She wanted me off of her, but I stayed put and waited until she focused on my eyes. However, her eyes never focused on mine. They went straight to my left pectoral and she froze. I didn’t have to ask her what was wrong, nor did I have to move my eyes from hers to see what had her shocked. I knew what it was. Actually, I had been waiting since last night for her to notice. When she hadn’t, I chalked it up to us being too busy doing other things for her to pay attention. Now in the light of day, “the morning after” if you will, and she had finally noticed.
She finally brought her questioning eyes to mine just as she brought her hands to my chest and softly traced my tattoo.
I have multiple tattoos all over my body. I have huge tribal style angel wings that spanned the width of my back. I have a cross in the middle of my abdomen, my navel being the heart of the cross. Along my left arm is a sleeve of tribal art, signifying prosperity, success, immortality, brilliance and the will and determination to destroy anyone or anything in my path. There were no words along my arms, only symbols and no one knew or understood them but me. No one knew the meaning of my newest addition to my pectoral muscle either. It was a tribal art style lion’s head that covered the complete left side of my upper chest. The lion’s mouth was open, roaring, showing it to be menacing and intimidating. The tattoo itself wasn’t the reason for Raquel’s sudden freakout. It was the design of the tattoo. The lion’s head was partially formed using the initials R.A.W.
“When did you get this?” she asked softly.
I slowly pulled out of her and rolled on my back bringing her with me.
“A little bit after you left for California; do you like it?”
She traced the tatt with a lone finger absently and replied, “It’s beautiful, so beautiful, but… well, I have a slight idea of what it means, but it can’t be that can it?”
I sighed deeply. Ever since I got this tatt, no one had actually asked me about it. When you look at it, it’s self-explanatory really. I was the king of my family. I could be as raw as they come. I barely had a filter on my mouth, and I could be as mean and as heartless as a psychopath. Hell, I’ve been called a psychopath many times. However, this tattoo had multiple meanings, one of which had everything to do with her.
I brought my hand to the back of my head and looked up at her. I could smell the nerves coming off of her as she stared ominously at my chest.
I kept my voice level low and full of the emotions, which were silently bellowing within me. “Those initials mean a few things, but when I got it, it was the day after you left.” She bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes. I reached up and touched her face. “I’m sure you know that the letters describe who I am. However, it also signified how I felt when you left, how hard it was to let you go, and yes, they are also your initials.”
If you may think I was foolish for getting this tattoo, I disagree. I knew the moment I laid my eyes on her that she would be mine. The nights we spent in my apartment was a testament to that fact. Now, as I looked into her troubled eyes, I knew I needed to prove that to her.
Raquel sighed and tried to move from me. I sat up eliminating the space between us.
But she resisted me, whispering, “Angel, no, this is too much.”
“What’s too much?”
She squirmed, putting distance between us. “All of it; what you just said, you releasing in me. This is fucking unfair.”
I pulled her to me again and spun, trapping her between the bed and my body. I brought my hand underneath her neck and squeezed, letting her know what I was about to say was worth her paying attention.
“No, Raquel, what’s fucking unfair is the fact that you left even after everything that happened between us. However, though I let you go once, I don’t plan to do it again. Never in my fucking life have I felt the way I did when you left. I won’t feel that again. With that being said, look me in my eyes and tell me if you honestly think I give a shit if I just knocked you up? I’ve said you’re mine, and I mean that shit. It’s time you took your place beside me, Cara Mia, and I’d be damned if I’ll accept anything less. Now, if you’re concerned with me being clean, I get tested every six months. However, I’ll be happy to get checked out again for you and give you the results. I don’t play that shit going raw in any woman. I’ve never put my face between any random female’s legs, period. You might think that I’m lying, but it’s true.”
She was quiet as she lay underneath me. I would have thought that had she passed out, if it weren't for the shocked stare she was giving me. I couldn’t blame her; I was shocking my own self. I didn’t mean to tell her that shit so soon, but fuck it. I was tired of waiting and sick of wanting.
She’s what I want, and I will have her.
“Let me up, please,” she tenderly told me.
I shook my head. “Not until you tell me that you understand what I’m saying to you.”
“I understand, Leo. I just need a minute,” she added.
I knew she was stalling. However, I reluctantly moved to my back, and allowed her to get up. She didn’t look at me as she walked quietly to the restroom and closed the door. My phone went off, signaling that I had a text. I got up, grabbed my underwear and proceeded to get dressed.
I was nearly dressed when she came out of the bathroom, eyes evading me altogether.
Now, you know that shit wasn’t going to fly. “Raquel, look at me.”
She stopped moving and did as she was told.
I could see the battle ensuing in her. She hated being told what to do; she hated being controlled. This, however, was the only way I knew how to be. I didn’t have time for democracy.
When she didn’t say anything, I took this rare opportunity of silence from her and kissed her. When she kissed me back, I felt my desires for her rising, so I pulled back. I didn’t go far, however. I caressed her cheeks with my knuckles while admitting to her, “Look, I know you hate being told what to do, but I’m sick of waiting for you. Be at my place tonight. We can talk this shit out. You can even cuss me out if you like, but don’t get used to that shit.” She rolled her eyes as I asked, “Will you be at the meeting this morning?”
