Donny came through the door with the
guy he left with. Not Rob though, he was
nowhere in sight.
"The garbage is in the trunk boss," the
guy who went with Donny laughed out
casually. It took me half a second torealize what he meant. My eyes nearly
fell out of my head.
Rob was in a car trunk?!
This man is crazy. I grew fearful again
and looked around the room. Donny's
knuckles were busted open and bleeding
down his fingers.
I shuddered.
The guy he went with had bruised
knuckless
I suddenly felt like a gazelle in a lion den.
These men were predators, literally. They
put Rob in the truck of a car for fuck's
sake.
We stood there for a few moments just
looking at each other before one of the
men he was with coughed to get his
attention.
"We have a -uh- meeting with some of
our -um- competition in 30 minutes. Rob
held us up for longer than we anticipated. We will be late if we don't
leave soon. We have to get to Chinatown
in Manhattan" the man declared.
When I looked at him, I noticed his
features were similar to Bucky's.
He was
handsome but different from Bucky. He
looked sweeter. Younger maybe, but
still scary and extremely intimidating.
His hair was straight, unlike Bucky's, and longer pulled into a knot.
"I'm quite aware, Alessio."
Alessio sounded like he was trying
to leave out details he must not have
wanted me to hear. I wondered what
the "meeting" in China Town was really
about.
I thought Alessio and Bucky were
brothers. Or at least cousins.
"But, we can have them wait a while.
Let thenm sweat. We still haven't eaten
dinner yet. And I'm awful hungry. Are you
hungry Willow?"
A blush crept up my neck at the mention
of the dinner I dropped earlier. He wasn't
trying to embarrass me but it sure did.
"I'm sorry about your dinner" I wrung my
hands together with tension.
He gripped my chin gently and tipped
my face up to look at him. "Stop
apologizing Bella, now answer the
question. Are you hungry?" he sounded Sweet, but stern.
There was no room for lying. I wanted to say no, but I really was
starving.
I nodded with a defeated sigh and he
smiled, letting go of my chin.
"Perfect! You will join us for dinner then.
No more waitressing tonight. Donny, can
you redo our orders as well as whatever
Willow wants?" His words sounded more
like an order than a request. Donny
nodded and looked at me waiting.
"You want me to make you the penne
vodka like I usually do Willow? Or do you
want the eggplant parm you sometimes get? Donny asked me, probably
realizing I was too awkward to tell him
on my own.
"Whatever is easier for you. I'll come and
bring out the food when it's ready"
"No, you won't. Don't worry Willow, I'Il bring
the food out when it's ready. Just sit
down, it's been a long day"
Bucky nodded and Donny walked into the
kitchen.
I looked around nervously.
There was no buffer now, no one I knew.
Just Bucky u
and his five men. Two of them
still stood at the door like statues. The
other three walked over to the table they
were originally sitting at.
Alessio pulled out a chair and smiled
at me, encouraging me to take the seat
he was offering. I blushed hard and
thanked him quietly.
Then he went to the other side of the table and Bucky sat down next to me.
I caught him staring at Alessio with
narrowed eyes, looking annoyed maybe.
But, he didn't voice anything if he was.
The other two men who I didn't know the
names of sat down between Bucky and
Alessio.
There was an awkward silence that|
wanted to break but didn't know how to.
l opted to stare at my hands tangled
together on my lap instead. I was
fidgeting but I couldn't help to stop
myself.
"Are you going to introduce us brother?"
I looked up from my lap to find all of
them staring at me with strange faces.
"Willow, this is my brother Dante. He is
the youngest out of the four of us," he
pointed at the guy who just forced the
introductions into play. I looked at Dante.
He was attractive too, hell they all were.
He looked extremely similar to Bucky,
though he had lighter hair and dark brown eyes.
"You guys are probably the same age"
he added.
"Hello, Willow you have a beautiful name,
almost as beautiful as you,' he held his
hand out with a smirk.
I giggled at his cheesy compliment.
