i b9efbdf1c066cc69

by Sweet Baby Girl Entertainment

  He has more? Joey was tempted to inquire what other bright ideas Boogie had in mind.

  Something inside him told him he needed to practice restraint from laughing and rolling around on the floor, clutching his stomach. “Oh?”

  “I always have ideas. I got a clothing line I’m working on plus I’m trying to get this rap career started. I’m tired of hustling, man. Always gotta do this and that.” Boogie blew out a tense breath. “I wanna be like you. Fancy whip, money, all the pussy you can handle with no afterthought.”

  “I also work really hard,” Joey countered, “I put in a lot of long hours and I don’t really have much of a social life, contrary to what people believe. They see me hobnobbing with all of these entertainers and athletes but I’m usually providing a service for them.”

  “Man, you gon’ tell me you don’t have a honey or two on the side?” Boogie inquired. “I know a man like you, there has to be someone or three.”

  “No one and nothing serious,” Joey replied. He was sure if his career slowed down, he could find the time to date – court, even – a woman worthy to spend more than an hour’s worth.

  Lonely? Not by a long shot. Joey could, however, admit he grew bored and uninterested with the current selection of women he was entertaining.

  They all demanded one thing.

  They all demanded the same thing.

  The title of Mrs. Joseph D’Amato.

  It was a title no one had come closer to earning and probably never will. He was quite content with that despite his mother’s insistence that he get married.

  “I got caught up in knucklehead over there,” Boogie motioned to the back where Kay and Zoe were. “She was the Bonnie to my Clyde, my ride-or-die bitch, you know what I mean? She would roll my papers for me, weigh the chronic and tell me how much it should sell for. She wanted kids, I wanted kids so we did the damn thing. We wanted to be like Sam and Jenna; you’ve heard of them?”

  A small smirk formed at the corner of Joey’s lips. If Boogie only knew Joey’s future sister-in-law was one of their children… “Go on,” was all Joey could manage to say.

  “Then I don’t know, man…” Boogie wiped his nose and took another sip. “…I woke up

  one morning and thought, this is my life? This is it? There has to be more.”

  “You sound like you both need a vacation,” Joey offered, “sometimes parents get so

  wrapped up in being parents they forget who they were before.”

  “That might be it,” Boogie shrugged, “back to my ideas. I would love to meet with you sometime to discuss everything if that’s cool with you.”

  “No problem,” Joey meant what he said. Even if he thought Boogie’s ideas were laughable at best, he still wanted to give the man a fair shot. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a business card, handing it over to Boogie. “Give me a call. If I don’t pick up, leave your number and I’ll get back to you to set something up.”

  “Cool,” Boogie nodded as he pocketed the card from Joey. He looked around again to

  make sure Kay wasn’t hearing the conversation. “So that nanny who came with you…is she single?”

  Joey felt a weird tension forming at the back of his neck. Jealousy? No, it couldn’t be. He barely knew Zoe. What he did know, however, was there was no way Boogie was going to dip his small-time, drug-dealing cock inside her. Not if Joey could help it. “I don’t know, man,” he answered truthfully, “I didn’t ask.”

  “Yo, find out for me, will ya?” Boogie’s eyebrows danced. “She is way too fine to be alone.”

  Joey’s body suddenly tensed. His jaws tightened as his teeth clenched together. Maybe it was jealousy. Jealousy over what, though? A woman from California – Los Angeles, no less –

  who he had never seen before until that moment? All of the times he had visited Kieran, they explored the nightlife, went out to games, and picked up a variety of women between the two of them; comparing notes to each other the following mornings after each tryst.

  He had never seen Zoe. He most certainly wished he had.

  She was an intelligent, exotic beauty with a tight body he imagined would look great underneath his as he moved inside her, while she clawed at his back and thrust her head into the pillow, arching off the bed, meeting him thrust for thrust…

  “You okay, man?” Boogie asked.

