Page 16

CHAPTER

SIXTEEN

ADALYN

I t was fair to say flying on private jets was nothing new for me. So, when Jesse insisted I didn’t know what I was “in for” for our journey, I brushed him off.

It wasn’t until the moment the SUV’s pulled to a stop alongside a humongous, sleek white airliner that I realized why he was so smug. The plane was probably double the size of any private jet I had even seen, let alone been on.

Jesse had been right—I really had no idea.

When I asked what kind of plane it was, he wore a rather proud expression as he informed me it was a Bombardier 7500. Though he might as well have been speaking in Klingon for all that meant to me.

The plane was split into three distinct seating areas excluding a bedroom, bathroom, and fully fitted kitchen. Cream colored leathers and highly polished dark wood finished the interior, and I couldn’t help but graze my fingers over the perfect, shiny surfaces as we boarded.

Unfortunately, despite the cabin’s pleasing appearance, the twelve-hour trip from O’Hare International to Catania airport was anything but pleasant.

Marco wore a permanent scowl on his face and his tumbler was continuously filled with whiskey by the flight attendant. I was starting to think the man had a drinking problem.

His piss-poor mood kept the air tense the duration of the flight and it didn’t escape anyone’s notice that I was seemingly the cause of it.

By the time we had landed at Catania, the silence was stifling, and I breathed a sigh of relief when Jesse and I travelled separately to Marco’s villa that evening.

Despite the late hour, the grandeur of the nineteenth century castle was not completely lost to the darkness. Lights shone up the walls, emphasizing two square turrets and a fifteen-foot portico made of elaborately entwined arches. The property was equally as grand on the inside. White and black veined marble decorated almost every surface, interspersed with ornately carved wood and hand painted ceilings. It was breathtaking.

Unlike the rest of the mansion, my room was relatively modern. Remodeled to include pure white walls, remote control shutters, and glass double doors that led out to a large balcony. Attached was a spacious dressing room and a pristine black-accented bathroom.

I tossed my duffle bag onto the white polished vanity and threw myself on the bed.

I’m actually in Sicily.

I was far, far away from my family and the life I had always known up until several months ago and yet…I didn’t miss it. I didn’t even feel like I had left anything behind.

The thought was as freeing as it was unnerving.

The next morning I had breakfast on one of the most beautiful terraces I had ever been on. It overlooked the property’s extensive grounds in a tranquil stillness, the turquoise sea glistening off in the near distance. It was a peaceful morning with bright sunshine and a cloudless blue sky. The perfect weather for sunbathing.

I hadn’t seen Marco since he walked in the opposite direction to me when we arrived last night. Presumably he was locked away in a study somewhere attending to business. My assumption was only strengthened when I saw various groups of men filter in and out the castle halls that morning, all heading in the direction of what I assumed was his study.

Not that his disappearing act bothered me—I needed as much space from him as I could get after what had happened between us. I had no idea what it all meant or what the consequences might be. We were dangerously walking along a tight rope at this point, and I had no intention of falling off, for fear of what lay beneath it.

Hurt, I imagined.

Thankfully, Jesse’s presence wasn’t needed by Marco for the day and so his only job was ensuring I didn’t get lost amongst the many corridors and doors. With both our schedules wide open and the weather as beautiful as Sicily got, we decided to make use of the villa’s private beach. It was just a stone’s throw away and accessible through an elaborate topiary garden to the east.

Finding three sets of white canopy beds lining the sweeping shore, I settled on the closest while flipping through a magazine. Jesse parked off on the other one nearby and passed out within thirty seconds of laying down, clearly feeling the effects of jet lag and snoring loud enough to scare away the local wildlife.

At just after three that afternoon, Jesse groaned at the sound of a gull squawking overhead and after a few moments of looking about himself disorientated, suddenly sprung to his feet.

He shouted something in Italian and run off frantically to the far side of the beach with a huge smile on his face.

