Forbidden Temptations (Tempted Series Book 2) (9 page)

“You went on a date with Anthony Bianci and didn’t tell me? How the hell did you even pull that off with your father not knowing?” Michelle asked in bewilderment.

“Actually, my father set it all up,” Well sort of. I shrugged my shoulders as I kept my eyes glued to Anthony, his arms flexing as he lifted another box. “My dad asked him to drive me and Mike to the movies and I struck a deal with Mikey to get lost.”

“Scandalous!” Michelle declared. “So come on girl, how was it? Was he broody the whole time? Oh my God! Did you kiss him? You totally kissed him! How was it? Oh my God.” She slapped Kristen’s arm. “She kissed Bianci!”

I peeled my eyes away from Anthony as he disappeared inside the café and looked back towards my friends. Kristen looked as if she was going to throttle Michelle which made me giggle.

“Calm down Michelle, it’s not that serious,” I sighed. “He was broody at first but then he warmed up,” I said, smiling. “I caught him staring at me out of the corner of his eye a few times,” I smiled, as I recited the highlights of my date with Anthony. “Oh, and you know how I always mix in Reese’s Pieces into my popcorn? Well he calls me Reese’s now,” I said, grinning like an idiot.

“Swoon,” Michelle said, giving me her undivided attention.

Kristen rolled her eyes before looking at me expectantly. I grumbled at her knowing she was making me jump to the point of how the date had ended so miserably.

“Then what happened?” Michelle asked.

“Then he took me home and told me it wasn’t a real date,” I glanced across the street as he emerged from the café again climbing into the back of the truck to grab another box.

“What do you mean it wasn’t a real date?” Kristen asked sounding perturbed. “What would he call it? He paid for your ticket and everything.”

“Anthony said it wasn’t a real date because he didn’t know it was a set up in the first place. He was there because my dad ordered him to do so not because he had asked me out.” Repeating his words angered me, not because I believed them to be true but because I knew they were nothing other than big fat lies. He could say whatever he wanted but I was the one there with him, the one watching him steal glances at me. When he dropped me off, I saw him glancing over my shoulder to see if my parents were home. He wanted to kiss me goodnight but was too worried about my father. I know it. I could see it written all over his handsome face. In fact, it’s time that Anthony Bianci admits once and for all he wants me.

“A, where are you going?” Kristen whined.

I didn’t bother answering her as I hurried across the busy avenue,
not paying much attention to the cars honking at me as I crossed in the middle of the street.

“Watch where you’re going girl!” An angry driver shouted out his window. I was creating a scene on 18
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Avenue but I didn’t care. I was determined to get Anthony to admit what we both knew.

Anthony lifted his head to see what all the commotion was about and found me stalking towards him. His eyes widened as he gripped the box in his hands and looked at me blankly. He jumped off the truck about to ignore me and turned around to carry the box into the café.

“Hey Bianci,” I shouted, taking the final steps towards him closing the space between us. He turned around to face me and lifted one eyebrow.

Without so much as a second thought I lifted my hands to his face, standing on tip toe and grabbed him, pulling him towards me sealing my mouth over his. I cradled his face as my lips worked his, softly but firmly, as I got a feel for his mouth. My tongue sneaked along the seam of his lips, demanding he invite me inside. The butterflies in my stomach exploded into a frenzy when his lips parted for me, my tongue slipping between his delicious lips for that first taste of him. I wasn’t highly experienced,
I had never even had a serious boyfriend. I could count on one hand how many guys I had kissed, you know with tongue. It didn
’t matter though, kissing Anthony was second nature. He could probably tell how inexperienced I was but for me that kiss was everything. It had exceeded any expectations I had. It was perfect.

I’d never forget about our first kiss, a few things would always linger in my mind. The first was how he tasted, just like Big Red gum, my favorite. The second was he didn’t back away. It didn’t matter that my father or one of his associates could see what we were doing, he kept kissing me. The third was that he dropped the heavy box he was carrying right on my foot.

