12. Vin

Iknow she's right. She shouldn't be sleeping with the boss at her new job. But I don't think my dick got the memo. Of course, I agree with her, but that doesn't mean I'm happy about it. Nevertheless, come Monday morning, I'm determined to play the consummate professional. I'm not going to notice the way her slim skirt fits her ass so perfectly or the glimpse of a pink satin bra strap beneath her blouse or the sexy sway of her hips when she walks across the office in those high heels.

Nope. Not gonna pay any attention, I remind myself, eyes glued to her talking to another employee. She laughs and tosses her blonde hair over a shoulder and I stifle a groan. I've been hard all day, wanting to drag her into my office, lock the door, hike that skirt up and bend her over my desk.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I don't see how this is going to work. How can I handle being in such close proximity with her every single day, but not being able to touch her. It's sheer torture.

Later that afternoon, Hannah is in my office and she's standing next to me, leaning far too close, and asking me questions about how to read a financial summary report. Her baby powder scent fills my nose and she looks so damn sexy. I love the fact that she wants to learn and do a good job, but she's killing me. By the time five o'clock rolls around, I'm ready to lose my mind.

Unlike Enzo, I don't enjoy working twenty-four hours a day. So when it's time to leave, I encourage everyone to go home. I'm not the kind of boss to stay at the office until eight o'clock at night and expect everyone else to follow suit. As long as things are under control and in good shape, whatever work is left will be there when we come back tomorrow. Besides, the company is in excellent shape and making a hefty profit. Our board members are raking in the bucks and positively thrilled. Rossi Vineyard is and always has been a very profitable company and I'm happy to be steering us toward even more success.

I'm about to offer Hannah a ride home when my phone rings. It's Miceli and I answer because I know he's going to want to know how today went. I might be new when it comes to showing up at the office every day, but I'm very familiar with Rossi Vineyard and how it runs. I've actually been making a lot of important decisions behind the scenes and helped increase the revenue, so it only made sense that I was officially named President of the company. That's one thing I love about my family—they like to give credit where credit is due. They reward hard work and make others feel appreciated.

Being the second son in a mafia family hasn't always been easy. As the eldest, Miceli handles the sticky situations and sits on the throne, making decisions that I'd rather not. But, lately, things have been changing. We might run a large majority of this city, but we're not the only ones. There are five families constantly vying for power and control. The Five Families are made up of the Rossi's, The Bianchi's, The DeLuca's, The Caparelli's and The Milano's.

Up until recently, Miceli has been the only one to deal directly with the other families when it comes to going to meetings and making important decisions. The whole organization is quite civilized and we each have an area of the city that we are in charge of. Is it perfect? No, of course not. Are there fights and jealousy? Sure. But, for the most part, we work together when it comes to defeating and conquering our enemies. Ultimately, we know if the five of us aren't on top then someone else will be. So, it's important that we watch each other's backs at all times and keep the lines of communication open.

This isn't The Godfather. But, if someone crosses the line, it can become brutal fast.

Not too long ago, Miceli and Rocco Bianche came to blows over my brother's wife, Alessia. Rocco ended up dead and that changed the dynamics of the Five Families. Instead of only the oldest figurehead representing each family and making all of the decisions, it's evolved. Now we are all invited to attend meetings and be a part of the decision-making process and the voting. I'm not quite as involved in all of that drama as Miceli and much prefer to focus on Rossi Vineyard.

"Hey, Miceli," I answer. The moment I greet my brother, Hannah appears in the doorway looking as delicious as a piece of creamy cannoli. One I want to sink my teeth into and savor. "Hold on."

Lowering my phone, I look over at her. "Everything okay?" I ask.

"Is there anything else you need before I go?"

Yeah, how about a blowjob?Gritting my back molars, I shake my head. "No, but thanks. I can give you a ride home—" I can give you a different kind of ride, too. A hot, sweaty, hard ride that'll make you scream.

"Oh, no, that's not necessary. I need to pick up some groceries and I'll just grab an Uber. Thank you, though. Today was good."

I smile, glad to hear she's happy. Hannah being happy makes me happy. "See you tomorrow then." Even though it's going to eventually kill me.

"See you tomorrow," she says. "And thank you, Vin. I really like it here."

"I'm glad."

Hannah tosses me an adorable wave and I watch her walk away, until she disappears from view. I think I may have just drooled and I swipe a hand over the corner of my mouth.

"Miceli? Sorry."

"Wow," Miceli says. "I never thought I'd see the day."

"What're you talking about?" I ask, instantly growing cranky because I know he's about to say something to annoy me. I can tell by his teasing tone.

