Page 11 of The Sicilian Princess
Nick
After I strapped Rose into my truck, I took a minute to get my libido under control. She smelled so good, like roses wrapped in sunshine. I just wanted to bury my face in her neck and take a whiff. Preferably while my cock was buried deep inside her pussy, touching her womb. I shook my head rapidly, trying to shake those enticing thoughts. She was beautiful. Her hair was even and shiny. I could see that her confidence was rising since Bethany finished with her. Fuck. I rubbed a hand down my face. Bethany. I forgot all about that girl. She was a good little girl for me. Not the best, but she tried her hardest to please me. I stayed with her for about two months. That was the longest I had ever been with someone. She was understandably upset when I broke things off. I hadn't been around the salon since then. It wasn't easy to avoid someone in this small town, but somehow, I'd managed it with Bethany. She must have been avoiding me as well. Then, out of left field, she tried to come on to me in front of Rose. I knew it was a ploy. I didn't even think she was jealous. The thought of Bethany trying to claim me in front of my little thorn made my dick wilt. I hopped in the truck and shot a glance at Rose. She was looking out the window, her legs tilted away from me to the door. She was acting like she couldn't wait to get away from me.
"Do you want to go straight to the diner or to the motel to get ready and then to the diner?" I really was just reaching for straws. I wanted to talk to her, but I didn't know what to talk about.
"Straight to the diner please." She was quiet. If I was being honest, I was glad she chose to go to the diner. If we went back to the motel, I would probably succumb to temptation and have her calling me Daddy for the rest of the night, maybe even tomorrow as well. The moment I got Rose in my bed, we wouldn't be leaving for a week at least. I'd have to make sure I told Maddox and Haley, though. That way, the ranch was covered and so were Rose's shifts. I looked over at her again and found myself hardening just from watching her chest rise and fall. Best I spoke to Haley today, just in case. I wasn't sure how long I would be able to keep away from my little thorn, but I was going to try. She needed to get used to me. I pulled up to the diner and helped Rose out. Her tiny lithe body slid down mine and almost made me groan out loud in pain. Fuck, she was sexy. I held her hand into the diner, even though she kept trying to pull away from me. I didn't let go until I left her with Eunji. I made sure to kiss her temple and wish her a good day. If looks could kill, I would be a dead man from the look Rose shot me. I had to make a claim on my woman, though. Otherwise, all the eligible bachelors in town would be panting after her.
"Hey, stranger," Haley called out.
I flagged her down and motioned to her office. "Need to speak with you, Hales." I was trying to hide my excitement.
Haley followed me into her office and closed the door. "What was with that display? You never hold onto a woman like that." Haley was smirking at me, her brown eyes alight with mirth.
"Yeah, so there is going to be a time I call out for Rose. Probably a week or so, and I'll need to know you can cover it." I cleared my throat from nerves. If Haley couldn't swing it, I would have to make do with something else.
"I can, but you'll owe me and Eunji." She looked like she was holding back.
"It's not just a hookup," I clarified. I wanted her to know my intentions were serious. Rose may not see me as someone she wanted to be with, but I was in it for the long haul. She was end game. I knew it deep in my bones.
"All right. If you're sure, I'll help you out," Haley stated. She had her serious face on, and I knew I was about to be threatened.
"That girl is on the run, though. That means someone is out to get her. Hurt her. You'd better not hurt her even more." With that, Haley let me off the hook.
I grinned at her and nodded my head. Then I headed out of the diner. As much as I wanted to sit there and make sure Rose was safe, I needed to do some actual work today. The calf of my most prized thoroughbred was ready for sale. I wanted to get him all cleaned up before the buyers came through next week. I headed to the ranch and straight to his stall. Unlike some people, I didn't name my calves. I didn't want them to have unnecessary attachments. I also didn't see the point. What if I named it something horrible? Instead, I gave them numbers. That way, I could keep track. Each number was clipped on their stall. I started grooming the calf, so he looked as fresh as possible. I was going to groom him again right before the buyers came, but I liked getting all my calves used to the ritual. Not to mention, it calmed me and helped let me think of other issues.
My father, Don Falcone, called me into his office. He was a proud man. I was lucky I wasn't his only son, but I was his favorite. Out of all his children, I was the one who became a 'made man' at the tender age of ten. My other brothers weren't made until they hit fifteen. My father was proud of that fact. I knew he was going to make me capo. I didn't want it. I just wanted to do wet work.
"Nicolai, I heard that you didn't want to be capo." He, of course, looked only slightly upset. He wasn't used to me not wanting to make him proud.
"If I'm capo, I won't be able to get my hands as dirty as I'm used to." It was simple for me. Either capo or killing. I much preferred killing.
"You can do both." My father shrugged his shoulders. If he said it, then it was going to happen and there wasn't anything I could do about it. The rise to power would be my downfall.
I wondered if my father was still searching for me. He did have four other sons. It wasn't like he needed me to take over, even if I was the best out of all my brothers. I let my mind drift to Rose, my little thorn. Her glorious curls, I wondered what they looked like in the moonlight. I needed to find out what Rose was running from.
"Yo." Maddox came into the barn and pulled me from my daydreams.
"Hey, don't you ever do any work?" I joked with him.
"Naw, you know the bar isn't going to be open for a few more hours."
I shoved him playfully. "What about old man Jenson? He needs his booze at a certain time every day."
Maddox barked out a laugh. "He'll have to wait. Amber was in the diner when you came in with Rose. She flipped out when she found out you were making Rose yours," Maddox informed me. He was always good with giving me information.
"I haven't made her mine yet. I'm planning on it, though." I stroked my jaw. Amber was going to need to be dealt with.
"What makes her so special? You don't even know this girl," Maddox whined.
I think he might be worried Rose was going to take my attention away from him. I almost laughed in his face. He could be such a child sometimes.
"Sometimes you just know. How about this, you take care of Amber for me and we'll have a weekly man night? No chicks allowed." I felt like I was back in junior high. If this would make Maddox feel more secure, I could do it for him. I did owe him after all. He was always coming to the ranch and tending the animals when I was needed elsewhere. Not only that, but he had saved my life. When he found out who I was and where I was from, he helped me find people to hide my tracks. He helped me come up with a new identity. He did everything in his power to be a trusted ally.
"Yeah, we can do that. Now I've got a few hours before the bar is open, so put me to work, Slash." At my old nick name, I almost punched him in the face. He was the only one who knew my street name, and I didn't get it by being a friendly capo. No, it was given to me amongst the blood and bodies I'd left in my wake in New York.
"Don't call me that," I grumbled.
Maddox laughed it off and went to give Bessie, an older horse I picked up so she wouldn't be euthanized, some exercise. Maddox might as well work on the ranch. Maybe he would take a paycheck if I offered it to him. He worked on this ranch as much as I did. I think it was because he wanted to spend time with me, but maybe he was lonely. I knew how that felt. I was feeling lonely. All those women I'd had sub for me, and they meant nothing. The more I went out and got my dick wet, the emptier I felt. I wanted more. I deserved more. Rose was going to give it to me. She was going to be mine and no one else.
