Tempted By The Mafia Boss

CHAPTER TWO

Gabe

Present day…

Something bright pierces my eyes.

Fucking sunlight pouring through my window.

I’m still in my bed and still alive. My head aches like a mutha.

I open them and see a figure standing before me.

Wild honey blond curls come into view when my vision starts clearing and then a face of beauty.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

The face of beauty of a woman I could be with, but I’m not because I’m an asshole and she can do much better than me.

Thank fuck she knew that and stopped sleeping with my ass.

She might not be sleeping with me anymore but Mimi is still pissed as fuck with me.

She folds her arms under her breasts and glares at me as I continue to lay there.

“Where are they?” I ask.

Now those brown eyes of hers flash with fiery indignation.

“The sluts?” Her hands fly to her hips. “I threw them out. Fucking hell Gabe, you need help.”

I roll my eyes at her and pull the sheets over my head. I don’t want this shit today. Not today or any other. They all think I have a sex and alcohol addiction.

Well everybody except for Nick. He’s too loved up with his wife to see for shit.

The sheets pull from my face and Mimi is standing over me staring me down like she’s ready to beat the shit out of me.

I smile and think of something that should get rid of her. Quick.

“Doll, either you get in this bed and let me fuck you or you leave me the fuck alone.” I smile.

One slap across my cheek makes me bolt upright and by the time I sit she sends a fist smack in the middle of my face and another before I can recover. Her fist balls at her side and she glowers at me like she’s not done yet.

The thing about it is, I could probably let her continue – just to feel. Just to make me feel. Feel something more than what I do, or don’t, feel.

I feel bad I hurt her when she was probably the second woman in my life to love me and I completely fucked that up.

I’ve known Mimi since I was twelve. She’s eight years younger than me and I swear to God she loved me right from we met. The thing is, I knew. I knew how she felt all that time and that’s why I feel like such a prick. I don’t want to see her today either.

“I’m sorry,” I breathe deciding to take on a different strategy, but the anger doesn’t leave her beautiful face. In fact she looks more angry with me if that’s possible. “Mimi…”

“Don’t… because you aren’t. You don’t know the meaning of the word, sorry. You don’t know I’m stupid enough to continue to be a friend to you after you screwed with my head. You don’t know I still love you enough to worry over your stupid ass, you fucking prick.”

Fucking hell, she’s on fire.

“Mimi I –”

Another slap to my face shuts me up. She’s lucky she’s not a guy. No guy who thinks he can lift a hand to touch me has lived.

“Shut up, I’m talking.” It’s only now that her face softens. “You need to either stop this shit with all these women, or get help. I came in here this morning and found the women going through your stuff. One of them had a grand in cash in her purse. I know money is nothing to you, but think about what else could happen. Someone could kill you Gabe.”

“Maybe that’s better.”

She reaches forward and cups my face. Her fingers on my skin are cool, and soothe the area where she just slapped.

“She wouldn’t want you to die.” She shakes her head and a tear runs down her cheek. “Charlotte wouldn’t want you to die, and neither do I. Please, stop this shit Gabe.” She releases me and the door opens.

I frown when Salvatore walks in.

Nothing like big brother to add to the shitty way I feel. Salvatore is one year older than me and thinks that gives him some level of authority to tell me what to do.

I guess I should be glad though that Vincent isn’t here.

The thought barely registers in my head when Vincent walks through the door.

“Oh fuck!” I growl and Vincent tenses up like he’s ready to breathe fire.

Vincent, my eldest brother is underboss and capo to our family. Seeing him is as bad as seeing Pa. Pa who’s like the fucking Godfather.

Why are they here?

Mimi backs away from me, casts a glance their way and walks through the door. I don’t miss the look Salvatore gives her as she goes. It lingers and tells me he’s not just worried about her, he cares more than he’s shown.

It’s interesting and if I was feeling up to it or even like the man I was a few years back, who was just coping, I’d call him out on it.

“What do you want?” I ask them both. “Can’t you people just leave me alone? I’m entitled to be wasted after my birth night.”

“You were supposed to meet us with Roberto this morning, did you forget?” Vincent asks.

Oh fuck, of course I fucking forgot. Roberto is a main investor, Vincent another, for the hotel development business idea I was setting up with Salvatore. We wanted to buy property and start a chain of hotels in the Caribbean. We have the money it takes to get it up and running but having Vincent and Roberto on board would have taken our plans to the next level.

“Shit, I’m sorry.” I ball my fists and shake my head. I can’t believe I forgot all about the meeting. I don’t even have a recollection of needing to remember.

“Yeah you will be. Look, Gabriel…” Vincent face is stern and I know he’s not shitting around with me. He doesn’t accept shit like I’m grieving for a girl I lost ten years ago. He also makes a point of calling me Gabriel to show me he’s serious. “We worked this morning out but the deals off if shit like this happens again.”

“Come on man, fucking hell.” I bare my teeth at him. The fucking business idea is the only thing that’s been keeping me going. I can’t lose it.

“Gabe… I don’t know what the fuck you think this is but I’m done with the shit. You have this place and I have my own ventures. I don’t exactly need a piddly hotel development company. We meet tomorrow at nine. If you don’t show, I’m out.”

That’s his final answer and I know not to try to talk him out of it.

He cuts me a crude stare and leaves. Salvatore stays behind. He’s the loyal brother who lingers, always there for everyone. Always there for me. The heart for lack of a better word? Because the man is just as ruthless as me with a temper worse than mine.

He’s looking at me with the same angst Vincent showed.

“You gonna leave too?” I ask, breaking the silence because several seconds have passed with him probably deciding if he wants to hack off my head or not.

“I am. I’m done too Gabe if you shit all over the plans tomorrow. It’s not the first time you’ve screwed with me, but it’s the fucking last.”

He’s right. I lost him a million dollar deal a few months back, so fuck yeah the man is right.

“I’ll show tomorrow,” I promise.

“You better, if you don’t I’m done with you.” That’s much stronger and harsher than what Vincent said. Done with me.

I’ve always been close to Nick, but that’s probably because he’s my kid brother and we’re watching out for when he loses his temper and gets himself in shit. Salvatore is the brother that has my back.

When he frowns I feel something else again. It’s his disappointment. His disappointment that somehow gets to me more than Mimi’s rage.

“I get it Gabe. I fucking get why you’re acting up like this. But it’s time to get over it. It’s well past time to get over it or you’re gonna lose everything including the people around you.” Salvatore shakes his head then leaves me.

I watch him go, wanting to say something but nothing comes to mind. Everyone’s right and losing everything is a scary thought.

I thought that happened already. I lie back and stare at the ceiling. I need to let her go.

I need to.

I just do because even now … even now, no one can touch her.

Even after ten years , if I were to do something, it would still start a blood war.

That is still the situation and the warning I got loud and fucking clear.

I just need to let her go.

It would help if I knew she was okay.

But I know she’s not.