by Piper Rayne
Her abrupt change in demeanor throws me at first. I’m not supposed to be thrown. I’m trained to stay calm and collected, to think fast. Vanessa takes what I learned and runs it over like an eighteen wheeler.
“I’m not some asshole who tells his girlfriend what to do, but I’m not letting you go into a situation where you’re not safe.” I stand now, too. “Who do you think I am?”
She swallows and raises her chin in defiance. “I started this, I have to finish it. I don’t want you playing hero and saving me.”
Can we rewind the tape and start this conversation over? Because what’s happening right now is pissing me off.
“Vanessa.”
She shakes her head. “I’m going Wednesday. Either you support me through this or this is over.”
I’m stuck, albeit temporarily. She doesn’t understand. No way she can.
“Fine. If that’s your choice,” I grind out between clenched teeth.
“I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
I wrap her in my arms, laying my head on top of hers. Yeah, we’re so not on the same page, but she can think what she wants. She will anyway.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Vanessa
Cristian has been by my side for the past few days. He had Tuesday off, so we spent the day at his apartment, having sex and lounging around. He tried to push me to run, but I had to work on making sure all materials and patterns hit my manufacturer on time. Not to mention figure the whole website thing out.
The only time we were apart all day was an hour and a half while he went on a run. I’ll tell you, but don’t tell him…I missed him. I want to throw my head in my hands and cry or laugh or scream. I can’t believe I’m here, in a relationship with Cristian Bianco, Mr. Honest and Noble, missing him after only an hour and a half away from him.
I like the fact he’s allowing me to handle this thing with Bill on my own. It shows he won’t be controlling, albeit I was surprised he was so easily convinced. But he’s given me no reason to think he’s not one hundred percent on board.
I hear a key insert into the door and speak of the devil, my gorgeous police officer walks in sweaty and sexy from his run with a brown paper bag in his hand.
“How was your run?” I ask from where I sit with my laptop at his kitchen table, complete with a bowl of fruit in the middle.
What bachelor has a bowl of fruit? That would be my guy.
“It was okay.” There are lines indented on his forehead that weren’t there when he left. His dark eyes aren’t sparkling like they usually do either. “I picked you up something.”
“Oh.” I stand and walk over to him.
He holds the bag above my head and pulls me closer by my waist.
“Where’s my thank you?” he asks, dangling the brown paper bag above our heads.
“I have to see what’s in it first.” I reach up, but he only holds the bag higher. I manage to get a finger on the rough paper, but he shifts it behind his back.
“Do I smell pumpkin? And spice?” He inhales against my neck. “Or is that coming from my beautiful girlfriend’s pores?”
I laugh trying to reach the bag with my hands around his waist, but soon my back is pressed to the counter and his thigh is parting my legs. I grind on his muscular leg like a dog in heat. I’m insatiable with this man.
“Hmm…” he growls, putting the bag on the counter behind me to free both of his hands.
With his hands on my hips, he directs me in an arousing rhythm that ignites my core like flint to steel.
“You’re sweaty,” I say.
“And if I’m lucky I’ll be even sweatier soon.” He smiles down at me and captures my lips with his.
We’ve kind of perfected this slow dance of our tongues that speeds up and slows down. Right now he’s matching the same rhythm of his thigh. With every plunge of his tongue, I’m rewarded with a push of his thigh to my center. The seam of my jeans only causes the desire to ripple through me faster.
He rips his mouth from mine. “What’s it going to be? Me or some pumpkin spice?”
“Hmm…” I moan into his mouth, my hands desperate to unclothe him.
He steps back and eyes the bag behind me. “Come on, answer the question.”
Taking the hem of his t-shirt, he strips it off his body. He kicks off his shoes and flings off his socks in a pile on the floor. He’s mouth-watering and calendar-worthy. Hell, he could fill an entire calendar all by himself. I lick my lips.
“I’m a little offended you’re still over there.”
I giggle like the teenage girl he turns me into. I put both my hands in the air like I’m weighing my options.
“You’re bruising my ego.” He loses the shorts and compression pants and look-see there, he doesn’t wear anything else underneath.
“You’re playing dirty.” I step forward.
“By all means see what’s in the bag.” He takes a few steps back, leaning on the back of the couch, and strokes himself a few times, not at all embarrassed about his nakedness. I wouldn’t be either if I looked like him.
“Shut up. You know whatever is in that bag is only worth one orgasm. You’re worth at least three.” I strip my t-shirt off over my head and push down my leggings. Two can play at the not wearing underwear game.
“You know I like to undress you, but” —his eyes darken as he takes in my body— “this’ll do.”
He pulls me to him, and we fall back down onto the couch. Me on top of him, our limbs tangled.
Life has never been sweeter.
Remember that phrase about life being so sweet?
All was good until Wednesday night at six-thirty when I walked down the stairs of my house.
“Just take the taser.” Lauren opens my clutch and shoves it in. I don’t bother arguing.
“Let me give you a little self-defense course.” Mauro stands in the center of the kitchen. “Act like you’re going to seduce me.” He moves my hand to his chest like a man would grab a woman’s boob.
