They received their orders from the butcher— whom Carter liked a lot, he was nice, and he gave her extra at no extra cost. So sweet, Carter thought as they continued to walk through the store, talking. Turning the corner, Carter smiled.
Yep, she’d known she wasn’t being paranoid— she was being followed. She counted five of them, all men, and all familiar— Reno, John, Frankie, Samuel, and Brock. Nathan had left her with a shitload of security. For what reason? Carter didn’t know.
Her jaw clenched, but she fought to keep her temper at bay in front of her new friend. Nathan was keeping something from her, and that really pissed her off. Why the hell would she need so much security when Mitchell was dead?
She rolled her eyes as they all tried their best to keep their distance, ignorant to the fact that she had spotted them already. Carter shrugged. Well, since they’re here, she might as well put them to work.
She looked over at Katherine as they neared the checkout line. “Are you all done, Kat?” she asked.
Katherine nodded. “Yep, and tired as hell, too. The worst part about shopping is checking out and putting it in the car,” she sighed as she checked her basket, adding up her items and counting the cash in her hand.
Carter grinned. She was hoping Kat didn’t feel like waiting in line, and it looked like she was about to put some items back due to lack of money. Carter wasn’t having that. She raised her hand in the air, knowing they were all watching her, and silently told them to come to her.
Katherine eyed her curiously. “What’s with the mischievous looking smile?” she asked, and Carter chuckled.
She knew there was always a bit of mischief in her smile— she couldn’t help it. Katherine continued staring at Carter for a moment till movement behind her caught her attention.
She glanced behind Carter, and her eyes widened. “Uhhh … Carter? There are a bunch of big men walking this way. They don’t have shopping carts, so I don’t think they’re shoppers,” she whispered a bit frantically.
Carter laughed at the frightened look on her face. She could understand why Katherine would be afraid. The guys were big, and the majority of them were tatted up as well. They looked like thugs, but Carter assured her they were harmless— at least to her.
“Yeah, Carter,” she heard Reno say sheepishly.
Carter didn’t turn to them as she spoke. She kept her eyes on her new friend and helped her gather her purse from her shopping cart. “Sammi, you take Mrs. Young’s cart, and Johnny, you take mine. Wait in line, put all of the items on my account, and then we’ll walk Mrs. Young to her car and load her items for her. She needs to take it easy. She is with child,” Carter said, checking to be sure that Melanie wasn’t too close to overhear.
“Anything for you, Carter,” she heard Reno say sweetly. “Do what she said,” he directed the other men.
Carter turned to Reno and winked. He gave her a boyishly handsome smile in return.
She turned back around in time to see Katherine frowning and shaking her head.
“Carter, you don’t have to—”
“No, please, I insist. Come on,” she said, looping her arm through Katherine’s and steering her toward the exit of the market where Melanie was eyeing a table full of Girl Scout cookies. “Let’s go get Melanie some of those cookies and take her to the little rides at the park I saw outside. My early birthday present to her— with your approval, of course.”
Katherine smiled and nodded her head. “Yes, she would love that! You’re going to be her new favorite person if you keep it up. She’ll never leave you alone,” she said through soft but nervous laughter as she looked behind Carter again. “Uhhh … Carter? There are still three men following you,” she said, eyeing Reno. He smiled and nodded.
Carter chuckled. “Just pretend they aren’t there. They’re friends of mine,” she said as they approached Melanie.
Katherine nudged her a little. “I think green eyes back there likes you a little too much,” she said through a giggle.
Carter frowned. “Who? Reno?” she asked. Knowing the only one back there with noticeably green eyes was Reno. “He does not.” Carter nudged her back.
“Yes, he does Carter. As we speak, he’s probably staring at your ass— and didn’t you hear him back there? ‘Anything for you, Carter …” she mimicked Reno’s deep voice and New York accent.
Carter laughed.
“I’m just saying,” Katherine said with a shrug. “He’s cute, and he has a crush on you.”
