turn the other cheek

Salvatore

My favorite thing about my wife was how his body had an immediate response to whatever I did. Right now, his cheeks were a dark red, like I’d rubbed his blood on them. I couldn’t tell if it was from embarrassment or because he was turned on—maybe both.

“That’s not true,” he stuttered, refusing to meet my eyes. 

“Everyone leave the kitchen.” I waited till they were gone to grab his dick through the thin fabric of his dress. “You should look at me when you speak.”

He raised his eyes slowly to me. “Can…I…don’t…”

“Don’t want to do what?” I couldn’t hold back my smile, I loved the way he got all fluttered whenever I confronted him. “I won’t understand what you’re saying if you don’t make a proper sentence. But, not to worry…” I pushed up against his little frame. “I know exactly what your body needs.”

“Salvatore…”

It had to be the pleading tone he used whenever he said my name—it sounded more like a breath than a word, or the aching yearning veiled beneath his gaze slipping through the space between something fragile, something desperate. 

My fingers found his waist, drawing him closer to me. He put his hands on my chest in a bid to push me away. “You’ll need more strength than that. I’ll relieve you of your little trouble,” I muttered when his dick poked my thigh. “All you have to do is beg.”

The glare he shot up at me did the opposite of what he intended. With his blonde hair and baby blue eyes, he looked like a harmless kitten that was baring its teeth instead of the monster he was pretending to be.

It hadn’t been my plan to have him join the maids, or wear the uniform. I’d only done it to remind myself why he was here in the first place. And also—a twisted part of me wanted to see him with all that lace, begging me on his knees with my dick in his warm mouth.

Jade pushed at my chest again. “This isn’t proper. And your breakfast is getting cold.”

“Expecting anything proper from a whore is next level insanity.” I put my thumb under his chin. “And you don’t get to—”

“Salvatore Domenico. Trying to maul your maid this bright and early morning?” 

I didn’t need to look at the fucker to know that there was a smirk on that smug face of his. “Dante Carusso,” I replied in a grim tone before stepping away from Jade who seemed relieved at the interruption. “What are you doing here?”

He leaned against the door frame, his hands crossed over his chest and those wandering eyes of his on Jade. “Here to remind you that we have an important meeting to attend in five minutes. But, if you’d rather continue with your fun time then I’ll take my leave.”

Right, the meeting with the Council. I turned to Jade, “Go and get dressed, we leave in two minutes. Elena will take you back to your room, meet me at the entrance when you’re done.” 

I had to drag Dante along with me when he turned to follow Jade back to his room. “What the hell are you doing?” I asked him when we got to my room. 

“Nothing.” He sat down on the bed. “I’m only wondering why you’re roleplaying with the guy you claim to hate with every fiber of your being. Can’t keep it in your pants for long?” 

He stood up and walked over to where I stood, bare-chested and figuring out what suit to wear for the meeting. He put his hand on my shoulder, “You know I can always help you with that, that’s what friends are for.” 

I pushed his hand away before smacking the back of his head. “Stop trying to sleep with me you idiot.”

He laughed and fell back on the bed. “One of these days you’re going to give in.”

“Only if you let me fuck your new Mexican chick,” I shot him a cheeky grin. “I mean…her boobs are to die for. You know how to pick the best.”

He gave me the middle finger. “Don’t let your wife hear you, he’ll get jealous.”

I thought about it for a little while. “I’ll test that theory later. For now we need to head out, I can’t wait to show everyone my new favorite toy.”

***

There wasn’t a group of people I hated more than the Council. It was a gathering of pretentious old fools that thought all the power in the world was theirs for the taking. 

My revenge on the Beneditti familia was only the first step in my grand plan. I was going to take over all of Italy and have everyone that ever doubted me beg on their knees.

The car rolled to a stop in front of the Federal building that we used for our meetings. It was neutral territory for all the mafia bosses that made up the four districts and the Council that governed them. It ensured that we all got through it without assassinating one another.

Jade tensed up from where he sat beside me. I had him wear a black suit that gave a strong contrast to his pale skin. Without all the hair products he used to wear, his blonde hair, now wild and free, was stuck in all directions.

I couldn’t help myself when I reached over and smoothed it over his head. “Don’t speak to anyone when we go in there.”

He nodded in response which made me sigh. “Use your words when communicating with  me.”

“Yes, sir.” I could hear the mockery in his voice. “What do you even need me for? I’ve never attended this type of meeting. I’m afraid I’ll be of no use to you.”

I tucked a stray hair behind his ear before leaning over to give him a chaste kiss on the cheek. “Darling, only your presence is enough for me.”

We both stepped out of the car, Jade automatically moving to my side. It was hard not to see the mix of excitement and fear on his face. Perhaps I liked that he thought of me as his safety instead of the real danger that I was.

The guards lined outside the building led us inside, the chatter and obnoxious laughter already reaching my ears. Jade scanned the room, looking for something, for someone.

“You don’t really think your father will show up here with his missing fingers, do you?”

He opened his mouth and closed it without answering.

