Dominic looks guilty and remorseful. I feel sorry for throwing this in his face. But what am I supposed to do—when marriage is being presented to me as only a means of offering protection? Is there a woman who would be happy to accept such a marriage proposal? One offered because the man is overwhelmed with feelings of remorse? A girl wants to be chosen for herself. I want for the first time in my life for someone to choose me for myself. All I remember growing up is being rejected by one foster home after the next.
If I’m honest with myself, I would admit that I’m hurt. Hurt, because the only reason Dominic wants to get married to me is for my protection. Deep down—I want him to want me for myself. I don’t know if I could marry him without getting emotionally involved.
I always wanted to fall in love and get married someday. I’ve never envisioned this. The marriage he’s proposing would never be for love. There’s an attraction between us. But Dominic has made it clear he doesn’t want to be attracted to me. Why else would he keep pulling back and apologizing whenever we kiss? He has to be doing this out of duty. And I can’t bear trapping him into marriage.
Dominic unstraps my shoes and removes them. He then places a hand on my ankle. I attempt to disguise my response to his touch. “We have to do this Elle.” “Don’t you have someone else that you want to marry? Isn’t there someone in your life?” I ask desperately, as his grip briefly tightens. “No Angel, there is no one else. I had no intention of ever marrying. I’m the reason you find yourself in danger.” There it is again the proof that he is doing this out of duty. I keep shaking my head. I can’t do this.
“Besides, you can’t deny that we are sexually compatible.” As if to demonstrate, Dominic slides his hand up my right calf causing me to shiver. He leans down and his lips follow the path of his hands.
“Wha…what are you doing?” I stutter. “I’m showing you how good it could be between us. I know you want this.” He continues up my leg, my head falls back on the bed, and my eyes close. Dominic pushes my dress up, exposing my thighs as he continues his exploration. When he finally reaches the juncture of my thighs, my eyes fly open. I try to draw my legs together, but he coaxes them open again. His fingers slide my panties aside, touching my most intimate part.
“No! What are you doing?” I screech with embarrassment. “Trust me you’re going to like this.” His thumb rubs against my clitoris causing a ricochet of pleasure through my body. Unconsciously, I lift my hips closer to his hands. Hearing myself mew and groan. Grasping the sheet. “That’s it Angel, let go.”
Feeling his breath against my skin as his face dips closer. His tongue joins his fingers between my folds. As he licks, I feel tension building inside of me. His thumb continues to apply pressure on my clitoris while he suckles. “Come on Angel, let go,” as he increases the pace alternating between licking and sucking.
“Dominic!” I scream as he takes the nub between his lips. Fingers that are still moist with my juices reach up and play with my nipples. Squeezing them between his fingers. As tension builds within me, my body arches. Finally, I orgasm screaming as the pleasure overwhelms me. By this time, we are both breathless. My body is limp from my orgasm. I lie still in an attempt to calm my racing heart. Dominic moves away and slips off his jacket tossing it aside. He then lies down next to me. On his side with his head propped up by an arm.
After he readjusts my clothing, he gives me a quick kiss. Leaving behind the salty taste of my cum. Evidence of his arousal is obvious by the visible bulge in his trousers. I know that it must be uncomfortable. Dominic was so focused on giving me pleasure that he didn’t get to find release himself. He appears to be unbothered by this. His main concern at this moment seems to be to get my acquiescence to his demands.
“Marry me, Elle? Marry me and you’ll experience more of this. Don’t you want to explore our attraction? Are you going to deny us this?” Dominic whispers against my lips and I find myself nodding in agreement. His lips fuse with mine again. By the time he pulls away we are both breathless. Lying on his back, he tugs my head onto his chest.
“We’ll be getting married in one week. I need the news to spread that you’re my wife.” When he speaks, his voice vibrates against my ear. “I’ll have Serafina come over to help you with the preparation.”
Chapter 19
~Dominic~
Screams echo through the empty warehouse in Brooklyn. I pass by the men who are guarding the door when I enter. To the unsuspecting eyes the wide-open space looks like a warehouse used for storing building materials, but it’s a front to hide our illicit merchandise.
Dante meets me at the entrance. “Is everyone here?” He nods as we head towards the back of the room. It’s time everyone is reminded of what can happen when they cross me. A demonstration is long overdue. Traitors within the Cosa Nostra cannot be tolerated if the Family wishes to prosper. They can cause the entire organization to topple.
