Wicked Little Sins (20 page)

              Adrian slammed his car door in a fit of rage, his heavy boots pounding the long driveway that led up to his parents’ enormous home.

              He was angry for many reasons. He had to deal with his mother who acted like a child on most days, stresses on the job, and his father would soon be out and walking free.

              He nearly knocked over his mother’s staff as he barged in going straight to the family room. He knew she was in there; her voice wasn’t hard to miss.

              Large exotic plants hung from the ceiling, red curtains drawn open letting the sunlight cascade the gold and red room. Evelyn lay like an old starlet from the movies, draped in a fancy Asian robe. Her hair was in rollers and a small Asian woman was painting her toes. She bathed in the sunlight, looking nothing less than royalty. It irked Adrian that she couldn’t even acknowledge he had busted his hump to be back in time.

              “I’m here, Mother,” Adrian spoke up, taking a seat across from her on the large sofa. He stared at her as he waited for her to turn her head and acknowledge him.

              “Did you have a pleasant trip, Adrian?” she asked, no emotion—only the cold, flat tone he was so used to hearing from her.

              “Yep, until I had to return home,” he said.

              “Was it all you dreamed it to be?” she asked, finally turning her head, her eyes boring a hole into his skull as she stared him down.

              “Cut the bullshit,” he said, getting annoyed.

              “Yes, Adrian, was it all you dreamed it would be? Are you in love with this blonde bimbo?” his brother, Angelo, asked as he entered the room. He raised his glass of scotch, a cavalier grin spreading across his face. He swirled his glass watching so the ice cubes didn’t slip out.

              “Wow, on time for once,” Adrian said, ignoring his brother’s insult. Adrian didn’t react to his taunt. He knew all too well if you showed any weakness, his brother would never let up. 

              “I’m always on time, bro. Hey, Mom, what’s there to eat around this place?” he asked, plopping down next to Adrian. Angelo wasn’t concerned in the least that he’d invaded Adrian’s personal space when his pushed a muscular leg into his brother’s.

Evelyn pulled her eye mask down, resigning to a nap, not concerned that her sons were there and waiting. Adrian hated how demanding and selfish she was.             

“Miss Evelyn is going to take her nap now,” her butler, Jacque, said as he began cleaning up after her.

He kept his eyes on the ground afraid to look at the two enormous men in front of him. He was afraid of their mother, but terrified of them.

              “Miss Evelyn is going to tell us why she called us here, and then she can take a nap,” Angelo responded, irritated. Adrian rolled his eyes, knowing what was coming next.

              Evelyn rose from her chaise lounge like a rabid animal. She tore her face mask off throwing it at Angelo. Jumping on top of her golden coffee table, she began shouting.

              Adrian turned away staring at an old painting in the hallway as Angelo sat back and enjoyed the fireworks. It took a lot to make him back down to his mother.

              “Don’t you come into my home and think you’re going to tell me what I can and can’t do!” she screeched.

              “Look--you’re wasting my time, what am I here for?” Angelo asked, crossing his arms, his biceps bulging under his tight t-shirt, his brown hair as unmoved as his reaction to her antics.

              “I want the files. I gave you a deadline. Your father could be out any day now--I’m sure of it,” she said.

              Sam’s release from prison was what Evelyn feared most, she was in a race to the finish line with their father.

              “I’ve got some ideas,” Adrian offered, sending Evelyn’s stare to him now. She tilted her head, interested in hearing what he had to say.             

“I can’t say just yet, but if I could get some more time with Charley I might be able to get you what you want,” he said.

              He wasn’t willing to give up all the details, but he was sure that locket held information. He was sure of another thing as well—he would use any reason to go back to see her.

              Vinnie unlocked his condo door; another day at the studio was finally over. He’d been working every day. Johnny was still upset with him for ditching him at Club Red, so he stiffed him on his hours, leaving Vinnie to pick up the slack.             

As he walked into his living room, he was shocked to see Janelle sitting on his leather couch. She smiled when she saw him; very calm for an intruder, he thought.

“Hey there,” she said, smiling wide showing off her pearly whites.

“I didn’t know you were coming over--how’d you get in here?” Vinnie asked as he walked to the kitchen.

              “The maid let me in. I get the feeling you know a lot of women. I didn’t think you would mind. Do you mind?” she asked, standing in the doorway with her arms crossed defensively. She appeared to be rethinking her plan.

              “No, hon, I don’t mind. I just had a long day and I wasn’t expecting company. Is everything all right with you?” he asked, taking a beer from his refrigerator. He handed her one, heading back into the living room.

              “I missed you,” she said softly, taking a seat next to him. “I know…I shouldn’t be saying that.”

              Vinnie nodded in total agreement.

              “When you hold me, you make me feel incredible. It’s hard to stop thinking about you,” she explained, taking his hand.

