Nero (Made Men #1)

by Sarah Brianne

  Nero kept his eyes glued to Elle as he went to park his car, his gut feeling too strong. When he got out of the car, a bus passed in front of him, blocking his view. His instincts started screaming at him to run to Elle, but he had to wait for the bus to move out of the way for him to go. When the bus sped on, he looked for Elle.

  Where the fuck did she go?

  Nero ran across the street, looking for her or the guy in the hoodie, yet he couldn’t see either of them. Shit.

  As he noticed an alleyway just a few steps ahead of where he had seen Elle standing last, he began running as fast as he could, making a sharp left. Nero’s heart stopped along with the world around him.

  * * *

  Elle was pushed into an alleyway.

  Before she could scream, her mouth was covered. Elle kicked and hit at the person, holding her from behind. The boss came for me.

  Elle knew she probably wasn’t going to get out of this alive, but she was going to do whatever it took to possibly survive.

  Shutting her eyes, she bit at the hand over her mouth, just how she had seen the man who had been murdered do. Fuck, he died.

  Elle bit harder when the guy didn’t remove his hand. She felt her body being thrown into a brick wall, and then she heard the sound of her skull hitting the brick. Elle slid down the wall, slowly feeling herself lose consciousness.

  “Shit, I didn’t…” she heard a deep voice say as he held her face in his hands.

  Elle tried to fight the feeling of darkness, but her lids became too heavy for her to hold. Stay awake! Elle held her eyes open a moment longer to see the face of a man she had seen at the diner. It was the college guy who had dropped the fork. Why would he…?

  Elle’s eyes fell closed as her mind slowed down, trying to shut off. She felt a commotion going on beside her and heard the sound of flesh hitting flesh. Elle attempted to say a name as darkness fell upon her.

  Chapter Thirty

  The Clock is Ticking

  Nero sat in the chair beside his bed, trying to steady his hands. His eyes never moved from Elle as she lay there, unmoving. He kept telling himself she was going to be all right; he just wished he could believe the doctor’s words.

  He had called the doctor his family used—legally and illegally—to come to the house as fast as possible. He’d told Nero she would be fine, and that she just suffered from a concussion. Nero wondered how many more times her head could take a hit before serious damage was done. God only knows how many times she’s been hit in the head.

  Nero ran his hands through his hair as he got up to stand over her. He had never seen anything more beautiful in his life. He ran his fingers across her tan skin on her cheek, feeling the softness. She looked peaceful to him, and he would have thought she was actually at peace if she didn’t have a bandage on her head.

  Nero had been waiting for Elle to be in his bed, and here she was, in one of his old t-shirts she had been changed in to. The feeling wasn’t what he had hoped, though.

  Nero looked at his now-fucked-up hand. He had beaten the guy to a bloody pulp and left him there to live or die. I really don’t give a shit.

  The past few days had confused Nero. One thing had happened after another where it concerned Elle, and he knew he had been missing something. Moreover, he had only grown further confused when the douchebag who had hurt Elle looked sorry for what had happened.

  Nero took a deep breath as he reluctantly left his bedroom. He headed down the stairs and went through his house, going up to the door he was seeking. Nero turned the handle of the office door and went inside.

  “I was wondering when you would finally figure it out. I hope you’re not too mad, brother.”

  Nero walked toward the edge of the big desk holding Lucca’s feet.

  “Mad that you slashed Chloe’s tires? No. Mad that you paid guys to make me jealous? No. Mad that you hacked my phone and texted Elle so she could catch me with another girl? No.”

  Lucca put out his cigarette. “Technically, Sal hacked your phone; I just told him to.”

  Nero flexed his jaw. His brother’s nonchalant attitude was getting the best of him. He thought about Elle lying upstairs and that was when he hit his breaking point.

  Nero reached out and slammed the back of the leaning chair down as hard as he could, making Lucca fall with it. Nero’s feet were then swept out from under him as Lucca grabbed his ankles, making him join him on the ground.

  “Motherfucker, he could have killed her!” Nero moved on top of Lucca, trying to hold him down.

