We trash talk and eat party leftovers. After two games, Mom, Dad, and Ford move to their own lane because ‘these damn kids are too competitive for their own good,’ according to Mom. She also purses her lips every time we make an ‘inappropriate ball joke,’ which is approximately every twenty-three seconds.
When we call it quits, Ford goes off to do Ford things. Mom and Dad disappear for some alone time, which sets Lil off on her fake gagging bit. I think they’re adorable.
Luca glares at the thick layer of sugar slowly dissolving at the bottom of my iced tea as he walks by. I don’t give him shit about his gross protein drinks, but whatever. He worries too much. At least about me. It’s sweet but also annoying… and unsettling. I’m not used to many people worrying about me. Like legitimately having a concern about me. Sure, Dad’s men worry about me, but that’s their job. It’s a small handful of people that I think give a real shit about me, so adding one to the list feels strange.
Chapter 33
The icing on the cupcake?
Luca
After bowling, I swim some laps. The physical activity not only keeps me fit but also helps me deal with all the pent-up energy. Being around Ariana is amazing, but I’m constantly in one state of arousal or another. We haven’t done more than kiss, but I don’t want to rush or pressure her into anything. So I spend a lot of time in the gym and the pool. And jerking off in the shower.
Finishing up one last lap, I pull myself out of the pool and run a towel over my body before heading toward the house. Mia’s sitting at the table on the patio near the back door, where the girls and I sometimes drink our coffee in the mornings. She puts her book down next to her lemonade when I get close.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying the pool, Luca.” She smiles at me, and I realize how much Lil looks like her. “The girls don’t use it as much as they used to. When they were little, I could hardly keep them out of it. They would pretend to be mermaids for hours all summer long.”
I chuckle. “That doesn’t surprise me in the least.”
“Sometimes it’s hard to believe they’re grown up now. Butthey are,” she sighs. “Though they’re doing DeVille girl things. Still hiding cigarettes and liquor, like that means I don’t know about any of it.”
“Does it bother you? The girls getting drunk up in Lil’s closet?” I ask her.
“No. Just like it doesn’t bother me when you have a beer or two with Marco. It never has. Bad things happen outside the walls Marco built for us. Here, they have each other, and they know they can always come get us. And they have before. They might not make the best decisions together, but they always look out for each other.”
“I’m still a little surprised Ariana let me drive them home from game night at Amanda’s house. I thought I would have to fight her for the keys, but she handed them over.”
“You should be surprised,” she says with a chuckle. “I won’t pretend they always make good choices. They’ve made some real shit ones, actually. Ariana has a fake ID that looks like something Marco would have Parker make for someone needing a new identity, and Lil’s might not be as good, but it works. I have no idea where they got them from or where they keep them, but I know they used them to get into a bar last year and drank themselves stupid there. Which ended up with Ariana getting into a fucking bar fight. Got arrested and everything.”
“Holy fuck,” I say, my eyes wide.
“Someone was harassing Lil. I’m sure you know by now that shit doesn’t fly with Ari.”
“She’s kind of a badass.”
“That’s who she is. She might not be of our blood, but this is her family. She’ll do anything to protect it. You probably know by now she’s killed to protect it. And she would die to protect it.”
After talking with Mia, I jump in the shower to rinse off the saltwater. I start thinking about Ariana, my mind replaying our kisses, her smiles, her winks, that fucking tongue ring… and now I’m harder than a goddamned rock. Again. I grab my aching cock, groaning as I slide my hand up and down the shaft. The base of my spine tingles and I come with her name on my lips for like the millionth time since getting here. The hot water rains down on me while I wonder if I should hate myself for it.
Marco meets me as I jog down the stairs. “With me,” he says in his mafia boss voice. When we reach the bottom, he calls out for Ariana.
“In the kitchen, Dad.”
Her hair’s in a messy bun and there’s flour everywhere. She looks adorable and sexy at the same time in her apron.
“Your skills are needed.”
She stares at him for a second, then looks at me with apprehension in her eyes.
“Can’t someone else go? I just put cupcakes in the oven.”
“Alfred White’s daughter was taken.”
“Fuck.” She unties her apron and tosses it aside. “Becca?—”
“I’ve got them, sweetie. You go.”
“Give me five minutes.”