"Hi, Dante,"I smiled shyly. I put my
hand in his and he kissed it quickly,
then smiled at me with teeth. I liked
Dante, he was nice.
Maybea shameless
flirt, but not in a way that made me
uncomfortable or anything.
"Dante is a big flirt, don't pay him any
mind" Alessio laughed. His laugh was so
light and carefree it put me at ease. I felt
more comfortable by the second.
"More like whore,' Bucky snorted.
"You're all brothers?"
"In many ways yes, but not by blood.
Only Dante and I are actually blood
siblings. We have all been friends for
many years. We've taken care of each
other fora long time. Friends since birth
type of thing. You know?"
I nodded at him in understanding.
He pointed to the guy that left with
Donny to put Rob in the trunk next.
His
bruised knuckles were folded on the
table like that was totally normal.
"This is Stefano. He's my enforcer, and
very good at what he does, which is why
Rob is not going to bother you anytime
soon," he said with his voice full of pride.
"Thank you, Stefano, I smiled shyly. The
subject seemed a little taboo to speak
about at the dinner table.
He laughed and cracked a grin that
chilled my bones.
"My pleasure, Willow," he winked.
I looked at his knuckles again, still uncomfortable about the reality behind
their bruises. He must have noticed that
I was staring at his bruises because
he looked at me guiltily and shifted his
hands to his lap under the table.
He winked again, but not in a teasing
way, just a knowing way. I gave a small
smile back, grateful
Stefano was huge, and he looked like he
didn't belong in suits.
He was nice and clearly intuitive.
"This is Alessio, the loud one. My biggest
pain in the ass, my second in command,
he pointed at Alessio with a hint of a
smirk.
Alessio was grinning widely, like being
called a pain in the ass was the nicest
compliment ever.
I giggled at that, and he laughed back
with me.
It felt like l was sitting around a group of friends instead of terrifying men that
only just met.
"What about you?" Dante prodded.
"What about me do you want to know?"
lasked cautiously. Everyone who knew
me knewl can talk anyone's ear off.
I didn't want to be annoying and make a
bad first impression.
Bucky was the one who answered
after Dante shrugged. "Everything" he
whispered to me like he didn't want
to frighten me by talking at a regular
volume. It was a sweet gesture.
"Um, well my full name is Willow Adrianna
Colombo and before you ask, yes I'm
Italian and no, I can't speak it fluently.
My parents died when I was very young
so they didn't get to teach it to me. I
know some phrases but not much.
I'm 20 years old, I go to NYU and I'm
studying to become an English teacher.
My favorite color is turquoise. I miss my
old manager, Sampson. He was like a dad to me. Since I was in high school,
I've been working here to help pay for
my schooling and books. But, he retired
which I'm sure you know. I volunteer at
the library near my dorm when I have
time. Um, I can't think anything else."I
stopped when I realized I was starting to
ramble.
Bucky had a triumphant look on his face.
"You're very cute when you are being
talkative
I put my hands over my face to conceal
my cheeks burning with embarrassment.
I always talk too much and manage to
catch myself too late.
i heard a few chuckles from around the
table and my cheeks reddened more
than I thought was humanly possible.
"Don't be embarrassed Bella," Bucky
laughed. I peeked out from my fingers
and saw him smiling at me sweetly. I
removed my face from my shielding
hands. They all had tight-lipped smiles like they were trying to hold in their
laughs. I rolled my eyes at that.
Donny came out of the kitchen holding
a tray with all the plates in it. I naturally
got up to help him unload the tray and
hand out the plates since that was my
job. But, Bucky swiftly and gently grabbed
my small hand in his big one, stopping
me from moving away from my seat.
He
raised an eyebrow at me, silently telling
me to stop trying to serve and just let
myself be served instead.
I sat back down without a fight. He
made me feel so small, even when he
was sitting down with me standing over
him. Bucky didn't even have to say the
words and I just obeyed him reluctantly.
