Scandalous Heroes Box Set (150 page)

“What the—?” Kedra asked, picking up a tomato and throwing it back at Adanna.

Michael watched the ping pong of food being thrown around in disbelief.

“Now who’s being childish?” Michael scowled at Kendra. He didn’t know whether to strangle her or laugh at her when she crossed her eyes at him and sent Adanna into a peel of laughter.

“They do this whenever they’re together, Michael. They’re worse when Carina is with them,” Piero said, taking a sip of his wine.

Michael looked from Kendra to Adanna and then back at Kendra. He shook his head. “If you two can stop throwing food long enough, we all can eat. That is if there’s anything left after you finish playing with it,” he chastised.

“It smells good. What did you cook?” Kendra smiled at Michael.

“Shrimp and pasta. The garlic bread is on the warmer. What’s left of the salad is in front of you. Everybody dig in,” he said.

Dinnerware and food platters were passed around. Everyone ate and engaged in small talk until they were finished.

“Okay, so here’s why I was really staying with Michael, sis,” Kendra burst out.

“What do you mean? I thought you and Michael were getting to know one another. That you’d hit it off,” Adanna said with a frown.

“We did. And we do. Michael and I are in a relationship. But that wasn’t my reason for being here at first.”

“If you want to talk to Adanna alone, we’ll leave the room,” Michael said uncomfortably.

“Of course not. You’ve been here with me all this time. Why would I want you to leave the room now?” Kendra said.

Michael walked over to Kendra, placed a kiss on her lips, and gathered her up in his arms.

“You sure?” he asked.

“I’m fine Michael. Really,” she smiled up at him. “Anyway, as I was saying. The night I went out with Nicco, he left me alone for a while with his friend Marcello who, along with the bartender, slipped something into my drink. Before you go off, Michael was there, witnessed the whole thing, and got me out of there without anyone other than the people involved being the wiser. Evidently, I had a reaction to whatever it was that he slipped me, and Michael had his doctor friend come here and treat me. Let me assure you that I am fine.”

“Oh, my God! How could Nicco do something like that? Oh, my God!” Adanna exclaimed.

“Actually Nicco didn’t. Marcello did. Nicco just made the mistake of trusting his friend a little too much,” Kendra defended.

“Bullshit! Nicco and Marcello have been friends too long for him not to know what Marcello is about,” Adanna said fervently.

“Probably. However, I don’t think he anticipated him trying it with me. He’s apologized for what’s happened. Anywho, thanks to Michael, I am as good as new.”

“He may have apologized, but he’s still an idiot,” Adanna said hotly. “Sorry, Michael, but I wonder sometimes if you and Carina are even related to him. Funny, I don’t remember him as being such a douche before.”

“I agree,” Michael snapped. “He hasn’t always been this way. The last few years he’s just gone into this downward spiral that is going to be very dangerous to his health.”

“Very,” Piero snarled.

They were interrupted by the ringing of the phone.

“That has to be Ma,” Michael said, rushing over to pick up the phone. “She’s almost the only one who calls me on my landline.

“Hello.”

“Why aren’t you or Piero answering your calls?” Sal barked.

“What’s up, Sal?” Michael asked, his body going on full alert. From the tone of Sal’s voice, this wasn’t a social call.

“Have you seen the news?”

“Spit it out, Sal,” Michael barked.

“What’s going on?” Piero asked, coming to stand next to him.

Michael waved him off.

“Turn on the news and call me back,” Sal said, hanging up.

“What the hell is it with you and your brother always hanging up on people?” Michael snarled. “He wants us to turn on the television and call him back. Let’s go into the family room. This can’t be good.”

Michael hurried out of the kitchen with Piero, Kendra, and Adanna on his heels. In the family room, he turned on the television and flipped it to the news station.

There on the screen was a news flash with a picture of Marcello Perini’s car. Apparently he’d been in a one-car crash. Marcello Perini was dead, an apparent suicide. Old man Perini was declaring that his son would never commit suicide while Mrs. Perini was in a fit of hysterics. Standing next to Mrs. Perini were both of Michael’s parents.

“Aww, hell. Why are Mamma and Pop there?” Michael whispered.

“Suicide? His punk ass committed suicide?” Kendra said in disbelief.