“Ouch!” I cried against his mouth, pulling away regretfully.

“Shit,” he grunted, moving the box from my foot and placing it beside me. His eyes lifted to mine, his lips glistened from our kiss. “Are you all right?”

I probably broke a toe but I wasn’t about to tell him that. I lifted my fingertips to my lips, a little shocked I had the balls to do that, loving every minute of the fact I had.

He was looking at me waiting for me to answer him. I couldn’t find my voice and was afraid if I did I’d sound like a frog was in my throat so I nodded that I was fine even though my foot was throbbing.

“Good,” he said huskily, before threading his fingers through my hair. I stared at him wide-eyed wondering what he was about to do, his eyes turning cerulean blue as he fisted my hair. His eyes zeroed in on my mouth and I felt my breath hitch as he pressed against the back of my head. He muttered something I couldn’t comprehend before his mouth came crashing down over mine.

If I thought I was in control, I was sadly mistaken, because the moment his mouth took mine there was no doubt who had the upper hand. He claimed my mouth like a man capturing his prey. I wrapped one hand around his neck while my other hand grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling his body as close to mine as I could get it.

I had never been kissed like this; none of the boys my age had ever made me feel so sexy before in my life. Anthony made me feel things I hadn’t known existed, and all by the touch of his mouth. I couldn’t even fathom what sort of feelings the rest of his body would conjure in me. His tongue glided over my lower lip where his teeth had grazed before, sliding back inside my mouth and kissing me as if his life depended on it.

If I didn’t know by the way he kissed me that he was attracted to me, I sure as hell knew from the way his dick felt pressed against my stomach. Anthony Bianci wanted me for sure. It was a good thing too because I decided I was playing for keeps.

He pulled away slowly breaking our kiss, his hands dropping to his sides as he stared at me. He blew out a breath, shaking his head as if he couldn’t believe what we had just done.

A mischievous grin spread across my swollen mouth and I reached up and pressed my lips to his cheek just as he took a step backward. I knew he’d retreat once the moment had ended between us but I didn’t get discouraged. He could hide his feelings, try to bury them all he wanted, but he’d give in eventually. I took a step back and smiled at him.

“See you around, Bianci,” I said, before turning on my heel and walking away from him. I crossed the street making my way back to my friends who were staring with their mouths open, knowing all the while that I had Anthony’s undivided attention.

I was sweating from head to toe, adrenaline coursing through my veins, the gloves on my hands tight as I hit the heavy bag. My fist moving through the air connecting with the leather bag, the chain it was suspended from spinning around in circles from the impact.

One-two, one-two, double jab, come back with a two.

I had been home five days and by the third day of sitting alone in my apartment weighing my options, I decided I needed an outlet for my frustrations. I started going to the boxing gym on 86
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Street and have been spending the majority of my days here. The men stare at me as if I’m some kind of God, the woman like I’m the star of their wet dreams. I ignore them all. I’
m here for one purpose and one purpose only and that is to push the naïve thoughts of a normal life out of my fucking head. If I was ten years younger I
’d be fucking my way out of the hell I have created for myself but that’s not an option so I fight my way out instead. You would think three years with my hand would make me desperate for some pussy but I wouldn’t be sated with just any pussy, it had to be hers. Like I said, not an option.

Hook, cross, step to the right, double jab, cross.

“Jesus Christ, Bianci what the fuck did the bag do to you?” I heard a familiar voice say from behind me. I cringed at the sound of Jimmy Gold’s voice, my shoulders slumped, and I lost my stance. I knew all along that it would only be a matter of time before Victor sent one of the guys for me. The days of dreaming of a good life were about to be cut short as reality crept into my life. I suppose I should’ve been grateful for the five days I was allowed to believe I could escape Victor’s wrath.

I drop my hands to my side, taking deep breaths in and out, as I turn around to face Lucifer.