Carter pursed her lips and shook her head.
Yeah, Reno was cute. He had alert green eyes, clean-cut brown hair, and handsome features. He wasn’t nearly as tall as Nathan, but he was taller than Carter. She guessed him to be around 5’11”, and he had a strong muscular body covered in tattoos. This guy was mafia soldier to the bone— and was really nice to Carter ever since she met him at the penthouse when she first moved to New York. But Carter didn’t think he had anything but friendly feelings for her, so she ignored Katherine’s comment.
Once they had let Melanie go wild at the Girl Scout cookie table, they went to the park and watched the little angel have the time of her life on the rides while they waited for Sammie and Johnny to get through the long line. Even after the guys had exited the store, bags in hand, Carter and Kat didn’t stop little Melanie from having fun. Carter just told Katherine to give the guys her keys, and they would load up her car. Katherine handed them over without a fuss, and the men did exactly as Carter asked before returning the keys.
Carter was a little surprised by the woman’s instant trust, but she was glad at the same time. She didn’t want Katherine to be afraid of her, even though Carter could see that the woman could tell that there was something different about her. Carter didn’t want her to think that she or her bodyguards would harm her or Melanie.
After Melanie had worn herself out at the park, Carter accompanied them to their car to get her invitation for Melanie’s birthday party. Melanie held tight to Carter’s hand as she pulled her to their car. After giving Carter her invitation and gushing over her party plans, Carter helped Melanie into the car while Katherine got into the driver’s seat. Once she strapped Melanie in, she closed the car door.
“I spotted your husband,” Katherine said. “Jesus, Carterina, he really is gorgeous. He looks like a model.”
“Or Ken!” Melanie’s little munchkin voice added.
Carter chuckled and followed Katherine’s eyes to her husband.
Nathan stepped out of their car, hanging up his cell phone and raking his fingers through his hair. Carter had to admit, Melanie did have a point. Nathan looked like an Abercrombie and Fitch version of a Ken doll. He was so sexy in his dark blue jeans, red button-down shirt, and crisp white sneakers. Carter was sure she was drooling …
“Oh, my God. I think me and Melanie could just sit here and stare at your husband all day.”
Carter laughed. “You should probably get home to your husband.”
Katherine looked over with a sheepish grin and reddened cheeks. “We should probably go,” she said, starting her car.
Carter waved to them as they left.
“Making new friends?”
Carter smiled at Nathan as he walked over. “One friend,” she replied. “I think she likes me a lot. It was fun. I was being myself, and she really seemed to like me— for me.”
Nathan smiled. Once in front of her, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her lips. Carter moaned into his mouth. His kisses never failed to make her knees weak.
Nathan let out a deep moan of his own and pulled back from the kiss with a smile. “You are so sexy, baby.”
Carter smiled and looked into his eyes. “Why am I being followed, Nathan?” she asked.
She didn’t want to squash the mood, but she wanted to know why Nathan had left the store abruptly and put her under the watchful custody of a large number of security men. She had a feeling something was going on.
Nathan’s expression went blank before wa
rming once again. Carter’s brows furrowed in confusion. Was he hiding something from her?
Nathan leaned forward and kissed her lips, then her cheek, then her ear. “Because I’m an underboss, baby. And you are my wife,” he said against her ear.
Carter wrapped her arms around his neck and let him lift her until they were face to face.
“But I’m fine, Bubby. I can protect myself,” she said.
“I know that, Carter. But giving you security when I’m not around to have your back gives me peace of mind. I just want you to be safe, honey, that’s all.”
Carter nodded and looked into his eyes. “And there’s nothing you’re hiding from me?”
Nathan just chuckled and kissed her. “Carterina Salerno, it’s your birthday. Let’s go spend an obscene amount of money on whatever you want.” He started to carry her across the parking lot. “We can go to lunch afterward so I can refuel, and then I’ll take you home and give you a few more orgasms before the guests arrive,” he finished with a sexy smile.
