Dating A Mob Boss (The Dating Series Book 2)

by Love, B. T.

  “Sure, why not?”

  “Well, they’re long-stemmed roses . . .”

  “Oh that’s not a problem at all.” I opened my junk drawer and pulled out a pair of scissors. “I’ll just trim the stems down.”

  He crossed his arms and watched with amusement as I cut half of the length of the green stalks away. “You really are an amazing woman, you know that?”

  “Why is that?”

  “I don’t know, I’ve just never met a woman who would butcher a pair of expensive roses like that and put them in a pickle-jar vase.”

  “This is hardly butchering. I did nice clean cuts. See?” I said, holding up the ends of the stems in his direction.

  He nodded with approval. “Yeah, I see.”

  I opened the lid and pulled out the lone pickle. “Last chance. You want it?”

  “I’ll pass.”

  I shrugged and took a crisp bite while pouring the juice down the drain and rinsing out the jar. “I made shredded beef tacos for dinner.”

  “It smells amazing.”

  “Well hopefully it will taste as good as it smells.”

  “I’m sure it will.”

  I filled the jar with water and placed it on the counter before sliding my shortened bouquet down into it. “There.”

  He nodded pleasantly. “I have to admit you did a nice job. You’re good at using what you have to make things work.”

  “Thanks.”

  “And I like the fabric you picked out for the couch. I’m gonna have to hire you to do something for me one of these days.”

  “Oh yeah? Like what?”

  “I have an old chair that belonged to my dad that needs to be reupholstered. I think you’re the woman to do it.”

  “Sure,” I smiled. “But I’m not charging you.”

  “Why not? That’s the only way I’m able to give you any money. Well, besides tipping you at work.”

  “I don’t need any money from you, Trent. I’m doing okay.”

  “Yeah, I know,” he nodded.

  I looked over at the simmering crockpot on my kitchen counter. “Well,” I said, slapping my hands together, “you ready to eat?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  We spent the next hour sitting on the center of my living room floor, eating until we were stuffed and chatting happily about life, love, and everything in between. I was so relaxed with him; he was such a comfort to me. I was glad he was there.

  I took a sip of my coffee and smiled. “You’re right. This stuff really is good.”

  “See? I told you.” He crossed his legs and stared down at his cup. I could tell something was weighing heavily on his mind.

  “Are you okay?” I asked. Deep down I knew what he was thinking. We were both thinking about us and what the next step in our relationship would be.

  “I don’t know if I’m okay to be honest. When you left last night . . . I don’t know. It just really upset me. I was afraid I was never going to hear from you again.”

  “I hope you understand my reasoning, why I felt I had to leave.”

  He shrugged lightly. “I guess.” He lifted the cup to his lips for a drink but kept his eyes diverted from mine. “I gave those girls their jobs back.”

  “Good. I’m glad.”

  Awkward silence. I hated it. I just didn’t know what to say. I knew what I wanted to say: Trent, you are an amazing man who I am completely falling for. You make me laugh, you make me feel special. You even find interest in my hobbies and make me feel proud of what I do. You make me feel sexy and desired. I’ve never been more attracted to a man in my entire life. You’re a bad boy which is completely alluring but you are respectable at the same time which makes me want to claim you as my own. You protect me . . .

  I brushed away the thoughts that danced around in my head. Why? Because it came down to the fact that he still kept things from me. Our relationship wouldn’t be based on the honesty factor that I needed so desperately. My ex wasn’t honest, and it led to resentment. I never wanted to resent Trent.

  I glanced over at my wall of windows, each and every one open, letting in the crisp night air. I smiled. “Can I tell you something?” I asked.

  “Sure.”

  “When I moved into this apartment everyone told me to keep my windows closed. I mean, time after time they warned me that people would find a way to get in, even though I’m up this high. I listened; I took them very seriously. But then I met you and you started coming around and talking about me around town. People link me to you and because of that they won’t dare mess with me. And you know what? Those windows are open because of you. I can actually open them and feel safe. So thank you for that.”

  His eyes finally lifted from his cup and linked with mine, their hazel color brilliant and intoxicating. “That’s exactly what I wanted you to see, that I’ll protect you. You don’t have to worry about people like—”

  “Like your grandfather?”

  “Yeah,” he sighed with frustration. “Like my grandfather, I guess. I don’t know why you’re so afraid of him. You’ve never even met him.”

  “But I’ve heard stories.”

  “Yeah, I know. You’ve heard a lot of stories about me too I’m sure.”

  “Not like your grandfather.”

  He sat his cup on the floor and laid down on his side, propping himself up on his arm. “Listen, I’m going to be frank here. I want you. So let’s just get all this crap out of the way. Ask me whatever you want and I’ll answer so you can get over your fears and be with me.”

  I blushed, feeling the overwhelming heat touch hidden places on my body from his forward statement. “Whatever I want?” I asked.

  “I’m an open book.”

  I stared blankly at him and took a sip of coffee while dozens of questions entered my mind. “Okay,” I said, sitting my cup down and leaning forward. “What kind of business are you in with Stevie?”

  “Cocaine.”

  “Really?” I perked up, surprised he had answered so quickly and truthfully.

