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CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: CICELY

Waking up in Chrome’s bed with his hard, muscular body curled around mine gives me a feeling of contentment I haven’t felt since my last night here. It doesn’t matter that Chrome told me to leave that day. He didn’t do it because he wanted me gone; instead, he wanted me safe. It is a balm to the hurt.

Waking up with Chrome’s hard cock nestled in the crook of my ass gets my juices flowing. Usually, Chrome takes charge in the bedroom. Not that I’m complaining. He always ensures I get more than my fair share of the pleasure. However, sometimes, a girl likes to take hold of the reins. Sliding out from under Chrome’s arm has him shifting enough so I can disappear under the covers to come face-to-face with his magnificent dick. Wrapping my mouth around him, I revel in the taste of him as I work his cock into a steel shaft.

I get lost in the moment until I sense his eyes on me. Opening mine, I stare into his as I take him deeper. He shudders with pleasure, which gives me a sense of power. I love that I can do this to him. Make him lose control. He growls out that he’s about to cum, so I take him deep, cutting off my air supply. His body jolts as the hot cum hits my throat. His body continues to jerk, which makes me grin. Or, I should say, try to grin. My mouth is still full of his cock, and my man is well-endowed. When he stills, I pull my mouth off his cock and smile at him.

Crawling up his body, I let my legs fall on each side of him while I perch my chin on his chest. I have something important to say to him. He’s at my mercy right now, so I don’t waste time.

“Before you push me away again, I must warn you that I won’t leave. You surprised me the other day, so I didn’t fight you. But now I know you want me in your bed, and since your bed is where I want to be, I’ll be staying.”

“Oh, yeah?” he gives me that devilish smirk that makes me go all warm and gooey, but he’s not getting around me this time.

“Yes. I get that you’re worried about the traitor. I’m worried, too. But I’ll worry more if we’re apart. Besides, I can’t imagine identifying the traitor will take you much longer.”

With a sigh, he brushes his fingers through my hair. “You’re right. Between my worry for Mode and you, I haven’t been able to concentrate on flushing out the rat. Besides, I think I know who it is or who to question. I’ll figure it out.”

“I know you will,” I tell him with complete confidence. Before I can press him for details, someone knocks on the door. I gather the sheets around me while Chrome dresses and opens the door to Mode.

“Got your identification. Her name is Valorie Parsons. Her granddaughter filed a missing person report when she arrived for a visit and found her grandmother missing, along with her jewelry and artwork.”

“Just like Beverly,” I say. “Can you give me the granddaughter’s name and phone number?” I ask Mode.

Mode glances at Chrome, who turns to me. “What are you going to do?”

“I want to call her and ask her to come down to the ICU to identify her grandmother.”

“What about the cops?”

“I figure I’ll leave contacting the police up to her if my Jane Doe is her grandmother.”

“What about The Family?”

I shrug. “I’ll call and tell them what I’ve done. They won’t be happy, but they’ll understand. If Jane Doe is this woman’s grandmother, they wouldn’t want grandmother and granddaughter to suffer because they don’t want the cops involved.”

Chrome rubs his chin as he studies me. “We could ask them. They’re coming to the clubhouse this morning.”

I frown at him. “Who is coming? And why?”

“The Don and several of his sons. I'm unsure if they are all coming or just a few. I can’t tell you why; we’re meeting to discuss some things. Club business.” He adds the last when I open my mouth to press.

I shrug. “We can wait and talk to them, but no matter what they say, I’m still contacting the granddaughter, even if I have to make it an anonymous call. She deserves to know, and her grandmother needs her family.”

“You’re right. I’ll support you on this. I understand that The Family does not want the cops involved in their pursuit of justice. If the cops get involved, they’ll just have to be more careful. Let’s get dressed and head downstairs for breakfast. The Family will be here shortly.”