I couldn't help it though, he was just
so sinful-looking. I wasn't even feeling
afraid of him anymore, after the way he
promised to protect me and look after
me. I just wanted to do what he said;|
wanted to please him.
It felt weird having Donny place my plate
in front of me; I was usually the person to do that. I thanked him and he ruffled
my hair as he did earlier. t made me
feel like a small child. But, I knew it was
another silent warning, a reminder of
his earlier warning to watch my attitude
carefully. I nodded to him subtly and he
nodded back before heading back to the
kitchen.
looked down at my plate and almost
squealed at the penne vodka on the side
of the eggplant parm. Thank you, Donny!
It smelled delicious and tasted even
better.
The guys all ate their food and teased
each other while Bucky and I had small
talk, he kept asking me more about
myself. I tried to explain that I was pretty
boring, but he wouldn't take that as an
answer.
I live in Manhattan too, he said, "my
parents raised my brothers and me in
Brooklyn though."
"What were your parents like?" I asked
before I could stop myself.
That was definitely too personal. What if
he hates his parents?
"You know them, Bella," he laughed.
What?
"The couple who owned this place
before me, those are my parents. My
father retired and I took over the, uh,
family business."
I nodded as I tried to recall the older
couple who I only met once.
"They were very nice to me when I
met them, but that was so long ago. I
honestly don't remember that very well
Bucky."
"Yes, they are nice. I'm sure they thought
very highily of you Willow. You are very
charming,"' he practically cooed.
His words warmed my heart. Charmed.
It was what Sampson used to say. I
missed him so much.
i looked up at Bucky and grinned at him
feeling happy about his similar words to
Sampson.
He returned the grin and stroked my
cheek and leaned toward my ear. "You
are radiant when you smile, absolutely
stunning," he whispered so that only 1
could hear his praise. My stomach was
filled with butterflies and I gasped.
His
words traveled deep into my belly andI
swallowed hard.
His long fingers stroked my cheek again
and leaned back to his seat.
"Thank you Bucky, you're very sweet," I
spoke softly, feeling bashful over his
compliments.
"I'm not sweet, but feel like I can be for
you, Bella. You soften me. I don't just
want to protect you. I want to make you
smile. I want to take care of you, Bella."
I stared at him unsure what exactly I
should say to that.
"You are the only person besides my
brothers that was brave enough to talk
to me so freely. You even made fun of
me. You are quick with your tongue and
you're funny. It is refreshing to talk to
someone in such a casual way who isnt
one of my brothers. Plus, I quite like that
attitude of yours that I caught a glimpse
of, it's amusing. I want to make you
mine" he confessed.
I wondered what he meant by "make you
mine".I wondered if he just meant sex,
probably.
"Would you let me take you on a date,
Bella? l'd love to get to cook some good
Italian food for you" His face was gentle
now, unintimidating. It was like he was
trying hard to make me feel at ease,
probably so I didn't feel afraid to say no.
He whispered the next part, "l cook way
better than Donny, trust me."
I giggled at that.
Bucky, you are very sweet. But, I am not looking for any hookups. I have had
enough of those. I don't want to waste
any more time on that type of situation,"
I spoke softly, testing to waters to figure
out his intentions.
His face scrunched up in what looked
like offense. Then it softened into
sadness.
"Willow, I think you are very special, more
than a quick fuck. I asked you on a date
because I would like to spend time with
you," he said bluntly. My mouth dropped
open a fraction. His voice lowered
significantly so that only I could hear,
and if Ijust wanted to fuck you, I would
have done it right here on this table right
now, regardless of my brothers sitting
here."
My eyes widened so much they probably
looked like they were going to fall out
of my head. His words were so dirty,
and the images that popped into my
head were painfully sinful. He would
absolutely wreck me.
"Okay, l'd like that then," I said nervously.
His dirty words kept echoing in my head.
I imagined what he would be like during
sex and shuddered at the thought of this
man using all of the power he exudes on
me in the bedroom-or better yet on this
table.