Madame Moll (Gun Moll Book 3)

by Bethany-Kris

  “So I was told.”

  “You want to grab some grub?” Mac asked. “You’ve got a physical therapy appointment today, too, right?”

  Enric didn’t answer, instead saying, “She never made me feel out of place—Neeya, I mean. I came from another woman, before her, but she had no reason to accept me if she didn’t want to being his wife and all. I was the bastard son, nothing more. But she still tried. And even when I wouldn’t get close to Dad or her, she still kept trying for the girls’ sakes. I just never felt …”

  “Comfortable,” Mac said, filling in the obvious blank.

  “I’m wondering if that was a mistake, I guess.”

  “It’s better not to dwell on things you can’t change, Enric, and work on what you have right now, and where you want to go.”

  The young man nodded. “Sure.”

  “Easier said than done, I know.”

  Regret weighed heavily on everyone. It didn’t matter how broad the shoulders, that weight was an impossible one to carry without some sort of injury.

  “Food sounds good,” Enric said after a quiet moment. “I’ll probably have to miss the appointment, though. Lora has some sort of thing today, and she asked me to be there.”

  Mac waved his cellphone high. “Good thing is, we happen to have one of your therapists on speed dial—I’m sure Victoria won’t mind coming over to your place later to get something done.”

  “I would mind,” Enric muttered. “It’s bad enough having her at the clinic. She tries to kill me, I swear.”

  “She does not. She wants you to walk, like the rest of us do, so she pushes you because you can take it, and she knows it. Lock the pride down for a bit. There are more important things to worry about, Enric.”

  “Whatever you say.”

  Mac was going to respond, but his buzzing phone stopped him. He checked the screen only to see a messaging scrolling across from his wife. Direct, concerned words.

  Anthony is at The Dollhouse with lots of men. Not for my kind of business. It looks like a meeting. Get here now.

  Mac swore severely.

  What was that fucker up to now?

  He gave Enric an apologetic look and a shrug. “Food is going to have to wait. We have a situation to deal with.”

  Enric didn’t even ask what was going on. He simply followed behind Mac like the good solider he was, even in his state.

  There was boldness.

  And then there was blatant disrespect.

  Anthony Corelli was exhibiting the latter.

  Anthony coming into The Dollhouse on his own wasn’t a surprise. After all, he had a thing for Erika. But Anthony hadn’t done that. In fact, Erika was nowhere in sight and wasn’t scheduled to even be in this particular day. No. Anthony had done this purposely. With narrowed eyes, she watched as Anthony sat at the table holding court like he was some kind of king. A cigar in one hand, a glass of cognac in the other, he was the picture of a man without a care in the world.

  Everything in her itched to go over, and give him a piece of her mind, but at this point Melina knew it would do no good. Anthony was here for a reason—to disrespect her husband. She knew there was bad blood between the two men that predated her relationship with Mac, but this stunt had only reinforced just how bad the blood really was. If Anthony had come to her place of business with a few men that worked for him, she wouldn’t have liked it. However, she was a savvy businesswoman, and as long as the money was green she would take it.

  But this was something else.

  These were other Capos.

  Capos who had been appointed by Luca Pivetti.

  Capos who now seemed to be following the lead of Anthony Corelli.

  The jackals had already started to circle, and the prey wasn’t even dead.

  As Melina watched the men laughing and joking as if all was right in their world, she thought about Luca Pivetti. There had never been any love lost between her and the Pivetti Don. In fact, there had been a time when she thought the man wouldn’t be satisfied until she was permanently out of the picture. But times and situations had changed. Luca Pivetti’s life would never be the same. It was a shame that the formidable man who was now grieving his wife and the potential forever loss of his freedom probably had no idea he was already being betrayed. While there was a lot Melina would never know about the rules of la famiglia, she did know impatience and disrespect when she saw it.

