Sicily"I'm sorry you had to deal with this, Miss. Moretti." The lead officer on her case shook his head and kept his eyes turned toward the ground."It's okay. I just wish Martin wouldn't have been the criminal in this." She forced a smile as Paul glanced up, the man having been a good friend to Drake during the whole process. For that, she was grateful."And you're sure you want this record to read that you put a hurting on the boy that has him going to the hospital?" The cop lifted his eyebrow and tilted his head slightly. He had to have known it was Drake who laid the wayward teen out on the ground."Yes. He attacked me and I acted in self-defense. I'm from the streets of New York, officer." She shrugged and moved her gaze to rest behind him as the paramedic's loaded Martin up in the ambulance. "He's going to be okay, right?""Yeah. Just standard procedure." Paul turned and let out a long sigh. "Alright, well, we'll get your name cleared at the station, and if anything pops up fro
SicilyKari and Jake showed up a few minutes later and helped fix up the bakery before splitting up for the ride home. Jake drove his truck and Kari took the keys to Sicily's car to drive her back to the house.Sicily's stomach growled loudly as she buckled up and leaned back in her seat."You hungry, hun?" Kari reached out and squeezed Sicily's hand."I guess." She glanced at the clock, realizing that it was early afternoon. "I didn't eat breakfast and with all the drama, lunch passed me right by too.""We were going to make sub sandwiches.""You and Jake?" Sicily turned to watch her pretty friend."No. He was at work. He came by the house to grab me after Drake called him. Lisa and I were making sandwiches. She had a fit to come get you, but we figured too many people might make you a little crazy. Jake wouldn't take no for an answer on coming, so it was me and him." She shrugged and pulled her hand back into her own lap."A sandwich sounds good." Sadness filled up the entire space
DrakeDrake parked his bike around the back of the shop and walked languidly to the front. His thoughts assaulted him left and right. No matter how hard he tried to put the scene out of his head, he kept coming back to the same place. Sicily standing there, horrified by him. He had been too aggressive with the kid, though the little punk ass deserved every minute of it.Sicily obviously didn't agree.Her words were harsh, and though he knew she didn't truly mean them, he couldn't convince himself otherwise. It was good that she had seen firsthand what a monster he could be. It had been a peaceful five years, but good fortune never lasted long in his life. The mob would come calling sometime soon and he would have to return. The sins of his past owed him a life of hell. Sicily didn't need to get involved in with him.She can do much better. I want her to. Drake walked into the gym and nodded at Violet as she glanced up from the appointment book."Hey, boss. How goes... oh." Her expres
DrakeThe leaves had collected at the door again and all over the parking lot. There was nothing more breathtaking than the crimson, dark yellow, and burnt oranges that filled the scene before him. The large, colorful trees lined the narrow road that led up to the gym.He took a quick right and moved more into the line of the forest, breathing in deeply and picking up his pace until he was running hard. Jake would kick his ass if he tried to talk the other man into something so aggressive, but for him... it was a walk in the park.Forcing himself forward, his heart began to race and as he turned the corner to move toward town, the large lake opened up beside him.Clarity was his for a minute as adrenaline pumped through him. Sicily was the woman he wanted beside him for the rest of his life. He didn't know much about her, but it was really irrelevant. He would find out any and everything simply because he wanted to be her rock, to understand her completely and be there for her, no mat
SicilyDrake's response had come hours after Sicily first sent the message, which left her afternoon and evening ruined. She mulled around the house a while before taking a hot bath and going to bed early. She could pack in the morning before going into the shop for a while. It would hopefully calm her nerves a little.After the fight with Drake, there was no telling how awkward the tension might be between the two of them for the long weekend. She hoped there was some way to push past it and find the budding heat that sparked between the two of them every time they were close.Sicily woke on Friday morning to the sound of Lisa and Kari arguing about something. Checking the clock on her nightstand, she realized she was running late."Oh hell." She got up quickly and pulled on a pair of jeans and a sweater before working her hair into a ponytail and applying a little bit of make-up. Her hurried movements were namely due to needing to get to the shop on time, but even more so to find ou
Sicily"You sure you don't want me to cook?" Violet laughed and rubbed her fingers over her face, smearing flour on her pretty complexion.Sicily laughed and finished replacing the cookies in the counter with the new ones she'd just pulled off the cooling rack."No, but thank you. You look like I've been forcing you to bake everything we have up here. Smart girl.""Thank you. I swear it takes more effort to look busy than to just be busy." Violet turned as the door opened and Drake walked in.His dark jeans hug low on his hips, the tight fitting black T-shirt only working to accentuate the thick muscles of his chest and abdomen."Girls..." He smiled at Violet and winked at Sicily. "You ready to head out?""Yeah. I just need to finish cleaning up in the back." Sicily let her eyes roam over him before returning to his face. She half expected the same cocky grin he had given her a hundred times before when he realized that she was checking him out.He nodded and turned to Violet, giving
