Page 5 of Bulletproof Baby
“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."
3
LIA
Any woman with eyes can see the way the light bounces off Valentino's face. Angular features, a squared chin, crystal blue eyes, and the way he challenged Saul at the auction? Valentino is everything I need right now.