Carter smiled and fought against laughter. “You have this all planned out, don’t you?”
Nathan smirked and nodded his head.
***
“Dammit, Nathan! I can button up the shirt myself!” Carter yelled, hitting Nathan’s hand away from the buttons on his shirt. “I can’t believe you ripped my dress,” she muttered.
Nathan sat in the driver’s seat while Carter straddled his lap. He gripped both of Carter’s swinging hands and pinned her arms behind her back. “Let me do it, Carterina. Stop fighting me, baby.” He kissed the sweet spot on her neck, and she moaned.
He wanted her again. He would never be able to get enough of Carter.
“You’re so damn sexy,” Nathan said against her neck. “We’ll never make it out of this car if you keep moaning like that, baby.”
They’d just had the sexiest car ride home that had ended in the most incredible sex. Nathan went straight animal once they’d made it home. They didn’t even make it out if the car.
It all started when Carter decided it’d be fun to try on some lingerie at a boutique in Pleasant View. Nathan had been barely able to sit in his seat while Carter tortured him the way she did. She even wore his favorite set out of the store, under her dress. She had teased him relentlessly as they drove home. And once they’d made it past the gate to the front of their home, Nathan attacked.
Carter’s dress was completely ruined. Nathan had ripped it to shreds trying to get to that sexy body of hers. Nathan’s pants zipper and button were gone. Carter had gone straight for what she wanted, and it turned Nathan on like nothing else. By the time she lowered herself on him, he had been unable to control himself. Nathan had taken her, hard and rough.
Carter chuckled. “Then stop kissing me there. I don’t think I can go another round. I need a nap.”
Nathan laughed. “I’ve worn you out?”
“Yes!” Carter said, dramatically falling on his chest. She looked up at him with an impish grin through her messy hair. “But in the most amazing ways, Bubby. You can wear me out like that any time.”
Nathan growled, and Carter laughed. God, he loved her laugh. It was as beautiful as she was. For a long moment, he stared down into her eyes, taking in her natural beauty. Her flawless face was completely void of makeup. Her long, thick, black curls were messy and frizzy from perspiration. She wore his shirt. It hung off her smooth, brown shoulders, nearly revealing her perfect, full breasts. She was the picture of perfection, and she wasn’t even trying.
He kissed her forehead and wrapped his arms around her soft body. “What time is everyone arriving today?”
Carter shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“You still want that nap?” he asked tenderly against her skin.
He felt her nod, and he chuckled softly. He looked out the window of the car and figured the warm weather and soft, breezy wind would allow him to go ahead and do what he wanted to do next. He finished buttoning his shirt— that now covered her body— and opened the car door, knowing that the men surrounding the house were a distance away.
After they got themselves situated, he held out his hand for her to take. Just as he knew she would, she took it without any hesitation. He led her around their large mansion, across their massive backyard, and to the entrance of their garden. Carter silently followed as she held tight to his hand. They navigated through the garden until they came to the big white gazebo. Retrieving a blanket, Nathan spread it over the plush sofa swing and then took another larger blanket in hand. He grabbed Carter’s hand once more and led her to their swing. He lay back, and she curled up next to him, resting her head against his chest.
Nathan covered them with the large blanket and wrapped his arms around her protectively. He kissed the top of her head. “This time when I wake up, мое красивое Роуз, you will still be in my arms,” he whispered.
Carter was the first to fall asleep just like she always was. Her soft snores had become something that Nathan couldn’t fall asleep without. Nathan smiled, happy, holding his wife as his eyes began to close. He soon drifted off into a dreamless, deep, comfortable slumber.
11
Angelo & Anastacia
“I found them, Angelo.”
“Where?”
“I told you they would be out here. Carterina said it was their favorite spot. It’s where he proposed to her.”
“I remember them saying something like that. I just thought they were in their bedroom or something.”
