Giovanni
I sip whiskey from my place at the back booth of the auction floor. It's the quarterly draw, a party I throw for my associates, for lack of a better word.We've had a good quarter, and this is their reward.Every man who's walked into this room is captured by the many cameras. Every name noted. Every bid recorded in the ledger.Piano music sets the backdrop, the collection of voices loud over it even though most speak in whispers during the breaks in entertainment.These, too, are recorded, and they'll be dissected later.Pretty women serve drinks and anything else required of them as the stage is readied, the next girl taking her place on the raised dais.This one, her name is Diana or Donna or something. She looks young, but I'm assured she's legal. They like young, the men gathered here.She's on offer for one night only, and from the look of her, she'll bring a high bid.I study her face on my screen from the cameras installed behind the curtain. She's hesitant, to say the least, but Marcus handles it.Marcus' loan comes due tonight — and I've been more than patient so he's got some incentive to make sure she gets her sweet little ass on that stage.Besides, she'll be paid handsomely for her time. For the use of her body.I watch as she's situated on the dais that's set at the very center of the stage. The auctioneer, an old English man, takes his place behind the podium. The gong sounds as the curtains are raised and a hush falls over the room.The spotlight shines on the girl and she squints into the bright light, momentarily blinded. Two women peel the cream-colored cloak from her and let it drape at her feet.There's a swell of approving sounds from the men who are probably all sporting hard-ons for the pretty, young blonde.I admit, she is magnificent. Not my type, but magnificent.The auctioneer takes in the response and starts the bidding high.Good.Flesh comes at a cost. One these bastards can afford to pay.The elevator doors slide open, drawing my attention. Axel steps out and turns his gaze only momentarily to the stage. He's about as interested as I am in that girl. These women, it's too fucking easy with them.Donna, or whatever the fuck her name is, is probably creaming herself as she's turned, bent over, and the numbers being shouted out grow higher and higher.I'm more interested in the woman who's following Axel.Well, following isn't quite the word.She's got a man on either side of her and, for as small as she is, she's struggling to free herself of them.She turns her head this way and that as she takes in the scene. I think she gasps when her gaze falls on the exposed woman on the stage about whom the auctioneer is embellishing the virtues of a virgin ass.He's good.He's very good.Because her price just doubled.The word virgin never disappoints. I get it. There's something about being the first man to sink your cock into virgin territory.Marcus catches my eye from the side of the stage. He raises his glass to me.I raise mine back because this puts me in a good mood. It means I'll get my money tonight and I won't have to get my hands dirty for it.Contrary to my reputation, I don't like getting my hands dirty. I will when I need to, but this is easier. Cleaner.Axel reaches my table and clears his throat.I turn to him. He gestures to the girl to be brought forward."Ms. Williams. Ciara's sister," he says, sounding almost bored.I shift my gaze to meet the girl's frightened one and all I can think for a moment is how her almond-shaped eyes match the color in my glass so perfectly.Whiskey eyes.Pretty. Very pretty.With smooth olive skin and hair so dark it's almost black.The photo I saw didn't do her justice."Let her go. She's not going anywhere, are you, sweetheart?"I don't expect an answer.When they release her, she brings the huge bag that was apparently on her shoulder in front of her.She's clutching it like armor between herself and me."Get rid of that." I gesture with a quick nod of my head to the tote. I want to see the rest of her.When one of the men reaches to take it, she pulls back, hisses at him.Actually hisses.I chuckle, sip from my glass, and watch, surprised to be entertained.In the background, I register the gavel coming down once. Twice.The number is making me very happy.When the bag is gone, she looks back at me, her face flushed. She doesn't seem to know what to do with her hands but eventually closes her fingers over the back of the chair in front of her.At least she's not making a spectacle of herself. Not yet, anyway. Not that anyone here would help her if she made a run for it.She's wearing a heavy jacket.Too heavy for this time of year.“Sit.”"Are you Mr. Giovanni? I think there's been a mistake.""Sit."Axel mutters a curse under his breath, takes her arm, pulls out the chair she's gripping and puts her in it."That's better," I say.He stands to the side, leaning against the wall, arms folded across his chest. His eyes narrow as he scans the crowd and they fall on one man in particular.I look at the man, make note of who it is."Errand?" I ask him.He turns to me, gives me one brief nod.“I'll take care of this," I say to him. “Go."He looks at me. “You sure?"I glance at the pretty girl sitting stiffly across from me and give him a one-sided grin. “I don't think Ms. Williams will give me any trouble, will you?"She just stares at me.Axel chuckles. He makes his way through the crowd and it's like the parting of the sea as he approaches.Which is why he works for me. He's one mean son of a bitch. It's good to have him on my side.Makes a lot of things easier. Keeps leeches at bay.Giovanni The noise of the crowd intensifies as Donna is removed from the stage and the curtains are closed. It'll be a little while before the next one is put on the block.I turn my full attention to the woman before me.“Giovanni,” I say."What?""Just Giovanni. Not Mr. Giovanni.""Oh.""Sienna Williams. Familiar name.""This is a mistake." She reaches into the giant tote, which is lying at her feet.One of the soldiers puts a hand on her shoulder, stopping her."What — "I give him a shake of my head.He steps back.I don't think she'll pull a gun out of the thing. She's not the type to even own one.She gives him a nasty look and resumes digging around to pull out her wallet. "Look," she says, opening it, taking out her driver's license and holding it out for me to see. Her hand trembles. “My last name is Chase. You've made a mistake."When I reach to take the license, she pulls it away. I raise my eyebrows and hold out my hand, palm up.She looks at it, and, very reluctantly, pu
