Desired Too

by Lessly, S. K.

  “Could you also spare your two men to stay here?” Then I looked at Mason. “Raquel wants to say hello to her father and brother, then she’s going to stay at my father’s house. She needs an escort. They can drive the truck.”

  Mason nodded, then looked at his men that stood next to him. They nodded as well.

  “No problem, Leonetti. I’m ready when you are. This is Bobby and Jeremy. Both are ex-special forces and know how to handle themselves against any threat.”

  We shook hands all around, and I felt somewhat better. I knew at least if shit went wrong, I knew how to find these three.

  After the plans had been made to escort Raquel to my father’s house, I walked Raquel up to the front door.

  Once there, she quickly wrapped her arms around my neck. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”

  “I’m always careful. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

  “Leo, I’m so serious. If you mess around and get hurt or…” She took a deep breath. “I will beat your ass!”

  I smiled and brought her closer to me. “I promise you that I’ll be careful and try my best not to get hurt.” I leaned down and kissed her. “You just make sure you stay with these guys and go straight to my father’s house. It will put my mind at ease.”

  She nodded, kissed me quickly, then walked inside the house.

  I stood there a moment, then closed my eyes.

  If anything happened to her and I wasn’t there to prevent it…

  I took a few deep breaths, turned and headed back to Mason.

  Mason watched me approach and it was at that point when I realized what kind of man stood before me. I knew he was ex-Navy, a Seal. However, looking at him and from seeing his fights, I knew he was also just like me, a warrior.

  He headed in my direction and once he got close, he said to me, “Your woman is as tough as nails. She knows what to do and how to handle herself.”

  I sighed again and nodded. “Yeah, I know.”

  Mason studied me for a while, then signaled the two behind him to come forward. “Watch her like a hawk, understand? Do not let her out of your sight.”

  Both men nodded, and I took this time to study them. They both were about the same height as I was and equally mean. They had blonde cropped hair and dark eyes with heat on their hip and from the looks of them, they were not afraid to pull it and use it. They seemed capable, but…

  Mason appeared to be living in my head and again my confidence in the man grew as he told them, “You treat Ms. Waters as if you are watching my wife. Same rules apply to Raquel’s safety. Are we clear?”

  “Got it,” Jeremy confirmed.

  I nodded and Bobby stepped up, saying, “We will protect her with our life. You can count on that. What I will point out is we haven’t searched the interior of the house, so keep that in mind. The exterior is clear. We have a few others fanned out around the house looking for anything and will continue to do so as long as she’s inside.”

  Jeremy moved closer and looked from Mason to me. “Is there anything we need to be concerned about pertaining to inside the house?”

  I wanted to say, “Hell yeah. She has a pussy for a brother.” But, instead, I shook my head and said, “Not that I’m aware of, but she’s carrying and definitely knows how to use it.”

  All three looked at me skeptically and I added, “I just witnessed her double tap a moving target in the chest. It wasn’t an easy shot to make. You or I could make that shot easy. We know what we’re doing. An amateur would not. That should tell you everything you need to know.”

  Everyone remained quiet taking in what I said and probably still dismissing her.

  Mason broke the silence. “In any event, you hear something in that house that you don’t like, make your presence known.”

  They both nodded.

  I stood there, not listening to them continue with their mission ready updates. My mind went to a task that I’d been pushing back for months. It was time. Lincoln and I needed to get this shit settled because I needed him. The storm that was brewing around me could have the potential to take me down, and I knew it.

  I inhaled deeply at the potential of what could happen. I’d call him on my way, but if he didn’t answer his cell, I’d be making a stop at his apartment.

  “You ready?” Mason asked, looking at me expectantly.

  As I quickly sent Darrell a text, letting him know that I was heading to Lincoln’s first and then to my fathers, I nodded. “Let’s go.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Eddie

  Eddie strolled into his parent’s home, finding his mother in the kitchen.

  He smiled and walked up to her. “Hello, mama.”

  She offered her cheek as he bent down and kissed her lightly. “Eduardo, how are you?”

  “I’m fine, mama.”

  Eddie took a seat at the island and watched his mother as she rolled dough between her fingers. His mind wandered back to his childhood, when he used to do the very thing he’s doing now, watching her prepare to make homemade ravioli and tortellini, a few of his favorites.

  He smiled. “Everything smells wonderful, mama.”

  However, she did not. As she continued to roll the dough, creating pods for meat and cheese, she said to her oldest. “What is going on between you and your brother?”

  Eddie’s smile dropped from his face. “Nothing, mama.”

  She gazed at him sharply. “Don’t lie to me.”

  Eddie sighed and rolled his eyes. “Mama, I’m not lying.”

  Mrs. Leonetti placed the dough on the floured counter and moved to her son. Once she was at arm’s length, her hand shot out quickly, striking him across the face.

  “You lie to me, to my face Eduardo, in my home? How dare you!”

  Eddie, thoroughly chastised and pissed, frowned. “Mother, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Shut up. I know everything, and I want it to stop.”

  Silence ensued the room, and she took a few deep breaths.