I'm irate because of what this traitorous piece of shit has done. He almost cost Elle her life. In our world, loose lips need to be closed permanently. I clench my hands looking forward to making an example of the asshole. After this, anyone who’s thinking of selling us out for money would think twice about it.
“Dario has been working on Leo for hours. He admitted to informing the Albanians about Elle’s connection to you. When he mentioned that you were guarding the girl, it piqued their interest. They figured that she was important to you. We think that their goal was to use her as bait.”
“Did he reveal how long he was feeding them information?” “The motherfucker, says that they only contacted him after he returned from guarding Elle in Upstate, New York. I’m inclined to believe him, because he didn’t have an inflow of cash into his account prior to this.”
“Lorenzo wasn’t involved in this betrayal.” He informs me. I nodded to Dante. Lorenzo was the other guard who had been left behind to protect Elle. I’m happy to hear that heremained loyal. As the betrayal of one man is one too many. It appears that I must remind everyone who the king of this jungle is. It has been some time since my last demonstration.
When I’d taken over from my father seven years ago, I had to assert myself. There were things that I’ve had to do that I’m not proud of to secure my reign. But, it was necessary to maintain control and prevent our enemies from encroaching on our territory. As time went by, my critics became silent. They had no choice as the New York Family became more profitable under my direction.
Every made man knows that betraying the Family is a death sentence. It’s forbidden. It’s an unspoken rule. But a reminder is required. So why not….kill two birds with one stone today? Deal with a traitor and remind everyone from the capos down to the lowliest soldier about what happens to one.
By the time we’ve reached the back of the warehouse the screams had died down. I walk pass all the men assembled in front of the makeshift torture room. Clear plastic lines the walls and floor of the small room, that’s off the main area of the warehouse. The men had the foresight to cover the wall and floor to make the cleanup easier. Leo is tied to a chair in the middle of the room. His head is slumped forward and he’s motionless.
I address all the men that I’ve instructed to be gathered here. “Leo here, has betrayed the Family to the Albanians.” A few of the younger soldiers take a step back, intimidated by my intense stare and threatening posture. The men who’ve been with me longer recognize this side of me. They know to steer clear when I adopt this persona leaving the carefree one behind.
“He sold information about my future wife to them, putting her life in danger.” There is a hush of silence at this announcement. If I wasn’t so angry I would be amused by the looks of shock on the men’s faces. Especially the councilmembers, who probably think that they should have been privy to this information before the rest of the masses knew.
“With my uncle’s plot against me and now Leo’s betrayal…. it has become evident that some of you need to be reminded of what Don Vitelli does to snitches. It would be remiss of me if I don’t demonstrate how traitors are dealt with.”
As I make my way towards Leo, I remove my jacket and hang it on a chair just outside the room. Unbuttoning my cuffs, I rolled up the sleeves of my shirt. I stand in front of his motionless body. There’s blood pooling at his feet and multiple digits that are no longer attached to his hands are lying on the floor. The bastard has passed out and this wouldn’t do. I need him awake for what I have in store for him.
“Wake him!” One of the men rushed forward and doused him with a bucket of water. He startles awake and sputters in confusion. When Leo recognizes me, there’s a look of utter terror and resignation on his face. He knows he’s not leaving here breathing today.
“Boss….I’m sorry…..I didn’t know that they would go after her.” He tries to plead. “Enough! Bastard, you put someone who was under my protection in harm's way. Speaking to outsiders is against our code, we all know this.” By this time, he is weeping. “Hold him!” Leo tries to thrash about in the chair. He is held from behind. Removing the blade from the table in the side of the room I return to stand in front of him sliding my finger along the sides of the blade.
“Open his shirt.” Dario rips his shirt open, and buttons scatter across the floor. Leo whimpers. I press the tip of the knife into his chest, carving out the word: TRAITOR. Blood seeps down his chest into his pants. I ignore his screams. I then sink the blade into his abdomen just below his sternum, dragging it down to his navel. Blood splatters on my shirt and coats my hands. His breath becomes labored and the contentsof his abdomen spills through the laceration. Stepping behind him, I jerk his head back and slit his throat, putting him out of his misery. The screams stop abruptly and are replaced by a gurgling sound as he chokes on his own blood.
