Antonello (Mob Men Book 1)

by Noelle Giselle

  “Screw you!”

  I push off the couch and I storm up the stairs. I just want to get away from him today.

  Antonello

  She has no idea how much she scared me today. If anything would’ve happened to her or Caterina because of me I would’ve never forgiven myself.

  The last twenty-four hours have been a fucking nightmare to say the least.

  I went to do the hit on Tom, which should’ve been easy. A piece of fucking cake. And, it would’ve been had I not gotten jumped by one of the stupid Crisanti fucks.

  I pulled up Gingham’s Pub around one thirty in the morning. Tom would be leaving any minute. Those hits are the perfect ones. It’s always easy to make it look like an accident when they’re drunk and reckless. Car accidents, bar fights, you name it. I always do my hits alone. It’s extremely rare when I have someone with me. Gian would tag along once in a while, but in my eyes the more people I have with me the harder it is to look discreet. And the way I work, I like to be as discreet as fuck.

  I am thanking my lucky fucking stars that Leo, one of my soldiers, called me before I went there. He’s been doing a great job since the night of the ambush at the club so I decided to teach him the ropes. He does simple jobs right now. Pickups, security detail, clean up. It’s about time I move him up and start training him a bit on how to properly do hits. I need to lessen my load as it is, especially if we want to jump on board and start bringing Juuls into the ports now.

  By the time Tom comes out of the bar I know Leo is just pulling in around the block. I don’t want to lose Tom, so I send Leo a text to meet me in the back alleyway.

  “Tom, I believe we need to have an important conversation, my friend.”

  The second he sees me he blanches.

  “I will have the money next week. I mean it. I have fifty bucks on me right now, man. Please, take the fifty bucks.”

  “We talked about this, didn’t we? You owe over ten fucking grand. You’re way past due.”

  The street is dark and it’s a perfect set up as I drag him into the alleyway.

  His drunk ass doesn’t even have time to yell.

  I use Gian’s knife to quickly do the silent kill. It’s effortless as I drive the knife into his stomach and twist it. My brother’s better with his knives. They’re always much sharper than mine. I never have the time to keep up. I’m more of a gun guy, but Gian, he loves knives, the sick fuck.

  I repeat my move two more times before wiping the knife on the cazzos jacket and tossing him to the ground. I check his pockets. The guy is a junkie and we may even be able to resell, but he’s got nothing on him. In fact, his wallet doesn’t even have fifty bucks.

  I’m expecting Leo any second so I don’t turn quickly enough when I hear footsteps.

  One of the Crisanti soldiers comes out of nowhere and shoots. Thankfully, his aim sucks and he misses me by a mile. His bullet ricochets off the building. My gun is in my holster but I’ve got Gian’s knife readily available, so I charge at him and I’m able to ram him in the side. He manages to grab my arm and we go at it for a minute. His blood is getting every-fucking-where. We’re scuffling on the ground when Leo comes around the corner and stabs the fucker in the back.

  So much for an easy hit. Now we need to call clean up.

  I’m a fucking mess and I know when Uncle Sal gets wind of this he’s going to be breathing fire. That’s one more attack on us and before I know it Stefano’s going to be dead set on killing Vinny before the banquet. What a disaster.

  Fast forward to post clean up, I’ve got half the fucking famiglia in my office. Gian’s leaning on the desk and Tony’s passing out cigars like candy. Half of them want to kill Vinny and half think we should wait. They want to make a point yet some think it’s going too far. As for me, I think we need to hold off and talk to the Vassallos first. Also, I need a fucking shower. Bad. But Violet’s still upstairs sleeping and I can’t get up there right now.

  I grab a towel and head to a spare bathroom. I’m just about to undress when I double back to my office to grab my phone. That’s when I catch Violet outside the door. She’s wearing some little red number that Caterina must’ve bought. It’s see-through and the curves of her ass cheeks are peeking out the bottom. My dick twitches in my pants.

  I’m about to tell her to get her ass back up the stairs when the door opens. Seeing the men staring at her like a piece of meat almost made me lose it. I tried to push her behind me as fast as I can but I swear one of the soldiers got a boner. I’m beyond livid.

  She’s mine.

  Then, as if all of this isn’t bad enough, we’re in the middle of a what’s about to be a fucking war and Violet and my sister go traipsing around in goddamn Brooklyn. We need to be careful in Vassallo territory until we can know for sure whose side they’re really on. God forbid something went down I don’t know if I could’ve handled it.

  Violet just stomped up the stairs and all I want to do is go to her. I’m stressed beyond my wits. I need her right now.

  I sit on the couch for a minute and I rub my tired face. I really should go make things right with her. I’ve got too much to focus on and I can’t be distracted with bullshit.

