Gabriel“How bad is it?” Brando asked after Rosa left.“Hurts,” I groaned and closed my eyes, leaning back slightly to help take the pressure from my ribs.“Playing it up?” he teased.I was too tired to lip him back and simply displayed my middle finger. He didn’t care.“You going to pussy it up here or do you want help to the dorm?”“After the bell I’ll make it back with a smaller audience, thank you.”Brando understood this wasn’t just for the ladies. It was a good time to come for our crew. Armando would be waiting for the news of the beatdown to break. Stopping this news flash was impossible, but I’d be damned if I played into his hands and made it easy on him.We waited fifteen minutes after the class bell rang.“Careful of the ribs,” I told him with a grimace. “They took a lot of heat and I don’t care if I sound like a pussy. Rosa’s not here so I can.”“That’s the Gabe we know and love. Come on, you big oaf.”The only way I could make it was with my arm over his shoulders and mo
RosaThe dorm was empty. The whore door was still in place so I assumed she hadn’t returned. I pulled out my laptop and got comfortable on the couch. I would not hide in my room. I entered the school’s website and went into my profile to download the assignments I’d missed. Like a sucker, I made a copy for Gabriel. He needed help in school. Like the other guys, he would never ask the faculty. Sending him his school assignments was the least I could do and it gave me a reason to contact him.I was a glutton for punishment. Every student had a campus email account and I sent it to his which I was sure he never checked. Thus, the text I sent seconds later.“Homework and missed assignments in email and no, I won’t change your grades.”“I’m in pain. I need help,” was his reply a few seconds later.“Where are you?” I asked, panicking.“In my bed. Help!”The ass.“You do not need help; you need a lobotomy.”“Big words no good.”He was a fool and why couldn’t he be my fiancé?I didn’t reply
Gabriel I returned to school on Monday.I didn’t care how I looked. I couldn’t stay cooped up in the dorm for another day. My bullshit excuse to the office would require a visit by medical if I stayed out of class longer and that I would avoid. My ribs continued to hurt but not as bad as they had. The pain was more centered to the injury and not exploding throughout my body. I’d live.The cut below my eye was deep and would take some time to heal. The butterfly bandage didn’t do much considering it should have been applied immediately. Thankfully beauty contests weren’t my thing.Getting dressed was the hardest. I had a few ties in my closet that were pre-tied so if I was in a rush, I didn’t need to deal with the damn things. I was very good at being late to school and needing them. Today was one of those days.I hadn’t spoken to or texted Rosa since Friday. Why that bothered me I didn’t know but it did. Armando was running his mouth in school and I wouldn’t be able to hold Brando ba
RosaI wasn’t stupid. I knew exactly what I was doing. Flirting with Gabriel was dangerous and I was in way over my head. He also knew I wanted him. How could he not? I practically drooled when he was around. This was dangerous and went against every reason I’d stayed away from him the past two years. He would still marry Isabella and I would be nothing more than a notch on his bedpost.Damn, I wanted him. Gabriel would break my heart. That was a given because I would cry his entire wedding day. Why didn’t I pick someone unattached to fall in love with? My hormones were also in overdrive. He turned his head and I clenched my thighs. The small sexy grin appeared on his lips and my nipples tingled. I’d tossed and turned in my bed all night and that was after I desperately used my fingers to take the edge off.My fingers were no longer doing the trick. I couldn’t help looking at Gabriel’s lips and thinking about what they would feel like, there.In fourth period we had a test. I couldn’t
RosaAnd really, did I need a smart guy? Gabriel wasn’t dumb; he just wasn’t school smart. My sister would never understand street smarts because she took our way of life for granted. Since we’d become part of the Laterza family, our circumstances had improved substantially. I remembered when our father was in prison and it had been very hard on my mother.It was almost like my sister didn’t grasp the life we were born into. She also wasn’t dumb. She saw it through rose-colored lenses where I saw it with non-tinted Rosa lenses. Gabriel was exactly who he needed to be for the life in front of him and I resented my sister for thinking otherwise.“Having a fiancée is not his fault,” she rebuked.“Fault has nothing to do with it.”“I don’t understand why it bothers you,” she said. “I’ve hooked up with plenty of guys and have no plans to marry them. It’s your senior year of high school. If you don’t get Gabriel Caruso out of your head now, you’ll be miserable after graduation. Enough is en
GabrielI left Rosa in the bathroom and went to speak with Brando to find out what the fuck happened. Blood pumped through my brain so loudly I could hear it. The phrase seeing red was accurate. I was there.The guys were quietly drinking beer and talking about Armando. They were furious but then so was I.“She okay?” Brando asked after I left the room.“You tell me!” I exploded and swiped a bunch of shit off the coffee table, sending it crashing to the floor. “What the fuck happened?” My anger was off the rails and I knew it.The guys stayed seated and simply watched me.I took a breath. “Rosa is in the shower. I’m losing my fucking shit and need to know what happened.”I also needed my hands around Armando’s fucking throat. I wanted him covered in blood and for his life to be nonexistent.“We’ve been patrolling like you asked,” Brando said carefully, finally understanding I was not in a good place.He glanced at the guys before looking back at me.“I keep a close watch between Isabe
