Mafia Queen (The Manning Sisters #1) (4 page)

As the plane touched down on a private air strip, Dakota held Lis’ hand. He was so scared that something would happen to her still, but he was confident that his plan would work. Once they had the mole caught he knew she’d be safer.

“Dakota, it’s going to work. I have faith in you and your plan,” Lis assured him as they rose from their seats. “I have faith in you as the leader of the family, too. You can do this. You can make this work.”

“We can make this work,” he told her and she smiled. “This will work because we will be working together to make sure it does.”

“Together,” Lis agreed as they stepped off the plane and onto a private airstrip. The sun was just starting to set and Lis knew it was going to be a long day still.

“James, you and Rachel will go with David while Lis and I take the other car,” Dakota told them. “I’m going to talk to Collin and Lucas. They will be going in opposite directions and do not have each other’s numbers so we will soon know who is feeding information to Morrison.”

They all nodded and Dakota walked off to talk to Collin and Lucas. When he walked back a few minutes later, he grabbed Lis’ hand and gently tugged her to the waiting car and watched as David, James, and Rachel loaded into the other car. Once they were gone he looked at Lis. “Once we get to my parents’ house I need a few minutes alone with you.”

“I need that,
too,” Lis answered and sighed. “Dakota, I need to contact Detective Ballard. He was on dad’s payroll and I need to make sure he is the one handling everything.”

“I’ve already contacted him, Lis. He was the first person I called once you were safe. He has everything under control.”

Lis sighed in relief as Dakota started the car and they headed toward the coast.

Twenty minutes later, after a lot of twists and turns to make sure they weren’t followed, Dakota pulled into the driveway of his parents’ home. Nestled in a gated community on the beach, the house was a vivid shade of yellow with a pale blue trim and floor to ceiling windows facing the ocean. There was a lighted walkway to a private beach and Lis longingly looked at the water as the waves crashed upon the sand.

“We used to come to the Cape a lot when I was a kid. My grandparents lived on the other side of the island and we’d go swimming there every summer. They died just before I turned fifteen and we never came out here after that. Dad said it was too dangerous.”

“Lis, once this is over you are welcome to come out here any time you want. I have a small beach house just up the shore from here and you are more than welcome to use it whenever you need a break from everything.”

“Will you be coming with me?” Lis asked quietly.

“Definitely,” he answered and wrapped his arms around her from behind. “But for now, let’s get inside and settled. I’ll show you my little house tomorrow.”

Lis sighed and stepped out of his embrace. “Dakota, what is happening between us?”

“Lis, I have been enthralled by you since I saw you lying beside the pool wearing that little green bikini that matched your eyes. That was over a decade ago and nothing has changed.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. One thing has changed. I’m not just the boss’ teenage daughter any longer.”

“No, you definitely aren’t a teenager any longer,” Dakota agreed and raked his eyes from her head to her toes. When his eyes locked back on hers she saw a fire in them that she had never seen in anyone’s eyes before. “Now, before I forget where we are, I suggest we head inside.”

Lis nodded and grabbed his hand. “Dakota, I’m not off limits for you. You know that, right?”

“Elisabeth,” he said in a deep, husky voice, “I know you aren’t off limits to me. I also know that if we do not go inside right now I will not be able to keep myself from taking what I have wanted all these years. Now isn’t the time and this isn’t the place for me to make you mine.”

“What if I think it is?” Lis asked as she ran her hand down his chest.

“Woman, you’re killing me,” Dakota responded in a gravelly voice. “Let’s get inside and I promise we will finish this soon.”

Lis dropped her hand and nodded. She knew she was pushing his limits, but she just couldn’t seem to stop herself with him. He made her want in ways she’d never wanted before. As they walked inside, Lis watched Dakota and knew that she’d be lost if something happened to him. Maybe having him step to the head of the family was a bad idea.

“Lis, I will be fine. Please stop worrying so much,” Dakota whispered as he guided her through the back door and into the kitchen. “Mom, dad, we’re here.”

“Dakota, I’m glad you’re safe,” a woman’s voice said from down the hall to the right. When an older woman with short, dark hair and sapphire eyes walked into the room, Lis immediately knew it was David and Dakota’s mother.

“Mom, I’d like for you to meet Lis Manning,” Dakota introduced Lis and Mrs. Jackson smiled.

“Nice to meet you, Lis,” she said and shook Lis’ hand. “David called and they will be here in just a few minutes. Why don’t I fix us all something to eat while we wait?”

“That sounds great, Mrs. Jackson,” Lis said and smiled.

“Please, call me Michelle,” the older woman said and Lis smiled. “John will be down in a minute.”

“Mom, did David fill you in on what’s going on? Does dad know?” Dakota asked and Michelle nodded. “How’s he handling it?”

