Hook Me (Men of Inked)

by Chelle Bliss

  When the crowd thinned, I sat down, resting my head against the wall. I could hear Mia talking in the back as she continued to walk room to room with the few people left. I closed my eyes and listened to her voice.

  Soft warm lips pressed against mine. As I opened my eyes, I hoped they were Mia’s. “Everyone’s gone. Are you ready?” she asked as she pulled away.

  “Yeah, we better go before Mama Gallo puts out an APB.”

  She giggled, climbing in my lap. “You make her sound so horrible, but your mom is a sweetheart,” she said, resting her forehead against mine.

  “You’ve never seen her other side, Mia. She’s Italian and has a temper. No mild mannered woman can raise four boys.”

  “I’ll remember that,” she said, caressing my cheek.

  “If we sit here any long I’m going to christen the waiting room and maybe one of the exam rooms. How do those stirrup things work again?” I smirked against her lips.

  Mia smacked me, shaking her head. “Oh, no you don’t. Not today, at least.” She jumped off my lap and held her hand out.

  “You’re lucky my ma is waiting or else I’d say fuck it, and take you right here, right now.” I grabbed her hand.

  “Yeah, just my luck.” She rolled her eyes and giggled.

  To see Mia so happy and full of laughter made everything worth it. The long hours at the clinic and shop, busting my ass to get it done right.

  She completed me.

  Jesus, now I’m quoting “Jerry McGuire”.

  Dick check. It’s still there. Whew.

  I may not be a pussy, although I’d never it admit, I was pussy whipped.

  Mia did that to me and I couldn’t be fucking happier.

  “All women are crazy,” I said as we walked to my parents’ front door.

  “Let’s qualify crazy.” She coughed.

  I called Tammy crazy, but my ma wasn’t. Ma was more excessive than crazy. There wasn’t an open spot in the driveway or on their block for that matter.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, tilting her head.

  “I told my ma to have a small get together. There has to be at least fifty people in that house based on all these cars.”

  “Leave her alone. It makes her happy, right?” Mia asked, rubbing my arm.

  “Yeah,” I said, grabbing her hand and placing a kiss in her palm.

  “Everyone is waiting to see you.”

  “To see us, Mia, not just me.” I pushed opened the door and shook my head.

  “Hey,” a few voice sounded as we walked inside.

  I couldn’t see an open space from the foyer, through the great room and out to the pool. Wall to wall people, holding drinks filled my parents’ home. I held Mia’s hand as we made our way through the house.

  “Wait,” she said, stopping to grab a photo from a side table near the couch.

  “What?”

  Holding it close to her face she asked, “Is this you?” She looked at me and back to the photo.

  “Yep, that’s me.” I forgot my mother had the photo sitting out for the world to see.

  “You look so…so….” She swiped her fingers across the glass with a smile.

  “Handsome? Buff? Sexy?” I asked with a grin.

  “I was going to say young, but we can go with your descriptions if you prefer,” she said and giggled.

  “I was a whole lot of trouble back then,” I said as I grabbed my freshman year wrestling photo.

  Too much of my manhood showed through the tiny maroon singlet, but when I had it on back in the day, I wore it like a proud son of a bitch.

  “You haven’t changed much since then,” she said as I put the photo back exactly where my mother had it.

  “Checking out my cock?” I whispered in her ear.

  “Shh.” She turned, hitting me. “Someone might hear you.”

  “They’re loud and Italian, trust me, they didn’t hear a thing.”

  “I did,” Joe said as he smacked my ass with his cane.

  “Lucky I don’t hit the handicapped, brother.” I gave him a giant bear hug. “Where’s Suzy?” I asked looking around.

  “Girl talking. It makes me bat shit crazy. I love the woman, but being with her twenty-four-seven can be a test to any relationship.” He shook his head and laughed. “Thank god I can walk now and go to the shop for a couple hours”

  “I haven’t talked to the girls lately. Maybe I’ll go join them and let you two chat.” Mia kissed my cheek.

