Chapter 13

His eyelids fluttered open to see the shadowy figure of his son standing by the window. The dart of pleasure speared into his heart as he gazed at the young man standing with his back to the room. Midnight blue sweater hugged broad shoulders.

He cut a very impressive figure, but his profile was forbidding. He had a feeling that Gary had come here under extreme duress. But Grant was happy to see him.

Gary must have realized that he was awake, because he turned around, eyes going to the bed.

“I should call the nurse.”

“No, please.” Grant lifted a thin hand to forestall him. “I am fine. I was given narcotics and its coursing through my veins.” He smiled slightly, gray eyes searching his son’s face. “I am happy you came.”

“I did not want to bear the guilt of not being here in case it was your last moment,” he said tightly.

“You are upset.”

“See, I am not supposed to cause added stress. That was the condition put to me by my uncle and the nurse. So, I am just here.” He spread his hands wide. Now that you’re awake…”

“Please don’t leave.”

Gary’s eyes flashed. “I cannot vent to you. Cannot tell you what the hell I am feeling, how I wish to God that I had never been born in this family. That being a Moretti is constantly ruining my frigging life.” He took a deep breath. “So, since I cannot very well say what’s on my mind, I think it’s best I take my leave.”

“I am not a shrinking violet.”

“No, you are sick man who had an episode, right after he came home from the hospital, and I am not going to be responsible for causing a relapse.”

They both lapsed into silence that had Gary turning back to look out the window. It looked bleak, the ominous gray sky mirroring his mood. He had received the call from his uncle telling him about his father’s episode, which was nothing but a panic attack, but it had left him weak and slightly disoriented.

He had left the site and rushed here to see him. Now that he had, he wanted to be as far away as possible. He promised the woman he loved to drop by the shop and help her decorate for Thanksgiving.

“Who says I know anything about decorating?” He had asked her teasingly.

“You can just sit there and watch me.”

“I am sorry.”

His shoulders stiffened as the humble voice broke the silence.

“For what?” He bit out without turning around.

“For everything. I know I will never be able to make amends…”

“No, you never will.”

Grant blanched. “Will you tell her?”

He turned then. “Unlike you dad, I don’t believe in living a lie. Yes, I will tell her and when I do, it will be all over.”

“You were never involved…,” he held out an entreating hand. “You can try and explain…”

“I already lied to her. She knows me as Gary Russo…” He glanced at the bedside clock. “I have to go.”

“Will you be back?” Grant asked beseechingly.

He stopped at the door. “We’ll see.”

The slight closing of the doors sounded as loudly as if they had been slammed shut.

Grant carefully eased himself up against the pillows and reached for the handy glass of water the nurse had placed on the side table.

Taking several sips, he put away the glass. Very soon the nurse would be coming in to check on him and to find out if he wanted anything. He hoped that she stayed away for ten more minutes. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts.

His son hated him. In the past, it had been nothing to him. He had considered himself to be powerful and mighty. No one would dare go against his wishes. Until Gary turned thirteen and he had seen signs of willfulness.

“Beat it out of him,” George had advised in his usual blunt manner, “it’s not going to look good if your teenage son disobeys you. We are in the business of making people fear us. It will look bad if you cannot handle a snot nosed kid. No matter, if he’s your son.”

So, he had punished the boy for tiny infractions, like leaving his toys scattered in the play area or refusing the whores he brought home as gifts. But Gary had stood up to him, the beatings only making him more defiant. His mother had stood by him as well as his uncle Graham.

Eventually, he had punished his wife and the boy by sending him to boarding school in the UK.

Puffing out a shuddering breath, he leaned his head back, the tears leaking from his closed eyelids. Now he was paying for his sins in spades. He had never considered the consequences of his actions. He had done as he pleased.

Hurting people, causing harm, doing despicable things, and never realizing that the time would come when he had to pay for his sins. Now, he was in bed, dying and had lost his son. He had seen the look on the boy’s face, the haunted misery, the anger, the pain. And there was nothing he could do to ease any of it.

