by Sam Crescent
“What about me?”
“What do you like?”
“You want to get to know me?”
“Why not? We’re both here, and I rather like the thought of getting to know you. I mean, if you’d let me.”
He took a slice of bacon into his mouth, and she waited. “What do you like to do for fun?” he asked.
“You want me to answer?”
“You really think I’m going to answer your questions without having a few of my own?”
She chuckled. “I don’t know. I honestly don’t know what to expect.”
“I’m waiting.”
“Of course. I love to read, watch movies. I do watch a lot of romance stuff. No porn. That was my first, erm, glance into porn.”
“Did you like it?”
“What?”
“The porn.”
“Oh, it was fine. There was nothing wrong with it.”
“But?”
“It was all the same. Didn’t you think? A guy or girl shows up, they share this corny look, get naked and have sex in as many different positions as they can. Also, they have to say as many dirty things as possible, and if that’s not enough, which it never is, it has to go gross.”
He chuckled. “You’ve given this a lot of thought.”
“Not really. Just my limited observations.”
“With how wet your pussy was last night, I’d say they weren’t bad observations.”
She thought about last night and the way he’d straddled her chest as she sucked him off.
“You’re thinking about that right now, aren’t you?”
She nodded.
“Did you enjoy it?” he asked.
“You know I did.” She stared down at her breakfast. “There’s something I want to ask you.”
“Ask it.”
“Just like that?”
“I’m an easy man to deal with, Avery. Ask and you shall receive.”
This brought a smile to her lips. “It’s about my dad.”
She watched him tense, which didn’t exactly work in her favor.
“What about him?”
“I was wondering if at all possible, I could talk to him.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“We have a deal, Avery. You belong to me. I’m not going to have you communicating with your father. He’s got to sort out his own deal. Breakfast is finished. We’re going for a walk.”
“You’re not even going to think about it?”
“I have thought about it, briefly, and the answer is still the same. Still no.”
“Why?”
“You promised me something. You think this is going to do well for my reputation when they learn I let a daughter live? I should make an example of you, and by keeping you away from your father, that’s what I’m doing.”
“You’re not hurting me though, or punishing me.”
“You don’t think I am? I’d say by not allowing you to talk to your father, that’s exactly what I’m doing.” He got up and held out his hand.
She was tempted to deny him, to just go back to her room, but she wasn’t that stupid or that stubborn. The last thing she wanted to do was to go to her room. Instead, she took his hand and followed him out of the house into the garden.
There was no chance to make small talk. Gino walked with so much determination, she could only keep up with him, and to do so, she was out of breath.
“Could you slow down?” she asked.
“I’ve got things I need to do, and they don’t require me to babysit.” They did a complete lap of the garden before he took her back to her room. She saw a guard waiting. She didn’t get the chance to say anything else as Gino left her in the room.
The sound of the lock flicking into place filled the air.
She moved toward the window and stared out over the garden. Why was it so bad for her to talk to her father?
No matter what happened, she couldn’t for a second allow herself to think Gino cared. He was a businessman, and he was taking payment from her. The interest.
****
Work was a satisfying and glorious thing. For an entire week, Gino threw himself into his work, with deals, contracts, accounts, and everything he had to do to stay on top as Capo. There was some bloodshed, which he didn’t mind, as it helped him to rid his body of the internal frustration Avery had set within him.
Since she was his personal toy, he could use her in any way he saw fit. So far, he had her in his company for breakfast and dinner, but he wouldn’t allow her to try to talk personal shit. He didn’t want or need to know about her parents, or about her father.
She had no right to ask him to talk to her father.
He was the one that had been slighted, not that asshole. It irritated him to know that she was even thinking about her father.
By the end of the week, he’d had enough of ignoring her.
He didn’t bring her down for dinner but went to her room.
She was lying on the floor, staring up at the ceiling. Much to his surprise, she was naked.
“What are you doing?”
“Wondering if boredom can kill.” She tilted her head back. “What have I done to not be allowed downstairs?”
“Nothing.”
He closed the door, but she didn’t get up or try to hide her nakedness. Maybe boredom really was a bad thing.
“You know, before you came along, I spent a whole lot of time working. I took care of children every single day. Then I was trying to raise the funds for the debt my father owed. I cooked. I cleaned. I went to the library all the time. I did things. Do you even realize how long twenty-four hours are?”
“I know.”
She burst out laughing. “You see, I know how long it is. An entire freaking day, but I’ve spent a great deal of my life wishing for more hours. For more time because when you’ve got errands to run, and your life is just one appointment after another, there is never any time. No time. Zip.”
“What is your point?”
“Right now, I’d give anything to have a busy life.”
“You’re not happy.”
