Reign of Desire, page 8
The basement, however, is where the actual dungeon exists. Apart from my home office, I have another office hidden there. It’s also where the doc has his setup to see to my men or to, on occasions like this, keep our enemies alive so that I can get what I need from them. The torture room is also on the far side of the basement. Soundproof and windowless, it’s where hope dies for those people who hurt my family.
We nibble on cheese, crackers, olives, and fine prosciutto in front of the television. The excitement of the day has exhausted Josie, and she falls asleep with her head on my shoulders. She looks so peaceful that I decide to carry her up the stairs.
As I scoop her up into my arms, she instinctively braces, latching her arms around my neck, her cheek against my chest. I lay her on the bed and remove her shoes. If I were a good man, I’d cover her with the comforter and let her sleep. However, all good intentions go to shit when she murmurs my name.
One kiss, I think. When I press my lips to hers, Josie yields immediately, parting her lips and urging me to take her mouth the way I want. Urgently, ardently. I plunder her mouth, and all the while, Josie’s pressing closer. I strip her of her clothes, leaving her with only the baby-blue bra decorated with a little rosette sitting between her breasts, and matching lace thong. The slip of material between her legs is so flimsy that I can tear it apart with one quick snap.
Fully awake and watching me, her incredible green eyes are filled with desire. Our gazes lock while I undress, until she pulls her focus away to stare at my cock, which is standing at attention, purple with the need to find its way inside her hot, wet pussy.
“Can I touch you?” she whispers. I take her hand in mine, guiding her to stroke me as I like it. Hard and firm.
“Tighter, harder,” I tell her. “That’s right, baby. Just like that.” I encourage her to keep going. Meanwhile, she’s killing me slowly.
As she sits on the edge of the bed, I remove the miniscule bra and fondle her breasts, teasing her nipples, twisting them lightly, making her aware of my touch. Her taut nipples are a pretty pink, tempting morsels. I want to suck on them, but before I can, Josie sticks her tongue out of her perfect mouth and licks the tip of my engorged cock.
A hiss escapes my lips. She stops and watches me. “It’s good, baby. Keep doing that,” I command. She does this once more, and a blinding light of need hits me, harder than ever before. It’s not the sex. It’s Josie. I’ve been given head before, far better and by a woman much more experienced, and still, this is the most intoxicating experience I’ve felt in ages.
“Open for me,” I command, while her shining green eyes pierce mine. She does what I ask. “Suck the tip.” Christ, I’m a glutton for punishment. The sounds of delight coming from her throat are enough to make me blow my load.
Not until I’m inside her. I want to feel her pussy clench around me. I let her play a little longer before I drop to my knees, give the panties a yank, and gleefully watch them tear in half. I spread her legs and rest her feet on the edge the mattress, cocking her knees. Her ass is barely on the bed, exposing her fully to me.
My fingers slide through the slit of her pussy lips. Thank fuck, she’s wet for me. I want more and spread her lips, revealing her clit. I run my tongue over it, then around and around. Glancing up, I see her biting her upper lip, glued to what I’m doing. I love her expression of awe and wonder.
I insert a finger, slowly pumping in and out while my mouth continues to explore the delicious taste of her essence. She clenches around my finger, so I add another. A hitch in her breath and the sweet sigh leaving her lips tell me what I need to know.
My wife likes my mouth on her. I take my lips away to enjoy the show. Watching my fingers disappear into her tight sheath is erotically pleasing.
“Oh please,” she says breathlessly. My greedy girl. She wants me inside her.
“What do you need?” I tease. She’s quiet, and suddenly, shyness overcomes her. “Don’t lose your wanton ways now, beautiful.” I kiss the inside of her thigh, then her pelvic bone.
“You.” It’s hardly audible, but I hear her.
“Then you shall have me.” I nudge her back onto the bed, her back flat as I lie between her legs. I slide my cock back and forth over her clit, and she emits a moan of frustration. She’s intoxicating.