  I swallow my pride and I decide to go upstairs. I want to apologize for this nightmare of the last twelve hours but I don’t know how. I don’t apologize much in my life.

  The second floor is quiet. I’ve had enough of her water works so I hope I don’t hear sobs. I push open the bedroom door but I don’t see her. The light is on in the master bathroom so I peek in.

  The large claw foot bathtub is filled to the top with bubbles and she’s partially submerged under the water. There’s a cloth covering her eyes and she has no idea I’m standing here.

  I feel like a creep for a moment as I just stand and admire her from the doorway.

  Her hair is up and there are a few loose strands stuck to her wet skin. Droplets of water drip down her neck and chest. I swallow hard as I watch one drip down between her breasts. It smells like some sort of herbal shit in here, but the smell of it might be relaxing even my tense shoulders.

  I don’t know how to apologize, so I do the only thing I know how to do.

  I strip.

  I climb in on top of her and remove the cloth from her eyes. I hear water splash out the tub onto the floor as I settle in. I’m a little too big for this tub as it is, but it’s the last thing I care about right now.

  She doesn’t push me away, so that’s a good start.

  I maneuver her so she’s the one on top and I reach around and grab each of her ass cheeks in my hands. The feel of her breasts pressed up against me has me going chubby in seconds.

  “Dolcezza,”

  She cuts me off. “I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I was just worried about you because you never came home. That’s all.”

  I try my best to apologize. “It’s okay. I’m sorry for getting angry about you going into Brooklyn. I was just worried about you.”

  “You don’t need to worry about me. I’m fine. I have a body guard.”

  “Yes, that’s true, dolcezza, but no body guard will ever protect you as good as I will.”

  She touches my shoulders and I watch as her brows crease.

  “You’re so tense.”

  “I always am. You know that.”

  “This is worse than usual, though.” She starts to knead my shoulders with her hands and I lean my head back and close my eyes.

  “What is that herbal smell?”

  “It’s lavender.”

  I don’t admit that I like it. I’ve already admitted Home Alone is my favorite movie. I’ll be keeping my mouth shut for a while.

  I keep my eyes closed and I try to focus on her fingers on my skin. I’m not expecting it when she lifts off me and sits back.

  And impales herself right onto my fucking dick.

  I open my eyes and she’s got a devilish grin on her face. I try to lean forward but she pushes me back down again.


  “You relax.”

  I bring my hands to her hips and help guide her as she begins to ride on top of me. I can’t remember the last time I let someone else take control.

  I’m not sure I like it at first but the longer it goes on I realize it’s not so bad to give up control once in a while.

  She bounces up and down and I hear the water splashing all over the bathroom. I’m too focused on her breasts bouncing to notice. I admire her body as it’s displayed out before me. She throws her head back and I already feel myself coming apart.

  I thrust my hips upwards and fuck her harder. She speeds up and her movements become erratic. I love watching her ride me and know she’s using me exactly how she wants to for her own pleasure. I want to be whatever I can be for her. She cries out and I feel her walls pulsating around my thick shaft. Her voice echoes throughout the room and I allow myself to release. She watches me as I come undone and I can see by her expression how much it affects her. It’s enough to make me want to do it all over again.

  She collapses on top of me and our wet skin is slick as our bodies touch.

  “Nello, I have to tell you something.” She leans up and rests her hands on my chest. She takes her index finger and starts tracing one of my tattoos.

  I don’t say anything. I wait for her to continue.

  “This whole, you know, this whole deal between us,” she brings her eyes up to meet mine. “Sometimes I feel like, it’s, you know,” she returns to tracing my tattoos and avoiding my eyes, “not pretend.” Her cheeks are flushed. I don’t know how to express emotions. I don’t think I’ve had emotions for at least the last ten years. I can’t speak. I don’t know what to say. I pull her mouth to mine and I kiss her deeply. I play with her mouth, sucking on her tongue then on her bottom lip. She smiles at me. I breathe deeply and inhale her scent. She rests her forehead on mine. I hope it’s enough of an answer for her.

  The week leading up to the banquet at my Uncle’s house is busy. He’s been letting Stefano handle most of the business and my cousin’s getting a little hot-headed. Usually Gian is the one that acts without thinking when it comes to the business, so I’m surprised by Stefano’s rash decisions.

  Uncle Sal did give the order to hold off on killing any major members of their famiglia until we speak with the Vassallos. His word is still the final say. Thank God.

  I let the guards take Violet and Caterina to the city so Cat can find a dress for the banquet. They were given strict orders to stick to Manhattan. At least I know the Galante famiglia has our backs. They’ve been on our side for decades and they went way back with my father.

  The banquet is this evening. We’re hoping to get some answers and see if we can patch things up with the Vassallos, otherwise it’s definitely going to be a major war.