  Lucca laughed in his ear as he maneuvered Nero off him. “Yeah, but he didn’t. The moment I saw her, I knew you’d like her. So, I had to see how much you actually cared. I just didn’t know she would have you whipped so quickly.”

  Nero elbowed Lucca in the gut to get the upper hand. “Why did you do all this to fucking prove that I liked her?”

  Lucca quickly got Nero on his back and tightly held his neck. “Careful, brother. This has to do with the family, and I’m your underboss. We’re not fighting over some girl. This one saw me, Sal, and Dad murder a man. And anyone else who fought me over a job wouldn’t live with both of his hands.”

  Nero did know that was the truth. He was breaking a lot of rules right now just because Lucca was his brother. Nero relaxed under Lucca’s hand at the realization, done fighting, and Lucca let go of Nero’s neck as he stood.

  “The clock is ticking, Nero. You need to find out if she saw any of our faces. If she did, then you gotta figure out a way to keep Dad from killing her. She needs to trust you, and you need to move things along at a quicker pace.”

  As Lucca put out his hand to help him up, Nero took it. “And you paying the broke college fucker to kidnap her was supposed to do all that?”

  Lucca smiled at his brother. “She was dragged into an alley and you rescued her. Sounds like some great fucking makeup sex to me.”

  Nero ran his hands through his hair, pulling back the mass from his eyes. Lucca had placed Elle right where Nero had wanted her.

  “What do you get out of all this?”

  Lucca picked up his chair from the ground and sat back down in it. “Nothing, besides my brother’s happiness.”

  Nero snickered. “Yeah, right.”

  Lucca shrugged. “Okay, I might gain something out of this. Just remember what I’m doing for you and Elle.”

  Nero walked toward the door. He knew Lucca was trying to help him not get Elle murdered by their father. It’s just a shitty way to do it.

  Nero turned the door handle to leave.

  Lucca smiled through his voice. “You’re welcome.”

  Nero slammed the door on his way out. He knew exactly what his brother meant by ‘you’re welcome’—Nero had been waiting for Elle to end up in his bed for what seemed like a year now.

  * * *

  As Elle’s mind started to flicker back to life, she didn’t remember her bed feeling so big and warm.

  She sunk into the bed, loving the feeling. Elle’s mind flickered again. Her head felt heavy and sore; she didn’t even want to attempt to move it. Why does my head hurt so badly?

  It all came flooding back; she remembered being pulled into an alley. Or was that a dream? Her head screamed at her, and the taste of salt entered her mind as the memory of biting the man’s hand returned.

  Elle opened her eyes, and the image before her was one she had never seen before. Anxiety filled her body as she remembered being thrown into a wall. Where am I? Does the boss have me?

  She felt the bed sink in beside her and strong arms envelope her. Elle remembered the scent, bringing good memories back to her and making her nudge in closer.

  “I’ve got you, baby,” a voice cooed to her, one she knew and made her feel safe.

  Elle loved the smell that started to surround her along with the deep voice that murmured sweetly in her ear. How do I know…?

  Elle’s mind fully awakened as her eyes shot open. Her face was pressed into Nero’s chest, her body bei
ng held by his. She pushed at his chest, trying to get some distance.

  “Get off me.”

  “Easy, Elle. You hit your head.” Nero rose up on his right elbow, not letting her go. His other hand was on her waist, but he let her lie back to give her some room.

  Elle looked around the huge bedroom. It was mostly white with big, dark-brown furniture. She saw a leather armchair beside the bed that looked like someone had just gotten up from it. Her focus then shifted to the glass door, a balcony on the other side. The room was masculine yet beautiful.

  “Where am I?”

  Nero laughed. “My bedroom.”

  Elle thought about how in the world she’d ended up there. The face of the college student appeared in her mind with the sound of flesh hitting flesh.

  Elle looked up at Nero. “How did you get there so quickly?”

  Nero took a minute to respond, not wanting to admit the answer. “I’ve been trying to find a way to talk to you since Friday. For some reason, I ended up just following you.”