  “Yes.”

  “And that’s all you’re involved in with him?”

  “Yes.”

  I took a second to absorb the revelation. “Hmm. Well, you said if I were with you no one would mess with me. Stevie certainly wasn’t afraid to mess with me at the restaurant.”

  He chuckled deeply. “That’s not messing with you.”

  “It’s not?”

  “No. I mean, he had a lot of nerve to talk to you like that but that guy’s a jackass anyway. Believe me, he wouldn’t think of doing anything serious to you.”

  “Oh, well, good.”

  “What’s your next question? Let’s not drag this out any longer than we have to.”

  “Is Trent Falco feeling the pressure?” I teased.

  His lips pulled back with that sexy confident smile I loved so much. “Not at all. I just don’t like talking business with you to be quite honest. But I’m willing to do it if it means you’ll trust me.”

  “And you’re probably bummed that you don’t have a cigar . . .”

  “Are you gonna sit there and make fun of me all night or are you gonna get to business and ask your questions?” His eyes were sparkling; I could tell on some level that he was enjoying our banter.

  “Okay, okay.” I laid down beside him with my head propped up by my hand, our faces a foot away from each other’s. “Cocaine. That’s some pretty serious stuff.”

  “That makes some pretty serious money.”

  “Aren’t you afraid of getting caught?”

  “Nah. I have a ton of guys below me who would take the heat before I would. Stevie being one of them.” He reached out and placed his hand against my cheek. “You are so beautiful, you know that?”

  I smiled and leaned into his palm. “You sure about that? I’m somehow running on zero sleep. I feel like I look awful.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure. I don’t think there is ever an instance where you can look awful in my eyes.”

  “Well y
ou should see what I see right now looking at you.”

  “What do you see?” he asked, stroking my cheek once more before taking his hand away.

  “I see a devastatingly handsome man with incredible sex appeal.”

  “Really?” he said with satisfaction as his eyebrows lifted on his forehead. “Well I’m glad to hear it.”

  “Oh like you didn’t already know that about yourself. You should have seen the women who were drooling over you in the club.”

  “Ah, that doesn’t matter,” he shrugged. “I only see one woman anyway.”

  God he sure knew the right words to say. I smiled and mentally composed myself, telling my body not to lunge forward on top of his as I pondered my next question. “Speaking of the club,” I went on, “do you deal drugs out of there?”

  “No.”

  “Well I know you do business up there in that room. What is it that you do there?”

  “It’s just where I discuss the cocaine operation with the other men I’m in business with.”

  “Like Stevie?”

  “Yeah. And I want you to be clear that I never sell any product myself. I’m at the top of the chain, not the bottom.”

  “Yeah, I know. And of course you’re involved in illegal gambling,” I added.

  “Is there any other kind?”

  “Yes,” I laughed. “Legal gambling.”

  He smiled. Jeez, those dimples. “I guess there’s that,” he replied.

  I rolled onto my stomach and sat up on my elbows, staring down at my hands while I folded them together. “Someone once told me that people who have messed with the Falco family have disappeared.”

  “Who told you that?” he asked.

  “Does it matter?”

  “I guess not.” He sighed and sat back up, taking his cup of coffee back into his hand. “I come from a family who’s dabbled in a lot of illegal activity, dating back to the fifties. I can’t deny that people who have crossed my family have been, you know, taken care of.”

  I followed his lead and sat up as well. “So your grandpa has killed people?”

  “Yeah,” he said, taking a sip from his cup.

  The truth scared me. But at the same time I already knew it was a reality. His grandpa ruled in the fifties and sixties. It was a different time then.

  Trent seemed nervous. His eyes looked about everywhere else in the room but at me. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  “Nothing. I just don’t like talking about this stuff. It brings back bad memories.”

  “About what? Your dad?”

  “That’s a big part of it yeah.”

  I swallowed the lump that was forming in my throat. “Trent? You said I can ask you anything, right?” He nodded, keeping his eyes on his cup. “I’m afraid you’ll be mad if I ask it though.”

  “I already know what you’re question is. I won’t be mad.”

  I nodded to myself and paused before asking the biggest question of all, “Have you ever killed someone?”

  The question hung in the silence between us. He brought his cup to his lips. “No,” he answered before taking a sip. I breathed an inward sigh of relief. “But,” he added slowly after he swallowed, “it doesn’t mean I haven’t ordered someone else to do it for me.”

  I didn’t know what to say. First he said no, which surprised me actually. But then it turned out he had ordered someone else to do it for him. Who was this man I was getting ready to be serious with? Did I want to be involved in that much danger?

  “What does that mean exactly?” I finally asked.

  He looked up at me. “What do you mean? Isn’t it pretty self-explanatory?”

  “Well how about you just tell me the facts so I don’t have to try and figure it out on my own?”

  “Because it’s not that simple.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because then you would know my business.”

  I crossed my arms, irritated that this my business crap was coming up again. “Then just leave then Trent.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Because if you can’t be honest with me then I don’t want anything to do with you.”

  “Well I don’t even know if you’ll be with me anyway after me telling you all this private stuff.”

