Cut & Blow_Book Three

by Ashleigh Giannoccaro

  “Go visit your boyfriend, then call me when you’re home.”

  He lets my hand go with a smile. As I get up Ailee walks in the front door, and she has a smile on her face. She obviously knew what he was up to. Rain’s face lights up when she gets closer, and he stands up to greet her with open arms and a kiss that is way too much for public display.

  “Say hi to Romi for me,” she says with a wink, and I shake my head at the two of them getting all handsy.

  “You can’t do that in here. And since it’s my establishment I can tell you that.” I point at my brother who has both hands grabbing her ass. I stop and look at them, and realize they really are happy. “Thank you, Rain,” I say, before I dash out the door to go get my car from the lot behind the building.

  I knock on the door of his hospital room before entering. He’s fast asleep, with his hair all tussled and spread all over the pillow. His normally neatly trimmed stubble is a rough messy beard, and even like that I still look at him and think — oh shit.

  One look at his arms and my mind goes straight to the gutter, I can’t help it. He stirs and when he sees me at the door I get the biggest brightest smile. It gives me the sensation of vertigo.

  “Hey beautiful.” He looks around. “No chaperone?”

  “No chaperone.” I smile and walk to him. He lifts his bed with the remote and adjusts himself so that he’s sitting up again. “We worked something out. I think things are going to be alright.”

  Standing next to his bed with my hands on the white covers, he puts his over mine. The plastic hospital bracelets replace the leather ones he normally has on his arm.

  “You want to climb in here and tell me what happened?” He shifts so that there is space on the bed.

  Maybe talking about it will help. I kick off my shoes and climb onto the bed. It’s ridiculously high for my short legs, making my movements anything but sexy.

  “Rain went after Calvin, that night. Right from the warehouse.” Choking on my own voice I struggle with what comes next. “Someone must have told him we were coming, because when we got there he had videos of me playing on the big screen.” I’m embarrassed to talk about it now, I am ashamed of what I did. More than that I am ashamed that Romeo saw me that way. “Rain went crazy.” He puts his arm around me, holding me against him. “His guys got hold of Calvin and held him down on the floor.” I can remember how Jacki screamed as Rain loaded his gun. My brother isn’t a man of many words when he’s angry. “Rain gave me his gun and told me to shoot him, or he would make me watch them torture him all night.” Romeo gasps, and holds me even tighter. “I knew he meant it, he was furious and the nonstop film clips playing around us only made it worse. Rain spoke to him in another language I don’t understand, but he did. It made Calvin smile, like the devil had possessed his face. When I saw that look in his eyes, that’s when I shot him. The sound was horrific. My brother was too blinded by rage to see what he was doing to me.”

  “He made you kill him?”

  “Yes. He said I needed to clean up my own mess.”

  “He’s insane.”

  “We waited there after that, for a long time. Calvin’s hair turned deep burgundy as the blood pooled and then dried. Jacki screamed and wailed, she wanted to go to him but they restrained her, until a tall man in a light blue suit arrived with a computer. He asked her questions and she shook her head, he spoke the same language Rain spoke earlier and worked on the computer the whole time. The videos on the televisions stopped playing, and the room went dark. The tall man nodded to Rain and the man that was holding Jacki shot her between the eyes.”

  “I’m sorry, baby,” Romeo keeps saying to me softly, just holding onto me.

  “I’m not okay. I never wanted him to die, I just didn’t want to do it anymore. You came along and changed everything, and I felt all these things. All I wanted was for you to want me.”

  We lie together in silence, curled up on the hospital bed beside one another until an old man comes in with a bag of food.

  It’s way past visiting hours and the corridors are dark outside his room. All my tears are gone, dried up, and I feel like I am where I want to be.

  Twenty-One

  Chestnut Brown

  ROMEO:

  Three Months Later

  Viviana’s big opening is tonight. She’s nervous and excited. Sitting at the dresser I watch her fidget with the hem of her dress while I do her hair for her. Doing her hair has become part of my daily routine, it’s a special moment we share no matter how shitty our day is. These few minutes in front of the mirror are ours, we talk and laugh, and even flirt.

  “It’s going to be great.” I reassure her that all the work she has put in will be worth it.

  The grimy old bar has been transformed into a gastro-pub that reflects who she is. Great food, a happy place to share a drink, and mostly a place where she can care for her family when they come in and out. It’s like Viv finally has a purpose and she’s come alive finding it.

  So much has changed over the last few months, it’s hard to believe how it all began. I wouldn’t change it; well maybe parts of it I would change, but I think we both found ourselves in each other.

  “I’m nervous, but I can’t wait either. I want to show them that I can do this.”

  “You don’t have to prove anything, Viv.”

  “I know.” I slide my hands down over her shoulder to cop a sneaky feel. “We will be late, don’t start that now.”

  “We can be a little late.”

  “No, we cannot, it’s my opening. I have the keys.” She turns around on the dresser stool to face me. The naughty sparkle in her eyes is back, and I love it. “But, there’s a great storage room in the back if you want to find me later.”

  She gives me cheeky little wink. I have to adjust myself in my pants, so that no one can see that she’s got me all worked up.

  “Come on, let’s go.” She stands on her tiptoes to kiss me before walking out of our room, with her shoes in one hand and her bag in the other.