GabrielThere was no hesitation. She walked into my arms and I pulled her firmly against me. I rested my forehead against her chest. She released a long breath and sank further against me.“Tell me what happened.”“I don’t want you getting into trouble over Armando,” she said softly.I pulled back, lifted my chin, and locked eyes with her.“I will deal with Armando and nothing you say will stop that. I need to know what happened.”Her head dropped and she remained quiet for too long. I had no idea what she was thinking.“I will deal with Isabella,” she finally said.That was not happening. I didn’t want Rosa anywhere near my future bride and it was not to protect Isabella.“She is my problem,” I said decisively.Rosa’s lips set in a stubborn line. She tried to pull back, but I didn’t release her.“You think she’s your problem, but she isn’t,” she said. “She is not a child. Using Armando for her dirty work was malicious. I can’t challenge Armando and he wouldn’t accept if I did. I will
Rosa“Let Isabella off the hook for the remainder of the year. She deserves to spend her last year of freedom any way she chooses.”I was defending the last person I wanted to, but their relationship was screwed up. I was also solidifying my thoughts of sleeping with Gabriel. For that to happen, Isabella had to be out of the picture.He squeezed my hand tighter. “There’s nothing between us. We’ve known each other since we were babies and that’s it.”I wasn’t getting through.I lay back in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to think of something that would make him understand. He lay back too, and I turned on my side so we were facing each other.“Isabella is no one’s property. Even after you’re married.” I gulped at that one. “She will be her own woman. I don’t care about the warped way your lives have been brought together. I care about you. If you want a one-night stand, I’m not the girl. If you want to see where this leads, Isabella needs to be out of the equation.”He went to his
This is a bonus chapter for the Mafia Academy and I promise you want to read it. While I have you, I need to thank you for reading about these three amazing couples. If you continued this far, I'm sure they are as special to you as they are to me. For Mr. Xavier's complete story and how he found himself at Rochester, you’ll want to read Hotter Than Hell available on GoodNovel. Xavier is the head of the desert crime syndicate when Madison enters his world. One day, I plan to write about his children. *** Twelve years later Mr. Xavier The room, located at the top of the high-rise building far from Rochester, simply had the initials R.A. etched in glass on the double doors. There was an outer office and an inner conference room with a large antique table that filled the oversized space. I looked around the empty room, walked to the head of the table, and pulled out a chair. Men and women entered, nodded, and took their seats. Mr. Caleb and Miss Bianchi were the last to walk in. Mr. C
GabrielHer body had changed and I couldn’t believe I hadn’t noticed. Her ass was definitely bigger but sometimes I was smart and knew when to keep my mouth shut. I, however, loved her ass.We decided to keep the baby news to ourselves for Isabella’s sake too. It was for nothing. School gossip ran rampant the next day because Isabella had already left. I sent her a text with Rosa beside me to make sure she was okay.“I just touched down in Italy. I’m good. I know you and Rosa are together. Congratulations.”My asshole behavior with Isabella was at an end.“Be happy.”“I will.”“Maybe someday you will be friends,” Rosa said.“Maybe someday we won’t. There is too much water under that bridge.”“She did a good thing.”“She did. I would have married you anyway so she isn’t entirely off the hook.”“Are you going to tell your father he lost the bet?”“Hell no. I’m not letting Isabella’s father win.”She laughed and I hugged her to me, unable to get enough. I couldn’t keep my hands off the b
RosaIt was the truth. I would always be the sidepiece. I could also say with all honesty that I was glad I went for it. Gabriel was mine for a short time and I would never forget it.“He does love you enough. You won’t give him the chance to prove it.”“If I told him and he married Isabella—which is what will happen—it will kill me. It’s better like this.”She simply made a sound in her throat that let me know I was full of shit.“Come on,” she said and placed her arm back around my shoulders. “Let’s get the little mommy to her bed so she can sleep.” “I hate you.”“I’m going to be the worst aunt imaginable. If your son or daughter isn’t a hellraiser right out of the gate, I’ll do the training.”“I love you, mi amica,” I told her.“I know.”****I made it to the last week of school. I’d passed my finals easily. This was the fun time for seniors. I wasn’t drinking but there was a party every night and the alcohol flowed. It was Sunday and I had everything ready for the next morning. T
