Sasha was sitting cross-legged on the sofa in Rin’s office reviewing her emails and reports. Sonny was laying down in his room before dinner. Dinner was in the oven being baked off and she and Rin were sitting in the office with the door open to listen for any silliness his family might attempt to start. She prayed the quietness which had descended in the late afternoon continued into the evening. Her mind was too overwhelmed to deal with much else.
She suddenly scowled furiously as one of her managers of a clothing boutique had emailed to say they were short staffed yet again.
“Why the fuck is it so hard to find decent staff?” she muttered under her breath.
She looked to Rin, “I need to make a call.”
“Make it,” he didn’t look up from his computer. “It’s not disrupting me any.”
She debated doing so. She knew he didn’t know she was the owner of Gina’s and the woman behind
Sasha entered her office in the club unable to stop the smile curving her lips. Before leaving the house, Rin had kissed Sasha breathless before gently putting her bemused and befuddled body into the passenger seat of Achilles’ car and warning him to make sure she stayed safe. Achilles had been very quiet, not saying a word and she had been lost in her own thoughts of her current situation. Chastity was waiting in her office. “Girl, you need to give me the details and now. You sent me a text message saying you were marrying Rin just before I started my shift at the hospital and then nothing since!” “You got off at six and I was finishing dinner with Sonny, Rin, and Viviana. I knew I’d see you here and tell you everything.” She looked to Chastity and frowned noting the sadness in her eyes, “Where’s Orion tonight?” “She’s back and took him from me. Showed up to pick him up at school. I had arranged for him to attend the after-school program until I got off, but she
After Chas was gone, Achilles closed the door and flopped onto the sofa beside Sasha. Achilles looked to Sasha, “my apartment was clean. No bugs or wiretaps.” “So false alarm?” “No. Tyrone followed him a bit after I came into work tonight and caught him meeting with the agent, I thought he was with. He got a recording of the agent telling him we’ve been back and forth from the Allegretti house which means I’m conspiring with mafia. He also threatened him to get him the information or he’s going to jail which means he has dirt on him.” She sighed, “how do you want to handle this?” “I’ll end things with him in the morning. I already sent the boys over to change the locks in my place. I could ask for his key back, but he could have made a copy for all I know and given it to the feds.” “True,” she smiled sadly, “I’m sorry Achilles.” “Me too,” he shrugged. “The agent went too far and it’s clear he’s got a guy watching the Allegretti house if he knows I’ve
Sasha was in a pair of jeans and a pretty pink silk blouse and frowning. “He said comfortable.”“But he gave you no other instructions?” Achilles leaned against the door of her office.“Nope. Just told me he was picking me up and to dress comfortable.”“Are you comfortable in the blouse?”“It’s a date, Achilles. Our first date. I don’t want to go out there in yoga pants and tank top.”“But are you comfortable.”“I’m not uncomfortable.”“You are difficult,” Achilles groaned. “No wonder he wants to tie you up and beat you.”Sasha put her a pair of running shoes on and grabbed her laptop bag and purse. “Let’s just go.”He motioned for her to lead the way out and after she set the alarm and locked the doors, he escorted her to the waiting escalade.Rin was leaning against the
Sasha gasped when the moment the words left Bosco’s lips, a dozen puppies were immediately awake and bounding towards them. They surrounded the trio, yanking on pantlegs, pulling shoelaces, and yipping and yapping at them.“They’re instantly awake,” she giggled unable to stop herself.Rin scooped a puppy up in his hands, the round wiggling belly fitting in his palm and he laughed as he let the dog lick his face enthusiastically. “Which one are you keeping, Bosco?”“Princess,” he motioned to one particular puppy who sported a polka dotted. “The rest of the pups have solid collars but hers is dotted.” He leaned down and picked her up, “she’s just a perfect little girl.”“Come on Sasha. Our goal is simple. We need to play with the puppies to figure out which one will keep Sonny distracted when we’re sleeping during the day.”“Wait, what?” she lo
They had picked a puppy. Rin wondered what Sonny was going to say when he and Sasha showed up to give him his medicine at six with a puppy in tow. The dog was now curled up in a crate secured on the back seat of the car next to Sasha. Sasha was tucked under his arm, her head resting on his shoulder as they sat quietly contemplating the last hour. “Coffee?” Rin asked her suddenly. He wasn’t ready for their date to end. “I have a favorite little coffee spot I usually stop at on my way home. They’re open twenty-four hours. They make a dark roast which reminds me of the one I get back in Italy.” “Great,” she agreed with a nod. “Do they make pastries?” “They do but not like you do,” he kissed the top of her head before knocking on the partition to let the driver know to stop for coffee. “Have you always baked?” She nodded, “I was about six when I got into trouble for stealing those prepackaged cupcakes from a local store in the neighborhood. The owner caught