  “Go ahead, love. I’ll find Ma and let her know we’re here.” I patted her ass and watched her walk away.

  “You got it bad, bro. It’s nice to see I’m not the only one around here being led around by my balls.” Joe slapped me on the back.

  I sighed. This family–I loved them, but they were all a pain in the ass.

  Mia

  I felt like I weighed two hundred pounds as I grabbed the open spot next to Suzy on the couch. “My god, do they always eat like this?” I asked.

  “Always,” Suzy said with a sigh, leaning back as she rubbed her stomach. “I swear I’ve gained ten pounds since I started hanging out with this family. Everything revolves around food. Doesn’t matter the occasion food is always on hand.”

  “At least it’s good food,” I said, happy to be off my feet. The couch felt like lying on a cloud of feathers. The soft cotton material would make it hard to stay awake.

  “She’s the best cook ever. I look forward to coming here on Sunday. Don’t get me wrong, Joey is an amazing cook, but nothing beats his mother’s home cooking.”

  “I wish Michael could cook.”

  “Whatcha girls talking about?” Izzy said as she plopped her skinny ass between us.

  “Talking about your brothers,” Suzy said.

  “I have all the dirt, ladies. I can tell you some stories that would make you fall off the couch in a fit of giggles,” Izzy replied.

  “Why isn’t Anthony taken?” I asked.

  “He likes to play the field. Someday a lady will bring him to his knees and have him begging to be his. Until then, he prefers the man whore status. He’s gets a little carried away with his groupies,” Izzy said sarcastically. “Men, total pigs. It’s bullshit that he’s sowing his wild oats and playing the field and if a girl did that shit she’s easy and a slut.”

  “Sexism will never die,” Suzy replied, patting Izzy on the leg.

  “Not in this damn family-too many cocks for it to be equal. Having you ladies around helps, though. My ma and I have always been outnumbered.”

  She made me feel like I was part of the family. I wanted to fit in and be a member of this tight knit group. Holidays, including Christmas, had consisted of my parents and me for the last couple of years.

  “If you two bitches have kids they better have vaginas.” Izzy laughed. “The world isn’t big enough for anymore Gallo men.”

  “I don’t think you have to worry about that for a while,” I said quickly.

  “Yeah, not an issue,” Suzy said, sitting up.

  “Suzy, come on. Joey has your ass on your back more than a two-bit whore looking for her next fix. Your ass is going to get knocked up sooner or later.”

  “We’re careful, Izzy.”

  “Whatever. Someone better give my mother a damn grandchild. She’s already crocheting blankets and she’s going to get desperate and start bothering me if you ladies don’t come through. I’m entirely too young to ruin this body.”

  “Oh, shut the hell up, Izzy,” Suzy said as she slapped Izzy’s hand down.

  “I’m just saying, Suzy. It’s your duty to carry on the Gallo Legacy.”

  “Fucking great. Don’t let Joey hear you say that,” Suzy muttered, closing her eyes and pinching her nose between her fingers.

  A shadow fell over us and I peered up to see Joe looking at us with curiosity.

  “Let me hear Izzy say what?” Joe asked with a crooked smile.

  Suzy looked up, a giant smile painted on her face. “Nothing, sweetie,” she said without
flinching.

  “Babies, Joe. Get on that shit,” Izzy said, smacking his good leg.

  “I’m on that shit all time, aren’t I, sugar?

  Her cheeks turned pink as she looked at him “There’s always room for improvement,” she said with a smirk.

  I loved this family as much as I loved Michael. They had become my home away from home with my parents back in Minnesota. Suzy and Izzy were the sisters I never had and always wanted.

  Michael was my savior.

  Saving me from my nightmare, from the heart crushing sadness of the ER and giving me the greatest gift of all–happiness.

  The End

  Izzy’s Story

  Men of Inked #3

  Sneak Peek

  Coming Early Fall 2014

  “None of your mouthy bullshit that I love so much when we talk to these guys, got it?” Flash cocked an eyebrow, standing like a statue waiting for my answer.