I go along with the act but he quickly twists my arm behind my back and my heel almost breaks. I cry out.
“Thanks for that lesson,” I say once he releases me.
“No prob.” He grabs a piece of pizza from on top of the stove.
It’s like this is some party before I head off. I went from no one knowing to everyone knowing.
“Use the taser. Don’t be afraid to scream either,” Maddie says.
“Guys, if Cristian isn’t worried, why are you?” I ask.
Cristian called a bit ago. He’s stuck at the district and said he’d see me when I got home—that he’d be waiting with his gun loaded in case that asshole tries anything.
Mauro glances at Maddie who looks at Lauren who stares back at me.
“He’s still trying to win you over,” Lauren says.
“And he’s being a fucking pussy because of it. If I was Cris, I’d have that guy in handcuffs or a body bag,” Mauro says around a mouthful of pizza.
“Definitely a body bag,” Luca joins the party.
“How the hell did you get in here?” Lauren asks.
“Your door is unlocked, which I’ll be nice and keep that from Cris. You’re welcome.” He winks at Lauren who rolls her eyes and takes a big sip of wine.
They have wine and beer out. I hate that I have to go do this and not hang out and party with all of them. Cristian could meet us here and we’d play games and drink and laugh. Well, four of us would. The other two would either kill each other or fuck each other.
Operation L & L is bound to combust sooner than later. That’s dumb, I need a better name to get those two together.
“Here.” He hands me a small switchblade.
“Luca!” I scold. “I don’t want to carry this thing.”
He purses his lips and shakes his head like I’m an idiot. “It’ll buy you some time if things go bad.”
“What the hell are you doing with that?” Lauren asks, but the look on her face says she’s kind of impr
essed.
“It’s just a knife, not a bomb, Hunt. Relax.” He disregards her and turns his attention to me. “Please take it just in case. People like this guy aren’t anyone to mess around with.”
I put it in my purse next to my taser. “Thank you all for everything.”
“Remember.” Maddie stops me right before I’m about to walk out the door, her hands on my shoulders, her motherly eyes on me. “Self-defense. If he does anything to you, you can get off on self-defense. I’m sure Reed knows some excellent lawyers.”
“Thanks.” I flip around to face them all, my hand on the knob of the back door. “You guys are worrying about nothing. I handled this guy before. It’s no big deal.” I almost believe that myself.
All four of them look like I’m a five-year-old on my first day of kindergarten. They want to encourage me, but they know it’s going to be tough.
“Hold up.” Luca runs over and takes my hands and bows his head. “Please watch over Vanessa because she’s the only girl in the world who would want to spend a lifetime with Cristian.” He straightens his back and uses his finger to make the sign of the cross over his chest.
“LUCA!” Maddie comes over and smacks him on the back of the head.
He holds his hand to the spot. “Jesus Mauro, are you sure she’s not Italian?” He rubs it a few times. “That was like Nonna.”
“Bye guys.” I sneak out while they’re all telling Luca he’s a pussy for thinking Maddie hit him hard.
Walking down the stairs to the back of the house, a path I took most nights for the past year, feels worse than it did before. Before I was doing it for a purpose—my future. Now, I’m a pawn in someone’s game and as much as I don’t want to admit it to myself, it scares me. Bill has never spoken to me like he did two days ago. Then again, he never had a reason to. I was there willingly.
Like clockwork, the black town car pulls up to the garage and my hand moves to the car door.
It opens with the click and I tuck inside, finding Bill in his usual attire. Ripped up faded jeans over cowboy boots and a plaid western shirt. His hair, or what he has left is slicked back.
“I’m surprised.” Bill’s gaze roams my body, concentrating on my boobs that are one string away from being out on display. I should’ve worn my coat. It was stupid not to.
“What?”
“I thought for sure your boyfriend would try to find me.”
“If you keep to your word he doesn’t need to be involved.” I turn away from him to face the door.
A creepy laugh rumbles out of him. Way too many cigarettes in his lifetime. “He doesn’t scare me.”
A dark form approaches the car and I close my eyes in frustration. Why are Luca and Mauro getting involved in this? Trying to be saviors for their brother?
Only when the door opens, it’s the other Bianco brother.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Vanessa
He’s not in his uniform, but dark jeans and a jacket that I have no doubt has his holster underneath.
“Hey babe, slide over for me.” I do which only puts me closer to Bill. “On second thought, I’ll take bitch.” He lifts up and I slide back over to the window for him to sit between us.
“What the hell is going on?” Bill sneers.
“I just thought you might want to see some of the blackmail I have on you since you’re so willing to share yours with Vanessa. Come on, I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.” He pulls out a manila folder from the inside of his jacket.
How? What could he have? He’s never been to the poker games.
Bill opens the envelopes and looks through the pictures and a few other pieces of paper that look like bank deposits. “This proves nothing. It could be a friendly game.”
“Jeez, it’s stuffy in here. Mind rolling down a window or something?” Cristian leans over Bill to press the window button.