  Elle stared into Nero’s eyes. He’s been following me?

  She didn’t know how to feel about it, yet she could tell it had taken a toll on him. He looked like he hadn’t slept in a few days.

  Elle shut her eyes for a moment, trying to grasp how she’d ended up here in this glorious bed, wearing…“What the hell am I wearing?”

  Nero smiled, flashing his teeth. “One of my t-shirts.”

  Elle hit at Nero’s arm repeatedly. “You changed my clothes!”

  Nero grabbed Elle’s wrists, holding them above her head as his body rolled on top of hers. “No, my sister did, but I can easily fix that.”

  Elle’s heart started to pound and the butterflies she hadn’t had in days filled her belly. No!

  “Get the hell off me, Nero. I don’t want your skanky germs all over me.”

  Nero grinned as he bent his head to her neck. “You don’t mean that.”

  Yes I do. “Yes I do!”

  Nero parted her legs underneath him and pressed his clothed, hard dick at her opening.

  “Do you want me to stop, baby?” Nero placed a kiss on her neck.

  Elle’s breathe caught in her throat. No. “Yes,” she slowly got out.

  Nero still kept his body above her. “What did I tell you about lying?” He flicked his tongue out and licked her skin. “Do you want me to stop?”

  Elle’s wetness started to seep through her panties. Nero’s hardness was just a fabric away.

  Elle whispered her confession, “No, but you hurt me. I don’t look or act like all the girls you screw around with, and I don’t want to be. I will never be enough for you, Nero.” The fact hurt worse than anything she could have imagined. Elle was the complete opposite of the girls he was used to, and it made her feel like Nero wasn’t even attracted to her.

  Nero leaned up so she could see his face. “I wasn’t going to go, and I had planned on letting Amo and Vincent fight over the third girl.” He made sure his eyes told her what he meant. “I heard Cassandra was going to be there. She wasn’t, though. And I was about to leave when Vincent found his sister.”

  Elle stared at Nero to see if he spoke the truth. She let out a breath, not sure if she should really believe him. Her body might not need the explanation, not caring why he had gone, but her heart and mind needed to understand.

  Nero started kissing and sucking at a small piece of her neck, his hands running down her arms.

  “I didn’t mean to hurt you, baby. I admit I made the date, but that was before I finally realized I wanted you.”

  Elle’s heart started picking up the broken pieces, placing them back together. She grabbed Nero’s hair, unable to stop her body from touching him.

  Nero moved his hands down her body to the tops of her bare legs. “I fucking love the way you look. Your strawberry-blonde hair and big, blue eyes.” Nero ran one hand up the back of her leg, under the oversized shirt, going over her tiny, boy-short panties. “I love your ass.” Then he went up her belly to grab her breasts over her thin bra. “And these.”

  It was hard for Elle to concentrate on his words. She was just glad she’d decided to wear underwear that covered more than her others today. Because she couldn’t fight Nero; his hands felt too good over her body.

  As Elle arched into him, her body screaming for more, Nero groaned into her neck and his hand that hadn’t moved from her thigh went to her pussy, holding it through the barely-there material.

  Nero’s voice turned harsh. “I won’t fuck you tonight because I know you’re nothing like the girls I’ve been with, but you’re going to let me play.”

  Elle held her breath, becoming nervous, not knowing what ‘play’ meant to Nero. She had never experienced anything sexual in her life. She guessed Nero felt her nerves when he kissed her hard on her lips. Her memory of how he tasted wasn’t as good as the real thing, either. She hungrily kissed him back, trying to make up for the kisses they’d lost.

  She felt Nero’s hand start to rub her through her panties, his whole hand cupping her, grinding across her back and forth. Elle pressed herself harder into his hand, her arousal rising higher as her wetness seeped through her folds.

  Nero put his lips by her ear. “You are so fucking wet for me, baby. Have you ever come before?”

  Another rush of moisture escaped her as she listened to his words. She didn’t want to answer.