  Joey blinked his eyes several times, coming back down to reality. He was almost pissed at Boogie for interrupting a great fantasy. He had so many women throw themselves at him that it was a foreign concept that it would him chasing after one of them.

  It was official – he liked Zoe. He liked her a lot. It might have been just lust but there was only one way to find out. “Yeah, just thought about some business I need to take care of before the end of the week, that’s all.”

  Ten

  The text notification on his phone woke Joey up from his peaceful slumber. It was nine o’clock in the morning and he knew he’d overslept, but the way he spent the night before was worth the lost sleep. They sat up and talked most of the night about anything, everything, even getting into friendly debates about current events.

  She spent the night with him, but they slept on the top of the bed wrapped around in a thick, fleece blanket, and with their clothes on. He didn’t look at her like she was a ho or any of the other tricks he had seen all over New York. There was something magical about that woman lying in bed next to him.

  He stretched out in bed and yawned before he grabbed his phone to check it. Tony sent a mass text message to him, Nick, and Kieran and Joey thought for a moment he didn’t actually read what he thought he saw.

  Something’s up with Faye and Eli. Faye’s going on vacation and Eli ain’t picking up his phone. See if you can reach him and let me know what’s going on.

  “…the hell?” Joey sat up in bed. He immediately put a call into Eli, who still didn’t answer his phone. Instead, Joey got his brother’s voicemail. “Yo, the moment you get this message, you need to call me, right away.” He then hung up.

  “Is everything okay?” Zoe answered from behind.

  Joey continued to stare at the text message, wondering what the hell was going on with his brother and sister-in-law. They always seemed to have the perfect marriage and their union was solid. Now something was terribly wrong. “I don’t know yet. I’m trying to find that out.”

  Zoe sat up in bed and yawned. She grabbed her cell phone and glanced down at the time.

  “Shit, I need to get going. I’m going to be late!”

  “I’ll drop you off,” Joey got up and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. “Just let me know where you need to go.”

  Zoe put her shoes on and grabbed her cell phone. She then joined Joey in the bathroom.

  She wrapped her arms around his waist and smiled at him through the mirror. “On a scale of one to ten, how badly do you think Kieran is going to kill us when he finds out what happened?”

  “Nothing happened between us, Zoe,” Joey rubbed Zoe’s arms with a free hand as he

  brushed his teeth. He then spit out the paste. “All we did was talk and fall asleep with our clothes on.”

  “So, if I tell him how soft your bed is, that’s okay?” She winked.

  Joey rinsed out his mouth and wiped it. “Woman, are you trying to get me killed?”

  Zoe laughed. “I just want to know what I’m allowed to mention or not mention.”

  Joey turned around to talk to his would-be girlfriend. “We’re just friends. Now, that could change and I hope it does. But as of now, we’re just cool. I don’t know what’s going on with my brother and I don’t want you to get caught up in that potential drama, if there is one. But I do want to spend more time with you and get to know you better. Is that cool?”

  “That’s cool with me.” Zoe smiled. “I just want to put it out there so there’s no confusion.

  If we are going to pursue something, I don’t do long-distance relationships.”

  “So,
if something more were to happen between us, either I move to LA or you move

  here?”

  “Something like that.”

  “Good to know.” Joey softly kissed Zoe’s forehead. “I think it’s time I start visiting my older brother in L.A.”

  ****

  Joey stared at the photo on his desk, almost in disbelief. It was Eli’s wedding day. All five brothers were dressed in designer tuxedos, looking like an Italian version of the Backstreet Boys, Tony joked that day. He could remember how happy his brother was, that he was finally marrying the woman of his dreams. Five years and many ups and downs, yet they always came back together. They always came back to each other.

  They were always together.

  It wasn’t so much that Eli betrayed Faith; he betrayed the family. Loyalty was cherished; fidelity was expected. If someone wanted to leave, they left; no questions asked. Maybe people weren’t meant to be together forever. Sometimes situations happen and people fall out.

