Assassins & Mob Wives: Couples Retreat

by Posey Parks

  Sam clutched her wine glass, grinning. “Too many times Madison walked around the house in her diaper chomping on a stalk of asparagus like it’s a carrot.”

  We laughed.

  Sitting across from her, I slipped a forkful of corn past my lips, engrossed in Sam’s story.

  Samantha shook her head. “One night, Jacob had to head her off because she was running too fast with her favorite veggie. She dropped on her bottom, laughing hysterically as her daddy appeared in her pathway. I had to film the special memory. Jacob smothered her with kisses, pulling her up into his big powerful arms. He said Maddy, you can’t run through the house with food.”

  She shook her head. “He said Maddy no you can’t. They argued for a few minutes. She told me the other day she can out run her daddy. I said ok, Maddy.” Samantha burst into laughter.

  “Listen Maddy was serious. She didn’t realize her daddy was letting her win.” Sydney chuckled.

  “Don’t let Caden and Hunter get together. Those two are trouble.”

  Sydney smiled from ear to ear, producing pics of the boys on her camera roll. I glanced over her shoulder at the handsome boys decked out in their little powder blue dress shirts, tan khakis, and tiny brown loafers.

  “All our boys will give us a run for our money. They are little terrors,” Emoni sighed across from Sierra. “I am happy the boys are with their grandmother. My mother-in-law is the best person to take care of the boys while we’re away. After all, she raised two tough guys. I know they’re in expert hands.”

  “Earlier I wondered how Fran and Sergio were handling all the kids under one roof. In the morning, I’ll have a conversation with Anthony to ensure he’s helping.”

  “I’ll talk to Alexandria too.” Carmen sipped her wine.

  “If Shana and Dillon Jr. aren’t pulling their weight, they will after we speak. They’re old enough to help with the little ones.” Sierra slipped a sliver of grilled chicken into her mouth.

  Zoey pointed between Carmen, Sierra, and me. “All of your children are under one roof for two weeks?”

  We nodded.

  “Damn, they definitely have their hands full.” Zoey poured herself another glass of wine.

  “I felt bad for my mother-in-law any time she cared for our two kids. They’d give her hell. Every time we picked up Addison and Brandon III, her hair was standing on her head or her skirt was twisted. One time she answered the door only wearing one shoe.”

  We held our bellies in tears.

  “But she never refused to take care of them.” Zoey shrugged.

  AFTER WE SWEPT THE property for bugs and anything suspicious, we grabbed the tent equipment from the bus.

  The experienced tent women, Samantha and Sydney, supervised the tent building. We worked as a team, tugging the strings and staking the tents in the ground.

  We stood back and admired our work. Two orange tents sat side by side about six feet away from the fire pit.

  Four bottles of wine later, we sat around the fire bowl wrapped in our blankets. We ditched the pretty blouses and jeans and traded them for sweats. We each wore our husbands' oversized sweatshirts, clutching a glass of wine. A bottle of wine of our liking rested on the grass beside our folding chairs. The orange and blue flames rose before us as the wind whipped through the camp site.

  I stared at the starry sky. “This is so peaceful.”

  “It is. We are the only people out here tonight, sitting on acres of land. Guns in tow of course.” Sydney gulped her wine.

  “Absolutely.” Samantha smiled. “Who brought sniper rifles?” She raised her hand.

  Zoey, Sydney, and I raised our hands too.

  “I brought an AR-15 and three desert eagles,” Carmen stated.

  “Four Glocks and an AR-15.” Emoni flashed her black conceal carry holster that held her weapon. We all wore the Velcro belts under our sweats.

  “I brought two Glocks, an AR-15 and an AK-47.” Sierra winked.

  “Did we all need to bring so much firepower?” I stared at each of their faces.

  “Probably not, but I wasn’t leaving home without my baby.” Carmen sipped her wine.

  “How often do you ladies’ practice?”

  “Sometimes daily if I need to release pent up aggression.” Sam sank into her chair. “That’s the benefit of having your own gun range.”

  “Amen,” we waved a hand in the air.

