LUCA (You Will Be Mine) (The Sicilian Mafia Series Book 1) (2 page)

Our clients underwent the same process. We only served the best—for the best. People appreciated our high standards, and they loved us because of our discretion. If anyone ever asked, this was just a hotel, and the only shenanigans that took place were done behind closed doors. We were strict, confidential, and tolerated absolutely no nonsense.

I must admit, there was something quite rewarding about owning my own business. I knew mine was a little bit risqué, but I was still a businesswoman nonetheless. My girls were all well cared for and clean. They respected me and came to me for help when needed—which was what I was there for.

I had a house filled with the most cherished girls, and it was because I made damn sure of it. I cared for and respected every single one of them. I offered them a roof over their heads—if they had need of it—and food on the table whilst they were there. They never wanted for anything.

I had around forty girls on my books, and twelve of them lived with me in that grand castle of mine. God, would my parents flip if they ever saw me!

Everything here was kitted out like a royal hotel, and I was proud of it. So was my auntie. The only major problem I was having was Luca Belatoni. He was some hotshot who had recently moved nearby from New Jersey.

Oh was he bad news! He’d been trying—and failing—to send his little troops over here to demand money for his protection and discretion. I’d already told them a few times to go run and jump. The idiot who came for the last visit just smiled and said, “I shall pass along your request to Mr. Belatoni. No doubt, you will be hearing from him soon.”

Three days after that visit, I still hadn’t heard from him. Hopefully, he would leave me in peace, but something was telling me that it wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. I wasn’t going to give into bullying, though. I never had with my parents, and I never would with that arsehole.

“Clara?” Tammy’s head peaked around the door, interrupting my thoughts.

“Hi, Tammy. What can I do for you?”

Tammy shuffled her way through the door and took a seat opposite my desk. “I have a problem. I don’t think I can do this anymore. I’ve met someone.” Tammy looked down at her feet.

This would be the second girl in one month I’d lost—the second to have fallen in love. I wasn’t stupid. People could only be in this kind of game for so long. It still didn’t make it any easier when we lost one of them.

“I can’t say I’m not disappointed. You’re one of our best, Tammy.”

“I love you, Clara. You mean the world to me, and I’ve been trying my hardest to hold this job as long as I could, but the thing is… John’s asked me to marry him.”

Swinging in my seat a little, I took in everything she had said. “Does John know about what you do?”

Tammy looked down at her feet again. “No, and I don’t want him to know. I think it would cut him up pretty badly if he knew. That’s why I feel I can’t do it anymore. I want to settle down with John, and I can’t do that with a job like this.”

“So, what have you told him?”

“That I’m a receptionist in a hotel. That’s partly true anyway.” She smiled at that, making her teeth sparkle.

“Okay. I appreciate you coming to tell me. You will be really missed here, but I completely understand. I just want to know one thing before you leave.”

“What’s that?”

“Are you happy?”

Tammy smiled brightly. “Yes… Yes, I am.”

“Well then, that’s the most important issue here, isn’t it?” With an air of happiness, she nodded her head. “I want to ask one thing of you, though.”

“Anything for you, Clara.”

“Don’t be a stranger? I would like for you to visit every now and then—tell me how you’re getting on.”

“Sure, sure. I’d miss you too much anyway if I didn’t.”

Rising out of my chair, Tammy did the same. I gathered her in my arms and gave her a great big hug. “You take care of yourself. And tell that fiancé of yours that if he ever hurts you, he’ll have me to answer to.”

I heard Tammy chuckle, and then she began to sniffle a little through her tears. I pulled her away and looked deeply into her eyes. “There’s no need to cry. I will still be here—whether you leave or not.”

“I know,” she said, wiping away her tears. “I’ll still miss you, though. You’re like a sister to me. You’re like a sister to all of the girls—well, maybe not so much to Rachael.”

I laughed and shook my head at her. That seemed to be a constantly running joke. Rachael was bisexual, and she thought I didn’t sleep with any of the men because I was gay. A fact she brought up once when we’d had a party and she tried feeling me up. She said that I turned her on with my no-nonsense, caring attitude towards the girls and clients.