  Nero kept his rhythm on her pussy, but then moved his other hand under her bra to grope the sensitive flesh he had been waiting to hold.

  “Have you?” His whisper was now gone.

  Elle shook her head, not able to deny Nero his answer.

  Her chest rose when he rubbed her nipples into tiny peaks. His fingers felt rough over her delicate skin, making it almost unbearable.

  “Good. The first time you come will be in my hand, and the second time will be with my dick in your pussy.” Nero thrust his tongue in her mouth as his thumb found her clit.

  The way he was skillfully stroking her nub had her eyes rolling to the back of her head. The pleasure Elle felt rocked her body and her hips began to thrust uncontrollably, wanting more and more.

  Elle grabbed Nero for support as she teetered on the edge, her lack of experience not letting her last long. Her head fell back in a moan. She was close.

  She felt Nero’s control shake above her, wanting his own release, but he continued to only pleasure her.

  Elle started to feel the shuddering, and this time, Nero covered her lips as she moaned into his mouth. She squeezed her thighs together as the jolts went off within her, making it even more powerful because Nero’s hand continued its rhythm.

  Elle lay there limp as her body went through the aftershocks. Shortly after, her heart started to calm along with the butterflies. She noticed Nero had to take a minute, as well.

  Nero moved his weight off her, rolling on his back and then pulling her to his chest.

  He spoke through his breath. “Baby, you’re more than enough for me.”

  Elle laughed. “Promise?”

  Nero kissed her forehead under her bandage. “Promise.”

  She felt her heart start to glue itself back together. Elle gave up in fighting Nero. Her whole instinct and being told her to trust him. He had seen to it that her pleasure came before his, and she figured that had to be pretty hard for him.

  “Thank you.”

  Nero lightly tugged her hair and pulled it back so she would look at him. “I’m not going to let you stay a virgin forever. I know you want my dick just as bad as I want your pussy, baby, and that’s why it isn’t going to last much longer.”

  Elle smiled at his determination. “We will see.”

  She knew it was going to last for a while. She was going to make Nero work for that after what he made her feel. I don’t care if he just gave me… Holy shit! I just had my first orgasm.

  Elle shoved her face in Nero’s chest, not wanting him to see her expression.

  “Elle?” Nero tried to get
her to look at him.

  She covered her face with her hands when Nero got her head up. It didn’t take long for him to remove her hands. She tried not to show she was blushing.

  Nero laughed, finally understanding. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about with having your first orgasm. If it helps, that was fucking hot as Hell.”

  Elle opened her eyes. “Like that helps.”

  “You’re going to have a lot more, Elle, so you might as well get used to it.” Nero made it a fact.

  Ugh! Elle rolled her eyes at Nero, and he just laughed at her. Nero was convinced of them being together sexually, as well, and looking at the face that never gave up, Elle wondered how long she would last.

  Elle’s head started to sting a little, reminding her how she’d ended up here in the first place. She could still hear the sound in her ear before she had passed out.

  Elle grabbed Nero’s hand to look at it. She could tell he didn’t want her to see it, but Elle studied his hand anyway. It had been healing the last time she had looked at it, but now the whole hand was seriously messed-up. Every knuckle was inflamed and bloody looking. She had no idea how they weren’t broken.

  “What did you do with him?”

  Nero didn’t sugarcoat it. “I beat the shit out of him and left him there.”

  Elle thought that should have scared her or resonated with her; instead, she brought his hand to her lips and placed kisses over each knuckle.

  “You should get someone to look at this, Nero.”

  “It’ll be fine. I’ll go disinfect it and wrap it up later.”

  Elle looked up at him, pleading “Can you please quit fighting now? Trying not to doesn’t work for you.”

  Nero waited a moment to answer. “Yes, for you, I will.”

  I’ve heard that before. “That’s what you said last time.”

  Nero shrugged. “I mean it this time.”

  Elle heard Nero’s phone ding.

  “Chloe’s here.”

  What?! “She is?”

  “Yeah, so are Amo and Vincent.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Not Even a Morsel Was Left