I hesitated, wanting to say yes, but lying to Colt suddenly felt incredibly tiresome. My head shook and I blurted out, “No. But I-I want to.”
“Sit back, relax, and let me take care of all these pesky straps, gorgeous.” That infuriatingly sexy smile was back on Colt’s face.
Relax, my ass.
Taking a deep breath, I lowered myself onto the leather sling, and stretched my body out. Colt moved with lithe grace as he locked my limbs into place. It was disconcerting to be dangling above the floor, never mind restrained and fully exposed.
A memory of the time I’d gone bungee jumping came into my mind and my entire body shuddered. The sensations were oddly similar. Weightlessness, anticipation, adrenaline rush. And I’d wound up on the side of a mountain in Switzerland because someone dared me.
Oh, did Colt know how to push my buttons.
Mind reader that he was, Colt stepped back, and let his eyes run over me. “Just say something if it’s too much.” His grin was wolfish and positively lethal and a hot gush of warmth rushed between my thighs.
Merde.
Bending down, Colt kissed me, letting his fingers trace over my breasts. Then he pinched the nipples and I gasped into his mouth. While his tongue was gentle, his hands became rougher, kneading my breasts with his strong fingers just to the edge of pain.
My chest was rising and falling under his touch. I tried to squirm, but I couldn’t move.
Suddenly I realized why Colt had wanted me in this swing.
I was a dancer. I craved movement.
By restraining me, Colt was not only challenging me, but denying me, too. He’d figured out a way to lead again. To control the dance. But not to punish me. I knew it as sure as I knew my own name.
He was doing it for me.
Stripping away my comfort zone to leave me as open as possible so I could experience ultimate pleasure.
Gorgeous and smooth.
Brilliant and lethal.
Pleasure and pain.
Then he was everywhere. Hands on me, tongue, lips, teeth. An orgasm blasted through my body, shocking me. Colt had me delirious under his touch, under his control. Bliss saturated every cell and his name fell from my lips over and over. Something fierce and powerful was roaring through me…yet something also seemed to splinter my heart at the same time.
Before I could wrap my brain around the sensation, he was touching me again. And not being able to touch him back meant all I could do was feel. His tongue circling my navel, his fingers stroking the back of my thighs, and his shoulders rubbing my knees. When his lips closed over my clit, my toes curled as I cried out. Sucking, licking, pulling until I was nothing more than a writhing mass of need.
“Open your eyes, Bella,” Colt murmured, his warm breath caressing my cheek.
Slowly he came into focus and my heart squeezed. His strong shoulders, his muscled stomach, that fucking chiseled jaw, those warm gold-brown eyes.
“Colt,” I whispered.
“I want your eyes on me as I take you. Close them and I stop.” His voice was husky, and stern, but a smile was playing around his lips. “And I want to hear you beg.”
“Please, please, please,” I moaned. The ache between my legs was so sharp, I almost was in tears I needed him so bad. “Colt, please.”
He’d already covered his cock with a new condom. When I felt the thick head of his cock, I wanted to close my eyes. Wanted to block everything else out but the feel of him pressing inside me. Filling me. But I held strong, watching his pupils dilate as he breached my cleft. Watching his nostrils flare as he rocked forward, the drag of his hot, swollen cock against my flesh making my vision go hazy. Watching his jaw clench when he finally hit bottom, filling me to the point of aching.
“So fucking good, Rabbit,” he muttered.
And then he began to move in long, deep strokes. In and out, battering my g-spot with that heavy cock at every thrust. The swing bounced as he took me and I spun away into sensation. All I could feel was that rock-hard shaft filling every inch of me, see that face, tense with focus, eyes wild with need.
My entire body went rigid all too soon. Orgasm after orgasm pounded through me, shattering my world as I cried out. His own eyes snapped shut as he let out a low groan, his fingers digging into my hips as he bucked and jerked against me.
“Ah, fuck. Rabbit, Jesus!”
I wanted to hold him and never let go. The emotions coursing through me were so jumbled and strong and terrifying, I felt hot tears on my face.
When it was all over, I was limp, utterly spent. Gone. Obliterated.