His presence is so commanding, and I hate to admit it, but I’m growing a little damp between the legs. Then I remember the dress I’m wearing and I stretch the fabric at the bottom to cover myself. I look like a slut and that’s exactly what Cristian will see me as in this moment.
The stench of a Chicago alley hits us as the window descends.
“I’m going to give you two choices,” Cristian continues in a calm, friendly voice that somehow still conveys that he means business. “You let Vanessa go and get rid of any evidence she worked for you, or two cop cars come in both sides of this alley and arrest you for running an illegal gambling ring.”
“You have no proof. This isn’t going to put me in jail for more than a day until my lawyer can get me off.” He drops the manila folder on the ground.
“Lucky us, we have a key witness. Yeah, you might not go to jail, but I’m sure once the D.A. starts poking around they’re likely to find tax evasion, maybe some other illegal activities you have your hands in. Not to mention the fact that you’ll lose every customer you have. Every client will wonder if they’ll be the one on the front paper the next morning. Wondering if you can actually provide them with the privacy they need to play cards for money. We’ve looked into it. Your client list is extensive and exclusive. Those are the kind of people who don’t want to be putting their hands up in front of flashing cameras.”
I look from Cristian to Bill, wide-eyed.
“She wouldn’t go on the stand, her father would lose all credibility,” Bill says with smug confidence.
Cristian shrugs. “Small price to pay to make sure your daughter isn’t tied to the likes of you for an eternity. The city could spin it however they want. Plus.” He leans in close to Bill. “Who’s to say she’s the witness?”
Bill pales and the only reason he would be concerned is if someone else left on bad terms. He stews and says nothing for a full minute while Cristian continues to stare at him. Never once averting his gaze.
“Fine,” Bill chokes out. “She’s done, but you better not go back on your end of the deal.”
“I’m a man of my word. If you had been, we wouldn’t be in this car.” Cristian reaches over and opens the door for me. “Go ahead, Van.”
I step out of the car, but Cristian closes the door before retreating himself.
There’s no sound, no yelling, nothing coming from the town car and because of the tints I can’t see what’s going on inside.
Not knowing what to do, I stand there with my arms wrapped around myself, the cold air chilling me through the small amount of fabric covering my body.
A minute or two later, Cristian’s big body emerges into the dark night, only a dim streetlight and a few house lights for me to know it’s him.
The door isn’t even shut before the town car drives down the alley, turning right.
Relief wells up inside of me until Cristian wraps his arms around me.
“Let’s get you inside. It’s cold out.” His big hands run up and down my bare arms.
I nod and allow him to guide me by the small of my back up the sidewalk to our back door. The noises of the girls and the other two Bianco brothers laughing and carrying on inside finally pulls me back out of my fog. We reach the door, but I don’t open it, instead circling back around to him.
“I would’ve handled it,” I say.
“I know, but this way you don’t have to work and let’s be honest here, he never would’ve let you loose. He would’ve dangled the carrot in front of you for who knows how long.”
Does he think I’m stupid? His comment sure implies he does.
“You think I would have just kept on working there?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know what you would’ve done, but it’s over now. I handled it.”
My heartbeat picks up pace at the same time my blood boils hot. He handled it? Is this how he expects to handle our life for ever and ever?
“I told you I’d handle it!” My voice grows louder.
He takes a step forward. “Your way wasn’t the best way. I don’t get what I did wrong here. I thought you’d be happy. I pulled strings
to get those pictures and that intel. A lot of people helped me save…get you out of this situation.” He crosses his arms over his chest.
“I never asked them too.”
“No, I did,” he snaps.
“And you had no right.”
He raises his palm to me. “I didn’t have a right? You’re my fucking girlfriend, that means I take care of you!”
No words.
Nothing.
I’m speechless.
“You don’t take care of me. I’m a grown adult. I take care of me.” I point my finger at my chest.
He blows out a stream of air that’s illuminated by the light above us.
“Okay, you do, but I wanted to fix this for you.” He steps forward, his arm already out and ready to wrap around my waist. “I couldn’t stand the thought of you in that room. In this.” His gaze moves down my body, disgust heavy in his eyes. “With those men. I’m sorry, but I wasn’t cool with it.”
I throw my hands up and step back. “Then why did you say you were okay with it?”
“Because I knew you’d fight me on it! I knew what I was doing.”
“You know what? This whole thing.” I wave my finger between us. “It’s too fast. You shouldn’t be putting your career on the line for me. Neither should those other officers. You just want someone to fix. Some woman who needs you to keep her together. I get that when we met, I was a little broken, but I’m not now. I would’ve gotten myself through the situation. But you’re just always going to sweep in and act like a savior. God knows what you’ll do when we have kids.”
“You think about having kids with me?”
It’s like he doesn’t hear me speaking.
I ball up my fists at my side. “You know what Cristian? Thank you for what you did and I do mean that. I appreciate all the effort you went to, but I wish you would have respected my wishes. I think I need some space.” My hand touches the doorknob and since it’s the first moment of silence between us since we started arguing, I notice that there’s no more talking inside.