Page 4 of Bulletproof Baby
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.