  When she spoke, she kept her tongue sharp and full of the Italian temper she was known for. Everyone always surmised that Angel got his bad temper from his father. That wasn’t the case. He’d received all attitude and grit from his namesake.

  “I don’t know why you would disrespect me in my own home,” she seethed.

  “I didn’t strike you.”

  “Watch your tongue when you speak to me, Eduardo.”

  Eddie stood. “What difference does it make? You probably wouldn’t listen to a word I say.”

  Mrs. Leonetti placed her hands on her hips. “Don’t you dare play that defenseless card with me. It’s not going to work. I don’t know what is going on with you and your brother, but it needs to stop, and you need to be the bigger person and stop it.”

  Eddie shook his head, but his mother placed a hand up, stopping him and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and moved closer to him.

  “You have been jealous of your brother since he was born.”

  Eddie’s face bloomed bright red, but his mother ignored the bomb ready to explode in her kitchen. She moved closer to her son. “You think I haven’t paid attention to the two of you through the years? I’ve seen the way you look at him when he’s not looking, and I could see the calculated mayhem you were plotting every time. I can see it in your eyes now, and it’s breaking my heart. Your brother has done nothing-”

  Eddie, tired of hearing her voice and seeing her, erupted, forgetting the respect he was supposed to have for her as his mother and his Donna. “I’m so tired of you always taking up for your precious Angel. You think I don’t know that you prefer him to me? Everything I have ever done for this family has been looked upon as reproach, but my perfect brother brings war to this family and you protect him more.”

  “Eddie, that’s absurd.”

  “Is it?”

  “Yes, it is. Let me tell you your problem. You believe that everyone should bow down to you because of your father. You think you sho
uldn’t have to work for anything; status or respect. You feel entitled, as if it’s everyone’s job around you to give you everything you want, and it doesn’t work like that.”

  Eddie folded his arms in front of him. “Well, mother, since you’re so wise, tell me how it’s supposed to be when you’re the son of one of the most powerful men on the east coast, arguably the US.”

  “That right there is your problem. Your ego has clouded you completely. You can’t see past it. Your father is a powerful man, but he never got that way by relying on his name. He made a name for himself without using or leaning on his father’s name. He didn’t take advantage of his father’s name to get respect. He earned it. That’s the difference between you and your brother. It’s why your brother is ready to lead this family and you are not. You still think this world owes you something for just breathing and that is farthest from the case.”

  Eddie had stopped listening to her the moment she mentioned ego and his mother knew it. He was a lost cause, and she blamed her husband. She told him throughout the years that he was losing Eddie, but he ignored her and the signs. Now she feared it was too late. The loving and caring, yet troubled son of hers was lost. His greed, his hunger for power, replaced any hope of her ending this feud.

  Eddie put both his hands up to stop his mother from wasting any more of her breath. There was no way he was jealous of Angel. He was weak, spoiled and fucking clueless. However, none of that mattered any longer. Angel was dead anyway.

  “Mother, I hear what you’re saying, and I disagree. I know you have to make a name for yourself, and I have done that. This is a nonissue. I am fine. Angel is fine. We will be fine. Don’t worry about anything.”

  He kissed her forehead, left the kitchen before he completely lost it and broke the traitorous woman’s neck.

  Eddie went in search of his father. It’s time to lay the final piece to this coup.

  That’s what this is, he thought to himself. He was taking over from the horrible dictatorship of a weak-minded man.

  His father’s response would depict whether Eddie let him live or die. He would hate to make his mother a widow, but if it came to that, he didn’t have a problem with being the last of the Leonetti’s.

  Eddie found his father in his study. As usual, he was sitting behind his large oak desk looking off into the French doors that led to his patio. Eddie looked around the room and thought the first things to go in that place were the family photos. The sturdy dark wood furnishing, desk, credenza, and bar could stay. It gave the room a look that said important decisions were made there.

  There was a large photo of his father and mother sitting just above his father’s desk chair. They were a strong, attractive couple. He could see the power in his father’s eyes as he looked blankly forward. His mother was strong too. She seemed to have this way about her, saying she was a piece of work, and Eddie had to agree. His father wouldn’t have made it if his mother weren’t the woman she was.

  That was what Eddie needed to find. He needed that strong woman by his side that was equal to his strength; someone that had his vision. As he thought about it, he knew Lucy wouldn’t be that woman.

  He took a deep breath, as he entered fully into the room, as he realized that he would have to find someone just as strong as Raquel. Eddie had to admit; from everything he had learned about the woman, he was impressed. She was strong, capable and didn’t take shit from anyone. She also knew how to handle herself very well.

  An idea started to surface as he took a seat in front of his father. Maybe he would make her an offer she couldn’t refuse once he got rid of Angel. After all, he was sure she was in desperate need of a real man in her life anyway.

  Yeah, I’ll have to make that happen, he thought to himself, but said to his father, “Pops, we need to talk about your son.”

  The Don looked at his eldest son for a long moment. For a few hours now, he’d been thinking long and hard about what to do about his sons. They both had skills and talents that could take them far and, at the same time, could destroy them both. The problem he had as a leader and a father was making sure that they didn’t kill each other as they came into their own.

