Boss Caruso continued to watch his son, waiting to see if he was ever going to say what he needed to say and leave him be. He had been here at the Casino Hotel and had to deal with people all day. As a result, he really wanted to leave so he could go to his home office and smoke his cigar and drink in peace, but his son looked like something had been weighing on his mind.
When he had waited long enough for his son to talk, he gave up. “I’m guessing this is about the girl.”
Lucca flicked his ashes in the tray. “Nero met the parents today.”
He finally understood his son’s displeasure. “That means one of two things.”
“Yeah, he has her. She likes him enough to meet the family, but then Nero could actually start liking her. It’s tough to sign a girl’s death certificate when you’ve met her family.”
He stared at his son, taking everything in. “So, is he playing her or does he love her?”
Lucca took a long puff before he answered. “I guess I’m going to have to find out.”
He nodded to his son while Lucca put out his cigarette. “Next time I see you, you better be in a fucking suit for once.”
He watched as Lucca got up to leave and headed for the door then turned the doorknob and went through, but before he could shut it, Boss Caruso had some final words.
“You do know the family comes before family, even if it’s your own brother.”
He expected his son to not say anything; however, Lucca gave him his own final words. “Yeah, you taught me that with Mom, remember?”
The slamming of the door echoed in his head. He got up and walked over to his bar then picked up and held the crystal glass in his hand right before it shattered. For him, it was something he would never forget. He poured a new drink and his bloody hand picked up the sparkling glass filled with whiskey. This will help.
* * *
Nero stood on his bedroom balcony, looking out. He had dropped Elle off and was now waiting on Stacy and Stephanie to get there. I have an itch that needs to be scratched.
He figured no one was going to be home tonight, thus he’d texted the girls to come right up. He didn’t wait that long before he heard his bedroom door open and high heels walking across his floor. Turning around, he smiled at the two slutty-looking girls walking to meet him on his balcony. A big fucking itch.
When they reached him, they stood on either side of him, hugging and pressing their bodies against his.
“Nero, I missed you,” Stephanie said.
“Well, I missed you more,” Stacy said over her.
Nero laughed. “How about, whoever makes me come the fastest missed me the most?”
The two girls laughed in agreement and grabbed for Nero’s clothes. They were only able to un-tuck his shirt and undo one button before they heard the bedroom door open.
“Nero, you didn’t tell us we were going to have a party!” The girls were practically jumping in joy when they saw Vincent and Amo walk in and join them on the balcony.
Stacy grabbed Vincent while Stephanie grabbed Amo.
“Do we finally get to fuck you?” Stephanie asked, wrapping her arms around Amo.
Amo responded by backing her up against the concrete railing and Vincent mimicked him by doing the same thing to Stacy. Nero walked to the balcony door and slid it closed, closing them all off from the bedroom.
Amo and Vincent took a handful of their hair, each yanking it down until they screamed in pain.
Nero walked toward them, standing in-between their now-crying screams. He let the sound soak in his ears, finding it peaceful. Nero then held up his hand, making Amo and Vincent stop.
He grabbed both girls, pulling them to his side as he wrapped his arms around their shoulders. Their crying was much softer now, and Nero could feel them trembling.
He took a deep breath, soaking it in for just a moment longer. “I know you two whores love to talk, right?” He heard Stacy cry a little louder. “Well, I need one of you to tell me everything you or anyone else has done to Elle.”
“W-what? W-we don’t know a-anything.” Nero looked at Stephanie as she talked then looked over at Stacy and saw she agreed.
Ultimately, Nero knew these girls were followers; they weren’t the ones to really instigate Elle’s torture—the hurt kind of torture, anyway. They clearly never did give a shit, though.
“How about you just give me the name of the worst one. Then I’ll leave you two alone so you can get back to sucking dick.” Nero wanted the true source, the one who, without a doubt, had hurt Elle and put her in all those casts and covered her in bruises and scars. That way, he could make the person sing about every little thing that had happened to Elle, and the little piece of conscience he had left wouldn’t get in the way. Because Elle was going to eventually find out if he hurt anyone, and he didn’t want that to be someone who hadn’t done that much damage to her.
Nero looked back and forth between the crying girls, their dark, skanky makeup running down their faces. When they clearly weren’t going to talk, Nero nodded for several seconds before he grabbed his own pile of fake hair in both hands. He shoved their torso over the railing, letting their faces meet the two-story drop. The cries that now filled the air were ones he really enjoyed. Yeah, but all good things must come to an end.
“Give me a fucking name!” He shoved their heads farther down, making their feet slightly come off the ground.
The screams were torturous before Stacy tried to get a word out of her mouth. She tried again, finally gaining enough strength. “Ch-Chloe!”
Amo stepped closer. “What the fuck did she just say?”
Nero pulled the girls up, tossing Stephanie to the side. He held Stacy in place in front of him. “What did you say?”
Through sobbing, she managed to get out, “T-talk to Chloe.”
Nero let Stacy go.
“Vincent, make them aware of what happens when they talk.”
He ran his hands through his hair, trying to get it to smooth down. He heard the balcony door open and the cries start to disappear. He and Amo stood there, looking out into the distance. They waited for Vincent to return before anything was said.
