Men of Mayhem (67 page)

“I have to go. I’ll see you soon, I promise.”

“I’ll be waiting,” I replied as Jay’s men came toward me and ushered me out of the room.

I gave myself one glance back and saw Devon staring after me. I noticed a pain in his features as he watched us leave, but it was soon wiped away as his men came into the room and demanded to know what happened to Riccardo. Once I was safely out of the building I knew Devon busied himself by spinning a tale of deceit and murder, making sure Riccardo was knocked off the pedestal so many of the men had put him on. By later tonight, if everyone believed the lie, I would be reunited with him and maybe the war would be over.

Devon

One Year Later

“Happy Anniversary, Mrs. Rizzo.” I lightly tapped my glass on Faith’s before taking a sip of the dark red wine for our toast to ourselves.

As she had done in the coffee shop two years ago, almost to date, she offered me an alluring smile that still took my breath away to this day. She wore a fitted dress that had caught my attention instantly, and I was suddenly glad that she had offered to cook for our anniversary. Mostly because I wanted to get her out of the dress as quickly as possible, but especially after the last anniversary had a rough patch. Faith being kidnapped, and me killing the leader of my mafia would do that to us.

I didn’t mind though. We had both made it out alive, and honestly, that’s all that mattered to me. I could have been happy knowing I had saved Faith, but when I heard her barge in to save me, I knew she figured out my plan and forgave me. If that hadn’t been enough proof to say we would be okay, the kiss right after relieving Riccardo of his position would have been.

Since then, we had married. The wedding had been beautiful and intimate, involving family and a few friends picked up over the years. Though the main focus for me was waiting for the love of my life, Faith, to meet me at the end of the aisle. So we celebrated the day of our wedding, and planned to celebrate the day we met every year. It had been my idea, which shocked Faith, especially when I told her I wanted to do it because I never wanted to forget the moment when our relationship started, and not just because it was a ploy for the other mafia. I fell for her that day, and I knew she fell for me as well.

After our wedding, we had taken over the reins of our respective cartels. Faith became the first female leader in the mafia’s history, and I boldly admitted that I had killed Riccardo to save her. No one shed a tear for the fallen leader, but they applauded me for protecting what was mine. The men who had taken her, and the ones who had harmed her had been disposed of early in my leadership. There was no room for them in the Ricci mafia anymore, and there would never be room for them in the Rizzo mafia.

The Morettis had combined with the disbanded Ricci mafia due to our marriage. We took the Rizzo name, and built the new reputation with the Ricci and Moretti remains. Faith and I had quickly taken over, falling into step with running one big mafia, and were on the way to expanding further than either mafia had planned before. It was only possible because the war had ended, and the separate mafias had been able to make amends to work together now. While they were mostly still separate, they were all pleased to accept one another in exchange for less bloodshed.

Now they could turn focus on business instead of killing each other.

Though, Faith and I hadn’t changed much other than taking over their new leadership positions. Faith left most of it up to me, with her father’s blessing, since I knew more about how to run it. It gave Faith more time to consider what to do when I came home. Today it had seemed like dinner to celebrate the anniversary of our first meeting, but she had made sure to keep our game going and tonight was no different.

When I got up to get dessert from the fridge, I quickly learned Faith had hidden it to give herself a little extra time because she had to get ready for the real surprise of the night. I could hear her moving while I dug through the fridge for the cake she had bought earlier. I finally found it and took the plastic covering off before returning to the table. The cake never made it to the table.

As I rounded the corner I caught sight of Faith’s dress, which she had pooled around her high heels. Though she remained covered by the coat I had left on the back of my seat when I had come home. Suddenly, I understood why she had insisted on a store bought cake because the second I saw her, I dropped the cake and let it splatter all over the hardwood floor. If she had taken the time to make it, she would have been a little annoyed that I had dropped her hard work on the floor.

“Are you going to kiss me or just stand there?” Faith questioned with a coy smile at the edges of her lips as she looked me over, but my stare was fixed on the underwear she had on under my coat.

I was itching to take it off of her.

“Or…” I replied as I stepped over the cake and made my way to her. I quickly grabbed her by the hand, eager to get to the part we have enjoyed since day one, and never had to fake for our deception. She eagerly followed me as I led her to our bedroom to complete the final aspect of our game, and to christen the anniversary for the special day it was.

