Body Lock: MMA Sports Romance (15 page)

My heart rate increases as I get more and more pissed thinking about the situation. I've been stashing money but I don’t have enough to get us out of here. I have to come up with a plan to make a big score. Big enough to take care of us no matter what. Big enough to buy us new lives.

"This is a most auspicious day," Vinnie says once he has the entire room’s attention. I wonder if the dumb fuck even knows what auspicious means. "Two years ago I found the love of my life."

He looks at Suzanne and gives her a smile. Suzanne beams at him and ahhs. LeAnne looks like she could vomit and I feel the same. There's no love between these two, it's a relationship of convenience. They're not even married, for Christ's sake.

"I knew Suzanne was special when I found her. She came into my life and brought with her a beautiful daughter who I’m proud to consider my own. So we’re all gathered here tonight to celebrate my gorgeous LeAnne!"

The room explodes with applause and cheers. LeAnne blushes and looks at the floor. People call for a speech but she shakes her head without looking up. She hates this, she never wants to be the center of attention but Vinnie and her mom don't care.

LeAnne starts on the presents and everybody cheers and applauds as she opens each one. Some smart ass had the bright idea to buy her very revealing and suggestive lingerie. She turns beet red and I see Vinnie turning his dead eyes on the crowd. He's not any more pleased than she is. No one owns up to it which is smart because at the very least they'd be getting a visit from Lou.

The ceremony drags on forever until at last she opens the final box and it's done. Waiters come out and dish up the cake and the crowd goes back to talking as I wander through. I don't really want to be here but I can't leave her alone. If I stay on the wall for too long people will start talking about that and it’ll cause more problems. So I walk around and keep in motion so that nobody puts their attention on me.

"Vinnie!" a guy named Sal yells across the room. "How are you, you old son of a bitch?"

"Good, Sal," Vinnie replies walking over to him and extending his hand.

I watch with interest. Sal and Vinnie have been enemies for years. They've struggled over the same bits of territory for at least two decades. More than once their crews have gone to the mat against each other. Fifteen years ago the papers were declaring an all-out mob war because these two had been unable to reach an agreement and bodies were dropping like flies around a bug zapper.

"So isn't it about time we make good on our agreement?" Sal asks.

"I'm working on it," Vinnie says.

"Working on it is not doing it," Sal says. "It's good business. My boy, he's ready."

"Well, my girl ain't," Vinnie says, his voice soft and quiet.

What the fuck is this?

I move closer to eavesdrop.

"You'd best get her ready," Sal replies. "Otherwise, we may have a problem."

"I'll get her ready on my own god damn time Sal," Vinnie replies.

Sal nods and raises his glass to Vinnie. Vinnie raises his own glass and the crystal clinks. My shoulders are tightly knotted. As Sal walks away, I move up to Vinnie.

"What the fuck was that, Vinnie?" I ask.

Vinnie stares at me with his empty dead eyes. He waits for me to back down but I'm way past backing down anymore.

"None of your fucking business," Vinnie replies.

"I'm making it my goddamn business."

"Why don't you stick to what you know, boy? Fighting is all you’re good for. I hear you're not even good for fucking. All those chicks throwing themselves at you after every fucking fight and you don't take even one of them? What the hell is wrong with you? I didn't raise a queer, did I?"

I barely stop my hand from swinging. It's instinctive, reactive, and it would drop him. In this room though that would start a war and LeAnne is here, I can't risk it.

"You better not plan anything for LeAnne," I say.

"I plan what the fuck I want boy."

Vinnie turns and walks away leaving me with nothing but impotent rage. I have a damn bad feeling about this. I have to get her out of here faster than I thought. There's no time to waste.

The rest of the party passes in a blur for me. I can't focus my thoughts. All I can think about is Vinnie. Twice tonight he's made threatening comments in regards to LeAnne. He has to know she’s supposedly a virgin. Is that what he meant when he talked about getting her ready? God dammit.

I spot Sal’s son, Abel, across the room. Abel stands out like a sore thumb. He doesn't belong in this crowd or in this room, he's not a gangster. He's an accountant and everything about him screams it. He wears thick glasses, has an unruly mop of hair, and a pale complexion that makes him look like he’d burn to a crisp in the sun. He's not her type and I know he can't be pushing this.

"Abel," I say walking up to him. "Your dad planning something?"

Abel jumps as I speak. He's the nervous type, another reason he’s a terrible gangster. He squints his eyes and looks at me, leaning in like he's too blind to tell who I am.

"Oh, Jans," he says, apparently satisfied he knows me. "What are you talking about?"

"Heard a rumor your dad's gonna marry you off," I say conversationally.

"Yeah," Abel says and I hear the resignation in his voice. "He says I have a duty to carry on the family name."

I lean in close to Abel so that I can whisper.

"I thought you swung the other way," I say.

I don't know how it's possible but Abel turns even paler. He shakes his head and begins to stutter.

"No...no...uh...no," he says.

"It's okay," I reply. "I'm a friend."

I stare into his eyes, he’s nervous, sweat beads on his brow, his fingers twitch, and his left eye has a tic. No matter that it’s becoming accepted in the world out there, in our world it’s still more than highly frowned on. It’s probably why Sal is pushing to get his son married. He doesn’t want anyone to know Abel’s gay.

“That’s just not true,” he says as the glass in his hand trembles. “I don’t know why you would say something like that.”

