Protected by the Monster

by Hamel, B. B.

  “No way,” he said. “This has to be the guest wing of the house.”

  “But it’s spotless.” I ran a finger over a shelf. “No dust.”

  “Good point. Probably has it cleaned twice a week, just in case.”

  “Can you imagine being so rich?” I sipped the drink. Rough whiskey hit my tongue ad I barely managed to choke it down. I reminded myself to take a smaller sip next time, or maybe skip the alcohol entirely.

  “Of course,” he said, sitting down at the end of the bed and bouncing a bit. “I can imagine it, but it’ll never happen.”

  “You’re a mob guy.” I shrugged a little, splashed my drink. “Might happen for you.”

  “Doubt it.” He looked at me, took a long sip, and shook his head. “I’ll always just be a weapon for these guys.”

  I chewed on my lip and leaned against the back of the couch.

  “You say things like that, but then you talk about how much you love the mafia,” I said. “I don’t get it at all.”

  “It’s not all black and white,” he said. “Despite what you think.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Like I don’t get complexity.”

  “You don’t seem to.” He tilted his head. “For example, this simmering sexual tension between us.”

  I snorted, sipped my drink, coughed, felt like a moron.

  “There’s no tension.”

  “I think there is,” he said. “You let me kiss you earlier.”

  “You practically stole it from me.”

  “It wasn’t the first time.”

  “What do you want me to say?” I asked. “You want me to admit that I find you attractive?” I took another sip and managed not to make myself look like I’d never had a drink before in my life.

  “Yeah, I do,” he said. “I want to hear it.”

  I laughed for a second, thought he might be joking, but his face was serious.

  “All right,” I said. “I find you attractive.”

  “I find you attractive, too.”

  “Great, we got that out in the open.” I held up my drink. “Here’s to the most fucked up part of this evening.”

  He laughed softly, sipped his whiskey, and stood up. He walked over to the sideboard, finished his drink, put his empty glass down, and turned to me.

  “What about this is so wrong?” he asked.

  “You’re a murderous mafia guy,” I said, sipping my drink as he came toward me. “You killed men tonight. You forced my mom into coming here, even though she didn’t want to.”

  “I killed men to protect you,” I said. “Not just for fun. I didn’t want to do any of that. And I brought your mom here because she’s safer in this house. Besides, I’m not the one that convinced her.”

  “Fine,” I said. I finished the drink and held the empty glass tight, clenching it hard as the whiskey burned down my throat. “Fine, okay, I convinced her. But still, you… you killed men tonight.”

  He stopped close to me and stared into my eyes.

  “Why do you care so much about these bastards?” he asked.

  “It’s the principle,” I said, my voice soft, a whisper.

  “I’ll kill a hundred more of them if it means I can make sure you’re okay,” he said. “Does that make me evil?”

  “I don’t know,” I said.

  “That’s right. So when it becomes about you, suddenly you’re not sure.”

  “Don’t be a bastard.”

  “Don’t pretend like you’re perfect. Don’t pretend like you don’t want me.”

  “I do want you, okay?” The words spilled out in a rush and as I stared up into his eyes, I wished I could shove them back into my mouth.

  I grew up being told men like Luca were evil, should be avoided at all costs. I grew up hating them, hating what happened to my father.

  And now I wanted him, wanted him so badly it hurt.

  Because he was protecting me.

  He killed for me. He came for me, made sure I was safe, and still wants to go to of his way to make sure I don’t get hurt. He doesn’t have to do any of this, but he’s doing it anyway, all because he seems to value me for some reason I can’t even begin to understand.

  He wants me. And I want him.

  It’s sick and fucked up.

  And god, I don’t know if I can stop it anymore.

  He leaned down and kissed me. Slow at first, his hands on my hips, holding me tight. I kissed him back and sucked in a breath through my nose, tasting him, tentative and afraid.

  But he was a man, just a man, a delicious and gorgeous man.