  Chelsey and Rat are the first guests to arrive, with the little guy in his stroller. In my head I know it’s all sorts of fucked up that it’s his baby brother and they’re dating. But, in a way no one will love that little boy more than him. He has helped so much with the renovations, Viv has told me a thousand times how she would have gone crazy without him.

  “Hey,” she greets them all with hugs and warms smiles, like a real family. The family I have been missing for so long.

  Rat shakes my hand and steers me away from the women, who squeal over how cute the baby is and how fast he’s growing. We go to the brand new glass-topped bar and order drinks. It’s like everything is right with the world, just for now.

  “How are you?” he asks.

  “I’m good, I mean everything is great.”

  “Do you think she knows?”

  “No. Do you think she knows?”

  “No, I think Chelsey knows though. That chick can sniff gossip out anywhere.” It’s the truth, she lives for it. My hands tremble a little as I sip the cold beer. “What did Rain say?” he asks.

  “Not much, but he never says much.” I shrug my shoulders. “He didn’t say no.”

  “As long as he didn’t pull a gun on you I think you’re okay.”

  “I’ve never been so scared in my fucking life.” Rat laughs at me and we turn to face the floor. Friends and family are arriving and there’s the sound of laughter and love.

  My first surprise of the night comes in and Viv jumps up and down squealing, then bursts into tears as she launches into her sister’s arms. Behind Val stands a fair-haired man, he’s much taller than her, with his hands in his pockets and the fear of God in his eyes.

  She brought a boyfriend home. I have a feeling Rain will be less worried about me and totally worried about that the minute he arrives. I walk up behind Viv, wrap my arms around her waist, and whisper in her ear. “Surprise.”

  Spinning around she puts her arms around my neck and
beams at me. “You got her to come?”

  “I did. It’s your job to keep her boyfriend alive and safe from your brother, though.”

  “Thank you.” Her eyes well with tears as she kisses me.

  She misses her sister, it was like losing half of herself. They need each other sometimes, and tonight she needed her sister here with her to share in her success.

  I stand behind her, my arms around her as she greets the family as they arrive; cousins, aunts, uncles, and what seems like a never-ending line of relatives.

  Rain and Ailee are among the last to get here. The deep red blush on Ailee’s face and the fact they came from upstairs gives away what they were doing. Rain kisses Viv on both cheeks and puts his arms around me in a half-hearted man-hug.

  Ailee hugs her and stands holding both her hands; the two ladies smile and giggle. Viv rubs Ailee’s now visible baby bump like she’s a magic lamp. It turns out that I didn’t lose my job because Ailee is going to need some time off work.

  The music plays in the background, and laughter and love flow freely. Looking round, I would never say these are mobsters, murderers, drug lords and money launderers. To me they are just family.

  Servers start bringing out food and we all move from table to table, chatting, sharing news and stories. Viv’s Nonna helps her as they run around behind the scenes making sure it’s perfect and exactly the way she wanted it to be.

  She smiles all night, glowing with love. I couldn’t be more proud of her. This wasn’t her idea, but she has certainly made it her success. Once the formalities of the evening are over and everyone is enjoying their conversation and coffee, I seize my moment.

  Taking Viv by the hand I pull her to the middle of the room where there is a large opening between the tables. Rat sees me and gets everyone’s attention by hitting a knife on the side of his glass. When that doesn’t shut the loud, large Italian family up, he whistles until they simmer down to a whisper.

  “Thank you, Rat,” I say, and he nods.

  My palms are sweating and my knees are weak, if I try to talk I will make a fool of myself. Instead I drop down on my knee, take her by the hand, and look into her big eyes. Everyone goes quiet and there are a few gasps. When I glance sideways I can see Val wiping tears from her eyes.

  “Viviana, will you marry me?” Her hand is shaking. “I swear I asked your brother first, and he didn’t kill me.” I look back over my shoulder and Rain gives her a reassuring smile.

  “Yes.”

  She answers without hesitation, and my heart explodes with pride and love as I put the ring I chose weeks ago on her finger. There are loud cheers and clapping from everyone around us as I lift her hand up to show our friends and kiss her like her brother isn’t watching.

  “But only if you still do my hair every day for the rest of our lives,” she says, holding my face in her small hands.

  “I will do your hair even when we are old and gray, in a retirement village somewhere on the Florida coast.”

  The sound of laughter fills her restaurant, finally filling the empty corners of our lives.

  The End

  The Cut & Blow Series continues in Book 4 when a new stylist. joins the team.

  About the Author

  Bestselling Author Ashleigh Giannoccaro writes edgy dark romance and erotic horror, self published by choice she writes the stories others don’t dare. Currently residing in Johannesburg South Africa with her husband and two daughters Ashleigh enjoys writing stories that make you fall in love with the unlovable and leave you asking questions. When not writing she can be found with her kindle in a sunny spot reading, or traveling with her family.

  You can stalk her here -

  mrsgiannoccaro.wix.com/ashleigh-giannoccaro agiannoccaropa@gmail.com

  Also by Ashleigh Giannoccaro

  Cut & Blow Series

  Cut & Blow Book 1

  Cut & Blow Book 2

  Cirque Series

  Act 1

  Act 2

  Encore Coming 2018

  Stand Alones

  28 Boys

  Written In Flames

  Cult Series

  A Lump Of Coal For Christmas

  Culture Coming 2018

  The Colour Series

  Box Set