GabrielI made it through the week with busted knuckles from putting my fist through a wall. Everything else was sore from working out at the gym for hours on end. The crew returned Friday. I hadn’t heard from Rosa. I didn’t stop texting.“It doesn’t make sense,” Brando said.It didn’t. I’d heard nothing from Rosa or her sister. I wasn’t sure when they were returning. If they didn’t come back, and that worried me most, I would go after her. This was bullshit.I was in my room Saturday evening when there was a soft knock on my door. I threw it open and Rosa stood there. I knew from the look on her face, I wouldn’t like what she had to say. I spoke first.“Do not fucking do this. We have more time.”She looked down and my heart fell to my stomach.“We can’t, Gabriel; you’re marrying Isabella. It’s not fair to her or to you.”“No.”“Gabriel, you don’t have a choice. This is too hard for me. I can’t take it anymore. I told you I wouldn’t be the other woman and I meant it. Don’t make this
Rosa“You won’t say that after the first week. It’s a nightmare and several families have been hit with ransomware. The sooner you take things over, the sooner I can get Dante off my back and work on the project he wants done.”My lips trembled when I smiled.“What are you going to do about school? You have your credits and I’m sure they will work with you and give you a diploma.”“I’m going back to Rochester and finishing my senior year. It’s the only way this will work.”“Explain,” he said through tight lips.“Gabriel can’t know about the baby. I haven’t completely thought this through yet, but I shouldn’t be showing too much by graduation and should be able to pull it off.”“You think Gabriel won’t know?” he asked and I knew from the uncomfortable look in his eyes, exactly what he was saying and I blushed.“I will break up with him as soon as I return to school. It was coming anyway.” I wiped more tears away. “I’d decided I wasn’t staying with him after graduation because it would
RosaI told my mother while Chaney and Donya left to buy a pregnancy test. My mom’s arms were exactly what I needed.“Shh, mia cara,” she whispered.“I love him. I want to have his babies. I want to spend the rest of my life with him,” I cried angrily. “This isn’t fair.”“Life is not fair, mia cara.”The pregnancy test was positive. And the next one and the next. I kept staring at the two lines.My sister’s expression was pure freak-out. Chaney’s slightly better. My mother was the calmest of all of us and I knew she had to be so disappointed. We hadn’t used protection on the rooftop that day. I’d never gone on the pill. I’d messed this entire thing up completely.I looked at my mother with tears running down my face. “He will do his duty to his family and marry Isabella. He can never know. If you’ll allow me to live here, I’ll raise the baby on my own.”My mother, who rarely swore, let out the most foul word I’d ever heard her use.“You are my daughter and my home will always be your
Gabriel My grades improved with Rosa’s help. How could they not? While my arm was still in a brace, she’d done all my homework. She asked me the answers but for the most part I sexually teased her while studying because that was more fun.We had a week of spring break coming up, and then everyone would concentrate on graduation. I wasn’t looking forward to any of it. Well, maybe the break. Rosa and her sister’s crew were joining mine in Cabo. We were spending the weekend with our families and then meeting at the resort.This was our last mad dash of senior life. I had no fucking idea what Isabella was doing over the break and I didn’t care. I simply wanted to spend time with Rosa.I wrapped my arm around her Friday before she left for her parents’ home.“I’ll see you Monday. I have a big surprise just for you.”She swatted my arm at my ridiculous devilish grin.I only had to get through the weekend with my parents, and then we would have the best week of our lives.****Rosa“Come on
RosaShe got it all out without a word from me. I stood in shock which was stupid. Isabella was a devious bitch. She’d been quiet for too long.“Fuck off,” I said and continued walking.My thoughts were everywhere. I didn’t think Gabriel slept with her but he had not told me about the house or property. If he’d kept that from me, had he lied about sleeping with her? I bypassed my sister’s building and went to the roof. I hadn’t been up here in a long time and it made me sad to see what it was like before I moved into Gabriel’s dorm. It was a pathetic life. I pulled back the tarp, sat down on my pillows, and cried.I’m unsure why Isabella’s declaration hit so hard. I always knew she would get Gabriel in the end. He wouldn’t lie to me or at least I didn’t think he would. But wasn’t that what the guys did? They lied to their wives and they lied to their mistresses. I would have the second role if I took it and I wouldn’t. Not because I wouldn’t do everything I could to be with Gabriel bu
RosaThe car pulled up to campus and my heart raced. Gabriel was waiting for me at his dorm.“Rosa, I would like a private word,” my brother said.My sister rolled her eyes, told him goodbye, and got out of the car with her bag. She walked away knowing I was in for another lecture.“Think hard on this,” Caine said. “I’m not stupid. I know you think you love him.”I held up my hand. “I don’t think anything of the sort. I love him.”“Fuck, Rosa. You’re smarter than this.”“I know what will happen. I know it will break my heart. I haven’t had a boyfriend the entire time I’ve been at Rochester because I only saw one boy and he was taken. For now, he’s mine and I will keep him for as long as I can.”“I love you, sis.”I heard the defeat in his voice.“I love you too and I’ll need a big shoulder to cry on much too soon. I’d like it to be yours.”“My shoulder will always be yours,” he said softly.I got out of the car and didn’t look back. Gabriel was waiting.His room was dark when I opened