At some point I realized he had unstrapped me from the swing and I let out a sigh.
A second later, we were back in the chair, my legs wrapped around his waist, and my head on his shoulder. Both of us were gasping for air. Somewhere deep down, I was feeling impressed Colt had managed to walk us over here.
As we broke apart, staring into each other’s eyes, a new song came on and the lyrics were wreaking havoc on me.
When I look into your eyes, I drown…
To distract myself, I kissed Colt again. This time it felt desperate, as though time was running out on us. But that didn’t matter, right? I hated him, I hated him…
You take me to the top and I never wanna come down…
Pain was rising into my throat and tears were pricking behind my eyes. Fuck, no, I couldn’t lose it now. I just wouldn’t listen. I wouldn’t.
Colt broke the kiss, and leaned back, touching my face. I fought to get air in my lungs.
He didn’t say a word. He just looked at me, and I’d never felt so bare, not even on that swing. Pushing my face into his neck, I squeezed my eyes shut and inhaled his scent. The music kept playing.
I'm so in love…
And as the words rang out, Colt’s arms tightened around me.
“Ah, Rabbit.”
I’d done it. Colt Capestrana was in love. I had his heart in my hand. Now, all I had to do was squeeze until that heart was nothing but dust.
Instead of the rush of triumph I’d been waiting for, all I felt was pain.
Chapter Sixteen
Colt
Snatching up my ringing phone, I frowned. I was hoping it was Bella, but it was an unknown number.
We’d parted ways the night before at the club, and I still wasn’t sure where her head was at. We’d been so in sync. It had all felt so right, but when I asked her to stay at my apartment, she’d looked panicked and pale.
I let her off easy, telling her we’d talk tomorrow, but I couldn’t quell the sense of unrest that settled over me. Maybe she was just rocked like I was at how quick this was all happening between us.
At least, that’s what I had to hope. Because the alternative? That she was having second thoughts? Felt like a knife in the gut.
Irritated at my own weakness, I answered the still-ringing phone, “Yeah, who’s this?”
“Capestrana? It’s me, dummy,” a voice rasped.
My body went cold and I shot to my feet. “Lono, why’re you calling me from a burner phone?”
Giuseppe “Lono” Lonoglio was the Capestranas’ lawyer, who was currently supposed to be upstate helping our cousin Kevin locked up in the FCI. A heavy guy from New Jersey, Lono was as sharp as they came, and had an uncanny eye for legal loopholes.
“We got a problem, man.”
He sounded irritated. I could practically see him taking a long drag on his cigarette, huddled in his car outside the prison.
“Justin Ruffino. That little shit. Those problems he’s causing? I’m thinking it’s more than him being fucked in the head and Kev losing his temper.”
“Great,” I muttered.
Kev had kicked Justin’s ass the other day for running his mouth and getting in Kev’s face at chow. Usually that would mean extra time inside, but Lono got my hotheaded cousin off easy. That’s what he did. However, I’d had a bad feeling since I’d heard about it.
Sometimes being right sucked.
Lono coughed. “Anyway, word is that he’s got something in the works. Some sort of revenge plot against the Capestranas.” My jaw clenched. “Been having some visitors and talking a lot of shit in the yard. I’m going to try to get some details, and as soon as I do, I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks, Lono.” My mind was racing. “Take it easy, will ya? Especially on the smokes.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbled, hanging up.
Pulling out my phone, I sent a location for an emergency meet-up with my family.
I’d been expecting a call like this, but I still couldn’t put my finger on what was happening. What were we missing? I couldn’t figure out who would risk working with any Ruffinos now, especially when everyone knew they’d have to face Capestrana wrath for it. They were penniless and powerless, not to mention, marked by the FBI. And especially Justin Ruffino. At least his father was smart. The kid was a sick, manipulative asshole, cut from the same monstrous cloth as his father, only with a solid fifty fewer IQ points. Who in their right mind would want to work for him?
A chill went up my spine and I grimaced. Only another monster, that’s who.
“Damn, so Kev busted Ruffino’s wrist, ribs, and nose? That’s like a beat-down hat trick.”
