Claimed

                                     Chapter 4

Gio

My blood is boiling right now how the Fuck did Tara find out about these tunnels? They were closed off to the public for years where had she found out about them. Worst yet was she had just witnessed me killing three fucking men in front of my family. No one made it in or out of these tunnels unless they were a part of the family. Anyone else was nothing more than a body under the rubble in the tunnels. Had this been how she was escaping me using old passageways out of the city from her office to keep me from finding her. 

I was beyond mad I was boiling, raging, scorching hot fury. She was using the tunnels to avoid me. These tunnels had been abandoned since the fifties no one was allowed near the site because they were so damn dangerous. These tunnels were practically caving in when the family first started coming down here in the fifties.

My family bought the land back then as a discreet way to clear out some unwanted bodies where no one would go searching for them. But here she was with her hair tucked under a strange old miner’s hard hat. Her curls peeking out from under the cap, what was she wearing I survey her clothes a thin black shirt with the shoulders cut out, the free fabric hung around her arms. Causing the v of the shirt to dip further putting her ample breast on full display.

 My eyes land on her tight dark jeans and stop when I see her wearing matching black crocs. What kind of outfit was that for driving through dark dangerous tunnels? I was lost to my anger of her being here that didn’t realize that both my uncle’s and my men were advancing on her, and they were intending to end her right here and now. I had to think of something quick her presence in the tunnels alone sealed her fate whether she knew it or not her little escape route just cost her everything. I was king of this world and as king it was my responsibility to deal with anything that could cause any inconvenience in my kingdom quickly and quietly. 

Whether it was a war with another family trying to steal my thrown or a little mouse stumbling across a very private family dump site. But this was Tara we were talking about she wasn’t just some nosey little reporter she was the one, my one. I knew it from the moment I saw her again in that red dress at the charity function.

 She might still not have been so sure it was clear when she politely accepted my request to dance. The feel of her body pressed against mine the warm light fragrance of flower bomb radiating off her skin to the beautiful warm caramel skin pressed against my own. Everything about her was still fresh in my mind as if it was just yesterday. She was gorgeous and fit so perfectly pressed up against me. But it was also her gentle voice and sarcasm that got my attention.

 When she called me out about being a poser who only contributed to the UFCP for a few photo ops that would appeal to my clientele, that was different than most women I met. Most were gold digging posers who were desperate to prove themselves good enough to be my Comare, queen to my empire.

 Every one of them were pathetic none had the fight that Tara did. She challenged me that night and never backed down no matter how much I pushed. She even had the nerve to avoid me by using my own family’s tunnels, which meant she was smart and resourceful too. Tara also had so many great points of view and concepts on almost anything. It was the only time I felt like I could just be the real me judgment-free and she still saw something in me the real me, I was looking forward to seeing her again. 

Our bond that night had to be something phenomenal she may not have understood it yet, but she was my soulmate, my equal in more ways than one. Whether she liked it or not she was mine, and I wasn’t letting her go any time soon no one but family lived after seeing these tunnels it was a good thing, I just happened to want her as my own already because she sure as shit's going to need to follow my lead to make it out of here alive.

 Once I do what I have in mind she can never leave my side again I alone held her survival in my hands. Unless I suddenly fell the Fuck over, she was safe, and I was Giovanni Berlusconi I didn't go down without a few bodies hitting the ground first and I always collected on a debt. Tara Holmes was now going to know that I’d make sure of it as her soon-to-be husband. I step in between my family and Dons. “Sorry fam this is my fiancé Tara, I told her she could take these tunnels to get around to keep safe, you know women always wanting to have their freedom and shit.” The other Don’s look at each other than break out into laughter the soldiers take their hands off their guns at the sound but don’t stop advancing on her I look over to the right as Steel and Shadow take off faster than the other enforcers too get to Tara first. I look back over to my left locking eyes with my uncle Antonio who nods accepting my explanation, no doubt remembering me talk about all my would-be dates with Tara.

