Strapped: A Second Chance Mafia Romance (13 page)

6
^th
October 2014

I
heard
the fight the second it broke out, which just proved that my theory about Johnny was correct. I could see it right away, the second that he first looked at me. There was an intense fear there, which meant Carmine had gotten to him. If there’s one thing I’ve learned through all of this, it’s that a scared man is the most dangerous of all – but I couldn't make Marco see that right away. I sent him in there to see what I did, and my plan succeeded a little too well. He saw what I did, and then some, and it’s ended extremely violently.

“Come on,” I hear Marco call, which causes me to jump up and wait by the front door. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

He takes a little longer to arrive by my side than I’m expecting, but I don't even feel tempted to join him. I’ve seen enough dead bodies in my lifetime – all of them killed by Marco – and I really don't want to add to that list. Especially not the man that is his cousin – the one who should have supported him throughout anything. It’s too horrible to think about how he’s been betrayed, so in a way I would rather live in my mind and pretend that it just isn’t happening.

As he finally joins me, he practically pushes me out of the door and back out into the car, where we speed along once more. I’m sick of seeing the road rush past me, of being aware that Marco and I have nowhere to go. It’s debilitating, and although it’s much better than being in Johnny’s home, I’m more than aware that we cannot go on forever.

“That’s it now,” I mumble a little too quietly. “We
have
to go to the cops.”

“I’ve already told you that we can’t,” Marco shoots back quickly, causing frustrated tears to prick my eyes. “Umberto has the cops, they belong to him. If we report this crime, we will be even more likely to end up dead.”

Well, what then!?
I want to scream.
What do we do?! How do we survive this?

But I don't. I can’t see any point now, it’s obvious from the fact that we’ve exhausted all of our avenues and been caught out anyway, that we’re probably going to end up dead soon enough anyway. All of this is going to end up being for nothing, and we’re absolutely helpless about that – there’s not a damn thing that we can do about it.

I wonder if I should call my mom and dad, to tell them that I’m not going to live any longer, but then I also don't want their last words to me to be those of disappointment. I might as well just leave it and wait for the police to break the bad news – then I don't have to hear it when they hate me, which they inevitably will. My dad will despise me for going back against his wishes, and my mother will resent the life that she’s having to lead because of me. She’s had to leave New York, the city that she loved, to keep me away from Marco – and I ended up back with him anyway.

“Let’s pull over somewhere,” I tell Marco wearily. “There’s no point in carrying on driving. We might as well just park up somewhere and spend the night in the car – we’ll be as safe there as anywhere else.”

“Right,” he drawls sadly. “If that’s what you really want. But first off, give me your phone.”

I hand it over to him, realizing that it doesn’t matter anymore, and that I definitely don't need it – which is good news because he chucks it out of the window, causing it to smash into pieces behind us. If I had wanted to keep hold of it, I would be furious right about now.

“What the...” I spin around in my seat, feeling a little stunned. It was just so out of the blue.

“That might be how they’re tracking us,” he tells me. “I don't know that for sure, but I would rather not keep them just in case – I don't see any other way that they could keep finding us so quickly. I would just... rather be safe than sorry.”

“Oh, right, of course,” I nod, a little dumbfounded. That’s the sort of thing you normally see on TV or in movies, not the sort of experience that normal people like me have in real life. “Sure. Okay.”

Eventually Marco brings us to the bridge where we parked before, and he pulls the car over. “Will this do?” He asks, sounding a little fatigued, and I nod silently, again wondering if I’ve made the right decision about it all. “Okay, well you wait here. I’m going to find some food for us. We really do need to eat soon before we pass out.”

As soon as he says this, my stomach grumbles ravenously. “Shouldn’t I come with you?” I glimpse around, wondering if I’m going to get caught any time soon. When we were at Johnny’s house and his apartment, he didn’t want to leave me alone, now he’s willing to risk it when we’re out here in the open... it doesn’t make any sense.

“No, you’ll be fine here, and I will only be a couple of seconds.” He looks so serious, so insistent that I find myself agreeing quickly with him. There’s a hard set to his jaw, one that doesn’t want to be argued with, and I can’t face another argument either. If he says that I’ll be fine, then I’ll just have to hope that I am.

Once he’s gone, my mind wanders into the happy place we were last time we were here. It’s a sexy memory, one where I had him between my lips, but it’s much better than thinking about anything else. I’d rather recall his trembling body while I sent him wild with desire, using only my tongue, than think about my potential death looming over me. It makes me feel emboldened and excited all over again, rather than small and terrified, and all of a sudden I can’t wait until he’s back. I want to hold him in my arms, to devour him, to experience all of him while he’s still here with me.