“Your father knew what kind of business Richard ran, and he understood the risks Richard faced every day. He’s upset that Richard and Bianca are gone, but he’s happy that Elisabeth and Rachel are safe.”

“There’s some things we need to discuss once David and the others get here. There are some things I need to tell you and dad,” Dakota told his mother and she nodded.

“I know. David told me some of it over the phone, but he didn’t want to say too much,” Michelle informed them as footsteps headed their way. When a tall man with white, blond hair walked in Lis gasped.

“I know you. You used to be head of dad’s security,” Lis said and John smiled.

“Yes I did, but I’m surprised you remembered. I retired when you were five,” John said and Lis grinned.

“You used to toss me in the air and pretend you weren’t going to catch me. You did the same with Rachel.”

John nodded and grinned as the back door opened and David walked in followed by Rachel and James.

“David, did you run into trouble?” Dakota asked as he hugged his twin.

“No, but I drove around the island twice and passed the house a couple times before I stopped. I wanted to make sure no one was following us.”

“Good,” Dakota told him. “Now that we’re all here, let’s sit and fill mom and dad in on what’s going on.”

“I know what’s going on,” John said and Dakota looked at him questioningly. “Richard and Bianca were murdered and Elisabeth and Rachel are in danger. What I don’t know is what you’re going to do about it, son.”

“Well, dad, I am going to step forward as head of the organization with James as my second in command. We are just going to be the faces as Lis and Rachel make the decisions. If we put their faces forward, they will get killed,” Dakota answered and John nodded.

“Good. That’s the best plan of action,” he told them and Dakota looked at him in shock.

“I thought you’d be against it.”

“If I didn’t think it was the only way to keep these two safe, I would be, but I know it is. If either of them step forward the other families are going to see it as a weakening in the Manning operations and will try to step in and take over. There is one other thing that may need to be done for you to be taken seriously as head of the family, though,” John said and Dakota stiffened.

“If you’re about to suggest what I think you are then you can just keep it to yourself,” Dakota said and John grinned.

“Why, son? We all know it’s the one sure way for everyone to accept you and for you to keep her safe.”

“Dakota, is he suggesting what I think he’s suggesting?” Lis asked and Dakota nodded. Lis sat there for a moment and then nodded. “I agree with your father. If you want to be seen as the true head of the family, this would be the best way to make it happen.”

Dakota looked at her for a moment before he shook his head. “I don’t want us to get married unless it’s what we want. I don’t want to become your husband because it’s what’s best for the business.”

“Are you saying you’d want to become my husband for another reason?” Lis asked and Dakota looked at her.

“Elisabeth, I would love nothing more than to become your husband. But, I want to do it when we are both ready and not because it’s what we feel needs to happen.”

“Dakota, I would love nothing better than to become your wife. It’s something I have thought about many times over the past ten years. I don’t feel like we would be being forced into anything, but I understand what you’re saying,” Lis told him then turned to Michelle. “Will you show me where I can get some rest, please?”

“Sure,” Michelle said and headed upstairs. Lis followed behind her silently and smiled when she heard Dakota right behind them.

“I’ll show her, mom,” he said and Michelle chuckled.

“Okay,” Michelle said and moved aside so they could pass her.

“Lis, talk to me. Please,” Dakota pleaded as he led her up the stairs and down the hall. When he stopped at the door at the end of the hall on the right, he sighed. “This is my bedroom from high school. You can stay in here and I’ll bunk with David. Rachel and James can have the two guest rooms.”

“I can bunk with Rachel and you can have your room,” Lis told him and he shook his head.

“Just come inside and talk to me, please,” he pleaded again and Lis nodded. “Thank you.”

He opened the door and Lis walked into the room ahead of him and smiled. There were high school memorabilia covering the shelves circling the room and the walls were painted a deep red with silver trim.

“Ignore the colors, please,” Dakota said as he grabbed her hand and led her to the bed. Once she was sitting he grabbed his desk chair and pulled it in front of her. “Lis, listen to me for a second, please. I have wanted you to be mine for a very long time, but I do not want us to rush into it because we feel it’s what’s best for the business. If we marry I want it to be because it’s what we both want and I want it to be because we are in love. I don’t want a marriage of convenience and I don’t want anyone questioning our reasons for getting married.”

“Dakota, are you really concerned about what others will think?”

“No, but I am concerned that I will have to kill anyone who says anything bad about you or the reasons we got married. I don’t have a problem with killing people, but I don’t want to have to kill everyone in the family.”

“I love you,” Lis said and Dakota’s head snapped up. “I have for the past ten years and nothing anyone says will change that. Think about that while I get a shower, then we can talk about this some more.” Lis stood and walked into the bathroom connected to the bedroom without letting Dakota say anything else.

Twenty minutes later, when Lis walked out of the bathroom wearing Dakota’s old bathrobe, he was still sitting where she’d left him. “Dakota,” she said softly and he looked up.

