Opulence (13 page)

My eyes burn into hers, and my explanation takes a turn into something else. Something meant only for her and I. “She is looking for an eye-opening, stinging slap that will drive her over the edge at exactly the right moment. She wants a man who will fuck her, mind and body, like pleasure is her only purpose in the world. And when she’s screaming and begging for release, I will pull it out of her reach, at the last possible second. Because, more than anything, she wants the exhilarating feeling of being wildly...totally...helplessly...out of control.”

By the time I am finished with my description, the redhead is almost panting with desire. I have no doubt that underneath her leather harness, she is dripping with need, ready and waiting for my cock to penetrate her. For my body to conquer hers, completely. I glance over my shoulder, toward the entrance to the private lounge area. I raise an eyebrow. She nods, eagerly.

I turn toward him with a start. I’d almost forgotten he was there.

“So...can I go fuck Cindy now?”

I nod, because I am done mentoring for the evening. I have my target now, and nothing else matters but the slow burn, the build, and the eventual quench.

“Of course. Just remember that control is a responsibility, not a right. It can be taken away, just as easily as it is given.”

“Understood.”

Satisfied that I have done my part for my fellow man, I turn my attention back to the redhead.

“Go to the cross and wait for me.” I get up and slowly remove my jacket, folding it neatly over one arm. “It was nice meeting you, Zandor Steel.”

With a nod, I leave him to his fun. I circle the bar and go into one of the side rooms, where a Saint Andrew’s cross waits in the center of a dimly lit room. The redhead is there, on her knees, already assuming ‘the Position.’

“Get undressed.” I close the door behind me—but not all the way, in case there are any voyeurs who would like to peek in—and hang up my jacket. By the time I turn around, the redhead has taken off her scant leather thong, and is kneeling naked in front of the cross.

She is shaved bare, of course, and I can see for myself what my words have done to her. She is glistening already, and I have yet to touch her.

Behind me, I can hear whispers, and I don’t have to turn to know a small crowd of watchers has gathered outside. It’s not unusual for me, because they know who I am, I have a reputation, one I am proud of. Her chest is heaving, her nipples are hard and she waits in her pool of desire.

I unbutton the cuffs on my shirt as I look to my left and see Zandor, my new prodigy talking entirely too much to the girl wearing lace. I want to correct him but now is not the time. Now is show time, now is the time for me to release the anger of the date, to bring down sheets of glass and chaos on the lucky woman in front of me.

*.*.*

Leaving the club, I see Zandor walking quickly up to me. I am physically exhausted but still wired.

“Wait up, Cross,” he says and I stop.

“Sabato,” I correct him.

“Fuck man, that was intense,” he has obviously never witnessed sadism.

“Not your thing, I get it. But she is not bleeding and I can tell you she wouldn’t have been upset if she were.”

“Nah, not what I expected but if that’s your thing, then -”

“It is not my thing,” I stop and glare at him, “It is hers. Let me ask you, did you exchange numbers and set up a date with -”

“Nah, she had a list of shit she’s not into.”

“I knew she wasn’t a true sub,” I run my hands through my hair, “It was nice to meet you, Zandor.”

“I’m gonna go grab something to eat, you wanna come? I’ll buy.”

“I’m not hungry-”

“After all that you’re not hungry?”

“No.” I answer and turn to walk away.

“Shit dude, just wanted to show some appreciation,” he says with a bite.

I reach into my pocket and grab my phone. I read the message I get with the information.

Zandor Steel is associated with Benito DeLuca. I immediately get defensive and wonder if Father has planted yet another person to spy.

“Appreciation or are you being-”

“Hold up,” he cuts me off and takes his phone from his pocket, reads something and laughs.

“What’s so funny?”

“Your family ties man, seems they cross with mine in a fucked up way. But yeah, thanks for the advice earlier. I got it from here.” He begins walking away and it irritates me.

“Explain,” I demand.

He stops and looks at me, “Any friend of Benito DeLuca is no friend of mine. But again-”

“You’re associated with the fucking idiot, I’m not. My father-”

“Is the fucking big Ragu, the Don, the fucking guys who run the underground-”

“My father is a self-serving asshole.”

“He’s the leader of the fucking Cosa Nostra. I’m all for head in bed, but I piss his boy off and I’ll wake up with a fucking horse head in my bed and that shit ain’t right. Plus, I have a knack for pissing people off,” he chuckles.

“I’m hungry and-”

“See man, I fucking told you,” he grins. “Look, you promise your old man isn’t gonna come after me and I will still buy you dinner. I mean, after all we shared tonight I owe you that, hell little Miss Lacy could have gotten at least a meal outta me, but every time I was talking to her I felt your fucking eyes sculling me.”

“I accept, but here’s another thing, unless you want a committed sub, don’t you offer any more dinners.”

*.*.*

Tonight I have invited Zandor to my club,
Privato
DesIdErio’
, Florence. I like him. He seems relaxed and lost in an odd way. He doesn’t need my money, he doesn’t want a job, and he doesn’t like Benito, therefore I am allowing myself to enjoy teaching him.

“Ciao,” I answer my phone when I see Zandor Steel’s number.

“Listen bro, you spoke English to me the other night, I now have expectations; don’t fuck it up,” he says in relaxed manner, one that I am comfortable with him speaking to me in.

“Fine, but don’t show up here with expectations and for God’s sake, leave those dancing shoes at home.” I try to joke back. I think I pull it off.