I must admit, I was flattered as she was a very pretty lady, but I had never had feelings like that towards women. In the end, I had to let her down gently. Rachael took it on the chin, and we had been firm friends ever since. It still didn’t stop her from trying to involve me in any ménage à trois sessions whenever a client requested one. I just didn’t get involved that way. I ran the business, but I drew the line at becoming a
part
of that business.

“Rachael is a lovely girl, and I’m sure she has enough fun with Louise whenever there has been a need for more than one girl. I like my men too much.”

“I never see you with any.” Tammy frowned and sniffled some more.

“I’m too busy looking after my family.” I smiled sweetly towards her, causing another tear to run down her face. “Now, go. Live your life and be happy.”

I turned around at this point as the phone rang. Tammy plucked a tissue up from my desk and swiftly made her way out the door. “Clara Murphy,” I said curtly into the phone.

“Clara, it’s Matthew Broadmore here.”

“Good morning, Matthew. What can I do for you?”

“I was hoping to see Tammy this evening.”

It had started already.

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Matthew, but Tammy is no longer with us.”

I heard a deep sigh. “That’s a shame. She was my favourite.”

“I completely understand. She will be missed. I do have another girl who I think will be right up your alley.”

“Do you mean you?” he chuckled.

“Nice try, Matthew. You know that will never happen.”

“I had to at least make an attempt to win you over.” I could hear the smile in his voice.

“Anyway, getting back, I have just the girl. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. Her name’s Melinda, and she’s fairly new. She took over for Wendy when she left.”

“Okay…” I could hear him hesitating slightly.

“Listen; come along this evening at around eight o’clock. Melinda is fully booked after. Despite being new, she has a lot of clients just dying to see her.” That got his spirits up. I could tell through the line. “If you don’t enjoy her company, I’m sure I can fix you up with someone else. I have a new opening now and will need to get right on that, but in the meantime, try Melinda and see how you get on.”

“Sure thing. Sounds excellent. I shall see you at eight.”

I smiled. “Excellent! I can guarantee you will like her, Matthew.”

“And if I don’t, can I come and see you?”

I shook my head. “Again, nice try.” I heard him chuckle, and we ended the call soon after. The minute I put the phone down, I heard a ruckus coming from outside my office. Pretty soon, my door was being forced open, and what appeared before me had the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.

“I’m sorry, Clara,” Belinda—one of my girls—said. “I tried to stop him, but he was very insistent.”

I nodded, but my eyes were still transfixed by this giant beauty before me. I didn’t know who the hell he was, but I damn sure hoped he wasn’t a new client.

I found myself watching him with rapt appreciation as he seemed to drink me in as much as I was him. He had dark, wavy brown hair which was slicked back with perfect precision. His olive skin seemed to glow as his caramel-coloured eyes danced over me with heated desire.

My God, he was perfect!

His broad shoulders and magnificent physique were commanding the room as if he was standing on a stage. Mid-ogling, I caught him licking his ever-so-pouty lips, and that one little gesture caused an ache between my legs to surface—the likes of which I had never felt before.

I let my eyes wander so much that I eventually landed on his feet. Big feet equalled… 

I managed to eventually lift my eyes, only to find a slight smile curving up from those beautifully round pouty lips of his.

Dammit! Did he know what I was thinking about just then?

After another few seconds of staring at his five o’clock shadow—and wondering what it would be like to run my fingers through his hair—I finally managed to shake myself out of my stupor and clear my throat. “What can I do for you?”

Please don’t say you’re a client!

Walking forward, the door was shut swiftly behind him. The sexy beast smiled as he offered me his hand. “Luca Belatoni. Nice to meet you… Clara, I take it?”

Shit, it was the life-sucking arsehole!!

I stood firm, not once offering my hand back to him. Instead, I thought I may have given him a disgusted look.

“Ah, I take it from that look that you are fully aware of who I am.”