With our fingers laced together on either side of her head, I enter her hard and fast. I give a long hard push until I’m seated deep inside her. She gasps at the intrusion, but before I can ask if she’s all right, she wraps her legs around my waist. I pull back and dive in stronger and harder. I do this again and again, and she rolls her head from side to side, begging me to let her come.
When she finally lets go, her breasts heaving, her back arched, I take a pebbled nipple in my mouth and suck as she squeezes my cock. Not quite ready to let our lovemaking end, I pull out and arrange her on her hands and knees.
I sense the change in her right away. She’s stiff, like she’s bracing for something horrible to happen, her spine rigid. I let my hand run over the small of her back. “Relax, baby.”
She nods quickly, but her eyes are shut tight. I turn her face toward me, kissing her as I inch in slowly.
“Open your eyes. Who’s fucking you, Josie?” I keep sliding in and out, waiting for her to respond.
“You.”
“And who am I?”
“Ale-Alessio,” she mumbles, then gasps as my fingers play with her clit.
“That’s right. Say my name again.” She calls my name over and over. I find her G-spot, and she falls over the pinnacle of ecstasy. “Oh my God,” she mewls. “I can’t—”
“You can and you will. When we’re together, you’ll come for me every time. Come, baby. Come for me.”
She does, soaring high and taking me on the same ride. I wait for our breaths to return to normal before pulling out. Gently, I move us both, placing our heads on the billowy pillows. Josie’s already half asleep when I return to clean between her thighs.
“I can—”
“Yes, you can, but I choose to.” When I’m done, I toss the cloth into the adjoining bathroom and slip beneath the covers, then pull her toward me.
Today has uncovered many questions, but not nearly enough answers. Why did the Russians send a mercenary when they have plenty of soldiers of their own? Are they really behind this attack, or is this yet another ploy to throw me off my game? Why did they focus on Josie, even when I ran out in the open? The bullets hit the path I ran along, but came nowhere near hitting me.
All these thoughts are plaguing my mind. Then I think of Josie and her reaction when I flipped her onto her belly to take my cock. She was paralyzed by fear. I know that look. I see it in my enemies’ eyes each and every time I’m about to extinguish the light forever. What kind of hell did Josie live through with that bastard? The more I learn, the angrier I become with myself for allowing Aurelio such an easy death.
When my men returned that night, I learned that Germano was plotting against me. He thought his life was ending because of the part he played in stealing from me. Never a mention of what he did to his daughter, now my wife.
I knew Germano was trouble, but what I didn’t realize was that he’s actually stealing from me and, moreover, his own men. It makes sense now. His men always opted to work for other underbosses at a moment’s notice when opportunities were made available.
Yet, to win the game, you need to know how to play. I’ve never lost yet, and I don’t intend to start now.
ELEVEN
Valentina
JOSIE
I woke to an empty bed. Actually, Alessio woke me before he left to let me know that Julian and Eros were on duty, and he had to see to business. I know what that means. It means that a man’s life ends today.
I should be used to it. My father used to come home reveling in the blood he shed. He would waltz into his office, liberally discussing the ugly details of his kills. It wasn’t meant for my ears, but I could hardly not hear him. He was laughing so loudly with his men he invited back for a celebration. It took Mom days to get the blood out of the carpet. Dad hated a messy house, and I’ve seen the bruises on my mother if things weren’t just so. Even though we had a housekeeper, Dad wouldn’t let anyone in his study.
I would scrub the carpet with her while my sister made googly eyes at the men paid to guard us. I don’t think my sister would recognize a sponge if it hit her in the face.
When it was finally done, washing the traces of a man’s death from the material, Mom would take me to the kitchen and make me hot chocolate and give me a cookie. Only one, though, because Dad didn’t want fat daughters.
A shudder runs through my body from the memories of Dad’s harsh words. “A man wants to fuck a beautiful woman, and since I’ve been cursed with girls, the sooner I marry you off, the better. Then you become someone else’s problem.” If only that were the truth. He played cat-and-mouse with Aurelio and then decided he wasn’t fit to take over his territory, and my sister’s husband became worthy for such an honor.
