Chapter 24ANGELO

Chapter 24

ANGELO

Candi asks what happens when I'm no longer obsessed with her. That only happens when I'm dead and even then, I'll haunt the halls of hell looking for a way back to her.

She says she wants to focus on the sex and I'm down with that. My cock is so engorged it hurts. Embracing the pain, I lean down between her thick thighs and let myself taste her from the source.

With the first lap of my tongue from her perineum up to her clit, I fucking almost come. She smells and tastes like mine .

How can she wonder if there will ever come a time that's not true? There won't.

There is no Angelo Caruso without Candi Brigliano. Not anymore.

Chasing more of her juices, my tongue delves into her opening with my fingers. It's a tight fit, but she's so damn wet, her virgin pussy lets me in.

"Angelo!" Her hands grip my hair and pull.

The pain is another reminder how perfect she is for me. Even when she says she'll lay back and let me do my thing, Candi can't help touching me.

I fucking love it.

"I need you, Angelo," she says fervently. "I need you inside me."

All in good time. But first…I lick my way up to her clit and circle the swollen bundle of nerves with the hardened tip of my tongue. Over and over until she's canting her hips in silent demand.

She wants to come a third time when she didn't believe she could come twice in a row.

I do this to her. I am the one she wants to share her body with in a way she's never shared it before.

Me . Not a normal guy with regular feelings and reactions. Me . Angelo Caruso. Angel of Death.

Candi's lover.

Her breaths are coming in harsh sobs and she's trying to guide my mouth to give her what she wants with her hold on my hair.

But I don't. Not yet.

Reaching up, I gently disentangle her fingers and lift my head. "Are you ready for me, amate ?"

"I was ready in the shower," she grouses.

Fuck, do I love when she gets grumpy.

"Good." I prowl up her body, enjoying the hell out of the marks I left on her thighs and undersides of her beautiful tits.

I stop when the head of my cock presses against her opening. "Are you on birth control?"

"You don't know?" she asks with clear disbelief.

"You could have the shot, or an IUD. Women get birth control places other than their GP all the time."

She husks out a laugh. "Which tells me you've read my medical file."

"Is that a question?"

Her head moves restlessly side to side. "No. It's not. And yes, I am."

"For me?" I want to know.

How long has she been on it? What are the potential side effects of what she's using? Pushing the questions aside for later, I wait for her to answer.

"If I say yes, it'll give you a big head."

"That's not a no."

"Yes, who else? I guess you read my medical records before the whole skewer a guy in the alley thing because that's when I went on the pill. And I got it from my GP."

My face creases in a smile of joy. She got birth control for me . Because she knew, like I did, that we are meant to be.

With the last barrier addressed, I push the head of my cock inside her.

She tries to scoot backward and I clamp a hand on one of her hips. "You'll stretch, trust me."

"Yeah, that's another thing every romance hero says. Only I thought oversized dicks like yours were a figment of author imagination."

How does she make me laugh when I'm literally aching to thrust home? No matter where we live, this woman will always and forevermore be my home.

"Are you sure you've used that thing like this before?" she demands, then shakes her head. "Don't answer me. Homicidal is not a good look when you're getting impaled by a steel shaft masquerading as a penis for the first time."

I am the apex predator, ready to claim my mate. Every animal instinct says to thrust deep and hard. But I am more than an animal trained to kill, no matter what people believe.

I am a man. Her man.

"I'll fit," I promise her. "You need to trust me. I'll take it slow."

"I do trust you. You're the only man I could do this with," she says in a voice aching with vulnerability.

I am the only one who gets to see this side of my woman made tough by life's lessons.

Forcing my body to still, I cup her luscious breast, playing with the nipple in a way I have already learned turns her on. "Relax. Your body responds to mine like you were made just for me."

It's almost enough to make even a man like me believe in God.

"I was responding," she complains. "But you stopped before I could respond all the way."

"Because the next time you come, I will be inside you." And being on the verge of climax will make this first time easier.

Which is why I make sure to bring her back to the precipice again, the whole time the head of my cock the only part of me inside her.

