Licentious (18 page)

“What happened at Monsoon?” he asks.

My head snaps up, anger and embarrassment flooding my veins. “What?”

“Answer me,” he
orders.

“Do you already know?” I tip my chin up defiantly, eyes narrowed on him.

“No,” he says. “But I’m sure I can find out easily enough,” he tells me.

“So why don’t you?”

“Because I’d rather hear it from you. What happened to Eve?” he asks softly.

Tears spring to my eyes at the mention of her name. Every time
, it’s like a knife through my gut again. I shake my head angrily.

“What happened to Eve, Jo?” he asks again.

“Joey,” I grit my teeth. “Jo’s a family name.”

“Oh,” he nods. “So now you’re going to push me away? Of course
, you are.” He laughs bitterly. “That’s what you do, isn’t it? Find any reason to push every person who wants to be a part of your life away,” he accuses angrily. “You want to be alone forever, Joey? Fine. Wish granted,” he mutters as he walks out, slamming the door in his wake.

I immediately lock the door before stepping back and covering my
mouth with my hand. I turn, walk to my bedroom and slip off my clothes. I pull my brother’s favorite CCR shirt over my head before slipping into bed and crying myself to sleep.

Aléssandro

It’s been three months since I’ve talk to Joey. Three months, and no matter what I do
and no matter how many women I sink my dick into, I can’t get her out of my head. I see her from time to time when she’s here training with Maria, but I do my best to avoid her if at all possible. It guts me every time. Apparently, she and Maria have grown close, and Maria now has Ma, Enedina, and Nina joining in their sessions a few days a week. Kellan comes around when he knows Joey’s here, trying to mend things. According to him and Maria, it’s a slow process, but she’s getting there.

Great. She forgives Kellan
, and she lets my family in, just not me. I had my locksmith change her locks, with strict orders not to accept payment from her. She did send me a thank you text for it. I almost replied.
Almost.
I want her. I want to be with her, and I want her to let me in. Let me protect her. I would cherish her more than anyone else ever could.

“Alé,” Dad says gruffly breaking into my thoughts. Looking up at
him, I say nothing. “Son, you’ve been looking at those books for a while now. Find anything?” he asks as he sits up in his king chair, resting his elbows on his desk.

I drop my pen on my desk, sighing,
and pinching the bridge of my nose. I can feel the beginning of a killer headache creeping in. “So far, I found the same discrepancies as you,” I tell him without looking up.

“Uncle Jack, Nikolas
, and Tommy are coming over tonight. I’m calling a meeting to discuss this business with Cameryn Martin that you mentioned to me. I’ve gone over everything you said, and I agree something needs to be done, but how we go about it is important.

“He’s Joey’s business partner,” I say bitterly. I wonder since I walked away if they’ve patched things up by now.

“Precisely,” he states knowingly. “Alé, you’ve been different since your fight with Joey. Talk to her,” he says.

I look up and see Dad staring at me intently. “What fight?” I ask cautiously. Did she actually talk to
my
family about it? She can talk to them, but she can’t talk to me?

“The fight that apparently made you go from
finally
being happy for the first time in ten years to being cold again. You’re avoiding each other, and yet always watching for each other,” he tells me as he slips his glass off his face and sets them on his desk.

“We don’t watch for each other,” I growl.

“I see you peek over at those damn monitors every time you are in here when she’s here training,” he smiles. “Your grandfather told me something one time, when your mother and I hit a rough patch,” he says. I cock my brow wondering when they’ve ever been in a rough patch. Sure, I’ve seen them bicker, but nothing serious. “When your mother found out about the family business, and that I had chosen to be a part of it, she wasn’t okay with it at first,” he answers my unasked question. “Your grandfather took me out for drinks and said, ‘Frank, Amore regge senza legge. Sequi il tuo euoxe, vivere una vita bella,” he says in perfect Italian, a faraway look in his eyes as if he’s reminiscing of that moment.

I clear my throat, “
That’s great, Dad. But as you know, I speak only a little Italian. What did you say?”

“Love rules without laws. Follow your heart, live your life
.” He smiles.

“That’s beautiful, Dad, but that’s easier said than done,” I say bitterly as I look back down at Tricks’
books in front of me.

“No one said it’d be easy, Alé. They just said it would be worth it.”

Joey

“Cheers!” Addison and I clink our shot glasses together before tipping them down our throats. The burn of the tequila soothes me. It brings the annoyance, the anger, and the hurt that I’ve been stewing over for three months down a notch.

“Hey
, ladies,” a hot blond saddles up to us. Blond hair, hazel eyes, and dimples. Normally, I would be all over him for a night to forget, but Alé ruined me. There’s something about Alé that pulls my thoughts to him always. It doesn’t help that I’ve fallen in love with his family. I roll my eyes toward Addison. She smiles knowingly and puts her game one. This has been our pattern since the last time I spoke with Alé. I tried. I tried so hard to get shit faced to forget everything including him, just to have a good time and get off, but every time I come close to leaving with someone, no matter how I drunk I am, Alé’s face appears at the forefront of my mind, ruining it all.