Sasha knew her cheeks were red as she tucked under Rin’s arm and let him escort her into the coffee shop. The place was empty except for the staff and a single patron working on his computer in the far corner of the room.She knew from the way the men were standing it was someone they were familiar with because none of them seemed too concerned. She considered Rin kept as many men around him as her grandfather did, easily double the number her father did and she couldn’t help but wonder how often anyone tried to hurt him.“What are you thinking, little mouse?” He whispered in her ear as he moved to stand behind her, wrapping his arms around her middle protectively.“You have a lot of security with you,” she frowned. “Are you often in danger?”“I bring the danger,” he chuckled hotly in her ear before nipping it. “This is my favorite coffee shop and anyone who knows me or my patterns will kno
“Oh, please do,” Marcello was excited. She approached Rin and the woman and smiled, “Hey Rin, who is your friend? What’s her name? You should introduce us.” Marcello’s guffaw told her she had played it well. Rin glowered, his lips twisting as he pointed at her, looking first back to Marcello knowing he’d tattled and then back to Sasha, “it might be a riding crop for you.” “I prefer the hand but I’m game to try anything.” She winked at him as he fought the upturn of his lips at her comment. “Who are you?” the blonde tried to push past Rin who blocked her. “Who is she Rin?” Sasha smiled sweetly and then looked to Rin, “introduce us. Surely you can introduce me to your friends. I can tell she is a friend by the way she keeps clutching at you.” He glowered at the blonde, “I told you to stop.” “She’s very grabby,” Sasha giggled as the woman’s fingers clenched and unclenched as if struggling to keep them to herself. She was quite out of control. Sasha found herself wondering if the
Sasha entered the house with Rin hot on her heels. Marcello had been shaking his head at the pair of them the minute the doors had opened from the car, cursing them for being so bold in the same car in which he was trapped. He said he’d known exactly what they were doing in front of the puppy the minute the tinted window went up. He was now walking the dog in the yard telling her he would make sure she was never left alone with them in the back seat of a vehicle again.Sasha giggled when Rin spun her around in his arms and pressed her up against the closed door. She wrapped her arms around his neck and stared up at him boldly.“You are naughty, topolina.”“You weren’t complaining, Rin.”“I still am not complaining. I cannot wait to have more time with you. One day I will take you to my ranch for a vacation and I will keep you in bed day and night.”“Your ranch huh? You don’t do tropical va
“This is bullshit,” Chastity complained as she wiped sweat off her forehead. “Who the hell thought it was a good idea to do this?”Sonny laughed at the woman’s misery as he patted the head of the dog who had just returned with the ball, he had tossed for her. “It’s not so bad. Could be worse.”“It’s hotter than the sun here,” Chas lifted a glass of sweet tea to her lips and chugged it like it was a beer. “I literally just took a cold shower and I’m sweaty again. Texas is too hot.”Sasha opened one eye from where she lay in the hammock and stretched, “he’s right. It could be worse. They could have brought you along on their little cattle drive and then the campout last night. Rin made them eat beans and hotdogs off a campfire.”“How do you know? Did he message you?” Chas sat up and glowered at her. “They said they weren’t bringing p
Sasha curled up next to Rin in bed, the excitement of the last forty-eight hours dissipating and exhaustion taking over. He was holding her tight, her head resting on his bare chest and his fingers playing with the silky strands of her hair as they cuddled.“You won my mother over tonight,” he said suddenly.“I did?” she was surprised.“You had dad at manicotti but the minute you put leather on and rocked out to Janet Jackson she was hooked. It seems it was one of her favorite songs as a teenager.” He chuckled, “also, she said something about being terrified of the way you command the attention of every evil person she’s ever seen. She recognized one of the men in the club as a man she and Dad ran across once in Sicily on a vacation. It seems they pissed the man off and he threatened to end them.”“Really? Who?”“Saul –”Before he could finish speaking Sasha
Sasha stood still while Rin helped peel the almost painted on leather from her body. The entire day she had waited for him to call her and demand she come home. Then she expected text messages of the same. Instead, he’d given her radio silence and she had considered maybe he had just become fed up with her wild temper and stomping out on him.Most of her day she had dreaded coming to the floor and him not showing up. Even when his application and the corresponding fee had come through, she had thought perhaps he was doing it because Sonny had asked him to. This was a place where Sonny had conducted a lot of business in his heyday. It only made sense Rin did the same.Now he was here behind her, sliding the garment over her hips and his lips pressed to her shoulder and she closed her eyes at the myriad of feelings she had. “I thought I might have pushed my luck one time too many. You didn’t call even once today and I knew you were angry about me smacking up your guy.”“Are you kidding?