His eyes latched on hers and she could see the heat in them. He stood and silently walked to her. Stopping in front of her, he reached out and loosened the belt at her waist. When the robe opened his breath caught in his throat at the sight of her.

“You are beautiful,” he said in a gravelly voice as a faint blush creeped up her neck. When he bent his head down and dropped a soft kiss on her exposed shoulder she shivered a little. “Absolutely beautiful,” he whispered and kissed the side of her neck gently.

She tipped her head back and the robe slipped from her shoulders and pooled at her feet, causing him to groan softly. “I want you in a way I have never wanted anyone else in my entire life.”

“Then take me,” she said softly as she locked her eyes on his.

Without another word, Dakota grabbed her hand and led her to his bed. He didn’t care that his parents were downstairs. He didn’t care that both of their lives were in danger. He didn’t care that this should not be happening right now. All he cared about was her. All he cared about was making her his.

After she sat on the side of his bed he dropped to his knees in front of her and placed his hands on her thighs. As his fingers traced small circles on her inner thighs, his lips connected with hers in a slow, deep kiss. He tilted his head and deepened the kiss as his hands made their way up her legs. When his fingertips brushed across the thick curls surrounding her core she moaned into his mouth.

He smiled and inched his way a little higher, gently stroking her nub as he swallowed her moans. When he increased the pressure he broke the kiss and latched his mouth onto her taut, firm breast.

Her moans filled the room as he slipped one of his fingers into her folds and gently stroked. As he slipped a second finger inside of her he started kissing down her body. Stopping just before reaching her most sensitive spot, he looked up and into her eyes as his tongue flicked out and gently caressed her.

Her body started shaking under his ministrations and he increased the pace with both his fingers and his tongue. She cried out her pleasure as she tightened around his fingers. He slowly slipped his fingers from her and slid them into his mouth as his eyes met hers.

Without saying a word, he quickly shed his clothes and joined her in the bed. Lying beside her, he stroked his hand up and down her lax body, building her arousal again. She raised her head and nipped him on the shoulder as his fingers found her nipple and gently pinched it.

“Take me, Dakota,” she whispered softly and he rolled to cover her with his body.

Before he could enter her, a loud crash sounded from downstairs and he leapt from the bed. Throwing on his jeans, he grabbed his gun from the floor and quickly, but silently, left the room.

Once he was out the door, Lis picked the robe up off the floor and quickly covered herself before picking her own gun up and following him at a much slower pace. She knew he’d kill her if she put herself in unnecessary danger, but there was no way in hell she was letting him face anything alone. She wasn’t about to lose someone else she loved.

When she heard laughter float up the stairs she instantly knew everything was okay, but the moment was broken and she knew they wouldn’t get it back so she quietly entered the room and quickly dressed in jeans and a t-shirt before heading downstairs to join the only family she had left.

***

“Dakota, we are all fine,” Michelle said as she cleaned up the pasta sauce from the floor.

“What happened?” He asked again.

“I knocked the pan off the stove. That’s it. The way you ran down here with your gun out and that wild look in your eyes scared me more than the falling pan
did,” his mother told him and smiled. “Thank you for coming to my rescue though.”

“Always, mom,” he said and looked around the room at the faces of everyone he cared about. “I’m going to get Lis. She’s probably scared half to death.”

As he climbed the stairs he recalled how she came apart in his hands, but he knew that moment was broken. He knew it would come back though, and when it did he would make it even more magical for her. When he opened the door to his bedroom he saw her standing there, dressed casually with bare feet and he knew, in that instant, that what his father said was true. The safest and easiest way for him to step into the role as the leader of the family would be for them to get married. As much as he didn’t want that to be the reason for their joining, he also knew that he wanted nothing more than to make her his wife.

“Lis, will you marry me?” He asked before he could stop himself.

“What?” She asked in confusion.

“I was thinking about what my dad was saying earlier and he was right. Everything would be accepted more if you and I got married.”

“Is that the only reason you’re asking me?” She asked with a raised eyebrow and he shook his head.

“No. Elisabeth Manning, when I first met you ten years ago I was infatuated with the girl that you were. Now, after all this time, that infatuation has grown into something more. Something stronger than I have ever known. Elisabeth, I want to marry you, not because it’s what’s best for the organization, but because it’s what’s best for me.”

“Then, yes, Dakota Jackson, I will marry you. Not because it’s what’s best for the organization, but because it’s what’s best for me.”

Dakota smiled and pulled her into his arms. “I will take care of you, Lis, and I will always keep you safe.”

“I know you will, and I will always take care of you and keep you safe as well. We are in this together, Dakota, and we will continue to work together.”

Lis laid her head on his chest and listened to his heart beat for a moment as she thought through what had been said. There had been no declaration of love from him, but she didn’t need him to say it for her to know that he did love her in his own way. She just hoped it would be enough for a lifetime of happiness.