Chapter 157: #3 Chapter 42

I kissed the spot behind her ear. "Good girl."

"Do I get a reward later?"

"Maybe. What would you like?"

"To stay with my sister tonight."

I chuckled. "Dai, you should know better than to ask that."

"Can she and I watch a movie together after dinner, then?"

I hadn't expected this bargaining. I stroked her soft cheek with the backs of my knuckles. "You spent all day with her."

"Were you watching us today?"

A bit, but I would never admit it. "I know everything that happens on this yacht, micina."

"God, you're such a control freak. So, can I watch a movie with her or not?"

"If I agree, what will you do for me in exchange?"

"Not punch you in the junk for making me sit on your lap during dinner?"

I had to fight a smile. "Do better, beautiful."

"I'll come to your room later."

I stroked her leg and considered it. As long as she did what I wanted I supposed there was no harm. "When we're done here, you and your sister may watch a movie in my stateroom."

The tension left Gia's body. "Thank you, il pazzo."

I pushed her long hair over her shoulder and caressed her jaw. "You were very good during dinner. I like holding you on my lap and feeding you."

"That's because you're fucked up."

I grabbed her wine glass and held it to her mouth. "Sì, certo. But I suspect your pussy is dripping right now, which means you are fucked up, too."

She dutifully swallowed the crisp white wine, then licked her lips. "You're not giving me a choice."

"And you like to be forced," I crooned before kissing the slim column of her throat. "It is why we work so well together."

"As long as it keeps my sister away from you I'll let you believe whatever you want."

Such lies from such a pretty mouth. It was time to see who was right.

I patted her hip. "Up."

She stood quickly, like she was eager for this to be over. But her nipples were hard beneath the leather, her eyes dilated with lust. Her body wanted me, even if her mind wasn't fully cooperative. That worked fine for me.

"Take off your panties," I told her.

"Why?"

"Because you are mine and I am telling you to do it."

She bit her lip and glanced around the dining room. We were alone but anyone could come in at any time. "Didn't we do this already?"

"That doesn't mean I won't ever repeat it. Lift your skirt and get up on the table."

With a heavy sigh, she hitched the dress and started to sit.

"Remove the panties first," I said.

I could see her hands tremble as she pushed the leather panties off her hips. They slithered down her long legs and she kicked them off right before she got up on the table. I took a long second to admire her, contemplating all the depraved things I wanted to do to her. My desire to touch and taste her never abated, while the craving to fuck her twisted in my blood like a virus. I was crazy with it, obsessed.

No woman had infected me like this. Was it because she was Ravazzani's sister-in-law? I had to assume so. Why else would I want Gia Mancini so badly, if not to ruin her?

I pulled my chair closer. "Put your feet up and spread your legs."

She did as I asked, leaning back on her hands, and I could smell her arousal, see it glistening on the swollen lips of her pussy. I inhaled, the scent filling my lungs and making my balls heavy. "Soaking," I murmured. "Just as I thought."

Her chest rose and fell as her breath came quicker. She liked being on display for me. I decided to reward her first. "I have a present for you."

She blinked then narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "If you've tied a bow around your cock, I am literally going to gag."

My lips twitched. How could she make me laugh at the exact same time I wanted to fuck her?

"That surprise comes later," I said, reaching under the table. I presented her with a plain black box.

"I don't understand." She stared at the box like it contained a dozen snakes. "You're giving me a gift?"

"If you don't want it, I'll take it back." I started to take the box out of her hands, but her fingers tightened around the cardboard.

"The fuck you will, mafioso." She pulled it back and quickly tore off the lid. "Oh, my God. You bought me a tablet?"

"And a stylus. You can use this for your designs instead of pencil and paper."

"I-I don't know what to say. This is amazing. Thank you."

"You are welcome. And don't bother checking for internet service. It has been disabled."

"Couldn't resist ruining the moment with a dig that I'm your prisoner, could you?" She hugged the tablet to her chest, a smile splitting her beautiful face. "Still, this is awesome."

I held up the box. "Here. Put your new toy away."

"Why?"

She put the tablet back in the box and I set it on the floor by my chair. "Because I want to play with my toy right now."

There was tiramisu for dessert, so I gathered some on my fingertip and held it up to her mouth. She dipped her head and sucked the creamy dessert off my finger, her tongue lapping at my skin greedily, her eyes closing in bliss. A rumble of approval escaped my throat.

I gathered more tiramisu and smeared it on her piercing. She whispered, "Oh, God. What are you doing?"

"Having dessert."