As he crashes back into the car, clutching bags of hot smelling food in his hands, I leap on him, kissing him with an intense fiery passion. Of course, I’m still desperately hungry to eat, but right now I want something else from him, something more passionate, and I’m not going to stop until I get it.

“Whoa, whoa, what’s going on?” He chuckles, pulling back from me to look directly at my face.

“Come into the backseat with me,” I plead, with that intense sparkle in my eyes. Again I’m acting a little crazy, and not at all rationally, and again I don't care. I want Marco, I need him, and since we have no idea how much longer we’re going to be alive, there’s no point in holding back any longer. “I want you.”

“Are you serious?” He gasps, looking completely blindsided. “Really? Now?”

“Now!” I insist. “I need you now.”

As we clamber over the seats, giggling excitedly, I feel that intense burst of lusty happiness that keeps interjecting this horrible journey. Once we’re there, he presses his lips slowly up against mine, acting more seductively, forcing me to halt for just a second. I still want to give in to the heady passion and tear all of his clothes off, but it’s nice to just lose myself in his kiss for just a few seconds, giving myself over to him wholeheartedly.

“I love you,” he murmurs against me, causing a bolt of happiness to race through my body. If nothing else, this entire journey has been worth it for the love. Marco and I have finally managed to reconnect, to fall in love all over again, and although it’s going to end up badly, at least I have this.

“I love you too.”

Suddenly I can take it no longer. It’s lovely being all romantic, but the passion is still there, and if we don't give into it soon, I’m afraid that it’s going to eat me up alive. I feel animalistic, crazy, and I still need to take this to the next level.

I spin Marco onto his back and look down at him for a few seconds, before straddling my legs over him. As he gazes up at me with true love in his eyes, I tug my dress upwards, shedding it from my body. I miss the feel of his eyes all over me, the amazing way that makes me feel like a goddess, and I want to have that sensation at least one more time.

“Oh fuck,” he pants, leaning up to meet me. “You’re so gorgeous, I don't know what I would do without you.”

Then he kisses me hard and fast, tugging my bra off until my top half is fully naked for him. His hands run all over my breasts, until he find my nipples. He tugs and teases them, sending unexpected sensations racing right through my body, leaving me driven mad with passion. He explores me in new and exciting ways, and I lean back, more than happy for him to do so.

I yank his pants down, bringing his underwear with it and I grapple with his throbbing erection between my fingers for a few seconds, causing him to moan loudly beneath me. I run my hands over his length, imagining it already inside of me, thrusting against me, driving me to that blissful place once more.

“Oh God,” he flops backwards with his eyes closing, really giving himself wholly to me, allowing me to do exactly what I want with his body.

I smile to myself, pleased to have this amazing, powerful man at my disposal, then I shrug my panties off and angle myself over him. As I slide down his length, I gasp loudly, knowing that he will always feel phenomenal, no matter how many times we have sex. We might have only started sleeping together very recently, but we’ve already taken advantage of every moment alone, and I’m nowhere near getting used to the feel of him. Somehow he’s unexpected every single time.

“Oh shit, Marco,” I yell out, riding him quickly. “You feel fucking amazing.”

We buckle against one another, allowing everything else to vanish. We really need this moment of just me and him to help us to forget the shitty mess that is our lives. As I thrust down on Marco, allowing him to hit me at the right angle every single time, I run my fingers over his sculpted body too, loving every single inch of him. He’s wonderful, so handsome, and I can’t believe how lucky I am, despite everything, to have him with me.

The orgasm that screeches through me, causes me to collapse against Marco’s body in ecstasy. He’s amazing, and we’re fabulous together, it’s just a shame that it’s never going to last...

Once we’re laying together on the back seat, panting heavily, Marco leans forward to grab the bags of food he purchased earlier and he hands one to me which I grasp quickly.

“Oh, God, thank you,” I gasp happily. “I’ve never been so hungry in my life.”

“Well, enjoy it,” Marco grins at me. “Because tomorrow is going to have to be do or die day. We need to make some serious decisions and get some answers. We can’t go on like this forever, it isn’t good enough for you.”

I gulp down the big ball of emotion that lodges in my throat, and any reply dies on my lips. He’s right, of course he is, but that doesn’t make it any less scary.

Do or die...
that’s what we have to look forward to...

