Arrogant Prick: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance (15 page)

I scream and Gio laughs as we go into a tight turn and start climbing again for another fall. I grip his hand tightly, my knuckles turning white. I can’t believe I decided to do this. I look back and Sarah’s laughing her ass off, still taking selfies with her phone. I can't believe she hasn't lost that thing.

I’m out of breath by the time the train rolls up to the exit ramp and my body is tingling with the rush of adrenaline. Gio helps me up on my wobbly knees.

Sarah joins us, and pulls on us to stop us at the photo booth. She grins and points at the big picture showing me screaming with my hands in a death grip around the bar, ponytail waving in the air behind me, and Gio laughing with one arm held around my shoulder and the other up.

“You’ve got to buy that picture!”

Gio looks at me, and I smile and nod. “Would you?”

He laughs, pulls some cash out of his wallet and heads over to the cashier.

As we wait and try to figure out where to go next, a group of guys approach us. I look up at them and then look back at Sarah, trying to ignore them as their leader steps up to her.

“Hey, baby.” He looks her up and down. “I love your legs.”

Sarah glances up at him, then turns back to me and laughs.

“You think I’m funny, bitch?” He steps directly in front of her and grabs her arm.

“Fuck off!” she yells.

Before I can call out Gio’s name, the guy yells as Gio pulls him off Sarah’s arm. Gio twists the guy's arm till his elbow is bent at the wrong angle. Gio looks him in the eye and says, “The lady isn’t interested in a little prick like you.”

His friends form a semicircle around Gio and I look around for a cop or security, but I don’t see anyone around. The crowds are just ignoring what’s happening. No one wants to ruin their day off by stepping into the middle of a fight.

“You got a problem, man.” The guy yells as he tries to wrestle out of Gio’s grip, but he doesn’t let go. “Four against one, man, you gonna get fucked.”

Gio breaks his thumb with a sickening crunch and kicks him inside the knee. The guy collapses to the ground and can’t seem to decide whether to nurse his thumb or his busted knee as he howls in pain.

Gio steps between us and the rest of the guy's friends. The guy is clutching at his knee, and Gio steps over his face and looks down on him. “That's three on one now.”

“You gonna get fucked up, man!” Another guy gets in Gio’s face, screaming and puffing up his chest, but he doesn’t make a move.

Gio looks to the three of them. “Which one of you wants to join your friend on the ground first?”

One of the guys backs up half a step and Gio barks at him. “Walk.”

The last one tries to convince the others to leave. “Let’s go, the bitch ain’t worth it.”

Gio takes a step toward him and the man nearly stumbles trying to back up. “Show some fucking respect.” The thug glowers, but then flushes when he sees the look on Gio’s face. He knows none of them stand a chance.

“Come on, let’s go.” He bends down and taps his fallen friend on the shoulder. “Get your ass up, Ivan!”

I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding as they pick up their broken friend and walk away. I look around and there’s a small crowd around us. Someone’s even holding up his phone, recording the fight.

“Run, bitches!” Sarah screams after them and laughs. She turns to Gio. “Holy shit, man. That was amazing.”

He grins as he watches them disappear into the crowds. “You two okay?”

I nod and kiss him on his stubbly cheek. “Yeah, thanks to you.”

“You think you could have taken all four of them?” Sarah asks, mock punching him in the arm.

Gio laughs. “Only an idiot tries to fight four guys at once, but those punks weren’t looking for a fight.”

He puts his arm around me and pulls me into his side. “You two wanna pick where we go next?”

“Fuck, I’m starved!” Sarah says. “Let’s get some dogs at Nathan’s.”

He looks at me and I nod. I snuggle my head into his shoulder as we walk down the boardwalk to Nathan’s. “I’m so happy you get along with Sarah.”

“She seems like a good friend.” He kisses my temple.

“She is.” I kiss him back on the lips. “She’s been your number one cheerleader since day one, you know.”