              “I’m not Brad. I’m not your fiancée, Janelle
,
” he told her, touching her face. He felt bad that she felt so connected to him.

              “Will you just hold me?” she asked, giving a sad smile. She rested her forehead on his chest, her hand holding tight to his neck. Vinnie sighed and leaned back on the couch. He couldn’t believe the mess he’d gotten himself into this time             

“Janelle, I’m not trying to come off as rude. But I can’t do this. I have a lot going on in my life, and I don’t want to add your pre-marital drama to it,” he said, sitting up. He’d needed to stop this and blow her off like he had the others.

              “What?” she asked, looking guilty.              

“I’m going to go. I don’t know what I was thinking coming all the way over here. You probably think I’m some crazy stalker,” she said, running her hands through her curls. Vinnie couldn’t help himself. He changed his mind so suddenly it made his head spin. He stood up and took her by the arm and pulled her in close and planted a hard kiss on her lips.             

“Okay, now I’m confused,” she said, grinning.

              “There’s something about you,” he whispered in her ear. He pulled her shirt to the side so he could kiss her shoulder.

              She wasn’t like the other girls he’d pick up in a bar or some club. They were similar in that they were both searching for something. She thought her ‘something’ was him. He didn’t feel the same toward her, though. All he thought about on a daily basis was Everly. He enjoyed Janelle’s company and she helped to make life a bit easier for him as he grieved for Everly.

              “There’s something about you too, Vinnie,” she agreed, lifting her head just enough so he could kiss her neck.

              She let him undress her as she did her best to rid him of his clothes. Wasting no time, Vinnie was out of his clothes in a flash. He picked her up and carried her to the couch. Just as things were heating up, there was a knock on the door. He lifted his head to listen, hoping whoever it was would go away.

              Janelle bit at his ear as Vinnie held tight to her wrists and pressed them into the sofa. She didn’t fight him or seem bothered by his actions. This just turned him on more, until that pesky knocking started up again.             

“Is that your door?” Janelle asked, alarmed.              

“Yes, I think they will go away. Just be quiet,” he said, pressing one finger against her soft lips.

              “Are you sure?” she asked again.

              “Yes,” he said as he started up where he left off.             

But the knocking didn’t go away, it only grew louder. Janelle pushed Vinnie off and pointed at the door. She grabbed up her clothes and hightailed it to his bedroom.

              Vinnie threw on sweatpants, adjusting himself before he went to the door. The last thing he wanted was for this unexpected visitor to see what he had going on in his pants. Or knowing what he was doing in his condo. He expected it to be her fiancé, having been in the same situation about a half a dozen times before, he wouldn’t be surprised if it was.

              He slowly opened the door, his gaze coming to a stop on Brad, her fiancé. The look on his face was hard to read, but he knew what was up.

              “Hey there, Brad,” he said, holding tightly to the door frame.

              Brad gave him a stare down going from the top of Vinnie’s head to his shirtless body.

              “Janelle said she had dance class tonight, but she hasn’t made it home. Have you seen her?” he asked. He crossed his arms and waited; his chest rising and falling in a fast rhythm.

              “I haven’t…no haven’t seen her since,” he said, his thick accent making him seem all that more genuine.

              “Well, thanks,” Brad said. Sure, she might not have been with him, but he knew his fiancée had a thing for him. Most women did.

              “Okay, take it easy Brad,” Vinnie said giving an innocent smile, which failed miserably once Janelle came out of hiding and pushed the door open. Vinnie let out a huge sigh. He knew what was coming next.

              Brad’s face grew three shades of red. He looked at Vinnie, totally dumbfounded that he’d just lied to him.             

“Do you think I’m stupid?” he exclaimed.

              “No, I just didn’t want any problems,” Vinnie admitted, placing his hand back on the door frame.

              “Baby, I’ve been really nervous about the wedding. I needed an escape,” Janelle said, taking Brad’s balled up fist in her hand.

              “Are you and he sleeping together?” Brad furiously asked.              Vinnie groaned.

              “You guys, do this in your own home--in front of God and everybody,” Vinnie said. This whole Janelle thing had just worn out his last nerve. He also knew Brad was involved in martial arts, and he definitely didn’t want to get involved in that.             

“No, I want to know what the deal is!” Brad yelled.

“Yes, we slept together, several times actually. But I still want to marry you,” Janelle said, innocently. She acted as if it wasn’t a big deal. But Vinnie knew that it
was
a big deal as Brad came charging at him. He swung his fist, sailing fast for Vinnie’s gorgeous face.             

“Now, Brad!” Vinnie shouted, ducking just in time for the man’s fist to hit the doorframe. He winced in pain, giving Vinnie just enough time to grab him at the elbow and wrench his arm behind his back. He used his other hand to press on his head and neck, guiding him down the hallway.

              “Is that what you do?” Brad asked. He was bent over and out of breath, seething with anger.

              “It was an innocent thing, I swear, Brad,” Janelle spoke up from the doorway.

