Ten

I f I wasn’t already completely disgusted with this sick fuck, I certainly would be at this point.

Micah called my brother and me a few hours ago, saying that Junior was demanding our presence at his club to discuss Vito before he left for Italy. Apparently, Nico’s source was correct, because Junior is going sooner rather than later, which is a huge relief. I’ve barely slept since the day I found the bruises on Ashley.

The last thing I want to do is be near this son of a bitch unless I’m watching the air seep from his lungs…but here I am.

Having a front-row seat to Junior groping strippers was not on my agenda for the day. I fucking hate him and his disrespect for Ashley. After talking to her yesterday, I know she couldn’t care less who he touches, but I can’t help the rage that boils in my blood. He is literally married to the sexiest woman alive, and instead, he decides to treat her like shit and fuck strippers.

I have to keep reminding myself it will all be over soon. I want him to feel the uncertainty and fear from within the mafia, like he’s about to lose it all. The prey being hunted by the big, bad wolf. And right when he thinks he is going to make it out unscathed, I’ll have the pleasure of watching the light leave his eyes, the way he’s done to her. Except his will be permanent. He can rot in hell just like he deserves.

“As most of you know, I’ll be leaving for Italy a little sooner than I expected and will be gone till after Thanksgiving. So, I need to make sure things are in order before I go. Typically, Joey would stay behind and make sure everything runs smoothly here, but since Vito can’t travel, Joey will be accompanying me on my trip. Our doctor will be back in town in about a week, so until then, I need you both to do whatever it takes to get Vito better.”

He points to the man across the room, who is currently getting a lap dance from two redheads. “My consigliere, Stephan, will be running things here in New York, but since you both know Micah, I will leave him in charge of corresponding with the two of you.” Junior glances at Micah, who nods. I can tell he’s also struggling with being near him.

“Now that’s a done deal. You boys want a little pick-me-up?” he asks, snapping his fingers, and a tray full of perfect white lines of cocaine is set down in front of him within ten seconds.

“Nah, man, we have to see a client after this,” my brother lies.

“Well, have one drink then,” he demands, opening the bottle of scotch in front of him and pouring several glasses.

He must need Vito to help him cover up more lies because this is the most hospitality he’s shown to us the whole time.

“There’s my beautiful wife,” he says, and the girl on his lap stills, along with my heart. Junior holds the stripper in place like the egotistical asshole he is, making it clear just how much he doesn’t care about Ashley .

I slowly turn my head until our eyes meet, and I see hers flare for the briefest of seconds before looking away.

“Why am I here, Junior?” she asks him in a dry tone, her expression showing no emotion.

He wraps his arm around Ashley and pulls her down on the opposite side of the stripper. Her face is completely void of emotion as she looks everywhere but at me. I feel my brother’s grip on my knee, silently begging me not to get us all killed. Micah’s jaw flexes, and he gently shakes his head. I notice Luca’s big form joining the group out of my peripheral, most likely knowing either me or her brother is close to losing our shit.

“Can’t I just want to see my gorgeous wife?” he nearly growls at her. My vision starts to blur at his tone. She just levels him with a fake smile, eyeing the stripper up and down.

I love that even with everything he has put her through, she isn’t timid around him. Knowing he hasn’t taken away all her fight just shows how tough my girl is.

I can't wait to take this fucker out. Fuck being very demure and mindful. I’m thinking confident and savage, slicing his throat in the middle of the night and painting the town red with his blood.

Finally, he pushes the scantily clad girl from his lap before he addresses Ashley again. “I wanted to speak with you, Micah, and Luca about the visit you’re insisting on making to North Carolina.”

Even in this fucked up situation, my heart races with excitement for what her going to North Carolina while he’s away could mean for us. When she mentioned this trip was a possibility, I was afraid to get my hopes up. But now, I can't help but envision us spending time alone in the place where we first fell in love. As well as being able to enjoy my cousin’s engagement party together, celebrating two people who mean so much to Ashley and me. All with the hope that I get to hold her in my arms all night long.

“If Joey and his men can’t be there, then I expect both of them to accompany you.” His eyes flit to the men and women surrounding them, like he’s deciding how much more he wants to say in front of the group. “Head to the bar. Micah, Luca, and I will meet you there in a minute.”

Ashley stands quickly, likely ready for the reprieve from being so close to him. I can’t help but watch as she walks to the bar, her long brunette and blonde strands swaying down her back, and my brain pulls one of my favorite memories to the forefront.

The first time I saw her.

I had never felt the utter need to hold another person’s attention, even if it was just for a flitting moment like I did the first time I locked eyes with her.

Junior leans down and snorts a line of the cocaine, like he’s done it a thousand times before. A big smile takes over his face as soon as it hits him, and he claps his hands. “Okay, boys. Destiny and Hope are going to show you a good time,” he says to us as two women who appear to be twins show up at our table.

“We have to go see another client. Appreciate it though, ladies,” I say, immediately standing.

“Come on. Don’t disrespect me again. You don’t appreciate my gifts?” He takes a threatening step toward me, and I wish the motherfucker would put his hands on me. Especially over something so stupid. Blood boiling, I keep my expression neutral .

My brother moves in between us. “We have time for a short, private show. Can you do that, ladies?”

What the fuck, Trevor?

“I knew you were the smart one.” Junior chuckles, patting Trevor on the shoulder.