"Was that your new assistant you offered to give a ride home to?" He bursts out laughing and I mentally curse him. "Who did you hire?"

I drop my head and pinch the bridge of my nose. "I could use a drink. Any interest in joining me?"

"Sure," he says, still chuckling. "Let me tell Alessia and I'll meet you over at Adaggio's. I want to hear all about this mystery woman."

Rolling my eyes, I disconnect the call and sigh. Enzo already knows about Hannah so I may as well tell Miceli, too. However, when I arrive at Adaggio's it's not just Miceli waiting for me. All of my brothers and Carlotta are there.

"What the hell, Miceli? I didn't know this was going to be a family affair." I pull a chair out and plunk down in the seat with a pouty face.

"Look, we can help," Enzo says.

I grab a passing waiter and order a glass of red wine. I have a feeling they're all about to gang up on me and I'm going to need some alcohol to deal with the situation.

"First off, we're all aware of Hannah," Angelo states.

"How? I only told Enzo." I send my younger brother a glare.

"And me," Carlotta reminds me pleasantly. "He asked me to pick out a dress for her and I hand delivered it. Hannah is a doll. She's so pretty and pleasant and young. Younger than me."

When Lottie winks at me, I close my hands into fists, telling myself not to strangle her. My sister has never been one to keep a secret and she probably blabbed about Hannah to Ang and Miceli.

"How's she working out as your new assistant?" Enzo asks, a wicked gleam in his eyes.

"Are you mixing business with pleasure?" Angelo teases, waggling his eyebrows.

"You guys are all a bunch of fuckers," I grumble and take a long sip of the wine the waiter just set down in front of me. After they order some appetizers to split, the interrogation starts up again.

"How old is Hannah exactly?" Angelo asks.

"She's twenty-two," I admit. There's no point in lying; my family will find out the truth. They're like a bunch of private investigators when they want to figure something out.

"Yep, younger than me," Lottie says.

I roll my eyes. "But she's more mature than you," I fire back.

"Oh, I doubt that." She sends me a smirk and then plucks the cherry from her amaretto sour.

As much as I love my little sister, good luck to whoever she winds up with. Some man is going to have a damn handful to deal with one of these days.

"Okay, I want details," Miceli announces. "What the hell did I miss? How did you meet this woman?"

I glance over at Enzo. "There was a private auction and Enzo had an invite which he gave to me. He thought I might be able to meet someone there." I keep my story PG-rated since Lottie is here. She doesn't need to know my only intention was to find a woman to hook up with. As worldly as she tries to be, Carlotta is an innocent with very limited experience when it comes to men and relationships. I suppose having four older brothers involved in the mafia is a little intimidating and keeps most potential suitors far away.

"Are you talking about the White Auction? The sex auction?" Miceli asks bluntly. Beside him, Lottie gasps.

I roll my eyes. "I didn't know it was a sex auction. I thought there were going to be paintings or sculptures. Shit like that. Not women on a stage and men bidding."

"That's disgusting," Carlotta says, wrinkling her nose. "She turns her attention to Enzo. "You go to sex auctions?"

"No! I had no idea about that." Enzo lifts his hands. "I swear. I'd been getting the invitation to attend, but I'm always too busy to go and I throw it out. I gave it to Vin and told him to go and meet someone. I didn't know what really went on there."

"Everybody knows what goes on there," Miceli says in a flat voice.

"I didn't!" Enzo and I say at the exact same time.

Miceli and Angelo chuckle.

"Okay, so what happened?" Angelo presses. "You bought a girl?"

"It wasn't like that," I insist. "Hannah was forced to do it because she owed money to Dexter Creed. She didn't want to be up there so when a couple of creeps started bidding on her virginity, I stepped in and offered more money."

"How much?" Miceli asks.

"Yeah, what did you end up paying?" Enzo chimes in.

I clear my throat and take another sip of wine. "One-hundred and fifty six thousand."

Everyone's eyes go wide.

"Dollars?" Angelo splutters.

"No, pesos," I answer dryly.

"Tell me you fucked her."

"Jesus, Ang!" Carlotta slaps Angelo's shoulder. "Don't be a pig."

"Well, that's a lot of money to pay, and if there's no return?—"

"Okay, stop," I interrupt. "Nothing happened that night. She was scared and upset. All I wanted to do was get her out of there. Comfort her, you know?"

"That night?"

Leave it to the ever perceptive Miceli to catch that slip. I sigh and say, "We've gotten closer since then."

