DrakeDrake tried to focus on the road as they drove to Gio's, but Sicily's lithe little arms around his waist and the soft brush of her fingers over is legs a few times almost unraveled him. By the time they got there, he was sporting a less than comfortable attention grabber.He turned and adjusted himself, grateful for her not throwing a comment his way. She knew he was interested. Now it was time to show her a little about himself and see if she could reciprocate the feeling.Gio met them at the door, the owner having been the hostess of the restaurant since Drake found the little place a few years back."Mr. DeMarco. So nice to see you, and you have a lady friend? What's the world coming to?"Sicily chuckled beside him and Drake glanced at her. "Don't laugh at him. It only encourages the old man.""You're not getting any younger either, mister." The large Italian man with more white than grey hair moved in and shook Drake’s hand before pulling him into a tight hug. "How have you
SicilyThey finished dinner and needed a doggie back, the small container holding more food than they ate between the two of them. Sicily walked beside Drake to the front of the restaurant and leaned into the hug with Gio, the man quickly finding his way to her heart.Good food, great atmosphere, and how many times had he called her little or insinuated that she was too tiny to be a chef? She was sold."Delicious." Drake opened the door and smiled as she moved past him. His dark hair and eyes left her feeling feverish. Were they really going to go hang out with their friends?"I agree. Great choice." Sicily stopped by the nearest trashcan and dropped the food into it as Drake let out a growl."What was that for? Jake and Kari would have torn that up." He moved up beside her and touched the trashcan with a look on his face that would be fitting for burying a family pet.Sicily laughed and slid her hand into his. "I agree, but we're not going to my house.""Oh? We're not? Where do you w
Sicily"Who is Izzy?""She's my sister, but she doesn't know that. She thinks I'm just D's brother who Joe hates. No one knows that I'm Joe's son but D, Joe, my mom, and me." He shrugged."Oh. Izzy is Joe's kid?""Yeah, one of many. She's his enforcer. In the mafia world, that's the one who goes out and murders on cue."Sicily swallowed before pulling her legs in tighter. "Um... that sounds fucking scary. Are we going to be safe?"He chuckled and stood, placing the gate back in front of the fire as the kettle let out a whistle. Sicily started to move, but he held up his hand."I'll get it." He moved to the kitchen before answering her. "We're safe. Izzy wouldn't hurt me, and D's there if nothing else.""Your brother seems like a good guy, of sorts." She was reaching, but wanted to try to understand without judging too much. She didn't know their world and honestly didn't want to."He is." Drake turned around. "You want something warm to drink?""Not right now. Come here and talk to me
Drake The drive back to town almost killed him, the situation before his girl a serious one. The last thing he wanted to do was stand in front of the cops and watch them take her on false charges, but that's exactly what they did. Drake crossed his arms over his chest, the argument doing nothing but upsetting the officers and Drake more. Jake had tried to get involved, but they shut him down, too. There was nothing more he could do in the moment and he decided to back off when tears dripped onto Sicily's pretty face and she asked him to stop. Her whisper tore through him and he couldn't help but feel the desire to burn down the whole fucking city. He waited until the cop car left to get onto his phone. His brother D wouldn't be thrilled about the late night call, but he didn't give a shit. "Drake. What's up, man? Wrong phone." "Fuck the phone. My girl's been set up with some shit and I need your intel." "Anything. What do you want from us?" "Edward still working for you?" "Yes.
SicilyDrake took her home the night before, but left shortly after. Some part of her wanted to invite him to stay the night, but she couldn't. She needed to cry out her fear and humiliation alone. That the police would really think her capable of doing something so heinous weighed heavily on her.She woke the next morning, still torn over what to do about Martin. He had been the one to tear her name down and throw her under the bus. He didn't need to go into baking, but acting. The little shit had her completely fooled.Drake told her to call when she woke up, but she couldn't stand the thought of sounding so pathetic on the phone to him. She would call later when she got her bearings. First thing was first... she needed to fire Martin and give him a piece of her mind.The cops should have picked him up already, but if his aunt Margaret was as powerful as Drake said she was, then chances of him even knowing about being caught were slim. It was almost a family affair at that point. Th
Sicily"No,” Sicily told Martin. “I spent half the night in jail last night for the fire at Judy's. I would never hurt anyone – ever. They took my fingerprints and berated me that your grandmother was in the hospital, as if my nasty attack on Margaret's bakery led her there. I've been nothing but good to your family." She let out a small sob. "I've taught you everything I know and treated you like my own family."Martin paled visibly, his warm gaze growing wide with fear. "I didn't have a choice, Sicily. They didn't leave me a choice in the matter. They have more power than anyone in the city."He moved toward her and she shook her head, her voice gaining strength. "No. Everyone has a choice. You made yours, so get out. If the cops don't pick you up soon, then I have no faith in anything in this shitty little dot on the map.""Don't do this. You know I wouldn't hurt you." He moved to stand in front of her, sliding his hands over her shoulders as she tried to jerk away."Stop it. Get o
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