Chapter Ten

I couldn’t remember the last time I’ve been this pissed.

Anna was playing a dangerous game, and unfortunately, I was a sucker and kept getting sucked into her games.

I went in search of Leonas. I finally found him in one of the guest bedrooms with a dark-haired girl kneeling in front of him, giving him head. The room smelled of pot, and judging from the sappy look on the girl’s face and Leonas’s shit-eating grin, they’d both smoked weed.

The Cavallaro kids would be my downfall. Eventually I’d kill one of them.

“Put your dick back where it belongs,” I growled.

The little shit actually gave me a smile that suggested it was exactly where it belonged. I took out my phone and snapped a photo. “I’ll send it to your mother. Maybe she can reason with your horny, stoned mind.”

Leonas staggered back from the girl and tried to storm toward me. “Shit, man. That’s no joke.”

“Do I look like I’m joking? I’m fucking done with you and Anna grating on my fucking nerves. I don’t care if you fuck half of Chicago but don’t do it on my watch.”

I slipped the phone into my back pocket.

“Did you send it?” Leonas asked, worried as he pulled up his pants.

At least, the little shit had enough respect for his mom not to want to have her see a photo of him in a situation like this. Considering how much he loved provoking his dad, he probably wouldn’t have reacted the same way if I’d threatened to send it to him. I was the same way. That’s the problem if you love your kids and can’t torture them to see reason. My dad had given me a thrashing a few times but I’d never been a pussy so it hadn’t had the desired effect. Dante faced the same problem with Leonas. The boy was tough as nails and strong-willed, a shitty combination.

I grabbed his collar and pushed him out into the hallway, then walked past him.

“Not yet, but I’ll keep it in case you give me trouble in the future.”

He stalked after me. “That’s blackmail.”

I gave him a look as we made our way down the stairs and past increasingly drunk teens. “Blackmail is the currency of choice for your sister and you,” I said as I stepped outside, glad to be away from the party and Mrs. Clark. I could tell she was one of these lonely, clingy types. One fuck and she thought there was a deep connection.

“You don’t have to vent your troubles with my sister on me. I don’t give a fuck if you two are getting it on, but leave me out of it.”

Anna glared at me from the back seat. Women usually left me cold. They never got my blood boiling from anger or any other reason, because I didn’t care about them. But Anna?

Fuck. She was my goddamn gasoline.

“Get in the car, or I’ll send the photo off, and stop talking shit,” I ordered before I rounded the car and slid in behind the steering wheel and started the engine.

“What about Riccardo and RJ?” Leonas asked as he sank down beside his sister.

“They aren’t my wards, and if anyone asks, I never saw them. I didn’t even know you were on the party.”

“You’re an asshole,” Leonas muttered.

“He knows, and he likes it,” Anna added, giving me the evil eye.

I hit the gas. I needed to get Anna off my back. This was getting too dangerous between us.

I reached inside my pants and found the handkerchief where Dolora Clark had written down the number of her second cell phone. I rolled down the window and tossed the piece of white fabric out.

“What was that?” Anna asked haughtily.

“Dolora’s panties.”

Anna gave me a disgusted look while her friend Luisa’s eyes were so huge I worried they’d pop out. “They were red, just for your information.”

How the hell did she know what panties Dolora had worn? That girl was the bane of my existence.

“As in Dolora Clark?” Leonas asked. “You banged Mrs. Clark?”

I didn’t say anything.

Leonas let out a whistle, then his expression became calculating. “How about you delete the photo and I won’t tell anyone that you’re a home wrecker.”

“Sure, bring a scandal down on the family that’s supposed to bring new glory to the Outfit,” I muttered.

“We don’t need outsiders to bring glory to the Outfit,” Leonas gritted out.

Preach it, kid.

“Once you’re Capo, you can help your sister dispose of Cliffy. I’m sure by then she’s tired of his boring antics.”

I parked in front of the mansion then motioned at Leonas to get lost. “Now don’t get caught. You smell like a weed farm.”