  Violet and I are laying in the bed still. I was at a meeting until late last night and Caterina came by. The two fell asleep on the couch watching some chick flick. Dominick and Piero were in the kitchen with their eyes glazed over. Sometimes I feel bad for them, but hey, they need to work from the bottom up. It’s how things work around here.

  My little witness rolls into me and nuzzles her head into my chest. “I don’t want to wake up yet.”

  “Come on. Tonight’s a big night, dolcezza. You’re going to be meeting a lot of very important people. You need to promise me you’ll be on your best behavior.”

  “I know, I know,” she whines.

  “I mean it. Watch that mouth of yours before it gets you into trouble tonight.” I lean down and smack her ass.

  “Hey! I’ve been good lately!”

  “Yes, you have actually.” I can tell. She’s been trying hard all week to prepare for tonight. Besides the famiglia she’s also meeting my mother for the first time. I know she’s a bit nervous.

  She’s going to be the belle of the ball. I wish she’d stop overthinking and see that.

  My phone pings next to me. It’s a text from Caterina.

  “Hey,” Violet suddenly seems more awake.

  “What? Am I now allowed to get texts from my own sister now? Only you two can be friends?” I’m only busting her.

  “No, it’s not that. It’s your phone background.”

  I look down at it and appreciate for a moment the picture we took in Times Square. She looks so beautiful. Like an angel.

  “I love this picture.” I pull her in for a kiss.

  “So do I,” she smiles and nuzzles into me.

  It’s hours later and Gian and I are finishing up in my office. We take a few shots and it washes down the taste of my cigar.

  “If tonight is a shit show, promise me something.”

  We clang shot glasses together and I down the burning liquid quickly.

  “Anything, brother.”

  I look Gian in the eyes. “I need you to promise me that you’ll take Violet in if something happens to me.”

  “Violet? I thought this whole thing is fake?”

  “It’s not. I mean it was. Just do it. If something happens to me, let her stay with the famiglia. She has no one. It’s the least I can do.”

  He nods his head and claps me on the shoulder.

  “You better get going. I’ll see you over there.”

  I’m about to head up the stairs when I see Violet about to come down. I lose my breath for a moment.

  “Violet,”

  I rarely speak her real name. She’s glowing in her gold dress. Her dark curls are tamed in an elegant up do and I notice glittering jewelry decorating her body. I think my sister loaned her a few items.

  We meet halfway up the steps and I take her into my arms. “You look so beautiful tonight.”

  “Thank you. You look so sexy in this tuxedo, even if you do smell like a mini bar.” She’s smiling at me. I know she’s only teasing me. She’s so conformed to this life already she doesn’t ever comment on the absurd amount of alcohol we consume or at the odd times of the day or night we drink.

  Her lipstick paints her full flips in a shade off from her natural color. They look so kissable and I’m dying to get my hands on her already.

  I lead her through the house and we exit through the garage. “Pick a car.”

  She eyes up the cars lined up and points to my BMW.

  “That one’s cute.”

  “Dolcezza, of all the expensive cars I own you choose that one?”

  She shrugs. “I like it.”

  She’s easy to please. We get in and head over to my Uncle’s house. I start to give her the lowdown again on anyone important.

  “What did your dad do?”

  “What did he do?” I repeat her question. “He did what I do.”

  “I know but, like, what did he do?”

  I can’t talk business with her but I try to beat around the bush a little to give her hints.

  “He had Uncle Sal’s job.”

  “So you mean he was in charge?” I give her a side eye and a slight nod. “Then why aren’t you in charge?”

  “Would you want a twenty-year-old in charge?”

  “Good point. But, I mean, that was ten years ago. Shouldn’t you be in charge now?”

  She always has some way of getting information out of me. She’s better at my job than I am sometimes. “My dad had a dying wish.”

  “He did? That’s kind of crazy.”

  “Yes. One for each of us. For me, his dying wish was that I didn’t become the Don.”

  “You mean until you were old enough?”

  “No, dolcezza. Ever.”

  “Why would he do that?”

  “Because he didn’t want me to succumb to a life like his. He didn’t want me to end up like he did in the end. He passed it onto Uncle Sal and he gave strict instructions to let it pass down to my cousins.”

  “Oh my God. For real? Were you upset?”

  “At first, yeah. For a while, it hurt. But as time has gone on, I understand why he did it.” It feels nice to actually talk about this. It’s something I’ve kept inside for almost ten ye
ars.

  “What about Gian and Caterina? What were his dying wishes for them?”

  “Do you ever wonder why Caterina isn’t married?”

  “Uh, no? She’s only thirty like you.”

  “Yes, but in our world, you’re usually married by at least twenty.”

  “I don’t get it.” I watch as she shrugs. I shift gears and hold her hand in mine. We’re driving through dark and twisty roads and I need to keep shifting, but I want her closer to me.