Rubbing his hand over his chest, he wished for death. He was no use to anyone, was he? All he had to show for was misery and a life that he was not proud of. If he died now, he would not be missed. Not by his brother, his son, not even his employees.

He had treated them with scant disregard for their feelings. He swallowed the lump in his throat and felt his chest expanding. If there was a God and he had never believed much in one before, he was hoping that he was merciful, and death would come quickly.

*****

“That’s a very ugly pumpkin.”

Turning to face him, she propped her hands on her hips and gave him an exasperating look. Or tried to. It was not easy to pull off when he looked so damn good sprawled on the sofa, with his booted feet propped on the cushions.

He was wearing an emerald, green sweater that brought out the flecks of green in his gray eyes and his hair was messy. The shop was closed of course for her to get her decorating done and he had taken advantage of that, by taking her around the back and making love to her. She had protested at first, but only put up a token resistance.

“If you are going to lie there and pass judgement, then I suggest you go away or keep quiet. The members of the book club lovingly and painstakingly decorated these pumpkins.”

Stacking his hands behind his head, he shot her an amused look, loving the way her cranberry colored sweater hugged her breasts. He had made love to her on the tiny desk in her office, but he could already feel the stirrings of desire.

“I am here to supervise and make sure you are doing the place justice. I thought you wanted my input.”

“I wanted help, but so far, you have distracted me with sex, then you wanted coffee and muffins and then you proceeded to feel me up when I was bent over the bucket.”

“You have such an enticing derriere, I could not resist,” he grinned at her.

“Now you are lying down while I do all the work.”

“I already told you I am no good at this sort of thing and it’s fun watching you.”

“So, shut up and let me finish. Where?” She hefted the small pumpkins in her hands.

His eyebrows lifted. “You are asking me for advice?”

“Yes. Where?”

He looked around the already crowded shop, his eyes landing on an empty shelf. “Over there. It is the only place you have left out.”

She marched over and placed them in the middle, stepping back to admire her handiwork.

“Do you think it’s too much?” She turned in a slow circle, her teeth worrying her bottom lip.

“I think it’s enough.” He sat up, stretching out a hand. “Come here.”

She shook her head. “We are not having sex on the sofa. Besides, that’s a glass door and people passing by could see through it, if they are curious enough.”

“I just want to hold you. That’s all!” His smile was persuasive and had her going weak. The man had a stamina that amazed her.

Biting off a sigh, she walked towards him and allowed herself to be pulled down into his lap.

“That’s better.” He murmured against her ear. “So, what sort of activities do you have planned for tonight?”

She had invited him to the shindig, and he had agreed to be here. Spending time with her was torture, knowing he would have to leave shortly, but he wanted to cram in as much time as possible and not think about what would happen after.

“Poetry reading,” she settled back against his chest with a contended sigh. “Food, lots of it.’ She arched her neck in sublime pleasure as he kissed her ear. The man has a way of making her forget her train of thoughts. “Uhm…, food…”

“You said that already,” he whispered in her ear, his breath tickling her.

“Oh. Yes. Uhm, music, yes, there will be – Oh Gary. Please, I cannot think.”

“I don’t want you to.” His hands were busy cupping her small breasts, the nipples already ripe and ready. “I want you to feel.”

“You are going to get tired of me.”

His heart lurched inside his chest, and he felt emotions ripping him to shreds.

“Possibly.” He grunted when she landed an elbow in his belly.

“But I don’t see that happening.” His lips tortured the side of her graceful neck. “I am addicted. You are like a drug coursing through my veins, and I cannot get enough. The more I taste, is the more I want.”

“It’s the same for me, Gary.”

“Hmm?” He tugged the sweater over her head.

“The door!”

“Is locked.” Pressing her back on the cushions, he unhooked her bra.

“What are you doing?”

“What does it look like?” His head descended, his lips moving slowly over her flesh.

“We can’t.” She breathed.

“We have to.”

