Chapter 3

Jack

What an exquisite treasure my future wife was.

Strong enough to run from her grandfather, smart enough to make it on her own, and sweetly submissive to my sexual dominance. I doubted she’d agree that last was a virtue, but to me, it meant we were even more well-matched than I realized. Likely, she’d put up a fight about it in the future—today, I had caught her off-kilter and unprepared. I looked forward to future tussles since I had no doubt who would win. She was smart enough to realize it as well, but she was a fighter. Good thing I enjoyed a challenge.

Unsheathing my fingers from the wet, clutching walls of her pussy, I lifted them to my mouth for a quick lick. Sweet and just a hint of salt, she was delicious. With her skirt hiked up around her waist, her garters pressing into the curves of her ass, pussy wet and swollen from my attentions, it took a great deal of willpower not to take her here and now, but I was a traditionalist.

I wouldn’t have sex with her until our wedding night. Besides, I didn’t want to overwhelm her. She was already struggling with everything I’d done to her while Chief Barnes looked on. Hmm.

Jerking my head at him, I indicated he should leave the room where he’d been stationed. I would give her that small amount of comfort—she would be able to put herself to rights without him watching.

Moving to the side of the table she was facing, her eyes shut, lips slightly parted, I pushed my wet fingers into her mouth. Immediately, her eyes flew open, and she jerked her head back. I didn’t stop her. One day, she would lick her cream off my fingers, but it didn’t need to be today. I was far more likely to be bitten if I pressed the issue, then I’d have to punish her, and that wasn’t how I wanted to leave things. No, I wanted to leave her with her pussy swollen and satisfied and the taste of her own pleasure on her tongue. Those two things had been accomplished.

Now, I’d give her some time to say goodbye to her old world before our wedding. It was, perhaps, overly generous, but she’d be watched. I almost looked forward to any attempt to run or escape.

“Your days working here are over,” I told her as she blinked dazedly up at me. “You will clear out your desk and say goodbye to your co-workers. Then you will go home and pack up your things and prepare yourself for our wedding.”

Pressing a kiss to her temple, I straightened and walked away, leaving her there with her skirt still over her hips. Suppressing my grin, I firmly shut the door behind me. I was under no such illusion she would do any of those things, and I was looking forward to punishing her for not following my directions.

Chief Barnes was standing outside the door, waiting for me. If he was at all distressed by what he’d witnessed, he didn’t show it. His expression was completely untroubled, though he did appear a bit uncomfortable.

“Give her as much time as she needs without disturbing her,” I told him. He nodded. Walking away from him, I headed to the entrance of the precinct. My own men, including my cousin, Gio, would be waiting for me outside. I’d nearly reached the door when Bruce, Hailey’s erstwhile suitor, stepped in front of me. Jaw clenched, eyes stormy with emotion, he glared at me.

“Is she really a Bianco?” he asked, his voice rough.

“She is, though she’ll be a DiNardo soon,” I said smoothly, deciding not to take umbrage at his tone. The man had just lost his chance with one of the most beautiful and intriguing women I’d ever met, which had to sting. My tolerance would only go so far, though. “Anything else, officer?”

Something in his eyes flashed, but he wasn’t dumb. Pressing his lips together, he shook his head and stepped away. Smart man.

Walking outside into the sunlight, I nodded at Gio and the men he was standing with. They were leaning against a rail and immediately straightened to join me.

“Joe, Bruno, you two stay here. Take her home and make sure she gets there safely. Keep an eye on her. Gio, you’re with me.” We had a few errands to run for my father. Hailey was only part of my day, though the most important part, as far as I was concerned.

My cock still ached for her. For a moment, I contemplated finding a likely tart to relieve myself, but the thought didn’t appeal. I wanted Hailey, and no one else would do as a replacement. A grin spread across my face.

I might even call myself enamored. How amusing.

“Boss?” One of the men looked at me, concerned. Gio raised his eyebrow.

“Let’s go,” I said, heading to the car. No one asked me for an explanation. They didn’t dare.

Hailey

Dazed and disoriented, I didn’t know how long I laid across the table after Giacomo left me there, but longer than I should have. It didn’t feel real. I was afraid to move in case it started to feel real. I was hoping to wake up and discover it had all been an awful dream.

It was the uncomfortable hardness of the table that finally convinced me I wasn’t dreaming. Giacomo DiNardo had actually come into the precinct, told me I was going to marry him, then molested me to orgasm, all while the police chief watched.

The impact of the reality hitting me sparked tears in my eyes. I gritted my teeth, shoving them back. I refused to cry. I refused to give him anything more than he’d already taken from me.