Fuck, it's hard and I'm pretty sure I'm losing my mind by the time her tight vaginal walls loosen and I can start a shallow thrusting. Every thrust forward, I go a little deeper until I'm fully seated inside her.

My body is clamoring for me to fuck her raw but I stop moving altogether and savor the moment. I never believed sex could make two people one, but that is how I feel right now.

I'm connected so deeply with Candi, there is no ending to her and beginning of me, or vice versa.

"You're inside me." She gazes up at me with an expression in her dark eyes I've never seen before.

Completely open to me, there's no guarded look in her pretty brown irises.

"I'm inside you," I agree. Then I rub my fist over my heart. "And you are inside me."

She nods. It's not a verbal agreement but it's more than enough.

I start to move and her hips follow mine. We rock together, lost in the sensation of each other until the urgency builds to fever pitch for both of us.

Wanting to feel her come around my cock, I swivel my hips on every downward thrust, pressing my pelvic bone against her swollen clit.

She moans and gasps and watches me with an expression in her eyes I could not bear to share with another. Not even to have it painted.

"Please, Angelo, I need it. It's right there. I'm on the edge, but I can't come," she wails the last.

Her anguish shouldn't make me smile, but when she mewls like the cat I liken her to, I can't hold back the curve of my lips.

She's so far gone, she doesn't even notice.

"Don't worry, I've got you." Holding myself up with one hand, I slip the other off of her tit and slide it down between us.

And I press my thumb against the bundle of nerves that will tip her over the precipice.

Her vaginal walls contract around me like a vise just before she screams loud enough I'm glad this room is soundproof.

That sound is not for anyone else's ears.

It's my last thought before my own body goes off like a rocket pouring my essence inside her.

For the first time in my life, I wish it could take root and create a child.

Later, I think Candi is asleep when her fingertip traces the lines of black ink on my Grim Reaper tattoo. "You know how you said you're more than a hitman for the mafia? Well, you're more than Death to me too. You could break my heart, Angelo."

When I wake up from our post coital nap, her words are still ringing in my head. You could break my heart .

I've never been that to someone. The person who could break their heart. My mom couldn't leave me behind fast enough when she returned to Sicily.

Nonno and nonna cared about me.

Nonno never let the fact that he'd married my nonna after my biological grandfather died stand between us. He called me his grandson and his word was law.

Nonna found my lack of emotion difficult, but she claimed to love me all the same.

Nonno said my dad's family, the Carusos, were wrong. That I would make a fine made man one day and he would be proud to sponsor me into la famiglia .

But if I had died, or run away, it wouldn't have broken his or nonna's heart.

I don't inspire that sort of feeling in others.

Except Candi.

The sound of Candi's phone ringing breaks into my reverie. After a couple of rings, mine starts going off as well. There's only one number besides Candi's programmed to ring through my DND setting.

Severu De Luca's.

And I know why he's calling. I could have taken care of this last night, but that would have meant potentially being called to his office and taken away from Candi on her first night here.

That wasn't going to happen. I have no regrets.

Candi's phone stops ringing only to start again and she stirs beside me.

"Wass…that?" she slurs sleepily.

"Our phones." I lean over and grab both off the nightstand and hand Candi hers.

After inserting my bluetooth ear device, I connect the call. "Sì?"

Answering in Italian is my boss's clue there is someone in the room with me that I don't want to overhear me talking about business. It also tells him that person doesn't speak Italian.

If they did, I would call him Mr. De Luca, the code for non mafia present, or Don De Luca, the code for mafia I don't trust present.

"Miceli just called me," Severu says without preamble.

"Good for you. Maintaining a strong filial bond helps keep perspective for a man in a position of such power," I quote something Big Sal said in one of the meetings between Severu and Miceli after my boss became godfather.

Candi scoots off the bed and heads to the bathroom, her phone next to her ear. I'm only hearing one out of three words but it sounds like Mira is calling and whatever she's saying is causing Candi agitation.

"Enough of the sarcasm," Severu says regaining my attention. "Why is one of his capo's lodging a formal complaint against you?"

A formal complaint? What the fuck? "Because Stefano Bianchi is an asshole."

