Shock to the System

DIABLO

I glance over at Emma, who’s sleeping soundly. She looks so serene. We’ve spent the entire morning making love. It turns out we share a common trait; we’re both insatiable.

Just when I think I’ve worn her out, she surprises me by going down on me or simply climbing on top of me and riding me like there’s no tomorrow. And I do the same.

I think we’re both trying to ensure the other is sexually satisfied for the long nine weeks ahead.

In this short time, I’ve realized that my feelings for her go beyond lust or business. This mysterious beauty is stirring emotions in me that I’ve never experienced with any other woman.

My heart is pounding so hard at the thought of losing her, I’m afraid it might wake her. Am I in love with this woman? This is dangerous. For a gangster like me, it makes us both vulnerable, easy targets.

If any rival gang discovers that she’s my weakness, they won’t hesitate to kidnap, rape, or even kill her to get back at me. I can’t let that happen.

She mentioned she’s leaving for eight weeks of training, but what kind of training? Then another week to visit her friend who arranged the training.

I can’t remember if I ever asked her about the training or the friend. I’ve been so consumed with her, with making sure she’s mine, that I never thought to ask her anything.

Damn, I don’t even know her likes or dislikes, her favorite color. Shit. I know nothing except that she’s mine and we have mind-blowing sex.

I find myself wondering if this friend is a man or a woman. Why do I suddenly care so much? Then it hits me.

~I’m in love with her. Damn, that happened fast.~

The question is, do I tell her or not?

No. For both our sakes, I’ll take the coward’s way out and keep it to myself. It’s for her safety and mine.

I have to believe it’s for the best. I don’t want her to know she’s my weakness. She must always think she’s just a prized possession of mine, a business asset.

I need to grow the business any way I can; that’s why I wanted her in the first place. Damn, this is a mess. I’m pissed at myself for losing control when it comes to her.

All my other flings were just that, flings. They never meant anything to me. I’ve had plenty of women in my bed, but Emma, she’s one in a million. She’s a puzzle I can’t wait to solve.

Lauren has been calling me nonstop, but I’ve made it clear that our arrangement is over and she needs to move on, just like I am.

The only difference is, I forgot about Lauren the moment Emma entered my bed.

Speak of the devil. My phone vibrates. Sure enough, Lauren’s face lights up my screen.

Not wanting to wake Emma, I get up and head to the kitchen before answering.

“What the hell do you want, Lauren?”

“Did someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning or did your little fling not satisfy you last night?” she snaps back.

“Get lost, Lauren. Why are you calling? I told you to move on, our days of fucking are over.”

“Sweetheart, I know your little plaything is leaving town for a few weeks and I thought you might want a real woman in your bed while she’s gone—so I’m offering my services.”

“Get lost, Lauren. Don’t call me again. We’re done.”

“But darling, we’ll never be done.”

With that, she hangs up. I’m staring at my phone when I hear Emma’s voice.

“Is that the slut I caught you with in your office?”

“Yes.”

“Why the hell is she calling you, Diablo? I’m not even gone yet and you’re already setting up a booty call. You really are something else.”

“Have some decency and wait until I’m gone before you start screwing around.”

I’m seething. I’ve warned her about the way she talks to me.

I want to punish her, but when I look into her eyes, all I see is hurt.

She’s hurt because she thinks I’m already planning to sleep with Lauren. A glimmer of hope sparks in me. Could she be in love with me?

“Why the hell do you care, Emma? You’re leaving me for nine weeks. I told you I’d try, but I’m only human. And I’ve told you before not to talk to me like that.”

She flinches at my harsh words, and I see tears start to fall.

“I just th-thought that after everything we shared you cared a little about me, D. Because truth be told—and I know it’s wrong—I’ve fallen in love with you.”

“I know I shouldn’t have, but I did. I couldn’t help it. I think I love you. I know it’s only been a short time, a time mostly spent in bed or arguing, but God help me, I’ve fallen for you.”

“I’m sorry.”

Her last few words come out in hiccups. She’s sobbing now. Being the jerk I am, I say the only thing I can to stop myself from confessing my feelings.

