"What can I get you, ma'am?"
"Daiquiri. Thank you" I say leaning on the bar suggestively, my dress moving up an inch. The bartender moves to my left to make the drink but he keeps flicking his eyes back to me every few seconds. If I was in his position, I would also misunderstand. Judging by the way my breasts are almost spilling out of the dress I wore tonight, he probably thinks I'm into him or something. A black little number that hugs my curves and has a plunging neckline. The hem is dancing dangerously close to my bare ass and even though my back is to him, I know his eyes are glued on the material. Probably wishing for it to ride a little higher so he can confirm whether I'm wearing panties or not. I'm not.Tonight, I brought all the guns out and then some. Not real guns though. Just a few things that are supposed to make Christian change his mind. My birthday was two months ago and it was the best birthday in my life. I turned eighteen, lost my virginity to the man I love and I was able to convince my father to let him be my bodyguard. I thought he'd like it because he always said he didn't like the idea of not seeing me for a long time. The assignments he took kept him away for months. So I thought he would jump at the opportunity to stay by my side.Not only did Christian not like being my bodyguard, but he also promised he wouldn't touch me again. To him, that night was a mistake. But I refuse to accept he doesn't love me. I've caught him sneaking glances at me and while I just turned eighteen, I know what longing looks like. He might not love me but he wants me. That much is clear. Before the end of the night, I'll make him eat his words. The bartender places a napkin in front of me, followed by my drink. He looks like he's about to say something but his gaze shifts behind me where I'm sure Christian is glaring at him. The poor man scurries to the far end of the bar where another customer has just arrived. Spinning around in my seat, I turn to look at the man who has no idea he'll be breaking his vow tonight."Would you like to taste it?" I ask holding my hand out to him."No thanks. I'm driving""Right" he's taken it upon himself to drive me everywhere even though I have a driver. According to him, he doesn't want me but he also doesn't want any man around me. I thought of getting myself a fake boyfriend just to piss him off but I don't want any blood on my hands. If my father doesn't get to the guy first, Christian will. I know they have no qualms about killing. They do it for a living. I've been shielded from my father's business since I was young. He believes women belong in the kitchen and honestly, I prefer being there than in a dungeon pulling fingernails off. Chris told me a few of the methods they use to torture traitors and even showed up covered in blood to try and lessen the feelings I have towards him.He thinks that if I know the kind of person he is, I'd stop loving him. On the contrary, I find it hot. I know that when the time comes, he can convince my father to let us get married. But before that, I have to convince him to be my boyfriend. At first, I thought giving him time to come around was the right thing to do but not anymore. Two months and he hasn't even kissed me once. Sure, there are longing looks and heated gazes whenever our eyes meet but that's the end of it. I thought he would eventually cave in if he was around me all the time. It seems like I thought wrong."If you're not drinking, help me find someone," I tell him sipping my cocktail."Who are you looking for?""Cute. He has to have a face I can stand looking at. Although, if he's behind me, then his face won't matter. Is there a way to know if someone is good in bed?""Regina""What? It's been two months. It's time I moved on. Isn't that what you want?"As if on cue, a man takes the stool next to me. I give him a once-over while noting how nice he smells. Not bad. Jet black hair, sharp jaw, broad shoulders. His lips are full. Soft. For a moment, I forget about Christian and wonder what it would be like to kiss him. Then shake that thought off. He's not the one I want in my bed tonight. Although, I wouldn't mind him being there. It's not like Christian hasn't been with other women."See something you like, little girl?""Excuse me?" Did he just call me a little girl?"A word of advice. Don't look at a man like that. He might get the wrong impression and drag you off to a dark corner" he says his eyes lingering where my legs are crossed. A hand lands on my thighs. The man looks at Christian, shakes his head then looks away. Glaring at the other end where the bartender ran off to as if his look alone should be enough to alert the poor guy of his presence."You're done. Let's go" Christian snarls, his fingers digging into my thighs. I down the rest of the drink and slide off the long stool. Taking my elbow, my bodyguard drags me outside "Can you try wearing more clothes next time? This dress is barely covering your ass" "You mean it's barely covering my bare ass?""Don't fucking push me, Regina" he growls, taking off his coat and draping it over my shoulders. It smells delicious. And him. Grabbing the lapels, I pull them closer to my face."Or what?""Or I will treat you like the child you are and spank you""I might be into that. What else?""Get in the car. I won't repeat myself"Just to piss him off further, I reply "Yes daddy" his eyes flash, a muscle in his jaw ticking. He's close to losing it. If I push him just a little bit further, he'll snap. Getting in the backseat, I move to the middle. Where I know he'll have a better view. Then wait. He slams the door close and gets in the driver's seat."Do you know who that is?" "Do you? If you're not going to fuck me then I'm okay with settling for him. He looks like someone who might know his way around a woman's body""God, you're such