An even bigger one than I thought if he's lodging a complaint against me for Mario killing the man who wanted to off Candi. His fucking daughter .

"Less of one than some of the other NY capos. What's going on, Angelo? He claims your people interfered in a business venture and appropriated a piece of his capital after golfing to the 18 th hole with one of his people."

Our phones are secure, that doesn't mean we get sloppy. When it comes to communication with our new godfather, that's even more important than usual.

"All true."

Severu's silence lasts five full seconds. "He's demanding restitution."

"Candi witnessed his men preparing to take a nonpayer out of the game. It was play him on the 18 th or her."

"Managgia la miseria."

"Candi is also Bianchi's biological daughter." I don't hide important shit from my boss.

And if Candi won't let me kill him, Stefano being her bio dad is going to cause problems down the road. It's also not something we have a code for, but neither is it something I plan to keep under wraps.

If outing Bianchi as Candi's sperm donor will prevent him from demanding restitution, he can consider himself outed. My woman didn't hesitate to tell the made men in the alley last night.

No need to hide it for her sake.

"Gino was going to play the 18 th hole with his boss's daughter? His own cousin?" Severu's voice could compete with a glacier for chill. "That is not how you treat family."

"Depends on who you consider your family, boss." I sure as hell don't consider my Caruso relatives family.

My dad was the last person with the same last name I counted in that group.

Severu grunts, knowing my story. "Your kid is your kid, regardless."

"Not what my mom thought," I remind him.

The De Lucas have the kind of closeknit family others envy. I never did because of that whole lack of emotions thing.

However, the day Severu asked me to continue in my role with him when he became the godfather, he also told me he considered me family. And family were the only people who could be trusted to be in the inner circle.

My phone buzzes several times, telling me there are texts from one or more of my men.

"The other day, you said she belongs to you. Is that still true?"

"There will never be a time that Candi does not belong to me."

"Then it is you who should be asking for restitution since Bianchi's men threatened to kill what belongs to you. Do you want to escalate this? "

"No."

Several seconds of silence greets my answer. "You're not usually a man to turn the other cheek."

"She doesn't think much of him as it is, but it would hurt Candi to find out that her sperm donor is seeking restitution after having tried to have her killed. I will not have her upset by Stefano or anyone else."

"Unfortunately, you are probably right. Women in this world carry the emotions we can't. However, Stefano Bianchi cannot get away with attempting to manipulate us."

That was Stefano's biggest mistake. Whether he sought restitution to have a hold over me or Severu, he will regret coming for someone in the godfather's inner circle.

"I promised Candi I wouldn't play the 18 th hold with him."

"Noted." Meaning he understands that if the decision comes down to take Bianchi out, one of my team will do the actual killing. "We make compromises for the women we love."

"Yeah." Severu sure as hell made a big enough one for Catalina.

"Once my brother learns that Stefano is using the situation for leverage when it's his own daughter your guy played the 18 th hole for, he'll take the necessary steps to remind his capo about our family's position on protecting one's children."

Since the first De Luca became Don of the Genovese, they have had an ironclad rule that none of the men in positions of power in their organization are allowed to harm their wives and children. Protecting them from harm is the other side of that principle.

Now that Severu is the godfather, that precept is being rolled out among all Five Families in New York and the other Cosa Nostra mafias in Las Vegas, Detroit, New England, Boston and The Outfit in Chicago.

The Las Vegas don already has the rule in place or Don Enzo would never have let Severu's sister marry the don's son and underboss.

There's been some grumbling out of Detroit and Boston, but no outright rebellion. It helps that they all know who will be dispatched to deal with insurrection.

Me.

And no one wants me showing up to clean house.

Do I wish I could be the one to impart that message on Severu's behalf to Bianchi? Yes.

Would I rather they were actions rather than words? Definitely.

But I promised Candi I wouldn't kill her father and if I see him right now that is exactly what I am going to do.

"Miceli said that you refused Bianchi entrance to your estate. Now I understand why."

When did Stefano Bianchi try to get access to my house? He's sure as hell not on the short list of people allowed on the estate without gaining approval from me or Derian.

Candi lives here now. That means my security can't have holes in it.