  “Well maybe I will, you never know.”

  “God,” he huffed, slamming his empty cup down on the floor. “What is it about you, huh? You’re like a drug to me; I can’t stay away from you. You make me do things that I normally don’t do, I want you to know that.” He looked even sexier when he was angry.

  “Well the feeling’s mutual.”

  “Oh yeah? Well why don’t you prove it then?”

  I don’t know what got into me, but I lunged forward, wrapping my arms around his neck and pressing my lips to his. He was so taken off-guard by my behavior that it took him a couple of seconds to respond, but once he did, oh lord was he amazing. He wrapped his arms around my waist and flipped me over, laying me gently against the floor. But that was the end of his gentle touch. He pressed against me with all his weight, satisfying the need I had to feel him over me. His tongue entered my mouth and he kissed me deeper than ever before. I could tell he’d been waiting to do that; I could tell that satisfied a need that he had.

  There was something about this man, his masculinity, his power. I wanted him wholeheartedly and I couldn’t deny it any longer. But there was more to it than that. I valued our long conversations. He was someone I could talk easily to, and honestly without me realizing it, he had become my best friend.

  I reached down his back and grabbed at his shirt, pulling it up so he would get the hint that I wanted him to take it off. He sat back and obeyed my order, pulling it up over his head.

  “Oh my god, you’re in such good shape!” I panted as I ran my hands down his prominent six pack.

  He didn’t say a word, but instead he just stared at me with hungry eyes and dove back down on top of me. I imagine he wanted to show me what kind of lover he was before I could change my mind; for a millisecond I almost did, but that was before his teeth grazed my neck. And then he moved south, pulling up my shirt and tracing along my skin with his tongue. After a few seconds my shirt was completely off and my bra went with it.

  It was heaven feeling the bare skin of his firm chest pressed against mine. His body was so warm and strong, and I felt completely ready to give myself to him. I moved my hips against his and he smiled with confidence. He brought his hand to my pants and somehow got them and my underwear off in a flash. Then his were off just as fast and we were pressed together with my legs wrapped tightly around him.

  There we were, completely naked in the middle of my living room floor, making love on the wood he worked so hard on to make like new. And now he was working hard on me, grinding against my body and wearing down my invisible wall, and I was becoming like new.

  * * *

  Trent completely satisfied me. Actually, that’s an understatement. Trent completely ravaged me, but it was in the most heavenly way possible. A man had never made love to me like that before. He was soft and gentle at moments, but at others he was carnal and dominant, asserting himself like the powerful man he so undeniably was. I was hooked.

  He held me against him with one muscular arm while his other formed a pillow behind his head. “What on earth did I do to deserve you?” he asked.

  I nuzzled against him and peeked up at his face. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, after telling you some of my secrets I figured you would leave me, not jump me.”

  “I guess you were wrong,” I smiled.

  “This is one time I can honestly say I’m happy to be wrong.”

  I slid on top of him and folded my arms over his chest, resting my chin against my wrist. “Tell me more.”

  “More? Like what?”

  “Tell me more about what we were discussing earlier.”

  “You don’t want to hear about that crap.”

  “But I do.” I pouted my lips and gave him
my best set of doe eyes.

  “Ok, just so you know, that look is gonna get you anything you want in the future so keep that one in your arsenal of tricks.”

  “Good,” I smiled.

  He brought his hand up and stroked the hair out of my face, his expression growing serious. “I’m not always proud of the things I do. But sometimes they’re necessary. My dad worked under my grandfather setting up drug exchanges among other things. He was different from him, though.”

  “How?”

  “My dad was softer, I guess. He gave people breaks who didn’t have his money right away; he didn’t ask questions if somethin’ didn’t get done right.”

  “Was he softer than you?”

  He smiled a gentle reminiscent smile. “Yeah. I have a lot of his qualities but in my personal life only. When it comes to business I don’t mess around. That’s how I’ve become so successful.”

  “Is that why people are so afraid of you?”

  “Yes. Everyone but you, of course.” I smiled as he continued, “Anyway, after he was murdered I vowed to get revenge on whoever had a part in it. I was a kid at the time but I listened to my grandfather’s conversations and pieced together what they were talking so quietly about.”

  “But didn’t your grandfather have them taken care of?”

  “Oh yeah, definitely. He had them knocked off one by one.”

  “Who were they?”

  “Another family who dealt in drug trafficking that wanted our territory. I think I told you about them back when we were at the rose garden. The Petini family.”

  “Oh yeah, that’s right.”

  “They were small time, nothing like our family.”

  “Well, then where did you come in in all this?”

  He sighed through his nose and stared up at the ceiling, bringing the memory to mind. “When I was eighteen I was already doing a lot for my grandfather. He started training me in the family business not long after my dad was gone. By that time I had, what, like five or six hundred thousand dollars in the bank.”

  “Are you kidding me?” I cut in.

  “No, not at all. I gained a lot of respect and even had men twice my age working under me, runnin’ drugs and stuff. Then one day I found out that the head of the Petini family who had ordered my dad’s murder had a son who wasn’t much older than I was at the time. I don’t know why but I was just enraged that someone carrying that name still existed.”