Mafia Stepbrother Boxed Set (7 page)

PART THREE

Chapter 11

“You are not a cold-blooded killer.” My reflection stared back at me from the bathroom mirror. It was my new mantra. I repeated it again. Maybe if I repeated it enough I’d actually believe it.

A light knock on the bedroom door, followed by Jasper’s voice. “Breakfast is ready, madam.”

“Thank you, Jasper.” I called out. “I’ll be there in a minute.” I pointed at my reflection. “You are not a cold-blooded killer.” Still didn’t believe it. With a frustrated sigh, I turned and walked towards the door, ready to have breakfast with an incredibly sexy man who I had lied to.

Cole was sitting at the breakfast table, once again skimming through the paper. I stopped and stared, caught off-guard. Instead of wearing a suit or tight t-shirt with jeans, he was decked out in off-white slacks and a turquoise polo shirt that did a great job of showing off his broad shoulders and biceps. I remembered him saying something last night about playing golf this morning but it was still a shock. “You’re just full of fashion surprises these days, aren’t you?” I asked, taking a seat across from him.

Cole folded the paper and set it on the table, grinning at me. “It’s what all the fashionable mobsters are wearing.” I faked a smile but he saw right through it. “Too soon?”

I shook my head. “No, it’s fine. Still a little weird, but fine.”

Jasper came in and set our plates in front of us; huge stacks of pancakes with strawberries piled high. He glanced at me. “I noticed you didn’t drink your orange juice yesterday morning, madam. Would you prefer to just have coffee?”

“Oh. No, I’m sorry, Jasper. Juice and coffee is fine.”

“Of course, madam.” Jasper turned and headed towards the kitchen.

“Jasper,” I said. He looked back at me. “You really don’t have to call me madam. Dani is fine.”

Jasper nodded. “Of course, madam,” he replied, continuing to the kitchen.

Cole laughed. “Give it up. I tried for days to get him to call me Cole instead of Mr. Anderson. It’s not happening.”

“So who are you and Sonny playing golf with again?” I asked, right before shoving a forkful of pancake into my mouth. I had yet to meet the cook, Glenda, but the woman was seriously talented.

“Chief of police,” Cole said between bites.

That’s right. How could I forget that? I recalled my pulse racing last night when Cole had first mentioned it, my eyes racing around for any clue that something had happened. The people Jasper had called knew their stuff, though, and they had been busy while I slept on the couch. No damaged doors or walls or dead bodies anywhere. I shook my head. “It seems kind of funny. Does the chief know who he’s playing golf with?”

Cole nodded. “Just about everyone in law enforcement knows who Sonny is… although nobody can prove it. I’m being introduced to him today. Sonny wants to make sure everyone knows he’s got my back before he heads back to Florida.”

I almost choked on pancake. “They’re going back to Florida?”

A look of concern flashed across Cole’s face. “Oh, Dani. I wasn’t thinking. Yeah, he and Abri were just here for a few days to help get things going… but I know Abri thinks you’re great. She’d probably stay a little longer to keep you company.”

I shook my head. “Abri and Sonny are crazy in love. I’m not going to separate them just so Abri can babysit me.”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Cole said, sounding hurt.

“I know. I’m sorry,” I said. It’s just that my nerves are a little on edge because I killed a guy. I sighed. How I wished I could actually tell him that.

Someone knocked on the door and I had to resist the urge to jump from the chair as Jasper went to answer it, images of our last guest flashing through my mind. A few minutes later, I heard Sonny and Abri’s voices as they came down the hall.

As usual, the couple looked like they were ready for a fashion shoot. Sonny’s beige slacks and red polo worked perfectly with his tan complexion and Abri was stunning in a short white dress. She eyed my short black dress with a filigree pattern down the front and smiled her approval.

“Ready to show the chief of police who the boss is?” Sonny asked. He flashed a smile. “On the golf course, of course.”

Chapter 12

I sat on the clubhouse patio with Abri, a mimosa in my hand. Sonny and Cole had left about an hour ago and I had already thrilled Abri with a very brief recounting of ‘lunch’ with Cole in the back of the limo. Now I was considering sharing something much more serious. “I have a confession to make,” I said nervously.

Abri grinned wickedly. “Something hotter than the adventure in the limo?”

I shook my head. “No, this is different. It’s bad.”