Giovanni"What am I doing here?" she asks, ignoring my question, sounding more steely than I like.“Like I said, Ciara owes me some money." I make a point of saying her name rather than calling her sister."I don't have anything to do with that."“But you do. Given Ciara's current state, well, she's no good to me." I set one elbow on the table, rest my chin on my fingers as she processes this information. “And the only name she could offer up was yours.""Mine?"I nod. It's quiet and I wonder when she's going to get around to asking the two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollr question.“How much does she owe you?"There it is. "A quarter of a million dollars."Her mouth falls open."Ciara has a gambling addiction," I say. “And, as it turns out, a drug addiction too."“But that is much money. Are you sure? I mean...that's a lot of money.""Agree. She spent it quite nicely in my casino, though."She's quiet for a long moment and her eyes narrow before she speaks. "So, let me understand thi
SiennaHis hand is huge.Hell. He's huge.I reach out, place mine inside it and it feels warm and rough and when he closes his fingers over mine, his grip is firm, this gesture, it's as though I've already agreed.Because I know what I must do. I know why he brought me here. I have no doubt.You owe her nothing.I haven't seen or had any contact with Ciara in years. I didn't know she was in town.And she can't know that I am.I manage to get to my feet, and he's got to be a good foot taller than me. Even with my pumps, the top of my head barely reaches his chin.Heads turn as Giovanni, his presence at my back enough to guide me, leads me toward a door at the back of the room where a man stands sentry. He opens it at our approach.I hesitate."Go on," Giovanni says from behind me. He's standing closer than I realize and a shudder runs through me at the feel of his breath on the back of my neck.I hear the faint hint of his accent.I heard it throughout our conversation, stronger somet
Giovanni That was her decision.Sienna is taken backstage to be prepared.I sit at my table with Axel across from me. He's back from his errand.Axel Drake and I have known each other since I was sixteen years old. He's one of the few men I consider a friend.There were three years when he left Vegas and went east. It's a time he doesn't discuss though, not even with me. All I know about it is that he and his brother, Hugo, a man I've never met, spent time in prison there and I have a feeling it has something to do with that errand he ran earlier.I understand revenge and I don't care what Axel has to do to take care of what he needs to take care of as long as he's available when I need him. It's an understanding we have between us.He drinks the last of his whiskey and I pour him another.The gong goes off and the auctioneer announces this is the last of tonight's draw. They'll be anxious for it. I only have half a dozen girls at each party. Keeps them hungry."Want me to keep someo
I look at Sienna's tear stained, mascara-smeared face. She still can't see me. The spotlight is too bright on her. But she must recognize my voice and know that it was me who bought her.The men take her down from the platform. She still fights as she's removed from the stage. The curtain falls and the lights in the room go on announcing to everyone that it's the end of the night.Axel chuckles. "Told you," he mutters as I resume my seat."Fuck you," I say, the excitement I feel in my gut something foreign. Something I'd forgotten.One hour later, Sienna is delivered to my penthouse by the same two men in about the same fashion as when she threw that fit on the stage.I'm standing at the window with my back to the elevator when I hear the doors slide open. I sip my drink, watching the lights of the strip in this city that never sleeps.A city of vultures.Hungry.Always hungry.Always looking for innocent flesh with which to fill their bellies.I'm hungry, too.I set my empty glass on
Giovanni I don't like clutter or anything messy, not anywhere in my life.My eyes fall on that tartan again. Why have I kept it all these years? I need to talk to the maid. I don't want to have to see it every time I fucking turn around.Sienna lowers herself into the chair nearest her and farthest from me. She hangs her head and her hair falls forward like a veil between us, but I don't miss the tear that drops.She combs her fingers through the thick mass, sniffles and straightens her spine. She meets my gaze."One night," she says.I nod."And I'm free and you won't hurt Ciara.""Not a bad deal if you ask me.""You're not the one who has to fuck you."I chuckle at that. "You could do worse, sweetheart.""I'm not your sweetheart."I shrug a shoulder. I could give a fuck."What are you, anyway? What's your accent?" she asks.She hears it? I wonder if others do too. I've worked hard to rid myself of it. Rid myself of the past."Scots.""You're from Scotland?""Born in the Highlands."
Giovanni "Stop calling me that. I am not your sweetheart.""You'll be whatever I want you to be. You're bought and paid for, remember? Now get on your knees before you piss me off."Her face goes red, and rage rolls off her.I open my mouth to say something, but I don't expect what she does next.I don't expect her to slap me, not after my warning.Her gasp comes an instant after her hand collides with my face.I force a long, deep breath, feeling the sting of the slap. Feeling the rage bubble inside me. I tighten the muscles of my gut to tamp it down, to control it.I'm bigger than her. Stronger. I can hurt her in a way she can't hurt me. I have to be careful.When I shift my gaze back to hers, she has her hands to her mouth, and her eyes are huge. She's staring at me like she can't fucking believe what she just fucking did.It takes me a long time before I speak."You want to play rough, Sienna?" The words are a low, almost whispered threat.She swallows, shaking her head. Streaks
GiovanniI dip my head down and lick her and hear her sharp intake of breath as she goes dead still.I do it again, circling her clit, then taking it into my mouth."Please!" she cries out and when I suck that hard, little nub, it's moments before her back arches and she lets out a long moan. Her eyes are closed, face tense, hands fisted in their restraints and she's coming. She's coming hard and fuck, she tastes good. She tastes amazing.I don't go down on women. I haven't in too long to even remember their taste.But her. I can't get enough of her and when I ease my grip on her thighs, she bends her knees on my shoulders, squeezes and whimpers.I suck harder, drawing out her orgasm, wanting another."Oh God. Please stop!" She's panting and her thighs are squeezing and she's coming again, bucking with her release even as she begs me to stop.I taste her, relish her every breath, every whimper. I only let up when she falls limp on the bed.I kneel up between her legs, look at the gapi