little peanut,” he said to her.
“It will be fine. My singing voice is different than my speaking voice,” she said.
He shrugged his shoulders and she took her spot onstage, knowing all the other girls would be listening, and most importantly the boss and her boyfriend were, too.
As the music started, a tune similar to an old Etta James song, Brandy began to move her hips, doing a number she practiced for fun as she daydreamed about one day doing the song and dancing up on stage in a solo performance. When she started to sing, she got lost in the music, in her act, and as she sexily danced along the stage, slide up and down against the pole of the standing mic, adding to the sexy song. She could see the crowd of workers stopping, whistling, and adding to the effects of the song. When she finally stopped singing, the place erupted in applause.
Mickey looked at Victor and Ivan.
“You are one lucky bastard. She’s going to be packing them in,” Mickey said, and she worried her bottom lip as Victor and Ivan stood up.
“My office, now,” Victor said and she felt the tears fill her eyes, and especially as Ivan stared at her and then waited for her at the bottom steps of the stage. Mickey was giving orders and calling after Victor to get her back soon so they could start planning, but Victor didn’t look back. Ivan took her hand and led her to the office.
“Ivan. Ivan, are you mad at me? I know I never told you I could sing. I guess it was just because I wasn’t confident enough to go on stage and there hasn’t been an opportunity and—”
He pulled her into Victor’s office, closed the door, and then stood still as both men stared at her body in the sexy skimpy outfit. She wore black thigh-high stockings with garters, a one-piece black and red beaded corset that accentuated her large breasts, and deep cleavage.
“Why the hell have you never come forward about your voice? About your dance abilities, or creative thinking in producing a new act for my club?” Victor demanded to know.
She felt on the defensive by his attitude, and also that Ivan wasn’t even standing up for her. “How could I, could anyone, with Meredith up your—”
“Brandy!” Ivan scolded, and she stopped short. Victor moved around the desk and stared at her body.
“Meredith is out of the picture. She should have been months ago. I lost a great opportunity with Caprice because I didn’t know she could sing like she does. Today was about finding out if there were others hidden in the back, waiting for their opportunity to shine. I’ve been an idiot.”
She didn’t disagree with him, and gave an expression like, yes, you were.
Victor stood next to Ivan, just a few inches shorter than him, but both men towered over her. She was so nervous right now, but by the way Victor was looking at her, it made her feel different—hell, aroused. She looked at Ivan.
“Things are going to change. He has been a fool, but that’s behind him. You, however, have a nice long spanking coming your way for holding back and hiding out, keeping secrets from me.”
“Ivan.” She lowered her eyes, feeling embarrassed that he would say that in front of Victor. Victor was the boss, and he was very strict and demanding.
“Don’t be embarrassed. This spanking you have coming to you won’t just be administered by me,” Ivan said and stepped closer. He reached out and stroked her jaw and clenched her chin.
She held his gaze. “What do you mean?” she asked.
Victor moved closer, too. “He means I’ll be joining in on that ass spanking,” Victor told her, and she was shocked. She looked at Ivan.
Ivan smirked. “He’s wanted you for quite some time. He was fighting the attraction, and thought he could distract himself, but it was a waste of time,” Ivan said.
Victor placed his hand on her hip and she gasped at the feel of the heat of his large hand, and that instant attraction to the man.
“Time I could have spent caring for you, getting lost in you with Ivan, the way it should have been.”
She pulled back and shook her head. The feelings like she could be just another woman Victor would be screwing suddenly made her wonder if Ivan really cared about her. The tears fell and she went to the door, but Ivan pressed up against it and held her by her hip. He turned her around.
“No, it isn’t what you think,” Ivan said to her. She looked at him and Victor, who didn’t move. He stood there like a boss, a man in charge of everyone and everything.
“It sounds like it. He’s been with Meredith. He fires her today, breaks things off, and then wants me? What am I, some whore to both of you? The next lead singer to be not only screwing Ivan, but also the boss?” She raised her voice.
“Brandy,” Ivan reprimanded and she tightened.
“No, Ivan, let me. It’s my fault she’s insulted and misunderstanding what’s happening here.” Victor reached for her hand and pulled her closer to him. He leaned back against his desk and pulled her between his legs. He ran his hands along her hips and held them in place.
She absorbed his cologne, the feel of hardness underneath the dress shirt and dress pants. The man was very muscular and fit like Ivan. She swallowed hard.
“Ivan and I are best friends. Did you know that?” he asked her. She shook her head. He reached up with one hand and wiped away her tears from her eyes.