Angelo and Anastacia navigated through the garden, until they came closer to their sleeping offspring.
Anastacia smirked. “As usual, I was right, and you were wrong.”
“Your arrogance becomes less charming with age, Bella,” Angelo said, rolling his eyes.
“So does your attitude. I swear you haven’t changed a bit since the day I met you.”
“Lies, Anastacia.”
“You’re right, Angelo. Back then you were a grumpy young man, and now you’re a grumpy old man,” she said playfully.
Angelo knew she was laughing at her own stupid joke. “It’s nice to see you still think you’re funny.”
She snorted. “Think? Please, Angelo. I’m hilarious, and you know it.” She looked at him over her shoulder and smiled wickedly.
Angelo came up beside her and smacked her behind “Well, get your hilarious ass up there and wake them up. Everyone will be here soon. They need to get ready.”
“You do it. I’d rather just sit over here and admire this incredible garden that probably cost you a fortune.”
“It did. But he and his mother just had to have it.”
“It’s gorgeous. The upkeep is probably just as expensive as the plantings were.”
Angelo shrugged. “No idea. Nathan has been taking care of this place since I gave it to him years ago. The upkeep has been on his dime. He takes care of it better than I ever did.”
“You taught him well. He’s a good boy, Angelo.” Anastacia said, looking up at him with her dazzling smile. She’d been smiling a lot more since she had reunited with her daughter. She even laughed from time to time.
“I can’t take all the credit. She had her faults— we both did,— but Anya was a good mother to Nathan while she was alive. She taught him many lessons I wasn’t capable of teaching him, things I didn’t even know myself.”
“Aww, look at you— being all sweet,” Anastacia teased.
Angelo chuckled. “Really? What happened to the grumpy old man?” he asked with raised brow.
Anastacia shrugged. “I suppose you have your moments. Now wake them up— after I take a picture.” She took out her cell phone.
“Ana, you’re not taking a picture of my son and his wife sleeping!”
He tried to take her phone, but Anastacia was too quick and snatched her hand away just in time.
“Shhh! No, Angelo— I’m taking a picture of my daughter and her husband sleeping!”
“Same thing, Anastacia! Your daug
hter is my son’s wife!”
She smiled. “I know. It’s still so crazy to me. I can’t believe it. They came so close to being brother and sister, and they don’t even know it. I mean, had you not have cheated on me …”
“…I didn’t cheat on you Ana …”
“… we probably would have made it …”
“… you told me we were over …”
“… but that doesn’t really matter now …”
“ … I got drunk with Cesare in Moscow where I was trying to get business started for myself and … well you know the rest …”
“You’re an asshole, but it was all for the best, my love,” she said calmly, a genuine smile still on her face. “I love my baby girl more than anything, and you love your son the same way.” She turned to look at Nathan and Carter, still sleeping soundly in each other’s arms. “For whatever reason, those two are supposed to be here, together. It’s okay for us to acknowledge our falling out as worth it for the sake of our children, Angelo— no matter how much it hurts sometimes. We weren’t meant to work out back then.”
“And what about now, Ana?” Angelo moved closer to her. “Are we meant to work now?”
Anastacia looked up at Angelo, and their eyes locked. She felt the same butterflies in her stomach that she had felt the day she first saw him when she was sixteen years old. Angelo Salerno was many things to her, but their past was complicated. They had too much unfinished business, unanswered questions, and unresolved fights for them to know if there was actually a chance that they would ever be able to be in a relationship. Relationships had never really been easy for Anastacia anyway— she wasn’t cut out for them. Falling in love with Angelo was something she had never planned, and it had surprised the hell out of her when she finally admitted it to herself. Once love had entered their relationship, so did fights, breakups, and trust issues. And after Anastacia had found out a Russian prostitute was pregnant with Angelo’s child, she had helped him one last time before finding comfort in the arms of his best friend. Yes, things were still very complicated.
Dangerous Beauty: Part Two: A Mafia Princess Page 16