26. Ezra

Chapter twenty-six

Ezra

Warmth envelops me, pulling me deeper into the sensation of her soft lips gliding over my cock. I sink into it, my body instinctively responding as my hips push forward, craving more. I feel her tongue trace a line from my balls to my dick.

It feels so real, like I can actually feel her breath against my skin.

“Raven…” I murmur, barely aware.

My hand moves, fingers sliding into her hair as I feel her lips cover the entirety of my cock, sending waves of pleasure through my soul. I groan as the movements pick up, wetter, and more intense. Every nerve in me is alive, tightening with every stroke of her mouth.

I shift. My body feels sluggish and heavy with sleep as my eyes blink open, adjusting to the soft morning light streaming in through the window. I sigh in disappointment, the sensation fading as it stops. I guess it was a dream after all.

But when I glance down, I freeze. There she is—Raven—kneeling between my legs, her lips wrapped around my dick. My eyes widen slightly as I realize that this is no dream.

My briefs? Slightly pulled down. Her mouth? Warm. Too warm. Her lips slide over me, and a flicker of heat surges through my veins, lighting every nerve like a fuse.

“Don’t stop,” my morning voice is hoarse. “Fuck, that feels good!” It’s unexpected, but it’s not unwelcome.

For a moment, I can only watch. My eyes droop lazily when her tongue trails the sides of my dick. Her dark hair spills like ink across my thighs, and every movement, every slow stroke of her hand, feels deliberate—teasing, knowing. She’s not rushing. She knows exactly what she’s doing, coaxing me out of sleep and into something much more raw and needy.

I groan in pleasure as she rolls her tongue around my hard cock. She scoots in between my thighs and bends over, so her ass juts up. I swallow hard when her little red nightdress rides up her perfect curves and gathers at her tiny waist.

The sight alone makes my pulse quicken, an overwhelming urge rising in me to slide my hard shaft into her pussy, between those soft, tempting mounds.

“Fuck, Raven…” I breathe out, my voice rough, thick with need.

Finally, she takes my entire length in her mouth, and my dick jerks. Then she bobs her head, her warm mouth sliding up and down my dick repeatedly in a slow, torturous rhythm— it’s driving me mad. My hands grip the sheets, knuckles tight as I fight to hold back.

My heartbeat picks up as I feel the tension building, coiling tight in my gut. Unable to hold back any longer, a low groan escapes me, rough and gravelly. “That’s it, baby girl…”

She pauses just long enough for our eyes to meet. There’s a wicked glint in hers, a knowing smirk curling at the corners of her lips. She’s teasing me, daring me to lose control.

Then, just as slowly, her mouth lowers again, resuming its slow, torturous rhythm. Her eyes never leave mine as she continues, driving me closer to the edge with every passing second.

I suck in a breath and throw back my head as the rush of pleasure jolts through me. Everything in me fights for control as I try not to give in to the challenge in her eyes.

“ Dio (God), you drive me crazy,” I groan.

Raven’s gorgeous lips suction as she slurps up and down my pulsing member. It’s blissful— the heat of her mouth, the wet sounds that fill the room as she sucks. My fingers find her hair. Gathering her strands in my hand, I hold her head in place.

“Just like that, baby,” I say, thrusting my hips forward. “ Sei così dannatamente perfetta (You’re so damn perfect).”

I push deeper down her throat, the sound of her gagging sends a wave of delight through me. “How do you like choking on my cock?” I growl, increasing my pace. “Answer me,” I yank at her hair when she only nods.

“I love it…” her response is muffled, her words vibrating through my rod. She doesn’t break eye contact, even as her eyes redden and water, taking me in repeatedly.

“ Cazzo (Fuck). You look so good feeding on my dick. What do you say?” My hips move wildly.

She holds onto my thighs for dear life, her nails digging into my skin as she mumbles, “Thank you, Daddy.”

“Take that cock!” I demand, pulse still racing as she takes everything I have to give, unrelenting.