I rolled my eyes and watched as he made his way onto a small dock that was jutting out into the water. From this distance, I could only see one or two smaller boats tied to its edge.

I turned back to the tasteless magazine I was reading, rather regretting not bringing along a book or something more interesting to read.

The quiet purr of an engine soon interrupted my train of thought and suddenly Jesse reappeared, flying across the water like a mad man. The black jet ski he was straddling kicked up water in his wake and sent ripples across the water’s surface, stretching out into a large V.

It didn’t take much encouragement before I started rummaging around in the storage box myself in search of another life jacket. I got onto the identical jet ski still tied to the dock and Jesse talked me through the various controls, knotting the ignition key around my arm.

I eased the throttle and was suddenly flying along the water too. I screeched at the top of my lungs. It was damn right exhilarating and, not that I would ever admit it, a little bit terrifying.

Jesse and I spent the next few hours speeding across the water, racing each other and playing chicken. He was evidently more skilled than me, and I had fallen rather ungracefully on several occasions, earning myself a mouth of sea water in the process.

“We should go over and explore those caves tomorrow,” he shouted across to me as we came to a relative still. He pointed to an alcove of rock out toward the furthest edge of the secluded beach. “I think there’s a beach inside one of them.”

“Sure. That sounds like fun.” I nodded in agreement.

As I was looking back across the water, I noticed movement on the dock.

“I think Marco wants you.” I shouted over to Jesse, whose back was still to shore.

He turned the jet ski in a circle, looking back across to the beach. He muttered something under his breath before gunning the throttle and zipping through the water. With a reluctant sigh I followed, navigating the waves behind him.

I could hear Marco’s angry voice was raised before I could even make out what he was saying. The piss-poor mood continues then.

“Why isn’t your phone on you? I’ve been trying to get hold of you for the past hour!” He was shouting across the water to Jesse.

Despite the humidity, he was wearing his usual slacks and black long-sleeve shirt. Though his top button was undone, and his sleeves were rolled back enough to show the tattoos on his arms.

Unquestioningly, it was his best look.

“What’s wrong?” Jesse asked. “Did something happen?”

“Nothing happened!” Marco shouted. “But it could have, and you are nowhere to be seen.” Marco’s hands slapped his thighs before he grabbed his hips.

“Give him a break, Marco. He’s keeping me from drowning, and aren’t you supposed to be safe here? This is your territory, in your province.” I argued.

Marco’s glare sliced to me for a second then away, treating me as if I were invisible to him. “You will stay alert and have your phone on you at all times. On duty, off duty I don’t give a shit.” He continued. Clearly angry by more than just the phone.

Marco slammed the device against the dock so hard that for a second I thought it might shatter.

Jesse muttered a “Yes, Boss,” while I shouted a rather undignified, “Oh for Christ’s sake.”

Once again, it was as if I hadn’t spoken.

“You don’t have to be such an asshole all the time,” I said antagonistically, getting thoroughly annoyed by the silent treatment. The muscle in his jaw ticked just as I’d hoped it would.

“Put the jet skis away. Our meeting is in an hour.” Marco ordered.

“No! What the hell Marco!” I protested, but Jesse was already reaching for the rope to secure himself along the dock.

Marco finally turned to acknowledge me for the first time in over twenty-four hours. A signature scowl marred his handsome face, and he looked nothing short of the sinister Don of Sicily he was. Not an ounce of boyish charm hidden amongst his carefully schooled features.

“I need my security team working, Ada. Now get out of the fucking water.”

I was sick of his attitude. All because I’d told him no the other night. It wasn’t fair, and he wasn’t the only person that could throw a tantrum or act like an ass.

“Not until you say please .” I smiled sweetly. Tauntingly.

I knew that he wouldn’t. I’d only ever heard the word come out of his mouth twice in the whole time I’d known him…and judging by the sharp snap of his clenched teeth I was pretty confident I was unlikely to hear it again.