  “I’m not mouthy,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

  “Darlin’, ya are, and I fuckin’ love it.” His smile grew wide, giving me a glimpse of why they called him Flash. He had a perfect smile filled with shiny pearly white teeth–a smile that could charm the pants off any girl. It did funny things to my brain and I couldn’t say no to him. “In this bar, with these guys, it’s not the place. Understand? I’m a prospect and that shit won’t fly here.”

  I slid my arm around his waist and looked up into his baby blues. “I got it. I’m to be seen and not heard?”

  “That’s how these guys are. If you don’t like something they say, just keep quiet.”

  The last thing I want to be is a piece of arm candy that faded away in the background. It’s not how I was raised. “Let’s get one thing straight, Flash. I know you’re badass and all, but I don’t stand in the shadows for anyone. Understand?”

  “Fucking hell,” he muttered, rubbing his face.

  “I’ll play the part this once, for you, but hear me now, mister; I’m not a club whore and I sure as hell ain’t your old lady. I don’t know what in the hell we are exactly, but if you want to be more than whatever the fuck this is,” I waved my hand in the air between us, “I will not stay quiet and be a mindless twat.”

  “Calm the fuck down, woman,” he said as he wrapped his fingers around my wrist. “I don’t think of you that way. This is for them.” He turned his attention to the table full of rough looking men sitting about twenty feet away.

  I could handle big and burly. I was a Gallo girl, after all. I didn’t grow up a pussy.

  “Just please do this for me and I’ll make sure to make it worth your while,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows and giving me a cocky ass grin.

  “I won’t make a scene and walk out, but you owe me big time.” I pulled my wrist out of his loose grip.

  “Whatever you want, Izzy. You know that.” His eyes softened as he looked down at me.

  “I’m going to use my silent time to come up with something really big.” I swiped my fingers across the small hint of chest hair peeking out just above his collar.

  “I can do big,” he laughed and grabbed my hand to pull me toward the table.

  “Fucker,” I muttered to myself as I followed behind.

  He looked over his shoulder at me and said, “I heard that.”

  When he stopped suddenly, I ran right into his back and it felt like a brick wall. I used his body as a shield from the men at the table. I didn’t know if I had an off switch and this wasn’t really the place for me to find out. Just keep my eyes down and pray their little hello doesn’t last long.

  Flash leaned over the table and shook hands as I stood behind him pretending to be invisible–something I’ve never done for anyone.

  Ever.

  When he said he wanted to take me to Bike Week in Daytona Beach for the weekend, I couldn’t have imagined anything better. The feel of the wind in my hair, the sand between my toes, and a shitload of hot bikers–what could be bad about that?

  I didn’t expect this and I didn’t like it one bit. Flash would have to pay and pay dearly to make up for this ‘be seen and not heard’ bullshit.

  “And who do we have here?” a rough sounding voice asked, pulling me out of my thoughts of how I’d torture Flash.

  Flash shifted, reaching around to grab my hand and pulled me to his side. “This is Izzy, my woman.”

  What the fuck? I wasn’t his woman.

  We had an agreement of sorts, but to call the naughty things we did a relationship was overstating it just a tad.

  I looked up at him and gave him a death glare and I saw the corner of his mouth move. He knew it was a total cocker sucker move and would have me biting my tongue.

  “Well aren’t you a fine piece of ass, Izzy? Is that short for Isabella?”

  I turned my attention to the genius that put two together and smiled my biggest bullshit smile I could muster. “Yes, it is.” I swallowed the other words I wanted to say as I stared at him, smiling like an idiot.

  He wasn’t a bad looking man for someone of his age. His long gray hair was pulled back in a low-slung ponytail making his emerald green eyes stand out. A small patch of salt-n-pepper facial hair framed his thin lips. He looked a little like Santa Clause on crack. The vest covering his black t-shirt was the same cut as the one Flash wore but had more patches including one that stated he was the VP.