“We could leave now and go… Oh God!” Her body arched as he tugged a nipple between his teeth and used his tongue to lick the rigid flesh.

“Or we could stay here, right here. I need you.” He started suckling, pulling the flesh into his mouth until she could feel it all the way to her toes. She was already moist. Already eager for him. It was uncanny, the way he could turn her on so quickly, the way he could turn her into a wet puddle, just by simply touching her.

Easing up, he tugged at the waistband of her black dress pants, until he had peeled them over her slender hips. When he palmed her sex, it was as if the material had just melted away. His hand burned through the cloth and went straight to her skin.

“Gary!” Her hands clutched at his thick blue-black hair restlessly.

“Please.”

“Tell me you love me.” His voice was thick as he continued to eat her flesh. “Say it.”

“I love you,” she whispered.

“Tell me again,” he demanded. Leaving her nipples, he made his way to her flat stomach.

“I love you,” she cried. “Please.”

“I adore you,” he whispered, “I want you to know that. No matter what happens, I will always love you.”

“Gary, what…?” Her voice trailed off as he slipped two fingers between the lace material of her panties and into her. All rational thoughts slipped away like a puff of smoke. She was undone and the climax came like a kick in her stomach, a violent wave that washed through her body and left her shivering and weak.

She watched through dazed eyes as he went on his knees to unbuckle his jeans and release his erection. Her heart lurched inside her chest as she stared at the thick length of him. Lowering himself over her, he parted her thighs and eased himself into her.

His breath hissed out when she closed around him like a vice and for a second, all he could do was just stay like that. Bending his forehead to hers, he took deep breaths and fought the waves of passion threatening to overwhelm him.

“I have never felt this way before,” he admitted hoarsely. “Never thought anything like this existed.” He was also fighting despair. When he thought about losing her, he panicked.

He wished he could just kidnap her, take her back to Italy, where they would be shielded from the ugliness to come. Keep her with him until she believed that he had no part of his family’s mess. Lifting his head, he searched her face, eyes roving over her features as if to memorize them.

“It’s the same for me.” Her hands came up to brush the hairs from his forehead, her expression a little puzzled. “What is it?”

“Other than the fact that you hold my heart in your hands?” He smiled shakily. “Nothing.” He brushed his lips over hers and started to move, his thrusts slow and measured. Taking her lips, he explored slowly, igniting the fire that was already blazing.

He increased the tempo, his hands cupping her face to give him full access to the sweetness of her mouth. He swallowed her fevered cries as the climax swept over her again. He came then, helplessly, his body heaving, plunging into hers as he watered the mouth of her womb with his seed.

Afterwards, he just held her, too overcome to say anything.

*****

“When will you tell her?”

“I am going to a function at her place tonight and we are spending Thanksgiving together. Her mom will be going to see a friend, so she is cooking me dinner. On Sunday, she wants us - both of us over for dinner.” He was standing at the window looking out at the bleak day.

Snow was not in the forecast, but the wind was icy and the sky laden with ominous looking clouds. He had told his uncle about his encounter with Maurice, who hadn’t shown his face around the property since then. Gary had also been keeping an eye out whenever he happened to be at the coffee shop. “I will tell her after.”

“And then?”

Turning around, he stared at the man seated behind the desk. He had come in for a board meeting and was on his way to the job site.

“And then we’ll see.”

“Perhaps she will see your side of it. You said she loves you.”

“Yeah.” A humorless smile touched his lips. “Fat good that’s going to do, when she finds out about my family.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I have a confession to make.” He hunched his shoulders defensively. “I have been praying that she gets pregnant.”

“Gary!“

“I know. That’s not a damn solution, but I am desperate. I am thinking that if she is, she would have no choice except to be with me. And she would be so happy, she would forgive me.” His voice had thickened. “My other plan is to whisk her off to Italy and tell her there. She would be too far away from home to make a run for it.”

“What’s plan C?” Graham asked him dryly.