a brat. Just because your father gives you everything you want doesn't mean everyone else will" he whips his head toward me but the words he wanted to say die in his throat. Even in the dark, I can see his eyes change, becoming darker than their normal color. My ass is on the edge of the seat while my legs are wide open. He can see my fingers on my pussy as I touch myself."Have you heard? What a man can do, a woman can do better. I'm capable of getting myself off, Christian"He closes his eyes, his lips pressed together in a straight line. He's fighting himself. I know he wants me and there's only so much I can push him before he snaps. The hand on the steering wheel is white from gripping it and the other one is on his lap. In a tight fist. His eyes flutter open, the look in them stealing my breath. Dark, hot, dangerous. Just when I think he's going to jump in the backseat and finally do what I've been begging him to do, he turns around and starts the car.Frustrated, I snap my knees together. What would it take him to give in? I've humiliated myself enough as it is. Was I wrong about his feelings for me? If he doesn't love me then I'd rather go back to that bar and let that other man fuck me in the toilet like a whore. The faster I can get over Christian, the better. I'm not the type to force things. Contrary to what he thinks, my father didn't raise a brat. I'm so deep in thought that when the car swerves, I almost fall over. Bracing my hand on the leather surface beside me, I choke,"What the hell, Christian?" He doesn't answer. The car stops. Looking out the tinted windows, I realize we're not at my house. This place looks like an underground parking lot. I open my mouth to ask him what this place but he gets out and opens the backdoor"You're drunk""What?""You're drunk and I brought you here to sober up before taking you home"My heart leaps in my throat. This sounds like a cover. Does he... Oh, God. I take his hand and he drags me out of the car. A hand clamps around my waist, pretending to hold me up. To make it look real, I bend my head. Letting my hair cover my face. He leads me to the elevator while my body thrums. This is it. He's finally going to be with me. I swear I'll make him see how good we are together. How perfectly we fit. The doors ding open, we get inside and keep up our charade until they open again. We step out. I'm curious to know where we are but at the same time, it doesn't matter. We could be in a filthy motel and I wouldn't give a shit. As long as he's with me.His hand slides into my hair, grabbing a handful and yanking my head up. His grip is painful but the look he had earlier in the car is back in his eyes "You asked for it, princess" he says roughly pulling me into his body. There's a soft thump on the floor after he pushes his jacket off me "I want you to strip out of this and get on your knees""Why?"His nostrils flare. Clearly angry that I'm not rushing to obey him "Because I'm going to fuck your mouth, then your tits and if you're a good girl, I'll let you come on my cock""And if I'm not?" His hand pushes my dress over my ass then it comes down on it. Hard. The sound of the slap is loud enough and my body jerks when he makes contact. Fuck. That hurts. I bite my lip, trying not to show him how much it hurts."I will turn your ass red and fuck you so hard, you won't be able to walk straight for a week. Do you want pain or pleasure, Regina?"Both? Don't they go hand in hand?~~~~~~~I stare at the ceiling, letting that memory wash over me. It's been too long. My body used to react a certain way whenever I thought of Christian. I used to feel sad, angry, happy and aroused. But that was back when I could feel something. What I wouldn't give to feel again. Even if it's just anger. I'll take anything.******************************************"Where are we on the shipment?" "We're making progress, ma'am" I throw him a dirty glare over my shoulder "Try again" "It will be done by the end of the end day, ma'am" "I don't need to tell you what will happen if this isn't sorted today" it's simple. Heads will roll. I am not in the mood to play games with those bastards at the port. If that shipment is a day late, I will handle it the way I normally do. By shooting first and asking questions later. I'm tired of men thinking they can get away with defying me just because I'm a woman. Dino nods. I expect him to leave but he continues to stand where he is "Anything else?" "Mr. Gambone is waiting for you in your office" "When did he arrive?" "A few minutes ago, ma'am""You can leave" I bite out through gritted teeth. Keeping up my calm and unbothered facade when all I what I want to do is run in there and punch him for invading my privacy. He shouldn't be here, much less in my office. Who knows what he's
"Federico!" He pauses in front of the door his driver, Manno is holding open "What the fuck is your problem?" "What are you talking about?" "Are you following me? How did you know I was meeting Rizzo here? And even if it's a coincidence, why the hell would you threaten him?" "He was slandering me. I can't allow that" "Bullshit! Do you think I can't handle him? Is that the reason you keep interfering with my business?" "Is that anger I detect in your voice, Regina?" I grind my teeth so hard I'm surprised they haven't turned to dust already. For years, I've maintained a certain image in front of people. Cool, calm, unbothered. Talk, yell, strip, die in front of me and I won't bat an eyelash. I've killed ruthlessly then gone back to having my dinner as if nothing happened. Only one person can evoke some semblance of emotions from me. But of late, Federico is getting under my skin and I hate it. Old me would never have followed him out of the restaurant. Instead, I would have t