  “Those on the outside looking in probably underestimate us. Think we don’t know how to protect ourselves.”

  “Nadine, you’re right. Nothing sweeter than proving assholes wrong.” Carmen flashed a devilish smile.

  Sierra’s phone rang. “Um, I’ll be back in a little while.” She darted into the tent she shared with Emoni and Samantha.

  What was she up to? I peered at Carmen and nodded toward the tent. Samantha and Emoni kept the weapons conversation flowing. Carmen tiptoed into the tent beside ours. Sydney and Zoey took off on patrol. They walked toward the large gate. Didn’t matter how much we had to drink, we were still alert and aware of our surroundings.

  “Nadine, what’s it like being a doctor, a savage, a mother, and wife?” A wicked smile widened across Sam’s lips.

  “It’s weird because, at work, fellow doctors and nurses whisper. I know what they’re saying. She’s married to an alleged mobster. He’s dangerous. The entire mafia family are gangsters.” I air quoted.

  “I have to overlook what’s said about me and my family until they get in my face talking shit. Then we have a problem.”

  Emoni stepped forward and threw her hand up, slapping mine.

  “That’s right. Whenever I divulge my married name at a charity function, a guest questions who would ultimately receive the money. Insinuating the Espositos would collect the funds. I’ve become hip to their bull shit games. I use my maiden name to represent the function for the charity. The last thing I want to do is give Marco a reason to worry. It was different for my ex-boyfriend. He was crooked. He had Senators in his pocket and got away with murder.”

  Carmen slinked into the chair beside me. “I can’t wait to manipulate those in office.” She snickered.

  Carmen pointed toward the tent and waved us over.

  We leaned in.

  “Sierra is having phone sex with Dillon.”

  I slapped my jean clad thigh and laughed. “He can barely stay away from her.”

  Zoey and Sydney grabbed graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate, then sat beside us.

  “Was the coast clear?” I asked.

  “It was.” Sydney removed her marshmallow from the fire and placed it between two graham crackers. “What did we miss?”

  Emoni whispered in Zoey and Sydney’s ears.

  Soft tunes flowed from Samantha’s Bluetooth speaker.

  “Sierra’s a naughty girl.” Zoey bit into the gooey s’more.

  “Nothing’s better than an orgasm.” Sydney licked the chocolate from her bottom lip.

  My brows rose. “Can’t disagree with you there.”

  “Do you think Sierra turned in for the evening?” Zoey enquired.

  Emoni placed her index finger against her lip. “Hm, let’s see.”

  She hopped out of her chair and stalked into the tent.

  My hand flew over my mouth. “See only a best friend could do that shit.”

  “Hey, what the fuck are you doing in your sleeping bag?” Emoni shouted.

  “Keep your voice down,” Sierra yelled in a whisper.

  “Good night, Dillon. This is a girls’ trip. Stop injecting yourself into our time together. You see your wife every day.”

  “Emoni, I’m talking to my wife,” he roared.

  “Dillon, tell my bestie good night. No more sex until this weekend.”

  “Oh, you say that shit now. The second Marco calls, you’re telling me you’ll turn him down?”

  “We’re done here, Dillon.”

  “Emoni, I love you. But I need to talk to Dillon.”

  She stormed out of th
e tent and plopped in the chair across from us.

  “I give up. She’ll give in to Dillon every time he calls.” She shook her head.

  “He’s pussy whipped,” Emoni yelled.

  I brushed my hand over my hair. “Well, I believe all of our men have that problem.”

  Emoni exhaled, gripping her ponytail. “Fuck you’re right.”

  “Could any of us turn down our husbands if they called?”

  “Nadine, probably not,” Zoey stated.

  “Let’s cut Sierra a little slack.”

  “Nadine, you’re right.” Emoni walked back into the tent.

  “Sorry, Dillon and Sierra,” Emoni grumbled.

  We glanced into the tent. The light from the lantern glowed around Emoni. She sat beside Sierra’s zipped up sleeping bag.

  “It’s ok, Emoni, you’re right. I need to give Sierra time with you ladies. I’ll back off,” he stated.