“When he was interested in dating you, he wanted me to date you, too.” Her eyes widened. “I resisted, for a lot of reasons.”
“Like?” she asked.
He squinted at her, stared into her eyes then at her lips and her breasts. “You’re young, Brandy. You’re beautiful, sexy, and I had feelings for you without even talking to you, bringing you out on a date or sinking my cock into you.”
She felt the rush of heat hit her cheeks as his ha
nds began to slide up and down her hips and ribs. With each stroke, his fingers moved closer and closer to her breasts.
“I’ve resisted for long enough. Got my head out of my ass and was waiting to talk to you with Ivan, but then you did this,” he said and licked his lips and then pulled her closer.
Ivan moved in behind her, ran a hand under her hair and against her neck, and held her in place. He pressed his lips to her shoulder and she closed her eyes, loving how it felt to be here between them.
“Don’t you dare tell a soul I was scared of this. Scared of making you mine, too,” he said, and she locked gazes with him.
“You were scared of me?”
“Of how powerful this connection is, and how fucking intense it will be when Ivan and I claim you together and make you our woman.”
“Oh God,” she said, feeling her pussy clench right before Victor cupped her cheeks and kissed her mouth.
She pressed her palms against Victor’s chest and felt the hands slide along her ass from behind her. She moaned into his mouth as he cupped her breast, and then Ivan slid his hand back and forth over her mound. The material of the one-piece kept him from entering her and she wished to feel him inside of her.
The knock on the door had her tightening up, but Victor wouldn’t let her go. He pulled his lips from hers. Ivan answered the door, said something, but she didn’t know what. She was lost in Victor’s dark gray eyes and his secure hold on her body. With a palm over her ass, he gave it a tap.
“Tonight, after the show, we’ll talk more. If you forgive me, that is,” he said to her. Ivan caressed her hair and her shoulder, giving it a squeeze.
“It’s not a game or a lie. It’s what we should have done months ago, claimed you together. Let him prove it to you,” Ivan said to her.
She worried her bottom lip and Victor used his thumb, softly scolding her for doing that.
“No worrying. I know exactly how to make up for lost time and show you how real this is.” He kissed her softly and then turned her toward Ivan, who kissed her next. They were both holding her between them, caressing her body, kissing her skin and just making her understand that this was real. They both wanted her. To share her, to commit to her, and suddenly, just like that, her world changed and anything seemed possible. Now she knew firsthand what Caprice felt like. Now her story began.
Chapter 7
Vito was ready for this meeting, and putting an end to any bullshit Billy O’Hare and his minions were trying to pull on Caprice. Morano, Vito, and their three guards, Corrano, Maverick, and Antonio, walked into the meeting with Billy O’Hare. Upon entering the secure meeting room at Club X set up by Dominick and Giuseppe, Coglonie, Morano, Vito, and their men headed in.
Vito locked gazes with Billy O, then Kiernan and Marlin. These guys looked scared, and they should have been.
“We appreciate you meeting us here to discuss Caprice’s father’s debt,” Morano said.
Vito watched Kiernan closely. The man looked pissed off. He didn’t like the feeling he had, especially knowing what he did to Caprice. He let his brother, Morano, handle things. He was calmer and had more patience.
“Of course, Morano. I understand your concerns for your new employee,” Billy O said.
“Let’s make this quick and painless. You want your money. Nineteen thousand. We want Caprice free and clear of any further involvement in her father’s problems and future debt. We’re willing to give you the nineteen and end this once and for all,” Morano stated.
Billy O exhaled. “You’re going to pay off her father’s debt, a man sitting at my bar right now drinking, adding money on a tab he doesn’t have, making that more than nineteen?”
Vito clenched his teeth. Morano remained straight-faced.
“He isn’t my concern. I want Caprice free and clear. She owes you nothing more. Your business with her is done. Whatever new tabs her father builds up are his responsibility. It’s a respectable offer, cash right now with Dominick and his brother as witnesses that Caprice’s debt to you is done.” Morano nodded at Corrano, who placed the envelope of money down in front of Billy O.
He opened it up, looked at it, and nodded. “I had plans for Caprice. Made some commitments to be her agent. Worked it out with her father.”
Vito glared at him. What the fuck kind of commitments and deals did this asshole make? What were they planning on doing with Caprice? “Well, things have changed. She doesn’t need an agent. She works for us, at our club, and she is our woman. You’re smart enough to figure out what the fuck that means,” Morano said and stood up.
“Is that so?” Billy asked.
“Your business with Caprice is over. Don’t come near her. Don’t contact her for any reason. I don’t expect to hear anything from you again,” Morano said, and then looked at Dominick. “All good, Dominick?”
