by Anthology
“Relax, Evangeline.” His hands slipped beneath the hem of my cropped top, watching me with his eyebrows raised expectantly. “You can stop this whenever you want. We’re just having a little fun, and I’d prefer it happened without an audience. Wouldn’t you?”
The idea of hooking up with a stranger in the backroom of a bar scared me, but not enough to convince me to stop. I wanted to have a little fun. I wanted to feel the excitement of touching and kissing someone new. I wanted to do something different. Be someone different.
I nodded as the air whooshed out of my lungs. “Okay.”
Gian
The second she conceded, I snagged her clutch purse out of her hand and tossed it on the sofa to the right of us. If she were smart, she wouldn’t believe a word out of my mouth, and she’d stay far away from me. Unfortunately for her, I was too much of a bastard to send her away. One taste wasn’t close to enough.
With her pale, flawless skin and lithe dancer’s body, she wasn’t the type of woman who normally drew my attention. But Marone, when she leaned over the bar to order a drink and her skirt lifted, flashing the sinful curves of the backs of her thighs, I had to talk to her. I’d never felt any affinity for a woman’s legs in my life. I was more of a breast man, but one look at her legs and I became a convert.
Conflicted vibes radiated off her, and part of me knew I should leave her alone, especially after the story of her ex-fiancé. I didn’t want anything to do with a woman still pining after another guy, even if it were only for one night. That changed the instant her ex looked at her like he owned her. I took what I wanted, what she needed, and I had every intention of taking this as far as she’d let me tonight.
I twisted my fingers in her strawberry blonde hair, angling her head so I could see her entire face. Her wide brown eyes peeked at me from beneath her lashes, her gaze roving all over my body and my skin blazed with heat. Her long, elegant throat flexed as she swallowed back her uncertainty. A smattering of freckles dusted the bridge of her nose like stardust. I’d give my left arm to make her smile.
“Fuck, you’re beautiful,” I managed to get out before my lips pressed against hers again. A moan tumbled from her mouth. It had to be one of the sexiest sounds I’d ever heard. My tongue slipped between her lips, and within seconds, the kiss spiraled into something wild and untamed. Her teeth grazed my lower lip, and my hands were everywhere and nowhere all at once.
I slipped my fingers under the hem of her skirt and her skin was every bit as soft as I had imagined. She intoxicated me with her smell—jasmine mixed with soap. Her hands skated down my chest, and she palmed the front of my pants. Sparks ignited under my skin, and I wanted to throw her down on the floor, sofa, or anywhere. I needed my pants down and her clothes gone.
A sharp thud echoed against the wood door.
“Go away. I’m busy,” I barked as I slipped my hand inside her damp panties. I wanted to fuck her so hard she’d forget her pansy-ass ex and any other guy who came before me.
Something slammed against the door. “No, Gian. You’re supposed to interview Evie tonight.”
I groaned as Evangeline’s muscles tensed under my fingertips. “Sorry,” I whispered next to her ear. “It’s my sister. Give me five minutes to get rid of her.”
She dug her fingers into my biceps, and her face drained of color. “Oh crap. You’re Carmela’s brother.”
I raised my eyebrows. “You know my sister?”
“Gianluca, open this door right now,” my sister yelled.
Evangeline shoved me away from her, and I stumbled back a few steps, reeling from the revelation that she knew Carmela.
“I’m Evie,” she hissed. “The person you’re supposed to interview right now.”
I raked my hands through my hair. “Oh fuck,” I grumbled.
“My thought exactly.” She smoothed the front of her skirt and tucked her hair behind her ears. “Carmela, it’s Evie. We’re just finishing up.” She sat down on the sofa and crossed her long legs, then snapped her fingers. “Stop ogling me and open the door.”
I buttoned my suit jacket and rubbed the back of my neck in frustrated resignation. I opened the door. “Hey, sis.”
“What’s going on?” Carmela asked. Her gaze ping-ponged between Evangeline and me.