  Melina glanced at the Cartier watch on her wrist. She’d texted her husband ten minutes ago. She had no idea where Mac’s day had taken him, but she hoped that he would be walking through the doors soon to set Anthony straight. Moving behind the bar, Melina quickly made herself a glass of rum and Coke. Taking two large sips, she set the glass down as her thoughts became more dangerous.

  It would be easy to kill a man like Anthony.

  Maybe easy wasn’t the right word.

  She wouldn’t shed a tear if the bastard was dead that was for certain.

  In fact, Melina was sure that the Pivetti Organization, as well as she and her husband, would all be better off, but there were rules that had to be followed. The murder of a made man had to be properly sanctioned. To do so without an approved order would equal the killer’s own death sentence. Anthony was safe for now.

  At least from her.

  No. She wouldn’t kill him, despite the fact that he’d sought to undermine her husband every chance he had. Despite the fact that he’d all but threatened their son. No, she couldn’t kill him right now.

  But that didn’t stop her desire from wanting to.

  Speak of the Devil.

  Melina took another sip of her drink. The velvety feeling of the rum coating her throat as Anthony rose from his seat. With a predator’s smile, he stubbed out his cigar before he came towards where she stood behind the bar.

  “Melina, always a pleasure to see you.”

  “I’m sure it is for you. Sorry, I can’t say the same.”

  He placed a hand over his heart. “You never miss a chance to cut me down, do you?”

  “You make yourself an easy target.”

  “Or perhaps there’s more to it than that,” Anthony alluded.

  Melina took another sip of her rum and Coke before she smirked. “And what would that be?”

  “I think as much as you pretend to detest me that isn’t really the case at all.”

  Melina laughed. “Your ego is way out of control so let me debase you of this foolish notion. I wouldn’t be with you if you were the last man on the planet. I’d rather die alone.”

  Anthony bristled, his brows knitting together. “You never know how you’ll react when faced with certain choices, my dear.”

  “In this case I do.”

  “Such a strong woman. I’m sure James Jr. doesn’t even realize just how lucky he is.”

  Melina fought the urge to grit her teeth. “Mac knows exactly how lucky he is. Anything else is a bullshit insinuation.”

  Anthony smiled. “Forgive me, bella. It was not my intention to upset you with my presence.”

  “Then how about you and your buddies remove yourselves and everything will be wonderful.”

  “This is a public establishment is it not?” Anthony asked.

  Melina opened her mouth to answer, but stopped when her husband rounded the corner. Her eyes slid to Mac’s face, and she didn’t miss the icy flames burning in his eyes. He didn’t even acknowledge the other men sitting at the tables. His gaze was reserved for Anthony and Anthony alone.

  “Of course, it is,” Mac said smoothly.

  Anthony shifted so that he could face Mac, a smirk on his face. “Ah, Mac. Nice of you to drop in.”

  “Somehow I doubt that’s true.”

  “Well maybe not entirely true. After all you did just interrupt a delightful conversation I was having with your stunning wife.”

  Melina’s gaze moved between Anthony, her husband, and the other Capos sitting at the tables watching the confrontation. Things could go south at any moment. A
nthony was deliberately goading Mac any way he could.

  “I’m sure Melina wouldn’t be of the same opinion, but that’s neither here nor there. I’m more curious as to why you’re calling public meetings these days.”

  As if you’re in charge.

  Mac’s unspoken words hung in the air between the two men.

  “Public meetings? Oh, Mac, my boy. I think paranoia is starting to set in a bit. There’s no meeting. Just a few good friends and businessmen patronizing an up and coming establishment. No doubt you and Melina are grateful for the business.”

  Mac’s eyes narrowed and a tic moved in his jaw. Melina didn’t know how Mac was keeping his cool. Anthony was obviously out for blood and using every slick comment he could to piss Mac off.

  “Even a blind man can see when a joker tries to set himself up as a king and blind I’m not, Anthony. I know Melina appreciates the invitation you sent to the other Capos to meet at her establishment. However, unless you gentlemen are interested in spending money on the other services The Dollhouse has to offer, might I suggest a change in venue.”