Enzo

My children were permitted one call a week with me, and I looked forward to those calls more than anything else. They were like air, reassuring and necessary to my very survival. Being apart from Luca and Nic was like a bad dream-something I had to endure but every second tore apart my soul.

Vito and I were in the office, working, but I had the phone by my hand, the ringer switched on. Every few seconds I glanced down to make sure I hadn't missed the call. I was moving money around, using my contacts around the globe to launder the fraud income, distributing it to various smaller businesses. It was complicated and detailed, and it required my complete attention. Unfortunately, I was distracted.

I needed to see her. I switched my screen over to the camera in my bedroom. The screen filled with the image of her spread out on the bed, watching tv with her sister. While Emma and Gia looked similar, there was no mistaking them. Gia was crackling energy and sex, while Emma was quiet and reserved.

My cell rang and I hurried to answer, not even bothering to look at the number. I knew who it was. "Pronto."

"Ciao, Papà!"

My heart squeezed at the sound of my daughter's voice, and I had to close my eyes against a rush of emotion. God, I missed them. "Ciao, Nicola! Come stai, principessa?"

"Good, Papà, good. Is Uncle Vito there, too?"

"Yes, he's here, too. Do you want to talk to him?"

"No," she said. "I didn't want you to be lonely."

I swallowed the knot in my throat. "You're very thoughtful to think of your Papà, but you don't need to worry about me. Tell me about school. How are your studies?"

Nic launched into a long explanation about her classes and I soaked in every word. I loved to hear her voice and she sounded so happy. There were no more issues with the boy who'd picked on her, and she had many friends according to Luca. She'd inherited my intelligence and Angela's thoughtfulness, and I was certain no man would ever be good enough to marry her.

"When will we see you again?" she asked. "We have a break coming up soon."

The words were a dagger in my chest. "The summer, principessa. You know the rules."

"It's still not safe for us?"

My free hand curled into a fist, the missing tip of my finger apparent. "No, it isn't, I'm afraid."

"I don't want you to die, Papà."

"You don't need to worry. What do I always say?"

"That you're smarter than any man in Europe."

"That's right. Is your brother there?"

"Sì. Ti amo, Papà. I hope you have a good week!"

"Ti amo, Nic. Never forget that everything I do is for you and your brother."

"I know. Ciao!"

There was some shuffling, then my son's voice sounded in my ear. "Hello, Papà."

Hello? "Che palle. You've stopped speaking Italian, then?"

He gave a laugh that sounded deeper than usual, like his voice was changing. "No, of course not. I was trying to annoy you."

My boy was trouble, much as I'd been at his age. "Are you certain that's wise, figlio mio?"

"Probably not, but it's too easy with you."

I couldn't argue with that. "Any more problems with Nic and that boy?"

"No, he's leaving her alone."

"Va bene. Let me know if anything else happens."

"I will, Papà." He sounded annoyed, as if I didn't trust him to handle this on his own.

"Tell me what's going on with you. How are your classes?"

"Boring as fuck," he said in English.

"Ma dai, Luca! Watch your mouth." Then I couldn't help but add, "If you're going to curse, do it properly. In Italian."

He chuckled. "I started playing rugby, Papà. I like it better than football."

I frowned. Rugby? That English school was stripping away his heritage and I hated it. But I couldn't complain. My children were alive and that was what mattered. "You like it because it allows you to tackle and hit the other boys."

"Sì, certo. They are hosting a dance next week for the entire school. A girl asked me to take her."

I smiled sadly. I should be there to talk to him about women and make sure he continues playing football. "What did you say?"

"She's two years older than me. I said yes, of course."

A bark of laughter escaped my throat. Porco dio, my boy. "Then be careful and be safe. Do I need to send you condoms?"

Vito swiveled in his chair to face me, his jaw falling open.

"I already have them," Luca told me proudly. "We stole some from the older boys."

"Do you need anything else?"

Luca said no, and we chatted a few minutes more before hanging up. I rubbed my eyes, wrung out and angry. It never got easier, the distance between me and my children. Except for a few weeks every summer, they were living their lives far away from me, experiencing things I had no control over. I could offer no guidance, no advice. This was time I would never get back with them.

But they were safe. Without a proper home with proper security, they would be at risk with me here on a boat. Not to mention they'd have no friends, no teachers. What kind of life was that for a child? At least now, using assumed names, they could behave like normal children, living normal lives. With me, they would be no better than prisoners.

"Luca needs condoms?" Vito asked.

I sighed heavily. "A dance at school. An older girl has asked him to go with her."