I shrugged. “Nothing. I ran into your friend at the bar, and we decided to start without you.”
She rocked back on her heels and pinned her friend with her stare. “Are you already done?”
“Actually,” Evangeline said as she stood, “we decided it wasn’t a good fit for either of us.”
“What?” Carmela yelled, her eyes shooting daggers at me. “Did you do something to her?”
I held up my hands. “What the hell, Carmela?”
My sister aimed her finger at me. “You said you’d help.”
“It’s fine, Carmela. He said he’d make some calls for other jobs.” She smiled, but her lips wobbled. “I’m going to take off. I’ve had a headache all day.”
Carmela squeezed her friend’s hand. “What happened?”
Evangeline rolled her eyes as she moved toward the door. “I ran into Kevin. It wasn’t a big deal, but I think he’s still here, which means I want to be anywhere but here.”
Carmela smiled. “Okay. I’ll see you at home in an hour.”
“Nice meeting you, Evie,” I said as she stepped into the hall.
She glanced over her shoulder. “Likewise.”
“I’ll be in touch to finish our…conversation.” My gaze dropped to the back of her long, toned legs. I had no intention of letting her walk out of my life like the last twenty minutes didn’t happen. In fact, I wouldn’t be satisfied until I had her naked beneath me more than once.
She paused, and her back stiffened. “Yeah, let Carmela know if you hear of another job.”
Even after she left, her scent lingered in the air of my office. Fortunately, my sister didn’t say anything until she heard the hall door slam. It gave me some time to clear her from my thoughts.
“So what really happened?” she asked, turning to face me, her hands on her hips.
“Nothing. We had a drink. We talked. You knocked on the door.” I crossed the room and sat down behind my desk. “I think she changed her mind about working here when she saw her ex.”
Carmela nodded. “Yeah, that makes sense. Do you think you can help her find something else?”
“I’ll make some calls tomorrow,” I said, scrolling through my missed texts. Dominick prohibited us from using cell phones for business unless we used coded text messages.
“That doesn’t sound promising.”
I read the message from Tony Red one more time. Tony Red had been nicknamed for his penchant for fast red cars and violence. Once he drove a pickaxe through a man’s stomach with so much force, he ripped up the floorboard when he pulled it out.
Tony Red: Meet you at the bar in thirty minutes. Have a Tom Collins ready for me.
To most people, it sounded like he needed a drink, but I knew better. Tony Red and I had created our own language when I started working with my dad five years ago. The text referenced one of my soldiers, Tommy Calvo. Everyone knew he had a drug problem. Dominick hadn’t done anything about it, but we received a tip that he’d been skimming money from deadbeats when we sent him to collect. He’d gone missing seven days ago. Apparently, Tony Red found him and they were headed here.
“Sorry, Carmela, I can’t talk now.”
She pursed her lips. “What’s going on?”
“Something came up,” I answered without looking at her.
“That sounds like code for get the hell out of here.”
I chuckled. “It’s nothing major, just a little meeting. I’ll call you later.”
She hesitated near the open door for a second and then she glanced over her shoulder. “Thanks for meeting with Evie.” She smiled faintly. “It’s been hard watching her ex be such an ass to her over the last year. She deserves better. She’s a sweet person.�
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My gut twisted. She’d kill me if she knew what actually happened with Evie. “Yeah, sure. I’ll make sure she lands on her feet,” I said, squeezing her arm.
She pecked me on the cheek. “Good, because I owe her. She stuck by me when Rocco died, and I want to return the favor now.”
Evangeline
“Oh shit. Oh shit,” I repeatedly mumbled as I half-ran, half-walked through the bar. I didn’t think my luck could get any worse.
My ankle.
My disaster engagement.
Running into Kevin tonight.
Throwing myself at Carmela’s brother.