7
^th
October 2014

I
wait
until Olivia drifts off into a ball of sleep before I make my move, wanting this over before she even wakes up. I’ve been running around frantically, trying to sort this out in all kinds of crazy ways, but now that I’ve seen how easily Carmine got to Johnny as well as Luke, it’s obvious to me that I need to face it head-on. He wants me to meet him, that much is clear, and now that’s exactly what I want too.

Do or die.

Those words spin around and around in my mind, reminding me just how true they are. I only said them on a whim to Olivia, but they’ve become my mantra – words to get through this.

If I’m going to die, that is going to happen whatever I do, so I might as well get it over sooner rather than later, protecting the love of my life in the process. With that one thought in my mind, I grab the shitty car handbook, find a pen in my pocket and write Olivia a note. If I don't come back, I need her to know what happened to me, that I died trying to protect her, and I also need her to get as far away from New York as humanly possible.

‘To Liv...’
I scribble, feeling my heart break that it’s even come to this point.
‘I have gone to face Carmine, to try and sort this out once and for all. I’m sorry that I did this without telling you, but I needed to do what I could to keep you safe because I love you. I always have and I always will... I’m just so sorry that you got dragged into the mess of my making. I never intended that to happen ever. Please wait here ‘til 6:00 a.m., then if I don't turn up, assume that I have been killed. In which case, you need to drive like the wind and get as far away from here as possible. Don't even go back to your parents’ house, not right away, just keep out of sight until it’s all died down. I don't want you to die too. Not for me.’
The tears are really rolling down my cheeks now, but I force myself to finish this before I leave.
‘I love you, you are amazing. Goodbye, Marco xxx’.

“Fuck,” I mutter to myself as I angrily brush the tears away. I can’t cry now, not tonight, not when so much is resting on my shoulders. It might not turn out that way anyway, I’m only preparing for the worst.

With one last glance at Olivia, which I take to commit her beauty to memory, I slide out of the car and I click the door behind me, trying desperately not to wake her up, and I stomp towards the nearest ATM, knowing that I’m going to need all the cash I have.

Once I have managed to collect a meager thirty grand, I race to the nearest payphone, needing to call the man that I’ve been spending the last few days avoiding like the plague. It’s terrifying to be drawing him to me after all that we’ve been through, but I don't have a choice. It really is do or die.

“Hello?” He grunts into the phone, still sounding pissed off. I can hear the predicable noise of Teasers in the background, which at least lets me know where he is, giving me something over his head.

“Carmine,” I reply in a cool, calm sounding tone of voice. “It’s Marco, I think we need to talk.”

There’s a long silence where I know he’s gathering his thoughts. I bite my lip, keeping all of the expletives inside while he decides where he wants to go next. Little does he know, he’s no longer fully in charge of me. I won’t just do as he asks.

“Come to Teasers,” he eventually tells me, just as I knew that he would.

“No, thank you,” I shoot back. “I don't want to meet you in your morgue. I want to meet somewhere more public, to discuss this like adults.”

This makes him laugh loudly and mirthlessly. “Oh, you do? Right – only I didn’t realize that it was you running the show today now, did I?”

“If you want me, if you want the girl,” I lie. “The you will meet me at Grand Central Station within the hour.

“Oh, dear,” he coos mockingly. “Love’s young dream gone tits up already, has it?” I don't answer him, I don't want to give him the satisfaction of thinking he’s gotten to me. “Well, well, well... now that we know the little slut likes bad boys, maybe she’ll give me a fuck – I can show her what a
real
man’s cock is like.” I clench my jaw tightly, tuning out his words. He goes on to describe what he wants to do to Olivia, which I really have to ignore. He needs me an emotional wreck before we meet up, because if my head isn’t in the game, I’ll probably fuck up my plan.

And I cannot fuck up this plan.

“I’ll meet you,” he finally concludes in a bored tone of voice. “Just make this worth my while... okay?”

I click the phone down, not bothering to respond, and I make my way over to the very public place which is filled with CCTV cameras. I don't want to die, and to be honest I don't want to do any more killing either. I just want all of this over and done with.

Once I’m standing in the train station, far too early for our meeting, I allow my eyes to scan over the place to see what Carmine has in store for me. I have no doubt that he will come with other armed guards, which is kind of what I’m counting on. I need people to witness him conceding to me, to ensure our safety. I might not be able to buy it forever with only thirty grand, but I don't need to. I just need to get it for long enough to get me and Olivia the hell away from here. Once the guys aren’t watching us, we can go wherever we like, and by the time they find a need for us again – if they ever do – we’ll be too long gone for them to even know where to start hunting.