After Chrome and I eat, he suggests I wait in his office. Before I enter the office, I look back and see him talking with Bush. Once I’m in Chrome’s office, I pace. I’m unable to settle because I want to get moving. I want to call the granddaughter and get her to meet me at the hospital. Not only do I want to see the women wake up, but I’m hoping identifying the women will help identify their attackers. These assholes need to be stopped. I won’t lie to myself and claim that I don’t care if the cops or the mafia stop them. Because truthfully, I want The Family to find the bastards and hurt them the way they hurt those women.

Chrome enters his office with the Capo di Tutti Capi and his sons. Anthony Beraldi, III, known as the Third to family and friends, is imposing. He’s several inches over six feet, and his broad shoulders fill his expensive suit. His styled black hair has a few gray hairs on the sides. His dark eyes dance with delight when he spots me.

“Cici!” Third calls out before crushing me in a bear hug. “I heard you got yourself mixed up with these bikers. What were you thinking, my child?”

“That I’ve finally found a man I want to be with,” I tell him, sending Chrome a smile.

“You should be with one of my boys,” Third persists. “Fourth needs a good woman, and you are the best woman I know.”

I crinkle my nose at that comment. “Eew. They’re like brothers.”

Third nods and chuckles. “True. True. Are you certain you care for this man?” I nod. He glances at Chrome. “Cicely is precious to me. Don’t play with her feelings.”

Chrome steps forward and wraps his arm around my waist. “I won’t. She’s important to me, too.”

“Cicely, you need to go. We have business to discuss,” Fourth states.

“We do,” Chrome agrees, “but Cicely needs to discuss something with you first. Please have a seat.”

Third, Fourth, and Bishop sit on the couch while Chrome pulls his visitor’s chairs around for us to use.

“You’re aware that Frodo’s grandmother was beaten almost to death and is now in the ICU at the hospital where I work?”

“Yes, and we plan on handling the situation,” Fourth states.

“I know, and I want you to, but we have a second woman in the ICU. I found a photo that I think is of the second victim. Mode identified her as Valorie Parsons. Her granddaughter has filed a missing person’s report with the police. Either they haven’t made the connection yet, or they don’t plan to. I don’t have much confidence in the detective handling the case. He’s dismissive of the women because they’re old. He considers them homeless and trash. However, neither woman is homeless. They’re both extremely wealthy, and they’ve both been robbed.”

“This Valorie Parsons was robbed just like Beverly?” Bishop asks.

“Yes. I want to contact the granddaughter and talk to her. See if she’ll come to identify the woman in the ICU.”

“This is what you must do,” Third states quickly. “This woman needs her family, and her family needs to know what’s happened.”

“The cops might interfere and make it harder for us to locate the assholes who attacked them,” Fourth reminds his father.

He waves that off. “I have no doubt you will locate them before the cops do. Family is important. We must care for our elders. This woman was treated poorly. She deserves to have her family around her. Go ahead and call her. Meet her at the hospital and tell Frodo if she is the grandmother. He can reach out to the granddaughter and speak with her.”

I hug Third before Chrome walks me out.

“Are you headed to the hospital?”

“As soon as I make this call. No sense going there if the granddaughter can’t meet me.”

Standing on my toes, I wrap my hand around Chrome’s neck to pull his lips to mine. His kiss is hard and full of promise and desire. “You’ll come back?”

“You want me back?”

He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear before brushing a knuckle across my cheek, then over my bottom lip. “You know I do.”

“Then, I’ll be here. I’ll call and let you know what happens.”

Sliding behind the wheel, I breathe a sigh of relief. Unlike last time, when I drove through the gates, this time, I leave knowing that I’ll return. Before I start the car, I pull out my phone and call the granddaughter.

“This is Roni,” a young woman answers.

“Veronica Parsons?” I ask.

“Yes, who is this?”

“My name is Cicely Oswald. I’m a nurse at St. John’s Hospital in the ICU,” I start before telling her about the two Jane Does and how I identified the woman from a photo containing the first Jane Doe. “I don’t know for certain that it is her, but I thought maybe we could meet at the hospital and take you in to see her.”

“Oh my god, poor Grammy. Yes, yes. I’ll meet you at the hospital. I’m leaving now.”