Abri sat her drink on the table and leaned forward. “What is it?”

I looked out over the golf course. It seemed so peaceful and tranquil… and rich. From the expertly-tended greens to the clubhouse employees in their freshly-pressed uniforms, the place screamed money. I could never afford to spend a day here before when I was living my old life. I chuckled. My
old life
was my life last week. Who knew things could change so quickly? And I liked it. I had only had the nice house and the fancy clothes – and the talented lover – for a couple of days, but that was long enough to know I liked it, and blabbing this secret could end it. Abri would tell Sonny, and then he would tell Cole I was too reckless, too careless, that I had to go.

“Dani?”

I looked back at Abri, and the concern in her eyes made me feel bad about doubting her. She was my friend. I looked around quickly, to make sure nobody else might hear. “I killed someone.”

Abri’s eyes widened for a second, and then she did the last thing I expected. She laughed.

“Abri!” I was shocked, didn’t know what to do. I had just confessed the darkest secret I’d ever had… and I was being laughed at.

“Okay,” Abri said, laughter still in her voice. “You killed someone and…”

“And what?” I asked, mystified. “Jasper called some people and they took care of it.”

The laughter stopped like someone had hit the ‘Off’ button. “Wait,” Abri said. “This isn’t a joke? You’re serious?”

“Yes,” I hissed. “I wouldn’t joke about something like that.”

Abri reached across the table and took my hand. “I’m so sorry, Dani. It’s just the idea of you killing someone…” She shrugged.

“I didn’t have a choice,” I said, telling myself I really believed that.

“What happened?”

I told her. She shook her head, taking a sip of her drink. “Sounds like a slimeball… and it doesn’t sound like anyone will miss him. You did the world a favor.”

“It’s still murder.”

“It was self-defense,” Abri said. “Any judge would see it that way.”

“Would any judge sentence him to death?”

“No.” Abri shook her head. “A judge would slap him with a fine, maybe a little jail time… and then he’d be back on the street, ready to terrorize again.”

“I don’t know if I should tell Cole.”

Abri was quiet for a few minutes, sipping her drink and thinking. “That depends.”

“On what.”

“On what Cole is to you?”

“He’s my stepbrother.”

Abri made a shooing motion with her hand. “You’ve moved beyond that. Is he just a friend? A fuck-buddy? A future husband?”

“I can’t marry him, Abri. He’s my stepbrother.”

“I know, Dani,” Abri said, a slight trace of irritation in your voice. “What you’re not figuring out is that it doesn’t matter. It’s legal.” She downed the rest of her drink. “Legal to fuck him. Legal to marry him. Legal to have a baby with him… if that’s something you’re interested in.”

I stared at Abri as if she had just revealed the secrets of the universe. “I can marry him?”

Abri smiled. “Yes, Dani, there’s no law stopping Cole from making an honest woman of you… but if things are that serious between the two of you then you need to tell him the truth. Lies will kill a mafia marriage quicker than a hailstorm of bullets. The truth is everything when it comes to family. If a person’s word can’t be trusted, that person can’t be trusted. It’s as simple as that.”

She made it seem so simple, and maybe it was. Considering what he did for a living, he wasn’t exactly a boy scout. I remembered him leaning forward and whispering something to Billy; something that put the fear of God in Billy’s eyes. Yeah, Cole probably wouldn’t be too upset that my ex was no longer around.

“Uh-oh,” Abri said, sitting up straight and looking towards the golf course. “That can’t be good.”

I turned in my chair to see what she was looking at. Cole and Sonny were in a golf cart, racing towards the clubhouse. Without the chief of police.

“Oh no,” I gasped. I looked at Abri. “They didn’t kill him, did they?”

Abri chuckled. “We’re at a posh golf course. Of course they didn’t kill him.” The small smile fell from her face. “At least I hope they didn’t.”

Deciding it would be best to be prepared for a quick exit just in case things were as bad as we imagined, we grabbed our purses and headed for the door. Abri called the limo driver as I looked around anxiously, half-expecting the entire police force to suddenly show up. Sonny and Cole appeared from the back of the clubhouse, headed our way. The grim looks on their faces didn’t make me feel any easier.

The limo had pulled up by the time the men reached us and we climbed in with nobody saying a word. “Cole’s place,” Sonny said, his voice missing the usual light-hearted tone it usually had.

