Tempted By The Mafia Boss

Mia

We spend the next morning together and Nick takes me home.

Home to Dad.

I know Dad’s not here because his car isn’t on the drive and the house looks empty.

Nick walks me up to the door and kisses me.

It’s the kind of kiss I could come home to every night.

I can’t believe what’s happened to me. What’s happened to us.

This part feels like some kind of dream and I don’t care about fast or slow either.

I want him.

“I should move you in with me now Angel Doll. Best time to go is when there’s no one around.” He chuckles kissing me again.

I kiss him back and swat his hands away when he squeezes my breasts.

“Nick you are crazy. You can’t touch me like that here. We have nosy neighbors.”

“So I should bend you over the porch swing and fuck you. That will give them something to talk about.”

“Oh my God.” The glint in his eyes tells me he’s serious. “Nick, you can’t do that. We have a pastor who lives across the road.”

Pastor Jefferson is sweet, his wife however is the nosy neighbor I’m referring to. And, I can just bet she’s watching us now.

Nick laughs and shocks me by lowering to suck my breast through my top.

“I hope he saw that.”

I step away from him before he gets anymore bright ideas.

“I’m gonna go now.” I grin at him.

“And pack?”

“And pack.” And talk to Chloe. I had to. My best friend was going to be so very shocked with me. She truly, truly was.

“And pack. See you tomorrow, you call me if you need me, or just come home to me baby.” He chuckles and gives me another kiss.

Home.

Oh my God, that has such a great ring to it.

“You’re too much.” I smile.

“We’ll see just how much I can be.” One more kiss and he backs away.

I watch him drive away and it feels like I should be going with him.

Except I know he’s going to the hospital. He told me he was going and I was glad to hear it because I knew how worried he was.

I’m still standing on the porch watching although I know there’s nothing to look at.

The open space before me is exactly that, open. I’m sure lady Jefferson got a good look in on us and is still watching me now.

I don’t care what she thinks, or anybody. Hector himself could come for me with his shit and it wouldn’t burst my bubble not one bit.

For the first time in forever I feel hope. I don’t even have the what-the-hell-am-I-doing moment that should hit me for telling Nick Giordano that I love him. I’ve told him several times since the first time I said it and every time I do it feels freeing.

Things have moved fast but they feel right. Mostly, I can’t believe the nightmare of Hector will be over soon and I thank God I had the good sense to keep Hector a secret.

I knew as Nick tried to get me to talk that I’d make it worse by telling him the truth.

Mobsters and drug lords. It spelled disaster and it frightens me that worse could happen.

I sigh and go inside the house.

I plan to pack a few things later once I speak to Dad and Beth. He’s been okay with me being away. He’s managed and done everything that needs doing.

The house is spotless which also tells me that Kathy was a definite great choice.

I go up to my room and call Chloe. She answers on the first ring, eager to speak to me. It’s lunch time and she’s been waiting on my call. I tell her everything and we both go from gushing over Nick to questioning how crazy the situation feels but how happy I am.

“I can’t believe it.” She laughs. “How do you feel though?”

It’s a good question. I’m buzzing and I can’t bring myself down from cloud nine just yet.

“I’m happy. Chloe I’m happy and I just want to be free to be happy. Everything has been shit for so long.”

“I know sweetie. I know,” she sympathizes. “It’s gonna get better now. I’m happy about you and Nick, but I think the part I’m happy about the most is getting rid of Hector. Mia you should have told Nick about Hector. The money is unreasonable. It really is. It doesn’t sit well with me that you’re just paying it. Carter didn’t even owe that much.”

She’s right, but shit… questioning that part will just open up the mouth of hell. What was I supposed to do? Go to Hector and try to negotiate?

I think I’d end up very dead.

“I know. But I’m scared enough as it is. I’m frightened of these people and I just want it gone. What doesn’t sit well with me is Nick paying. He shouldn’t have to.”

“Sweetie can you blame him? He loves you and he sees you’re in trouble and need the help. This is a good thing. I just don’t like it because people like Hector just uses a situation to make more money. It’s bull shit.”

“I know.”

“What are you going to tell Nick when you talk about the money?”

I straighten up. “I’m just going to talk about that part straight up. There’s nothing to hide there. I don’t need to hide that part. I know it may sound stupid to keep Hector out of it but Chloe, you’ve never been here when the man unleashed on us. It was horrible, truly horrible and I can imagine him killing someone out of spite if I talk.”

That… that was what could happen. I would never be foolish enough to think it couldn’t.

Nick is who he is, and look at what happened to his friend. The point is it’s stuff that can happen to anybody and if it does there’s not a damn thing anyone can do about it.

“I get it. I do. Let’s just be glad it’s gonna be over soon. Then we can talk about more fun stuff.”

“Yes, we certainly can. I’ll tell you about how Nick chained me to his bed.”

She sucks in a breath and I laugh. “Holy shit, Mia… that’s not the kind of thing you drop on me while we’re on the phone. You guys did that?”

“We did.”

“Did you like it?”

“Yes.”

“Holy shit,” she gasps and laughs. “Okay, my turn. Sal asked me to marry him and I said yes.”

I jump off the bed and squeal. We both start shrieking with the excitement. I can’t believe she’s kept this news to herself and we’ve been talking for about forty minutes.

“What the hell Chloe… oh my goodness, why didn’t you tell me that first?”

“Because I wanted to hear about you and I kind of wanted to tell you in person. But it felt like I should till you now.”

“I’m glad you did.” I tuck a lock of hair behind my ear. “I’m really glad. Congratulations Chloe. This is great news.”