The End

About the Author

My name is Sara, I’m 19 years old, and I was born and raised in Alexandria Virginia. I have always been interested in writing, even started a book in elementary school, but it didn’t get very far. But it wasn’t until high school that my friend, and writing partner, more or less forced me to join an amateur writing site. After some convincing from her, I plucked up the courage and posted one of my stories. While it wasn’t popular at first, I was shocked and overwhelmed by the support of readers on Wattpad, and they gave me the support and confidence to get where I am today. I continued to write religiously for the next three years I was on the website, starting countless stories. I wasn’t worried that they weren’t popular because I had once heard that you shouldn’t be afraid to write crap, because it will make great fertilizer. I can’t wait to start sharing more works and Ideas with you guys!

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/SaraNSchoen

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https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/36172080-sara-schoen

How We Came To Be

Can’t Walk Away Prequel

A Thomas Family Chronicle Novella

Christianna

I glanced over myself, analyzing my appearance yet again. Alex was taking me into the city tonight and I knew I had to play the part. This wasn’t how I normally dressed. Alex had walked into my apartment and handed me this shimmery white dress that I had seen several times in our mother’s studio. She just gave me a look that urged me to agree without complaint, and I relented. It wasn’t really hard to give in when she did things like this. I knew she was right. I needed to go out and start living like the twenty-three-year-old I was.

Alex told me I didn’t have to focus on getting a boyfriend, that I really needed to focus on getting laid. She claimed this had to happen quickly because my attitude was a buzzkill.

Who knew my sex life or lack thereof had become so important to my sister? I wondered if I’d been giving off a needy vibe. I hope I didn’t exude the air of desperation, because that would be pathetic.

I appraised my hair, making sure it looked halfway decent before adding another swipe of mascara and dabbing the lip gloss on my bottom lip before rubbing the two together. I stepped back and looked at myself in the full-length mirror. I didn’t look half bad. Hopefully Alex would be pleased with my effort.

Slipping my feet into the four-inch silver stilettos she’d left for me, I took a deep breath before turning the doorknob.

Alex looked up from whatever she was doing on her phone and smiled. “I knew you had it in you. You’re gorgeous, Chris. I don’t know why you don’t show yourself off more.”

“I don’t show myself off because I want a guy to want me for me, not because of the fancy clothes or my painted face. Just the me who loves t-shirts and jeans and a makeup-free complexion.”

“Yeah, well, that’s all well and good for some people, but you’re a Thomas, darling. And we always go out looking like gems.”

“Which is another reason why I don’t go out. I don’t like the fuss or the trouble.”

“I hope to change your mind one of these days. I will continue to try.” She laughed, and I shook my head.

“Where are we going, anyway?” I asked, trying hard to prepare myself.

“A club downtown called Prima Vista. It’s been around for a few months but it’s always been so hard to get into. Tonight is ladies’ night, hot ladies’ night, so it should be no problem to get in.”

“Do you have an alternative plan if they don’t think we’re hot enough?”

“Don’t worry, I got this.”

Alex had called a car service we used on occasion. A driver I had seen several times before smiled at us both as he opened the door. No words were spoken as he slid into the car and took off. He navigated the busy roads of downtown D.C. with ease, making almost every light, and we arrived at Prima Vista in no time.

I watched as Alex touched up her lip gloss, adjusted her boobs for maximum cleavage, and shifted toward the door just as it opened. We got out of the car, and Alex handed him a tip as she passed before grabbing my hand. She walked right up to the line where women of all shapes, sizes, and colors turned to look at us. The bouncers practically tripped over themselves to open the velvet rope and let us in. I heard a few snickers and snide comments from the ladies waiting in line, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to see what the fuss was all about.

The club vibrated with sound, wall to wall people dancing to the music that shook the floor. Alex bobbed every now and again to the beat as she glanced around, getting a good look at her surroundings.

She found an unoccupied couch on the opposite side of the room. It overlooked the dance floor and had easy access to the bar. I sat down with her, my purse in my lap, clutching it with a death grip to my legs.

“Do you want a drink?” she asked, and I nodded.

She walked off toward the bar as I sat there protecting that little space of couch we occupied. I’m sure I looked out of place. As I glanced around the room, careful not to make eye contact, I noticed the women who weren’t on the dance floor were grinding on men, sitting on the various couches looking like they would start having sex any minute. I didn’t get it, maybe because I’d been raised to handle myself with decorum. It isn’t like we lived in glass bubbles, we just never did anything stupid or reckless.

There were people out there, paparazzi types, who were ready to catch us in something. Which is another reason why I kept to myself or to my close-knit group of friends and family. The last thing I wanted was to be involved in a scandal and become national fodder for late night talk show hosts, or worse, online tabloid websites. I had known at a young age to always watch what went on around us, since my mother had made a name for herself in the fashion industry, and Dad was the attorney general.

