by Cala Riley
Just seeing her caused my dick to take notice. Watching her dance all night made it throb consistently.
I was at Crimson to take care of some of paperwork. Being one of the five night clubs that I own in the city, I try to stop by once a month to take care of any paperwork that is needed. Unfortunately, as soon as she walked through the door, nothing else could hold my attention.
I stayed away because my men were right. I didn’t want anything serious from her, but I also would put her in danger. While I like to think of myself as cold and uncaring, the thought of harm coming to such a beautiful woman because of me caused me guilt.
I think about others I have messed with in the past. They were all beautiful too, but I didn’t care about them. No. The thought of Sofia getting harmed is what caused guilt to eat at me. It wasn’t just any woman, but I didn’t want to think about that.
So instead of leaving like a weaker man would do, I sat there and watched her through the security system along with Lorenzo and Giovanni. Lo looked like he was fighting like me to get out there. Gio was the only one who was calm.
When we saw a man step out and stop the women, neither Lo nor I hesitated. We were out of the room before you could say hi. Gio walked calmly behind us as he worked to clear the hallway. Most people scampered away when they took one look at mine or Lo’s face. The ones who thought to stay and see the show left when Gio talked to them.
Before I knew it, I was standing behind Sofia, touching her back. Her smell floated over to me and damn it if I didn’t want to take her right then and there. I have never had a woman before so intoxicating to me. The citrus smell mixed with a smell uniquely hers is the most heavenly thing that I have ever smelt before.
Then she leans into me which distracts me from the threat in front of me. FBI Agent Richard Stoneman. Transferred from Phoenix specifically to work on a task force assigned to the Mafia.
Then she tells me who he is. I know, but her loyalty and honestly means a lot. When he begins to spit his words at her, she begins to shake. I thought this was her ex, but it is clear he is not.
After he is ushered out of the club, I escort Sofia to my office as Lo escorts her friends.
I sit her in my chair and yell to Gio to get the girls water. I kneel in front of Sofia and take her hands
“You okay, Tesoro?”
“Yeah. How did you know he was FBI?”
I chuckle. She obviously went through something traumatic back in Phoenix and yet she sits here curious about what I know.
“I just knew.” Gio hands me a bottle, which I give to Sofia. “Drink. It will make you feel better. Sober you up a bit more.”
“Why are you here?” She asks as she twists off the cap and then hesitates before she drinks.
I watched her all night. She paid attention to the bartender as he made each drink and made sure she watched her drink even when it was in her hand. At first, I was jealous of the bartender and almost fired him. That was before I realize my girl was smart.
My Girl. Fuck.
I can’t keep having these thoughts. There was a reason I left her alone the past two weeks.
“It’s okay. Drink. I wouldn’t roofie you.”
The surprise shows on her face, but she takes a drink.
“As for your other question, I own this club along with four others here in the city.”
She chokes as she sets the bottle down. I lean up and clap her a couple of times on the back.
“You okay?”
“You own Crimson?”
“I do.”
“Were you why we were on the list?”
I grit my teeth. I wish I could say yes, but I won’t lie to her.
“No. It seems Lo put your name on the list when Mia said she was coming here.”
She nods as she looks over to Lo and Gio who are sitting with Mia and Isabella in the area of my office set up like a living room.
“And the free drinks?”
“Lo again, although I have no problem paying for any drinks you want.” I wink at her. “I suppose I already have seeing as it was charged to the house account and I am the house.”
She giggles. “Whatever, big man.” Then she sobers. “I think Lorenzo likes her.” Her eyes stray to where Lorenzo is now rubbing ice on Mia’s neck while she looks a little green.
“I think you might be right.”
“That worries me.”
I agree with her, but want to hear her reasons why.
“Oh?”
She looks at me. “It’s not that he’s not a good guy. I actually think he probably is. He always offers a smile and nods my way when he sees me in the streets. Giovanni does too. They don’t have to. That is sweet that they even bother to acknowledge me.”
I bristle at the thought. I haven’t seen her in two weeks, but my men were able to. They never mentioned it. My fists tighten.
“Hey. Like I said. They are probably great guys. Mia is just so innocent. I think that a man like him would ruin her. Besides, none of you seem to be attached. If he decided he wanted her, what would she be? A side piece? His girlfriend? If he did take her as his girlfriend would he be able to commit?”
I growl at her insinuation. This woman knows nothing of our life.
“In La Cosa Nostra we take family seriously. While some men do step out on their wives, they are the exception not the rule. Even then, they are looked down upon for not taking care of their family. The only ones who really do it are the ones that have an agreement with their wife that it is allowed. If it is something she allows, then we have no room to judge. If Lorenzo did commit to Mia, he would be fiercely loyal to her. He wouldn’t cheat on her. He would respect, protect, and care for her.”
“Do you think those wives actually agree to allow their husbands to cheat? Why would they? I think you might be turning a blind eye to what is really going on. Most people are so frightened of you that they don’t want to share air with you. Others have some kind of hero worship for you and would be so nervous to even speak to you let alone tell you what they think.”
