Lucy POV"I was expecting a very different mood from him. What did you do? Break his cock?" Vinnie grinned as he fell into step beside me."What is wrong with you?" I shot him a disgusted look."Relax, I'm just playing." He raised his hands in mock surrender."Well, it's not funny," I muttered, crossing my arms. "I'm hungry.""And pissed." He smirked. "You turned him down, didn't you?"I stiffened. That better not be the reason why Michael was acting like this. He wasn't mad when I first stopped him though. "Drop it." I focused on the menu instead, ordering fast and slamming my tray onto the table.Michael sat a few tables away, glued to his laptop like the rest of the world didn't exist. His shoulders were tense, his fingers flying over the keyboard, and I knew he was still pissed. Probably as pissed as I was. But he had no reason to be.I should have told him the reason I got weird about sex. What happened years ago and how I was terrified of getting pregnant. I almost lost contro
Michael POV"Hands up." I ordered Lucy and she gave me another disapproving look."I don't like this, Michael." She whined."I don't care. Do what I tell you or I swear I won't fed you for days." I warned her, but I had lost all my power the second I had let myself touch her. "You're an idiot!" She rolled her eyes at me. "You think I actually believe...," she was about to go off on another annoying rant. I quickly stepped to her, swiftly moving my arm around her head and thigh to her stomach. She screamed as I flipped her over, landing her flat on her back."I hate you." She cried, her back arching on the mat."You would hate me less if you could kick my ass." I stared down at her, hands on my hip unsure what to do with her. She was so damn weak and didn't even care. I got this stupid idea to stop at the gym down the street from our safe house in Texas. I thought maybe we could take an hour to go over some basics since Niko hadn't arrive yet. I thought maybe I could at least teach
Lucy POV"Is he going to get me back for that?" I asked nervously as Vinnie opened the car door. I had been really pushing my limits with Michael, but kneeing a guy in the balls was probably enough to get me killed."I'm sure he'll find a way to make you pay, but I'm sure you will enjoy it too." He laughed."We aren't together." I shot back defensively. I hated how he constantly joked around about everything."Oh, I know, and it's driving everyone crazy." Vinnie lost his smile, staring at me with utter annoyance. Now what did I do?"Do you want me gone too?" I asked shyly. I bet he was also pissed Ariel and Sio had to leave because of me. I'm pretty sure Ariel tried to have me killed though."I didn't say that. Just stop messing with Michael. He seems fine but his sister was kidnapped right in front of him. If he doesn't kill someone soon, he will lose it and go postal on the whole world. You're a good distraction, but not like this.""How am I messing with him?" I scrunched my face.
Amy POVI was literally chained to a bed all day with no food or visitors. I was so pissed at Killian but I knew it was any second now my brother would burst through the doors. He has to be in Texas by now and already locked on our location. "Enjoying your punishment." Dylan laughed at me over the bed."This is bullshit? What the fuck does Killian hope to accomplish?""He thinks you want to be his pet. He is breaking you down for complete submission." Dylan smiled a little wider over me."Submission? Please, I wouldn't submit to him." "Pretty sure you already have. You begged very loudly for more too." Dylan teased as he undid my handcuffs."It was just sex. Really good sex too." I smiled, my hand rubbing my wrist. "What?" I shot back at him. I saw the way he judge me. "Nothing," he chuckled, undoing the handcuffs around my ankles. "Girls aren't usually so open about how much they like being tossed around.""Whatever! We all have sex, it not something to be ashamed of. Any news fr
Michael POV"You fucking Lunatic!" Niko railed into me the second we walked through the door. I guess he lied about being a few hours out. Lucy quickly jolted behind me and I watched her try to hid in my back. She was hopeless. "Nice to see you too. You have eyes on Amy?" I cut right to the chase."Amy! I got Amy and I will protect her. You, oh you..." Niko grabbed his gun from the counter and began pacing. Paul stepped between us, whispering something to try and calm the dinosaur down."She is my sister. I already warned you not to get in my way." I spewed nothing but hate at him. I had enough shit going through my head right now."Your sister?" Niko shouted. "Do you have any idea how much danger you put her in?" "Me? You're the idiot that can't even keep his house in order.""Me?" Niko pushed Paul to the side and got right in my face. "I have..." I got right back in his face when little hands pushed at my chest. "Will you both calm down!" Lucy shouted, a hand on each of us, pus
Michael POV"I don't know what she is talking about." I grumbled, lying uncomfortably on a twin size mattress."Yes, you do." Vinnie cleared his throat. He was sitting on a chair beside me, fingers on the bridge of his nose. "We are so fucked. We thought someone was trying to hack our accounts to move money, but they were really leaking info to Niko this whole time.""I'm trying to understand, Vinnie, but I feel like I might throw up. Spell it out and quickly." I asked with a deep whine."We stole from Niko, been watching his warehouses and hideouts. We were kids just messing around back then." He looked at me and I saw the regret on his face. "Five years ago, I sold some old data to Killian.""What?" I shot up then crumbled back down in pain. "Why the fuck..." I shouted."We needed an in with the Irish mob. He was an up and coming player at the time. You said to get on his good side and you didn't care about Niko, as long as you were the one that got to kill him. It was an easy in."