Now, I was back to square one because there was no way in hell I’d work for Gian after hooking up with him. I couldn’t believe I didn’t recognize his name. Granted, Carmela always called him Gianluca and he introduced himself Gian, which sounded a lot like John. But after I saw them side-by-side, I couldn’t believe I missed the similarities between the two of them. They had similar light brown eyes and the same glossy, dark hair.
I needed to forget how incredible it had felt to be in his arms, his mouth moving against mine. Or how close I was to begging him to strip off my clothes. Or how disappointed I felt when Carmela interrupted us.
My stomach heaved, and I covered my mouth. Oh my God, I hooked up with the male version of my best friend. With my hands trembling, I stepped into the street, frantically flagging down any and every taxi in the proximity.
I climbed inside the first one that stopped, and I finally felt like I could breathe normally. I gave the driver Carmela’s address, and I closed my eyes. Lately, my life had been one mistake after another. Tears snuck out of the corners of my eyes, and I wanted to slap myself. I was so sick of crying.
The taxi stopped moving, and I opened my eyes, discreetly wiping my face with the back of my hand.
“It’ll be twenty-five bucks,” the driver said.
I reached for my purse, then I remembered I had left it on the sofa in Gian’s office. “Shit.” I threaded my fingers through my hair. “I’m sorry. I left my purse at the bar. Would you mind driving back?”
The driver glanced over his shoulder. “Do you have money in your house? I can wait.”
“I don’t have a key. It’s in my purse.”
The driver rubbed a hand down the side of his face. “Are you serious? Your purse might not be there anymore.”
“Look.” I swallowed back the sobs crawling up the walls of my throat. “I left it in the owner’s office. Nobody will take it, and you can double the fare.”
“The owner?” he said, his voice softer than a few seconds ago.
“Yes. I’m friends with the owner and his sister.”
He pulled away from the curb. “I’ll take you back. Don’t worry about doubling the fare. I’m happy to help out a friend of the Trassatos.”
My eyes narrowed momentarily as my mind contemplated his rapid mood change. Maybe what my friends whispered about the Trassato family was true. I smoothed the front of my shirt, then decided it didn’t matter either way. So what? I kissed Gianluca Trassato. It wasn’t a big deal. If the rumors about him were true, Gian had plenty of women coming and going in his life. He’d probably dismissed me from his thoughts the minute I walked out of his office. I’d be smart to do the same.
“That’d be great. Thanks for your help,” I replied, already feeling better.
Fifteen minutes later, the driver pulled up in front of Gian’s nightclub. “I’ll be right back,” I said as I opened the door.
“Don’t worry. Take your time.”
I walked directly to the bouncer at the front door, circumventing the line to get in the bar. It hadn’t decreased much since I went in the first time. After a quick explanation to the bouncer, he unhooked the red velvet rope and let me inside again. Not stopping to look for Kevin, Carmela, Gian, or anyone else I might know, I darted through the crowds of people to the back area of the bar leading to Gian’s office.
Unlike the last time I followed Gian through the No Admittance doorway, a large man stood in front the door. He wore a black suit, an impeccably starched white shirt, and a dark tie.
“I need to get back there,” I blurted out.
Folding his bulky arms across his chest, he glanced at me, a frown on his face and his dark eyes narrowed. A wave of cold rushed through me. Something about him made me grateful I hadn’t run into him in a dark alley.
“No.”
“I left my purse in Gian’s office. I had a meeting with him earlier.”
He rolled his eyes, a dubious look on his face. “The answer is still no. He’s busy right now. Come back in an hour.”
I heaved a worn out sigh. “I need to pay the taxi outside, and I don’t have any money.”
He shrugged. “Find someone who cares.”
I waved my hand in the air. “Can you go back there and get it for me? I left it on the sofa in his office. It’s a small black rectangular purse.”
“No. No one is allowed back there right now. Not even me.”
“What the hell am I supposed to do?”
He arched one eyebrow. “I don’t care. Just find somewhere else to do it.”
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?”
His dark eyes jerked to mine. “Look, lady, you can either come back in an hour, or I’ll have someone escort you out of here.”