“Hey, it’s fine. I just heard a rumor that our dads may be trying to create a hook up between you and my stepsister. You know something about that maybe?”

I sip my water watching his eyes. His shoulders drop, his jaw goes slack, if we were in the octagon I’d go for an uppercut but this is all verbal. I wait and let him work out for himself what he wants to say or not say. I’ve already got what I want. It’s exactly what I was afraid of.

“No,” he says looking side to side.

He’s looking for his dad or one of his men. He probably thinks I’m setting him up for something. Hell maybe I am.

“Lot of people here,” I say looking around. “Why don’t we go over there where we can talk… privately?”

I motion towards a rear door that leads to the kitchens. The tic in his eye increases speed moving faster and faster. He works his mouth and looks around hoping for someone to save him. I smile, he’s mine. At last he nods and I herd him towards the hall. We step through the door and I walk a short ways down the hall leading the way. I listen to his footsteps behind me as I slow my step. When he’s directly behind me I whirl grabbing him by the front of his shirt and slam him into the wall. His head cracks hard and tears flow from his eyes as he cries out in pain and surprise. He raises his hands between us ineffectually.

“Ow, oh god, please, Jans!”

“You want to fuck with me, Abel?”

“No! Jesus, no,” he cries all but blubbering.

Fuck, what a mess this kid is.

“Then you stay the fuck away from my sister,” I growl.

“It’s not up to me!”

“Isn’t it?” I ask my voice low.

It’s a trick I learned from Vinnie. A lot of guys yell and shout thinking that’s intimidating. It’s not nearly as effective as when you make them strain to hear your words. Then you know you have their full attention. They also know you’re serious. You don’t talk shit when you’re not yelling. It’s not hot blood and bullshit, it’s real when you talk soft.

“Okay, I get it, fuck I’m sorry, okay? I don’t even want this shit. I got no interest in her okay? Fuck me,” he whines.

“Fuck you? I’ll make sure you get fucked. You lay a hand on her, touch her in anyway, I’ll have a god damn train of guys come through to treat you like a prison bitch. You know what a prison bitch is, Abel?”

“Yes, god, let me go, Jans! It’s not my idea, I swear!”

“Good,” I say pushing hard on his chest before I let him go. “Clean yourself up, for fuck’s sake. You’re a man, look like one.”

I walk back into the party like nothing happened. That’s one problem taken care of.

I watch Jans walk off with some guy I don’t know out a rear door. My chest tightens and my heart feels constricted. I can’t help but smile realizing I’m jealous he’s doing something with that guy. I don’t have anything to worry about.

There’s a full band set up in the room with violins and everything playing music. Vinnie has gone all out. He takes my mom to the center of the room and they dance. I’m surprised by how good a dancer he is. They’re both light on their feet as they move around the floor and in moments others join them.

Jans walks back into the room and I’m drawn to him. The way he walks catches my eye, he carries himself like a tiger, he owns the room. People part around him without him saying a word or doing a thing. It’s the air of him that parts the sea of people like magic.

Between my legs is sore in a way that’s strangely pleasing. More of an ache and a desire to have him back in me again. A shiver runs down my spine as my thoughts turn back to earlier tonight. It was perfect. I don't think any girl could ask for better. And I feel confident that I pleased him, too. I'd been nervous about that. He's older and I'm sure he's had experience that I haven't had. I would've hated to disappoint him.

Our eyes meet across the ballroom and my heart stops. The emotions swelling in my chest are too much to be contained by my frail body. I want to run to him. Leap over this table and fly on the wings of love straight into his arms. He gives me that half smile, his lip curls, and I melt.

I'm his, always and forever, I want no other.

He breaks the gaze first and continues across the room. The game we are playing is dangerous. No one in here can know how we feel about each other. They'd never understand because in their eyes I'm Vinnie's daughter. It doesn't matter that it’s not true. He and my mom aren't married but this world is its own thing and more than anything Vinnie wouldn’t stand for losing face.

I dig in my purse at my feet and find my cell phone to check the time. All these people, milling about and talking, wanting my attention, is draining. I don't like these big gatherings, it's never been my thing, and I’m exhausted. Twenty more minutes and we can go home. I just have to survive the next twenty minutes.

Jans makes his way towards the gift table and me. As he approaches I can't stop my eyes drifting to the bulge in his suit pants. The way he fills them out is almost as great as the way he fills out a T-shirt and I know firsthand how impressive the bulge really is. I smile as he comes closer but can’t stop thinking about his cock.

"How's it going?" Jans asks, leaning against the table nonchalantly.

"Twenty minutes," I breathe.

"Until?"

"Until we can get the hell out of here," I reply.

Jans laughs. "Yeah. I figured as much."

"So will you go to the graduation party with me?"

"When is it again?"

"Tomorrow night," I say.

"I can't," he says shaking his head. "Vinnie made a bet, I've got a fight tomorrow."

My heart sinks, not only do I not want to go alone I don't like him fighting. I should be there to cheer him on and especially be there if something goes wrong. He must see the look on my face and read my dismay. He smiles, a full smile this time, and shakes his head.

"I'll win," he says like he’s reading my mind.

"Of course you will," I say.

His hand darts across the table and takes my fingers in his. He grabs my hand for just an instant and his confidence floods into me. Then he retreats and I’m cold and alone. He nods sharply then turns and wanders off. I know it's for the best but I hate it. I glance at my phone again, fifteen more minutes. I can do this.