  “Why don’t you sit down with us and have a drink?” He patted the empty chair next to him lightly and never took his eyes off me.

  Flash moved in front of me and started to sit when the VP grabbed his arm. “I meant her you idiot, not you.”

  Flash stopped dead with his ass hovering just about the seat. “Oh, sorry man.”

  What type of man would let another one talk to him that way? The way he said “idiot” wasn’t the same as when my brother’s called each other jackass or dumbfuck. His dislike for Flash was clearly evident in his tone at least to me, but Flash just listened like a good soldier.

  I slid into the wooden chair next to him as Flash gripped my shoulder. “Thanks,” I whispered.

  “My name’s Rebel,” he said as he grabbed my hand off my leg and ran his prickly lips across my skin. “These are the guys.” He placed my hand on his leg before grabbing his beer.

  Flashes’ grip on my shoulder hardened and I didn’t dare look up at him. Fuck. “Hey,” I said as I slowly looked around the table.

  They all said “hey” and smiled except for one man. The long hair hid his face as he picked at the label of the bottle. His reaction to me wasn’t friendly or welcoming, he was avoiding me.

  “So, Isabella,” Rebel said, pulling my attention back to him, “can I call you Isabella? You don’t mind, do you?” He leaned into my personal space and squeezed my thigh.

  Fuck.

  Flash had my shoulder and Rebel my thigh and I knew that Flash wouldn’t do shit. He was the underling; the one trying to get in the club and Rebel knew it. I just needed to be agreeable and get the hell out of here for my sake and for Flashes’ pussy ass.

  I bit the corner of my bottom lip before I responded. “Sure.”

  The only people in my life that called me Isabella, that was allowed to call me by my full name, were my parents. I didn’t think telling Rebel to go fuck himself would be good for anyone.

  Out of the corner of my eye, as I pretended to be nice to Rebel, I saw the mysterious man looking at me. I could feel his stare boring a hole right into me. I’d steal a glance, just for a second before returning my attention to Rebel. His behavior a moment ago didn’t match the rest of the men at the table and for that it was worth the look.

  I looked at him again, more carefully this time. My eyes grew wide and all the air left my lungs. I’d seen those blue eyes that shot daggers at me before.

  The smile that I loved so much and the handsome boyish looks were gone. His features were hardened and small lines had formed around his eyes since the last time I saw him.

  He didn’t look like the teenager tha
t pushed me on my swing set and taught me how to throw a punch and defend myself. The man with the firm set lips and the glare focused entirely on me didn’t look a thing like him, like my brother Thomas.

  Izzy’s story is coming early Fall 2014.

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  I’m an avid reader; consuming contemporary romance, dark reads, young adult, and all things erotica. I want to create books filled with characters that readers could relate to with real world problems and matching wallets.

  I love to travel and my favorite cities are New Orleans and Paris. I currently live in Florida with my amazing boyfriend and my two kittens, Nola and Peanut. He’s showed her the love and passion that I have poured into my books.

  I would like to thank my readers, fans, and supporters. You’ve made the last nine months the most amazing experience of my life. I’m blessed to have such amazing friends. You’ve cheered me on when I was too tired to write and your amazing reviews drove me forward, trying to bring you Hook Me as quickly as possible.

  Thank you to Melissa Gill for helping me design an amazing cover once again. It’s hard to top the Throttle Me cover, but I love the Hook Me cover almost as much. I can’t wait to work on the rest of the Gallo Family. I know I drive you crazy with my need for perfection and I love that you’re willing to be patient with me.

  To Tee Tate aka Eden Butler, thank you for reading Hook Me over and over again making it ready for the world. You’re comments helped keep me calm during the two short months between releases. You’re an amazing editor and an even better writer. I want to write like you when I grow up, babe.

  Brenda Wright, you rock! Even after surgery you were willing to drop everything and format Hook Me for release. You’ve been a constant in my life since my very first release. I love you, B.