Hero: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance (14 page)

Her eyes opened and she blinked hazily at me as I dipped to kiss her gently, still holding that beautiful gaze, my burning need both intensifying it and making it hard to focus. Curiosity seemed to flick across her expression, and as her hands lifted from my shoulders to curl in my hair, that strange feeling that had been building in me all evening suddenly relaxed and released and…

“I love you, Lottie.”

Her eyes widened, then a deep happiness washed across her face, the light that came with it chasing the last remaining shadows from that intoxicating gaze. She smiled up at me, wide and uncontrolled as her grip on me tightened.

“I love you too.”

Her voice was a whisper, almost a sigh.

“I loved you from the first moment I saw you, Jason.”

At the dubious expression that crossed my face, she laughed, light and free.

“I know, it sounds ridiculous. But it’s true. I loved you then, deep inside - it just took time to work out what it was.”

Her smile was infectious.

“And when did you work that out?”

True to form, she tried to answer honestly, and gave me greater insight into my own thoughts than into hers.

“I don’t know. But the first moment I thought it…that was when you said it.”

She shifted on top of me, and gave me an almost impatient look as she captured my mouth again.

“Show me, Jason. Fuck it. Show me you love me.”

If there was ever a challenge I wanted to answer, that was it. I groaned hard, then pinned her under me as I started to move with all the power and strength my military-fit body was capable of. She gasped immediately, moaning while my mouth and tongue lavished her, the sweet warmth of her core closing around me again and again.

I could sense the pleasure and need building within her as I drove towards my own release, wanting to make sure she felt nothing but this. With those three words, everything within me had been released and there was nothing left to deny. I loved her. She was perfect. She was mine.

And in this world we’d built together, out of the ashes and pain of everything around us, there was nothing we needed but each other. Anything else could wait. This was for us.

“Oh god…”

Her muttered exclamation fired my blood and I growled her name as I pushed us closer and closer to that edge. I knew her tells now, could track the slow fire building within her and sense when she was ready to burst. Taken by my own rushing desire, I still leaned forward, my mouth hovering at her ear as I gave one last thrust…two…

“I love you Lottie. My Lottie.”

She screamed as she flew over that edge, crying out my name in such an ecstatic, soaring voice that my own climax rushed through me, her sweet core flexing and drawing it out as we flew together.

My mind saw white as shudders ripped through me and I caught her up in my arms. It took several moments before the fierce pride and joy finally started to fade and I could bring us down gently, shifting to lie next to her.

I wrapped her in my arms and pulled her back close to my chest as I nuzzled at her neck again. I couldn’t get enough of her. No matter what I did, I was never satisfied. I muttered something to that effect and she sighed, shifting back against me.

Even after what we’d just done, my spent cock twitched in interest as it settled against her ass, and she laughed lightly. My hands were still exploring - ever exploring - those delicious curves that I’d made mine tonight. That feeling, more than anything, left me with a satisfaction I’d never felt before.

After a few of the most peaceful moments I could remember, she shifted against me, her head half turning as she spoke into my shoulder.

“Should we…?”

It was a reluctant, resigned question, and I determined then that I was never going to let her feel that way again. I pulled her closer against me.

“No. Tonight, you’re staying with me. Here, in my arms. I’m not letting you go, Lottie. Not ever.”

She sighed with such blissful content it made me curse all the times we’d wasted being too careful, when we could have been doing this.

I didn’t have a clue how we were going to face the real world again after this night, but that was a concern for the morning.

Chapter Sixteen

Lottie

“Whiskey Island. That’s what Dexter said.”

“…three weeks from now?”

I barely caught the muttered response, my heart beating too loudly in my head, and I wished like hell I could keep calm - but I finally had a place. And even a time.

Thank you. Oh god, thank you. Finally.

It had only been a few days since that perfect night with Jason, but they had crawled by, becoming more and more uncomfortable as I found it harder to tolerate being around Jorge’s gang and unable to see Jason every day. Since we’d finally acknowledged what we meant to each other, it had been unbearable knowing I had to come here each day. If it wasn’t for that need to finish it - to know that all the time and sacrifices I’d already made would be worth it - I wouldn’t have gone back after that night.

And now…finally…I could leave.

Pay attention damn you!

I forced myself back to their discussion, feeling horribly exposed listening at the doorway of the next room. But no one came in here - this was my place. Why Jorge had insisted on moving the medical supplies to the room next to his self-appointed office, I had no idea, but it had finally given me the opportunity I needed.

“Time to get ready, Alfonso - the biggest deal we’ve had, and it needs prep.”

Alfonso muttered something again, and I strained forward to catch it. I couldn’t distract myself with what this meant for me - and Jason - now. I had to get everything I could from it.

“I’ll say…really think Xero will keep his word?”