“ME, Tesoro. Not my men. Some of them maybe, but not most of the lower level ones in which this happens. I think it is more like these women know what they are getting into. By marrying a made man, they get a comfortable life that will always be protected. Even if the man dies, the family still takes care of her. So why not marry a made man, even if you don’t love him. Why would you care if he stepped out as long as he follows the rules? I think you are ignorant to the way of our life.”
“So that is the type of woman you would want? One who would let you step out?”
Anger swells within me.
“Who said I wanted a woman at all?”
She stares back into my eyes and the busts out laughing.
“Oh! So, you want a man? Is that even allowed or is the family bigoted too?”
I surge forward and tower over her as my hands cage her into the chair.
“Trust me. I want women. Many of them. I have had many women. I don’t want one singular woman to call my own. I don’t want marriage and children. There is no room for that in this life. If I were to take a woman though, she would have to be something special. Only then would I marry her and if I married her? She would be my everything. I would never so much as look at another woman because I would have everything I need right there in my arms every night. So, no, I would not share my body with others as I also would expect my woman to not share her body with another either.”
I watch as she gulps.
“Okay. Understood.”
I back away and sit on the edge of the desk.
“Okay.”
Chapter Five
Sofia
I meant what I said. I am worried about Mia, but I won’t lie and say that I wasn’t also curious about how he would answer. I didn’t expect the vehemence in his answer. I could see in his eyes that he meant every word that he spit at me. He would be loyal to that one woman if he ever found her.
I also hear the other
part.
I don’t want one singular woman to call my own. I don’t want marriage and children.
I don’t know why that stuck out to me. I don’t want to get married either. Children are the furthest thing from my mind, but his words stung me. Hell, I didn’t even want him or, so I kept telling myself. I can’t keep going back and forth about him. I need to get out of here and just forget he exists. I did a bang-up job forgetting about him the last two weeks, but this new admission should help.
Or make it worse.
My mind whispers to me. It is still stuck on the second half of that rant.
She would be my everything. I would never so much as look at another woman because I would have everything I need right there in my arms every night.
They always say don’t romanticize gangsters or criminals. Hearing Bash say that made me see why some women would. For Christ sake, my panties basically melted during his omission. Every time I am around him, I tend to need to change those at least once.
Speaking of.
“Well I should go. We should go. It’s a long trek home and honestly, I lost my buzz.”
I stand to leave, but Bash stops me.
“I need to know more about the agent. How do you know him?”
I go to step around him, but he holds a hand out.
“I am just going to join the others. If I am going to tell this story, I would like to do so only once.”
I was going to tell my story. Even Uncle Tony doesn’t know the whole story. I had no choice now. I have nowhere else to go. He will know where to find me now. I only hope that this whole neighborhood protection thing is enough to keep me alive.
Bash grabs my hand and leads me to the love seat. He pulls me down next to him. Mia is sipping on water, as Lorenzo sits on the arm of the couch next to her and rubs her back. Giovanni is sitting across from us in an arm chair, while Izzy keeps an eye on Mia from the other end of the couch.
“Okay. So, I am going to tell this story only once so listen carefully.”
I take a couple deep breaths. Bash squeezes my hand that is still clasped in his. I look up and see that he is begging me to trust him. I don’t know why, but he seems to want to help.
Part of me is telling me that it’s because he cares about me.
The other, more logical part says that he just found the FBI in his club and he wants more information about him.
“Richard is an FBI agent from Phoenix. He was best friends with Ryan, who is my ex-boyfriend. When I left home, I didn’t exactly leave on the best of terms. I met Ryan when I was nineteen. I was dumb and thought I was in love. Here was this older guy who was into me. He treated me well and liked to buy me gifts. Stupid me didn’t realize that his gifts came with strings.” I let out a humorless laugh. “It started off with him telling me he didn’t like certain things about me. When I wore my hair down, I was just asking for other guys to look at me. The red lipstick I swore by?” I point to my lips. “That was the devils shade. Only whores who liked to suck dick wore this color.” I tell them with a shrug.
Bash squeezes my hand and I look over to see anger burning in his eyes.
“If I wore it, he would punish me by screaming at me and throwing things. Then later that night he would be all sweet and take it all back, saying he loved when I wore it. He would ask me to wear it while I… Um.. well you know.”
I turn my head away from Bash and look down into my lap. I attempt to pull my hand out of Bash’s, but he doesn’t let go. I feel the tears pricking my eyes.
“Sof, my goodness. We had no clue. I am so sorry.”
I laugh again as I meet Izzy’s eyes.
“That’s not the end. After a year, I was stuck. I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to leave, but he would tell me things about myself. I couldn’t make it without him. He paid all the bills and was the only one making money. He used to tell me no woman of his would ever have to work. I realized later that if I didn’t work I didn’t have money to leave. It wasn’t until he started hitting me that I realized that one day he would kill me if I didn’t get away.”
Bash lets go of my hand and gets up and starts to pace.
“Bash.” I whisper.
He meets my eyes and I see the pure anger in them. He is on the edge.
“Maybe I should stop.”