“I’m not in love with you, Emma. You’re nothing more than my possession and business partner. Don’t get it twisted. You’ll never be anything more to me than that, understand?”

The last thing I hear is her footsteps on the tiles as she runs into the bedroom, still crying.

I don’t follow her. I know if I do, I’ll reveal my true feelings for her.

So I do the only thing I can think of; I hurl my phone against the wall. Not even the sound of it shattering makes me feel better.

I storm into the bedroom and see Emma getting dressed. She doesn’t even take a shower, she’s trying to get away from me as fast as she can.

“Running away, Emma? You know we have a business deal.”

“I haven’t forgotten, Diablo. Speaking of which, I’ve got the final contract in my bag. We need to review it before I head out this afternoon. I’ve rescheduled my flight to California for tonight instead of tomorrow.

“Dean’s set up some interviews for potential bodyguards tomorrow, so I need to leave tonight.”

In just a few sentences, I’ve learned a lot. First, she’s not running away from me.

Second, she’s committed to the business side of our deal.

Third, her friend is a guy.

Fourth, she’s meeting with potential bodyguards.

And lastly, she’s heading to California, of all places.

This is a lot to take in. These are questions I should’ve asked her. But I’ve been too focused on my own desires to ask her anything.

~This woman is going to be the end of me, one way or another.~

I stand in the bedroom, watching her as she continues to pack her bag. I see her bag on the floor and walk over to pick it up, but she snatches it out of my hands.

“This is private, Diablo. What’s in the bag doesn’t concern you. Not until we sign the final contract.”

Her outburst catches me off guard. She’s really pushing my patience. I grab her shoulders and push her roughly against the wall.

“Don’t ever talk to me like that again, Emma. I let it slide earlier because I figured you were upset about overhearing my conversation with Lauren, but not again.”

I turn her around to face the wall, unbutton her jeans, and yank them down to her knees.

She’s still crying, but softly. My heart softens a bit, and I almost don’t go through with my punishment—but I have to. She needs to learn when to keep her mouth shut.

I pin her against the wall with my left shoulder, raise my right hand, and start spanking her.

I stop after what I think is eighteen slaps when I notice her ass turning bright red.

I give her two more for good measure, pull her jeans up, button them, and only then do I feel calm enough to turn her around. She’s still crying, but the look in her eyes hits me hard.

She’s hurt and disgusted.

“Are you done punishing me, Diablo? Do you feel better about yourself now?”

I nod yes, and with that, she turns and heads for the bathroom. Her parting words pierce my heart.

“I love you, Diablo, but this will be the last time I say it. You don’t deserve my love. You’ll turn my love into hatred. I hope then you’ll feel more like a man.”

“Fuck you” is all I manage to say before she slams the bathroom door in my face. I head to the kitchen, pour two cups of coffee, and make my way to the dining area.

When Emma finally comes out of the bathroom, she’s composed. All signs of her crying are gone.

She looks at me with the best poker face I’ve ever seen and calmly asks if I’m ready to finalize and sign the last contract.

As I read the contract, I realize I’ve chosen my business partner well. There are no loopholes.

If she can draft this without being a lawyer, my rivals are screwed when they sign with me in the future. The basics are as follows:

She’ll own 49 percent of the clubs and any club that she opens on my behalf. Emma will be in charge of all my operations in all the clubs and of securing any cooperation with rival gangs.

She’ll be in charge of the contracts signed between me and the gangs. On top of that, she’ll own 49 percent of the underground businesses, as well as profits from any potential client that she brings to the table.

All in all, she’ll own 49 percent of whatever she achieves while being my partner. If anything happens to me or her, the other person will automatically own 100 percent.

No third party will be allowed to obtain any percentage of any current or future businesses. If she achieves what she promised, we’ll both be extremely rich and control a lot of territory.

We’ll both be well-respected in the business and the underground world. ~Damn, this woman is amazing.~ She knows what she wants and she’s determined to make both our dreams come true.

I never expected her, little Miss Prissy, to be so—dare I say—~scheming~ when it comes to business matters.

