Avarice (5 page)

Music played low but the sadness of a woman’s soulful voice struck a chord. Ari gripped the steering wheel tighter, she’d smiled when Alfonzo visited, and she played the hostess for mafia men but she was far from a fool. They kept each other’s secrets about mistresses because men often abide by a code.

Instinct told her Nico was at it again. Again, after she thought they had moved away from the past. He’d been good…almost too good. She suspected he relapsed weeks ago but required confirmation. Nico
wasn’t the speculative sort and neither was she. Proof is what she wanted before the confrontation that could possibly end what she considered a happy home. He was doing everything right…oh…her heart hoped that it wasn’t a lie and that he loved her enough to quit bad habits. It’s hard…goodness she understood but when what you have is worth the effort…quitting is what you’ll do.

The familiar roadway leading toward a stately villa in Palermo is one she traveled before with Nico not long ago. The trees stood like frost sentries as the car drove past wooden trunks. The music echoed in the confines of the vehicle straight at her spirit. She heard the agony of a woman loving a man in the lyrics and soon sang along. “
Sometimes you gotta’ lose to win again…You’re always up to no good….’cause I don’t wanna leave ya’…sometimes you gotta’ lose to win…when you’ve been broken you feel no one can fix it
….”

Ari stopped singing as tears bit at her face and she allowed the songstress to belt out her pain. Yes, she knew who Nico was…God knows she did. She’d changed in maturity but why hadn’t he?

The car’s headlights were shut off when she neared the private property. She didn’t want to risk the guards spotting the vehicle and pulled over behind a thicket of trees. She could see the high walls made of stone; the parapet is how she deemed these fortified estates belonging to Mafia people.

Nico’s night vision binoculars were placed to her wet eyes to scan for a break in the wall and
she saw only more grey. She inhaled, exited the car and trudged through the cold for a better line of sight. When she found a spot with an unobstructed view of the entry, she peered through black wrought iron gates to cobblestones. There, parked directly in front of large wood doors was Nico’s car.

Ari sighed. She wasn’t in the mood to lose. Unlike the song she decided she’d fight. Nico is what she wanted and instead of tears as solace she geared up for the fight. “I’m not walking away this time Nicolo Serano. You’re not getting away with your shit any more. If I have to play dirty then that’s what I’m prepared to do because I’m winning. This is my life and my damn court!”

The cell reserved for emergencies came out of her pocket. Her hands were cold as she hit the button and waited.

“Ari, what’s wrong?” Were the first words out of Nico’s mouth.

“Oh Nico…” she whined pitifully. “I’m so sorry to call, are you working?”

“Talk to me, what happened love.”

“I woke up with a terrible pain…it hurts so bad…oh…oh.”

“I’ll be right there!”

Ari smirked, slipped the cell back in her pocket and rushed to the warmth of her car to beat Nico home.

***

Nico glanced at Bianca who had just poured tea. They were in the kitchen. On the table was a blueprint for an assignment. Initials identified the major target. None of the subjects were mob insurgents. All were legitimate, working class people by most standards but the owner of the jewelry shop was not entirely innocent. Buying conflict diamonds or hiding their origin is just as unethical as selling tainted meat.

After the calamity in Africa, he became reactive and put hammer to nail for expeditious results. The ringleader of the
consortium appeared to be Seth Meyer’s brother. What this all meant and how it connected to Alfonzo was something he had to find out.

Alfonzo entrusted Nico with the job. That’s the thing about their relationship, in spite of their tumultuous history when it came to family business they were always on the same page. Eradicate anyone who posed a threat, clean and fast. Alfonzo respected Nico’s skills. A seasoned professional who had yet to serve prison time for his crimes had to be the best. But, soon Nico planned to leave the field to fulfill his duties in other positions; father, husband and Consigliere are
the other hats he wore as well. He’d spoken to Alfonzo about training Tony and elevating him in rank. Tony had the potential to become a great enforcer. He observed a lot, was intelligent and didn’t have the vices that often toppled careers.

Alfonzo agreed. If Tony accepted the honor he
would receive training in Sicily under Nico’s tutelage and that could take years. Nico had considered Sergio but decided he was still too green, besides he’d gotten involved with Lucia Peglesi and that could prove to be a full-time job. Heck, out of all the women on earth Sergio chose Matteo’s sister and Giuseppe’s ex. Double damn…a true mess!

Nico took the offered cup, sipped hot liquid and then placed the mug on the counter. “I have to leave.”

“Emergencia?”

“Sí.”

Bianca’s shiny hair draped her shoulders and rippled like silk when she nodded. Her melon breasts were visible in the thin negligee which rose during each gentle breath. “Then you must go,” she said closing the gap between them, pressing against Nico to feel the warmth of his body. Heat emanated from the threads of his black cardigan. Loving eyes were on his neck where muscles protruded and descended like fleshy rope beneath fine wool. Ari was lucky to have Nico’s heart and sacred rights a mistress could never claim. The bargain with Nico was for protection and nothing more. Yet, her heart beat thunderously loud each time Nico neared. “We must discuss the details. How else will I know what you want me to do bello?”

Nico palmed her cheeks. “I’ll fill you in later.”

Long feathery lashes rose to unveil the eyes of a woman wanting to be touched. “Of course.”

“Your eyes are giving you away Bianca.” Nico squinted during a visual dissection. He was prompted to add caution going forward. “I cannot allow you to forget that our duties are not to ourselves. The moment you lose focus, someone dies.”

She became contrite. “Sí, perdóname Nico.”

“I am not Alberti and you are not my wife. We have a bargain, capisce?”

“Capisco, but it is hard not to care for a good man.”