My cousin Rosco grinned, lounging against the wall as he drank his espresso. He was a dark-haired twenty-two year old who was quick to smile and just as quick to fight.
Uncle Lou, Uncle Joe, Dante, Rosco, Nicky, and I, were eating breakfast, and waiting on my father. Closeted off in a cozy office in one of the bakeries my family owned, it was filled with the warm scent of coffee and baking pastries.
Dante shook his head. “Emilio did a number on that kid. He had no shot.”
Joe scowled and threw a donut at him. “Who gives a shit? My old man beat the shit out of all of us, and look how we turned out. What was that joke you used to say, Lou, when Vinnie down the street complained he got beat every day?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Lou said with a grin. “I used to say, ‘Wow, you only get beat once a day?’ So cry me a fucking river for the Ruffino kid. Plenty’a people are born to assholes and make good in life.”
“Not what I meant, Unc.” Dante had caught the donut and took a hearty bite with a wink. I gave him a thumb’s up and he grinned. “I’m just sayin’ he’s deranged.”
Pop and Axe entered the room. I straightened, giving my father a questioning look, and he shrugged.
“Axe, the fuck are you doin’ here? You’re supposed to be stepping back and keeping your nose clean, remember?” As much as I missed working with him on the day to day, as tough as he was, my little brother wasn’t cut out for this life long-term. In a lot of ways, he was the best of us, and I didn’t want him getting caught back up in any of this shit.
“If it involves a Ruffino, it involves me.” Axe sat down heavily and crossed his arms. “You wanna make me leave? Try.”
“Take it down a notch, bro,” I drawled. “You want to be here, I won’t stop you.”
His anger gone, Axe picked up a pastry, and saluted me. “Continue.”
I filled Pop and Axe in on the situation with Justin quickly, and they both listened with solemn faces.
“So who’s been visiting him? Anyone we know?”
“Not sure. Lono called back and said he got a quick look at the visitor’s register but he couldn’t read the signatures.”
Uncle Lou, who wore thick glasses, made a face. “I’ve been tellin’ him for years to get specs.”
“Nah, man,” Nicky chuckled, chomping on his third cannoli. He was a squat, muscular kid who loved food almost as much as he loved the gym. “He wouldn’t be Lono if he wasn’t always squintin’. It’s fucking hilarious.”
“Nicky, basta,” Pop snapped.
My cousin subsided and I went into detail about what Lono had told me during his second phone call. Mutters went around the table as I told them that Justin had been saying the Capestranas “were finished” and “in the toilet”.
Pausing, I took a sip of coffee, and glanced around. Once I told them the last part, the shit would hit the fan, but they’d find out soon enough anyway.
“Justin claims I’m going down hard. And soon.”
Outbursts went around the table and Axe shot to his feet.
“Che cosa?” His chest heaved. “How?”
“Angelino, please sit down,” Pop said, reaching up, and patting my brother’s shoulder.
Slowly Axe sat back down. “We end them and they still come back to haunt us.” Gripping the back of his neck, he muttered, “She still has nightmares. We should’ve taken them all out when we had the chance. I’m so sorry I dragged you into this, Cosimo.”
“I wouldn’t change it.”
A chorus of agreement filled the room. I knew each of us was thinking about the same thing. Brenna’s glowing green-blue eyes, the way Axe smiled at her, and her millions of questions.
Then that shadow, flitting across her face, deadening her gaze every so often when she thought back to her time as the Ruffinos’ prisoner.
Fury pounded through me. Emilio’s demon offspring was in on all of it and was lucky to be alive.
But maybe it was time his luck ran out.
“Maybe Justin wants to visit his father.” More than one glance came my way. “What? Who would miss him? Axe did the world a favor when he dropped Ruffino. Let’s keep culling the herd.”
My father shook his head slowly, looking older than I’d remembered him looking. “Cosimo, no. Non seramo monstri. Since when do Capestranas stoop to their level? We have to be smart. Justin is behind bars and the rest of their main guys are long gone, on to greener pastures. If he’s got a couple thugs sticking around, we’ll find out who they are and deal with them.”
“But what if they come after Brenna again?” Dante asked, squeezing his hands together.