“I hate to say it, but the world will be a better place with one less scumbag on the loose,” Adanna exclaimed.

“Where’s Nicco?” Both Piero and Michael said simultaneously.

“I’m sure Nicco is around,” Kendra whispered.

“Well I better find out,” Michael said. “Care to join me, Piero?”

“I’m right behind you. Ladies, I’m sure you can find something more pleasant to watch.”

“I’m sure we can, too. You and Michael go do whatever it is you need to do. We’ll be fine,” Kendra said.

* * *

“Shit, this is not good,” Piero said.

“Tell me about it. Can’t say I’m sorry he’s dead,” Michael said.

“I don’t care about that piece of shit, Michael!” Piero said harshly. “But the bartender heard you threaten him. I don’t want any of this to fall back on you. Old man Perini is not giving up on this one. That boy was the apple of their eye. He swears it wasn’t suicide. He had to have known that his son was a wuss.”

“Really, like my folks don’t know how screwed up Nicco is?” Michael snorted. “As for the bartender, he won’t talk.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive.”

“All right, get Sal on the phone,” Piero said.

Michael grabbed his cell and dialed Sal.

“Sal, we saw it. Why did you want us to call you back? The report said he committed suicide,” Michael said.

“According to my contact, this was no suicide. I ran into Nicco. He briefly told me what happened. Let’s just say I reminded your brother just who the elder Alesi is. I hope that is not going to be a problem with us?”

“What did you do?” Michael asked hesitantly.

“Relax. I just roughed him up a bit. I tell you this—your brother is ballsy. Reminds me of you in a way. A less human you. Anyway, we need to clean this mess up because your name came up in a conversation via your lady friend Carmella.”

“Dammit! What is she saying?”

“Let’s just say the lady did not take it kindly that you left her hanging. And left with, as she said, some ‘black’ woman. She’s claiming she saw you coming down on Marcello.”

“She couldn’t have heard what I said, Sal, she wasn’t close enough to me. I never yelled. She had to have gotten her information from someone else,” Michael said.

“That’s even worse. She’s going by hearsay and getting everything twisted. No doubt on purpose. I’ll keep an eye on the lady and keep you updated on the investigation. Stay low for a few days. I want to see what old man Perini is doing. You know he’ll have his men all over this.”

“Will do. Keep me posted,” Michael said before hanging up.

“Sal says Carmella’s talking. He’s going to keep an eye on her. Wait a minute.” Michael frowned. “How did Sal get this info before us when he’s in Italy?”

Piero shook his head. “I have no idea where Sal is, but I do know he’s not in Italy. He told me he would be coming back to the States. He didn’t say when, and I didn’t question him.” Piero hesitated. “What did he say?”

“He wants me to lie low for a few days until he can feel out what’s going on. His source says that it’s definitely not a suicide. Old man Perini is putting his men all over this. It’s what I figured from what he was saying on the broadcast tonight,” Michael snarled.

“Let him dig. If he digs too close he’s going to find something that he’s not looking for. If he knows what I know, he needs to leave this alone. I understand this is his son, but considering the company they both kept, they need to tread more than lightly.”

“Well, I agreed to take Kendra shopping tomorrow, and I plan on doing just that,” Michael said.

“Do what you want. Just stay away from that side of town. You know you’re going to have to go the Mass, right? It will be suspicious if you don’t,” Piero said.

“I understand. And you understand this, Piero, I am not afraid of Perini or his people. I have nothing to run from, nor will I hide. That would be even more suspicious.”

“True. Well, I’m going to take Adanna home.”

“Okay. You and Sal keep me posted. I am going to try to keep Kendra away from the news. I don’t want her to think the wrong things about us,” Michael said.

“So you two are in a relationship, no?” Piero asked.

“I told you that before, Piero. You just refused to listen,” Michael said.

“I had to see that this wasn’t some game you were playing. Congratulations. Keep her close,” Piero said.

“I intend to. Let’s go join the women before they start to speculate.”

They walked side by side back into the family room to join the ladies. 

Michael and Piero found Kendra and Adanna huddled together talking in whispered voices.

“Hmm, I wonder what that’s all about,” Michael whispered to himself.

“Are you ready to go home, Cara Mia?” Piero asked.