Since I wasn't contacted, Derian must have denied Bianchi entrance. I smile. That would have chafed his ego.

"I'll let Miceli know the full situation."

Severu De Luca is the godfather. For him to offer to discuss this with his brother on my behalf shows exactly what place I hold in his life.

An important one.

Which I appreciate more than ever before, now that I have a family to protect.

"Thank you. I need to get Candi settled in." And the rest of her things moved over from Queens, along with her mom and sister.

Neither do I have time or the patience to deal with Miceli's warped sense of humor.

"Not to mention your future mother-in-law and sister-in-law, now that they are at your estate." That warped humor? Runs in the family.

"The fuck you say?"

"Apparently, Bianchi brought them to the estate to see Candi but was refused entrance while they were given access."

That would have really pissed the capo off. Derian definitely deserves a bonus.

Wild-eyed, Candi comes tearing out of the bathroom. "My mom and sister are here. Here!" she yells like I didn't hear the first time. "They're demanding to see me. You gotta undo that room door thing before mom calls the cops. I need clothes! Where are my clothes? "

Her body jiggles enticingly as she rushes around the room, like her clothes will magically appear. I disengaged one of the room safety protocols so I could send them and mine from last night down the laundry chute already.

Along with the towels I left on the floor of the bathroom. Which I never do, but fuck if getting inside Candi wasn't more important than my need for order earlier.

"I've got to go," I tell my laughing boss who can clearly hear Candi's yelling. "Thanks for handling things with Miceli."

Ending the call, I point toward the closet. "You have clothes in there."

"What?" She shakes her head. "Never mind. I don't care why I have clothes here. I'm just glad I do because if I go downstairs in a towel or one of your shirts, mom is going to start swearing in Polish and she'll still probably call the cops."

That is something we'll have to educate Mira about. When you're part of the mafia, you don't call law enforcement. Ever. Which is one of the reasons I have the job I do.

Candi rushes to the closet while I read the messages that came in while I was talking to Severu.

Derian : B visiting the in-laws .

It wasn't sent priority so the message didn't make it past my DND settings. Derian made the call he could handle whatever was happening and apparently he did.

Derian : In-laws going for a drive with B. M along for the ride. I'm in the mood to take a couple of friends for a drive too .

Derian made sure that Mario rode in the car with Bianchi and Candi's family while he followed with two more of my men in his SUV.

Derian : In-laws here at the estate. Mom is agitated .

He waited until they got here to text me because Miceli isn't the only made man in our organization with a warped sense of humor.

The next message is from Mario.

Mario : Better bring Ms. Candi down here, boss. Your m-i-l could give Derian's mamma a run for her money dressing down the men in this family .

The Haitian firecracker has a reputation in la famiglia and no one messes with her, or her family. She's one of the few people I actually like.

A new message comes in.

Derian : Do you want me to block cell phone service so Mrs. Czabok can't call the police?

Shit. I rush into the closet and start throwing on clothes. As a concession to time, I only arm myself with four weapons.

"You seriously think you need a gun and three knives to meet with my mom and sister?" Candi demands, looking at me askance.

"I don't go anywhere unarmed."

Candi's eyes widen. "Even in your own home?"

I shrug. "I'll always be prepared to protect you."

"You don't have to protect me from my family." She shoves her feet into the ankle boots I knew would look beautiful on her.

"I know that. But you never know what else will happen. Bianchi tried to gain access to the property, using your mom and sister to do it." No matter how secure my property is, I don't drop my vigilance.

Ever.

"Stefano went to my mom?" Candi rushes over to the steel wall. "Get this thing open! It's worse than I thought."

I do something on my phone. "Put your hand on the pad with the red light above it."

Candi does as I tell her and her palm print gets entered in the system.

"Now type in your birthday, year included."

"That's not obvious at all." She taps in the numbers.

"It only works from this side of the wall. The code for the other side changes daily. Only you, me and Derian have access to it."

"I don't have access to squat."

"You do on your new phone."

"New phone?" She rushes out of the room as soon as the wall slides up and she can open the door. "Not important right now. Stopping mom from calling the police is."