“And what do we have here?” Leonardo Cavallaso’s annoying voice reached my ears before he came into view. “Is poor Beneditti finally teaching you the ropes? I’m surprised he sent you to the gathering of wolves on his behalf.” He put his filthy hand on Jade’s shoulder. 

The anger that convulsed through me was immediate. I pushed his hand off before wiping mine on his jacket. “I’d like you to keep your hands to yourself, unless you have no more use for it.”

Leonardo looked between us in confusion.

“He’s here with me,” I clarified. 

“Is that even possible?” Leonardo asked, the lines of his face deepening. “Is this some kind of joke? Are your districts trying to run us off course?”

I put my hand on Jade’s waist and pulled him closer. “What’s wrong with seeing a master and his slave together? I’ve managed to get done what you’ve been planning to do for years. That says something about your lack of ambition.”

“Don’t you dare…”

The announcement to converge in the conference room came through the speakers. I took Jade’s hand and dragged him along with me. We passed by the empty chair where his father should be seated. 

I watched with a cruel satisfaction as everyone noted that Jade stood behind me instead of sitting on the chair that was designed for his father, the boss of the North district who was notably absent.

Enzo De Luca, head of the Council, walked in last. We all stood up in greeting before sitting back down. His wild beards took up half of his face, making it hard to tell what expression was on his face when he looked at me. 

“Beneditti?” he asked in that flat tone of his. 

“Absent,” one of the attendants replied. “He’s sick and unable to attend.”

Enzo looked at Jade. “Are you not supposed to stand in for your father?”

Jade started to answer but I cut him off.

“He can’t do that,” I answered with a smug smile.

“And why is that?”

“Because he’s my property until Beneditti pays off all his debts, which won’t be possible for another couple of years. So Jade is here with me.”

Enzo didn’t look as surprised as the rest. He always knew the insanity that was perfectly sewn under my flesh would one day seek release.

“What’s the guarantee that this isn’t some ploy to overthrow you, Salvatore? You’re not the only one with brains and a scheming mind.”

“That’s because I’m in total control of him.” I looked at Jade. “He’d bark if I asked him to. He belongs to me in every sense of the word.” 

“I belong to no one,” Jade muttered, his voice shaky but firm.

My jaw ticked. “What did you just say?”

“I belong to no one,” he repeated, his head down as he stared at his feet.

The audacity of him to repeat it. 

Everyone went still when I turned to look at him. If it weren’t for the people present I’d bend him over this fucking desk and spank his bare ass until he remembered whose name he wore as a collar around his neck. 

“Kneel.” My voice was cold and distant.

“I can’t,” Jade muttered, his eyes flickering to mine before he looked away in fear.

“Kneel.” I was already annoyed that I had to repeat myself and even more when I saw Leonardo still a laugh when our eyes met.

I stood up slowly, my movement calculated. I raised my hand—a collective gasp echoing through the room when my palm landed on Jade’s smooth cheek. 

“When I speak you listen. Never make me repeat myself.” I sat down, fighting the urge to stare at the red mess I’d turned his cheek into. I pressed my fingers into my thigh to keep them from reaching over and soothing his pain.

With a defeated look, Jade’s knees sank into the tiled floor as he blinked his eyes severally to keep the tears from falling. “Yes, sir.”

I looked at Luca. “The Beneditti family can no longer handle their district. They barely have enough funds to keep their businesses running, of what use are they to us?”

“We have the four districts for a reason. It’s to ensure that everyone has equal control in all of Italy, that’s how we’ve maintained a peaceful relationship for the past twenty-five years. If one of us falls then it tips the balance we’ve fought so hard to establish.”

Monetti Vitale, who was usually quiet during these meetings, spoke up. “I’m more concerned that Beneditti was in debt and…” he cast me a dismissive look. “Saw no better option to get out of his predicament.” 

“What can I say? I bring in the most money compared to everyone else seated here. I single-handedly kept the Russians from taking over the North when Beneditti was busy partying away. He’s unfit to keep being a boss.”

“You’re too young to understand the politics of the Mafia here in Italy,” Leonardo put in. “It’s a pity your old man is still unable to stand for himself. Maybe it’s time to give the South to someone more mature and capable.”

I gripped the edge of the table. “Age has nothing to do with conducting business, if not you’d have all of Italy under your feet, considering you’re the oldest Oaf amongst us. Save your energy for your Russian opponents, and keep my father out of your mouth while you’re at it.”

“Enough!” Luca’s voice boomed through the room.

“Maybe what we need is an alliance between the South and West,” Alessio, the third of the Council said. “This feud between Salvatore and Leonardo has gone on for a long time, I’m afraid it might cause a lot of trouble in the near future.” 

My blood ran cold. “What do you mean?”

Alessio’s smile was wicked. “Leonardo has a daughter that’s of marriageable age if you catch my drift.”

“That’s not going to happen,” I sneered. “I’m already betrothed to…”

“Call it off,” Alessio cut in. “You must marry Leonardo’s daughter if you wish to keep your seat at this table.”