Sondra“I changed my mind,” I tell Corey, my cell phone pinched between my ear and my shoulder as I pace around on the balcony of my Bellissimo suite. “I don’t want to go on this date.”“Okay, so you don’t have to,” she says patiently. “You don’t have to stay there. You don’t have to work there. I’ll come pick you up right now.”She stopped by after her shift earlier and I filled her in on the latest. Now I’ve called her at home to talk some more.I peer over the edge of the balcony at the busy strip below. “A quick crazy fling with Nico Tacone is one thing, but dating him? It’s a bad idea.”“Agreed,” Corey says. “So cancel the date.”“I don’t even have his phone number. I have to wait until he shows up.”“What are you really worried about? Just say it, even if you think it sounds stupid.”Corey knows me so well.“I have nothing to wear,” I blurt. That’s not really what this is about, but it seems to symbolize my dilemma. I’m not prepared to handle Nico Tacone and everything it might
NicoI’m dealing with three idiot would-be coke dealers in my dungeon. Yes, my basement is a fucking dungeon, with an underground network of tunnels that lead out into the city. You might call them catacombs, because more than one body has been buried here.They’re kids. Young. Stupid. Easy to scare.Security caught them moving powder in my nightclub. They could’ve called the cops, but I prefer to deal with this kind of shit in my own way. A little dose of fear goes a helluva lot farther than the threat of a badge.I nod at my younger cousin Sal, who busts one of the guy’s nose, then pulls his head up by the hair. All three of them have been worked over by my soldiers.“This is Mr. Tacone, owner of the Bellissimo. He has something to say to you.”The kid is shitting himself. I walk over and look down my nose at him. “You think you can sell drugs in my club? In my casino?”“I’m sorry, Mr. Tacone,” the guy on the left babbles. “W-we didn’t know who you were. That you owned this place. W
Sondra“So you’ll help?”Nico grimaces, but he nods. “I’ll help you.”I clutch his arm. “You won’t hurt him?”His nostrils flare. “I can’t fucking stand you begging me on his behalf, bambi.”I can’t really stand it, either. Tanner shouldn’t be screwing up my relationship with Nico. But I feel responsible for taking the car. I knew when I did it, it was the wrong thing to do, but I wanted to punish him. But not with death.I drop my forehead against his chest and he strokes the back of my neck. I still can’t believe such a powerful man is so into me, but knowing he’s willing to give me this means everything.“I won’t hurt him,” he mutters, disgust registering in his voice. “But if it costs me thirty large, I’m going to take payment out on your ass.”I jerk my head up to read his expression and find him smirking. My butt clenches at the threat. Does he mean more spanking? Because I pretty much loved every time he’s done it.“Give me the details on the car. I’ll send my guys over there t
NicoI enter my suite around five in the morning. Like every night this week, Sondra’s in my bed sleeping. Where she belongs.My guys found the drugs in her car—a half pound of molly, which has a street value of more than $30K. They delivered it to her asshole ex with a mild beat-down and the warning to never contact Sondra again. Problem solved. I’m not even pissed anymore, because I got to be her hero.I stand in the doorway and look at her, so beautiful, her expression sweet in slumber. If I were a decent man, I’d let her sleep. But I can’t fucking sleep until I’ve put my dick into her, so I take off my clothes and climb over her.She murmurs something in her sleep, her knees parting to make room for me. My cock is harder than stone, already leaking for her. I’ve been waiting for this moment all fucking night, but I had three private games to manage that took my attention.Sondra’s wearing a tank top and a pair of pink satin panties. I tug up her tank and feast on one nipple.“Nico
NicoI’m an asshole because I promised to treat Sondra like a girlfriend and not a fucktoy, and then I haven’t had a goddamn minute during the waking hours to treat her right.I pick up my phone and call Stefano, my younger brother. He and I are tight—close in age and of a similar mindset. He’s been in the old country, working with our great uncle.“Nico, come va?” he answers.I get right to the point. “I need you.”Stefano swears. “What is it?”“No, no. Nothing bad. My operation has grown too big. I can’t work enough hours in the day, and I need someone to share the load. I need you, specifically.”Stefano’s quiet for a moment. “Tony’s not enough?”“Tony can’t do everything. And he’s not my brother. I pay him well, but I can’t share the kingdom with him. Dad wouldn’t allow it.”“Yeah, okay. I’ll talk to Zio. I’m sure he can let me go if you really need me.”“I do. I need you to head up security. That way I can focus on continued growth. Call me back and let me know when you can come.
He holds up his hand again to silence me. “Never again.”My pussy clenches at the steel in his voice. Wow. A full-on Nico Tacone scolding. It’s one part humiliating, two parts exciting. I’m definitely wired wrong because I find an angry mob boss thrilling.He walks to the bar and pours himself a drink. “I have shit to do,” he mutters, his back turned. “You should go to your own room tonight. I won’t be here before daylight.” He walks out on the balcony without looking back.My heart’s on the floor. He’s angrier than I thought. I need to fix things before I go—I’m not about to leave on this note. Not when my emotions are on edge, my hormones are raging and Nico’s still mad.I follow him out.He sinks into a seat and stares out at the night.“Nico—”“Not tonight, baby.” His voice is clipped, tight.I stand in front of him, blocking his view. “Nico.”In a quick, irritated move, he pulls me face down over his lap and lands nine quick hard smacks on my ass. The spanks hurt, but I’m more ex
Sondra“Everyone’s trying to figure out who you are,” I murmur to Nico. We’re sitting in the cafe of the Met, drinking espresso to revive ourselves from our long day of walking through the art museum. Yes, he flew me on a private jet to New York City this morning and demanded I show him all the best the Met had to offer. Considering it’s my first trip to New York, let alone the Met, my bucket is beyond full.Nico’s as handsome as ever in one of his fine suits and he looks like some kind of celebrity amongst the tourists. He arches a brow. “Me? No, amore. They’re looking at you. I heard one couple whispering that you’re a famous actress.” He picks up my hand and runs his thumb over my fingers.If I’d worried that Nico and I would have nothing to talk about if we actually had time to spend together, I was wrong. He told me all about growing up in Chicago—the things he misses from the city, the things he doesn’t. How and why he ended up in Vegas.I told him about Michigan, growing up acr
JennaMy mother wanted to come with me. My father wanted to send Alex as a bodyguard, but I refused. Being sent to visit my fiancé accompanied by the only man who’s ever made my heart beat faster would make a difficult situation impossible.I have a plan and after what I just saw down in the lobby, I think it just might work.The trouble is, I don’t know Nico Tacone at all. I’ve seen him at family parties, weddings and funerals, but I avoided him like the plague.And he seemed to avoid me right back.At least that’s what I’m banking on.So I sit in a plush chair outside his office with his pitbull Tony standing bodyguard at the door and try to get my heart out of my throat.He doesn’t make me wait long. Tacone arrives and holds the door open for me, the picture of gentlemanly manners.I wipe my hands on my black jean skirt and enter.“I heard you graduated,” Tacone says politely. “Congratulations.” He waves me into a chair across from his desk and takes a seat.I swallow down the lump