Sicily"You have the cupcakes for the fire station?" Violet stood at the counter in front of Sicily, a warm smile on her face. "Drake called and said they did need them." She grunted. "I swear he thinks I'm his personal assistant.""Well, tell him that you're not." Sicily knelt and pulled out a large box of cupcakes. "He'll do what you let him do. Most men will." She gave Violet a cheeky grin."You're right there." She bit on her lip, drawing Sicily's attention to her fidgeting."You okay? You seem a little nervous. Something happen?" Sicily put the box on the counter and pressed her hands to it, studying Violet closely. Something was off. The pretty redhead was always in a good mood and full of confidence. It was a little intimidating knowing that she was working for Drake and was the type of woman any man would want."My boyfriend, Dane, is supposed to stop by the company party tonight, and Drake doesn't like him. He's a motorcycle guy and is a bit of an asshole if he gets too many
DrakeThe party the night before hadn't gone at all like he planned. Seeing fear in Sicily's eyes when she looked at him was beyond depressing. He couldn't help who he turned into when someone threatened someone he cared about. It was any man's right and responsibility to protect a woman in need, or another guy for shit's sake. He wasn't willing to explain that, which meant he was still processing it himself. He would try to get her to understand him better, but not yet. He was still stewing over the fact that Violet would choose to date such an asshole."What did she think? She'd bring him to the party and everything would be fine? The bastard is an abuser all the way." Drake glanced up from the packet of papers sitting before him on the kitchen table. Sicily was still asleep in his bed, and the early morning quietness called to him.He rarely took legal cases, though he was fully instated by the bar to practice in Maine under a false name. No one needed to know his dealings. It was
SicilySicily took the long way back to her house, trying to get into a more peaceful mood before having to go up to the bakery. It had been a long year of transitions, and it wasn't over just yet. Drake's confession about Demetri needing help and not asking for it was a little overwhelming. Where she would stand beside him no matter what, leaving her bakery and comfortable life and moving to the heart of the mafia was terrifying. She needed to talk to her brother about it, but he would have nothing good to say.Sadly enough, he was the only one that might understand what she was getting herself into though. He'd throw a big fit, but it was part of his charm."He didn't say you guys were going back to Chicago. Stop it." She shook her head and pulled up to the house. Everyone was gone, and staying at the house sounded like bliss, but knowing about Drake's allergies put that hope on hold. She parked and got out, chuckling at how silly the man was.Why in the world wouldn't he have simpl
DrakeThey'd wrapped up the open house at Sicily's bakery and made it back to his place just as the storm hit. Where he'd hoped to spend the night snuggled up watching movies before making love, Sicily didn't make it past the previews on the first one. He carried her to bed and held her all night, not getting much sleep himself.D was in trouble. The only decision was whether to step in and help him before he asked for it, or to wait and hope that he didn't.It seemed like a dick move not to try and support his brother, but it wasn't just him anymore. It was Sicily now too. That meant asking her to change her life completely, and he wasn't willing to do that just yet.The situation ran through his mind until the sun came up the next morning, leaving him achy, tired and slightly moody. He reached over and ran his hand down the curve of her hip as they lay in bed together."Morning, baby doll. You ready to get moving around? We need to get on the road soon. Another storm is going to hit
SicilyThe house was full of family, not just her siblings and their kids, but a few random aunts and uncles too. It was like it always was around the holidays - suffocating, and yet fun."Did you guys hit any of that storm?" Sicily's brother, Paulo, moved into the kitchen doorway and leaned against the frame."No. We got out just before it hit. We got some really bad snow last night though." Sicily turned to face her brother and smiled. "You've lost weight.""Hell yeah. Wendy said I could lose thirty pounds, or she would find someone else to make her howl at night." He shrugged and walked into the kitchen, going straight for the fridge. "I told her to lay off my ass for the holidays. I love Momma’s cooking, and I assume you're going to make everything she used to make?""Sure am." Sicily chopped an onion, a little worried about Drake, but knowing it was silly. Her two youngest brother's had him on the couch, watching something on TV that had all three of them yelling at the top of th
Drake"You sure you're ready to go?" Drake reached up and touched the side of Sicily's face.Her brother Johnny walked by and gave Drake a nasty glare. "Hands off my sister, punk ass."Drake chuckled and moved toward Johnny as Sicily turned and pressed her back to Drake's chest. "Stop it. The two of you are going to have to stop walking around this place like you both own me. I'm my own woman and I own my damned self."Johnny's eyes widened.Drake had to guess that the cute little woman pressed against him didn't usually stick up to her family too often. He knew quite well that she wasn't going to put up with any shit, but maybe her family was new to this side of her?"Hey, man," Drake started and moved around Sicily, "I'm in love with your sister. Regardless of how you feel about me, I'm going to love her like no other man would. I'd give her the moon, the house of her dreams, anything she wanted.""And what if all you can give her is death and destruction? I know who you are, asshol
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
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
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