“Listen. I’m not gonna make it tonight and I’m not gonna pull any punches and say some shit like, ‘I have my period’ or ‘I need to wash my hair.’ I like you man, you don’t pussy foot around me like half this motherfucking country, so this isn’t personal. I have a family who I need to protect. I’m not comfortable in a place that some Al Capone character is gonna get pissed ‘cause I have a bigger dick and take it out on them. So how about you and I take off for a little trip? There’s a shit load of kink clubs around and admittedly I need some guidance. I liked the way things went down the other night and I need a fucking break from my family ties, man. You think the Mafia is bad, you ought to take on Momma Joe.”

*.*.*

“What do you mean a vacation Sabato,” my father barks. “You started seven clubs in seven years. I gave you the money to start them, now you wanna walk away?”

“No, I’m taking a vacation. The clubs have paid for themselves, they are owned by me. You gave me a loan, no different than you would anyone else. I paid it back along with the forty percent interest you charged me. They are legit and run smoothly.”

“No, I need you around,” he snaps.

“I wasn’t asking permission. The only thing you need me for is a place to hide money—”

“You better watch yourself—”

“You better remember, threats mean shit to a man who doesn’t value his next breath or fear losing it. You have the combinations to my safes, use them. I have people managing my clubs and surveillance cameras making sure they don’t fuck up. You’re the only one, other than me, who knows they’re there and how to skirt around them. You’ll be just fine.”

I close my suitcase and stand toe to toe with him. It is not often I see defeat in his eyes, but over the past seven years I have given him very little to be disappointed in me about. I have even sensed from time to time that he is proud of me. I don’t love the man but I know he works hard and that he is proud of that. For that reason, I have stayed connected with him.

‘He is your father,’ I remember Luciana saying to me.

I don’t like to think of her, I don’t like to think about my mama. I let them both down; I will never pretend to be anyone’s
eroe
again. That way I can never be the cause of another’s devastation.

*.*.*

After a few weeks, I am more relaxed than ever before. I return, having met a man who I can call my friend. He is different from me and I like that. There is no competition, no judgment, nothing but a good time. Zandor Steel is like a fucking party.

I have returned to an angry father and my help, my girls, are not the same as I left them. They are skittish and seem untrusting. They came to me this way and I fixed it. I have a responsibility to them; I will get to the bottom of the issue and make it right without causing them further stress. If he is connected, I will make him pay.

Two weeks pass and Zandor is going home to the United States; his family is apparently in crisis. “Fuckers are dropping like flies. One’s married and the other is about to do the same damn thing. I gotta stop them.”

*.*.*

Three months pass and Zandor comes back to visit. Apparently, he too got caught in that nasty little web. He is happy, truly happy and I am pleased for him. We still go out, except now he brings a girl with him. It is funny as hell to watch him ‘control’ her. She seems to like what control brings, but is resistant to it outside of the scene.

His family follows. I find them interesting. You can tell there is strength in their brotherhood but it is always foreshadowed by what the matriarch of the family says.

They respect her; she not only demands respect but she has earned it. I have heard stories now. It isn’t often that I accept the invitation to dinner with all of them. Quite frankly, it’s difficult and I find myself face to face with my past. However, the draw to them is undeniable and the bond they share seems extended. They are a good family. One I would never allow myself to believe I could have again, but being entertained by them is never dull. It douses a flame in me, but only for a moment.

When they return to the states, I don’t feel like something was taken from me, even though I should miss them. I decide it is because I did not claim them. Doing that would result in devastation to them.

Within days, I am unaffected.

*.*.*

It is a Monday night.
Privato
DesIdErio’ Laverno
is closed to the public. It’s card night. I love to play poker and I love to take the money of men who bow to my father, yet feel they don’t have to bow to me. I don’t desire power in that sort of way but Monday nights give me a taste.

Dominic Segretti has been around lately. I don’t trust him; he is Benito’s relation and Benito is father’s closest ally. I have allowed him to come because I want to figure out what it is he is up to. I also know he is considered a fierce competitor, practically un-beatable and when I take his money, he’ll know I am not to be toyed with.

He is a formidable opponent, very hard to read, unlike the other clowns were tonight. He is hanging around the club, yet seems unaffected by the women and I know he’s up to something. I watch him. He’s had three drinks in the past two hours; he hasn’t touched the women, he is watching me and I want to know why.

When he walks up to me in the corner table, I dismiss the girls and he sits down.

“You took all my money,” he half jokes.

“You seem to be playing a different kind of game.” I expect him to deny it but he doesn’t.

“I need your help.”

“Why would I give you my help?”

He looks around, “Is it safe to talk here?”

I don’t answer. I stand up and walk to the back; he is following, I know it without looking. I walk out the back door, “Is this your car?”

“Yes,” he answers.

“Have you had it swept?”

“I have, but it’s been here for a few hours, can we walk?” He starts walking without waiting for an answer.

My curiosity is peaked and I follow.

When he stops and turns, he runs his hands over his head. “My cousin Zandor seems to like you, trusts you, says you’re a good person.”

“Keep going.”

“I need your help.”

“In?”

“I’m going to bring down Benito DeLuca. In doing that, I am going to more than likely bring down your father and in doing that, you may be in danger too. The clubs you run—”

“Own, they are not his, they are mine.”

“Fine, which makes it worse. Benito is laundering money and millions of dollars are being shifted from DeLuca—”

“I am going to tell you this once. I don’t give a shit what you do. Don’t come back here and because you are Zandor’s friend—”