Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Wavy black hair drips down the young woman’s back like ink. The way her dress grips every inch of her body is like an oil slick, coating my imagination with fantasies of peeling her out of it. However, Saul’s holding onto her like he should have had her on a leash. The way her eyes dart around the room makes her primed to bolt as soon as the opportunity presents itself.

There’s a small bar in the corner of the penthouse suite. Nights like this require alcohol. The auction is a time-honored tradition of La Familia. It’s one I hate, but as the don of the Barrone family, my attendance is necessary. It makes no difference if the bulk of my business dealings are on the right side of the law. Once you’re a made man, no one gets out alive.

The empty seats around the small bar beckon me to get a drink. The gentleman at the bar looks just as annoyed to be here as I am. Alessandro De Luca’s scar is like a signal for the weak to stay away from him. I’ve never been on the Butcher of Howard Beach’s chopping block, so it leaves me free to approach him, hand extended.

“You’re the last person I expected to see at an auction, Less,” I greet him with a smile. He shakes my hand as I order my drink.

“I’m only here as the family rep. My father RSVP’d to this thing before he got swept off his feet by his nurse.” He laughs softly before taking a sip of his drink.

“Lucky guy,” I tell him as Dimitri Vassa walks toward the center of the suite, hands in the air to get everyone’s attention.

Dimitri’s one of the few men in New York that can straddle the lines between criminal organizations with little hassle. The Bratva and La Familia let him move through the city with a freedom most men have to pay an arm and a leg to get.

“Thank you all for coming out this evening. We have one last item on the auction block. Please, step forward, Miss.” Dimitri waves for the young woman who came in with Saul. She stands in front of him.

The murmurings of men ready to throw their life savings make Saul fidget right before he shoots an angry glare to most of them.

“Caputo’s up to something,” Alessandro mentions to me as he chugs the rest of his drink. “He gets messy when he wants to own things. You guys have fun. I’m out of here.”

I give him a two-finger salute as he signals to his consigliere, Lorenzo, to leave. They exit the suite just as Dimitri kicks off the bidding.

“For this vivacious woman of virtue, you will have a beautiful time with a beautiful woman that I’m certain any of you can build a future with as her family runs a successful construction business. Let’s start the bidding at five thousand dollars,” Dimitri says.

One by one, people go around the room, raising their hands to bid on the woman, who looks absolutely miserable. Saul, on the other hand, is eyeing the competition and making notes as if he’s going to make them regret bidding against him.

“Twenty,” I call out with the men around the room shrinking away. Saul turns to me with his eyes twitching in anger.

“Thirty-five,” Saul counters.

He really wants this girl and I want to know why. She doesn’t look like the typical type we see at these things. Most virgins are chomping at the bit to be the love toy or bride of a Mafia don. Something stinks and I’d love nothing more than to make a fool out of Caputo for dragging this unwilling woman to this event.

“Fifty,” I offer with a smile and sip of my drink.

My nonchalance has a tendency to get under people’s skin. The ability to remain calm in all kinds of situations makes me an exacting don and a successful businessman. Saul moves closer to Dimitri, but I remain by the bar, unbothered by Saul’s need to assert himself.

Saul growls and pulls out his phone before shouting, “Fifty-five.”

All bidders need to have the cash on hand and be ready to transfer once they win. It looks like Saul’s wallet is about to dry up.

“One hundred,” I state firmly, walking away from the bar and wanting to know how deep Saul’s willing to go. The way he flexes his fingers in and out of clenching fists shows his resolve wavering, anger reeling.

“Mr. Caputo?” Dimitri asks the imploding Mafia boss.

“FUCK. One forty-nine,” Saul grumbles.

“Two.” The one word is enough to draw gasps and laughs from the men around the room. The beauty standing there has her eyes glued to me and all I’m picturing is the way they’ll close as she says my name. Gratitude while I peel her out of that dress.

“Two hundred thousand dollars going once,” Dimitri says, eyeing Saul. Saul is dialing furiously on his phone, but not getting the answer he desperately wants. Even Dimitri delights in seeing Saul combust in defeat.

Dimitri continues, letting his words linger like a melody. “Two hundred thousand dollars going twice.”

More whispers and laughter.

“Sold,” Dimitri says, tipping his head to me and offering me the beautiful woman’s hand. “She’s all yours, Don Barrone.”

“The fuck she is.” Saul growls and stomps toward us.

I grab the woman’s hand, pull her in close, and hold my hand up to Saul. “Don De Luca said you get messy when you want to own things, but she’s not a piece of property, Caputo.”

“Lia,” Saul turns to the woman. “There’s rules. You can reject the bid for the offer you want. Your parents, the business⁠—”

“Saul,” I cut him off. “Don’t try to change the woman’s mind.”

“It can’t be changed anyway,” she finally speaks. Lia, a name that will forever be on my mind, turns to Dimitri. “I’m accepting Don Barrone’s bid.”

“All sales are final, Mr. Caputo.” Dimitri’s nonchalance is nearly as grating as mine, but I’ve won the auction. It takes a few minutes of screen time on my phone to transfer the money to an account specified for events like this.

Dimitri’s smile beams once the confirmation comes through. “Thank you so much for your business, Mr. Barrone. And to think, you weren’t even going to show up this evening. Have a delightful weekend you two. Saul, don’t cause a disturbance, unless you’d like to test how fast you can get to the street from this floor without the elevator.”

Tomato red isn’t a shade that looks healthy on any person, but that’s the color of Saul’s face as I escort Lia out of the suite. The guard in the hallway, Bruno, hands me a bag that I assume belongs to her and presses the elevator for us.

