The Power of a Woman: A Mafia Erotic Romance (6 page)

I took the offered paper and suppressed an internal groan.

“Oh, and
kitty
…the Giannottis own the entire condo. If your game is to do more than be my fuck for the week, I highly suggest you rethink that idea,” he threatened with a sneer.

I rolled my eyes, but not before red shamed my face. The door slammed behind me, and I could hear his repulsive laugh all the way down the steps. My heart mimicked the rapid clicks of my heels on the tile beneath my feet, pounding away in my chest.

What did I just do?

Saved your family, that’s what.

Disappearing for a week. No contact.
My finger hovered over the send button for a solid two minutes before finally pressing it. I knew it would elicit a response from
him
. My message had been deliberate…purposely keeping it vague. I didn’t know how to explain it to him, but at the same time, I knew I needed to tell him
something
instead of just disappearing without a word.

Within a minute, the cell buzzed in my hand, alerting me of a new message:
You better have sent that to me by mistake.
The anger in Stefan’s words rang loud through the screen as if I’d heard his deep voice instead of just reading a text. I knew he wouldn’t have liked my message, but I didn’t have any other viable option. I couldn’t tell him of my plans to meet Zeke or my deal to eradicate my brother’s debt. It involved his family for Christ’s sake.

I didn’t respond to him, debating on what to pack instead. I knew I had to pack something; otherwise, my father would have questions. However, I wouldn’t need clothes where I planned to go. Scarface wouldn’t allow me to wear them. He never said it, but I knew better. Naked. All the time. Waiting. All the time. I wasn’t an idiot. Our deal was for sex, and he’d told me I was to be available to him anytime he wanted. Thinking upon those words left me with an image of being tied to his bed as he fucked me whenever he pleased. It made me quiver with repulsion, but I knew it’d only be for a week. I could handle that. And I loved kinky sex. As long as I could keep myself in the right mindset, imagining a fantasy world instead of reality, the time would go by quickly.

Randomly throwing clothes into the bag, not giving a shit what I grabbed, my phone sounded again. I hesitated before reading Stefan’s new message, knowing it wouldn’t be pleasant. But I also knew I couldn’t ignore him.
Jordana. I’m busy right now and don’t have time for your games. I expect a response.

His escalating anger excited me in some way, reminding me of the things he did to me when I’d push him that far. Unfortunately, this was over text messaging and we weren’t alone in his bedroom. I wouldn’t see him for a week so stroking the flames of his fury wouldn’t be in my best interest, even though it seemed very appealing to do.

Have to leave for a week. Protection. Won’t be able to communicate.
Again…I took my chances with my response, tiptoeing the line between truth and lie. My hands shook while waiting for a reply, hoping he wouldn’t try to pull more information out of me. I didn’t know how much more I could give him without outright lying to him. Don’t get me wrong, I had no problem stretching the truth or spilling little white lies here or there when it suited me and my needs. But when it came to Stefan, the thought of lying to him caused my throat to close up and my heart to ache. I had no idea what it was about him, but he had a way of stripping me of my power. I only allowed it because I knew if I kept it going, I’d become capable of taking away his control. Not that I wanted to, of course. I simply wanted the
ability
to.

My phone rang in my hand in less than two seconds, stopping my heart in my chest. He didn’t waste any time. Which further proved his aggravation and irritation.

“Jordana,” he gritted out through the phone before I could even properly answer.

“Stefan.”

His sigh drifted through the phone and I felt it throughout my entire body before it swarmed my tight bundle of nerves between my legs. I swear, it was as though his breath landed on that spot. “Where are you going and why? And stop with the vague answers. You can’t just tell me you’re leaving for a week and expect me to be all right with that.”

“I didn’t really think you’d care. It’s not like we
hang out
on a regular basis or anything. You’ve never shown any annoyance over not seeing me during the weeks I’m on my period, so I figured it wouldn’t be any different than that.”

He remained silent for a moment, probably reeling from the truth in my words. “I see you when I can, and you know that. You know how this life is, and don’t act like we’re two regular people living in the real world. I can’t help that we have to keep
us
a secret. I’ve told you, I’m working on it. Please, Jordana, stop throwing that back in my face like I can snap my fingers and magically erase the feud our families are in. But regardless of that, I still want to know where you’re going to be. I’d like to know you’re safe and okay.”

The softness of his tone melted my icy defense. How can you argue with someone who only wants to protect you? You can’t. Blowing out a lungful of air, I conceded. “I’m going to my family’s safe house.” The existence of such property wasn’t news to him—we all had them. But no one other than my father, my brother, our family’s closest security, and me knew of its location. And I had to keep it that way. “Daddy wants me there until this mess with Matty is sorted out.”

He knew what I meant by the mess, considering he’d probably known about it long before I did. Thinking of that only served to light a new fire inside, erecting my defenses once again…
fucking bastard kept that from me
. I hated questioning him or our relationship. I wanted to believe what we had was special and stood above family ties. I wanted to believe him when he said I was his and that he wanted to make sure I was safe. But how could I when his family—his own father—has a tight grasp on my little brother? My brain felt at war with my heart, and I had no idea which one would win.

“That’s not necessary, Tesoro. Nothing will happen to you. I can guarantee that. Regardless of your brother’s poor monetary decisions, you know I’d never let anything happen to you.” Silence filled the line as confusion set in. “You know that, right?”

His declaration of my assured safety and the desperation in his voice surprised me, like he couldn’t breathe without my answer. I knew how he felt about me in bed…or against the wall…but it has always been unclear of his intentions with me outside of our nights together. Hearing of his own personal protection sent another emotion coursing through me. Although, that emotion was foreign and unclear. Definitely not anger or resentment.