Cole and I were sitting across from Abi and her husband, and the tension on Sonny’s was plainly visible. He looked out the window, his fingers digging into the leather armrest. “Stupid, pompous sonofabitch.” His fingers dug deeper into the leather. “Who does that asshole think he is? His fat ass is parked behind the desk because we put him there.”

Abri rested her hand on Sonny’s knee. “Honey, what happened?”

Sonny continued staring out the window. “A stupid, useless prick got the idea that his opinions actually matter. That’s what happened.”

“The chief wasn’t very open to talking about strengthening our relationship,” Cole said.

Abri looked at him. “Cole, baby, I’ve been at this a lot longer than you so cut the coy crap.”

Despite his dark mood, Sonny chuckled. He looked over at his wife, taking her hand in his. “It’s nothing.” He shrugged. “One of the chief’s snitches has apparently fallen off the planet. He’s pissed.”

“Can’t he just use someone else for whatever it is?” Abri asked. “Snitches are a dime a dozen.”

“Exactly,” Sonny said, nodding. “No big deal, except the chief is whining about it taking so long to get his boy in good with these people… and how long it would take to get someone new in the same spot.” He sighed. “And the idiot is apparently the chief’s nephew.”

“I’m sorry,” Abri said. “I must have missed the part where this is your problem.”

Sonny chuckled again, looking over at us. “See why I love her? She keeps me sane.” He patted his wife’s leg. “It’s my problem because the chief’s rat relative had wormed his way into H-Town Tango at my… request.”

Abri’s lip curled in distaste. “That grungy street gang?”

“That grungy street gang has a finger on the pulse of things going on. If we get them in our corner, it goes a long way in solidifying our hold in the state.”

Abri shook her head. “I told you it was a mistake to try and work with those thugs. They’re unpredictable.”

Sonny nodded. “I know, but they’re also easy to control… and easy to blame whenever anything goes sideways.” He glanced at Cole as the limo pulled up to the house. “I want this fixed. Soon. Find that Cruddup guy.”

I gasped and Cole looked at me, concern on his face. “Hey, it’s okay.” He reached over and took my hand. “I’ll find this guy, we’ll make the chief happy, and everything will be right as rain.” He looked back at Sonny. “Right?”

Sonny nodded. “Right… and if we can’t find the loser we’ll just find some other way to make the chief happy.” He shrugged. “Or kill him.”

Chapter 13

I walked into the house with Cole, Sonny’s last statement bouncing around inside my head like a ping-pong ball. “Would Sonny really kill the chief of police?”

Cole shook his head. “No. He’d have me do it. I’m the one that’s supposed to be in charge, and having our people, even our unofficial people, get the idea they can say no is bad for business.” He pulled his shirt off and my eyes were instantly drawn to his bare chest. “I need a shower.” He glanced at me and grinned. “You can join me if you like.” I watched him as he walked down the hall and had to hold back a gasp when his slacks fell to the floor in mid-stride. He looked back towards me, lowering his boxers. “It was really hot out there.” The boxers joined the pants on the floor. “Aren’t you hot?” He grinned and walked into the bedroom.

I watched his tight, toned ass until he disappeared and then suddenly remembered to breathe. Holy hell! The man had given me the most incredible orgasm of my life but I had never actually seen him completely naked… and that ass. Damn! Maybe I did need a shower; a nice cold one to soothe my suddenly too-hot skin… or maybe I should choose another way to put out that fire. After all, Cole did invite me to join him. It might be rude to refuse.

I stood in the living room, looking around as if I had suddenly appeared somewhere I had never been before, as I heard the shower turn on. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. An image of Cole’s throbbing length immediately popped into my head. My eyes shot open.

I needed to tell Cole what I did, not have sex with him. But I wanted him so damn bad. Just the thought of his hard cock had my nipples hard and my panties wet. I took a step towards the bedroom. This was wrong. I had done something terrible. Another step closer. The limo could be counted as an accident, a sudden over-whelming attack of lust. Another step. I reached up, my fingers tugging at the strap over my left shoulder, the tingly heat between my thighs begging for release. He would be in the shower now, rubbing soap over his muscular body. Was he thinking about me? Was his cock hard? I slid the strap off my other shoulder and tugged the dress down, letting it pool around my feet. I had to know.