Page 10 of Caught Up

By the time we finally took our seats, she was over it. “Jesus Christ,” she muttered between me and Alec, crossing herself even as she blasphemed. “You’d think it’s all my fault you’re not here every weekend.”

“Isn’t it?” I asked, deadpan.

She glared, knowing my dry sense of humor well enough to pick up on the troll. “One more word, and I’ll volunteer you to be an usher next week.”

I lifted my hands in surrender. Mom didn’t make idle threats.

Slowly, the seats around us filled while this week’s volunteers moved about the sanctuary as they prepared for Mass. Where the fuck were Lauren and Mrs. Bianchi? They should have been in the pew right across from ours, but the spot was conspicuously empty. I turned, scanning the back of the crowd. The whole reason I’d come here was for the chance of seeing Lauren in the flesh, and if I had to sit/kneel/stand through an hour of bullshit for nothing, I’d bepissed.

I was just starting to turn back around when a flash of color caught my eye. Entering the nave were two women, one as old as the rest, leaning on the arm of someone much younger. Someone wearing a pastel pink sundress that contrasted beautifully with her tan skin. It was them. They’d made it.

My gaze zeroed in on Lauren. Need and possessiveness roared through me at the sight of her, and I briefly entertained the idea of striding down the center aisle, throwing Lauren over my shoulder, and walking out to the sweet sound of her startled shriek. Instead, I turned back around to keep from drawing attention to myself. I couldn’t help myself-satisfiedgrin, though. Earlier, I’d watched Lauren just long enough to guess that she was escorting her grandmother here, and it felt good to be right, especially because it would put me within touching distance of her.

I kept my gaze on the altar, eyes unfocused while my full attention went to my periphery. Any second now, she would walk into sight, and I wanted to be looking at her when she noticed me. I wanted to see her up close and personal, study that split second of recognition and gut reaction before her brain caught up to her eyes and she schooled her face or tried to hide her feelings. That tiny moment of time was where the truth lived.

Suddenly, pink bloomed in my periphery as Lauren pulled even with our pew.

I turned my head, but instead of looking my way, she had her back to me as she helped her grandmother to her seat. Not that I was complaining. It gave me a moment to study her, my gaze trailing up her shapely legs to her spankable ass. The echoes of her moans filled my ears as the memory of her riding her own hand floated to the forefront of my mind. Just last night, this woman had made me come so hard I’d seen stars, and she didn’t even know it.

Once her grandmother was settled, Lauren took her seat, her face downturned as she flipped through today’s church program. Since her hair was tucked behind her ears, I had a clear view of her profile. She didn’t look upset or worried, and she had to have heard the news about her dad by now.

Maybe she didn’t think there was a reason to worry. Tommy Marchetti had never been the most reliable person, and even when hewasaround, he wasn’t exactly winning any father of the year awards. The first time I’d ever met the guy was when he’d kicked my ass, and she and I had practically grown up together. He’d never been at our school plays, or her soccer games. He hadn’t even come to Lauren’s confirmation, a huge event for young Catholics. Who knew, maybe this wasn’t even the first time he’d disappeared from her life?

Movement behind her drew my gaze, and I glanced over to see people nearby casting looks her way. One or two even leaned in to whisper something to those seated next to them. I thought they were talking about Tommy at first—news traveled fast in the old neighborhood—but then I caught sight of their censuring glances and realized this wasn’t idle church gossip; this had teeth. It brought to mind Dad’s insult.Whore.

Were these motherfuckers talking shit about Lauren?MyLauren?

From the unbothered way she lifted her head and scanned the people around her, she either didn’t notice the way they stared and whispered, or she didn’t care. Which meant there was no need formeto be bothered by it. But try as I might to talk myself down from the ledge, my temper clawed its ugly way out of the abyss and sank its teeth into me.

What pissed me off more than anything was the hypocrisy. Half these assholes had family members in the mob, men who’d committed innumerable crimes, done unspeakable things to other humans. I was one of them, and they were fine talking to me, but take your top off for money and you were shunned.

My expression flattened, and I locked eyes with several of the gossipers, one after another, who wisely decided to go back to minding their own fucking business.

“Hey, Lauren!” Alec called.

She turned toward the sound of her name, spotting him. The beginning of a smile tugged at her mouth, but her gaze tripped sideways, landing on me, and I finally got to watch that split second of recognition wash over her.

Hello, beautiful.

Her eyes flashed wide as her full lips, painted a muted pink to match her dress, popped open in surprise. Our gazes caught and held. Despite the crowd of onlookers, something sparked between us right there in the middle of church. Something dark, hungry. Ravenous because it had barely gotten a taste ten years ago and had been starving ever since.

“Junior,” she said, sounding out of breath.

I flashed her a knowing grin. “You look good, Lo. It’s nice to see you.”

She blushed prettily and glanced away.

“Yeah, nice to see you,” Alec muttered, but I could tell from his tone that he was amused. The bastard knew about my history with Lauren better than anyone else, and I was sure he’d called her name hoping to stir up some drama.

I should probably look away from her—people were starting to notice my staring—but for the life of me, I couldn’t tear my gaze free. Lauren’s sundress was fitted through the bodice, tight enough that it was obvious she was still breathing fast. From desire? Or fear, too? No one outside of the inner mob circle and immediate family knew exactly what my dad, brothers, and I did, only that we’d climbed high enough in the ranks that we had the ear of Lorenzo, the head of the organization, so Lauren shouldn’t have had any knowledge of my involvement in her dad’s disappearance. Especially since the only ties she seemed to have to the old neighborhood were her sister and grandmother.

I was tempted to say something more, get her to look my way again so I could get a better read on her, but the altar servers were marching out of a side door with their lit taper candles, indicating that Mass was about to start.

Reluctantly, I faced forward, biding my time until this spectacle was over and I got a chance to speak with Laurenone-on-one. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her sneak a quick glance my way, and I grinned to myself as the priest took his place behind the altar. She might have been surprised by my presence, but there was no denying that she’d felt it, too, the pull between us that couldn’t be denied.

Good thing I had such an iron control over my body, or standing when the priest ordered us up would have beenrealawkward. The memory of Lauren’s latest video was seared into my mind, and I couldn’t stop replaying it. What I wouldn’t give to see her come in person, tomakeher come, using my tongue to drive her over the edge. Yeah, that’s what I’d do first, drop her onto whatever flat surface was closest and shove her knees wide before burying my face in her cu—

Mom elbowed me, and I realized everyone around us was speaking. Right, the time for congregation participation had begun. Though it had been years since I’d attended church, the right words fell from my lips almost without thought. They’d been drilled into my head during my youth, and I guess they’d stuck.

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