  “It seems things have happened that you aren’t privy to. With age comes experience, however, I think we’ve caused your wife enough stress this evening. Until we meet again.”

  Anthony smirked before he walked away unhurriedly back to where the other men sat. Melina and her husband watched in silence as he said something to them. One by one, they all stood and put their jackets on before they rose and took their leave. A few of them left wads of money on the tables. Others did not and only barely nodded at Mac. Anthony was the last to leave.

  “I really wish I could put a bullet between his eyes,” Melina finally said.

  “Me, too, doll.”

  Melina came from around the built in bar to stand in front of her husband. She took his face in her hands. “You got here pretty fast.”

  “I drove like hell.”

  “Why? Surely you couldn’t have thought I was in danger.”

  Mac’s eyes held hers. “Not really. Anthony is inappropriately fond of you, but you never know what crosses a mind like his. It doesn’t take a genius to know the best way to hurt me is through you and our son.”

  “I think I can safely say that Anthony is not interested in alienating me. In fact, he’s under some misrepresented belief that he intrigues me somehow.”

  Mac’s eyes narrowed until she barely could see their color. “On what fucking planet?”

  Melina slid her hands down her husband’s neck and to his broad shoulders. “The planet in his mind. When I assured him I’d rather die alone than be with him, he warned me that you never knew what decisions you’d make when situations arose. I think I understand what he was saying pretty loud and clear, Mac.”

  “So do I. He plans to set himself up as the new Don, and once he gets me out of the way it’s open season on you.”

  Mac’s nostrils flared and beneath her hands his body tensed as he stared off into space. Anthony had all but declared war. He wanted to destroy everything that she held dear to satisfy his own selfish lusts and greed.

  “I meant what I said, Mac. I’d rather die than belong to Anthony.”

  “You dying will never be an option. Not ever.”

  Mac focused his gaze on her. One of his hands came up to cup her face in his hand.

  “Good, because I have a lot more living to do.”

  “I’m going to stop him, doll. I swear it. No one is going to take you from me.”

  “There’s no way I would ever willingly go. There’s not a man alive who could ever take your place,” she told him.

  Mac smiled for the first time in a long time. “Good to know. Now why don’t you and I head home?”

  “Absolutely. Just let me tell the staff I’m leaving.”

  Melina gave Mac a quick kiss on the cheek before she stepped away to go talk to the skeletal staff on duty today. She’d made it down the hallway when she stopped and looked back. Her husband ran a tired hand across his face. The level of stress he was under was evident. He needed a chance to take his mind off things, and she had the perfect distraction in mind.

  Melina stood over Marquise’s crib watching him as he slept. The slow rise and fall of his chest. The way he wiggled his nose in his sleep. She could watch him sleep all night, but she wouldn’t tonight. There was someone else who needed her undivided attention. Leaning down she pressed a final kiss on her son’s temple before she went and quickly showered and dressed.

  Staring at herself in the mirror, Melina smiled. She looked damned good. Exactly what the doctor ordered. Adding the pair of black spiked heels that her husband loved to her outfit, Melina went in search of Mac. She was surprised to find him in their rarely used solarium that overlooked the pool. Mac leaned against the tempered glass door with his back to her.

  He was still, deathly so, but you couldn’t miss the sloop in his shoulders. The way his head was bent forward as if the weight of the world was on him. She wanted to take that weight from him as much as she could. At least tonight. Walking over to him she looped her arms around his waist and leaned against him. She inhaled his scent and they were silent, just the two of them in their own world.

  “I can’t remember the last time we’ve had a moment to just be still,” Mac finally said.

  “Neither can I. Feels nice, doesn’t it?”

  “I didn’t understand just how much I needed it until now,” Mac confessed.

  “Are you finally admitting you’re not invincible?” Melina teased.

  “Most definitely. I’m man enough to admit that I am not infallible.”