“I’m excited. Of course I’m asking you to be my maid of honor.”

“And I accept very gladly. I’m so happy for you.”

“Thank you. It’s good news, but let’s celebrate you my dear friend. We have plenty of time to swoon over me. Let’s be happy about you and your guy.”

It feels good to hear that.

My guy.

It’s been a long time since there was one of those, and this doesn’t feel like it did last time. Chad was never really mine. He doesn’t feel like Nick. He doesn’t even feel the way Nick feels to me.

“Thanks Chloe, I appreciate you.”

“You too. Let’s meet tomorrow for breakfast to celebrate.” She giggles. “This is totally a hot chocolate moment with lots of fattening pastries with cream on top.”

“I agree wholeheartedly.”

“Knew you would. Speak soon sweetie. Well done.”

“And congrats,” I add.

We laugh and I end the call.

I sit for a moment looking around the room. I’ll miss it here, but honestly I won’t miss it that much. I need to get my life back on track. I’m happy for the chance to do it with Nick.

I hear the front door open and close then movements downstairs.

Assuming Dad is back I make my way down and gear myself up to talk to him.

I get down to the bottom of the stairs but there’s no one around. Just a faint smell of… weed?

What the hell?

Why the hell does it smell of weed in my house?

I wrinkle my nose and turn to go into the kitchen but stop short when I see Carter coming out of the sitting room.

Shit! There’s the answer. The weed smell must be him.

What is he doing here? I hate him being here and he must know Dad is away.

“Sis,” he coos.

“What do you want?”Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

“Can’t a brother just come by and see his family? Or, maybe the better question is can’t a brother come by, see his sister, and she doesn’t look pissed at him?”

I can’t believe this shit. Is he for real?

“What the fuck is wrong with you? You waltz in here and expect everyone to be peachy with you, like everything’s fine. Newsflash, it’s not.” I ball my fists at my sides and he just laughs at me. How I hate that. He used to do it a lot in the past. Laugh at me like there’s something funny about me.

“Ballsy. You certainly became some ballsy bitch. Must be the very interesting friends your keeping.”

My nerves scatter at the remark, and the way his gaze darkens.

He has to be talking about Nick.

“What’s it to do with you?” I retort.

“Turns out a lot little sister, a lot. You just became collateral. My ticket back to Hector and a job with the big fish.”

I shake my head not knowing what the hell he’s saying. “Carter, you’re on drugs. Clearly.”

“No, not today.”

“I can smell it.”

He shakes his head slowly and footsteps sound behind me.

I twist but not quick enough. Someone grabs me from behind and holds me so tight I think I may break. I scream and glance up to see a guy with a knife scar across his face and neck.

Holy hell! I recognize him straight away. It’s the guy from the other day. The guy I saw at the mall when I thought I was being followed. It’s him. I never got this close but I remember his face and the knife scar. He really was following me.

But for Carter?

It doesn’t make sense.

He stinks of weed and beer.

“Let go of me!” I cry but the guy tightens his grip and laughs the same way Carter did.

“Zeke, I told you to spray yourself before you came in the house,” Carter taunts in a sing song voice.

“What are you doing!” I scream at Carter.

What the hell is he doing? This is insane.

What shit is this now?

What is it?

He walks up to me and taps his head. “You think you got all the brains. No sis. Not just you. I want in with the big boys, and by George I got it good this time. I got it good. Let’s see how clever you are… The Fontaines need the Giordano’s to do something for them, Nick Giordano’s new lady love happens to be my sister. I give the Fontaines you and they get what they want, I get in tight with one of Chicago’s baddest. Not only do I get back in with Hector’s crew but I become an associate for the Fontaines. Money galore.” He snaps his fingers in front of my face and laughs deep and hearty.

“How can you do this!” I wail.

“Sweet Jesus, what kind of question is that? The Fontaines will give me ten g’s just for handing you in, another five once all is said and done. Needless to say I’m a very happy man right now.”

I can’t believe my own brother would do this to me. I can’t believe what he’s saying to me.

I can’t believe he’s so in thick that he knows people after Nick.

“You bastard, I’m your sister. How can you do this?”

“It’s easy. I use the same hatred you have for me and I just don’t care. You’re money to me. Shit. Just shit and nothing until I can use you for serious coins. Thanks for paying Hector. I’m sure he’ll arrange something with Dad in your absence.”

“He’ll kill him!” I wail.

All Carter does is shrug. He doesn’t care. He never did.

“You are pure evil.”

“No sis, evil was me shooting up Nick Giordano’s best friend while his wife and baby were asleep upstairs in their house. That was evil.”

My jaw drops and shock suffuses my being.

Jesus Christ!

It was him?

What?

Oh my God! It was him.

Hearing that declaration just made everything so much worse than it already is. Things are more twisted than I thought.

“You… you did that?” My voice shakes and bile rises in my throat.

“Hmmm hmmm. Got twenty grand for that. Turns out that running with Hector’s crew has it’s perks. You get opportunities you wouldn’t have come by otherwise. You hear things on the grapevine. Like how Joey Fontaine was looking for someone to teach a guy a lesson. Someone skilled and unconnected to him. I was perfect. The gold bars just practically fell in my lap though when I found out my sister could help me more than she already was.”

That was what happened.

God. I can’t believe it. I can’t…

He was the person who shot Tommy. Carter, my brother.

“Take her!” he commands.

I scream but hands cover my mouth with a cloth. The smell on it is acrid and it hits my brain.

Darkness fills the space around me before I can process what’s happening.

Trouble… I’m in trouble.

Nick… I need to tell him…

That’s my last thought.