Leonas got out of the car and snuck around the house. Dad would see him on the cameras, but I’d deal with my old man in a bit.

I got out of the car. Anna and Luisa were still inside.

I turned my back on them. I wouldn’t let her rile me up again. If she wanted to sleep outside in the car, that was her problem.

I headed for the guardhouse. My job was done here, the girls would find the way through the entrance themselves. Anna appeared in front of me and I almost ran her over. She pressed against me and squeezed my ass, completely catching me by surprise. “What the fuck are you doing?”

I took a step back, my pulse pounding in my chest. Did she even realize how many security cameras might have recorded this? Dad would kill me.

She rolled her eyes. “I only wanted to wish you a good night.”

Her smile was pure trouble.

“Get inside.”

She gave me a wave then headed toward Luisa who waited in the doorway, looking stunned. Why couldn’t I have watched a goody-two-shoes like her?

Gritting my teeth, I stepped into the guardhouse. As expected, Dad sat in front of the monitors. Luckily his focus was on the monitor that showed Leonas climbing into his window on the second floor. “I don’t suppose you know where the boy spent the evening?” Dad said as a way of greeting.

I shrugged. “He’s got trouble written all over himself.”

Dad fixed me with a look. “You’re early. Wasn’t the party supposed to go longer? The Clark kid’s birthday is now.”

“Anna and Luisa preferred to go home. The party was a bore.”

Dad narrowed his eyes at me. “Is it because Leonas snuck in?”

I nodded then reached for my phone in my back pocket. But it wasn’t there. Instead, I touched silky fabric. I pulled it out and stared at a dark green thong. I knew immediately whose underwear that was. Fuck.

Dad snatched the thong from my hand and frowned. “What’s this?”

“I know you’ve been single for a while but you should still recognize female underwear.”

My heart was trying to jump out of my chest. Fuck.

Dad rose to his feet, not a hint of amusement on his face. “Son, whose damn panties are these?” He dropped the thong on the table and pointed at the tiny label saying Fleur du Mal. I raised my eyebrows.

“That’s the brand Valentina and her daughter buy.”

I snorted. “Do I even want to know why you know this? Don’t tell me you’re so lonely you’re stealing underwear?”

Dad hit me over the head. I was taller and stronger, and he was the only one who was allowed to do it. “Because I’ve been a bodyguard for the Cavallaros for decades and pay attention to their shopping bags and the stores I drop them off.”

Dad grabbed my shirt. “How did Anna’s underwear get in your pocket, son?”

Dad looked as if he wanted to pummel me with his fists. He had a way to make me feel like a boy and not a twenty-eight-year-old man.

“It could just as well be Valentina’s.”

Dad shook me, ripping one of the buttons off my shirt. “That’s not funny.” He released me and ran a hand through his hair. “I tried so hard to raise you well but without your mom, I just failed.”

“You didn’t fail, Dad. You had to raise two kids after losing your wife and still work as a bodyguard.”

Dad looked at me with a worried look. “I can’t lose you too, Sonny.”

“You won’t lose me.”

Dad grabbed my face as if I were a little boy. “I love you, son, and there’s only one reason why I would betray my duty, why I would ever consider killing my Capo and that’s if it was your life on the line.”

“Dad,” I said, prying his hands off. “Stop being dramatic. Nobody’s going to get killed. I’m not touching Anna.”

“Tell Dante you can’t accompany the girl to Paris.”

I grimaced. “Unfortunately, I can’t do that.”

Dad closed his eyes and sank down on the chair. “You’re already in trouble, aren’t you?”

I touched his shoulder. “Don’t worry. I have it under control.”

Dad gave me a look that suggested he doubted it.

“You have the night shift?”

“Until five, then Taft takes over.”

“Good, because I need you to turn a blind eye to me climbing into Anna’s window. She has something I need back.”

Dad stared. I didn’t bother explaining, it would only make things worse.

I hurried out into the night and headed around the building, ducking when I passed Dante’s office. The moment I arrived under Anna’s window, my fury had rekindled. I couldn’t believe she’d stolen my phone and stuffed her damn panties into my pocket.

