Page 26 of Bought By the Mafia

The sex was amazing. Probably the best I’ve ever had. I kept reaching for her throughout the night and each time we came together was better than the last. She was so responsive and in tune to what I wanted in an almost telepathic mode. And she was such a pleasure to please. I wanted her to enjoy the act as much as I was. I wanted to hear her cries of ecstasy. They were an aphrodisiac all on their own. By the time the sun came up, we had made love so many times that I had lost count. And when I woke up, it was to her scent filling my nostrils and her limbs entangled with mine in restful slumber. My gaze swept over her as she slept and remember thinking, I would love waking up like this every day. It was a thought that came out of nowhere and any other time, I would have jumped out of bed and kicked her out. But not that day. That morning, it was a comforting feeling. It was the first time I wanted to spend my life with someone and we had just met. It should not make sense, but somehow, on that day, with her, it did. The feeling was exhilarating. So much so I did the unthinkable. I pulled her closer to my chest and wrapped her in my arms. I was snuggling. Giovanni Morelli does not and has never snuggled with any womanever. It felt good. I wanted to do it more often. Simona had flipped something within me. I liked it.

Now

I came back to the penthouse to be greeted by the hustle and bustle of people running around the apartment. The living room was a mess, with clothes, fabric, and garment bags strewn all around. A woman pushing a rack of clothes rushed past me, not even noticing that I was standing there. Even Mickey and Johnny were busy removing clothes from bags. And amidst all the chaos was Simona. She was in the middle of the room giving orders to a woman in black thick-rimmed glasses who was furiously noting down on a tablet.

“What’s going on?” I was so puzzled I couldn’t sum up any anger. I was more curious than anything else, but the room went quiet and all attention turned to me, then swiveled to Simona. She glanced up and in my direction. She frowned, as if surprised to see me, which was odd because I had told her I would be coming. My business deal ended up not taking longer than I originally thought and came back home earlier.

“You’re back already?” she asked. “Why didn’t you say you were coming?” She didn’t even look the slightest bit guilty. I caught her turning our apartment into what one can only call a fashion disaster zone, but was instead interrogating me about coming back to my home. The audacity.

“I sent you a text. Are you converting the apartment into a shopping mall?” I made my way to her, kicking away some boxes and paper bags on the floor. My anger slowly building. Everyone else went back to their business as if nothing else had occurred. Mickey and Johnny at least had the decency to be embarrassed and dropped whatever they were doing. Simona, on the other hand, was acting as if all of this was normal. Nonchalantly, she replied. “Sorry, I was busy. I didn’t see it. As for the mess, the store is being renovated, and the clothes came too early and everything needs to be organized so…” she shrugged, leaving the sentence hanging. As if the obvious answer was to bring hoards of people to my apartment.

“Can I talk to you for a second?” I didn’t wait for her to answer. I grabbed her hand and all but dragged her out of the room. She didn’t resist. We went to the first room I could think of, which was the study, and closed the door behind us.

“What the fuck are you thinking?”

“Nice greeting. Not even how are you? Just straight into,” she put on a mocking tone, “What are you thinking? What’s going on?”

“Both reasonable questions to someone finding out their home has been invaded by twenty-something fashionistas running in heels. Do you even understand who you’re married to? The danger you’ve put us in. Do I need to explain it to you again!” I didn’t mean to shout, but I ended up raising my voice the longer she stared at me with incredulity. As if I was the crazy one.

“Come on. They were all vetted. I don’t think any of them are plotting to assassinate you in your sleep.”

I closed my eyes and rubbed my temple, feeling a slight headache coming on. “Can you act like someone from your background for one second? Why the fuck are you bringing in strangers in our home?”

She rolled her eyes. “Like I said, the store is being renovated and we need a place to organize the clothes I ordered. I’m sorry they got in your way while you were not even around.”

“Can you not act like a child and listen to what I’m saying, like an adult?”