DrakeDrake parked the truck at the airport and walked around, offering his hand to Sicily as she slipped out. The pretty little thing let out a soft yelp as she hit the ground. He reached out and slid his hands around her waist, pulling her flush against him as she glanced up."What are you doing?" A smile tugged at her mouth."Trying to figure out how to move us past what happened yesterday so that we can get back to working on whatever is happening between us." He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the side of her neck. "And hitting on you. Hard.""Yes. I see that." She laughed and pushed at his chest. "It will work itself out. Let's go and do what you need to do together.""Sounds good." He brushed a kiss by her ear. "Then I can hit on you?""Hit on me the whole time, please." She moved to the side of him and picked up her bag."Give me that, woman." He took the bag and laid it on top of his before locking the truck. He extended his hand to her. "Come on. I'll feel better when
DrakeDrake pulled back and rolled his shoulders. "We're going to have to stop or I'm going to find one of those family bathrooms and show you how badly I want to express my feelings for you."She laughed. "That sounds hot and yet not. Bathrooms are... eww."The announcement over the loud speaker called for their flight to begin boarding. Drake stood and chuckled at the expression on her pretty face."Come on. No bathroom unless it's in a hot shower." He took her hand and pulled her up, giving her another quick kiss before moving toward the gate."This is for first class, Drake.""I know, baby. My brother always goes in style. Should be fun.""Fun, yes, but insanely expensive." Sicily moved in front of him as the flight attendant took her ticket."I'm not paying for it. D did.""I need to pay him back for mine. I don't do freebies.""Yeah. Good luck with that." Drake handed the woman his ticket and moved to take Sicily's hand again. "He's the devil in an angel's disguise.""Sounds lik
Drake"You sure you don't mind stopping by my momma's house real quick? I just want to give everyone a hug before we head back to Maine." She leaned over and puckered up, looking too cute for her own damn good."I don't mind at all, plus, we're already here." He kissed her. "Tease.""You don't have to come in." She kissed him once more and got out of the truck, jogging toward the door. Her white coat fit her well, her jeans beautiful on her pert little butt.He smiled, letting his thoughts dive into the night they would have when they got back to his place.A knock right beside his head on the window had him stifling the need to jump. He turned to find Johnny standing out in the snow.Drake rolled down his window and nodded. "What's up, man?""I was thinking about what you said the other day about loving my sister." He glanced around, obviously uncomfortable. "I can't do anything about who she falls in love with, and I know I don't need to do the 'kick your ass if you hurt her' spiel,
Drake"You sure you don't mind stopping by my momma's house real quick? I just want to give everyone a hug before we head back to Maine." She leaned over and puckered up, looking too cute for her own damn good."I don't mind at all, plus, we're already here." He kissed her. "Tease.""You don't have to come in." She kissed him once more and got out of the truck, jogging toward the door. Her white coat fit her well, her jeans beautiful on her pert little butt.He smiled, letting his thoughts dive into the night they would have when they got back to his place.A knock right beside his head on the window had him stifling the need to jump. He turned to find Johnny standing out in the snow.Drake rolled down his window and nodded. "What's up, man?""I was thinking about what you said the other day about loving my sister." He glanced around, obviously uncomfortable. "I can't do anything about who she falls in love with, and I know I don't need to do the 'kick your ass if you hurt her' spiel,
DrakeDrake woke up the next morning before Sicily, realizing it was Christmas and he had everything he needed. He rolled onto his side and reached out, brushing his hand down her back as gratefulness washed over him in suffocating waves.D and Michael Carrington had gone to great lengths to help him restart his life. They'd helped fake his death in a warehouse explosion, put on the funeral and D had played the part beautifully through the event. It was horrifying to think he let his brother go through that shit, but D wouldn't have had it any other way.Drake rolled out of bed, his heart aching in his chest. He'd been wrong the night before. He and Sicily couldn't just look away from D and Izzy's bullshit situation. Where he wasn't sure he could get involved in the syndicate again, he could browbeat his brother into being a man and taking Izzy as his woman. There was no other girl for Demetri.After ordering a huge Christmas morning breakfast, Drake wrapped up in an extra blanket, sl