That had my eyes widening - it was the first time I’d ever heard about Xero directly. And that implied…more planning than I liked to think about. My initial guess looked even more likely now - these guys knew Xero, and even more - they were counting on his return.

There was a scuffle, and when Jorge’s voice came again it was almost chilling in its intensity. Out of everything I’d heard and seen from him, I couldn’t remember
that.

“Never say that name. Fuck it, you know the rules.”

I heard Alfonso sputtering, almost in time with the skipping beat of my heart, and then he obviously gave in.

“…sorry…”

There was a pause, enough that I almost wanted to edge away from the door, just on the off-chance that they were coming to check whether they’d been heard. It wasn’t likely, but I felt alarmingly paranoid now. My mind was racing with possibilities, and in the brief silence I wondered whether Jorge and Alfonso had been involved with Xero’s gang before…thoughts of Jason’s family flicked through my head before I could stop them, and my own loathing supplied the images of those sinister faces standing over them, even if I was almost certain it couldn’t be true.

Then Jorge’s voice came back and snapped me out of the brief horror, his tone light hearted and easy-going as if it hadn’t been menacing seconds before - those same mood swings that often caught me off guard.

“Stop worrying, Alfi - who knows, maybe you’ll even get a go at one of the girls, eh?”

The good humor of his tone contrasted with those sinister words and I froze.

What the hell were they planning?

I heard Alfonso grunting, then movement, and I retreated quickly. I’d heard everything I needed to, and I wasn’t going to risk this information in trying to hang about for more.

God, what were they doing?!

I couldn’t help the horrific images that flashed through my mind -
girls
- and I wanted nothing more than to retreat to Jason, tell him everything and get the hell out of here. Leave Jorge for good. I could almost taste the relief of it.

The rest of the day dragged by slowly as I tried to act normal and do everything that was expected. I still liked the chance to help those I could, but what we were doing was more important than that now - and, even if it was selfish, I was done with this. When Jorge’s gang finally broke, I hoped more than anything the small comforts and care I’d shown to some of these kids would give them a hint of better things they could live for. But for those that didn’t, there was little more I could do, and I knew that now.

My father’s debt had been paid a couple of months ago, I had my experience, I’d helped some of these guys, and most importantly, I’d found enough information to end their choke-hold over my home. It was everything I could have hoped for, and I just had to deal with another few hours of it. Then I was done.

I thought briefly of the book I’d stashed away at home, and finally made a decision about it. I’d give it to Jason. Let them do what they would with it and end Jorge’s operations for good. I trusted him, and with that, I was sure Valentini could end this for good.

By the time my work was finally done, I was smiling to myself at the thought, heart lifting as I packed up for what would be the last time. As I glanced up, I met Jorge’s eyes, surprised to see the man standing in front of me. He returned my smile with a sleazy one of his own, and I got goosebumps down the back of my neck as he looked me up and down.

“Come with me, Lottie. I need you for something.”

My heart sank as he looked at me, two of his more trusted thugs behind him, and I tried desperately to think of a way out. I’d been so ready to leave that even the idea of a few more hours following him to some dump where his guys had taken an unexpected hit was almost too much.

I bit my lip and watched as he started to frown.

“Okay.”

The last thing I wanted to do was raise suspicions. I simply wanted to get out of here - calmly and easily. If that meant another few hours in Jorge’s company, well, I could do that. I’d never said no before, and now seemed like a bad time to start - not if I wanted to call it quits the next day without him thinking anything of it.

I knew better than to ask where we were going or what he needed me for as we left, all four of us piling into a car together. Jorge slid over next to me and my pulse sped up as I tried to keep as far away as possible. His hand landed on my knee and I glanced at him, clear distaste on my face. He only grinned at me, not moving his hand.

I was still trying to think of excuses as we stopped and emerged from the car to a rough looking motel. It was the kind of place Jorge would use for meetings with some of his less reputable contacts, but I was suddenly getting a strange feeling about the whole thing. I gave him a sidelong glance, but he didn’t even look at me as he walked forward, his two thugs following - Gary and Jacks, I vaguely recalled.

Following uneasily, we took the stairs to one of the rooms without even talking to the guy at the entrance. I tried to remember details that might be useful later, the butterflies in my stomach were growing too distracting.

Jorge opened a door and the two guys peeled off outside as he gestured me in. Taking small breaths in the dim, musky space, I stepped through and looked around for whoever needed my help.

There was no one there.

“Where’s—”

I stopped as Jorge closed the door, and it suddenly hit me.

No. Fuck no. Not now.

Jorge had a grin on his face, a strange gleam in his eyes, and I backed away a little.

How the hell had I been so stupid?!

“I thought we needed a little time alone, baby.”

Ohh god.

I swallowed hard.

“Jorge…I don’t think…”

Every instinct I’d ever relied on deserted me. I didn’t know whether to be stand-offish, to let him down lightly - the guy seemed to care for me half the time, especially when others weren’t around to see - or to swing for his face.