“Yes, I am tired. I can barely keep my eyes open.” Adanna yawned.

“Come on, love, let’s get you home,” Piero said placing a kiss on her forehead.

“I’ll walk to the door with you guys,” Kendra said.

“We’ll both see them out,” Michael said, grabbing Kendra by the hand.

“Whatever you say,” Kendra said sarcastically.

“Charge your phone, Kendra,” Adanna said over another yawn.

“Charging it just as soon as you guys leave,” Kendra said, giving her sister a quick hug and then turning to Piero and giving him one, as well.

“Take care, sweetheart,” Piero said, returning Kendra’s hug. “Michael I will speak with you in the morning.”

“Oh joy,” Michael glowered, unlocking the door and waiting for them to pass through. “Get some rest, Adanna. Stop letting my cousin keep you up all night. You look tired, love.”

“I do not keep, Cara Mia up. Well not always,” Piero smirked.

“Get out,” Michael said, closing the door after them.

“You are a trip,” Kendra said with a shake of her head.

“What did I do now?” he asked, following her to the bedroom.

“Like you don’t know. Come on, tough guy, let’s get some sleep. I have a feeling there are going to be rough days ahead.”

“Hey,” Michael said, taking her hand and pulling her back against his frame. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

“You know I won’t let anything happen to you right?” Michael whispered against her ear.

“Yes. I just want to forget about this for the night and get some sleep.” She sighed, resting her head back against his chest.

“Let me close the house up, and I’ll come to bed in a few minutes,” he said, releasing her.

“Okay, but hurry up.”

“Will do.”

Michael left Kendra and went about turning off the lights in the kitchen, and then the lights and television in the family room. They were still rebroadcasting the death of Marcello. “Damn,” Michael whispered. “It couldn’t have happened to a better person.”

By the time, he returned to the bedroom, Kendra had stripped off her clothes gotten into bed, and had fallen asleep, just that quick.

Michael quietly stripped naked and joined Kendra in bed. She made a soft noise and moved to snuggle up to him. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to his naked form.

“Night,” he whispered against her head and was rewarded with the sound of her soft snore. He chuckled. He wouldn’t dare tell her that she snored. Besides it was a cute little snore.

Chapter Twelve

Through darkness of the night, the cell phone that was placed on the night table rang.

“Hello.”

“I take it you’ve seen the news.”

“Yes. I know.”

“The bartender?”

“Taken care of.”

“Are you okay with the outcome?”

“Right as rain.”

“Good. Talk to you soon.”

“Looking forward to it. You know you didn’t have to do this.”

“Yes. I did.”

“Thank you.”

“Not necessary. Sleep well.”

“I will now. Goodnight.”

  The call was disconnected.

“Who was that this time of night?”

“It was business I needed to take care of. I’ve been slacking lately.

“Hmm. This time of night? It couldn’t wait until morning?”

“No, it couldn’t. Now since we’re both up we might as well do something we’ll both enjoy.

“We might as well.”

The only sounds for a long time were the sounds of their lovemaking.

* * *

Was he dreaming? If he were, he didn’t want to wake. The feel of those soft, succulent lips against his member almost sent him over the edge.

“You like,” she whispered against him.

“Ah, you know I do.” He groaned out loud when she took most of him in her mouth. “Damn.”

“Umm, delicious,” Kendra said, licking him from base to tip.

“Where did you learn to do that?” Michael groaned again, his hips pushing up, causing his cock to sink further into her mouth. “I thought you were all straight-laced.”

“Hmm, you thought like lint,” she said deep-throating him.

“Oh, my damn! Do that again,” he commanded.

And she did. He almost lost it.

“You’ve catered to my mind as well as my body all week long. Just returning the favor,” she said taking hold of him and pumping her hand up and down on him and then taking the tip of him in her mouth and sucking.

“Oh, shit!” he yelled, grabbing her by the hair and guiding her on him. He pumped, and she sucked. Michael was pumping so hard into her mouth; he had to let up when she gagged.

“Sorry, love. So good. So good,” he growled.

He lost it when she lifted her head, took hold of his tip with her hand licked, sucked and swallowed as much of him as her mouth could hold. He came hard in her mouth screaming her name.