My pride.

My dignity.

My innocence.

I was still a virgin, but he’d made me feel things I shouldn’t have, things I should only feel with my husband. I wasn’t part of the free love movement and had never intended to be, but for one moment, I wished otherwise. He was the first man to make me feel like that. It was wrong. It was all so, so wrong. I no longer felt innocent, especially not after Chief Barnes stood there and watched. I would have never imagined such a thing.

The blinders were gone from my eyes. The station, which I’d thought of as a safe haven, had never been one. Chief Barnes was not the upstanding chief I’d believed. Bruce was not the hero I’d wanted him to be.

Anger swept through me, washing away my embarrassment and shock. Giacomo had done this. He came through and wrecked my world with a sweep of his hand before forcing me to climax on it. He’d shocked me, then kept me off balance, never relenting, never giving me a moment to recover—until now.

Pushing myself upright, I yanked my skirt down, determination coursing through me.

He thought I’d quit? He thought I’d meekly submit and marry him?

Just like my grandfather, he’d underestimated me.

Ignoring the gentle throbbing between my thighs and the slickness seeping from my underwear, I tilted my chin up, gathered my files, and marched to the door. Yanking it open, I blinked in surprise to see Chief Barnes standing on the other side, waiting for me. If I wanted a show of shame from him for how he’d allowed me to be treated, I would be disappointed.

“Miss Bianco,” he said, and despite my bravado, I winced. I hated hearing that name.

“It’s McQueen, Chief.”

“Clara is packing up your desk, Miss Bianco,” he said, ignoring me. “Congratulations on your engagement.”

Whatever tatters of respect I’d had left for him vanished. Bastard. Judging me for who my grandfather was rather than the work I’d done, and I’d done a lot of good work.

The tears in my eyes were anger, I told myself as I stalked away from him. Clara was at my desk, as promised, a worried expression on her face as I approached.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, completely sincerely. “What happened?”

“My past caught up with me,” I said grimly. Clara didn’t know anything about my past, no one did, and I was going to leave it that way. She’d be safer. I handed my folders to her. She’d take care of my families. Jagged pain trickled through my heart at the thought of leaving them to someone else, but I pushed it away.

It’s not like I was being given a choice.

“Is there anything I can do? Are you still going to come out tonight?” She kept her voice low, her eyes darting over my shoulder. I had no doubt someone was standing there, waiting to make sure I didn’t make a scene on my way out the door. I didn’t plan to. I couldn’t be sure of allies here, not even the other social workers, once they knew the truth.

Still, I hesitated to cut Clara off entirely. I could definitely use a night out and a drink. We’d been planning to go to a new place after the last speakeasy we’d gone to had been shut down.

“No, it’s okay, and yes, I’ll be there,” I answered, my voice even quieter than hers. It would give me something to look forward to while I figured out my next move.

How long did I have before Giacomo came back? I didn’t fool myself, thinking he’d leave me alone for long.

Even less time than I’d thought, I realized when I got outside. Two men were standing across the street, watching the door to the precinct. They didn’t even try to hide the way they straightened as soon as I came out. Pressing my lips together, I did my best to ignore them as I turned on the sidewalk. I didn’t make it more than ten steps before one of the hulking brutes blocked my path.

“Miss Bianco, we have the car ready for you.” His tone was polite but firm.

“And if I refuse?”

“Please don’t get us into trouble, Miss Bianco,” he said quietly with far more humility than I’d expected.

I wasn’t entirely unsympathetic to his position. Unlike Giacomo, he was likely an underling. Though he had chosen this life, it wasn’t his fault he’d been given this particular duty. If he’d been an arrogant jerk, it would have been easier to say no. As it was, I wasn’t sure how much choice I had at the moment. I couldn’t physically resist him; he had backup, and I’d already had a clear demonstration of how little the police would protect me. Pretending to play along with Giacomo’s orders would help me in the long run. If I behaved now, it would be easier to escape later.

“Fine,” I muttered. The big guy took the box from me, carrying it to the car he led me to. The other man was already sitting in the driver’s seat.

I sat in the back with my box, staring out the window as they drove me home, thinking about where I could go next. Trying not to think about Giacomo’s hands on me or the way his voice had growled in my ear. It wasn’t until we arrived it occurred to me—they hadn’t asked for directions or my address.

Another chill went down my spine. How long had they been watching me?

It didn’t matter. I would escape this life again, and this time, I wouldn’t go to a city. I’d find a small town, out in the middle of nowhere, where even the mafia’s long reach couldn’t find me.