  “Hmm, bet they were on FaceTime,” I whispered.

  Samantha lightly chuckled. “Bet they are.”

  “I wish I could see the look on Sierra’s face when he said that.” I shook my head.

  “We all do,” Carmen snickered.

  Emoni flipped off the lantern and closed the front of the tent. She sat in her chair and shoved a marshmallow on a stick, then waved it over the flames.

  “She’ll probably stay on the phone with Dillon until she falls asleep.”

  Emoni’s phone rang. Her pretty mahogany face contorted. “Dillon ain’t slick.” She tapped the button and stared at the screen.

  “Hey, baby.” She flashed a framed smile.

  “Emoni, do I need to drive to Lancaster, lay you across my knee and spank that sweet ass?”

  Her eyes grew the size of saucers.

  We laughed.

  “No Marco,” she sighed. “Dillon told you to call me?”

  “Not in so many words. He said you were stirring up trouble.”

  “I’m not giving into you, Marco. The girls and I are having a nice time talking.”

  “Flip the camera around?”

  “Why?” her eyes bulged.

  “Emoni, just do it.”

  She did as she was told.

  “Ladies, I hear you all are having an enjoyable night.”

  We glared at him.

  “That’s great but in fifteen minutes I’ll call my wife back and I plan to spend a little quality time with her. Nadine and Carmen, you two know what time it is. You’ll hear from your husbands’ soon too.”

  I sat on the edge of my chair. “Unfucking believable. I’m not answering when Tony calls.”

  He laughed. “You’re playing with fire, Nadine.” Marco pointed at me.

  “You know your husband. He’ll show up in Lancaster and ruin your trip by riding with you ladies for the rest of the week.”

  “Fuck you, Marco,” I roared.

  He burst into a fit of devious laughter. “No, save the fucking for your husband.” He winked.

  Emoni flipped the phone around. “Bye, Marco.”

  She dropped the phone at her side in the chair.

  “This is what it’s like when two best friends marry best friends.” Emoni snarled.

  “I also hate how much of a turn on he is.” Her forehead landed against her palm.

  “This weekend, he’ll make me pay for hanging up on him. Long and hard.”

  “He sure will.” I leaned forward, laughing.

  “I’ll take every punishment Dominic is giving the second he calls.” Carmen poured another glass of wine.

  “I’ll find out from Tony how often they’re communicating about us during the day.”

  “Good, thanks, Nadine.” Emoni relaxed in her chair.

  “Jacob has called several times this evening. Each time I sent his ass to voicemail. No worries, ladies. While you all are having phone sex, I’ll walk the perimeter.” She stood, grabbing a Glock from her holster. Samantha sipped a fresh glass of wine as she took off across the property.

  “Should one of us go with her?” I scanned my friends' faces.

  “No.” Sydney peeked at her cousin, then back at her phone. “Don’t worry ladies, I’ll have Jacob call the gadget glasses. She likes to wear them on her patrol. She might think it’s the president calling and answer. Done. Everyone wait for it. Wait for it.”

  Samantha halted and spun around. “Sydney, when I return, I’ll kill you.”

  “Maybe that wasn’t a good idea, Sydney.” My brows rose.

  She shrugged. “I don’t care if she’s upset. She needed to talk to her man. They can walk together, sharing her view through the glasses.”

  Sydney peeked at her phone. “Well, I have to go. Sebastian’s calling. I’ll be at the front of the bus with the shield down for a little privacy.”

  “Ok, I might have to talk to Tone in the bedroom.” She nodded as she answered her phone, walking toward the bus.

  “I’ll grab my sleeping bag and chill out here near the fire while I talk to Brandon.”

  “Emoni, I guess you’ll head into the tent with Sierra.”

  “Yup.”

  I glanced at Carmen. “You have the tent all to yourself for a little while, anyway.”

  “Sounds good.” She strolled inside the tent behind me. “Good night guys.”

  My phone vibrated. I knew it was my husband. Butterflies fluttered in my belly and my skin heated under my sweats. That was the effect Tony still had on me. After all, we’d been apart for almost fourteen years. We tried to go on with our lives. It was difficult. How could you move on with your life when the person you loved was still walking the earth in secret? Let Tony tell it, he only cared about me.