“Get out the water now or your pleas will be next.”

A thrill went down my spine at his insinuation, settling into a warm pool in my stomach.

Damn. I don’t have a good response to that.

Part of me wanted to stay in the water to see what he would do to make good on his promise, but my nervousness won out and I relented after another second.

Irritated, I swung the jet ski closer, and Jesse grabbed the handles, securing the vessel to the docking post. With the help of his hand for balance, I planted my feet firmly back onto the solid wooden slats.

I tried to ignore the embodiment of sex and sin itself as it stood glaring at me less than a few feet away.

Doing my best to appear unaffected by his presence, I undid the life jacket buckles around my waist and unzipped the nylon fabric with deliberate slowness. My strappy black bikini fell into view, and I felt his gaze flick to my chest, which was barely restrained by the fabric.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I crossed the space between us and slapped the sopping wet life jacket against his chest. “Ass,” I muttered, turning away from him with a glare and walking back down the dock in the direction of the house.

By the time sunset came, I had changed into a khaki bandeau maxi dress ready for dinner. I had finished my hair and was just putting the finishing touches to my outfit when voices and footsteps from outside distracted me. I drifted toward the balcony and peered out over the stone ledge, curious as to what was going on.

A cobblestone pathway that spanned the entire side of the villa ran beneath my feet, leading off to several smaller buildings on the property. Some I presumed were staff residences, while another I was pretty certain was a gym.

Standing along the path just below me was Marco, Jesse, and Benny, as well as the normal security personnel and family members. They were engaged in some kind of jovial conversation, but about what I couldn’t be certain.

I really need to learn Italian, I thought bitterly. Another silent curse sent squarely in the direction of my father, wherever he was right now.

After a few minutes of chatter between the men, I heard Marco mutter “Scusa” and the men drift in the direction of the front entrance, their footsteps falling away to the silent evening air.

“I was wondering when you would call.” Marco spoke after a few moments.

I was surprised to hear he was still there, and I couldn’t see or hear anyone else with him.

“I’ve been…busy,” he said in a bored tone to whatever the person on the other end of the phone was saying.

Five seconds passed again before he then murmured, “Oh, is that so?”

I bristled.

He no longer sounded bored and irritated, but his voice took on a lustful edge that told me what I was hearing was anything but a business call—it was a booty call.

“And what are you wearing now?” Are you for fucking real!

This only cemented how right I’d been to stop the other night when I did. Before we had crossed that line.

God knows where I would be right now if I hadn’t.

When I told Marco that I had been with only two men, I hadn’t been lying. I just omitted a few details... Like how I’d only had sex twice in my whole life and how only one of those times had been consensual. The sad thing was that the man who’d asked my consent was the one that had found himself with a bullet in the head. The other? He was allowed to live because of who he was.

That was why I had stopped it, because it could never be just sex to someone like me.

It was the reason anger and hurt coiled under my skin now, hearing him talk to someone else like nothing happened between us.

I shook my head refusing to think about it any further.

“Fine. Give me an hour.” Marco said and cut the call.

I couldn’t see him from my position hidden behind the stone, but I could hear a heavy sigh and curses leave his lips. Then the distinct sound of his footsteps trailing away toward the house.

Any desire to give in to the irresistible pull of Marco La Torre was now exiled to the furthest recesses of my mind…again. Regardless of whether it was from jealousy, hurt or just plain sexual frustration, I wasn’t going to take his disrespect lightly. I was going to punish him for it.

This isn’t a game? Well, let’s see who’s playing now.

The next morning, I had watched from my window as countless expensive cars had begun to arrive. I had never seen so many tailor-made suits, golden Rolex’s or Gucci loafers in one place before. The money made my head spin.

Judging by the raucous laughter and dark complexions, I guessed the majority of them were La Torre’s but there were some outliers in the mix as well. Enzo was notably one of them.

Springing into motion, I tore through my dressing room in search of the perfect outfit for my plan.