I am way too aware of you, you sexy fucking prick!

“Yes, I am aware. I should imagine you’re also aware that I’m not one for bullying tactics.” I sat down on my chair and watched as he did the same opposite my desk.

“And I’m sure you will become aware soon enough that I do not take
no
for an answer.” His eyes sparkled with a hint of lust.

Offer him your body, and maybe he’ll leave you alone.
Where in the bleedin’ hell did that thought come from?!

I was about to make a retort when he spoke again. “Do you sleep with any of your clients?”

My eyes widened in shock at his sudden change of subject. “That’s none of your damn business! None of what I do here is any of your business.”

He smiled and shook his head as if he found my outburst amusing. “It soon will be, Clara. You must understand; even if I wanted to relent, I could not. I can’t give into you because if I did, I’d seem weak. Weakness is a trait that is never tolerated in my line of work.”

I smiled despite myself. “So you’re saying now that you’re on to me, you can’t let me go? That you have to see this through because if you didn’t, then you would seem weak?”

“Exactly.” His sexy smile made me fidget in my chair a little.

“You’re a piece of work.”

His smile broadened as I found his eyes dance over my cleavage. “That I am, beautiful.”

I thought my stomach was about to blow with the knots in my stomach. He called me
beautiful
. I couldn’t remember the last time someone called me beautiful. Sexy or sometimes fucking hot, but never beautiful.

“I… I…”
Did I just stutter?

“I require payment for our services,” he finally said, breaking my trance.

Remembering why he was here, I became angry. “That is what I do here—not the other way around.”

“So, you
are
refusing payment?”

“Err… Hold up a second, and let me think—YES, I bloody well
am
refusing payment!” Rolling my eyes at him, I swiftly got out of my chair and walked towards the door. I had my hand on the knob when I felt his hand around my wrist. He spun me around and before I knew it, he was inches away from my lips. He was so close I could feel his hot breath invading my own.

“Do you let your clients fuck you, Clara? Answer the question.”

Through my erratic breaths I managed, “It’s none of your business.”

Within an instant, his hand was at my face as he slid his finger down from my eyes to my chin. Gently lifting my chin up to meet his eyes, I shuddered underneath his touch.

“I’m not going to let you go unless you tell me.”

Fuck me; I wanted him to kiss me. I hated him with such intensity that it made me want to push him towards my desk and fuck his brains out. I didn’t want to answer him, but I somehow found myself doing just that.

“No. I never sleep with my clients. I only run the business.”

His hands were suddenly at my shoulders as he trailed his fingers down both arms before gently squeezing them ever so seductively.

I didn’t know what had come over me, but an incomprehensible sound escaped my lips. I was unable to hide my wanton desire for this complete stranger who was supposed to be my enemy.

“That’s a good girl. Let’s keep it that way.”

I instantly became rigid beneath him as my anger resurfaced. I was not only angry with him, but with myself for giving so much away. He said he was a man who got what he wanted, and now he was making damn sure he could prove it to me.

“Let. Me. Go!” I gritted my teeth, making sure I glared into his caramel eyes as I accentuated every word.

Smiling, he let go and pulled away slightly—leaving me to catch my breath.

“I will go for now, but you have not heard the last of this, my beautiful Clara.”

It amazed me how he could threaten me and call me
beautiful
all in one wrapped up, cute little sentence.

Finding my senses, I pulled away from the door and let him pass. “I don’t know why you’re going to bother. It’s a
no
now, and it will be a
no
the next time you visit as well. You’re not getting a penny from me. Plain and simple.”

He smiled, nodded, and walked straight to the door. “Until the next time.”

The moment he left, I found myself at my desk and taking deep breaths. He didn’t frighten me one little bit, but I was scared beyond senseless by my feelings towards him. I had never experienced anything quite like it.

In my delirium, I found myself looking forward to the next time he turned up just to see what he had up his sleeve. Whatever he threw at me would be a challenge. A game almost.

Before I knew it, a smile began to replace my look of shock.

“Bring it on, buddy! Show me what you got.”