 The woman my guys mentioned also giving them the slip two months back after I had them drop off ten bouquets of red roses to her house. It worked in my favor now that they had also told me this during a meeting, I attended two months ago a meeting I abruptly called to a halt with my uncle and a few shareholders. When I announced I needed to leave to go check on her whereabouts. I relax a bit knowing that I have enough proof to back up my bullshit claim of our engagement. My uncle eyed the extremely nervous Tara as she slowly looked around at the hoard of men descending on her.

Had she ever come to our many planned dates maybe we would have more of a chance of pulling this shit off. I needed to do something to secure my story, or my uncle and the other Don’s would have her taken out right in front of me and I’d soon follow for risking the safety of the family, here's hoping she's as smart as I think. “Sweetheart…” I shout over to her from about thirty feet from the circle of guys swarmed around her. Those fuckers better not have laid a hand on my fiancé, or they would all lose their hands as fucking wedding gifts to my new wife to be. I let up a silent prayer she figured out what I'm doing and that her reason for running was that she now knew who I was. Silence for a beat and then she says "Gio baby is that you what's going on?" She says in a shaky voice. I smile to myself that’s my fucking girl. 

“Nothing sweetheart, I'm just having a contracting discussion with my family about our inheritance property and whether we should sell or renovate it. I forgot you said you were taking these tunnels back home since I was working late tonight.”

"Oh, that's right I forgot you said your family-owned property out this far still, sorry baby I'll get out of your way."

She says and I get the intense feeling she’s about to disappear for good this time. 

Knowing that if I let her leave without out at least an escort my uncles would get suspicious and refusing to give her a way out I speak up. 

"No, baby it's cool we’re almost done here how about you come take a rest on the bus and you can ride back with me to our place."

She looks around quickly assessing her options when she doesn't answer I say.

"Baby don't worry about the bike my cousins will help you." I gesture for the men to take her bike. Was that a fucking Vespa? I hadn’t saw a registration for that in her records with the BMV, yeah, my Tara was different she even found a way to get around the city that I couldn’t track. If she thought for one minute, she was going to keep that piece of shit she was dead wrong. I was sending that thing to a chop shop the minute we left.

 I watched her closely happily playing the love-struck moron who let his woman wrap him around her finger. Slowly my men escorted her to the large tour bus I'd brought to make a round trip back to Philadelphia, just to make sure I would have the chance to catch her off guard before work. I gave her a week to see if she would finally let her guard down. I had every intention on ending her little reprieve with a surprise visit in the bus outside her office when she arrived this morning. Looks like it was just as useful as a makeshift place to keep her confined until I wrapped up here.

 But here she was right where I wanted her to be. She won't escape me anymore she was now mine her words confirmed it so she couldn't just walk away from me. I couldn't wait to make her mine for real she was going to be my wife she would learn to love me too. I smile as the tour bus door closes behind her sealing her exit and turn back to look at the world most deadly men.

“Damn Gio, she must have one hell of a pussy if she’s got you grinning like the cat that ate the canary after you already put a ring on it.”  A roar of laughter echoes through the tunnels at my uncle Vinny’s words.

“Shut up Vinny your ass couldn’t even remember how to zip your pants every time you left Lisa’s place after you both got engaged.”  My cousin Sal chimes in making the guys laugh again.

“That’s how I know he’s pussy Whipped twenty years and I still need Lisa to help me zip my pants up at least twice a day.” Vinny responds holding his hands up in surrender. The guys break out into laughter again and I join in too my uncle looks at me suspiciously but shakes his head obviously buying the story of my new fiancé. Soon we return to talking discussing the issue of the trafficking issue and quickly burry the bodies of the three bastards Shadow tracked down involved in the most recent missing children’s case along with a few other topics as the crew returns to drilling covering any discussion we don’t wont slipping through the cracks.