The maids had already unpacked all my things, and soon enough I came across the shorts and neon pink sports bra I had in mind. I pulled on the stretchy black shorts, satisfied when the material sat a quarter inch higher than the crease of my butt cheeks. The sports bra I had chosen was almost backless with skimpy straps falling in a zigzag at its base. The ensemble left little to the imagination. Perfect .

Grabbing my headphones and a yoga mat I took from the gym yesterday evening, I made my way outside and down the stone steps to the lawned area of the garden. The area was recessed and elegantly sculptured into the landscape. It made the already high walls of the mansion look even more imposing as they loomed high above.

The sounds of chatter and debate were unmistakable as I walked toward the gardens. The men had moved to gather on the patio overlooking the area I had marked as my target.

I knew it was ballsy, and I knew it was obvious. But I didn’t care.

I was no longer ruled by sanity or reason but by pure frustration and sexual angst.

I wanted to punish him for thinking he could lead me on and play away. For thinking I was some game, or worse— Lexi .

I rolled the mat out on the grass, grateful for my sunglasses as I saw a few heads turn in in my general direction. Tactless curiosity staining their features.

Picking up my phone, I selected one of my playlists and the music started trickling through my air pods.

I had taken a few yoga classes some months back in Las Vegas, but had grown bored of the tameness of it all. Nonetheless, I had remained somewhat flexible and remembered some of the moves well.

I wasn’t entirely surprised by the wolf whistles sounding off behind me as I stretched, but I ignored them.

I moved as gracefully as possible into the cobra, stretching my back out. After thirty seconds, I moved into a variation of child’s pose to relieve some of the added pressure, before lifting with the balls of my feet into downward-facing dog. It took everything in me to keep the smug smirk off my face as my ass lifted high in the air. My ass looks fire in these shorts… and judging by some of the hoots I was hearing, apparently I wasn’t the only one that thought so. I did the circuit a few more times until my back grew more supple.

It's time to take it up a notch.

I sunk into the cow pose, with my back arched as far as I dared. Moving onto my knees I sunk backwards, keeping my arms straight above my head and pushing my boobs into the ground.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Came the six words I was waiting to hear.

I didn’t bother looking up at the shadow looming over me.

I moved back into the cow pose before I answered. “Yoga.”

“I can see that,” he gritted.

I turned and sat back to face him as I took out one of my earbuds.

I noticed over his shoulder that quite a few of the men were watching us, Jesse and Enzo included.

“Is there a reason you’re parading around my men with hardly any clothes on?” I swallowed hard but didn’t answer. “I think I know why,” he muttered after a few seconds of silence.

He took a step toward me, his crotch almost in line with my face only a foot away. I didn’t miss the way his eyes flashed at the sudden proximity and something like anticipation wove itself into my veins.

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again.” An electric heat pulsed between us at his words. “If you want attention , you come to me.”

“In your dreams.”

“It sure didn’t feel like a dream.” He smirked arrogantly.

“That’s funny, I didn’t think you got to feel anything.” I snapped and his features grew tense, the muscle in his jaw ticking.

Feeling a combination of bravery and daring, I scooted closer to him, running my hands up the front of his knees and onto his muscular thighs. I raised myself up, still on my knees but his crotch now completely in line with my face.

“You want to fuck me.” It wasn’t a guess. He’d already told me as much numerous times already. The heat of his gaze didn’t waver as my hands continued their slow caress of his thighs. The heat between us caused me to shiver, but I ignored it. “Only you. No one else.”

“No one else,” he agreed.

I smiled softly at the confirmation.

Don’t say it. Don’t say it. DO NOT SAY IT.

“But did it ever occur to you that I don’t want to fuck you ?” My voice may have been gentle, but it provoked a harsh response.

Before I knew it, he had dragged me to my feet, hooking his hands behind my elbow and lifting me like I weighed no more than a sack of potatoes. Our bodies pressed together tightly. Inescapably.