My eyes can’t stop watching her. Every step, the swish of her wide hips, full ass, amazing tits, and my God the face. There’s no way she’s a virgin with a body sculpted like hers. I want to know everything about her.

“Who are you?” I ask her once we’re in the elevator alone.

“Lia Bonetti, and you are?” Her tone holds a mixture of curiosity and annoyance.

“Don Valentino Barrone,” I tell her. The roll of her eyes shows she’s not as impressed by me as I am enamored with her.

“Great, another made man.” Her almond-colored eyes move to the ground before she bites her lower lip and shifts her gaze back to me. Her expression holds a softness as she asks, “Can you make sure the money goes to my parents?”

“Lighten up, kid,” I tell her, hooking a finger under her chin. “You’re not going to the gas chamber. You’re taking a weekend trip with me to the Hamptons. I’ll have you back home Sunday night and your portion of the auction proceeds will be in whatever account you set up by Monday morning.”

“I didn’t set up any account for this,” she says. The elevator opens to the lobby. She wraps a hand under my arm as I lead her out of the swanky hotel where the valet has my car waiting at the curb.

“That’s not how these things typically go.” I open the door for her, helping her slide into the back seat. Her dress rides up and a flash of me pushing it all the way above her waist hits me like a freight train. My body tenses with the burning attraction igniting for this stranger. I don’t like this.

“We’re going to be on the road for about two hours,” I say, getting behind the wheel. “Would you like anything to eat or to make any stops?”

“I’m fine. I don’t think my stomach can stand anything right now. Thank you, Mr. Barrone. It might not seem like it, but I’d much rather give my virginity to someone like you than Saul Caputo.”

“You don’t have to give me anything, Lia. Call me, Valentino or Val, please. If I’m being honest, I didn’t think you were a virgin. I just assumed Saul had his claws into you for something, and I take great pride in pissing him off.”

That gets her to laugh. “You and me both. The only difference is I’m sure Saul doesn’t scare you when he’s pissed. I thought he was going to murder me earlier today.”

“Oh? Why is that? He looked so proud to have you on his arm in the suite this evening.” It’s not lost on me how she glosses over the virginity bit, but I won’t push her.

She scoffs, turning her gaze out of the window. “Like a prized fucking show pony. But yeah, I wouldn’t date him willingly, so he dangled this opportunity in front of my folks as a way to get some quick cash. He told my parents that all he wanted was my time. Wait until my dad hears that he offered me up to one gangster only to be stolen by another.”

“Stolen from Saul Caputo. I like the sound of that.’ The words come out barely above a whisper. Lia steals a glance in my direction before returning her gaze to the passing streetlights of the expressway.

Music takes over as a myriad of questions flood my mind. I want to know what Saul’s interest is in Lia, beyond her looks. She deserves the attention of every man, but with Saul, it’s not as easy as he’s attracted to Lia. Saul wants something from her or her family. I’m determined to find out what Saul’s connection is to Lia.

By the time we arrive at my beach house in Hampton Bays, Lia’s lower eyelids show the exhaustion in her face. The property is small compared to its neighboring mansions, but it’s been in the family longer than my family’s been in La Familia. These days, the Barrone name is less involved with the mob and more tied to my corporation, Barten Security.

The small octagonal sign bearing the name stands out on the lawn as we walk along the stone path to the front door. The slate stones under our feet match the dark gray siding of the house. White trim around the windows and door blend in with the light beige deck wrapping around the house. The attached garage holds two of my favorite cars that I don’t like to keep in the city. Maybe I’ll get to drive her around with the top down while we’re out here.

Lia inhales deeply. ‘You must be right off the beach.’

‘Yeah, the backyard has a walkway through the brush. It’s not the easiest path to find, but I like the privacy.’

‘Privacy for your prize.’ She laughs to herself. When Lia turns to me, placing her hand on mine, it sends impulses to my primitive nature. I want to claim her, capture her, make her mine. Her voice is low as she says, ‘I want to thank you Val.’

Before I can say anything, she pulls me close and kisses me. It’s the last thing I expect from her, but I’m not ready to give in to my desires.

‘Is there something wrong?’ Lia asks, backing away from me. ‘Did I do that wrong?’

‘No.’ My hand reaches up to stroke the side of her face. ‘My tastes can be particular, and taking someone’s virginity may do us both a disservice.’

‘What does that mean?’ Her eyes are desperate for me to take back the rejection.

‘You’ll want nothing else after dealing with me, and I’ll be consumed by the idea of turning you into the perfect bedmate. Relationships doom men like me. I don’t have the time to be obsessed with you.’

The redness coloring her cheeks makes the rejection easier to swallow, but I’m not lying. She steps closer to me, pushing herself onto her toes to kiss me. The softness of Lia’s lips pressing against mine tugs at a gate of emotions I’m determined to keep locked away.

‘What if you’d be doing me a favor?’ she counters. ‘Even bigger than the enormous amount of money you’ve spent for my virginity?’

‘Seeing Saul’s head explode in frustration along with knowing he’s not as liquid in cash as he lets on was worth every penny. And, Lia, I didn’t pay for your virginity. I paid for your time.’

The resolve flashing in her eyes tells me she’s not going to let this go until she gets what she wants. Instead of backing down, she steps closer, pushing her body against mine, goading the reaction out of me that she’s likely to get.

‘Aren’t men like you meant to conquer, Valentino? Don’t you want to conquer, taste, touch something that Saul is desperate to own? I won’t ask you for anything more than this. Take my virginity, Valentino. Take it, so Saul won’t want anything to do with me.’