  But infidelity? That wasn’t Eli. That wasn’t even close to him. He wasn’t raised that way; none of them were. It was one thing that it happened to their mother. It was another thing that it happened to Kieran. But for Eli to step out? That was a foreign concept that Joey just couldn’t comprehend.

  Divorce starts in the bedroom… Joey remembered words from a friend. Eli hinted he and Faith weren’t having sex anymore, but it wasn’t because of lack of interest; more like lack of trying. There was a tension building between the pair for a while; their usual witty comebacks to each other started to have a bit of zing to them, as if they were purposely trying to hit below the belt. Eli worked longer hours at the shop, a thought Joey finally concluded, to stay away from Faith. Faith’s purchases seemed to get more extravagant over a small timeframe, as if she was filling a void for something. Faith could be immature as well as Eli; no one would debate that.

  But they always came back together. Always.

  All of the signs of the pair being in trouble were there. Nobody noticed it until something happened.

  Joey could remember seeing his mother come home from work, exhausted from waiting

  tables, only to get a few hours rest before she headed out to the janitorial gig. Every day for years, she repeated that same schedule. They didn’t have a lot of money, but they never went without. Before their father left, they always had everything – the best clothes, shoes, and money for extra things they wanted to do. Weekends were spent going to Yankee Stadium, eating out at local diners, playing at the parks.

  When Giorgio left, weekends were spent being shuffled from one relative’s house to

  another while Nicola worked her jobs. The brothers were often divided with Nick, Kieran, and Joey heading to one relative’s while Eli and Tony went with another’s. They always came home on Sunday nights at Nicola’s request. No matter how tired she was, every Sunday was family dinner night, a tradition she still kept throughout the years.

  Sunday night dinners were going to be strange and uncomfortable until Eli settled his situation with Faith and his newfound girlfriend, Simone. Moni, Joey chuckled, what the fuck is a Moni?

  “Did you come back to earth yet?” Kieran’s baritone entered the office.

  Joey tossed a pen on the desk and shook his head. “You know when I woke up this

  morning, I didn’t think I would be having a family meeting about one of us.”

  “Tell me about it,” Kieran folded his arms, “we still need to tell Ma about this.”

  Joey groaned at the thought of reporting the news to their mother. It was no secret that Eli was her favorite and they had the closest relationship out of all of the brothers. He could never do wrong in her eyes and that used to cause a bit of resentment from the others when they were younger. “Do we have to?”

  “Better she finds out from us than through the press. The Post will be all over this in a millisecond and I don’t want Ma to find out that way.”

  Joey agreed. “I have a contact at the Post so it won’t make Page Six. I don’t need this bullshit to affect our reputation at Madre’s and our pending contracts. The last thing brides want to hear is that the hot guy helping them plan their wedding can’t keep his dick in his pants.”

  “Cool. Let me know when you’re ready and we can head out. Nicky and Tony are going to pick up Ma now and we’re all meeting back at her house before we go out to lunch.”

  “I’m ready but let’s talk for a moment.” Joey got up from behind the desk and perched himself in front of it. “Why didn’t you tell me about Zoe?”

  “What do you mean why didn’t I tell you about Zoe?”

  “Like everything,” Joey smiled, “like she’s intelligent, she’s beautiful, she has her own ambitions…like why didn’t you try to do the hook-up?”

  “Well, for starters, you’re out here and she’s in L.A.,” Kieran reminded, “and of course, the obvious reason.”

  “Which I’m clearly not seeing so you have to point that out to me.” Joey smirked.

  “I didn’t want you to fuck her, play her for a fool, and then leave her high and dry wondering what the hell happened since you obviously don’t remember your own reputation.”

  Kieran raised an eyebrow, “besides she has a lot going on and she doesn’t need some guy who won’t commit to her.”

  “I’m kinda digging her, K.” Joey slowly nodded. “I’m really feeling her.”

  “Dude, don’t.” Kieran sternly warned.