“Yes, I’ll be there,” she told me, which I already knew that she would be. It made sense that she would be. We were looking for an investment-consulting firm to handle my family’s affairs. We were specifically looking into her family’s firm. Raquel’s specialty was the finance world.
“Good. I’ll see you at the meeting in a few, then later tonight you’ll come to my palce. I’ll feed you, if you’re hungry. Then we’ll sit down and talk. I’ll listen to what you want, then I’ll tell you what you need. But at the end of the night, when you’re sated and lying next to me in my bed, you’ll be mine. Make no mistake, Cara. That’s how this shit’s gonna end.”
I kissed her again briefly, grabbed my jacket, gun and walked to the door, again leaving her stunned and silent.
She’s gonna make me pay for the shit I just said when I see her tonight, I know it.
I grinned at the idea of her punishment, feeling my dick come alive, “Bring it on, baby.”
*******
So remember when I thought that Raquel would make me pay for what I’d said? Well, it seemed I was mistaken. She didn’t wait until tonight to make me pay. As she sat across from me at the business meeting, she was actually making me pay now. She’d barely looked at me since I’d arrived. It was as if I wasn’t even there.
I brought my focus back to the meeting, trying to pay attention to what the senior Waters presented, but I couldn’t concentrate. I didn’t need to anyway. I knew what this shit was about. Waters Inc. was one of the prominent consulting firms in Philly. They wanted our business. We wanted to expand our interests into the US market, legitimizing my legacy, as I mentioned before. I’ve invested in many overseas business opportunities, and it was important that we continue profiting in those lucrative markets, as well as find others here in the US. We wanted to sustain our wealth, and we needed someone to continu
e to make our interests profitable.
We were making a killing on the shady side of the business, and I wanted to kill the legal side too. I wanted a balance of power, if you will. I’d shopped around for a good consulting firm for a few weeks, and Waters Inc. was last on my list. What I’d noticed, however, did have me on pause. Besides the fact that Raquel was giving me the silent treatment, it seemed that there was something else at play here. Despite the fact that I would actually sign with this company over any other in the city, I’m on pause.
For about thirty minutes, I watched my brother make goo-goo eyes at Victor Waters, Raquel’s brother. Hell, it’s as if my brother wanted this more than I did, and now that I’d seen how eager both he and Victor Waters were, I felt like I needed to tread lightly. I had a strong feeling that something underhanded was going on behind my back.
However, at the present time, my mind wasn’t focused on that. Don’t get it fucked up; I planned to address it, but as of right now, I wasn’t paying Victor or Eddie any mind. The long drawn out speech Vic gave, through gritted teeth when his eyes fell on me, was something I was used to and was just background noise to who had held me captive the moment I walked into the room. As always, she was beautiful. She had this air of sophistication that made me want to fuck her right on top of the mahogany table in front of us. She wore her hair up in a bun, revealing to me her slender neck, the skin underneath her chin that I’d been nibbling on since I first tasted her, and let’s not forget her glossed kissable lips. The Vera Wang suit that she wore, shit, it complemented her body to perfection. The jacket came into her waist, showing off her curves even more. The dark skirt that contoured her thighs, stopping just above her knees, had caused me to focus only on her.
For the life of me, I couldn’t understand why I didn’t go after her the moment her brother introduced me to her. Shit, I should have staked my claim before she boarded that plane three years ago. I wouldn’t be making that same mistake twice, however. There was no way that she was getting away from me a second time.
As stared at her, the look that suddenly blanketed her face told me that the meeting had shifted to me. With my eyes set on her, a plan came to mind, and I smiled.
“Let me first thank you for the pie charts and colorful graphs in your presentation and packet, Mr. and Ms. Waters,” I started as I moved my eyes to her father, brother, and then back to her, as she was the one who had presented the financials to us. “I’m sure the others were entertained and amused.” I looked at my brother, two of my father’s associates that had expressed similar interests as mine, then Pops. Then I sat up straighter in my chair. “I also know you probably have the vote of the majority of the people in this room, especially Eddie. However, I’ve seen and been through countless meetings with multiple consultant firms throughout the city, and they’ve all had the same things you do, meaningless charts and graphs. I’m sorry to say that I’m not that impressed. What I want to know, essentially, is what makes your company standout from the rest?” I looked around the room, then landed my eyes on Victor and his so-called brooding frame.
“I’m assuming Eddie has communicated what our needs are, which I’m hoping you have the deliverables we need to make our operations more efficient as well as cut costs,” I continued. “I’ll further assume that if I go through this rather thick packet in front of me, I’ll see a comprehensive and complete picture of a strategy for our future expectations. In other words, I should see your due diligence for the success of our company.”