“That would be a foolish move, even for a Ruffino.” Pop’s eyes glittered dangerously. “I’m not saying I’m not worried, but we can’t go off half-cocked. Honestly…” he paused. “I’m more worried about Colt at the moment.”
A laugh burst out of me. “You’re not serious, Pop.”
“Justin named you, son.” Pop was stern. “While Axe pulled the trigger, you dealt with the Feds. At least, that’s the word on the streets. And everyone knows I’ve been slowly handing the reins over for years. I’m a figurehead at this point. You’re the spine of this family. You go down, we all go down.”
“Che palle. It was all those other scummy Ruffino guys that turned on him. They threw Justin’s ass under the bus in the blink of an eye to get their own asses out of the sling. How’s it on me they didn’t let him in on the plan?” I joked.
My cousins and uncles laughed. Axe and my father didn’t.
“Quel che pare burla, ben sovente è vero, Cosimo,” my father responded quietly.
Truth in the jest.
Silence immediately fell around the table and again I felt a chill of foreboding.
I sighed. “Alright, yeah. This is what we’ll do—”
“Kneecap him.” Joe banged a fist on the table. “I’ll get the bats.”
“You got potatoes in your goddamn ears?” Lou turned to Joe, shaking his head. “Listen—”
“No, you all listen to me. Pop’s right. We gotta be smart. Hit the streets, start asking questions. Those fucking punks Rudy and Nevio are around somewhere, maybe track those reefers down and see what they know, if they haven’t smoked their brains away yet. Ros, Nick, have Jimmy, Frankie, and Nino go into New York, kick at some rocks and see what they hear.”
Everyone nodded and Joe cracked his knuckles, looking pleased.
“Joe, no bats,” I snapped and he scowled at me. “Andiamo. Hey, Pop, I guess I’ll call Westfield?” I groaned. “Fuck me, that prick is gonna be so smug.”
Joe, Lou, Rosco, and Nicky roared with laughter, and then moved out of the room, arguing loudly about who got to go where.
Pop gave me a shark’s smile and then leaned over. “Do
n’t think you’re off the hook, either, Cosimo. Once this is dealt with, we still need to talk about the dancer.” He smacked the back of my head hard and I winced.
Shit.
As my father, then Dante, left the room, I called out softly, “Dante. Door, please.”
Axe, who was still seated and lost in thought, shot me an annoyed look when I kicked him under the table.
“What?” he snarled.
“Angelino, I swear I’m not jerking your chain. Just me lookin’ out for my impetuous, good-hearted younger brother.” He rolled his eyes at me and I resisted the urge to put him in a headlock. “Even though Justin named me, you gotta promise me you’ll be careful.”
Then I swallowed, suddenly remembering what Brenna had said on the ride home that dark night. The night Emilio Ruffino died. The night Axe had gone to prison for killing him.
She’d clung to me, bloody, beaten, and with heartbroken eyes.
Not thinking about herself, just Axe and the family.
Colt, I’m so sorry. Your dad is gonna hate me, you’re gonna hate me, Mama Ange will never forgive me. I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I told him not to do it. I begged him. I’m not worth this…
I sat down, my gut contracting as the memory hit me. Pop was right. I was the spine of the Capestrana family, but Axe was the heart. If something happened to my little brother, it would end us all.
“Colt, you okay?” Axe moved to the chair next to me.
“Brenna went through hell with the Ruffinos, Axe,” I said in a low voice. “But the worst night was the one where she thought she’d never see you again. I just remembered what she said to me that night. Apologizing, blaming herself…I fucking need you to watch your back. Promise me this.”
Again, my blood boiled, and I wished Emilio had suffered longer.
Axe flushed and muttered, “Oh, yeah. Okay. I get it.”
Punching his shoulder, I said, “Fratellino, you better. Even if you’re on the straight and narrow with your hot rod shop, a Ruffino doesn’t care about that. Vendetta ain’t dead yet.”
“Santo cielo, I said I get it. I’ll be extra careful, I promise.” Axe scowled, stood up, and stretched. “You worry too much, Colt. I’m not stupid.”
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