“All good, Morano. It’s a done deal. Cash exchanged. Debt over. Caprice is free,” he said and held Billy’s gaze.
“Your brother, Angelo, still planning on entering the ring with the Irishman next month?” Kiernan asked.
“Looks that way,” Vito replied.
“How about winner takes all on that match?” Billy O asked, standing up.
Vito narrowed his eyes at him and Morano stared.
“What?” he asked. “Winner takes all. Angelo loses, Caprice is mine and you can keep the fuck out of my business and go pick some other woman as your fuck toy.”
Vito went to move, but Morano stopped him.
“First of all, Angelo won’t lose. You should know that by how well your cousin Murphy recovered from his back-alley beating. Secondly, you ever threaten me again, or take an insulting shot at our woman, Caprice, and you won’t be alive long enough to regret it. Remember who you’re talking to, Billy. Remember the food chain and who is on top,” Morano said and pointed at him.
“One fucking call, that’s all it takes. One,” he said, and Vito knew exactly what his brother meant.
Their cousins were in charge of all the unions and working out deals. Billy was a middleman and could be eliminated in many ways. His business could be taken right from him, and all assets taken, as well. The fear and shock on the man’s face let Vito know who was in charge, and who were the made men with power here.
They headed out of the room, Vito still shocked and pissed about Billy’s reference to Caprice. As they headed out to the SUV, Morano stared straight ahead.
“Anything you want us to do, boss?” Maverick asked from the other seat.
“I think we’re okay for now. Hopefully the dumbass isn’t stupid enough to challenge us,” Morano said.
“I don’t like that fucking guy, and Kiernan? He looked extra especially pissed that you referred to Caprice as our woman,” Vito said to him.
“I know. I saw that, too. Let’s just be relieved that we figured shit out, and got that call about her debt before things got worse,” Morano said.
“She’s been through hell. To think this was why she pushed us away really pisses me off. I can’t seem to let go of that anger,” Vito admitted.
Morano was quiet.
“She doesn’t need to worry anymore. She can focus on working, on her singing career at the club, and having us to protect her,” Morano said.
“What about her moving out of that apartment building? She wasn’t so keen on moving in with us immediately,” Vito asked.
“She won’t be sleeping there another night again,” Morano said firmly.
“Good,” Corrano added, and Vito squinted at him.
“Sorry. The place isn’t safe. Caprice deserves better. She’s a good woman, and just because her father is a fuck-up doesn’t mean she needs to suffer. Not fair to put a burden like that on anyone,” Corrano said, then turned back around in the passenger seat.
Vito exhaled. Seemed like a lot of people liked Caprice. She was special, and he and his brothers would spend a lot of time convincing her of exactly how special she was.
* * * *
Angelo and R
ogan walked Caprice up to her apartment. She was still embarrassed by it, and could tell that Angelo was pissed off, seeing where she lived. It made matters worse that it smelled badly in here today, and as they got further up the stairs, it got worse. As they entered the hallway, they saw the two brothers who owned the apartment next door were there with friends. The second they saw her, Angelo, and Rogan, they practically ran into the apartment. She glanced at Angelo’s and Brogan’s odd expressions.
“They met Morano the other night,” she said.
Angelo chuckled. “Heard about that,” he said and looked down at the spot still on the rug in the hallway.
She pulled out her keys to unlock the door, dreading bringing them in but knowing she needed clothes. They wanted her to move in with them to the penthouse she hadn’t seen yet. Just the thought of it made her feel nervous and out of her element. She would need to accept that her boyfriends, lovers, were wealthy and made men. She was trying so hard to make this work, and seem normal. Then she pushed open the door and was shocked at the sight.
The ceiling was dripping water, the sheetrock damaged, and pieces were on the floor toward the bedroom.
“Oh God. Oh, now what happened?” she asked and hurried closer, but Angelo grabbed her arm. She could see her bed was ruined, the ceiling a mess, and the floor soaked.
“What the fuck? That could have fallen on you during the night. You could have been seriously injured.” Angelo raised his voice.
“Who is the fucking landlord and who lives upstairs?” Rogan asked.
She looked at him and rambled off the landlord’s name.
“Number?” Angelo asked, pulling out his cell phone and bringing her back into the living room.
She was so upset. All her things were in there. Her clothing, any jewelry she had. It would all be soaked and ruined.
“Who lives above you?”
“An older woman. I should go check on her.”
“No. Leave that to the landlord.”
Made Men 3: The Red Slipper (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 11