Page 33 of The Sicilian Bastard
Luciano
Ilay starfish next to Araceli, panting. One minute, I was in the office with Agosto and Nicolo going over what had happened over the past weeks. Nicolo and Rosalina had come back from the couples' retreat early. Not surprised. I didn't think they were going to last at all.
That sickening moment when Nicolo's fist touched Araceli's face replayed over and over in my mind. I looked over at her to watch the rise and fall of her chest. I had to know she was still breathing. That could've been worse. Nicolo could've pulled his gun on her and blown her brains out before I could tackle him. So many scenarios ran through my mind where she didn't survive. My heart ached at the very thought. She stood up for me. I'd never had someone do that for me.
I looked at her features, memorizing them. She was beautiful. I wanted to hold onto that. If she could accept me the way I was, then I needed to keep her forever. I shook my head at the thought. There was no way she accepted me. No one else ever had.
Then why did she defend you in front of everyone?a rare voice of reason interjected the dark spiral my thoughts were taking.
She didn't have to do what she did. She didn't even know who Rosalina was. I could admit that it made me hard as a rock hearing her fight for me. She was something else. My littlefiore.She moaned in her sleep, her face scrunched in pain when her jaw rubbed against the pillow. I felt horrible that she reinjured it. I shouldn't have lost my temper on her. I had to remember she was mine. I grabbed my phone and shot a text to the doctor to get his ass back here. Araceli moved in her sleep, her breast thrust in my face. I amended my text to the family doctor. I told him to come to the compound in three hours. Not only did Araceli need sleep, but I needed her body again. I rolled towards her and lifted a leg over my hip. As I slid my cock into her sticky, wet hole, I felt a sense of home. Something I had never had in my life. This woman I stole gave me that. In return, I would give her my loyalty and kill anyone who ever tried to take her away from me.
"I thought I told you that you couldn't do anything rough in her condition." That was the first thing doctor dickhead said to me. He pushed me out of the way and started moving my girl around. I thought it was excessive. He didn't need to move her entire body around to look at her jaw.
"How do you even know this was me?" I snarled. I hated people who made assumptions. Doctor dickhead looked over at me with his eyes like he wanted to square up. I wished the motherfucker would. I would eviscerate him in a one-on-one fight. He was scrawny.
Araceli groaned under his ministrations. He tsked his tongue, making me want to rip it right out of his head. My phone pinged while he hemmed and hawed over her face. It wasn't even that bad. The bruise was darker, that was it.
"You're very lucky. It wasn't dislocated again. If anything, your bruise will be bigger for a bit, and you'll have some soreness. I thought you could keep doing what you're doing. Make sure you keep talking to a minimum, but the pain should stop soon. I would put ice on it every two hours on and off, so the swelling goes down."
Araceli nodded her head along. Her eyes were wide. I didn't need to take notes with that. I helped the good old doctor out of our room. I hadn't slept in my bedroom since I hurt Araceli's jaw.
"Come on, killer. Let's get you dressed and something to do while I head out with the men." I steered her towards the bathroom so she could do her business.
While I waited for her, I texted Agosto back. We were headed to meet Don Falcone. I offered to pick him up, but he was fine driving with a few men and meeting us at Gio's. Don Falcone was very old school. He held meetings either at his office or in a territory he controlled. Since we allied, that meant Gio's. We suggested the compound, but he didn't want to step foot in this place since the old Don passed. I wasn't sure what went on between them, but it was deep. There was something beneath the surface. Something more than friendship. I couldn't put my finger on it.
As soon as Araceli was out of the shower and dressed, I brought her to the family library. She would have enough reading material for days if she wanted. I gave her a sweet kiss on the lips and inhaled her scent before letting her go. Every time I left her alone, it felt like I left my heart behind. It was getting harder and harder to stay away from her. I wanted to spend all my time inside of her. Smelling, breathing, being. She was slowly becoming my everything.
I suited up and got my weaponry hidden. I have been on high alert since the Ronnie incident. I was starting to believe there were new players in town. Once we spoke with Don Falcone, we would have a better idea if that were true. This meeting was a normal one, which meant I didn't get a seat at the table. I frowned thinking about it. I had to stand by the booth and guard everyone. I didn't get to have an opinion. Seen, but not heard. Glorified muscle. I shook my head to clear it, heading to the first car. The one that held the family. Nicolo wanted to meet us there on his own. I was grateful for that because I had a bullet with his name on it. Seeing his face, would make me see him hitting my woman and that made me want to kill him.
We got to the restaurant with no issues. I scanned the area. I sent some men around back. I wanted this meeting to go as smoothly as possible. No drama. No blood. All the men sat down at a table in the back. We took up six tables in total, everyone seated by importance. The farthest table in the back sat Don Falcone, Agosto, and Nicolo. I guarded them with one other body. The table closest to the door, sat soldiers who weren't important. They had small ranks within the syndicate. They were the ones who would take a bullet first in case shit went down.
"How was your honeymoon?" Don Falcone barked at Nicolo.
"Fine, let's get down to business," Nicolo responded like a robot.
They got down to business. I had a thought that the Don was upset with the entire Nicolo situation. He wasn't the only one. I respected him more knowing he knew his son was a piece of shit. A fuck boy as the young kids would put it.
"We need you back in New York," I heard the Don tell Nicolo.
I was keeping my eyes peeled, but I did have one ear open. It wouldn't do to miss important information.
"I'm not sure Rose wants to come back," Nicolo grumbled.
"Well, you talk to her, and you figure it out, so she does come back. We've got bigger problems than your broken marriage." The Don pulled himself up to full height.
Agosto was taking notes. He wasn't prepared to be a Don.
"There are Russians in New York trying to peddle flesh again."
My head snapped to the conversation. This was important. I couldn't care about decorum when we could all be at risk.
"There has been chatter about some Latino gang here. Do you know what this symbol means?" Agosto slid his notepad over to Don Falcone.
So, he was good for something. I didn't think to ask the Don if he knew of the men causing trouble. I looked at the Don as he took in the tattoo.
"Where did you see this?" His face was pasty white.
"Who are they?" Agosto shot back.