He clears his throat. “No. I need to know.”
I reach my hand out to him and he takes it and sits back down. I take a deep breath and continue my story.
“That’s all I told Uncle Tony. No one knows the rest.”
I keep my eyes on Bash the entire time determined to make it through this story, but also willing to pull back if I thought he was going to lose it. He nods at me to continue.
“He beat me really bad one night. All because I wore a tank top to check the mail. He wasn’t even home so I don’t know how he knew, but he came home in a blind range. By the time he was done, he had to call an ambulance for me. At the hospital I found out that he told them that someone broke into the house and that he found me like that when he came home. Of course, I couldn’t speak at the time and by the time I woke up no one bothered to ask me. It took weeks to recover, but he didn’t touch me. He apologized every day. Tried to show me he had changed. I didn’t believe him. The nurse told me I was lucky to be alive. I knew then I needed to get out. I was able to send a letter to Uncle Tony. I told him a little of what was going on. Somehow, he was able to get a burner phone to me. I called the only number listed and begged him to help me. He asked me where Ryan was. I told him work. He told me that I was likely being watched so I needed to go straight to the bus station. He told me that there would be money and instructions waiting for me. I didn’t hesitate. I ran all the way there. Once I got on that bus I didn’t look back.”
Bash’s eyes turned soft as he reached out and swiped my cheeks. At some point I started crying even though I didn’t notice.
“Why didn’t you go to the police?” Izzy asks as the men scoff.
She glares at each one, but I understand why they scoff. There isn’t a mafia in Arizona. Not that I know of at least.
“He is the police, Iz. He is an FBI agent. That’s why they never questioned me about the supposed burglary. Why would they? He gave my statement for me. He told them I was too traumatized to talk. Who is going to argue with a fed? Besides that, he threatened to kill me if I ever told. Trust me, He would do it too, which is why I have been hiding.”
Bash jumps up and walks over to a wall and slams his fist in it. I jump at the loud bang.
Bash turns around and stares at me. The anger in his eyes should scare me. Hell, that’s all I ever really saw in Ryan’s eyes.
Instead, his anger comforts me. He isn’t mad AT me. He is mad for me, he’s livid for me. Behind that anger is a protectiveness. He is angry because he couldn’t protect me.
How could he? He didn’t even know me.
I get up slowly and take a few tentative steps towards him.
“Sofia, you shouldn’t.” Lorenzo says from behind me.
“Shhs.”
I keep walking forward until I am standing in front of him. He is shaking he is so angry. He looks like he could hit something else. I get why Lorenzo said to step back. I am sure this anger scares most. It doesn’t scare me though.
I reach down and grab his fisted hand, the one he used on the wall. He jumps a little as I touch him, but his eyes don’t leave mine. He doesn’t move. I bring it up to my lips and I kiss the bloody knuckles.
“Bash.” I kiss them again. “Thank you for caring, but please don’t hurt yourself.”
He moves quickly. The next thing I know, I am wrapped within his arms and he is murmuring things to me in Italian. While I know some small words from growing up in an Italian home, I have no clue what he is saying now. It doesn’t really matter though. I feel what his words aren’t saying. He is promising to care for and protect me.
And for one moment, just one small moment I imagine that maybe this man cares for me more t
han he admits.
Maybe just maybe there could be something here.
Sofia
It has been five days since I last saw Bash. Five days since all that drama at the club went down. After my torrid tale, the men took us home. Seeing as their car was only a 5-seater and there were six of us, I drew the lucky straw of having to sit on Bash’s lap. Let’s just say I was less than thrilled.
It didn’t help that he wouldn’t let me go. That decided it for them. I wasn’t really given a choice in the matter.
Once we got to the home Mia and Izzy share, the men searched the place before we could go in. I attempted to go home, but all Bash said was I needed to stay with them tonight. With a kiss on the top of my head, he headed out the door. After that, it has been radio silence.
Well, I suppose it’s not exactly radio silence. I have noticed I am being watched. No matter where I go, either Lorenzo or Giovanni is with me. I know this, because I catch glimpses of them every day. When I am at work, there is now a man who sits at a two top in the front drinking coffee all day. I haven’t officially met him, but I knew he is one of Bash’s. A different man sits in front of my home in a car. I should feel weirded out that I am being watched, but I feel safe. Protected. Even with feeling that way, I am still going to tell Bash it is unnecessary. He has already made it clear what he expects from me. Short of a quick lay, I am nothing to him so he shouldn’t be wasting his men’s time watching out for me. While Ryan scares the hell out of me, I am also prepared for him. The Beretta I now carry on my person assures me of that.
I found out that Mia and Izzy were also being followed. Mia thought it was sweet, especially since Lorenzo also made an appearance for her. On the other hand, Izzy was irritated by it. She claimed she could protect herself and didn’t need a body guard. I didn’t disagree, but I felt better knowing she had one. Who knows what Ryan would do to them now that they have been seen with me. I could accept if he hurt or killed me. I would never forgive myself if he went after one of them. I might reject the protection from Bash for myself, but I will beg him to keep it on them if I have to.