56

Sophie
I climb out of the shower and wrap a towel around my torso, stepping into my bedroom to fish a pair of bra and panties out of the dresser.
Joey sits on my bed, pulling on his socks. I massaged his back and gave it some energy when we woke up. After the way we played last night, I feel closer to him than I could have imagined possible. It took a lot of trust to surrender to him, and he definitely didn’t let me down.
“Al’s having a barbecue Sunday. I want you to come with me.”
My stomach twists. Sleeping with Joey is one thing. But family barbecues are a level I’m really not ready for. Especially not his family. Plus, he’s not my boyfriend. I may have agreed not to see other men, but we’re not in a committed relationship. He doesn’t have a right to demand things of my time.
“Are you asking me or telling me?”
He finishes dressing and stands. “I’m asking. Are you picking a fight?”
I hesitate. Probably.
I’ve been doing everything I can to push this guy away emotionally. Considering how close I feel to him this morning, it makes sense that part of me might be trying to drive a wedge between us now.
He walks around behind me and fists the back of my hair. “Hmm?” His growl is suggestive, and my body responds by melting and heating at the same time. Now that he knows my kink, he’s going to use it against me at every turn.
“Maybe,” I admit.
He turns me around without releasing my hair. The tough guy look slides away, replaced by an earnest expression. “I’m sorry if I sound bossy-it’s just the way I talk. It doesn’t mean I won’t bend for you.”
My heart thunders at his concession. How can he transition from bossman to considerate lover in the blink of an eye?
He slips his fingers inside my bra and rolls my nipple between them. “I thought you liked me being the boss of you. Are you going to let me be in charge?”
I want to say no because I understand he’s asking a serious question, but I can’t think straight with my head pulled back and my nipple being tortured. He withdraws his hand from my bra and reaches between my legs, running a finger inside the rim of my panties. A tremor runs simultaneously down both inner thighs.
“Are you, beautiful?” His finger lightly brushes over my moistened labia.
“Yes,” is all I can whisper.
“Good girl.” He leans forward, pressing his lips over mine with a hard, demanding kiss at the same moment his fingers pinch my clit. I shudder, a small orgasm rippling through me.
He releases me when it passes, looking satisfied with himself as he saunters to my dresser and starts going through my jewelry.
“What are you doing?”
“Looking at what you wear.” He picks up various pieces and examines them. “Is this what you like or what you can afford?”
I give him a withering look. “It’s what I like to wear.”
He holds up his hands, grinning. “Okay, okay. That’s why I asked.”
“I hate cheesy diamond heart pendants if that’s what you were wondering.” I cross to the closet and choose a blouse.
“Yes, that was what I was wondering. Looks like you prefer semi-precious gemstones in large, arty styles. Is that right?”
“Yeah.” Color me impressed. “That’s pretty good.”
He blows on his nails and buffs them. “See? Some assholes still know how to pay attention.”
I pick up a pillow and toss it in his face, but he catches it easily. “Uh oh. Now you’re in trouble.” He lunges to catch me around the waist and gives my ass a slap.
“No fair!” I laugh.
“Mmm hmm. You mess with the bull, you get the horns.” He releases me and holds two fingers up to his head.
I giggle.
He picks up his gun from the dresser. “Listen. I’m going to leave this here for you. I don’t like the idea of you being here alone and unprotected.” He points a finger at me. “And I did mean it about you locking the door.”
“I appreciate the concern, but-”
“I’m leaving the gun. Do you know how to use it?”
I nod. “Yeah. My dad taught me. But I don’t need a gun here, Joey.”
He ignores me. “I’m putting it up here.” He reaches for a high corner shelf in my closet. “It’s loaded, and the safety’s on.”
“But what will you use?”
“I think I can find another one,” he says drily.
Right. Of course. My skin turns ice cold, the reality of keeping guns in my house, of keeping men who use guns in my house-chilling. No matter how sweet his words or hot the sex, I can’t forget who or what Joey LaTorre is: a Made Man in the mafia. A killer. The kind of guy who winds up in jail or dead-just like my dad.