“Oh, yeah?” He looks back at her and she snaps another picture of us. “Then she must be a really great friend.”

T
he gateway
to the Pavoni driveway lifts up and Phil waves me in. It’s hard getting used to this. I meant to kill the guy a couple of weeks ago, and now I’m rolling into his house to pick up his daughter for a date on a Tuesday afternoon.

I look up at the sky.
Father, please forgive me.
I felt guilty the first week, started getting used to it the second week, and now I think I’m actually starting to enjoy living life again. It’s an odd feeling being happy, but it’s hard not to be happy around Allie. I don’t have to try at it. It just comes naturally.

I pull to a stop in the driveway in front of their door and kill the engine. The door slams shut behind me and I hop up the steps to their elaborate double doors. I ring the doorbell and the sound of chimes rings from the house. A moment later Mrs. Pavoni opens the door.

“Good afternoon, ma’am.” I smile and give her a light hug.

“I told you to call me Gina.” She smiles back. “You don’t have to be so formal. You’ve proven you’ve got manners, Gio.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I grin, and she laughs in return.

“Alessandra!” she announces. “Gio’s here.”

“Coming, Mom!” Allie’s voice comes down from the curved staircase that leads to the second floor.

“Do you want to wait inside?” She steps aside to let me in.

“Thank you, ma’am.” I wipe my boots on the doormat and step inside. My soles barely make a sound on the marble floors. “I must say you have a truly lovely home.”

“You're such a charmer, Gio.” She reaches up and pinches my cheek lightly. “Don’t take that as me asking you to stop though.”

“Never.” I laugh.

I look up as I hear Allie rushing down the stairs. She’s wearing a flowing summer dress dyed with an abstract geometric pattern. Her hair is pulled up into an elaborate bun, showing off her beaded earrings.

I take her hand when she reaches the bottom of the stairs, and give her a light kiss on the cheek and whisper into her ear. “You look gorgeous.”

“And you look handsome as usual.” She beams at me and kisses me on the mouth. She turns to her mom. “We’re going to be out late, Mom, so don’t wait up.”

“Alright, honey.” She looks at me as I lead Allie out the door. “You keep her safe, Gio.”

“Always.” I smile at her.

It’s a short drive to Brooklyn, and it takes a little bit longer to find paid parking with room for one more car. Allie’s face brightens up as she realizes where I’m taking her.

“Are we going to Marcello’s?” she asks.

I smile and nod at her.

“Alright, but hands off the goods this time.” She curls her arm around my bicep and pulls herself close to me. “If we’re going to be regulars there, I don’t want Marcello thinking I’m some sort of freak.”

I grin at her. “Fine, as long as you’ll be my little freak in private.”

She laughs and reaches behind me to pinch my ass. “No fair. Your ass is too solid to pinch.”

I smirk at her and open the door to the restaurant for her.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Gio.” Marcello’s eyes brighten as he sees us come in. “And with the lovely Alessandra on your arm again.”

I smile at Marcello. Allie blushes and says, “It’s nice to see you again, too.”

“I hope you’ll try more than just the salad this time,” he says as he leads us inside.

The restaurant has a few more patrons than last time too, but our old booth is open.

“It feels like it’s been forever since we were here,” she says, smiling at me from across the table. “I think I’ll take Marcello’s advice and get real food this time.”

“Not just the house salad?” I grin at her.

“No.” She laughs. “I don’t think I need to be shy about liking to eat around you.”

Another bottle of fine wine is brought out by Marcello, but I insist he put it on the bill this time. We order our food and clink our glasses together.

“Does what we're doing feel weird to you?” she asks, swirling the wine in front of her nose.

“You mean being a normal couple?” I take a sip of wine.

“Yeah.” She looks around at the other couples dining in the restaurant. “We're just like them. I don’t have to sneak out to meet you. You picked me up at my front door like a gentleman caller.”

“I don’t know if I’d call me a gentleman yet.” I smile. But she’s right. It's weird, enjoying life. Being with a woman I love. I could get used to this.