The sight of her, the way my dick moves so easily in and out of her dripping mouth, sends another shiver through me. My head falls back against the pillow, eyes squeezing shut as I ride out the last of it, lost in the aftershocks.

“That’s my good girl,” I grin wickedly, my voice hoarse as the thrill pulls me under, leaving me breathless and undone.

When I open my eyes again, she’s crawling up the bed toward me, her dark eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

“You swallowed?” I question, my eyes wide with a touch of satisfaction.

“You’re welcome,” she says in response, her voice teasing.

Now, that’s something.

I chuckle, pulling her by her waist until her body is pressed against mine. “You’re dangerous,” I murmur, my arm slipping around her waist.

She laughs softly, pressing a kiss to my chest. “Only when I want to be.”

I hold her gaze for a beat, and that familiar ache settles in my chest. She’s everything I shouldn’t want, yet I do. I want her… I’d burn the whole world down if it meant keeping her safe.

“You know, I’ve been meaning to ask…” she trails off, breaking the silence as she traces circles over the scarring bullet wound on my arm. “What do your tattoos mean?”

I lift a brow at her, amused. “You want one?”

“Stop it, I’m serious.” A blush rises up to her cheeks as she playfully swats my thigh, her lips curving up in a smile.

I pause for a second, then give in. “The dragon…” her fingers trail the vicious creature inked from my neck to my chest, “...represents loyalty and my will to survive.”

She nods, her eyes furrowing into one of concentration. “And these?” She intertwines our fingers, pressing the back of my hand to her lips.

My gaze follows hers, landing on the Roman numerals etched between my knuckles.

I feel a tightness grip my chest, the weight of the memory pressing down harder than usual. I take a shaky breath before speaking.

“It’s the day they died.” The words barely leave my lips.

Her sharp intake of breath is all that fills the room before her eyes soften. Slowly, she moves closer, both of her arms stretching to pull me in a warm embrace.

“Your daughter, what was her name?” Her question surprises me.

I haven’t said their names out loud in over ten years. No one has asked, and a situation has never come up until now. “Her name was Vittoria.”

“Vittoria,” she tests the name on her tongue.

“And…” she hesitates, nuzzling my neck, “…your wife?”

“Silvia,” I say, and she hums in response.

I let out a quiet exhale and snake my hands around her, sinking into her comforting embrace.

We lay like that, a comfortable silence settling over us. She shifts a little, head on my chest, as she traces my tattoo with an index finger.

“You know,” she begins softly, her voice almost a whisper, “I’ve been wondering… how did you get into… those things?”

Looking down at her, my brows knit in confusion. “What things?”

She blushes, her fingers idly trailing across my chest. “You know… the things you do that… pleasure me. In bed.” Her voice drops lower, more hesitant.

Realization dawns on me, and I smirk. “Oh… those things.”

She nods, biting her lip as if unsure if she should push further. I think for a moment, my smile fading as the weight of her question settles in.

I pause, considering how to answer. The memories creep back in, dark as usual. “It’s not something I really thought about before. At least, not like this.”

She stares up at me, her gaze curious but patient, waiting for me to continue.

“For a long time, after everything that happened…after I lost my family, I felt like my life was spinning out of control.” My jaw clenches as the familiar weight in my chest sets in. “They were taken from me. Ripped away by people I couldn’t stop. And it left me… powerless.” The feeling still haunts me.

Raven’s hand tightens around mine, gently squeezing as she listens.

“When we’re together, when I tie you up, blindfold you…it’s not just about pleasure.” I force myself to continue. “It’s about control. Not just over you, but over the chaos around me.”

Her eyes widen slightly, her lips parting like she wants to say something but no words come out.

I take a deep breath. “When I touch you, when you can’t see or move, I think about how much more intense it must feel for you. How your body responds to every little thing. It’s not just physical for me.” I pause, swallowing hard. “It’s knowing I have control, even in the smallest way. A control I never had when my world was taken from me.”