“I have to go, but I’ll pick you up Sunday for the barbecue, okay?” He loops an arm behind my back and gives me a kiss.
The barbecue. Fuck.
I want to say no, but Joey’s been so amazing, it feels mean to deny him.
“Yeah, okay.” I give him one more kiss before he leaves.
Ugh. What did I just commit myself to? Don Alberto senior is dead, but his son, Joey’s brother, Al, will be there. And all the men my dad worked with. The ones he considered family.
Seeing Joey triggered unresolved grief in me. Will seeing them dredge up even more?
I hate the cold, swimming-eel feel in my belly as I think about it.
Joey
Sophie seems nervous as we drive to Al’s for the barbecue. She fingers the large blue opal pendant I bought her yesterday, sliding it up and down the white gold chain. She was resistant when I handed her the jewelry box, like she didn’t want to accept a gift from me, but her face lit up when she unwrapped it, so I know I hit the mark.
I park the BMW in Al’s circular driveway. “Hey,” I say softly. “You okay?”
I remember she bristled when I invited her. Maybe it’s painful for her to be around her dad’s compadres. I put a hand on her knee and squeeze, but she doesn’t relax.
“Yeah. I just” She breaks off and looks out the window.
“What?”
She turns back and looks straight at me. “Did someone at this party kill my dad?”
Cristo. I’m so taken aback by her question that I choke. I can’t answer. And I’m sure in that moment, she sees the truth.
“It was an accident.” I finally find my voice but not before her eyes widen and a restless wildness comes over her. She throws open the door and tumbles out, almost like she can’t stand being in the car with me for a moment longer.
Fanculo. This isn’t good.
She waits for me, looking straight ahead, and I want to punch my own face for fucking this up.
“I swear to la Madonna, it was an accident, Soph.”
She nods but still doesn’t look at me. I lead her through the side gate into the backyard where the men are all standing around the grill, and the children are playing a game of touch football on the lawn.
Carlo’s at the grill, but his gaze is directed through the patio doors, where my niece, Summer, stands. She’s looking back at him through the glass.
Jesus. If I’m seeing this, probably everyone else is, too. If Carlo has seduced Al’s barely legal daughter, he’s going to live a very short life.
“Hey, guys.” I lift my hand. “You all remember Sophie Palazzo? Artie’s daughter?”
“Yeah, of course.” Al’s hands are full with the grill, but he lifts his chin in greeting.
“Hi, Sophie. It’s been a long time.” Pauly awkwardly steps forward to give her a cheek kiss.
“Hi, Pauly.” She leans in and accepts it.
“You look great. You’re all grown up now. Last time I saw you”
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s not play that game,” I cut him off. Not sure if Pauly’s the only one she remembers, I say, “You might remember Bobby, Sammy, and my brother, Don Alberto.”
“Right. Yes.” She bobs her head and lifts a hand in greeting rather than kissing them all.
“And this is Carlo. He moved here a few years ago from the old country.”
“Nice to meet you, Carlo.” She clasps Carlo’s hand.
Al finishes flipping burgers and sticks out his hand. She shakes it, not quite meeting his eye. “It’s good to see you, Sophie. It’s been a long time-too long.” There’s a hint of criticism in Al’s remark, and Sophie doesn’t miss it.
“Yeah. Too long.” Her faint tone is far from convincing.
I’m kicking myself for bringing her. I’m not sure what my motivation wasto integrate her into my life? To show her off to the family? I think it was that. I wanted to share the person I’m rapidly falling for with the people who are important to me.
But I should have considered her feelings more carefully. She’s not over her father’s death, and being around the Family brings it all back, just like being with me brought it back, initially.
The fact that I basically confirmed one of the men here was responsible for killing him doesn’t help. Now I could have a very serious situation on my hands. If Sophie becomes a liability to the Family, Al’s going to demandfuck. No, nobody touches her. No matter what.
If Sophie’s a liability, she’s my liability. I’ll take care of her.
And it won’t be through blood or violence.
Which means I have to win her heart. Now that I’ve fucked up, it may be the only way to keep her safe.