Page 12 of Flowers and Moonlight

Zeno and I live in one of the small bungalows on the Guidice property which were built to house some of the men who work for the family. The living arrangements allow us to stay close; with the life our bosses lead, you never know when we’ll be needed. I shower quickly, hating washing the scent of my woman off me.

“I’ll have you covering my cock in your cream soon enough,il nostro chiaro di luna,” I mutter as I rinse the body wash off and watch the suds swirl down the drain.

My cock is hard, the feeling of her curves and soft skin under my hands making it difficult to stay on track. I know it’ll be even better when I get her back where she belongs. I’m going to spank her until her ass is bright red for leaving us without any way to contact her. Hell, without even a name.

By the time we make it to the Devil’s Saints clubhouse, I’m about ready to rip my own damn skin off. I follow Tony inside and give a chin lift to some of the guys who are hanging around. A bottle blonde with fake tits smiles our way.

When she tries to approach, Prodigal’s deep voice booms from behind her, “If you can’t recognize the look on the faces of these men and that they wouldn’t touch you if their lives depended on it, I have some real concerns about you being club pussy where loyalty is sacrosanct.”

I almost snort; only a man with the road name of Prodigal would use a word like fucking sacrosanct. Not that he’s wrong. I barely stop myself from sneering at the woman before she scurries away, and we approach the bar where both Prodigal and Hack are sitting.

Tony doesn’t mess the fuck around, there are no greetings or well wishes. “We need help tracking a woman down. She attended the Guidice Ball last night and then left.” He shoots me a look and I can see the worry in his eyes; his gut is churning the same way mine is. “We didn’t get a name, but she was skittish as fuck at the ball.”

Hack nods and pulls a laptop out of fuck knows where. “Cameras in the hallways?”

“Disabled,” I grunt.

Hack lets out a low whistle and when he asks for a description, we give it readily. It takes a concerted fucking effortnot to describe her hair as the perfect length to be wrapped around my fist, but I manage. We show him a picture of the mask she was wearing before he nods once and focuses on his computer screen.

I know from experience a Mardi Gras parade could come through the middle of the room and he wouldn’t give it any attention. Not when he’s focused on the task at hand.

Tony offers Prodigal a hand, which the man shakes. “Appreciate it. You let me know what we owe you for your time. This shit is for us and has nothing to do with the family.”

Prodigal studies us and nods once. “She pulled a runner, are you sure she’s worth all the hassle?”

I step forward, wanting to tear his head off when he cracks a sly grin. If he was testing me, I passed. Tony must have as well because he didn’t raise a finger to stop me.

“Hack will give you a call when he has something.” Prodigal nods and then turns back to the bar where a club girl pours him a shot and leans over the bar to practically shove her tits in his face.

I don’t need to hear anything else. I turn on my heel and step out into the sunny New Orleans day. We have another lead to run down and we can only hope it leads to something. Fucking anything.

My gut clenches at the thought of our woman out there without our protection. She looked so fucking fragile in the moonlight, where things can stay hidden. Under the harsh light of the sun, I have to wonder if other people will see her weaknesses and use them against her.

CHAPTER 7

POSY

It’s been two days since I woke up in bed with Tony and Zeno before sneaking out and heading home. I know I had an angel on my shoulder because I was able to get into the house without anyone seeing me or knowing I had been out. I was expecting to be caught and, even though it didn’t happen, I’m still not sure there won’t be some sort of fallout.

The need to get out of this house, to find my own path and way, has been boring deeper inside of me. It’s something I’ve known to be true for years, but I held onto the hope that something would change in my life. My father has controlled so many aspects of my life for so long and now I’m not sure if I can change the course.

Fear can’t be a good enough excuse anymore. I know it can’t, but it’s hard to choose a different path.

After spending the night with Tony and Zeno, I know I’m drowning in this life. I spent a few hours around them and they made me feel more than I have in a long time. If I ever want the possibility that men like them could be in my life permanently, I need to get out from under my father’s thumb.

I’m just not sure where to start.

I know Donovan would help me, but he’s only right next door and I know I need to go farther than that. Maybe I need to leave Louisiana. Then, maybe, my father’s reach wouldn’t be able to get to me.

As it is, I know he’s a powerful man and can make almost anything go his way. He’s proven it to me before. I’ve never pushed back against him and have always towed the line. I’m tired of it.

I’m so fucking tired of it all.

I’m thinking about what the best option is for the next step when my door bursts open with so much force it causes the wood to splinter slightly. I look up to find my father’s furious face looking at me. His eyes are cold and hard, making me want to look away just so I’m not confronted with them.

This is not the man who my mom once loved. I don’t even recognize him anymore.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t find out what you did?” He sneers, “You’ve embarrassed the Moreau name.”

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