I could tell everyone around me, besides my father, was shocked as shit. I guess they all thought I was an ignorant bully, but I’m far from that. However, I was used to people underestimating me. What I hoped, however, was that they learned it would be a mistake to underestimate me again. Our families may have gone back some years because Mr. Waters used to work for my father, but it was a new day. I never mixed business with friendships. I didn’t hold any punches. This company said they were the best and could manage my money effectively. I wasn’t taking their word for it. This was business. This company, the people in this room, had to prove to me that they were the best. Because if they fucked up, they wouldn’t be dealing with Angel, “the friend.” They would have to deal with Angel Leonetti, the psychotic crime boss.
Mr. Waters, Raquel’s dad, stared at me for a moment before he seemed to snap out of his trance and sympathized, “Son, I understand your trepidation. However, we have a very strategic plan for your business ventures, and I feel with the right support and due diligence, we can benefit your interests tremendously.”
“Sir, I have no doubt,” I replied. “However, I need more assurances.”
“What more do you need?” Victor interjected. “We’ve given you our recommendations that clearly show how your profitability would increase with us. We’ve discussed how we would lower your profit loss from the cost analysis presented. We are clearly the best company that you’ll find in this city. What’s the problem?”
I could see that I was getting to him, and that’s exactly what I wanted. I didn’t trust him. Victor and I used to be thick as thieves. Shit changed between us the moment Raquel left. At the time, I didn’t know why for sure, but I assumed maybe he knew about me and Raquel, but, shit, it wasn’t his fucking business. The reason why I didn’t trust him didn’t have anything to do with that. Victor and Eddie had never gotten along. Victor hated Eddie, calling him a pussy ass bitch every chance he got. So you see, the fact that he and my brother seemed to be working together and were suddenly buddies made trusting him very unwise.
“You know for a fact that our company is sound and completely on the up and up,” Victor said as he stood and pointed at me. “And for you to come in here and imply that we aren’t-”
“Victor,” his father admonished quickly.
“Mr. Waters,” I spoke up. “It’s not about how reputable your company is.” I opened my arms wide as if I was encompassing the entire room. “It’s about the interests of my family. If my family is investing in you, we need to be sure you have our best interest at heart. It’s smart business, don’t you think?”
“You know what? Fuck you, Angel. This is bullshit, and I’d be damned if my company will do business with…”
I couldn’t help the anger that was starting to rise within me. I stood and said over his whiny bullshit ass voice, “Good, then it’s settled. Gentleman and ladies…” I made eye contact with the two other consultants in the room, Raquel’s father, and then Raquel. “Thank you for taking the time to meet with us. You all have a great morning.”
I then nodded to Pops and moved to leave. I heard my brother protesting and Victor say something else that had me reaching for my Glock. He knew me, knew my temper.
Regardless of how we fell out, he knew me. For him to act the way that he was meant that my brother had told him some bullshit that made him sign his own death warrant. That was no excuse, and since Vic was asking for it, I turned and headed in his direction to give him exactly what his mouth had been asking for.
Cara Mia, as she did that night outside of the club, had other ideas, as she stood and got between Vic and me.
She said quickly, “Mr. Leonetti, you’re right. What you’ve mentioned is smart business, and we’re about making you brilliant. It’s what we do, and we’re good at it. Tell us what you want in order for you to be comfortable.”
I stood stock-still and just watched her. I knew she saw it in my eyes what most get to see right before I take their life. I was at my breaking point. So for her to step in the way that she did made me pause and actually see her.
I instantly became curious and turned the hell on at the same time.
I decided to see how far she was willing to go and answered with just one word. “You.”
Chapter Seven
Raquel
Raquel, what in the hell are you doing?
Goodness, for the life of me I didn’t have a clue. I was still trying to recuperate from first having my mind, body, and soul rock
ed last night and through the morning. Then I was trying to recover from seeing the newest tattoo on Angel’s chest with my initials. Since he left the hotel, all I’d been thinking about was that damn tattoo, what he’d said to me and how I was going to slow things down with him.
I’d tried to make sense of everything, as well as my inner turmoil, but at that present moment, I had to put all of that on hold. WWIII was about to start in this meeting room between my brother and Angel, and I could tell you that without a doubt, I would be sibling-less if that happened. I decided to do something and quick, but I wasn’t ready for Angel to answer my question in the way that he had.
“I’m sorry what?” I blurted out.
My brother, however, moved closer to me fuming. “You stay away from my sister, you understand me?” he snapped.
Angel looked at me, keeping his eyes steady as he explained further. “You want to know what would change my mind, it’s you,” I told Raquel.
“I’m not a consultant,” she replied. “I don’t know the first thing about how to-”
“You know money,” he interrupted. “You know what to invest my money in and what not to. That’s what I need. I need someone to manage my family’s money and do all of the shit that you have in this thick ass packet. You are more than capable to do that.” Angel then looked at my father and then my brother, saying, “You want our business, put Raquel on the team and make sure she has an active role. I want reports and meetings with her on a weekly basis until we have ironed everything out, then we can move to monthly.”
“Son, you’re willing to risk putting someone with no experience in charge of our interests?” Angel’s father questioned, and I couldn’t blame him.
Angel looked at me carefully, and I met his gaze with questions of my own, but I didn’t show weakness. No matter how much of a bad idea I thought this was, I wasn’t going to show it in that room. That argument was for later.
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