  He pulled me tighter against him, kissed me faster. I tugged at his shirt and he pulled it off, throwing it on the floor. I pressed my hands against his rugged, muscular chest and abs, running my fingers down him, unable to help the soft gasps that escaped my mouth. He bit my lower lip and pulled at my shirt, taking it off, my hair spilling down around my shoulders as he took off my bra.

  I let it slide off, down onto the floor. He cupped my breasts and kissed my neck.

  “This is the truth right here,” he said. “Your body and mine. Once we get past all the abstract bullshit, the constant worrying about what’s right or wrong, there’s just this. There’s just what feels good.”

  “I’m afraid of giving myself away to that,” I whispered, half strangled with a moan.

  “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “I promise, I’m not going to hurt you.”

  He bit my lip again then pulled me up to my feet. He dropped to his knees in front of me, kissed my stomach, unbuttoned my jeans. I grabbed his thick, full hair as he tugged them down, kissed my stomach. I kicked them off as he pushed me back up against the back of the couch, spreading my legs a little, tongue between my legs, kissing over my panties, my soaking wet panties, my mind a racing whirl of need, fear and god, yes, please.

  He pushed my panties aside, tongued me top to bottom, and I let out a wild moan, dipping my head back.

  He licked me fast, tongue lapping me up, tasting every inch of me. I grabbed his hair hard as pleasure bloomed hot and fast and wrong. God, it was so wrong, this man between my legs, licking me like this, after what had happened tonight.

  But I wanted it. I gripped his hair, I moved my hips, I let him lick me faster, his tongue on my swollen clit. I moaned, curled my spine forward, whispered his name. “Luca, god, yes,” I said, gasping.

  He kept going, licking faster, rolling his tongue along my spot like he knew exactly where I wanted him to touch. I moved my hips, matching his rhythm, my body on fire with need, so much need, so much pleasure, all of the pain and sadness and fear disappearing, overwhelmed by his touch, by his tongue between my legs.

  I gasped, my back arching. He sucked my clit just right, tongue rolling around it, moving faster, and I knew I couldn’t last longer. It was wrong, so wrong, and it felt so good, made it so much better.

  “Fuck,” I gasped, “Oh, fuck, Luca.”

  He didn’t speak, didn’t stop. His hands gripped my ass and hips, holding me tight and still. I leaned back, grabbed the top of the couch, my body tensing, beginning to tremble, to shake, as pleasure washed over me, ballooned through me. I gasped, staccato and incredible, as the orgasm swelled through me in an intense burst of pure ecstasy.

  I released, god, yes, I released and he seemed greedy for it, lapping me up, licking me through it, sucking my lip and making me laugh like an idiot. I was flushed, sweating, and when the orgasm slowly began to fade, he pulled back and looked at me, a smirk on his gorgeous lips.

  I leaned down and kissed him. I tasted myself on his tongue and didn’t care.

  He stood, kissed me back, and held me tight for a long moment.

  “There,” he said, kissed me one more time, and left my room.

  I sat there, head swimming, body flushed, breathing hard. I’d never come like that before in my life, never had a man get me off with such ease.

  I wanted to call him back. Wanted to beg him to take me, or at least to wrap his muscular arms around me and
hold me tight.

  Instead, I flopped back on the bed and stared up at the gauzy curtains that hung at the top of the four posts, crowning the frame, and wondered how I’d come so far.

  16

  Luca

  I woke up with the girl’s taste still on my tongue and couldn’t shake it. I used the bathroom, showered off, put on fresh clothes, and was about to step out into the hall to explore our little wing of the Don’s absurd mansion when the small black phone next to my oversized bed began to chirp.

  I paused for just a second before picking up. “Yeah?” I asked.

  “Good morning, Luca,” the voice said. It was feminine, a little bit older, thick Philly accent. “Don wants to speak with you.”

  “Yeah, right, sure. I can do that. Who, uh, who is this?”

  “My name is Eunice,” she said. “I run the Don’s household.”

  “I thought that’s what Roberto did.”