She reaches across the table and takes my hand. “I would.”

I stroke her fingers, feeling her soft skin. I can truly forget all my troubles when I’m with her. I still feel guilty sometimes when I’m not around her. But it’s all gone the moment she’s next to me. She makes me feel like I deserve to be happy. Like I haven't abandoned my family by not following through with my original plan.

Not that I’ve entirely abandoned my plan to find who’s responsible. She promised me it wasn’t her father, and I want to believe her. But I’ve continued listening to the recordings from the bugs I left in her home, even though I haven't found anything yet. I haven't caught anything incriminating even after Allie asked her dad to look into it. But that doesn’t mean I won’t.

“What are you thinking?” Her voice pulls me out of my thoughts.

I look up at her. I couldn’t believe it when I heard her asking her dad to look into what happened that night. It’s hard to believe she would care so much for me.

“I wanted to ask you about something I’m planning.” Her eyes widen with curiosity.

She tilts her head like a cat. “What is it?”

“You know how I said my job takes me all around the country?”

The smile fades from her face and her eyes drop. “Yeah…”

“It’s not like that.” I squeeze her hand. “I’m thinking about hanging up my boots.”

She perks up. “Really?”

“Yeah.” I stare into her bright eyes. “I’ve never been happier than I am here with you.”

“That’s so sweet.” She leans across the table and kisses me lightly on the lips, drawing some looks from the other patrons.

“It’s true.” I smile at her. “I wanted to tell you that I don’t have any regrets.”

“I’m so happy to hear that.” She beams at me and she blushes.

I stop Marcello to order a second bottle of wine. I want a full glass to toast with. When Marcello returns with the wine, Allie says to him, “I just wanted to let you know that your mushroom risotto is better than the one at La Rodinella.”

Marcello gives her a huge smile in return. “You are kinder than you are beautiful.”

Allie smiles at him as he turns and leaves us to our conversation.

“I actually have a showing scheduled for tonight, after dinner.” I finish my wine. “I hope you don’t mind. I wanted to see what you think of the place.”

She lets her jaw drop before she realizes it and covers her mouth with her hand. “You’re getting a place in the city?”

“Yeah.” I refill our glasses with the fresh wine. “Now that I have a reason to stay.”

“I can’t wait to see the place!” She picks up her glass. “A toast, to new beginnings!
Salute
!”

“
Salute
!”

* * *

I
press
the code into the key safe locked onto the door handle. The latch pops open, then I take out the key and open the door for her. She steps into the empty apartment ahead of me, and I follow behind her. Our footsteps echo across the empty apartment. It’s a three bedroom in a prewar walk-up in Bushwick. The best part is that it's only a short walk from Hush.

She walks across the apartment to the window and looks outside at the view. It’s a classic New York view. Busy streets, crowded with cars and pedestrians even on a Tuesday night.

She wraps her arm around my waist and I put my arm around her shoulders as I join her by the window. “This place is really nice.”

I kiss the top of her head, smelling her flowery shampoo. “It is.”

“Let’s see the rest.”

I walk with her and check out the three bedrooms, two baths and end at the kitchen. The only furniture left in the house are a sturdy dining room table and three mismatched wooden chairs.

“The realtor said they hadn’t figured out how to get that table out of the apartment yet.” I laugh.

She sits down on one of the chairs and pats the seat of the one next to hers. “I don’t mind. It lets you get a better feel for the place. It’s hard to judge a home when there’s no furniture in it. I felt the same way with the club when I was looking at spaces.”

I smile at seeing her sitting down at a table in a kitchen I could call mine one day. It’d be so perfect to wake up to her face in my own home every day.

“This is a really big place,” she says, looking around the kitchen.

“It is.” I can’t pull my eyes away from her. “The place doesn’t need much work either. I'd just need to renovate the kitchen.”

“Yeah.” She looks back at me. “Why a three bedroom though? It’s gotta cost a fortune.”

