“And what?” Bella asked.
“Yes, what?” Rayanna added.
“I let him kiss me.”
“Oh yeah! Holy shit. Andreas was Special Forces. Did you know that?” Rayanna asked her.
“What? No. Oh God, that makes it even worse.”
“What do you mean?”
“I pushed him away and told him I wasn’t some easy one-night stand like I’ve seen him with before. He looked pissed off, but I headed back to the girls when I saw Dominic standing there at the end of the hallway. His eyes narrowed, staring daggers at…I thought me, at first, but then maybe Andreas. And I figured he was pissed because he wanted to make a move and his security guy did.”
Rayanna chuckled.
“You didn’t know that Andreas is Dominic and Giuseppe’s cousin. That is so funny,” Bella said.
“Funny? How so? I told off Andreas, and then I gave Dominic a dirty look as if he was looking for the same thing, some woman to screw for the night. He and his brother set their eyes on me, and then I ignored them all night.”
Rayanna and Bella chuckled.
“But you can’t stop thinking about them, and until right now when you found out all three men are related, you thought you caused some sort of war between them?” Bella asked.
“Exactly. I mean their security guy kissed me, and they’re his bosses.”
Rayanna and Bella laughed louder.
“Hey. This isn’t funny at all,” Giada said very seriously.
“Yeah, it is. You thinking that Andreas was just some guard for them. He could take out anyone with his abilities. The man is badass,” Rayanna said and whistled as if Andreas was superhot and sexy.
“I can’t get involved with them, and especially not now, not knowing that Andreas was a soldier.”
“What? Why not?” Rayanna asked.
Bella reached out and touched her hand.
“Giada dated a guy in the military for three years,” Bella said to Rayanna.
Rayanna squinted at her.
“What happened?”
“He was killed while serving. It’s been two years,” Giada said, lifted her glass, and took a sip of wine.
Tears filled her eyes, and Rayanna saw the emotion and felt bad for Giada. They had only become friends recently because of Bella and the trip to D.R., but she already cared so much for her and considered her a good friend.
“I’m so sorry, Giada. I had no idea,” Rayanna said.
“Of course not, and I don’t go around talking about Jimmy to anyone. I would never get involved with someone in the military again, or anything remotely dangerous, especially not three made men. I wouldn’t be able to handle it.”
“Sometimes things are out of our control, Giada, and an attraction is so strong it forces things to happen. I’ve known Dominic for many years, but I’ve never seen him look at a woman like I just saw him look at you,” Rayanna told her.
Giada shook her head. “I can’t. Even if I’m attracted to them, I can’t handle it. Look at me. I’m five foot three and petite. They can date supermodels they’re so big and tall. Why would they want a mouse?”
“A mouse? I think not, unless you mean Mighty Mouse,” Bella said to her.
Rayanna chuckled. So did Giada as she gave Bella a funny face and stuck out her tongue. They laughed some more.
“You’re gorgeous with your jet-black hair and your exceptional blue eyes that stand out like they’re glowing, never mind that sexy little body you work so hard on in your martial arts classes,” Bella said to her.
“What about how professional you are working in finance and banking? You’re making mid-six figures on your own and work great hours. You’re set, and especially with your investments. You have so much going for you.”
“That is why I don’t need trouble, nor heartache or to be used. I won’t be able to handle a broken heart, and times three men? Definitely not. I survived depression and losing Jimmy by becoming a workaholic and hanging out here and there with Bella and my friends for support. Let’s just drop it. Tell me more about the fashion show and whether you can get some things to bring back for Bella and me to wear?” Giada said, changing the subject and winking.
Giada was definitely too scared to take a chance, and if Rayanna were at all honest with her and Bella, she would explain her own fears, as well. She took a deep breath, then exhaled before she spoke about the show, and Bella talked about some of the new fashions coming out.
My past and the fears I have now with Puento stalking me are pretty bad. I wouldn’t get involved with any man right now, so who the hell am I to give advice or to tell Giada to take a chance, anyway? Screw that. I sure wouldn’t either. Getting involved with a man is the last thing on my mind—not with the one from my past not giving up, hurting me, and making me fear him.
* * * *
“How much longer do I need to wait, Puento? It seems to me that you’re playing games with the Fiorre woman,” York St. James said to Puento.
“It’s all in the scheme of things. Remember, I came to you. You may be the one with public power, but I run the underground with my crew, and we get shit done you could only fantasize about doing. You’ll want to give me whatever time I need.”
“Why is that? You promised that I would gain more power and expand my territory, even stop paying the Fiorre family because of those dumb fucks the Picatta brothers.”
“If you don’t want to wind up dead like them, then you have no choice but to listen to me. Did I or did I not get those truckloads of goods and drugs to you? No one knew shit.”
“It will put the Fiorre family and the Costanza family on edge, and future hits won’t be so easy,” York St. James replied.
“That’s what you think. They’re all going to be too busy trying to keep up with all the problems they’ll be having, including the abduction of their cousin Rayanna.”
“Abduction? Are you out of your mind? If this is all about you getting laid by the woman and wanting her back in your bed, then I’m done. A woman’s loins are a man’s weakness.”