Alex made it back to me with her signature Sex on the Beach, carrying my Pink Lady in her other hand. I wasn’t much of a drinker, but when I went out I preferred a drink that had less alcohol. I took a hearty sip, enjoying the perfectly fruity taste.

“See anyone interesting?” Alex asked as she sipped the straw that bobbed out of her glass tumbler.

“I haven’t really looked around. Well, except to the left there’s a couple that looked like they were going to have sex right there on the couch.” I snorted, taking another sip of my drink.

Alex turned and gasped. “Some people have no class.”

“Maybe we just have
too much
class, and don’t get all this.” I gestured to the rest of the room.

She huffed loudly, vocalizing her irritation. “We belong here. We’re hot, we’re single, and this place was made for us. It’s time you realize it. You’re only twenty-three. You need to experience this in its entirety. You’ve got to live, bitch, live!”

“You know you just called me a bitch, right?” I gave her a confused glance.

“You’re my homie, you’re my bitch, you’re my baby sister, and you’re everything, Chris. I’m determined that tonight is going to be the most unforgettable, incredible night of your life.”

Alex always had good intentions, which normally had me curled up on the couch in my living room binge-watching an Atlanta Housewives marathon while indulging in a pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream, while she went off on one of her sexcapades. I wished that were the case now.

Downing the rest of her drink, Alex set her empty glass on the table in front of us before turning back to me. Noticing my glass was a little less than half-full, she cocked her head and sighed.

“Look, I’m going to go out and find a man to dance with. Finish your drink. Hopefully, it will loosen you up a little bit. If not, get a second, and then come find me or I’ll find you. We’re going to make tonight our bitch.” She cheered as she jumped up and shook her ass down the stairs toward the dance floor.

I laughed. Even though I wasn’t ready to admit it to her out loud, she was right.

Nicholas

My hand flew straight toward the face of the man who stood before me. His head rocked back and to the left, sputtering blood all over the basement wall.

“You really think you could steal from me and I wouldn’t find out about it?” I yelled. Derrick had betrayed the family.

“I…I…I’m sorry, Nico…”

Before he could finish his sorry excuse for a lie, I rocked him with another punch to his jaw. This time he stumbled backward and fell to his ass, clutching his face.

“I don’t have time for lies, nor do I want to hear your excuses. You’ve skimmed almost a quarter of a million dollars from my club and you have the audacity to think you have any justification for doing so? I don’t even know why I would even waste my fists on you. You don’t even deserve to breathe the same air as me.” Pulling out my gun, I didn’t think twice before I sent one bullet through his head.

I watched as he slumped over and took his last breath, satisfied it was over. I turned to the guys who were standing around me, watching.

“Does anyone know where the money went?” I asked, glancing at each of them.

“Seems he had a drug and girl problem, boss,” Bobby replied.

“Of course he did.”

“He had several properties and cars. We could leverage them to get the money back.”

“Knowing he won’t be stealing anymore is enough for me,” I snapped. “Feel free to do what you want with the rest. Make sure you call to have this cleaned up. I don’t want him found.”

Slipping my gun back into my shoulder holster, I turned and walked up the back stairs to my club. Stepping into Prima Vista through the back room, I blended in with my employees who were wandering around taking care of various things. I nodded to one of the bouncers as I passed through the secured door and up the stairs to my office. Once safely inside, I took a seat behind my desk. Powering up my computer, I went into the program so I could check on the sales for the night.

Looking at each of the three bars housed in my place, I saw that the bar on the third tier wasn’t doing much business. I picked up the phone and called Joey, one of my line guys on the floor.

“Boss?”

“Joey, what’s the deal with bar three?” I asked.

“Got a private party up here. They got bottle service about two hours ago.”

“That’s unacceptable. They either turn over the bottle faster or they start buying more alcohol. Either that, or I’ll open up the third floor to everyone. I’m sure there’s a line of people outside wanting to come in here and get drunk.”

“Sir, he’s one of the Wash—”

“I don’t give a fuck if he’s the President of the United States. I’m a businessman, and my business thrives because people are here buying alcohol. If I let some rich motherfucker sit in my place and take up valuable real estate while he doesn’t pay for the right to be here, I might as well just close the place down. You either tell him to abide by the rules, or he gets the fuck out,” I screamed into the phone.

“Yes, sir. I’ll tell him.”

I hung up. My office door opened and Luke walked in with an expression of annoyance on his face.

“I could hear you yelling downstairs.”

“Good, because I’m pissed.”

Luke walked over to my desk with his hand out, holding a piece of paper. I took it from him and opened it up.