“I’m locked in a room. Breakfast, if you talked to me would be bearable. Even our walk is torture. I can’t look at anything. You march everywhere as if it’s your personal mission to just run and do nothing. I don’t know what to do anymore.” She sighed. “I’m moaning again.”
He sat on the edge of the bed, putting their food down beside him. “Your boredom is why you’re naked?”
“I’m naked because I couldn’t be bothered to put any clothes on. Why do I need to anyway? It’s not like you’re going to join me, is it? You avoid me like the plague. I can only figure one thing, you don’t like me mentioning my dad.” She quickly slapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry, I’ve been naughty.”
“He doesn’t have a right to be in your thoughts.”
She started giggling as she sat up. She turned so that she was stretched out in front of him. Her nakedness was on display, and she made no move to hide her body from him. He liked it; her confidence was addictive to watch.
“He’s my dad. I love him no matter what. I know you’ve got your issues. What about this, I’m a toy you won’t play with.”
“Some toys have to stay on the shelf.”
“Are you having sex with anyone else?” she asked.
Any other woman he’d have kicked out of his life for asking invading fucking questions. Why didn’t he get rid of Avery?
“Would that bother you?”
“You wanted me to see a doctor, but none has arrived. You haven’t even gotten tested, and for the past week, other than to eat, you haven’t come to my room.”
“Do you miss my presence, Avery?” he asked.
“Maybe.”
He raised a brow. “Honestly?”
“Why not? I’ve got nothing to lose. I’ve never lied in my life. What about you?”
“I lie every single day.”
“About what?”
<
br /> He sat down with his back against the headboard and held out her food for her. She took it, resting the tray on her legs. Lifting up the cover, it showed off the chicken and spaghetti that had been cooked for her.
She grabbed her fork and started to eat.
“I lie to everyone.”
“Including me?”
“No, I haven’t lied to you. You are my toy. You’re here for my enjoyment.”
“Am I entertaining you now?” she asked.
There was no sarcasm in her voice. She sounded … bored.
He didn’t like that. The woman he met at the shop, she had fire, passion. Even her tears had meaning.
“I want to take you out next week.”
“You do?” She didn’t look up from her plate of food.
“You’re right, I think it’s time I took you out. You’re not going to run because I’ll kill your fucking father.” She lifted her head, and he had her attention. Good.
“I told you I won’t do anything that will hurt my father.”
“Good. That’s what I’m counting on. I’ve got to deal with a certain mayor. He thinks because he’s in a position of power, he can do what he likes without anyone getting in his way.” He saw her smile.
“Unlike you?”
“I didn’t say I didn’t have to answer to someone. I do, and I make sure all my debts are paid in full, Avery.”
“A man of power.”
“I’m a man of my word.”
“It must be nice to be a man of your word,” she said.
“Are you flirting with me?”
“Teasing. I’m teasing you. Like I’ve said before, you’ve been kind to me.”
He watched her eat for a few seconds without saying a word. “We’ll also go to the hospital. I will pay extra to have the blood work done and completed within one appointment.”
“Isn’t that expensive?”
“I don’t care.”
“Right.” She finished her food, but not enough for his liking.
“Eat something.”
“I have. I’m just not hungry.” She put the plate down and got to her feet. He watched her as she made her way into the bathroom. Seconds later, he heard the water running. It looked like he was going to have to be the one to do the chasing tonight.
He put his plate to one side and got to his feet.
Stepping into the bathroom, he saw her in the tub already, the water filling up.
“Have I upset you?”
“No.” She frowned. “Would it matter if I said yes?”
“Yes. I want to know.”
“What do you hate about my dad?” she asked.
He folded his arms, leaning against the doorway. “I don’t hate your dad.”
“You could have fooled me.”
“I don’t like him using you. You shouldn’t have been there that Friday. He doesn’t deserve for you to be put at risk.”
“And yet, I’m here anyway of my own choosing.”
“Really? It’s your choice to be my toy. Other men wouldn’t have been so forgiving. They’d have passed you around, turned you into a whore.”
“And others would have shot me dead. I wasn’t thinking. All I could think about was my dad in the hospital. Alone. Tired. Hurting. I didn’t want you to hurt him anymore.”
“You’re not going to call him.”
“Okay. I don’t want to fight anymore.”
He shouldn’t even be fighting with her. She was his toy.
“Do you make a habit out of lying?” she asked.
He was surprised she was the one to change the subject. Moving away from the door, he pushed the toilet seat lid down, sat, and watched her. “Yes. It’s easy to do.”
“I don’t think it is.”
“Why?”
“You have to keep up with a lie. Follow it through to the bitter end or whatever other lie it builds toward. It sounds like a lonely way to live.”
“Some lies need to be told.”
“Like what?”
“Santa Claus.”
She giggled. “That lie doesn’t count. It makes Christmas magical.”
“How old were you when you stopped believing?” he asked.