The only way out of this agreement is the other’s death, unless one of us agrees to buy out the other, but this can only happen for a good reason.

She’ll be known as my enforcer. At the end of the day, I’ll just be the face of the business.

She’ll have free rein to do what she wants with both the clubs and underground businesses without my consent as long as it’s in the best interests of the business.

I’m stunned.

How the hell does she think she’s going to pull this off? She has no idea how the underground business works, she has no self-defense training, and the Mafia bosses will eat her alive.

Then it hits me: eight weeks for training. She’s going to train so she knows how to protect herself, how to read situations. ~Damn.~ I’m amazed.

The thought of her doing all of this for me is breathtaking; there must be more to it than just this.

Either she’s crazy with a death wish, or her desire to control most of America’s underground businesses has her thirsting for power.

Either way, this isn’t the Emma I thought I knew. This is completely out of character for her.

~Is she not who she says she is?~ Maybe she’s been playing me all along and I’m the fool. Did one of the other Mafia bosses put her up to this? Or is my paranoia getting the best of me?

Damn, what have I awakened in this woman? I’ve created a female version of...me.

She snaps me out of my thoughts by saying that she’s always been seen as a prissy, uptight virgin. No one can stand her, let alone respect her. They just tolerate her.

She’s always dreamed of making something of her life, being successful at whatever comes her way, and being the best at whatever life throws at her.

When I crossed her path, she saw it as her destiny and her chance to prove everyone wrong. That she can be successful, adventurous, and command respect.

The problem is, she’s the kind of person who makes sure she’s the best at what she starts. She never gives up and she’ll push herself until there’s nothing left to give.

This gives me a glimpse into her thought process behind the contract and her goals. I also understand that she’s not one to be trifled with.

She’s like a Virgin Mary, untouched and waiting for someone like me to discover her. It’s a chance she’s been waiting for.

It’s pure luck that I spotted her beauty first and decided to claim her out of desire.

The business aspect was added to the mix to make the deal more appealing from my end when I found out she had just graduated. Now I realize how damn lucky I am.

If I hadn’t made my move when I did, one of my competitors might have, and I’d be screwed. It seems I’ve finally made a smart choice in my life: to involve her.

Not only will I have a near-perfect vixen in my bed, but I’ll also have a shrewd business partner who seems to see business the same way I do: ruthlessly.

“You sure know how to grab a man’s attention, Emma. I never thought I’d find someone who shares my business perspective.

“You, my sweet love, will take me to heaven at night with your irresistible body and to new heights daily with my—or should I say ~our~—various business interests.”

“Well, Diablo, I’m glad we’re on the same page.

“But remember one thing. ~Don’t screw me over.~”

“What are you implying, baby?”

“You don’t want to find out, Diablo. Trust me. Let’s leave it at that.

“Do we have a deal or not? I need to get to the airport.”

“Yes, baby, we have a deal. What about your clothes and stuff?”

“Well, since I’m sleeping with the boss, I told Travis to pack my things according to the list I gave him, and to meet me at the airport with Carly.”

“Hold on, Emma, seriously? You’re not the boss; you’re sleeping with the boss.”

“Technically I am now, Diablo. The contract you just signed says so, remember? You’re just the handsome face and the name behind the business. I’m in charge of operations, accounts, and enforcement.

“On that note, when I get back, I want full access to all the bank accounts.

“I need to make sure the books are in order and of course, like you said, I need to make sure the other clubs aren’t skimming.”

Damn, how the tables have turned. My sweet, obedient Emma is gone, replaced by a fierce businesswoman.

What—or rather who—have I just let into my life? Will I survive this woman? Will my heart? ~Damn it.~

“I have to go now, Diablo. I’ll see you in nine weeks. I won’t contact you at all while I’m away. You can expect me on the ninth Sunday.”

With that, she turns and walks out of the penthouse and out of my life for nine weeks.

My head is still reeling from everything that’s happened this morning. The only thing I can think of is that she, my Emma, my love, is worth it.

I’ve never met, and I don’t think I’ll ever meet, another woman like her in my life.