  She didn’t sound amused. “I’m sure he thinks that. Please make your way to his study. Out the door at the far end of your hall, take the first stairs you find, then turn right. His door will be at the end of that hall.”

  “Got it,” I said and hung up.

  I followed Eunice’s directions, headed down the hall, took the stairs, turned right, and ended up outside a pair of double doors that I recognized from previous visits to the Don’s house. I hesitated, not sure what to do, then decided to knock a few times.

  I heard a muffled sound from inside and cracked the door open.

  “Don, sir?” I asked.

  “Come on, come inside.”

  I stepped in, closing the door behind me. Don Leone sat at a table on the right, what was usually a card table covered in green felt, but was currently covered by a flat, polished slab of hardwood. There was a plate of eggs and toast in front of him, along with a gleaming silver carafe, a steaming mug of coffee, and half a grapefruit. He gestured at the chair across from him.

  “Sit,” he said. “Eat.”

  I walked over, pulled out the chair, sat down. The plate in front of me was covered by a silver dome, which I removed and placed on the floor. I had an identical meal in front of me, except mine included bacon. I caught the Don eyeing my bacon with a hungry stare, but he quickly looked away.

  “I hope I’m not disturbing you, Don Leone,” I said. “I really appreciate you letting me bring Clair and her mother here.”

  The Don waved a hand in the air. “No problem at all,” he said. “I have the room to spare. Truth is, I should’ve had them here sooner, but I’ll admit to being a little selfish. I knew Clair’s mother would give me trouble, and I wasn’t looking forward to it.”

  “I’ve met the woman, sir, and I can understand your reluctance.”

  He smiled at that, speared a chunk of grapefruit, tossed it into his wet mouth. He chewed and narrowed his eyes at me, brandishing his thin silver fork.

  “I understand you’ve been busy,” he said, “that you had a very eventful night.”

  “Yes, sir,” I said. “Although one of ours got hit. Do you know if he’s okay?”

  “Steven checked in a half hour ago,” Don Leone said. “Asked about you. Said to inform you that Alex is doing fine.”

  I nodded, relieved. I was afraid that wound was worse than it looked. “That’s good news.”

  “I suppose it is.” The Don looked at me for a moment, speared more grapefruit, ate it. “I need to ask you something, Luca. Something important, and you need to swear you’ll be honest.”

  “Of course,” I said.

  “Do you trust Clair’s mother?”

  I frowned at the question, not sure how to answer. I stalled by flipping over an overturned mug and filling it with coffee. When I finished, I took a long sip, then nodded my head.

  “Yes, I do.”

  “That was a very long pause,” he said.

  “I had to consider it,” I said. “Because I don’t know her very well.”

  He nodded slowly. “Prudent. And why did you eventually decide the way that you did?”

  “Because she’s Clair’s mother,” I said. “And she clearly cares about her. Even if she’s difficult and she hates the family, I don’t think she’ll do anything that goes against Clair’s best interests.”

  “So long as our interests align with Clair’s, then we will be okay in her eyes,” Don Leone said.

  “That’s right, sir,” I said. “That’s my assumption, at least.”

  “Interesting.” He cleared his throat, looked at the grapefruit, made a face. “You know, I hate this stuff.”

  “Really?” I asked. “Why do you eat it then?”

  “I’m told it’s… healthy.” He sighed, speared a chunk, ate it. “Any fruit that requires you to add sugar in order to make it palatable is suspect at best in my eyes.”

  “You know it isn’t healthy anymore once you add the sugar to it.”

  He gave me a flat look. “I’m aware.”

  I opened my mouth then closed it again and took another sip of my coffee. The bacon and eggs went untouched in front me, though I did pick up and bite a piece of dry toast, just to have something to do with my hands.

  “Luca, I’m going to be honest with you,” Don Leone said after an excruciatingly long and uncomfortable silence. “I have some concerns about Clair.”

  “What concerns are those, Don?” I asked.

  “I worry about her longevity,” he said. “I worry that she won’t be able to see this thing through.”

  “She’s tougher than she seems,” I said.