“You’re a fucking liar.” His lips pressed to my ear. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I told you I wasn’t playing games anymore.”

“Is that why you fucked someone else last night?” I bit back.

Surprise made him falter a second before an angry noise resonated in his chest. Realization dawned on his face.

I pulled away. “I won’t be treated like an option. Not even by you.”

MARCO

I let my arms fall to my sides as she scooped up the mat and her phone from the floor. She shuffled past me without a second glance, and I couldn’t help the flex in my jaw as I burned in frustration.

How could she think I was treating her like an option? I couldn’t even if I’d wanted to.

I hadn’t slept with anyone since Ada threw my domes out and that was well over a month ago. I might have slipped up a few times, what with Lexi kissing me at the club and last night…but fuck I was doing my best.

Last night hadn’t amounted to anything anyway.

One of my regulars from before, Sofia, called me up as she heard I was back for my cousin’s wedding and asked to meet up. My balls were so blue they were almost fucking black , so I went. She was a sure thing. She always was.

What I hadn’t banked on though, was the shiver of disgust that trilled through me when her lips were on me. I couldn’t get out of my head Ada’s watery blue eyes. The way they always looked so innocent or the way her mouth tasted when I’d explored it. I couldn’t go through with Sofia because it wasn’t her .

I was starting to think Ada had tainted every other woman for me, but what was perhaps more unnerving was that I didn’t think that stain would ever come back out.

I sighed and turned, taking the steps back up to the terrace two at a time.

I hadn’t missed the watchful eyes of my men as I’d approached Ada, but I couldn’t let her continue making a spectacle of herself. Flashing her tight ass around like a bunch of hypersexual men weren’t within a hundred-yard radius…if I had let it continue, I’d have shot about ten of them dead by now.

The look of approval that greeted me back on the terrace made me realize just what it had looked like to them. Not that I could blame them for assuming she had sucked me off.

She had been on her knees and her face only inches away from my dick.

The mental image of her big, bright eyes looking up at me so close to my crotch made me want to sack off this bullshit meeting, track her down and fuck her in that vicious little mouth of hers. Not that she would let me.

I would be so fucking lucky.

Instead, I focused on pouring out a large whiskey and took a swig. After a few moments, Jesse came up beside me with a smirk.

“Looking a little rough there, Brother,” he said, running a hand across his face to hide his amusement.

“Shut the fuck up.” He laughed but the edge in my voice kept him from saying anything else.

I was more frustrated than I ever remembered being, and the sole reason for that frustration was upstairs probably easing out of her hotpants, freeing the mounds of her bubble butt… My dick twitched. Fuck me.

“Marco, my man!” Carlos, one of my distant cousins, drawled. “Fucking that old bastard Alberto’s daughter; sly move Cuz. Well played.”

Without a second of hesitation, I spun around to face the steroid injecting moron that was lucky enough to share a sliver of my DNA and smashed the tumbler over his head.

Fucker didn’t even feel it.

Carlos just smiled as the lacerations quickly started to bleed. Bright red blood trailing down the side of his face and onto his shirt. I barely felt stinging in my own hand as a wetness dripped down my fingers.

“Damn it, Marco. This shirt was new,” was all he said, looking at the blood.

The chatting in the room hadn’t even stuttered at the disruption, such were the ways of my family, but I thought I saw Jesse shake his head infinitesimally.

“Speak of her again and I will cut your fucking tongue out.” I spat, gripping him by his tie.

“Understood Cuz, understood.” He held his hands up placatingly.

Thoroughly pissed off and ready for this meeting to be over despite it not having even started yet, I took to my seat at the head of the table and the men quickly followed.

“Now.” My voice commanded the attention of all in attendance. “Who wants to explain what happened with my goddamn weapons shipment?” I demanded, removing my gun from my trousers and placing it on the table.

All the men either looked away, gulped or took an unsteady slug of their drink.

Good.

They should be fucking scared.