Niko POV"What the fuck are we going to do?" I paced the kitchen floor. I had a little fucker in one room to my right and a crying teenage girl in a room to my left. "I'm too old for this shit.""Michael is misguided, but a smart fucker." Paul smiled at me, relaxing on the couch like he had no worries in the world. He was getting old too."We aren't trusting Michael." Gio quickly challenged."There was a time we didn't trust you." Paul shot back at him."Enough!" I shouted just as Viv finally returned. She had two grocery bags in her hands that instantly fell to the floor when she saw my face. "Kitten, we need to talk." I tried to calmly speak, knowing I was about to get my ass handed to me."Calm down? Calm down?" She said with all her fury. She was so damn sexy, and very fucking lethal. "Kitten, please, let's sit and talk calmly." I tried to move us to the couch. Paul and Gio jumped up and raced out the door. Fucking cowards!"Do I look like I'm in the mood to be called your kitt
Lucy POVEverything inside me was on fire. I grabbed at my hair, kicked the bed and wanted to scream on the top of my lungs. I couldn't be here. I couldn't look at him and not want his death. I sat on the bed, steadying my breaths. I needed to go home. I went to the bathroom and turned on the shower, then slipped out the window. It was probably a stupid plan, but I didn't care. I have my Id and credit cards, plus Niko was probably going to take me home anyway. I didn't need to wait any longer. I couldn't. I walked right past some guards, waving to them like nothing was suspicious. I wasn't an enemy, or even a threat. And that is exactly how I got in a car and just drove off without anyone even trying to stop me.After ten minutes on the road I just broke down, crying the whole way to the airport. I was a mess, ready to break at any moment. It felt like I couldn't breathe any air other than that in New York."One way ticket to JFK." I asked at the counter, handing the lady my license
Amy POV"What did I do now?" Lucy whined like I was some nuisance. She was the one causing so many problems. She almost killed my brother because all of a sudden sex didn't freak her out."Why are you moving the Grasso on the same floor as us?""Michael wanted them close. He has the entire house wired with cameras, but just in case they try to make a move no one from Niko's side is hurt.""Then why am I still on the third floor? I should be moved with Niko's men." "Amy." She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I thought you liked your room and wanted to be close to your brother. Besides, you seem more than happy to shoot some people if the occasion arose.""My brother is down here. I'm only close to you." I shot back and Lucy got nervous real quick. "Great!" I shouted in disbelief. She actually plans to share a room with him. "Are you trying to stay here now? You don't belong here, Lucy. You don't want to be here! You by Michael's side will only get you both killed. You can't
Lucy POVThat night with Michael felt like another reality. The way he was with me, how open and vulnerable he became. How he loved me without any concern or fear about what it all meant. He wasn't anything like I thought he would be but was everything I wanted. We came together like we were always meant to be. But the next day, he slept, a lot. He was awake only a few hours to eat, took his medicine, and passed back out. I felt like a total idiot. I was so worked up from everything and just wanted to feel him. I shouldn't have even considered having sex. He seemed so strong though, and we had fooled around before."Michael wants you." Vinnie came into the kitchen and my entire body tensed. I knew he wouldn't be mad at me, but it was kind of embarrassing. "Ok." I nodded to Vinnie and finished a few arrangements for our new guest arriving. The entire house was about to be turned upside down, and no one was sure if this was the right move."Don't worry, you didn't break him," Vinnie
Michael POV"Lucy," her name slipped right off my tongue like it was the only word I should ever speak. "I love you Michael, and I don't understand why." She roughly shoved my chest, forcing me to lay back down. Her long legs moved to straddle my waist, those thick thighs flush against me. It was sexy, but the look in her eyes was a little scary. Was she pissed? Horny? "Lucy, I...," It wasn't even a thought of how I felt, it just was, but she didn't let me finish. "No, don't say it. I can't hear it, Michael. I just need to tell you how frustrated it makes me. I don't understand how I could love you. I don't understand why I can't walk away and it pisses me off." Her tone became sharper."This isn't sounding like compliments, baby." My eyebrows knit together, a little unsure if I should move or say something to defuse the situation. "It's not! I'm mad at you and I want it to stop! I want my life back." She shouted even louder, confirming this was definitely a hostile situation. He