“What the fuck did she mean by that?” Vincent asked, returning.
Nero waited to hear what Amo would say first.
“Chloe would know who all has hurt Elle. Maybe she’s saying to ask Chloe who has hurt them.”
Nero thought about Amo’s words, but something didn’t feel right to him. He didn’t understand how the pieces fit yet, however. They were all there, but it was a matter of putting it together.
He pictured the photo book of Elle’s, remembering how badly he had wanted to shake her and make her tell him everything. How badly he had wanted to paralyze the rest of her father’s body after seeing Elle’s nose broken and a cast over her arm. All the fucking black eyes. Nero knew that was just what was visible to him. There could have been several under her clothing, not to mention all the times it healed before a picture had been taken.
He decided enough was enough. The next person he questioned, he was going to get some real fucking answers. No matter what.
Nero looked at Amo to make sure he knew how far he would go if need be. “Well, then, we talk to Chloe.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Can You Pass the Sugar?
Elle had a big crowd again at the diner tonight. She was thankful; it would help keep her mind off Nero. The way he and her father had looked at each other when they’d left had her confused as to what they had talked about. Whatever it was, she probably didn’t want to know. The ride over had been nice and she had to admit she liked it. She could definitely deal with him driving her to and from work.
Elle looked at the door to see who walked in, still on the lookout to make sure the boss and whoever worked for him didn’t walk through. Every time that door opened, her heart raced until she realized they had no relation to the murder. When Nero walked in, her heart calmed. Wait, what is he doing here?
; Elle could only stare as Nero walked to a booth in the corner. He took a seat with his back up against the wall, giving him a full view of the diner. He had brought a bag with him. She had no idea what he had planned.
Elle walked over to his table. “What are you doing here?”
Nero smiled wide. “I’m starving.”
She didn’t like where this was going, although she knew better than to question Nero when he was set on something. She was at work and needed to treat him as a customer; consequently, Elle reluctantly took out her notepad and pen.
“What can I get you?”
“Surprise me.”
Elle put the pad and pen back in her apron and smiled. “Would you like me to pick your drink, as well?”
Nero leaned back in his seat. “No, I’ll take a coffee.”
Elle realized he was clearly just getting comfortable. The perfect night for the perfect day.
Elle went to the window and asked for the special then she went and grabbed a plate, holding a mug in one hand and taking the coffee pot in the other. She returned to Nero’s table and set the plate and cup in front of him, looking at him right before she poured the dark liquid into the mug. Elle could read his face and knew he had been waiting for this moment.
Returning her eyes to the mug, mostly because watching him look at her that way had started to heat her body, she managed to successfully pour the coffee. Nero’s hand covered hers for her to stop pouring, making Elle look at him again. She didn’t know how something like pouring coffee for Nero could turn sexual.
“Can you pass the sugar?” Nero’s free hand pointed to the packets of sugar at the other end of the table.
Elle looked at the ceramic box holding the packets. She knew he could very well get them and it would be easier for him to, but for some reason, Elle leaned over the table, having to go to her toes to reach them. She could feel Nero’s eyes all over her body, exciting her. She figured that feeling was the reason she wanted to please Nero.
Elle slowly slid the sugar across the table until it lay in front of him.
Nero’s thumb rubbed the top of her hand. “Thank you.” Then he finally released her hand, letting Elle look away from his eyes that had held her prisoner, as well.
She licked her now-dry lips before she left the table without a word. Elle felt his eyes all over her body again as she walked away. She tried to get her thoughts and body under control as she waited on her other tables. By the time she managed to do so, Nero’s order came up in the window.
Taking the hot plate, she headed for his table and set the plate of food in front of him. His expression now was sour, unlike the one he’d had on when Elle poured him coffee. What got into him?
Elle left the table when Nero gave no response, continuing to work despite Nero distracting her. His eyes hadn’t left her while she waited on her tables and he ate.
When she picked up his dirty dishes, he looked pissed. She had even re-filled his coffee with a smile, trying to get him to lighten up, but he hadn’t. Elle had no clue what was pissing Nero off so badly.
Eventually, Nero pulled out his laptop from his bag along with some schoolwork. I guess he is staying till I get off. That made Elle nervous. Nero was a complete wild card to her, and he was at her work. What he did in here would affect her, and this job was how Elle continued to go to school.
When the diner started to die down and her shift was almost over, only Nero and a table full of four guys remained. Elle picked up the coffee pot to refill their cups, going to the full table and filling up their cups first.
“Can I get you all anything else?” Elle spoke as she filled a cup.
“No thanks, babe.” the good-looking one of the group responded. Elle figured they were in college by their university attire.
Elle smiled and walked away once all the cups were filled.
“Elle,” she heard her name called from the corner of the room.
Elle turned around and headed for the corner where Nero was sitting. Nero’s face was now beyond pissed.
“Sit.”
Elle looked around. “I can’t.”
“Now.”
Elle looked back at Nero and felt like she only had one option, and that was to sit. She sat down in front of him, tired of his constant glares.
“What is the matter with you?”