  “And that is one of the things that makes you such an amazing man. Not being afraid to admit that sometimes things get beyond your control. But no matter what you just keep moving forward.”

  “Motivational speaking, doll? I know some people who will pay good money for a message like that.”

  Melina thumped her husband. “I heard sarcasm.”

  Mac straightened and Melina loosened her arms around him, stepping away as he turned around to face her.

  “Never.”

  His eyes roved over her, as understanding dawned on him.

  “Positive about that?” she asked.

  He nodded, reaching out a hand to touch her hip.

  “Then why don’t you let me give you another kind of motivation?”

  Melina pushed him until his back was leaning against the glass.

  “What did you have in mind?” Mac asked.

  “Why don’t you let me take care of everything?” She pressed her hand against his chest as she leaned close to him.

  “Whatever my doll wants.”

  “Smart man.”

  Melina’s hands found his shoulders as their lips met. She kissed him, slow and unhurried. Her mouth opened, allowing his tongue to touch hers. Melina moaned as he kissed her deeper. Her breasts rubbed against him, nipples pebbling through the lace of her lingerie. One strong arm came to settle around her waist as they kissed.

  “You are so fucking sexy,” Mac whispered.

  “So are you,” she said between kisses.

  Mac’s lips traveled from her mouth to nip at the lobe of her ear, and she dug her nails into his shoulders. A pulsating ache was starting between her thighs. It was always like this.

  Every touch.

  Every kiss.

  A pleasure she would never get tired of.

  Melina bit her lip as Mac sucked on the lobe of her ear. She was rapidly losing the little control she had. If she wanted this evening to go the way she’d planned, she had to reign herself in. As his hot tongue traced the shell of her ear, Melina reached for his belt and quickly undid it before moving to the top button of his slacks. With one firm tug, his pants pooled around his ankles, leaving Mac in just his black boxer-briefs. The swell of his desire for her radiated hot against her hand, and she touched him through the material.

  “Bad girl,” Mac said.

  “You have no idea.”

  Mac l
eaned against the glass door, staring at Melina as her hand delved inside his boxer-briefs. When her hand closed around him, he groaned. Fiery and steel all wrapped in one. With her free hand she pulled his boxers down until his thick length was exposed. For a moment, she just stared at the masculine part of him that never failed to excite her. Even now, she could feel the moisture gathering between her thighs.

  “You keep looking at my cock like that, doll, and we’re going to have a real problem.”

  Melina laughed. “Is that so?” She stroked him slowly from base to tip. “Sounds like I’ll have to do something about that then.”

  In one fluid motion, Melina dropped to her knees and took Mac in her mouth.

  “Fuck.”

  Her tongue teased the tip of his cock, tasting the pre-cum that had gathered there.

  Salty.

  Tart.

  Uniquely Mac.

  Her pussy clenched in response as her mouth moved up and down the long length of him. Gently her teeth scraped over him as she sucked him hard. He filled her mouth completely as she relaxed allowing him to hit the back of her throat.

  “Look at me, doll.”

  Melina kept up her ministrations, but she refused to meet his eyes. She couldn’t. She knew what would happen if she did. Her thighs trembled as the heady desire to please her husband raced through her body.

  “Look at me while you suck my cock.”

  The need in his voice tugged at her. She moaned around him as she slide up his thick shaft to suck the head of his cock. Her tongue teased his slit, and then she finally met his gaze. If she hadn’t already been on her knees, they likely would’ve buckled at the force of desire in his eyes.

  Hot.

  Hungry.

  Need.

  “That’s it, doll. Just like that.”

  Melina cupped his balls as she increased her tempo. Her eyes watered as her head bobbed up and down. Mac groaned a strangled sound, and he swelled inside her mouth. She positioned him towards the back of her throat, sucked hard and then he was filling her mouth with the essence that was uniquely Mac. His eyes closed momentarily as he growled his release, before he was grabbing her under the arms and jerking her up from the floor.