It went from bad to worse, and I honestly thought Aurelio would eventually kill me, if he hadn’t been murdered by the Russians. I would have sent them a thank-you note if it wasn’t crass.
I felt that twinge of fear again when Alessio flipped me onto my hands and knees. The flash of Aurelio brutalizing me came rushing back. He would push me down, hold me there, pressing me so hard against the mattress that I could hardly breathe. Then he would fuck me so violently that I would bleed.
“I don’t want to see your face. You’re a fuckhole, and as soon as you get pregnant, I won’t have to do this again.” He would hit me if I moved, but I couldn’t help it; it hurt so much.
When I felt Alessio gently turn my head to kiss me as he came inside me, I knew I was safe. I didn’t want it to end. I wanted to hold on to my orgasm as long as I could, just so he would hold me. I shouldn’t have worried, though, because when we were done, he held me for the rest of the night.
Alessio’s not a good man. I know this, but why do I feel so much for him? It can’t be love. I’m not meant for love, and I would be letting myself in for a disappointment. Alessio could never love me. I’ll be lucky to hold his attention long enough to have a child of my own to give my affection to.
I climb out of bed and jump into the shower. I take care to dress in the manner a capo’s wife should dress, in tailored dark gray pants and sea-foam-green top with flats and minimal makeup. I think I’m ready to tackle the day. I leave my hair loose, letting it flow over my shoulders and down my back.
Santina is in the kitchen putting away groceries.
“Good morning, Mrs. Cassini. Can I make you some breakfast?”
“Good morning. Don’t go to any trouble. I’ll make myself a slice of toast,” I tell her.
“I don’t mind. Really.”
“I’m not much of a breakfast person. Toast is plenty.” Before I can make a move, she’s putting the bread in the toaster and is pouring me a cup of coffee. I feel like I’m intruding in her space. “Do you mind if I eat in here?” I ask.
“Mrs. Cassini—”
“Josie.”
“I’m not sure that Mr. Cassini would like that.”
“Maybe you can call me Josie when we’re alone?”
A shy smile comes across her face. The toast pops, and Santina is quick to butter it thoroughly and set it down in front of me. When I try to take a bite, she stops me. “At least put some peanut butter on it. You’re too thin, you need protein.” Without further ado, she grabs a jar of peanut butter from the pantry and puts a thick layer on one of the slices.
I grin. “Thank you.”
And just like that, the ice is broken. Santina and I chat for the next hour getting to know one another. She shares pictures of her new grandchild. She’s a proud new Nonna, and I quickly know that I like her very much.
When the phone rings, Santina picks it up. “It’s for you.”
“Me?” Who would be calling me? I take the phone from her. “Hello?”
“Mrs. Cassini, it’s Valentina, Julian’s sister.” Her melodic voice is soothing and sweet.
“How are you?”
“Fabulous, but I wondered if you would like to go for lunch today? I’m sure that you’ve been running ragged planning the wedding and all, and I thought a little time away would be a good way to relax. Are you interested?”
I don’t know what to say. After all that happened yesterday, I’m unsure whether Alessio would be happy to have me leave the house. “Well, uh…”
“Why not call Mr. Cassini to see if he doesn’t have other plans for the two of you, and you can call me back,” she suggests. Her bubbliness is addictive.
“If you don’t mind.”
“No, or I can pick something up and we can eat on the terrace. It’s a beautiful day out,” Valentina says.
I’m not sure if I’m ready to go back out there after yesterday’s fiasco. I take her number down and head upstairs to find my phone, still in my bag.
Alessio
“Josephine.” When her name flashes on my screen, I think the worst. I’m appeased when her sweet voice sounds serene.
“I hope I’m not disturbing you.” What am I supposed to say? Nah! No worries, just torturing the asshole who tried to take you from me.
“I’ve got a moment.” I glance at the man bleeding out all over the floor, hanging on by a thread. I think I got all I can from him, and since Niccolo was in the line of fire, it’s his prerogative to give the final blow. I leave him to it and walk out.