I look over at the clock hanging above the bar and see it’s only eleven. I’m drunk Maybe even a step past that point. Looking back at Addison, she’s getting friendly with blondie. I nod my head, decision made. I pick up my phone, grab her
arm, and pull her to me. “I’m going to go find Alé,” I yell into her ear over the noise in the bar.

She pulls back quickly, smiles big and shouts, “You
are?”

I nod and smile. “If I can’t have sex with someone else, then he needs to scratch my itch
.” I wink before kissing her cheek and then head outside to hail a cab.

Lucky
for me cabs are out thick on Saturday nights. Since Addison made me dress to the nines in a black lace dress that hugs my curves and hits mid-thigh, cleavage on stage, my legs going on for miles with my red, four-inch stilettos, I don’t have an issue flagging one to stop. Sway and all. I tell the cabdriver where to go, and it feels like the ride took less than five minutes to get there. Paying the driver with a hefty tip, I ask him to wait for me. “If I’m not back in twenty minutes, feel free to go,” I smile. He smiles back as I get out of the car and walk to the door.

Hmm. Maybe I should go to his place first
. I nod. “Good thinkin’, Jo,” I say to myself aloud as I giggle. A few trips over my feet, I finally make it to his door. I knock softly at first and wait, but he doesn’t answer. Knocking harder, still nothing. I try the door knob. Turning it freely, I push the door open. Stumbling through, I turn on the lights and find the place empty.

“I’m going to kill him if he’s with some bimbo. Asshole,” I say angrily to myself, my blood simmering at a slow boil. I walk back around to the front of the house and see that my cab had left me stranded.

“Are you serious?” I growl as I stomp my foot on the concrete like a child in mid-tantrum. “Crap!” I head to the front door and knock softly. I’m irritated, yet nervous. What if he’s not here? What if he is?
Oh, my God, I think I might throw up
. My palms are sweaty and my heart is pounding. I knock again, and instantly, the door opens, Alé filling the space. Shock covers his dangerously, handsome face.

“You’re an asshole,” I growl as I push him back with
my palms connecting with his chest. As I push forward, he steps back, and I fumble forward. Recovering as gracefully as possible, I spit, “Do you know that?”

“
That I’m an asshole?” his voice rings deep, amused.

“Yes!” I nearly yell.

He pulls my arm gently to move me out of the way so he can shut the door. With his back to the door and my back to the rest of the house, I ask, “Do you want to know
why
you’re an asshole, Alé?”

“Pretty sure you’re going to tell me why
, anyway,” he smirks, arms crossed over his chest.

Narrowing my eyes, I slur, “You think this is funny?” I take off my right heel and throw it at him, hitting him in the chest. “That’s for not being home when I knocked and making me think you were fuckin’ some slut.” Taking off my other
heel, I throw it at him but he catches it, which pisses me off even more. “That’s for ignoring me for over three months,” I growl. “Three months, Alé!” I yell, holding my arms out to my side before placing them on my hips. “I even texted you.” I point at him. “I thanked you for the damn locks and not a word back! Who does that?” I ask exasperated. “That’s like… like, from the handbook of douchebag 101,” I tell him, crossing my arms over my chest.

“So, now I’m a douchebag?” he cocks an eyebrow. “Have you forgotten that you chose to be alone?” he asks with an edge to his voice.

“Alé, I can’t!” I yell.

“No, you won’t,” he corrects me angrily.

I push him back into the door. “I
can’t
, Alé,” I yell again. “I can’t have sex, okay?” I say quickly before I can change my mind.

He laughs
. Laughs! “What?” I snap, anger fueling through my veins.

“In case you’ve forgotten
, kitten, we’ve already slept together.” He grins. “If you came here to spew lies, feel free to leave. Don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya.” He gestures toward the door.

“
Ugh! I mean sober, you idiot! I can’t have sober sex! You’ve seen what happens when I even try—I freak out. I get all these, these…” my hands move rapidly with a mind of their own around my drunk-induced brain, “flashbacks. Eve,” I whisper, “Eve was my twin sister. We went to Monsoon for our eighteenth birthday and were brutally attacked. They killed her and left me alive to pass a message on to my brother,” I spit out rapidly. My breathing is erratic and tears free-fall down my cheeks. “Alé,” I breathe, shaking my head. “I have
so
much baggage. I’m literally messed up. I can’t ask someone else to deal with it all. It’s not fair.” I shake my head as more tears fall and I make no attempt to wipe them away.

“Jo,” he whispers in shock as he steps toward me. I step away shaking my head.

“I really do like you, Alé, but I can’t be anything more than friends. I
want
to have you in my life. I want to be friends with you,” I tell him, looking in his eyes, hopeful, biting my lower lip.