“Bianca…ah.” He groaned. H
e rubbed his chin and then sighed. “You deserve better than this.” He wrapped his arms around the sexy woman wanting her to be happy but that could not be found with him. She was vibrant and beautiful and he did not want her pining over him and wishing for miracles. What he had with Ari was far more than sex.

His mouth covered her parted lips and she moaned. Again she displayed her weakness. The longing had become a cacophonous shrill. Her arms clung to his neck, melting into Nico is what Bianca
Luca did, until he pulled away, pat her ass, removed the items from the table and left without another word.

In his car speeding home to his wife, he made a decision not to bed Bianca again. The lines had blurred. He saw the change in her eyes; she had begun to love him and that was not
in the deal.

CHAPTER SIX

The children were sleeping. They should be at three in the morning, Selange mused as she stepped through the door. The bodyguard placed her suitcase near the bottom stair as instructed. She said good-night, which was really morning and waited until he exited before ascending the stairs. Little actions, like never turning her back on people unless they were family and not trusting even smiling strangers were the residual traumas of her latest ordeal.

Sometimes she thought about Kefilwe; she could see and hear the African drums and the smiles as if it were yesterday. She tried hard to forget, but then she’d see the woman’s face as clearly as her own. Selange sighed, held her stomach wishing that a surprise would come. She hadn’t said aloud her fears to
Alfonzo, but he was astute. Her husband saw more than he let on. Four children are probably all they would have. After the ectopic pregnancy and surgery, she noticed unusual changes to her cycle and pain which she didn’t have prior. The doctor said she had scar tissue and fibroid cysts. These factors made having children difficult, if not impossible. But, she accepted that, she had no choice. Some people counted their blessings every day, Selange did so on the hour. She had love and that’s what mattered and they slept peacefully in their beds. Every weary step she took to get to the top was worth the effort because up there lie the center of her heart.

Those girls, padre have mercy, probably had Alfonzo banging his head on the wall during her absence. She peeked in doors smiling; exhaling softly at the serene faces before finally reaching the bedroom. The door was ajar. Sprawled atop the sheet in fitted boxers and h
ugging the pillows lay Alfonzo. I’m home, is what she breathed in silence while undressing down to bare skin.

She tilt her head to twist her unruly hair in a sloppy chignon and then tip-toed to bed. She was reaching for her favorite pillow beneath Alfonzo’s heavy head when his eyes suddenly opened. “Morning babe,” he said.

“Good morning. Can I have my pillow back?”

He raised his head for her to reclaim the cottony possession. She fluffed out the dent from his big head and gingerly placed it with its twin. “How were the children?” she asked when she slid in bed.

“They were angels.”

Selange snuggled against his solid frame and held his waist. Kissing his underarm when he lifted to embrace her tight. “Ummm you’re such a liar.”

A hoarse chuckle emitted from his sexy mouth. “Nah, they were good.”

Selange closed her eyes, inhaling his masculine scent. When she sighed with contentment he asked, “Everything alright, nena?”

“Yeah, I’m just glad to be home.”

Alfonzo rubbed her spine. “I feel that way every time I see you nena.”

She caressed his side. “I thought I’d find the house a wreck, but I see you know how to keep the kids in check.”

“I’ve been doing this papa gig for a long time. I believe I’ve mastered the fundamentals.”

“Which are?”

“Give the little gremlins love, food, water and then make them so damn tired they cry just for sleep.”

Selange laughed. “I bet they cried their eyes out especially Angelina, she gets super cranky when she’s tired.”

“She did for a minute and then nada. Nina was out.”

She kissed his chest. “You’re the man.”

“Yo sé.” He paused. “What did you say to that Alanda chick to make her haul ass?”

Whatever sleep she’d sought ran and hid. Her eyes slowly opened. Damn, what didn’t Alfonzo know? “I told her a story.”

“Yeah?”

“Um-hum.”

“It must have been one hell of a story, let me hear
it.”

“Oh it’s just the Greek myth about how the seasons came to be.”

There was a chuckle mingled with a deep cough which he covered with a fist. “You’re too much.”

Selange slid up on the carved flesh to look in his eyes. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good.”

A concerned mom asked, “Are any of the children sick honey?”

“Not that I’ve noticed.”

Her eyes crinkled. “Maybe I better look.”

Alfonzo held fast. “They’re fine.” His hands began to rub her ass. “You’re trying to escape telling me what you said.”

“No, I’m not.”

He squeezed her bottom and she pressed her pelvis to his groin in distraction but he wasn’t sidetracked by the sexy ruse. “I’m waiting,” he smirked as he pushed upward lifting her easily and making her laugh.

“Oh, you’re going to make me repeat the entire story and I don’t want to. I’d rather do this,” she responded then stuck her tongue in his mouth as she gyrated over his steadily rising member.

He groaned in frustration. “Damn nena. You play wicked. Humor me. I’m trying to picture my wife intimidating somebody,” he spoke into her mouth as she tongued the roof of his gums.

“Um…um…honey…I just said I was Hera and unforgiving.”

Alfonzo burst out laughing and rolled on top to pin her like a wrestler before removing his shorts with one hand. “Hera was a jealous and vengeful bitch, but you’re nothing like that.” He kneed her legs apart and smirked. “Since you’re Hera I guess that makes me Zeus. For your meddling I’m punishing you with dick.”

Selange just laughed, widened her legs more and said, “Make the punishment severe great Zeus. I deserve it.”

Alfonzo’s urgent penetration met moist heaven. Selange didn’t require extensive foreplay. She waxed his taut flesh like grease on a piston. He craved his wife’s pussy, convulsing worse than a junkie he wanted it so bad. Damn, she was warm, wet and tight and the muscle control when she clutched his dick as it traveled her tunnel caused a massive throbbing.