Sicily"That was fun tonight." Sicily squeezed Drake's hand as they walked toward Kadia in downtown New York. The sign lit up the night, taking attention from anyone who passed by. It was magnificent, the largest club she'd seen."Yeah. I had a good time," he glanced down at her, "and I was serious about what I said. We can go back and join your family after we spend a little bit of time with D and Izzy. I doubt they’re staying long. We just wanted to see each other, and it's safer if we do it in the middle of a large crowd."The line was wrapped around the building, people huddling together and singing Christmas songs with all sorts of odd costumes for the event that night. Sicily smiled and snuggled closer to Drake as they walked to the front of the line."The line is back there, man. Go get in it." A sexy bouncer with a great smile and beautiful aqua-colored eyes barked at them. She let her eyes move down to his name tag, wondering who he was for some reason. Had she seem him befor
DrakeDrake let his eyes run across Sicily as she stood in front of the mirror in the hotel bedroom and turned slowly, checking herself out."You look amazing."She walked toward him as he fiddled with his tie, taking over and working on it for him."My brothers never could get a tie on right. The last time I did this for someone, it was at Momma’s funeral." Her hands shook a little. "I did it multiple times that day."He reached up and ran his hands over her hips, enjoying the soft silky black material of her dress. "I'm really good at it. I just wanted you closer."She laughed as a tear ran down her nose. "I'm sorry.""Don't be sorry." He stood and pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head as he brushed her hair back. "You can be sensitive over your mom anytime you want, for as long as you want. I'm right here to hold you up."She nodded and pressed her face to his chest. "I just have so many memories of Christmas Eve with her. My chest hurts so bad it feels like acid is ea
Sicily"What did you do while I was shopping?" Sicily stood beside Drake later that afternoon as he loaded up the truck with her packages."I was taking a nap honestly." He put the last of them in the truck and gave her a look. "What in the world did you get?""Presents for all of our friends and something for you." She shrugged and walked around the truck, getting in on her side.He got in and buckled up as the scent of his cologne filled her nose. She breathed in deeper and let out an appreciative growl.Drake chuckled. "What was that for?""You smell good.""Stop diverting. You shouldn't have gotten all those gifts, baby.""Why not? We didn't fly. We'll just put them all in the back seat when we go back home, right?""It's not about where to put them on the ride home, Sis. It's about you spending your hard-earned money on gifts for us. We don't need anything, at least I don't. I have you, baby. That's more than enough." He pulled out his wallet. "Let me give you some money so you c
Sicily"You sure you don't want to come with me?" Sicily forced a pout on her face. She knew without a doubt that Drake would do anything she wanted him to, but shopping was too much. Having some time with her brother and sister for the afternoon would be fun for her, but most likely a drag of sorts. Especially seeing that the brother going was Johnny."I’m sure, beautiful girl." He pulled up to her mother's house. "I'll catch up with you this afternoon.""Will you take me out to see my momma’s grave before we have to get ready for dinner and church?" She leaned over and touched the side of his handsome face. Butterflies danced in her stomach, which seemed silly, but she hoped that he would always have such a strong pull on her."Of course I will." He leaned in and kissed her softly before deepening it a little. She opened herself up, letting him in as he rolled his tongue past her, dominating the kiss in a way that made her blood boil."Behave." She pulled back and smiled."You're th
DrakeThe night was filled with him and Sicily taking turns to explore each other. By the end of it, he was weak, exhausted and completely infatuated with the beautiful woman tucked against him. Not ever being able to sleep well, he was shocked when he woke the next morning to the smell of bacon and the sound of Sicily talking.He jolted up in the bed, worried that he had missed something. "Baby?""Right here." She opened the various trays sitting on the counter by the TV. "I ordered room service because I didn't want to get dressed yet. Besides, it's snowing like crazy out there."He dropped back down and ran his hand over his chest, watching her as she moved around in a large fluffy white robe. She looked adorable. Sexy."Mine," he grumbled and pulled the covers up. "You know that? You're mine.""I know, you gorilla. You made that more than obvious last night." She nibbled on a piece of bacon and walked over to sit down on the edge of the bed. "You want some?""Of course I do." He r
Sicily"Wow. This place is...""Fancy?" Drake asked as he pulled out her chair. "I heard they have the best steaks in New York.""Something tells me that you're probably right." Sicily sat down, feeling way underdressed for the steakhouse Drake had brought her to. He had on a sports coat over his jeans and white polo, and looked like a million bucks. The best thing in her suitcase was a plain white skirt and a blue sweater with winter boots. She felt cute, but that didn't seem like enough."Evening, folks. Glad to have you in the city and here with us tonight for dinner. May I make some suggestions?" The server wore a white pressed shirt, black slacks and a tux jacket.Sicily sat quietly as Drake encouraged the guy to give his spiel. Once he was done, Drake ordered their drinks and an appetizer. He moved his seat closer to hers and draped his arm over the back of her chair. "You look amazing.""You're just being sweet." She smiled and worked to get her napkin in her lap, not wanting t