  Joey was surprised by his older brother’s warning. It was as if Kieran had his own

  reasoning for not seeing the pair together. “Are you sweet on her or something? I know Eli got that Simone thing going on…”

  “And that is the last time you will ever suggest I’m cheating on Tee.” Kieran had a fleering look on his face and whatever contempt he currently had for Eli was about to be transferred to Joey. “I don’t know what the hell our little brother is doing but I am not down for that shit whatsoever.”

  “Sorry, bro,” Joey held up his hands in defense, “I’m just saying I don’t know why you’re so against me trying to get to know Zoe better.”

  “I don’t care if you’re trying to get to know her better, J. Really, I don’t. Zoe is about to work on a major project for us and I need her full concentration. I don’t need her to be moping over a broken heart when she should be designing the spring line. I don’t need her curled up in a ball, fetal-position, when she should be preparing for Fashion Week.” Kieran was emotionless and his eyes were serious. “I do not need you – in any way, shape, or form – messing with her mind.”

  Joey was aghast at the gall of Kieran and got off the desk to stand eye to eye with his brother. “Are you really forbidding me to see her?”

  “No,” Kieran met Joey’s challenge, “maybe I should be clearer…”

  “You need to be fucking transparent, bro,” Joey’s voice with rife with irritation.

  “Zoe is being paid to do a job and we want her to do the best damn job she can do. It’s her dream and we’re supporting her. Therefore, we do not want any reason why she can’t do that job.

  If you just happened to be that reason, we – as in you and me, bro – will have some serious issues.” Kieran didn’t attempt to hide his thinly-veiled contempt. “Is that clear enough for you?”

  Joey stared down at his brother. If he was another man, he would’ve been knocked out already. “Pristine.”

  ****

  Zoe’s body was at Central Park but her mind clearly wasn’t.

  All day her thoughts were occupied with Joey. How strong his arms were around her waist as he held her throughout the night. The subtle fragrance of his cologne, woodsy with earth notes, tickling her nose and making her aroused with desire. The way he buried his face into her neck when she turned to face him during the night. When she turned again and pressed her ass against his cock, she felt him twitch and sprung to attention.

  He was thick and long, she could tell. She didn’t know specifics other
than she wanted to wrap her lips around his cock before her wet slit welcomed him throughout the night. He couldn’t feel how damp her panties had become, but he had to be aware of the heat emitting between her thighs, circling around to her ass and onto his cock. She wanted him to make a move, any move on her and he refused.

  At first she was offended, real offended. What the hell was all that noise about sharing goals and ambitions if he wasn’t interested? But when they talked in the bathroom the following morning, the way his eyes commanded her attention and didn’t let go, staring into the depths of her soul and making it loud and clear that he had every intention of pursuing her…Zoe put a hand to her chest. Her heart was pounding wildly.

  She knew the type of guy he was – cigar-smoking, whiskey-chugging, smelling like leather and Old Spice with a hint of swagger type of guy. The type of man who win a fortune at a late-night poker game and spend said money on a nice romantic evening with his girl. The type of man who would put it down on his girl in the bedroom, making her scream his name and claw at his back and have her want to make him a full plate of breakfast the next morning.

  Dangerous. That’s what Joseph D’Amato was. He was dangerous with a lot of power

  through his words and actions and he yielded them both carefully.

  When he dropped her off at Kay’s apartment, Joey walked with her, holding her hand,

  seemingly not wanting to let it go. Zoe didn’t want him to let it go. Not that morning. Not ever.

  She didn’t even mind the faint smell of his morning breath. She found herself strangely used to it already.

  Already?

  Zoe shook her head. When was the last time she was going gaga over a guy and his stank morning breath? No, she had to be careful. Joey had a reputation and both Kieran and Tiana gave her plenty of warnings about him. Fuck ‘em and dump them. A girl would be his as long she knows she’s one of many, a role quite a few women didn’t have an issue with as long they had a piece of him. Zoe scoffed at the idea. If she was going to be with Joey, she was going to be number one and the only one.