“I am still working on it.” Leaning back against the window, he closed his eyes wearily. “I don’t know how to live without her.” He added simply. “In less than a month, she has become the single most important person in my life and if she is not in it, then nothing matters.”

Graham felt his heart breaking at the bleak look on his nephew’s face and could relate. He had been in love with the boy’s mother from the very beginning and would have taken any scraps she offered and had done that because he loved her so much.

She was married to his brother, but that had not stopped him from accepting her love. And he had no regrets.

Straightening, Gary shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans, his expression grim. “I will think of something.”

“Be careful.” His uncle warned.

“Always.”

Graham watched him leave and reached for the phone as soon as he closed the doors behind him.

*****

He could almost forget the troubles plaguing him as he accepted the apple cider that was pushed at him from a woman wearing an apron with a huge handstitched turkey from top to bottom. The place was packed and the conversation vying with the upbeat music playing from the laptop, his love, had set up on the counter.

And business was booming. Sadie and her mother were behind the counter, along with two teenaged girls, one with piercings all over her face. And they were very busy. Aside from a quick kiss from her when he just came in, he had not been able to get a moment with her.

People were buying books and coffee and pastries. Someone was repeating a poem by Byron, at least, he thought it was Byron, he couldn’t be certain, but it was a jolly crowd, and he could almost forget his problems.

That was until the door tinkled and the man walked in. Gary was leaning on the bookcase facing the door when he casually glanced over. His body went still, and he felt his heart turning over, slowly, and then stopped. Literally stopped as he stared at the familiar, hateful face who was grinning at him as if they were friends.

Putting aside his glass, he marched over and stopped Maurice as he moved forward. “What the hell are you doing here?”

He held up a flyer, announcing the activity. “Fun and food. My two favorite things.” He attempted an innocent expression that did not quite work on his craggy face. “Surely it is open to the public.” His small eyes roved around and latched onto someone behind Gary.

“You must be the lovely proprietress of this delightful place.”

Gary’s heart thudded inside his chest as he smelled her familiar fragrance and had to force himself to be civil when she slid her hand through his arm.

“I am. Friend of yours?” She asked him, lifting her head towards him enquiringly.

“Gary and I go a long way back. We knew each other from childhood. He was telling me how lovely you were, but did not do you enough justice.” He made a comical now of his head.

“Name is Maurice Gotti.”

“Another Italian. Nice to meet you.”

Gary felt when her fingers dug into his arm and knew that she was reacting to Maurice’s evil vibes. The man emanated it from every pore. “You should take advantage of the food being offered.”

“I think I will. Catch you later, friend.” His emphasis on the last word could not be mistaken.

“He’s not a friend, is he?” She asked him quietly, as they both turned to look at the man sauntering towards the table.

“No.” Gary had to make a conscious effort to control his impulse to simply drag the man out by his collar. But he could not afford to make a scene. He also had the distinct feeling that any move on his part would trigger Maurice’s need to spill what he knew. And he could not afford that.

“I could ask him to leave.”

Tearing his eyes away from his enemy, he gazed at her, his expression softening. “Look at you wanting to fight my battle.”

She poked her tongue out and that made him want to crush her in his arms.

“I am pretty sure you can manage on your own. You are not eating.”

“I have been handed so much food, that I am afraid I am fairly bursting.”

“The ladies have a crush on you. I have been behind that counter, giving all of them the evil eye.”

He laughed at that, and this time didn’t resist the urge to pull her in for a kiss. Tearing his mouth from hers, he held her to him. “When will this be finished?”

“Another hour.” She grinned at his pained look. “I will make it up to you.”

“I am counting on it.”

“I have to go.”

“All right.” He let her go reluctantly and tensed when Maurice stepped in her path and touched her lightly on the arm.

Before he could do anything, she shrugged his hand off and walked away.

He was just moving towards the food table when the man sidled up to him. “She doesn’t know who you really are, does she? I wonder what she would say if she did?” He grinned his malevolent smile. “It would be interesting to find out.”