              “You need to get him out of here, and I don’t want to see you around here anymore. I told you this was going to happen,” Vinnie instructed. He was getting angry as Brad fought against his hold to get loose. This guy knew nothing about him. He’d been a trained fighter for as long as he could remember. Brad had no idea what Vinnie could do to him.

              Brad pushed into him, not budging Vinnie in the least. Vinnie took several calming breaths as he dodged yet another punch to the face. Janelle let out a scream as Vinnie choke slammed Brad to the hallway floor, dropping him like a bag of cement. Pinning him in place, he looked at Janelle one more time to take her fiancé far away from him—Vinnie was close to beating him to death.

***

              Everly made her way to Vinnie’s condo. She was tired of holding out hope that he’d leave her mind anytime soon. He hadn’t yet and she wanted to see him.             

“What is going on?” she asked.

Vinnie was holding a guy down who was desperately struggling to get free.

A pretty, curly-haired girl stood frozen in terror next to his door. It didn’t take her long to figure out who she was. Everly had seen her a couple times taking dance lessons at the studio. Everly slapped Vinnie’s arm, prying his fingers off the man’s throat.

              “Everly, what are you doing here?” Vinnie asked, getting up and forgetting Brad the moment he laid eyes on her.

              “I wanted to see you. I didn’t think you would be busy beating people up; I can come back,” she said, admiring his handsome-as-ever face.             

“No, no I’d love to talk to you,” he assured her. He’d been waiting for the moment to tell her just how he felt. He was finished being stubborn.

              Brad pushed past Everly, running down the hallway. He’d had enough of this guy. He was unable to take him on by himself and he had nothing to say to his fiancée.

              Janelle, on the other hand, wasn’t out of things to say. She walked up to Everly and stood nose to nose with her.             

“Vinnie and I were sleeping together. Just thought you should know before you make any rash decisions. Goodbye, Vinnie.” She flipped her hair off her shoulders, put a smile on her face, and hauled off and punched Vinnie right in the mouth.             

Everly flinched at the impact of the girl’s fist to Vinnie’s mouth. Then she was out of there, leaving Vinnie with a shocked look on his face to go with his split lip.             

“Shit!” he yelled, feeling for blood. Everly laughed, knowing how much Vinnie admired his own face.             

“Come inside, I’ll help you clean it up,” she said. 

Vinnie wasn’t the least bit impressed that she’d found humor in his injury.             

“I can’t believe she punched me,” he grumbled, as he searched through the medicine cabinet. Everly was standing in the doorway waiting. She wore her hair in a ponytail atop her head. The belt of her jacket was tied tightly showing off her tiny waist. Her floral scent filled the room. God, how he’d missed her.             

“Did you really think she wouldn’t? What were you thinking, Vinnie?” she asked.             

Vinnie shook his head. It pained him to look in the mirror at his swollen lip.

              “I
wasn’t
thinking. I missed you and I was stupid. What can I say? I’m an ass.” He winced as he dabbed his face with a towel.              Everly watched him miserably try to tend to his own wounds. She couldn’t be mad at him. Poor guy looked miserable trying to fix up his injury. She turned on the water and wet a washcloth.             

“Cold water stops bleeding,” she said, pressing it carefully to his mouth. He avoided her eyes, ashamed at what Everly had just witnessed.

              “This is going to be worse in the morning,” he whined. His body seemed to deflate as he exhaled hard and long.

              “Just be glad that’s
all
you got,” she mumbled.

              “What’s this?” Vinnie asked, pulling at the chain of her locket to get it free.

              “A gift from my mother. It came in the mail along with a letter. Kind of healing and she had nice things to say about you,” she admitted as she opened up a Band-Aid. Vinnie stared down at her, towering over her small frame as she worked to bandage his face.

              “Wow…I always thought she hated me.”

              “No, she loved you. She thinks you’re a good guy, too,” Everly said.

              Vinnie surveyed her work in the mirror, resting his hands on the sink as he took a good look at his face.             

“So you’re feeling better, you said? That’s good…very good,” he said.

The idea of her being back to her old self filled him with hope. He wanted things back to normal, the way things used to be with them.

              “It
is
good. I missed you, so I came to see you, see how you’re doing. From the looks of things, you’re not doing very well,” she blurted out.

              “I missed you, too. Can we please forget that mess back there?” he asked, turning away from his reflection.

              “You got beat up by a girl.” Everly laughed as Vinnie playfully pushed her.

              “I can’t breathe!” she proclaimed, laughing and wiggling out of his reach.

              “Yeah, what a hoot. I’ll not let you go until you apologize for poking fun at me,” he said, not willing to let her pass.

              “I’m sorry I made fun of you,” she said, pursing her lips and trying to keep from breaking out into laughter again. Holding her hands in the air as a sign of surrender, he gave in and let her leave the bathroom.