“Not so much of a monster now, am I?” I joke, my finger swiping across her plump bottom lip.
“You’re still a monster…” she retorts, pulling away from me as if she is embarrassed to have kissed me, and enjoyed it.
“Remember that, sweetheart, when I bury my face between those creamy thighs of yours,” I smirk. I think I hear her gasp as I walk away, but it could’ve been my imagination. Now I have to take a shower so I can beat myself off. There is no way I am taking her on her first night here. I might be heartless, but I still care... At least a little bit.
*
When I awake the next morning, my body is overly warm. I feel a small hand placed against my chest and a leg curved into my thigh. Even if she says she hates me, this alone tells me that she craves something—comfort.
I turn to glare at the clock that sits on the nightstand. It is nearly six a.m., and although I don’t normally get up this early, I feel like I need to. I have some built up aggression, and I can’t get through the day if I don’t go workout.
I slip quietly and slowly from the bed so I don’t wake Bree. She is a spitfire. I haven’t given her enough credit. She isn’t okay with anything that I do, in fact, I am sure she is afraid of it—as she should be. The mafia is no place for a woman. My mother hadn’t…
The thought enters my mind, but I force it away. I refuse to think about my mother. Refuse. It is a shame because I loved her, but thinking about her opens up a gaping hole in my chest.
“Sir, there is someone here to see you,” Mack announces over the intercom located in my bathroom. I slip into the closet and pick out a pair of low-rise blue jeans and a T-shirt. I plan on staying home today, so I pick something that is laid back.
“I’ll be down in five,” I reply. I wipe on some deodorant and brush my teeth.
Then I slip out of the bedroom, but not before I allow myself a second to look at Bree lying in my bed. I feel nothing for her, but at the same time I do. We both lost our mothers, so I know what she is going through on that front, but everything else is foreign to me.
“Who the fuck is here this early?” I yell to Mack, descending the stairs two at a time. My foot hits the bottom step when I turn to the front door to see Luccio. He is the mafia leader a city over. We have no bad blood between us, but that doesn’t make it okay for him to come into my house without being invited.
“Luccio,” I say calmly. He is wearing a buttoned down shirt and dress slacks. He doesn’t look as if he is ready to spill blood, but then again, most criminals don’t fit the profile of one.
“Alzerro,” he says. His words are heavily laced with an Italian accent that reminds me of home.
“Mack tells me you’re here for something. What can I help you with?” I question, raising an eyebrow up at him.
He looks between Mack and me before dismissing his men. I am not sure what is meant by that, but I don’t ask questions. A bat of my eyelash and Mack is gone, tending to other needs in the house.
“I believe we have gotten into a case that you may want to know about.” What could he possibly be talking about? We walk the short distance into the sitting room, taking seats across from one another.
“Continue… I’m listening.” And I am. Intently.
“We believe one of your men and my men are working together and have been for some time without it being known on either side. We also believe that they have information in regards to your mother’s death.”
The way he says my mother’s death makes it seem real, and I hate seeing it like that. I clench my fists tightly together to stop myself from lashing out at him.
“What do you mean? You either have the proof that such things are taking place or you don’t.”
He runs a hand through his graying hair. He reminds me so much of my father in the way he talks, stands, and in his gestures and mannerisms… If he weren't from another mafia family, I would consider him to be my own blood.
“See that’s the problem, Alzerro… We have nothing other than a lead that led us to a dead body. This is the mafia and you know about us much as we do. Our people know how to kill - we train them, teach them to do so. They will kill every lead we get, and they’ll disappear right from under our noses.”
He’s right. Fuck, he’s right. I run a hand through my hair, hoping it will ease some of the tension out of me. There is too much going on right now between the girl upstairs, this, and the many debts that need to be settled…
“Luccio,” I sigh.
“Alzerro, I know you’re a busy man. I wouldn’t have come to you if I didn’t believe this information. I’m trying to look out for the best of both of our kingdoms, Fratello.” I know he means it out of the kindness of his heart. No one else has ever called me their brother.