Michael POVI didn't know how I was going to let her go, but I knew I had to. Our time together was running out, and I wanted to stretch every moment until my last breath, maybe even beyond if that were possible."They so grown!" Viv cried on the large iPad Paul held up to watch the kids all get their diplomas. Dylan made a bit of spectacle, hugging the principal and jumping with his fist raised as he walked back down the other side. That one had me a little worried about the true value he had in my world, but Amy trusted him. She needed as many friends as she could get right now. "They sure are. It's only been ten years. How does that feel like both a lifetime and barely a year?" Paul wiped a few tears from his eyes and I gave him a look of disgust. This man was supposed to be my Second."Damn! Are we sure that one is really in high school?" Vinnie googled-eyed some girl with long tan legs in very high heels walking the stage. "Technically, no, since she just got her diploma," I sa
Lucy POVIt was a quiet and very awkward ride to School. Zander tried making conversation, noting how this was our last moment as Seniors. It felt more surreal than anything to me. Almost as if I was brought back in time to relieve this day. I was no longer a Senior or teenager the day those men snatched me up. "Where is my brother?" Amy asked Paul with scorn."He is resting but will be there before it starts. I got Viv on standby too. All the kids are excited to see you get your diploma." Paul spoke cheerfully but it was met with nothing but hate from Amy. She didn't say anything else about it because I don't think she could be mean to her Aunt and cousins like she has been to all of us. "I can't believe I'm graduating again." Dylan laughed and we all looked at him confused. "I'm ordered to stay close to the package." His knee tapped Amy's and she turned to look out the window. "I thought I would at least get a smile. You're really that pissed about going?" He said, sounding annoy
Amy POVI hated that everyone tried to calm me down. I had every reason to be pissed, and every reason to keep them at arm's length. "Amy, this is our day. I don't want to leave and I don't want to walk down that line without you and Lucy at my side. Can't we just pretend we are still friends, just for today?" He gave me those deep brown puppy dog eyes. Zander had a clean-cut navy suit on, his hands in pockets, and his hair purposely styled that cute bedhead look. "I can't." I fiddled with my dress on the bed. "I just want to be alone. It's easier that way." I admitted. "You've been anything but alone lately." Zander jabbed at me, and I knew it was about me sleeping with questionable men. "You know what I mean." I sighed and turned to him. "Can you please just go home? I don't want to go tonight with you or Lucy. I don't want to go at all." "I know you miss them, Amy. Niko and Viv would be here if they could. They weren't your only family though." He tried reasoning with me."It
Lucy POVWatching Michael at dinner was both terrifying and exhilarating. He held so much sway over hundreds of people. And now he held all their money too. I don't think I would have the balls to do what he did, and I definitely wouldn't have helped hack so many accounts if I knew this was the end game. I had to trust him though. We were in this now, and there was no turning back."You should get dressed." Michael appeared behind me, his hand smoothing over my dress. "I don't think I should leave. It feels wrong." My body trembled slightly. I was afraid to leave his side. I was afraid of what waited for me beyond his protection. He declared war, and I was an easy target."Paul will be with you every second. My men are already positioned at the school and have eyes on every inch of the stadium. Go, graduate, and enjoy this moment. I'll make sure you are safe." He promised and I did truly feel safe knowing he was watching out for me."Are you coming?" I looked back to him over my sho
Michael POVI pulled out the chair positioned to the right of mine. "Lucy," I nodded for her to come. Not only was it polite and damn swoon-worthy to hold out her chair, but putting her on my right gave her a higher position than some damn mistress I knocked up. Plus, that move should remove any chance of Jared so much as trying to speak to her again. She was mine and no one touched her.Vinnie moved to my left and I gave him a cross look. He can't take the position of my Second, not yet at least. Vinnie cracked a smile and pulled the chair out for Paul. I turned to my seat, half rolling my eyes that Vinnie was still being a wise ass. The games needed to end.I stood behind my chair, waiting for everyone to settle. Only those officially in the family were in this room. All the others had a more party-like setting outside. Amy stood at the door, arms and ankles crossed, daring me to kick her out. I didn't miss the glances at Lucy from her either. "Thank you everyone for joining us to
Michael POVThe tension from everyone around me was thick, and suffocating, but I had to ignore it. We all had our positions and if we didn't make every move exactly right we could all end up dead. Paul spent the next hour spreading whispers of betrayal, he conveyed his absolute disgust of my decisions to any that would hear. It would grab the attention of Niko's men and start a small riot within their ranks. Vinnie was the smart-ass jokester both unwaveringly loyal to me, and crazy enough to start a blood bath in my honor. Niko's men would never align with him, or trust him with a plan. But that would open the door for those disloyal within the Grasso's to take him under their wing. Amy played both sides by acting as the scared lost girl, someone tough who wanted revenge even at the cost of her life, but also someone who loved her brother dearly. She should be removed from all sides and none will be able to fully trust her. Last was Lucy, the one person in all this mess who was i