  Angel was ready to lead. His father had no doubt. However, Angel needed to understand that leading with an iron fist would not always be the way. Angel was a hot head, so he needed to have that special person next to him to settle him. Their father thought that person would be his oldest son, but as he watched Eddie enter into his study, he knew Eddie wouldn’t be able to handle the role either.

  Eddie never understood what it took to lead. He figured everyone should lay at his feet on command. He demanded respect, instead of earning it. Quite honest, he didn’t believe that Eddie knew how to earn respect from anyone. He made choices with his heart, not his head. He felt as if he was entitled.

  Their father should have listened to his wife. She had been telling him to watch Eddie for years, and he just dismissed it.

  Both his sons were strong-willed individuals that knew how to stand on their own two feet, so he didn’t feel as if he needed to keep an eye on Eddie. Eddie knew what his place would be in this family. But when Lincoln came, things changed. That man, the Don admitted, was the epitome of a soldier. Lincoln had impressed the Don from the moment he showed up on his doorstep. Angel became a better man because of Lincoln; the Don knew that. He thought however that Eddie would step up as well. Yet, he didn’t. Instead, Eddie retreated. He started to desperately prove himself, or try to, and it really wasn’t necessary.

  Now that the Don really had time to analyze everything, he realized the grave mistake he’d made. He allowed Eddie’s condescension for his brother to grow profusely. He should have addressed it sooner. He should have told them both what he expected from them, but he didn’t. This was his fault and the sooner he fixed this the better things would be.

  The Don exhaled his cigar and watched his son through the smoke. The first thing he had to do was get his son straight. Then, before he went to Angel, he would make right what he’d fucked up months ago. Angel needed his better half. He’d been broken for a very long time, and even though Lincoln was volatile, he was good for The Don’s son. Lincoln and Angel were good for each other. The Don knew that now, so he intended to fix everything.

  The Don removed the cigar from his mouth and sat up straighter in his chair.

  “Yes, we do, son,” the Don told Eddie. “We have this meeting with Basile in a few. Why don’t we head out together and talk?”

  Eddie nodded. “Sounds good to me. Let’s go.”

  Raquel

  I watched Angel drive away before I moved to locate my family. I didn’t get far. I jumped clear out of my skin as my father appeared out of nowhere.

  “Oh, shit, dad,” I grasped my chest. “You scared me. Where did you come from?”

  He didn’t reply. He just looked over my head, out of the window in the door, before his questioning, no disapprovingly, eyes came back to me.

  He looked me up and down, as if he was seeing right through me, before he asked, “Are you all right?”

  Before I answered him, I noticed what he had in his hand. I frowned and moved toward him.

  “Dad, what are you doing with that gun?”

  He didn’t answer, but as I moved to take it from him, he backed away from me.

  “So are you two together now? Is that it? You decided to disregard our warning and consort with that piece of shit?” my father asked.

  “Dad, you are acting ridiculous.”

  “Oh, I’m being ridiculous? Weren’t you almost killed being around that man? What did we tell you, Raquel? What did we say?”

  I placed my hands on my hips. “You and my brother are hypocrites to no end.”

  I moved toward his office that was a little bit down the hall without worrying if he would follow. Once I was there, I turned around and found a downright indignant armed man standing before me.

  “You will not leave this house,” she heard her father say
behind her. “Do you understand me?”

  “Dad you’re being absurd.”

  “I almost lost you!” he boomed.

  I couldn’t help but take a few paces back from him as the rage and fear consumed the entire room. I didn’t speak for a few minutes, trying to let him calm down. There was no way I was giving up Angel. There was no way I would stay away from him, and there was no way I would stay at my father’s house.

  I didn’t want to lose any of the men in my life. As I took a deep breath, I tried to think of a way to make this better. My father and brother had to understand who I was and what I wanted.

  My father took this opportunity to say what he needed to say. It was rare that I stayed quiet, so I did and let him talk.

  “Raquel, I know you are blind to the fact that Leonetti is not right for you. He’s deadly and evil. He’d so much as kill us without second thought if he felt we were in his way. Is that what you want? Is that the kind of man you want in your life? Look at what happened today!” My father moved closer to me and placed his hand along my cheek. “We almost lost you today. You shouldn’t be placed in harm’s way like that. No man that claims that he loves you should purposefully put your life before theirs.”

  My father placed his gun down on the desk a few feet from us and pulled me to the couch he had in his office. I let him lead me to the couch, thinking about all the times I used to come in his office while he worked and read or talked to him. His office always seemed to house his scent, and that scent always used to make me feel at peace. I looked around the room at the many pictures of me, my brother and my mother, who I had to admit could truly pass as my twin.

  My father meant well. I knew that. I had to keep that in mind when I told him to butt out of my life.

  “Hey,” my father started once we were settled on the couch. “Have you had time to think about what we discussed in my office? About going back to San Francisco?”

  I shook my head. “Dad-”

  “No, listen. Hear me out, okay? I know things didn’t end well with Ira, but I also know that that man loves you. Who said love and relationships were easy? He may not show you the way that-”