There’s no shock in her eyes, just quiet understanding. She shifts closer to me, placing a kiss under my jaw.

“I understand,” she says, before her lips lift up in a smile. “And if it helps, I like the pleasure it gives me.”

She bites her bottom lip slowly, a playful light in her eyes. “Be careful there, I just might tie you up right now and fuck the hell out of you,” I warn.

“I’m not opposed to it.” She smiles, palming my chest.

Just then, my phone buzzes on the nightstand, dragging me back to reality. I hold onto Raven for a few more moments before reaching for it, the moment between us fading as I unlock the screen.

One new message from Elio—urgent. I know what it means.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I see Raven’s stare on me. Somehow, it makes me remember the last time I had to leave abruptly. She’d said she wanted to say something. I make a mental note to ask her about it when I get back.

When I turn to her, I notice the slight furrow in her brow. She seems worried, though she says nothing. The air between us shifts, it’s heavier now.

“I have to go,” I say, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed and standing.

“Before breakfast?” she offers, with a weak smile.

“You can go on without me.” I press a chaste kiss to the corner of her lip and walk away.

I head to the shower and quickly get my business done before returning to the bedroom. I’m mentally preparing for the day ahead as I button up my dark blue suit. Then I reach for my gun in the drawer by the bed, sliding it into the holster at my side with practiced ease.

I catch Raven’s gaze lingering on the gun for a few seconds before she rises and draws closer to me. “Be careful, Ezra,” she whispers, her fingers brushing lightly against my back.

For a moment, I pause, her words sinking in. I’ve always been careful. It’s how I’ve survived this long. But the softness in her voice makes me smile. I’m not sure how to feel having someone other than Elio worry about me.

If it weren’t for the attack on Raven, I might’ve let her decide whether to stay or go. But now? I can’t. Someone’s after her—because of me. I won’t leave her ?and our baby? exposed like that. They’re safer with me, and I won’t risk it.

I turn and cup her cheeks in my hands.

“I will,” I tell her, though her expression tells me she doesn’t believe me.

The memory from three weeks ago in the stitch room fills my mind. I can’t forget her remark while removing the bullet from Paterson’s gun— ‘ I don’t want to have to keep worrying about you every time you step out.’

It’s only now that I fully grasp what she meant. I understand her sentiments now. She’s scared I might get shot again.

Lowering my head, I press my lips against hers, her soft lips moving in sync with mine before I pull away. If I don’t pull away, I just might end up staying.

I shoot her a reassuring nod and head for the door. The second I open it, I find Elio standing there, fist raised midway toward the door. He was just about to knock. His face is set— a worried expression that tells me something’s wrong.

Quickly shutting the door, I motion for him to walk with me. We walk briskly out of the hallway to the staircase landing.

“What’s going on, Elio?” I question, my voice sharp, betraying my lack of patience.

Elio exhales. There’s obvious concern in his voice when he replies. “Enzo Vincenzi, the new customer, claims we supplied him with inferior products.”

The accusation hits me like a punch to the gut. I stop abruptly, turning to face him. “That can’t be true. What’s he implying?” My hand tightens around the banister.

Elio mirrors my grim expression.

In all the years I've been in this business, mistakes like this hardly occur. My raw products are sourced from the very best, and my manufacturers know to produce nothing short of quality.

A chuckle escapes my lips, but it’s void of humor. There must be a mix-up somewhere. Everyone knows how valuable my reputation is to me, and claims like these can’t be flippantly made against me.

Reaching into my pocket, my fingers brush against the cool surface of my cell phone. I dial Enzo’s number while I descend the stairs. The number dials for a few seconds, then Enzo’s voice crackles through the speaker. “Ezra, lovely to hear from you.”

“Cut the crap, Enzo,” I snap. “I hear you’ve got a problem with the product.”

He snickers, but there’s an edge to it. “You know, Ezra, it’s hard to trust someone who delivers crap when I’m paying top dollar. You increased the price for fakes? I’m not about to let that slide.”