“Thanks for your time.” I spun on my heel. “Asshole,” I said, flipping him off without turning around.
Admittedly, it was childish, but I’d gotten sick of men pushing me around. Gian had probably already moved on to some other woman for the night, and this time he added security so they wouldn’t be interrupted. Well, he and his goons could go fuck themselves. If that man refused to let me get my purse or go back there to get it for me, I’d try the exit door I saw earlier. It might be locked, but it was worth a shot.
Gian
Tony Red and Sal escorted Tommy Calvo in my office with a gun pointed at his head. His stringy dark hair stuck out in every direction and blood dripped from his nose. Carlo followed them inside, his hands shoved deep in his pockets.
“Shut the fucking door,” I yelled at Carlo. I didn’t know why Tony Red recruited him tonight, especially when I was one second away from putting a bullet in Carlo’s head. Some of the guys told me Carlo had attempted to persuade Dominick to take me out based on fabricated charges. If he didn’t watch himself, I’d punch his ticket and worry about the implications later.
I dragged a wooden chair to the middle of my office and pointed to Tommy. “Have a seat.”
Tommy shrugged and rolled his eyes. “Don’t mind if I do.”
I circled his chair with my hands behind my back. “Do you know why you’re here?”
“I don’t have a fucking clue,” Tommy snarled, his nostrils flared, and his eyes narrowed. “You better have a damn good reason because Tony Red yanked me out of The Smoking Gun in the middle of a lap dance.”
“Where have you been for the past week?”
He stretched his legs out in front of him, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. “Taking care of my nonna. She’s been sick.”
“Don’t fucking lie to me.”
“I’m not.”
I slammed my fists into his face.
First, an uppercut to his jaw.
Then, a left hook to his right cheek.
And finally, one more punch to his nose.
A sickening crack echoed through the room as his nose bent sideways. He slumped forward in his chair, cupping his face. Blood seeped between his fingers, dripping onto his shirt and pants.
I pulled a gun out of the waistband of my pants. “I strongly advise you to start showing me some respect, or you won’t like the consequences, and yes, this came from him.” I brushed my hand along my jaw to indicate I meant Dominick. To avoid being caught on a wiretap fingering Dominick for a crime, we weren’t allowed to say his name out loud. Instead, we touched or pointed to our jaw.
Tommy dropped his hands, his
eyes wild. “I’m sorry, Gian. I had some shit come up this week, but it won’t happen again.”
“By shit coming up, do you mean skimming money from deadbeats to feed your drug habit?” I asked.
“I don’t do drugs, and I would never steal money from the family.”
I released the slide of my gun. “Is that right?”
He held up his hands in surrender. “I borrowed some here and there, but I’ll pay you back.”
“When?”
Tommy swallowed hard and then grabbed a white handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped his face. “Tonight. I can borrow the money from my brother.” His brother wasn’t part of the Trassato family. He owned a deli in Bensonhurst.
I pointed at Tony Red. “Check his pockets.”
Tony Red grabbed Tommy by his collar and wrenched him to his feet. He pulled a roll of cash out of one pocket and a bag of white powder out of the other. He handed them both to me and shoved Tommy back into the chair.
I stuffed the roll of cash in my pocket. “How much is here?”
Tommy licked his lips. “Two grand.”
“You owe me ten grand more.”
Tommy nodded without giving me eye contact. “Okay. I can get it tonight.”
“And what about this?” I asked, holding up the plastic bag filled with white powder.
He rubbed his hands up and down his thighs. “Somebody gave it to me at the club. I wasn’t going to touch it.”
I threw the bag at his face. “Look at me when I’m talking to you.” He glanced at me, then looked away. His eyes were red and dilated. “You’re a soldier. You’re a member of this family, and you’re walking around high as a fucking kite. People see you shoving drugs up your nose. You’re making a fool of yourself, and you’re making the family look incompetent.”