“Seven, I think. I heard my parents talking about what age was the right age to tell me. I was kind of already figuring it out, but it was fun while it lasted. You?”
“Five.”
“So young.”
“My dad, he wanted to try and have a normal family, but being a Capo, he had a set of responsibilities. I know my mom hated telling me the truth. She wanted another year. If he’d given her another year, it would have continued. I remember being heartbroken.”
“Are you lying now?”
“No, I’m not lying.”
Silence fell between them. He watched her. Gino felt a wave of calm wash over him whenever he watched her.
“Do you think you’ll ever have kids of your own?”
“I have to. It’s part of my job to create sons that will one day take over.”
“What about daughters?”
“They get the worst deal out of it all. I wouldn’t want to have a daughter.”
“You don’t get a choice.”
Chapter Seven
Avery expected Gino to break his word. When she woke up the next day, she put on her usual jeans and shirt and pulled the chair to the window so she could sit and look out of it.
She had always been an early riser as she loved to watch the sun come up. There was nothing more beautiful as far as she was concerned.
Pushing her hair out of her face, she crossed her legs and wondered if she could really trust Gino.
She couldn’t expect anything from him. There was no point in it. The past week, he’d not wanted anything from her.
They hadn’t even had sex yet.
She was his toy and he could do what he wanted with her, but that didn’t make it easy for her.
The lock on her door clicked, and she got to her feet, watching as Gino entered. “Are you ready for breakfast?”
“Yes.”
He hadn’t said anything about going out, and she wasn’t going to push. One thing that could be said about this man, he was incredibly sensitive.
She had to hide her smile as she thought about it. Who would have thought Gino Mazza was sensitive?
Once again, he held his hand out for her to take. She’d already made the decision she wasn’t going to run from him. There was no point. When it came to Gino, he didn’t scare her so long as she stayed true to him and loyal.
They walked toward the dining room, and there were pancakes waiting. She had eggs but no bacon, and it made her smile that he remembered.
He picked up the newspaper, and she ate in silence, watching him.
After only a few minutes he put it down. “I’ve booked us an appointment with my doctor. We’ll head on over there once we finish up.”
“You’re going to take me outside for the world to see?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure that’s good for your reputation?” she asked. Shut the fuck up, Avery. What the hell are you doing? You get to go out into the real world like a normal person.
“I’m confident in my reputation. We need to get you a dress for the charity gala. You’re going as my date.”
“When you kill a politician?”
“I’m not going to kill anyone. I’m going to remind him no one is above my justice.”
“Do you own the law as well?”
“Yes.”
She dropped her fork. “So I can’t go anywhere in this city without you having a hand in it somewhere? Without you watching and knowing?”
“It’s how I stay in control.”
“What if we don’t need you to be in control?”
“You ask a lot of questions.”
“You answer a lot.”
He laughed. “If I wasn’t in control, you take me out of the picture, within a matter of days, the Cartels would be here. Drugs would be rife
in the streets. Gun crime, knife crime, rape, you name it. I keep everything in order so women like you can walk the streets.”
“But there’s still rape. There’s still injustice. You don’t solve it.”
“I contain it, Avery. I do the best I can.”
“What if that’s not good enough?” she asked.
His nostrils flared.
“I’m not trying to make you angry.”
“I’ve seen what can happen when a Capo falls and their city is taken over. It’s not pretty. I can only keep so much chaos from ensuing. End of discussion.”
He finished his breakfast, and she had already eaten enough.
“Are you ready to leave?”
“Yes.” She was a little shaken by his anger.
You really need to stop questioning him. It’s not his responsibility to do everything.
As she followed him out of the house, men stood with the door open to a waiting car.
Gino waited for her to climb inside before joining her. Two of his men climbed into the front seat, and she saw another car behind her.
“Your entourage?”
“I’ve made a lot of enemies. Most of them are smart and know they can’t take me so they don’t even try, but I still have those that have no brains and think they can take me.”
She didn’t say anything, instead looking out of the window. There was so much she wanted to ask and to know about this man. He was a mystery. She didn’t know why he’d been honest with her even now when he’d openly admitted to lying.
Glancing over at him, she saw he was working on his cell phone, and she pressed her hands together and just took in the scenery. Before being locked up in his tower, she had taken the view, and all it entailed, for granted.
No more.
She watched as cars suddenly braked or jerked forward. Car horns honked. People walked past frantically trying to get to their destination.
Each person was lost in their own little world. She’d been part of it herself once. With her bag across her chest, she’d rush, trying to avoid people. One or two people stopped, giving the other a hug, and moving on, offering to call, but both of them knowing it would never happen.
This was the life she did miss.
The traffic lights kept on turning red, bringing the car to a stop. She looked behind her to see his other guards were waiting.