"Make sure you get your money's worth," Angelo says.

"Oh, my God, Angelo!" Carlotta whacks him again.

"What?" He shrugs, rubbing his shoulder where she punched him.

"How much do you like this woman?" Miceli asks.

"Enough to hire her as his assistant," Enzo comments. "But are you keeping things professional?"

"That's the problem. I think hiring her might've been a mistake because I can't think straight when she's around. I've never wanted a woman as much as I want Hannah. It's like she's bewitched me or something crazy."

Miceli gives me a knowing nod. "Or something."

"What do you mean?" I ask. He's the only one of us who's fallen in love and gotten married. If anyone understands, it has to be him and I'm desperate for advice. For clarity. Because I have no fucking idea what's going on right now or how to handle the situation.

"Sounds to me like you're falling for her. Falling hard," Miceli says knowingly.

I immediately shake my head. "No. No, I'm not."

"Vin, that's a good thing," Carlotta interjects. "Don't fight it. You deserve to find someone who's going to treat you well."

My eyes narrow and thoughts of Cynda and our failed relationship flood my head. "I don't do relationships. You all know that. Not after her," I add harshly. I refuse to even say her damn name aloud.

"Not everyone is like her," Carlotta states.

"No. Relationships," I repeat firmly.

"Maybe you should think about it," Enzo says. The appetizers arrive and my siblings dig in, but I've lost my appetite. Instead, I order another glass of wine.

"There's nothing to think about."

"Do you have any idea what Hannah wants?" Miceli asks.

"Yeah," I say bitterly. "She says now that we're working together, things need to remain professional. She doesn't want anyone to believe she's sleeping with the boss."

"Good for her," Carlotta says, swiping up a piece of bruschetta. "She has morals. I like that."

Hmm.I don't say anything, but a part of me wishes that she didn't. No, that's not right. I'm glad she's a hard worker and wants to do a good job. But, I also don't want to give up the sex. It's too damn good with her.

"Sounds like you're in quite the pickle, big bro," Angelo says, munching on some toasted ravioli. "And I don't envy you at all. Good luck."

"Gee, thanks, Ang." My little brother, the player. He has no clue what it's like to fall for a woman. To fall deeply in love and then have your heart torn out and shredded when she cheats on you. It's why I've erected these walls and will hide behind them until the day I die.

I'm not sure how else to protect myself.

My mind goes to Hannah and I remember how frightened she was when Caleb Durant stopped her. "Hey, have any of you guys dealt with Caleb Durant? Enzo, I know you said he's a wannabe, but what else do we know?"

Miceli and Enzo exchange a look that speaks volumes.

"He's a dick," Enzo states.

"Yeah, I had the misfortune of dealing with the man once before," Miceli adds, chomping on a piece of bruschetta. "He's a snake on a powertrip and can't be trusted."

Good to know.

"He's the one who tried to win Hannah. Then he approached her the other day, trying to coax her into his car."

"Eww," Lottie says.

"That's one way of describing him," Enzo says. "He's a pain in the ass and, for whatever reason, thinks he's some kind of big shot. Trust me, he's not."

Between Enzo and Miceli, my brothers know the biggest players in town and we give respect where it's due. However, Caleb Durant sounds like a slimy asshole who may need to be dealt with. Plus, I'd take great joy in knocking him down a few pegs. Because if he so much as looks at Hannah again, I'm going to beat the living shit out of him.

"There's a meeting with the Five Families next week," Miceli informs us. "Are you all coming?"

Even though I'd rather not, I nod my head. Maybe I can claim I have things to do with the winery that day and get out of it. Sometimes the drama between the five most powerful families in NYC is too much for me.

"Also, send me the latest reports on the winery, Vin. Business is booming and I know you're going to make it even better over there now that you're running things."

His faith in me means a lot. "Well, we're all running things and making decisions together," I remind him modestly.

"Yeahh, but you're handling the day to day bullshit and that means a lot. Thank you for taking the position."

I nod, grateful for the opportunity.

As we wrap up drinks and finish off the food, Angelo gives me the side eye. "So, when do we get to meet your new woman? The mysterious Hannah."

"Never. And she's not my woman," I instantly say, getting defensive.

"Isn't she?" Miceli asks, eyeing me closely. I frown because, as usual, the man is far too damn perceptive.

But I brush them off with a shrug, not wanting to get into my mix of crazy emotions and how Hannah is everything I want, but I'm too scared to make her mine. Besides, what's the point of them meeting her when she's not my girlfriend? And she never will be.

I grit my teeth, realizing just how much that thought bothers me.