“What do you want?” I ground out, swiping my forearm across my brow to wipe away the sweat.

“It’s nice to see you too,” he said, smiling sarcastically as he pulled the toothpick he was chewing on out of his mouth. “You’re a hard man to track down, Bianci.”

“Obviously easy enough if you’re standing in front of me,” I responded, ripping back the Velcro on my gloves, pulling at the first with my teeth before removing its mate with my now ungloved hand. I unraveled the tape from my hands, feeling Jimmy’s intent stare. Once my hands were free, I lift my head, square back my shoulders, and return his stare.

“Let’s get this over with, yeah?” I bark.

Jimmy looked at me for a moment, probably deciding that there was no reason to beat around the bush or play games. He gave me a short nod and I returned the gesture, happy that we avoided all the bullshit. I brushed passed him, grabbing my gym bag and shoving my gloves inside before swinging it over my shoulder. The bell chimed over the door as I pushed it open vigorously. Jimmy followed behind and once we were outside, I saw the black Cadillac waiting for me.

Time to strike a deal with the devil.

The ride to my meeting with Vic was filled with complete silence. Jimmy attempted small talk in the beginning but when I shut him down with a stare; he shut the fuck up. As we pulled up to our destination, I cracked my knuckles and loosened my neck, all things I’d do if I were preparing to fuck someone up. I peered out the passenger window at La Bella Café, thinking it was ironic this was the place Vic chose to have this meeting. It was one of his oldest establishments. The place where he gave me my first orders and ultimately the stomping ground to where I became a
made
man in the mob. When I thought about it, I guess it was fitting that La Bella was where this shit between us would all go down.

I walked through the café, ignoring the stares my presence radiated, and walked straight to the back room. This was the room that saw all the action through the years, the room that saw thousands upon thousands change hands, the same room that saw a shitload of bloodshed.

Victor lifted his head the moment I stepped through the door, Jimmy closing the door quietly behind me. I remained completely still as I stared at him for a moment, wondering how in the world I had ever looked up to him.

He pushed back his chair and stood to his feet.

“It’s about time son,” he said, offering me his hand. I didn’t even acknowledge the hand he held out; instead, I kept my eyes trained on him. I wanted to punch him in the fucking face for calling me son. I was no one’s son, not the woman who bore me, nor the man who left me and I sure as hell wasn’t this piece of shit’s son.

He pulled back his hand and nodded towards the chair in front of his desk.

“I’ll stand,” I challenged, crossing my arms against my chest.

“Have it your way,” Vic responded, taking his seat again. “I didn’t expect you to make this easy.”

Fuck him.

He reached into his perfectly tailored suit jacket and pulled a large manila envelope that had been folded in half so it would fit inside his pocket. He slid it across his cherry mahogany wooden desk.

“That’s yours,” he said flatly. “Your piece of the pie, while you were away.” He watched as I reached for the envelope and brought it around my waist tucking it into the back of my sweats. There was no second-guessing on my behalf whether I should take the money. I’d take every fucking cent the prick offered me and he’d still never repay me for the three years of my life he robbed from me.

“There are things you should know, deals and such that went down while you were inside,” he tilted his chin towards Jimmy. “Jimmy will fill you in on the details,” he paused, for a moment studying me. “Things didn’t go as we planned with Rogers but I’m learning to make peace with that.”

“You mean things didn’t go the way you planned. I didn’t have much of a say.”

“I stand corrected,” Vic said, flatly. “As I was saying, I could go around eliminating all of my enemies, every gangster that ever thought he could cross me, and I still won’t feel like I’ve done Val justice. The best way to make his death stand for something is to do the one thing that got us into this lifestyle and that is to hustle.” Val loved money more than I did; it was what drove all his ambitions. “The Pastore family will focus on the things that make our wallets fat and trample on the people who stand in the way of that quest,” he continued. “You’ve done your bid, kept your mouth shut, proved that you’re a trusted soldier.”