My blood boils. “Too bad you have so many dollars to pay for drugs but not enough to employ a standard purity testing method. I don’t trade my product quality for anything,” I say, in a calm, controlled tone. “I know it’s our first time doing business, but you probably got it mixed-up with drugs from your old supplier. I’m not the one supplying you with anything less.”

“Then let’s meet and test them,” he challenges, his tone dripping with arrogance.

“We checked and tested the drugs before you paid, Enzo,” I sigh in exasperation.

“Yes, before you scammed me.” I stop abruptly, and Elio almost bumps into me.

I clench my hand into a fist. “Scam you? What do you take me for?” I grit out.

“Ezra, our first encounter isn’t looking good,” he says. His tone is serious.

“Alright, neutral ground by 10:30 a.m. sharp.” I don’t wait for him to say anything before hanging up.

“ Capo, la mia opinione personale (Boss, my personal opinion)…” Elio hesitates, “…I don’t think we need to meet up again. I mean, we tested the products before supplying them.”

“ Ne sono ben consapevole (I am well aware), Elio, but he’s a first-time customer. We need to prove we’re reliable… if he doesn’t fucking know that already.”

“ Ma Capo — (But Boss—)”

“Get the men ready. We need to leave now.” I cut him off with an air of finality.

“Sì , Capo (Yes, Boss).” Elio gives in.

He goes to summon the needed manpower while I sit in the car and wait. In thirty minutes, five men file into a van while Elio rides with me.

The city fades behind me as I drive toward the outskirts until I pull up in front of an old, abandoned building. Its rusted walls and shattered windows display anything but the ‘neutral ground’ they call it. My eyes dart to every corner as I scan the area.

I grab a stick of cigar and a lighter from the armrest and exit the car the same time Elio does. I take a slow drag from the cigar, waiting.

The tension in the air is thick, like the calm just before a storm. Finally, three cars pull up, engines growling as they park in a row.

The doors swing open, and the Vincenzi men step out. I spot their boss, Enzo Vincenzi, at the center, dressed in a slick black suit.

“Elio,” I murmur, my voice low, “… tienili d'occhio (…keep an eye on them).”

He nods, and I step forward to meet Enzo halfway.

“Ezra,” Enzo greets me with a practiced smile, though his eyes are cold. “I hope we’re not late.”

I exhale a cloud of smoke, narrowing my eyes at him. “Let’s just get down to business.”

“ Certo (Of course),” he forces a smile as we walk towards the warehouse.

We get through the doors. Metal crates are scattered around inside the warehouse. We make our way to the clear center, where two plastic chairs are arranged on opposite sides of a blue plastic table. Enzo and I immediately take the chairs, glaring at each other.

“Let’s see what you’ve got,” Enzo says, tapping the table.

I signal to Elio, who steps forward. He sets two clearly labeled bags neatly on the table. Elio takes a step back and I nod at Enzo.

He lifts a hand and one of his men steps forward as well. He drops two clearly labeled pouches, exactly like ours, on the table.

“Let’s put your claims to the test.” I motion to Elio, who steps forward once again with a box cutter, slicing open the first bag with accurate precision. I take a pinch of the heroin and sniff it. “Just in case you think I might poison you,” I grunt, nodding at him to taste his product.

In the real sense, my aim is for him to do the same just in case this is a ruse and he tries to poison me. One cannot be too careful in this world.

He chuckles knowingly, dipping his hand in his pouch and bringing it to his nose. I smile satisfactorily and motion for Elio to go ahead.

With the blade, Elio scoops some white powder and walks over to Enzo.

The silence in the room is palpable as Enzo’s man does the same thing, coming over to my side. They pour the heroin into our open palms and return to their positions beside us. Enzo squirms in his seat, discreetly glancing at his wristwatch.

“Well?” I say, my voice hard as I take in Enzo’s expression.

He falls back in his chair with a wry grin. “ Sa (You know),” he begins, “I heard something interesting.”

My eyes narrow slightly at him. “Oh? Cos'è quello (What’s that)?”