I take one last look in the mirror and then make my way to the office downstairs. It's past ten and aside from the men patrolling outside, everyone has retired to their rooms. Lifting a book off the shelves, I press a button that opens a secret door then push it open and press the lift button. It opens immediately because no one uses it. Once I step inside, things go back to how they were, the door closing and the shelves returning to their normal position. I lived in this house my whole life but I never knew about the secret rooms until I defied papa. Then he turned into someone else. Someone I couldn't recognize. It's been that way for years now. Except, now I'm the one he can't recognize. It makes me wonder if he's ever regretted his decision. Would things have been different if he'd stopped when I begged him to? The elevator stops and the doors slide open. As I walk into the room, my heels announce my arrival. There are days like today when I expect him to turn his head and look a
The look on her face is priceless and I'm the lucky bastard who gets to capture it on camera. I've been taking videos of Ophelia since the day she was born, recording every milestone in case Regina misses something important. She's so busy running an empire that she barely gets to see her daughter. As the good samaritan that I am, I sometimes take advantage of that. But only because the woman is stubborn. She's blind to anything that doesn't involve Vincelli organization. So far, I've wrangled two dinners and three drink dates from her in exchange for the videos. The footage I took today will earn me a drink or a dinner date depending on her mood. She's apathetic that seeing any expression on her face is a record-worthy event. Even if it's anger. She stops at the foot of the stairs with a gun in each hand. Her eyes scanning the room cautiously. I rake my gaze over her outfit. A silk nightgown with a V-neck that molds perfectly to the swell of her breasts and a floor-length, matching
Flashback "Christ, move" he grabs the extinguisher and puts out the fire. I realize there was a kitchen towel next to the stovetop and it's half burnt. That must be the source of the fire. Or the oil I accidentally poured on the towel. Federico turns to look at me, annoyance flashing in his eyes. I wonder if it was his favorite towel "Were you trying to burn my house down?" "I want eggs" "Yes, Your Highness. Who the fuck do you think I am? Your maid?" "Then move. I'll cook for myself" "Forget it" he takes the pan with burnt eggs and throws it in the sink then grabs another one. Cracking two eggs in a bowl. I wonder why I didn't think of that. "Make it four" "You know I'm starting to think this deal is not worth all this trouble. Eat your fucking eggs and go back home" "We already signed the contract," I tell him watching the way he flips the eggs. How are they not burnt? "How did you do that?" "Control the fire. If you're not sure about the amount of heat to
"Gentlemen, you're up early. I hope you came prepared. The chilly morning air can be detrimental to your health" I quip walking past them. It's nine in the morning but I'm ready for this day to be over. Dealing with underbosses who happen to be part of the family is tiring. I know how the mafioso values family but I'd rather have men who have earned the position instead of entitled assholes who are always trying to bring me down. Especially if said assholes are related to me. Distant relatives but still relatives. "Despite our age, we are strong Regina. And if by any chance something happens to us, our sons can take our places so don't you worry your pretty head" Rinaldo says. I think in his brain, he still thinks there's a chance for them to dethrone me and have one of their dumb sons as the head of the organization. How I wish I could let those morons take over so as to prove to their fathers how stupid they are. I make them more money every year, always filling their banks while th
PastPast "I won't marry him," I say, my voice strong with false bravado. Papa slaps a hand on top of the table, making me flinch. De Angelo just left after spending the entire night ogling me like a creep. I can't stand him and despite how much Papa hates me, I can't believe he's trying to force me to marry him. "I don't remember asking for your opinion. " "I will die before I marry De Angelo" "Then fucking die, Regina, but know that you will show up to that wedding. Dead or alive" his harsh words tear another piece of my heart away. This is not the man I grew up with. This is not the father who, up until two weeks ago, meant the world to me. Ever since he found out about my relationship with Chris, he changed into someone else. I thought he'd be happy that I found love. That he would only give me a hard time, but eventually agree to my relationship because he loved me and wanted the best for me. How very wrong I was. Now Chris is dead and I'm set to marry one of his as
Past "Fuck! Are you trying to kill us both?" "Sorry boss. She came out of nowhere" Manno says pointing at a figure standing in front of the car. The white dress she's wearing and her concealed face make it look like she's a ghost. "And you didn't run her over because?" "We don't know who she is or why she's here" He's right. I have too many problems to deal with at the moment and a body will only make things worse. But that doesn't mean I want to deal with a whore who is probably here for money. She wouldn't be the first or the last. It's dark outside so I don't know who she is. Not that I would know even if I saw her. "Check who she is and what..." A knock on my window cuts me off. Manno whips out his gun and points toward it. His finger on the trigger and ready to pull it. Rolling the window down, I'm met with an irritated face. "I assume you're Mr. Gambone?" She asks her eyes flicking to the gun pointed at her and then back to me. Bold"And you are?" I know exactly