Page 53 of Cocky Jerk

“I didn’t raise you to be this ignorant,” he hisses, roughly combing his fingers through his hair. “The cops are working to bring Bendetti down and that guinea bastard is a rat. He’s going to squeal like a pig if he hasn’t already and when he does, my name is the first he’s gonna give up.”

I shake my head. Maybe he’s right, maybe I am fucking ignorant because I’m not connecting the dots here.

“What does any of this have to do with me?” I shout.

“He’s using you to get to me.”

No.

I’m not entertaining this.

No fucking way.

Marco isn’t like the rest of them.

Sure, I’ve had my doubts, but he’s proved me wrong every time. Marco wouldn’t take advantage of me that way, he wouldn’t put on a façade and pretend to be a good guy just to get to my father. A man like that asks questions and forces you to reveal things about yourself. All Marco’s done is try to get to knowme. Not Tank DeLuca’s daughter.

I stare at my father. The urge to shake him rolls through me. If only I could make him see the whole world doesn’t revolve around him. That I’m a person too and a man can be genuinely attracted to me without having an ulterior motive. That there are good men out there, men who are nothing like the four standing in front of me reading me the riot act.

“He doesn’t know I’m your daughter! I haven’t said a word about you to him and he hasn’t asked.”

“Yet,” Cash interjects. “It’s only a matter of time.”

I shake my head as memories from last night begin to assault me. For one night I felt normal. For one night I trusted a man with more than just my body. Am I just supposed to throw that away? Forget how he made me feel? And for what…to ease my father’s paranoia? How is that fair?

“End it, Antonia,” Dad orders, pulling me away from my head. I lift my chin and meet his gaze. “Before I take the opportunity away and end it for you.”

Tank DeLuca doesn’t make threats, he only makes promises.

* * *

I thoughtthe first part of the day was a nightmare, but after leaving my father and his goons standing in the garage, I realized my morning was a walk in the park. I couldn’t get my father’s words out of my head and it was affecting my ability to work. Hours later and I still can’t stare at the screen without my mind wandering. Luckily, I only have another fifteen minutes on the clock.

Forcing myself to finish my last task, I scroll the submissions. Out of the hundred and sixty that came in today, I narrowed it down to forty-nine. Just as I’m about to send them through to Soraya an idea crosses my mind.

Without giving myself a chance to change my mind, I start typing.

Dear Ida,

The guy I’m seeing isn’t anything like anyone I’ve dated before. He’s respectful, considerate and a God in bed. He’s also a cop. I don’t have anything against cops, personally. But my dad…he’s another story. Let’s just say my father isn’t a fan. Anyway, I haven’t told this new guy my father is a shady asshole. However, my dad recently found out the guy is a cop and in not so many words, he told me to dump him. He thinks the cop is only dating me to put him behind bars or some crazy shit like that. I really don’t think that’s the case, but I’ve never been a good judge of character. Are all guys assholes? Is every cop crooked? Or is my father just a paranoid criminal?

-Anonymous

Pulling my lip between my teeth, I let my eyes scan over the submission. I think it’s evasive enough where Soraya won’t put two and two together and realize it’s me. Before I chicken out, I draw in a deep breath and click send. A quick glance in the lower righthand corner tells me I’m done for the day and I power off my computer.

I grab my stuff and pop my head into Soraya’s office. I let her know I sent the submissions through and I say goodbye. Just as I’m about to turn around, a goofy grin spreads across her lips. Suddenly a pair of strong arms wrap around my waist and the familiar scent of Marco’s cologne wafts past my nose.

Turning my head, he plants a kiss on my cheek before he spins me around to face him.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, swallowing my shock.

He twirls a strand of my hair around his finger.

“I figured you’d need a ride home since I drove you to work.”

I open my mouth to reply, but I notice he’s dressed in his uniform. The navy-blue material clings to all the right places, giving away the fact there’s a very hard body beneath those pressed blues of his. A body I wouldn’t mind having on top of me again.

For fuck’s sake, focus Antonia!

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