Reno, Dante, and Nero are already in my office. Nero is finalizing his trip home. That man comes across calm, cool, and collected, but he even showed me some disturbing ways to inflict pain. Reno caught Dante up, and he’s now doing a global search for the mercenary we took down and validating information we extracted from our prisoner. Dante is also hacking into the security company to see how the breach occurred. When the attack was planned, they chose the area adjacent to the tree line to keep them hidden from view. I specifically had lights and monitors installed in this area for just this reason. These men knew what they were doing.
“Valentina called and asked me to lunch. I wasn’t sure if you would be okay with that.” She trails off. I think time with Valentina would be a good introduction to Josie’s role as a capo’s wife. I know the family well and have worked closely with Valentina’s father and with Julian. Julian is one of the few men I trust explicitly. I know his family would open their arms to Josie. On the other hand, I don’t want her anywhere accessible with all that’s happened.
“I’ll make arrangement at Fernando’s for two. Eros and Julian are at your side at all times.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t go. I’m not sure Valentina would be comfortable chatting with two men at the table. I’ll call her back, and we can do it another time.”
“We’ll meet halfway. They’ll sit close, leaving the two of you to girl talk all you like. However, you don’t leave the restaurant without the two of them by your side.”
“I won’t make a move without them. I promise.” I can hear the smile in her voice.
I smirk, sensing her excitement, then ring off as Niccolo comes my way.
“They’re disposing of the body. I’m going to grab a shower,” he says.
“Can you make arrangements for three tables at Fernando? Josie and Valentina are going to lunch, and I want to double the guards.”
He gives me a two-finger salute and walks away, leaving me to discuss our findings with Reno, Dante, and Nero.
Dante’s so focused on the screen that he doesn’t even hear me come in. Nero is relaying information to his father, Marco. “It’s more than the Russians. There’s a leak, and we’ve already had a rat in our midst. We don’t want a repeat of what we went through before.”
Nero’s right. They’ve suffered firsthand from Marco’s sister and her husband’s betrayal. In the end, Marco ended their miserable lives, but killing a sister takes a toll. Marco holds true to La Famiglia’s motto, Famiglia per sempre. First comes loyalty to the family, and that line was crossed in the worst possible way. He had no choice but to be rid of them.
Reno’s the first to acknowledge I’ve entered the room. “You got time to debrief? I’d like to head back tonight. Dante will keep at it from home and will be calling with further information as we unveil more details.”
“Yeah, let’s see where we’re at,” I say, taking a seat at the table. Nero joins us.
“Pavel admitted that it’s not solely a Russian mission,” he says, Pavel being the man whose body is being disposed of in the incinerator off the premises.
“It’s not the first time, the Russians have used greed to get to the feebleminded of our families,” I say.
“True, but we have two major issues to work through, one being who are their informants, the other, how do we stop the communication process?” Nero says.
“Here’s where I come in,” Dante says. “Pavel was a low-level and very expendable player within the Russian clan. This was a suicide mission. He would be caught and killed; they were sure of it. The attack was for another reason.”
“How do you know that?” I ask.
“Checked his bank account, and his wife was recently added to it. A hundred-thousand-dollar payout was deposited the day before the strike. Pavel was primarily a gofer and spent most of his money on his cocaine habit. Therefore, he was set up to fail,” Dante informs us, continuing to tap on the keyboard. He whips the screen around to show us photos. “This man was his boss. He’s looking to gain favor with the big boss. A strike to Las Vegas and to Il Destino would get him noticed. Dimitri Kovackis is shrewd and stays under the radar. He waits for the rat to take the bait, then acts on the greed of others. He’s got a long history of doing this with the Sinaloa cartel and brought them to their knees. They’re now rebuilding, and he’s obviously turned his attention to Il Destino.” Dante pauses while he does another search. “The bad news is that he’s covering his tracks pretty well. The good new is that I’m a fuck of a lot smarter than him.”