I used a chair to reach the banisters of the balcony then pulled myself up. Unfortunately, this wasn’t Anna’s room but Leonas so I still had to climb awkwardly to the next window. Luckily it was open. Anna always let air in before she went to bed. With a lunge, I swung myself onto the windowsill.

Luisa let out a shriek, jerking the blankets up to cover herself. I cocked an eyebrow. She’d been in her nightgown, not naked. No need for such a fuss.

Anna whirled around, body tense but immediately relaxed upon spotting me and a sly smile spread on her face. Not the reaction I wanted. Of course, she made absolutely no move to hide any part of her scantily covered body. She was in some kind of silky hot pants with lace and a chemise with a plunging neckline. She sauntered over to me and I regretted not waiting until the morning to confront her because of my cell.

She leaned against the wall beside the window. The cool air had an immediate effect on her body and I had to force my eyes away.

“I didn’t peg you as the romantic type who’d climb up to the window of his beloved,” she said with a triumphant smile.

“Where is it?” I growled, jumping into the room.

Luisa still clutched the blankets in front of herself.

“Go into the bathroom. This is a private conversation.” I couldn’t stand the look of shock and embarrassment on her face. It reminded me how inappropriate Anna’s and my interactions had become.

Luisa glanced at Anna who nodded but never took her eyes off me as if I were a wild animal who wanted to attack her. Anna often made me feel like one too, and I didn’t like it one bit. Luisa hurried into the bathroom as if I’d come to maul her. If I mauled anyone, it would be Anna.

“Where is it?” I glared down at Anna.

“Where is what?”

I released a slow breath through my nose trying not to let the naughty sparkle in Anna’s blue eyes rile me up.

Rile me up even more.

“My fucking phone, Anna. Don’t play dumb. It doesn’t suit you.”

“Someone’s particularly grumpy today,” she said as she strode past me, her arm brushing mine—no doubt on purpose—and perched on the edge of her bed. “Didn’t dear Dolora help you release some pent-up tension?”

I didn’t want to be in a room with Anna dressed like that while she was anywhere near a bed. I was glad for the sound of the running water in the bathroom, reminding me of Luisa’s presence.

I felt a little unhinged today. A sensation that was becoming a constant problem around Anna lately, and she knew it. She could sniff these things out like a fucking bloodhound. Dad was right. I should tell Dante I couldn’t accompany Anna to Paris. But I had a feeling Anna would actually snitch on me after today, and part of me didn’t want to let Anna out of my sight. The latter worried me far more than becoming the center of Dante’s wrath if Anna told him about my adventures with married women.

I held out my hand. “Give me my phone or I’ll search every inch of your room for it, and I won’t be careful.”

Anna rolled her eyes, then flipped over onto her belly, presenting her perky ass to me and long lean legs seemingly going on forever despite her petite form, as she stretched out to reach for something under her pillow.

She rolled back on her back and held up my phone.

“Get up and give it to me.”

“You have to get it if you want it.”

Why did every word from her mouth sound dirty? My damn mind was playing tricks on me.

I needed to cut this madness short. I stalked toward her, glaring down at her as she sprawled on the bed. Her lips puckered in a coy smile. I reached for the phone but she let it drop over her head, out of reach.

I was done. I put one knee down on the bed and leaned over her to get the damn cell phone. The moment I was over her, she murmured, “I could get used to the sight of you above me like that.”

I narrowed my eyes, and in a moment of blackout, I bent down and pressed my mouth to her ear. “You couldn’t handle me, Anna. That’s why I choose older, married women, and not fumbling, sensitive virgins like you.”

When Anna winced, I knew my words had hit their mark. I straightened and pushed my phone back into my pocket.

Anna stared back at me coldly. “I deleted the video of Leonas in case you’re looking for it.”

“I bet you downloaded it to your phone first since you’re so fond of blackmailing others.”

She sat up and the look in her eyes could have frozen hell and didn’t match the sweet smile twisting those dangerous lips.

“As long as I can have fun blackmailing you, I’m happy.”