Fuck.

He approached me slowly, but the triumph in his eyes was obvious.

“I’m sorry, Jorge. I’m not interested. I don’t want this.”

I tried to make that clear, to give him the chance to back down if he wasn’t planning on forcing me, even as my mind ran through and dismissed a dozen different escape options.

Fuck fuck fuck.

One hand came to stroke my cheek and I forced myself not to flinch away. I didn’t want to make him angry…but I didn’t want to seem interested either.

I was terrified, and all I could think about was how much I wanted Jason here, how I couldn’t stand anyone else touching me - especially Jorge.

Jason!

Through the hazy fog of fear and approaching panic, I remembered my only way of contacting him. The phone he’d given me, hidden away in a pocket of my med kit.

I bit my lip as Jorge started talking, trying to work out how on earth to access it without him noticing.

“It’s time to stop playing these games, girl. I know what you really want.”

“Jorge—”

“Stop denying it now - don’t think that I haven’t seen the way you’ve been smiling at me lately. The way you’ve started dressing up. Hell, Lottie, your father’s debt was done weeks ago and you’re still here. Hanging around. Trying to see more of me…”

Oh my god.

I suddenly saw the last few months through his eyes, and everything in me froze.

How could you have been so fucking stupid?

Of course he’d notice. Of course he’d jump to the wrong conclusion. Fuck.

I didn’t know whether part of me should be grateful that his assumptions had probably given me more opportunities than I should have had, but at the same time…

Please no.

As his hand drifted down to grip my chin, my eyes caught on the grubby white bandage under his top, and somehow I managed to pull myself out of the wave of despair for long enough to think.

I grabbed his hand, pushing it away as I met his eyes and shook my head firmly, making a show of disagreeing and stepping back.

“It’s not games, Jorge. I don’t want this. Just let me go home.”

His eyes narrowed and he folded his arms as I continued backing away. He wouldn’t like that. I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to play this, but hopefully—

“Come here.”

The order snapped out in irritation and my heart thumped hard in my chest, a faint stream of hope igniting.

“Jorge—”

“I mean it, girl. Get your ass back here. I told you I’m not playing games.”

“It’s not a ga—”

“Here. Now.”

There. That was his
fucking obey me now
look. The familiarity of this game almost reassured me. Push, object, then at that…submit.

I lurched forward, almost reluctantly, then caught myself on the tattered rug across the floor, tripping forwards.

I let myself fall naturally, the speed and force almost dizzying, but managed to latch onto exactly what I wanted to as I flailed for balance.

Jorge cried out with a harsh grunt as my fingers tore at the still healing cut on his arm and he jerked backwards. That forced me off balance and to the ground, but as I glanced up, I saw that it had had the intended effect.

My eyes widened and I gasped at the beginnings of red appearing on the thin material covering his arms.

“Shit. I’m sorry. Ugh…”

I got to my feet slowly, wary of the pained, angry look on his face.

“Fuck, Lottie. You clumsy bitch.”

“God, I’m sorry. Honestly - fuck.”

I started rummaging around in my med kit.

“Let me fix it.”

Distracted, he rolled up the sleeve on his arm and scowled.

“I’m fine. It’s probably alright—”

“I can’t leave it like that - the stitches must have torn.”

My fingers found exactly what I was looking for, and with my heart in my throat I started typing on keys that had become familiar to me, taking bandages, thread and needles out with my other hand.

“It’s not important, we were—”

“Let me fix it, Jorge. Please.”

It was an effort in coordination, and Jorge’s irritation had my nerves on fire, but as he started towards me I finally hit
send.

When I glanced up, hoping that my guilt wasn’t written plainly across my face, his expression was twisted in frustration and I actually thought he might be more annoyed by the interruption to his seduction attempt than the jagged pain in his arm.

He just looked at me for a moment, then shook his head with a rough chuckle.

“You’re a pain in the ass, Lottie. Never could stand to see an injury you hadn’t fixed yet, could you?”

I didn’t say anything, but he relented, gesturing at the cut.

“I think it’s one of the things I like about you, you know - no matter how inconvenient, you never back down from wanting to do your job. More people should be like that, don’t you think?”

As I started my deliberately slow attentions, I breathed deeply, trying to calm my racing heart and failing utterly as he continued saying things I wished I didn’t have to hear. At least he seemed in a talkative mood now, the brief anger faded as he no doubt focused on how he imagined this was going to go. The idea made me shudder, but I didn’t dare react.

There were two ways I figured I could play this; nice and conciliatory, keeping him talking and drawing it out - or shooting him down and putting up a fight. The first could land me in a whole host of trouble if Jason didn’t hurry, but with the second…it would be over quickly, one way or another. And there was no coming back from it. As much as I hated the idea, there was only one way that made sense.