“Stefan, it’s what my father has asked of me. And I must do it. I hope you can respect the need to obey my family. Going away for a week doesn’t mean I don’t trust you, or that I think you’ll let me get caught in the crossfire. And you said yourself that you want to make sure I’m safe…being there and away from this mess ensure that.” I wanted to press him for what he knew, but I couldn’t find it within me to do so. It didn’t matter what information he had, because at the end of the week, it would all be water under the bridge anyway.

“And what are your plans if your family can’t make this right?” His question felt like an ominous punch to my gut, knocking the proverbial wind from my sails.

“That’s not an option. We will.” Or more importantly…
I
will.

“One week. And you’ll be back whether the debt is paid or not?” It wasn’t really so much of a question as it was his way of seeking a verbal guarantee. Just another way for Stefan to exert his power over me.

I sighed, feeling as if I were staring at a rock with my back pressed against a hard place. “Yes, Stefan. I’ll be back home at the end of the week either way. You’ll have me back in your bed next week.” And after a week with Scarface, I knew I’d need that more than my next breath.

“Good,” was all he said before silence took over the line.

My screen flashed in front of me. He had ended the call without a goodbye.

One week. That’s all it would be, and then I would be back with Stefan. That’s all I had to focus on to get me through this. I could do it, I knew I could. And then I’d have the satisfaction of doing what no man could. I’d clear my brother’s debt without paying a single penny,
and
without bloodshed.

A knock sounded at my door, pulling me from my thoughts and reminding me of the time. I cleared my throat and shook the anxiety from my body, knowing it could only be one of two people—neither of which I really cared to see. “Come in.”

The door opened and my father walked in, appearing on edge and worn ragged with stress. The man I always remembered being large, strong, powerful with his dark hair slicked back and squared posture, had begun to show signs of his aging. Of his wear and tear. Of spending years in the life we lived. His shoulders hunched forward slightly, showing his fear, and his eyes that were always so hard and stern were soft and worried. Lines stretched out on his caramel-colored face, indicating that his age had not stopped, but continued to move forward with the rest of us. This had been the first time I really noticed that my father was not invincible. And it made me realize that my sacrifice was not only for my brother, but for my father as well.

“What is it, Daddy?” I asked, sounding sincere and innocent-like, exactly how he viewed me. Exactly how I
wanted
him to view me. When in reality, I was anything but.

“I was just checking on you. Seeing if there was anything you needed before leaving. And to say goodbye. I didn’t want you to leave without saying goodbye.” He seemed so sad…so lost. It was a rarity to see him this way—vulnerable. It ate at me and left me questioning my deceiving actions. I knew what needed to be done, and I’d already set everything in motion, but watching him now left me with worry over him finding out about my plans. After everything Matty had put him through, I doubted he’d be able to handle anything more—especially from me.

I zipped up my bag and walked to him. With a kiss on his cheek, I said, “No, Daddy, I wouldn’t leave without saying bye.” I squeezed my arms around his thick neck and then pulled away, looking him right in the eye—eyes that mirrored mine. “It’s only for a week. And I’ll be fine. Nothing will happen to me at the shore house. And don’t worry too much about Matty. He’ll be fine as well. I feel confident that his debt will be paid. Just keep him out of trouble and we’ll be fine.”

His lips pressed together in a tight line as he attempted to force a smile. That was my father, always trying to stay strong in front of me. It wasn’t to protect me or to ease any worry I might’ve had…he did it because in our world, men weren’t weak, and he didn’t dare show that side of him to anyone—including his children. “Sunny is out front, waiting to drive you. I don’t want your car there. I don’t want anyone knowing where you’re at. He’ll drop you off and then you’ll lock yourself inside until further notice from me. Don’t use your phone, and if you need to get ahold of me—which you shouldn’t need to—use the safe line. You know where it’s at.”

More demands by more men. I couldn’t take it anymore. I was tired of hearing the men in my life tell me what I had to do, but it would make my victory that much sweeter when I solve this issue on my own. It would completely decimate their beliefs about the two genders. I smiled and nodded, giving him one last kiss on the cheek before grabbing my bag and heading out.

This was it.

This was the interlude into my greatest act yet.

I climbed into the waiting car and sat back, preparing myself for what would come next. Steeling myself for the sacrifices I’d make. And before I knew it, a smile had stretched long and wide on my face. My hands were still and calm, my heartbeat steady and strong. I had not one ounce of apprehension in me as I sank into the leather seat, feeling the soft hum of the road beneath the car.

“We’re here, ma’am. Would you like help inside?” Sunny, my driver, asked as we pulled up to the shore house—my supposed “safe haven” for the next week.

“No, that’s quite all right. I only have the one bag.” I stepped out from the car, watched the mammoth of a man close the door and climb back in behind the steering wheel. I knew he’d wait until I was safely inside, so I opened the door and watched through the window until he was gone.

As soon as his taillights were no longer visible, I walked back out the door and locked it behind me. Pulling my phone from my purse, I called the cab company and waited for their arrival, blood pumping in my ears the entire time.

But nothing compared to the feeling of my heart ricocheting off my ribcage as the cab pulled up to a high-rise of condominiums in the heart of the city. We drove into the underground garage and my breath caught in my chest. Scarface had given me a piece of paper with the address of his “fuck house,” but I hadn’t looked at it. Instead, I pulled it from my pocket and handed it to the taxi driver. It wasn’t until we pulled into the parking garage before I realized where we were—the same condominium where Stefan lived. My anxiety crept back in at the thought of Stefan catching me here after I’d told him I’d be away at my family’s safe house. I glanced down to the paper in my hand and took note of his floor: seven. Stefan lived in the penthouse, so knowing I’d have fourteen floors separating us eased my nerves some.