Nero kept his voice calm and low so no one could hear their conversation. “I don’t like you pouring coffee and serving food to all these fucking men. The only coffee I want you pouring is mine.”
Huh? Elle was taken off-guard by his response. First, she realized she liked his possessiveness, and then she realized the extent of his possessiveness.
“Nero, it’s not like I enjoy it.”
“Do you think I enjoyed sitting here the whole night, having to see a bunch of old men stare at your tits and ass?” Elle tried to speak but couldn’t get one syllable out. “Then listen to douchebags call you ‘babe;?” Nero’s voice started losing its calmness.
“Hmm, I wonder who that reminds me of,” Elle said sarcastically.
“My fucking point. Tell them to fuck off next time.” Nero was fuming now.
Elle was pretty sure Nero was about to do something very stupid, so she leaned forward and took his hand from the table. Taking a deep breath, Elle said, “Nero, this is where I work, so I can continue to go to school, and unfortunately, I pay most of it with the tips alone. That means putting up with the looks, stares, and babes. I can’t just tell them to fuck off; I could lose my job.”
Nero ran his hands through his hair and flexed his jaw. When he nodded for her to get back to work, Elle stood and started to walk off.
“Are you forgetting something?” Nero pointed to his coffee cup.
Elle went back to the side of his table and decided to place her breasts expertly in front of his face as she refilled his coffee. The lust that had shown on his face before returned, and Elle smiled again. She didn’t know why she wanted Nero happy, or why that part inside of her wanted to please him, but Elle admitted she enjoyed doing so.
Elle scurried away, laughing when Nero tried to reach out and grab her. She saw the smile on his face, discerning he was finally in a better mood. She went ahead and started to clean up for the night; she was closing, of course. She asked the cook to throw away the trash this time. Lesson learned.
About ten minutes before closing, the table with the college students was still there joking around. They weren’t being rowdy or anything, but you could just hear them talking and cutting up with each other. They didn’t look like they had any plans to leave soon.
Elle went over to their table and took away some of their dirty dishes. “We close in about ten minutes.”
The good-looking one smiled at her. “We were just about to head out.” Then he quickly moved his elbow and a fork fell to the ground. “Sorry, babe.”
Elle’s heart started racing. She quickly looked over at Nero, silently pleading for him not to do anything. When the guy didn’t make a move to pick it up and the other guys stared at her in anticipation, Elle had to pick it up.
She quickly squatted down to hurry up and retrieve the fork. When she stood up and grabbed for the rest of the dishes, she noticed their displeased faces. They had clearly wanted her to bend over and get it. No way in Hell.
Elle tried to force a smile as she walked away. She prayed Nero wouldn’t do anything and just leave it be as she went behind the counter and pretended to be busy so she could see if anything were to happen. She could tell Nero was on the verge of going crazy. She hoped he had listened to her earlier.
When the college guys walked out of the diner, Elle stood frozen as she waited to see if Nero would follow after them. When he didn’t, Elle relaxed.
Elle went to the now-unoccupied table and grabbed the tip off the table as well as the little dishes left. Dropping them off at the dishwasher, she headed for Nero’s table, unable to meet his gaze.
“How much?”
Elle kept her ey
es on the table. “Ten for the meal.”
Nero stood and pulled out a silver money clip full of cash and handed her a hundred-dollar bill. “Keep the rest.”
Elle looked at Nero finally and started shaking her head. “I’m not taking your money, Ne—” Nero swiftly grabbed her and had her sitting on the edge of the table. How in the hell?
He parted Elle’s legs with his body and pressed himself up against her. His face came close to hers as he harshly spoke. “You are lucky I’m just asking you to take my money after fucking watching that. I am desperately trying to restrain myself right now.” Nero took the folded hundred-dollar bill and touched her chin with it before slowly sliding it down her neck to her chest and under her dress.
Elle’s chest started to rise and fall heavier than it ever had before. Nero had blocked her legs, making it impossible to squeeze them together. She could feel the wetness start to soak her panties when Nero’s hands went to her bare thighs under her uniform, pushing it up. He greedily kissed her as he stroked her sensitive thighs, sending chills up her back.
Nero’s hands went to the inside of her middle thighs when he said, “Now, you’re going to send me the rest of your work schedule in return for not shoving my foot up his ass. I’m not stupid, Elle. I know there was more.” Nero moved his hands higher up her thighs. “I can go back there and find it for myself and still have enough time to catch him if you don’t.”
His hands were now mere centimeters away from her mound. She was sure he could feel the heat and dampness coming from her.
She nodded, half of her hoping he wouldn’t go any farther and the other half hoping to find out what it would feel like to be touched there for the first time.
Nero slowly slid his hands back down her thighs and returned her to her feet. “Now, hurry up. I would like to get the fuck out of here.”
Elle didn’t know how she got her legs to hold her up, much less walk to the back kitchen. She tried to shake off what had happened between her and Nero as she quickly took out her phone and sent Nero the first picture she had taken yesterday, showing her whole schedule. Elle figured there was no harm in giving it to him. She had already planned to keep riding with him to work now.
Nero (Made Men #1) Page 16