  I tapped the green button and his sexy face came into view. “Kitten, what the hell are you ladies up to?”

  The pet name dripped from those gorgeous lips.

  Lips I wished could kiss every inch of my body. Pulsations swept through me. “Are you ready to take care of Kitten?” I rubbed my chest.

  His lips kicked up at one end. “When am I not ready to take care of the only woman I love.”

  My heart plummeted to my feet.

  I rolled my eyes to the sky as I walked toward the bus, inhaling the crisp night air. “You definitely know how to make my core wet for you, baby.” I dragged out the word baby.

  Before I entered the bus, I slipped my wireless earbuds in my ears.

  “Should I arrive in the morning and ride with you ladies all the way to Dallas?” He shoved his fingers through his unruly dark mane.

  His tranquil blue eyes stared into mine.

  “No, Tony. We don’t need a chaperone. We can handle ourselves.”

  “I heard you ladies are taking turns walking the perimeter. Romeo and Rémy are sitting outside the property gate.”

  My eyes widened. “Shit, I better tell Samantha before she kills them.” I scurried back out of the door.

  “No, need. Jacob will tell her.”

  I stormed down the hall, pulling the pocket door closed. The lights popped on.

  “Tony, we don’t need any of our men to protect us on this trip. We came prepared. We have seven AR-15’s between us. Not to mention all the Glocks, frozen oranges, knives...”

  “All right, all right, I got the picture. If something happens to you.” His eyes slammed shut, briefly.

  He gruffly rubbed his chin. “I would literally lose my mind and you know what would come next.” His head lightly thudded the headboard.

  “Yes.”

  He’d kill every enemy in his path until he found the culprit.

  “You know first-hand how hard it was for me to allow you to go on this trip. I don’t trust any fucking body, Nadine.”

  “I know.” My head fell upon the soft pillows and I flipped off my boots. “In the morning we’ll talk to the guys. Allow them to search the bus then we’ll get on the road without them, Tony.”

  His eyes darkened, and he sat straight up. “What?”

  I sat in the middle of the bed and propped my
cell against the other set of pillows.

  “Tony, let’s stick to the plan.” I whipped the sweatshirt over my head, revealing my lace bra and the Glock, peeking out of my body holster. I dropped the sweatshirt at my side. Snatching the ponytail holder from my hair, I combed my fingers through my jet-black strands.

  “I’m not a fan of the fucking plan, Nadine.”

  “Tone.”

  “No.” he raised his finger.

  I peered at the phrase on his chest: only my Kitten has the key to my heart.

  “Fuck, Tony I survived...”

  “Nadine, say it and I will be there within the hour,” he warned.

  I bit my tongue and didn’t finish the sentence about how I survived fourteen years raising his son alone. Doubt the argument would ever get old. I knew in the back of my head what his duty was to his family. His enormous responsibility to protect the mafia king. Head of the Magarelli’s, but I needed my man. I know. I know. His uncle came to me and Fran’s rescue.

  My gaze dropped to my lap.

  “Kitten.” The precious word fell from such a powerful man’s lips. The pain in his voice pierced my heart.

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  “Remove your bra.”

  I unhooked the bra latches and watched the expensive lace bra fall on the bed.

  “Look at me.”

  I met his sinister gaze. “The moment I don’t hear from you, Nadine, I will be wherever the fuck you are in two hours tops. Do I make myself clear?”

  “As clear as water.”

  “Good. Where’s your iPad?”

  “In the other room. One sec.” I held the sweat shirt against my and eased out the bedroom.

  “Ah. Oh yeah, Sebastian.”

  I stopped in my tracks and stared at the heavy black curtain. “I’m coming, Sebastian.”

  Pressing my hand against my mouth, I released a muffled laugh. Thank God for our husbands. They certainly knew how to please us.

  I scooped up my iPad and darted back into the room, closing the door behind me.

  “I’m back.” I tossed the shirt to the floor and propped up the iPad on the counter. I stepped back, revealing my breasts.