Puento smirked at York St. James’s comment. “Money rules the earth, and with it a man can do many great things. Do you want to continue to be a minion, or are you ready to gain power and control on the streets and in business?”
“I don’t want to get killed by the Fiorre family when they find out I’m helping to fuck them over. Even the Costanza family is growing in leaps and bounds. They’re suffocating the rest of us.”
“Not anymore if you follow my orders and listen to my ideas.”
“This woman must be sensational in bed to want to cause her family’s demise in order to get her for yourself and disappear.”
“You don’t know how good she is in bed. Besides, when all is said and done, I’ll need to disappear for a long time, and I’m not going to do that alone. She’ll be with me, and this life, her family, the concern of them seeking revenge will be a lost cause. I’ll be in paradise living like a king with my own sexual princess bowing down before me and completing all this hard work.”
“She must be damn good if you’ve planned all this to get back at her family and destroy them. I’ve seen her, and she’s stunning. That kind of woman wouldn’t remain single for long. You’re taking a chance.”
“She hasn’t dated anyone since me. That’s how I know she still wants me. Now, I have another location for your guys to hit. It’s simple. They just need to be careful and follow my directions. Transfer the money, York. Today. I’ll be in touch.”
Puento disconnected the call and leaned back into his chair. He looked out at the city. How much he would love to have followed Rayanna to Chicago for the show. He would have easily been able to wear a disguise and get backstage, hell, even touch her, but that would be risky. There were things to be done, people to hurt, and another job to pull off to send a message that the Fiorre family was not untouchable. Not by a long shot.
He slid the leather strap between his hands and snapped it hard. He clenched
his teeth and thought about his gorgeous Rayanna. Perhaps putting the gun to her temple had been too much, but he had been acting on instincts, and his instincts were always right. She would fear him, and when it was time to make her, she would come willingly with him, everything would be in place and she would come without a problem. Then they could begin their lives as lovers once again.
Chapter 2
The music played, and there was chaos all around her. Pieces of clothing lines had disappeared, and it was craziness. Rayanna looked at Carrie wide-eyed, and Carrie burst out laughing. “I owe you a steak dinner, or whatever you want. Tonight at LaCrueage with all the big shots,” she said.
Rayanna smiled. “You got it.” She then noticed a man in a suit walking through the area with another man.
“Oh brother, they’re already starting,” Carry said to her.
“Who is he?”
“I don’t know. You’ll see a few different men, big shots with deep pockets, walking through here picking out which model they intend on sweeping off their feet and maybe getting in their beds tonight,” Carrie said, sounding disgusted.
“I can’t find the black bra. I need it. Who fucking took it?” one model yelled out, ranting.
“We’ll find it. Calm down,” Carrie said and rolled her eyes.
Rayanna hid her chuckle and went about trying to gather the next set of dresses for the runway. As she was looking through and placing the gowns next to each woman, she thought about how cool this actually was and how she wished she were taller than five foot five. She would so love to strut her stuff down the runway.
“Is that mine?” one model asked her.
“Yes it is, and these go with it.”
“Jesus, I can’t believe how high these heels are. I mean how the hell are we supposed to do this all night? That runway is extra long.”
“I don’t know how you all do it, but somehow you pull through. You’re going to look sexy hot in that number. Think about that and not your feet hurting,” Rayanna said to her.
The model smiled.
“Thanks, Rayanna,” she said and continued on.
As the evening progressed, it seemed to get crazy a bit and then die down again. Just as she was about to tell Carrie how this wasn’t so bad, a bit of chaos erupted around the bend.
“She passed out. Oh God, what are we going to do now?” one of Jaque Bennire’s assistants, C.C., said to them.
“I don’t know. I think we need to find someone to fit in that dress and send them out there,” the woman stated.
“Great idea, but all the models have a dress or outfit ready for them. The next set is outerwear; there’s no way they can do both,” Carrie said, and then a few others came around and started looking at Rayanna.
“What?” she said.
“Oh God. You think?” Carrie said to Jaque’s assistant, C.C.
“The top and the ass will be super tight, making it sexier than what Jaque had anticipated, but I think it will do well,” C.C. said.
“Rayanna, how do you feel about stiletto heels?” Carry asked, and they started to walk her toward a curtain and began putting her hair up in some fancy style as another woman did her makeup.
“What in God’s name?” she said, and then it hit her.
“No. You can’t be serious?” she said to them.
“Dead serious. I will owe you my life, Rayanna. My life,” Carrie said.
“No. No way. No can do. I am not…”
Her eyes locked onto one very tall, handsome, serious-looking man and the three others he was with. He emitted power, importance, and as his gaze swept over her, she felt it everywhere. Annoyance pooled in her belly.
“Take a hike, buddy. Nothing’s for sale around here,” she stated and saw the shocked expression on Carrie’s face.
Another woman pulled her toward the curtain.
“You need to get the dress on, and then I need to grab the accessories. Here are the heels. Can you handle this?” the woman asked her as Rayanna looked at the heels. They were high, not that she’d never worn such high heels before, but add in her nerves and the chaos of being unprepared for this…
Carrie clutched her shoulder.