“It’s not cheap.” I laugh. “But I wanted to plan for the future.”

She smiles coyly at me. “Go on.”

I take her hand. “I wanted a lot of space. So the apartment wouldn’t feel crowded for two…or three…or four.”

“Maybe even five?” She grins, biting her lip.

“It’s close to the club.” I lean in and kiss the top of her ear.

“Don’t think that I didn’t notice.” She kisses me lightly on the jaw.

“What do you think?” I kiss her on the earlobe and drag the tip of my tongue along its edge. “Should I buy it?”

She kisses me on my jawline, and runs her lips down my neck. “I don’t think you should make it an easy sell.”

“I’m a good negotiator.” I put my hand on the back of her head, careful not to wreck her elaborate bun, and give her a hard kiss. “I like getting what I want on my own terms.”

She pulls away, gasping for breath, her tongue wetting her parted lips. “What if she’s tough, too? Like what if she plays hard to get?”

“Then it’s a lot more satisfying when I get my way.” I pull her head back and kiss her down her neck to her collarbone. She breathes in deep, swelling her breasts, drawing my mouth down. She grips the back of my head as I kiss my way down her cleavage, brushing the straps of her dress and her bra down from her shoulders.

“You’re a very good negotiator,” she says as I pull her dress down to her waist and reach around her back to unhook her bra.

I toss her bra onto the table and squeeze her breasts. “You have the most amazing tits.”

“They have an amazing effect on you.” She grins and as she squeezes the growing bulge in my pants.

She opens her mouth and moans as I take one of her nipples between my lips and flick it with my tongue. “Did you tell the realtor you’d be doing this when she gave you the code to the keys?”

“What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.” She gasps loudly as I drag my teeth on her nipple.

“You’re so mean to my nipples,” she complains while pulling on my hair.

“You love it.” I suck on it again, soothing it with my tongue. And her soft moan tells me I’m right.

I kiss my way down her breasts, onto her soft stomach. She laughs as I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her off the chair. I look up at her between her breasts, and kiss my way down her stomach as I tug her dress past her hips and let it drop to her feet.

She grins down at me, reaches out to grab me under the chin and pulls me up to stand with her. “I want to see you naked, too.”

She unbuckles my belt as I pull my shirt over my head and toss it on top of her bra. She’s unbuttoned my pants by the time I’ve kicked off my boots, so she quickly hooks her thumbs into my waistband, and pushes the pants down to my knees.

“I don’t know if your pants are too tight, or your legs are just so thick.” She drops to her knees before me and gets them down the rest of the way and I step out of them.

She smiles wickedly up at me. “I can see why you enjoy this view,” she says as she grabs my underwear and yanks it down, letting my cock bounce free.

She pushes me by my thighs until I’m leaning back against the table, grabs my cock in her fist and leans her mouth close to the tip. “You have such a beautiful cock.”

My cock twitches in her hand in response to the compliment. She laughs and plants a wet kiss on its tip.

I put my fingers through her hair and make a fist. She takes in a sharp breath as I yank her head back and plant the tip of my cock on her lips. “Your lips look so perfect on my cock.”

She sticks out her glistening tongue, reaches out to lick a swirl around the head of my dick. “I want you to use my mouth the way you use my pussy.”

I growl as I press my cock against her lips, and she parts them to swallow my tip. She sticks her tongue out under my cock, and presses down on my cock, taking in another inch. The feel of her wet lips tightly latched around my cock and her wet mouth sucking on my cock make me groan out between my teeth.

“That feels fucking amazing.”

I pull her head back, and thrust back with my hips, seeing how much of my dick she can take. She looks up at me as she grabs me by the back of my thighs and pulls herself down on my dick until I hear her making a choking sound. But she doesn’t relent. She pulls back and bobs back down on my dick, massaging the bottom of my shaft with her wet tongue. I can feel her spit dripping down my dick down her chin, wetting my balls.