The house lights lowered around the booths and seating areas and tables surrounding the main stage. They must be nearing show time, Rin considered as the crowd were making their way to tables or inching up to the bar.Rin noted the stage was massive, the big black curtains likely made of velvet were shut. While there were absolutely poles which ran from fixtures, the set-up was definitely more of a Vegas show than what he expected. It was high-end and now he understood where his million-dollar membership fee was going. When he’d balked at the fee, Sonny had laughed at him telling him it was a one-time fee and the best money he’d ever spend.He felt Marcello’s hand on his shoulder warningly and he looked up and then followed the man’s gaze. Edik Volkov was heading straight in his direction. He got off the bar stool and accepted the man’s hand but the older man pulled him into a tight hug.“Rin, I just left Sasha backstage. What
Rin was working in his office and struggling to get through the day. Sleep had been near impossible for him without Sasha laying next to him. He considered sending her a message or calling her but he wasn’t sure what he would say. He missed her but something about Regal’s warning the night before had him pausing. Give her space. She’ll come to him when she’s ready.“What are you doing?” his grandfather asked as he entered the office without knocking. “You should be getting dressed!”“We have lots of time,” he looked up and then raised an eyebrow at his grandfather’s appearance. The man was dressed to the nines. “You’re going to a strip club.”“You can’t wear jeans and a t-shirt in Gina’s, Rin.” Sonny scoffed at him. “Even your father and mother are dressed up and your sister is wearing something scandalous, or it’s how she described it.”
Rin wiped his hands off on a towel and exited the cell and grimaced at Marcello. “What kind of fool believes he can come into my house, my house,” he repeated angrily, “and try to steal from me using the little devices in his pockets.”“He’s not going to use those little devices anymore,” Marcello said smugly.They both looked up as one of their security agents came down the stairs in a rush.“Now what?”“It’s Miss Smith, sir,” Eddie said scraping his finger over his forehead. “She got upset when Tiny tried to take her out of the lounge and away from Regal.”“Did she now?” Rin exchanged an annoyed look with Marcello. “Let me guess. She threw a fit, stomped her feet, and demanded you leave her alone?”“Um, well no.” Eddie appeared embarrassed. “She said she was going to leave and was going to call her security to come
Dinner was over and Sasha and Rin were sharing a quiet moment before heading back to the suite when Marcello poked his head into the room.“Aw, don’t you two look cute and cozy.”Rin held her hand up, “she said yes.”“She had no choice,” Marcello mocked him. “She’s making the best of a bad situation in being saddled with your cranky ass.” He winked at Sasha with a grin.Sasha gave a snort of laughter at his teasing.“Can I steal your fiancé away from you for a minute?” Marcello asked her curiously. “We have a situation I know you will want to weigh in on, Rin.”Rin frowned at him, “you cannot deal with it yourself?”“Our friend you personally banned is sitting at the blackjack table. I believe he thinks you were still out of the casino this week.” Marcello met his gaze directly.Sasha noted Rin’s posture imme
“You are like a cat with a canary,” Rin laughed at her as he sat down. “You knew it would nettle him to know he had to have permission to come in with me to the club.”“I did and he does.”“You can just grant the permission or did Sonny put his name on the application?”“No. I don’t think Sonny even considered him to be truthful. I can grant the permission. I am the one who processes the applications and completes the vetting process.” She met his surprised glance with a cocky smirk.“Are you suggesting you could have let me in all along?”“Yes, but I know Sonny has been the one who wants to show off Gina’s to you and I wasn’t taking it from him. As I’ve said before, it’s not your run of the mill strip club, not that it matters. However, I know he wants to be the one to introduce you. Chas finally gave him permission to return so when he come
Sasha ground her hips against Rin’s as she straddled him on the sofa and dug her fingers into his thick hair. He tasted of alcohol and smelled undeniably of his signature body wash she had become accustomed to. He was getting hard under her movements and his moan of approval as she took the kiss from him was exhilarating.This was a make-up kiss and she knew it. He had actually apologized for his behavior and said she was his world. She felt as if she were wielding power over the raw masculine energy of the man who was kissing her back as if she were the most precious thing in the universe.His hands were kneading her ass beneath the hemline of her skirt and he was grinding her on him roughly.“Topolina, if we don’t stop,” he broke the kiss, “I fear we will be even later to dinner.”“It’s not like they’ll cancel the reservation,” she whispered against his lips, “you do own the entire place