Now it was her turn to raise her voice. “You’re being anal! I told you, everyone’s vetted. They’re not going to steal your shit or kill you, okay! God!” she marched towards the door. I blocked her. “Where are you going?”

Arms akimbo, she said, “To tell them to leave. Isn’t that what you want?” She bit her lip. It was not supposed to be sexy, but it was to me and for a second, I forgot I was angry with her. For only a second. “The two weeks you were away were the best time I had ever had, by the way. I wish you never came back.”

“Really. I remember you rushing into my arms the last time I left for a similar period.”

“That was before I realized how much of a dick you are. Something which you’re proving now.”

She bit her lip again. What was it about her? I was angry at her for not just exposing me, but exposing herself to danger. I was tired and jet lagged from a long trip. And yet all I could think of now was how much I wanted to have sex with her. It was ridiculous considering I had left for precisely that reason. I chose to go do a deal any of my underlings could have done because I wanted some time away from her. I left the morning after the party because I didn’t like how I felt. She had turned me into someone who is obsessed sex, something that I am not. Whenever she was in my presence, I could not think of anything else. Putting distance between me and her seemed to be the solution. It failed. The entire time I was in Japan, all I could think of was here. Who was she with? If she was seeing her old boyfriend. Or that guy from the party. Or both. I even thought of putting a tracker on her phone until I realized how insane that was. I was acting like a typical Morelli. Something I vowed to never do. I was not my brothers, I definitely was not my father. But that doubt, that jealousy, was still there in the back of my mind. During work, during rest, when I ate and when I slept.

“Is that what you were doing when I was away? Getting your business up and running?”

“I have to put that cool mil you gave me to use. What did you think I was up to?”

It was best not to tell her how wild my thoughts had gotten, even if she hadn’t done anything. If she knew how I felt about her, she would use it against me. I could not let her have a weapon like that. Not a woman like her. “Shopping and stuff,” I said.

“Right. Cause women be shopping.” She looked hurt, and I almost wanted to take it back, but something in me, some protective spirit, made me double down. “It’s not as if you’ve ever contributed to society before. You’ve only taken from it.”

“And how have you contributed to society? From my perspective, you’re the one who’s stealing from people through both your legal and illegal businesses.”

I stepped into her space. She did not step back like I thought she would and instead held firm and glowered back. Her eyes were glassy and her chin was shaking, but no tear fell. She was strong, I’ll give her that. “You have no qualms spending the money I give you,” I said.

Simona started and stopped, then started again, straightening her posture as about to throw a retort, but then she backed down. She turned her gaze away from my face to the door. “Welcome home, husband. Now can you please get out of my way so I can do your bidding like I good little wife?”

“Good. Next time, hire a warehouse.” I stepped out of her path and let her leave. I sighed as I leaned against the door, feeling all the strength leave my body. My eyes got heavy and my head ached. This wasn’t the homecoming I intended. I didn’t want to start a fight with her, but seeing her in her element triggered something inside me. She looked so carefree and focused and I was, I hate to say it, but I was warmed by it. Until I realized what I was feeling and for whom I was having those feelings. It was unfamiliar territory; one I was not used to being on and I had to get back to what I know.

What was worse is, it was the same feeling I had that time at the party. After we were done fucking, instead of going back to hatred and revulsion or even more indifference, I felt warmth. It was also the same feeling I felt when we had sex for the very first time five years ago. Nothing good came out of feeling like that. Only pain.

I listened as Simona told her people to leave, followed by shuffling of feet, rustling of paper, plastic, and fabric, then finally, silence. Mickey and Johnny were still there when I got out of the study. They were helping Simona clean the mess, and it seemed from the looks of it, they had neatly organized all the clothes on racks put in the corner. The two men looked at me apologetically, but I waved them off. It wasn’t their fault this time.

I left them to their cleaning and went upstairs. When I finally descended back to eat, it was evening. I asked the part-time chef to whip up a meal for my return, and a mouth-watering aroma filled the dining room when I entered the dining room. Whatever he was cooking, it was worth the exorbitant amount I paid for him.

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