He stalks toward me and grasps my face between his warm palms. “Let me in, Jo,” he orders gently. “Let me help you carry the bags,” he whispers as he presses his forehead against mine.

“Alé,” I whisper closing my eyes.

“Jo, let
me
decide for
me
,” he pleads. His thumbs erase the evidence of my tears as they stop the new ones falling.

A throat clears from behind us. My eyes snap open, growing wide, my body freezes. Alé’s mouth tilts at the side. “I was actually in the middle of a meeting,” he says softly.
Um, what?

“Oh, my God,” I groan, closing my eyes and turning
around. Slowly opening my eyes, I see Frank, Uncle Jack, Tommy, and Nikolas standing defensively in the middle of the living room. I hear a sniffle come from the left and see Maria, Enedina, Nina, and Rosetta on the staircase, standing in their pajamas. Shock and amusement filling all of their faces. Tears quietly rolling down Rosetta’s face.

“Sorry, we didn’t mean to eavesdrop,” Maria says quickly. “We just heard yelling and wanted to see…” she trails off. I hold a hand
up to let her know that it’s fine.

“I guess I was
, uh… kinda loud. Sorry,” I duck my head, looking at my feet.

“No need to apologize, Joey,” Frank says stepping forward. “Joey,” he says softly. I slowly raise my eyes and
see concern shining bright in his. “Did they find your attackers?” I shake my head no, biting the inside of my lip.
Why didn’t I check to see if we were alone first?
“Would you like me to investigate?” he asks gently.

I shake my head, hands on my hips, shame filling me, embarrassment heating my face. “They already did,” I say looking down at his chest. All I want to do is run out of here as quick as possible and never show my face again. I can’t believe
that in my own drunken stupor, I neglected to think about anyone else that lives here, or
why
Alé would’ve been at the main house instead of the pool house at this time of night.

Frank comes up to me, lifting my chin until
our eyes meet. “Come, ser bella, come, una stella. Vivere una vita bella,” he says gently before placing his lips to my forehead. “I think you both have much to talk about,” he says patting my cheek. “Alé, go ahead. We’re done here anyway,” he says more firmly.

“Yes,
sir,” Alé says as he clasps his hand through mine, leading me to the patio doors in the kitchen and out to his place. Neither of us says anything. He opens his door, stepping aside to allow me to enter before him.

“I see you were here first,” he chuckles lightly.

I stop in his entry looking around for the first time. Everything about his décor is masculine, but soft enough to be comfortable to a woman. Soft, deep brown leather furniture, hardwood floors, walls the color of sand with colorful paintings of what I assume to be Italy add pops of color. Pictures in distressed wooden frames are sporadically placed around. Family photos, a few people I don’t recognize and one on the side table of a man who looks similar to Alé. I walk over and pick it up, my fingers roaming over the glass.

“That’s my brother, Frank,” I hear him say quietly from behind me.

I smile as I look at it. It’s black and white, Frank has his arm around Alé’s shoulders, and both look to be in a full belly laugh. Perfect moment captured at just the right time.

“My brother
, Aedan, was named after my Dad, too,” I tell him, my voice thick as I place the picture back down.

Now, with my hands empty, and my brain starting to clear from my drunkenness, nerves start to speed through me. My hands
start to fidget as I look at everything but Alé.

“I don’t want you to be nervous,” he says gently as his hands come to rest on my shoulders from behind me.

“I can’t help it,” I whisper.

“I assume you’ve talked to someone about this in the past,” he states.

“Yeah, the investigators who took over the case, and Kellan,” I clarify as I walk to the couch and sit in the middle, resting my head against the back cushion, closing my eyes.

I feel the cushion dip to the right of me as Alé sits beside me. “Kellan?” he asks confused.

“Mhmm. Kellan was the lead detective on the case until I finally told Aedan about… the message,” I say quietly opening my eyes. “Then DCI took over because they considered it to involve an officer.”

“Aedan was a cop?” he asks surprised. Pursing my lips, I nod my head as I begin to push my cuticles back with my
thumbnail. After a few moments, his hand rests over mine to still them. “Joey,” he whispers, “please look at me.”
Does he not understand how hard this is?
“Please.”

Slowly my eyes move, turning my head, I force myself to swallow my pride and look into his dark, near black eyes. “Alé,” I say, my voice cracking, “I really don’t want to talk about this.” I tell him as my eyes begin to cloud with fresh tears.

“Please,” he pleads with me, his thumb softly stroking the inside of my wrist.

“Fine,” I close my eyes and grumble.

“What happened that night at Monsoon?” he asks gently.

I shrug, earning a look of impatience and warning from him. Rolling my
eyes, I lean back into the cushion, averting my eyes to the ceiling. Taking a deep breath to calm me, I remind myself that I will always be alone and miserable unless I take a chance and let him decide for himself.
Here goes nothing
.