“Yanna, please,” she begged, calling her by her nickname.
“Grr,” Rayanna growled. Carrie chuckled, then took her arm and whispered to her.
“I can’t believe you just mouthed off to that man. Holy shit, Rayanna.”
“What? Who is he?” she asked. She could see through the side mirror that he stood there waiting, arms at his sides, and the men next to him looked just as serious.
“A man no one ever speaks back to, never mind even approaches unless he initiates.”
“What?” she asked and stepped into the dress.
“Shit. Earrings. You need earrings.”
Rayanna grabbed Carrie’s arm before she left.
“Who is he?”
“Russian mob boss Dmitri Sanclare.”
Rayanna gasped, and her heart hammered inside of her chest. She had such a big mouth. Jesus, why did she even say something to him? I’m going to have a stroke.
She quickly got into the dress, hands now shaking, and held it up against her chest. She turned sideways. It was sexy but definitely not meant to be this sexy.
“Hello, I need some help please,” she called out. “Carrie!” she exclaimed. She was shaking and freaking out at being pushed into this runway walk and at potentially having pissed off one powerful Russian mobster. Could this evening get any worse?
* * * *
Dmitri Sanclare and a few of his security guys entered the backstage to the show in hopes of saying hello and thank-you to Jaque Bennire. Dmitri had some investments in the stock, and he’d given Jaque financial backing when Jaque first started his clothing line and fashion career. Dmitri got him into seeing the right people, and his line took off. He had known Jaque’s father, Pierre, well and liked the family. Now that he was back here, his eyes locked onto one sexy-looking platinum blonde, but as she looked at him, seemingly in a fit of annoyance, she told him off. Yanna. The other woman called her Yanna.
Apparently the woman had no clue as to whom he was. He found it quite amusing but didn’t show it. Grisha, his right-hand man, gave him a look. They both got an apology from one of Jaque’s assistants and even another woman, but not the blonde. He waited a moment, then heard her call from the curtain about needing help. The others were all busy. He held up his hand for Grisha and Bodashka to wait where they were and approached the curtain. His eyes locked onto the bare, tanned skin, no tan lines, and what appeared to be a hint of a floral tattoo from her right hip toward the front. The thin beige lace thong panties could be seen where the zipper started, and he licked his lips. The woman looked sinful.
He approached her and reached for the dress, locking gazes with her reflection in the mirror at the same time. She glanced up, bent forward as she put on the high heels, and then stood. Her lips parted, her face flushed, and he stroked his knuckles against her skin, shocked at the sensations he felt. He zeroed in on her abundant breasts in the reflection in the mirror and the slight hint of pink areola. She was a goddess.
“Well, Yanna, they all disappeared. I think paramedics arrived on scene to help a woman who fainted.” He began to slowly zip up her dress, letting his knuckles glide against her skin.
“Oh, I can do that.” She went to reach back, and the front of the dress dipped. She grabbed it tight.
“I don’t mind one bit.” He held her gaze through the mirror. She stared back at him, her gorgeous green eyes, more beautiful than emeralds, wide. She stumbled to speak, and he found her endearing and adorable.
“I’m sure you don’t. Thank you, then,” she said, keeping her palm against her chest, and he could tell she was well endowed, as the dress got tighter and the cleavage got deeper.
She smoothed her hands down the sides, and he couldn’t help but to keep close. She smelled incredible. He was shocked by his instant attraction.
; “A perfect fit, Yanna,” he whispered.
“It’s Rayanna. Only family and good friends call me that.”
He went to speak, to tell her he would be calling her that, too, when her friend appeared again.
“Ready?” Carrie called out. One glance at Dmitri and she immediately stopped short and lowered her head in an almost bow to him.
“Sorry, Mr. Sanclare. I need Rayanna,” she said to him.
“Perhaps we’ll talk later,” he said to Rayanna.
She eyed him over. “I doubt it,” she replied and walked away.
He couldn’t take his eyes from her form, from the way she glided across the room. That was one sexy dress…and one sexy woman. His guards couldn’t stop looking at her either. Grisha caught Dmitri’s gaze and raised one of his eyebrows. Grisha approached.
“Jaque is in the other room and on his way back here to greet you.”
“Thank you,” he replied and listened as the other women talked about how Rayanna wasn’t even a model and how gorgeous she looked, and hot in the dress. They weren’t kidding. Who was she?
* * * *
It was a damn miracle that she hadn’t tripped or passed out after what just happened backstage. Dmitri Sanclare, a Russian-Ukrainian made man, and a pretty damn important one, zipped up her dress, let his knuckles glide up her spine. She’d felt an instant attraction to the man. How stupid was she? Even after she insulted him and basically accused him of looking for some bimbo model to hook up with. Jesus that could go on the list of stupid shit she did in her life. When was her luck going to change? As she got through the whole runway thing, the last thing she expected was to be greeted by Jaque Bennire himself, and with a huge smile and him grabbing her hands and making her twirl slowly around in front of him.
Made Men 5: Dmitri's Denial (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 3