  “If she’s anything like her mother, I assume she despises everything we stand for.”

  “She does,” I said. “I can’t deny that. She hates violence and grew up hearing horror stories about the mafia from her mother, so she’s more than a little inclined to hate everything about our organization.”

  “So then why do you think she’ll stick through it all?”

  “Because she’s tough,” I said. “And because she has no other choice.”

  He gave me a flat look. “It isn’t because you like her?”

  “I like her because she’s strong,” I said. “Not the other way around.”

  “Interesting.” He twirled his fork and let out a weary sigh. “I’ll admit, I’ve begun to wonder if this little operation wasn’t more trouble than it’s worth.”

  “Have the Jalisco attacked openly yet?”

  “Not yet,” he said. “But there are whispers that they’re consolidating their strength. I worry about them as well, Luca. Although we’ve hurt them very badly, they still have a lot of strength south of the border, and they could bring it down on us if they chose to.”

  “I thought the Gulf Cartel was keeping them busy.”

  “Not busy enough.” Don Leone put down his fork and stared at me before pushing back from the table. He got to his feet with some difficulty, picking up his cane from where it leaned against the chair. He walked over to his desk and I stood to follow him, but he held up a hand for me to wait.

  He reached his desk and took something out of a drawer. It was a rectangle, heavy, plastic. I recognized the laptop I’d stolen last night.

  “You know what this is?” he asked.

  “Yes, sir,” I said.

  “I had one of my young tech boys go through it an hour ago. We found some very interesting documents.”

  “Like what, sir?”

  “Documents pertaining to weapons purchases. They’re gearing up much more than we had anticipated.”

  I frowned, tilted my head. “That doesn’t make sense though. They’re still outmanned and outnumbered, even if they have more guns than we do. It’s not a fight worth having.”

  “An inferior force can still do a lot of damage with the right weapons,” Don Leone said. “And it seems as though the Jalisco are preparing the right weapons.”

  I nodded and took a deep breath. “What can I do, sir?”

  “Convince Clair to speed things along,” Don Leone said. “Convince Cl
air’s mother to behave. Watch over both of them very, very carefully. This situation is getting more and more dangerous. I need you to be on top of it.”

  “I will, sir.”

  “Good.” He looked down for a long moment at the laptop then looked back up at me. “If Clair gives us those buildings, the Leone Crime Family will be something much bigger than we ever anticipated. The family up in New York is growing nicely, gaining some power, rivaling some of the stronger gangs. If we can establish ourselves in Chicago, I don’t see why we couldn’t spread out across the entire country.”

  I stared at him for a moment, trying to imagine what that would be like, and failed to envision it.

  The beauty of the family was its size. We were a strong mafia, large enough to control a city, but not so large that I didn’t know almost everyone by name and face. If the family spread itself out all over the place, it would cease to be the thing that I’d grown accustomed to, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

  But ultimately, it didn’t matter. I was sworn to the family, and I’d do anything to protect it.

  “I’ll try my best, sir,” I said.

  “Good.” He nodded, checked his wristwatch. “I have an appointment soon, if you wouldn’t mind.”

  “Of course.” I turned to leave and made it to the door when he called my name again. I turned to face the Don, one hand on the doorknob.

  “Be careful,” he said. “Clair’s mother won’t be easy on you.”

  “No, I don’t think she will be,” I said with a little smile, then left his office, my mind buzzing.

  Things were happening fast. The Don wanted this wrapped up, but he seemed to think the Jalisco were going to hit and hit hard. But we were in the safest place in the city, so it was hard to imagine that they could reach us within these walls.

  Don Leone seemed to think it was possible, and so I had to be on guard.

  It was troubling though. I didn’t want to push Clair into something she wasn’t comfortable with, at least not faster than she was ready for. And I knew her mother wasn’t going to come along for the ride willingly.

  But they were my responsibility, and I’d do what I could.

  I walked back to our little private wing, Clair’s taste back on my lips, as I struggled with the path forward.