SicilyThey had agreed to catch up with each other later that evening. Sicily drove to the bakery with her windows down and the radio off, needing to think through the new information on Martin. Should it matter? Not really, but seeing that Judy's was lying in a pile of rubble, and Drake had a great theory on the kid’s involvement... it did.She parked outside the bakery and sat in the car for a minute, trying to let the odd racquetball game between her and Drake dissipate. Things were moving too fast between them, and yet from what he said, he had been trying to get her attention for months. Why he hadn't given up a while back was beyond her. He was eons out of her league anyway.Martin walked out of the shop and flipped the sign on the front to ‘closed’ as she opened the door and smiled at him. He had been beyond good to her. At least she could start by giving him the benefit of the doubt."Hey." She closed her car door and reached up, brushing her freshly showered hair from her fac
SicilySicily pulled up into the driveway at the house and parked, turning the car off and getting out as the wind picked up. The cold front was almost there and felt great.How long had she been waiting for the first proper cold front so she could bundle up and hid behind a wall of sweaters? No one could blame a person for looking heavy if they had on ten layers of clothing. Winter was good like that.Sicily walked to the door, turning at the sound of a motorcycle moving down the street. Her heart fluttered in her chest as she paused and waited for him to turn into the driveway. He parked and pulled off his helmet, his black bomber jacket fitting him tightly as it hugged his slim waist over his stone-washed jeans."Got flour on your nose and sugar on your lips?" He winked and walked toward her, slipping the helmet under his arm."No, thankfully. I try not to be nearly the mess I was when I first started. Besides, you don't like sugar, so I'm thinking if I was hoping for a goodnight k
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
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