He leans in just a little. “Word is there’s some bounty on your head,” he responds.

What?

I narrow my eyes at him. However, when I catch Enzo’s men shift, their hands inching towards their guns, it dawns on me what he’s doing. Slimy bastard, he’s fishing.

Instantly, I push the chair back and get up, just at the same time Enzo does, with that stupid smirk etched on his face. I sense Elio tense beside me, ready to spring into action at any moment.

Not yet. I shoot him a subtle gaze. He seems to understand.

Just then, I hear a vehicle pull up outside, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps. I glance at Enzo whose eyes are fixed on the door as well.

My senses become alert. I reach for my holster, my hand grazing the cool handle of my gun.

“Who the hell are they?” Elio whispers, in my direction.

“Enzo, did you send for backup?” I ask, reaching for my gun, too. Elio already has his gun drawn.

Five men march into the warehouse, and the second my eyes catch their guns raised, adrenaline floods my veins. I dive behind a metal crate away from their view when, at the same time, the gunfire starts.

“They don’t look like Enzo’s men! I think Enzo’s set us up!” Elio yells over the gunfire. He’s crouched behind the crate next to me.

My blood pulses with fury as his words register in my brain. With a sharp nod, I signal to him, and we rise together.

The loud sound of gunshots echoes off the metal walls of the warehouse as we open fire on the bastards.

“Take them down!” I scream at my men, barely hearing my own voice over the noise.

The stench of burnt gunpowder fills the air, bullets whistle past, but my eyes zero in on Enzo. He’s a coward. He’s scrambling for cover, barking orders at his men like a cornered dog.

“Elio!” I shout over the deafening gunfire, “ Tienili sotto tiro (Keep them pinned down)!”

Without waiting for a response, I charge forward, gunning down two of Enzo’s men with quick, precise shots to the chest.

I dodge behind a rusted steel beam as bullets whizz past, my heart pounding in rhythm with the gunfire. My eyes lock on Enzo’s retreating figure again as he sprints towards the back exit.

“ Non oggi (Not today),” I mutter, raising my gun and firing three rounds in his direction.

The first one misses, but the second catches him in the leg, sending him stumbling. He curses, clutching his thigh as he drags himself to the door.

I move fast, and by the time I reach him, he’s on his knees, gasping, one hand pressed against the bleeding wound in his leg. I stand over him, my gun aimed squarely at his head.

“I should have known you fucking bastards were up to no good!” I sneer, my voice cold with fury.

He looks up at me, his eyes wide with panic. “No. Questo non era mai destinato a (This was never meant to)—”

Before he can finish, a bullet rips through his skull. As Enzo’s body slumps lifelessly to the floor, blood pooling around him, I realize one of the third parties took the shot.

I immediately dive for cover behind a nearby crate as yet another bullet whizzes my way, narrowly missing me by the ear. A few more men pour into the warehouse. As the bullets fly thick, I realize we’re outnumbered, and it’s total chaos.

Bodies litter the ground, the Vincenzi family taking the most hits. Why would they kill Enzo, their leader?

Two guys charge at me, but I take them down in quick succession. There's no good cover here, so I decide to move.

I duck low and make a run for it. But I’m not fast enough. Pain explodes in my chest, sharp and searing, as a bullet pierces through me.

I stumble forward, my vision blurring for just a second as the world tilts. I don’t even have time to register where the shot comes from when another hits my side. I groan in pain as the ground suddenly feels unsteady beneath my feet.

I press a hand to the wound, feeling the warm, sticky blood seeping through my fingers.

“Boss!” Elio’s voice cuts through the noise, but it’s distant and muffled, like it’s coming from underwater.

I try to respond, but the words don’t come. Everything’s moving too fast, and I can’t keep up. The pain is spreading, making it hard to think… hard to focus. I feel my legs give out, and I hit the ground hard, my vision dimming.

Not like this.

Raven’s face flashes in my mind. I promised her I’d be careful.

I promised her.