“Now go enjoy my gifts, and then be at my house tomorrow and get my guy right.” Without another word, he strides to where Ashley stands at the bar. Micah and Luca follow closely behind.

Hope, or maybe it’s Destiny, intertwines her arm with mine at the exact moment Ashley’s eyes lift and meet my gaze. She takes in the situation quickly, her brow pinching in question. I shake my head once, trying to tell her it's not how it looks. It makes me sick that she has to watch me walking away with another woman. Brushing off her unwanted touch, I wave my hand in front of us. “Lead the way.”

Trevor and his twin go into the room across from the door she leads me into.

Before she can touch me again, I think of an idea to get rid of her. “This past week was my brother’s birthday,” I lie, and the woman looks up at me curiously.

“What more could a guy want for his birthday than twins?”

I can think of a lot.

She smirks when I don’t reply, but it quickly fades. “What about you? Will you join us?”

Fuck no.

“Honestly, can you keep a secret?”

She gives me an eager nod, eyelashes fluttering up at me .

“I’m with someone, and I’m not a cheater.”

A big smile spreads across her face. “You give me hope that there are still good men out there.”

“Thank you.”

With a parting wave, she walks across the hall. I peek my head out, making sure Junior or one of his guys doesn’t notice her leave.

Verifying that the coast is clear, I pull the door behind me shut and reach for my cell phone. There’s one text from Luca waiting for me from thirty minutes ago.

Luca

He’s making me bring her up to Sinners, just FYI. He says he has things he needs to discuss with both of us about what he expects while he is gone.

Me

I'm by myself. Third room on the left. Get me five minutes with her.

Me

Please, Brother.

I can’t stand the thought of her thinking I’m back here with another woman. I fire off a text to Trevor, telling him not to blow my cover when he finishes.

Twenty minutes pass before I hear her. “What the fuck, Luca? I don’t want to go in here.”

I open the door, pulling her in. She’s too stunned to resist.

“He just sat down with Stephan and Micah. You have five minutes before this becomes too dangerous.”

I nod to Luca and push the door closed .

“Are you serious, Trent? You let some other woman rub all over you, and then drag me into the room that smells like her.” She crosses her arms over her chest. And I know her well enough to know she’s more pissed with Junior than me in this moment. She knows me better than that.

“Doll, no other woman has touched me.” I pull her toward me, her body stiff in my hold.

She has no clue how real that statement is.

“I saw her, Trent.” She rolls her eyes and pushes away from me.

I raise an eyebrow, and with my hands in the air, I look around the room. “You don’t see her now, do you?”

She shakes her head, and I see some of her resolve disappear.

“Do you really think I would come here and let a stripper touch me, especially all while you are feet away?”

Ashley ponders on it for a minute, her eyebrows pulling together like she’s running it back in her head.

I can tell the moment she realizes she overreacted. With her hands now on her waist, she purses her lips and asks, “How did you get rid of her?”

“Told her it was Trevor’s birthday and what better way to celebrate than with twins.” I smirk.

She lets out a laugh.

“Is it terrible that I’m still jealous? I hate that she even thinks she could have you. I hate him for making you entertain her.”

A thrill runs through me at Ashley’s words, and I move closer until her back is against the wall.

“I also told her I wasn’t a cheater. ”

Her chest rises and falls quicker at our closeness. Swallowing roughly, I say, “I only want one person. The same woman I wanted four years ago and every day since. Those feelings have never wavered since the moment I first saw you. And they never will. But you know that, don’t you, Doll?”

Her pupils dilate, and like she can’t wait another second for our lips to touch, her body crashes into mine. I have to calm my racing heart that’s waited years to have this again, wanting to completely devour her at just the brush of her tongue. We both moan into each other’s mouths, reveling in the taste I’ve longed for so many nights. Relaxing against her, I let her take the lead, enjoying every second of having her in my arms again.

There are kisses, and then there are earthquakes like this one. Opening up every part of ourselves and pouring from the cracks, embedding into the other’s soul. Our bodies tremble and quake, the world around us shifts and molds just like her body against mine.

Ashley wraps her legs around my waist, grinding her hot center against my hard, needy cock.

“Baby, I need to taste you,” I groan, and she whimpers in return.

My head falls back in lust-driven agony. “Me and my hand have imagined that sound so many times over the last three years. Hearing it in person has me ready to come.”

She grinds into me harder at my confession. “The only way I have been able to get myself off is by imagining you. I have a toy hidden in my crafts, but it's not nearly as good as the real thing.” A moan slips past my lips from Ashley’s whispered confession, images flashing in my head and goosebumps covering my skin .

Knock. Knock. Knock.

“Miss Ashley, we need to be leaving.” Luca’s voice sounds through the door.

“Fuck.” We both pant, our foreheads touching, both our chests rising and falling quickly. “Damn, I’ve missed you.”

“Me too. I think the man on the moon is tired of hearing my voice,” Ashley says, and a carefree smile graces her gorgeous face.

I put her down, straightening her dress and smoothing her hair. “I’ll be over tomorrow.”

“Okay.” She nods, and I swear I see some of the light back in her eyes.

Ashley opens the door and turns slightly. “Trent…” She says my name like a prayer. “Be careful, okay?”

I nod, squeezing her hand once more before she quickly leaves with Luca.

Every time I have to watch her leave and go back to him, it feels like my heart is walking away from me yet again. I’m ready to break her from those chains and put the final nail in Junior’s coffin, once and for all.