“So, you’re really here,” Carmine’s slimy voice rings out behind me. “I wasn't sure that you were actually going to come.”

“I could say the same about you,” I reply, turning to face him head on. “I didn’t know that you knew how to get your hands dirty these days. You spend so much time at that seedy strip club, I assumed your ass must be glued to that chair.”

“Very funny,” he shakes his head. “Hilarious in fact. Now, where is the girl?”

“She isn’t here,” I admit right away. “But she doesn’t need to be for me to give you this.” I hand over the suitcase full of cash, and watch his eyes screw up in confusion. “I know that Umberto doesn’t care enough about these sorts of petty issues – that’s why he has you to manage your group. Now is it really worth losing your life over some random chick and a guy that no longer works for you? Wouldn’t it be better to take the cash and forget all about us?”

“Who says I’ll die?” He glares up at me, suddenly spotting the glint of metal that’s hiding up my sleeve, pointing right at him. “I have men,” he insists. “All over this place. They’ll kill you the second that you pull that trigger.”

“Oh, I know,” I shock him by saying. “But that won’t matter. You’ll already be dead.”

“The cops will lock you up forever if you commit murder in such a public place,” he changes tactic quickly, proving that he is actually afraid, showing just how long he’s been sitting behind that desk barking orders at the rest of us.

“I know, and I don't care. All I want is for Olivia to be safe. I don't care what happens to me at all.” He remains silent, deep in thought, so I help him to fully make that final decision. “Take the cash, keep your life, and you will never have to see me and Olivia again. We’ll leave here, start again somewhere new, and everyone will be happy.”

He nods suddenly, finally realizing that he has no other choice, so I shoot a big grin around the room, hoping that Carmine’s men can see that I’ve won, then I stalk from the train station with my head held high. I know that it’s only a temporary victory, but it’s enough. We’ll be okay now, forever more, and that’s all that matters to me.

I practically run back to the car, hoping that Olivia hasn’t already seen my note and freaked out, leaving me behind, but when I arrive I can clearly see that she hasn’t stirred even once. She’s still crashed out across the back seat, none the wiser as to what has just happened.

“Liv,” I shake her gently, keen to tell her the good news. “Liv, wake up!”

“Night,” she shoves me off, but I won’t be deterred.

“Liv, it’s done. It’s over.”

Those words are enough to have her jumping up in her seat, desperate to know more. “Wait, what?” She calls out, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “What are you on about?”

“I went to see Carmine,” I tell her, holding on to her cheeks so she can only stare into my eyes. “I paid him off, they are going to leave us alone forever now, it’s over.”

“Are you serious?” She squeals excitedly, jumping up and down in her seat. I can’t help but laugh at how adorable she is. I just want to scoop her up into my arms and love her forever – hopefully now I’ll be able to. Of course I haven’t quite mentioned that Carmine
might
come for us again in the future, but that’s a bridge that we can cross when we get to it. We’ve been through enough in the last few days to last us a lifetime.

“There’s only one snag – we do have to run a little bit more,” I confess. “We need to get out of here, to start a life somewhere else, somewhere far away from here.”

She pauses thoughtfully for a second, probably considering all that she’s giving up for me, before nodding. “Okay,” she smiles. “I don't mind if we have a plan, somewhere to settle at the end of it. I just didn’t like the constant fear of not knowing what was going to happen next.”

“Well, don't you worry about that,” I grin. “I
do
have a plan and I really think you’re going to love it.”

“Let’s get going then,” she shrugs happily. “No point in sticking around here where we have nothing left for us. We should get going and start our new lives.”

With that, I start up the engine and take us back onto the road, this time filled with hope rather than despair. This new adventure will hopefully be our last, and I cannot wait to get it started...

“What’s this?” Liv interrupts my thoughts, grabbing the note I left for her as I went off, and I feel my heart sink.

“That’s nothing,” I reply, trying to snatch it from her, but it’s too late, she’s already read most of it, so I might as well let her finish now.

“You went out there, to meet him, thinking that you were going to die for me?” She asks through wet tears.

“Well, I hoped that I wouldn’t, but I knew there was a chance. I needed you to be safe even if I couldn't be.”

“I love you, Marco Fabbri,” she sighs deeply, looking up at me. “You really are my hero.”

Hero
– the good guy – the guy I now know that I’ve always wanted to be.