Bang Bang(22)
Author: Rachel Van Dyken

I shot Amy a glare. “Tell them you’re kidding before Phoenix impales me with a knife.”

Her look was innocent.

“Ames…”

“I can do this all day, Ax…” her smile grew.

I exhaled and shook my head at Phoenix. “I fed her well, swear.”

“Sure you did…” Phoenix leaned back in his chair. “Her lips look a bit swollen, don’t you think, Sergio?”

“Hmm.” Sergio looked up and shrugged. “Seems Ax can’t keep his hands to himself, even when he’s told to.”

I reached for the eggs, ignoring their prodding.

“I kissed him,” Amy blurted.

The spoon clattered out of my hand as Phoenix and Sergio’s sudden swearing filled the room.

“He tried pushing me away…” She reached for a cup of coffee and brought it to her lips. “But you know men… weak.”

Phoenix burst out laughing. While Sergio just went back to the newspaper.

I looked to Phoenix to see if he’d kill me, seriously, but all he did was shake his head and say. “I’m going to enjoy this so much.”

His smile fell just as quick as it appeared when Bee entered the room with a cup of espresso for me. When her eyes fell on Amy she clapped her hands together.

“Another girl!”

“Yay,” Sergio said dryly. “Let’s throw a party.”

Bee glared in his direction then stuck out her tongue. “Ignore him,” she said turning back to Amy. “He’s just grumpy because no one will sleep with him.”

Phoenix choked on his coffee this time and I just groaned into my hands.

“It’s like a house of horrors,” Phoenix said under his breath. “You’ve been warned.”

“They’re here,” Sergio announced jumping up to his feet.

“Who?” Bee asked.

“The guys.”

“The guys,” Amy repeated.

Phoenix rubbed his hands together. “This should be interesting…”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Amy

THE WINDOW FACED the driveway and part of the rose garden in front of the house. I watched in absolute terror as four cars pulled in.

A black Range Rover.

A black Mercedes.

A red Ashton Martin.

A black Ferrari.

I almost swallowed my tongue whole. I walked slowly towards the window, watching in rapt fascination as the cars all parked.

Slow motion. That’s what I was experiencing for the first time in my life. I waited and waited for the guys to emerge from the expensive cars.

The door to the Range Rover opened.

A guy with a white t-shirt stepped out. The first thing I noticed? The tattoos lining his very buff looking arms. The second thing? The guns strapped to his chest. His hair was pitch black, falling haphazardly across his face. He pulled off his aviators and glanced at the house, then flashed a smile so beautiful I nearly stumbled back into the breakfast bar.

“Nixon,” Ax whispered behind me. “My boss.”

“He’s…”

“Young,” Ax finished for me. “Started taking over operations at eighteen, owns the whole damn world, shoots first, asks questions later. If ever.”

I nodded.

The door to the Ferrari opened, and a similar looking guy got out. His smile was huge — so were his biceps. He had tattoos on his arms too, but wore a long sleeve gray shirt, pushed up across his forearms. His hair was shorter than Nixon’s, his body a bit leaner, but he was… more than nice looking. Try… just… I had no words.

“Chase Abandonato,” Ax whispered. “Husband to—”

A gorgeous woman got out of the driver’s side and smacked Chase on the chest, then kissed him full on the mouth. She was wearing tight leather pants, black heels, and a blue shirt that hung loosely off her shoulders. A white and black fedora was on her head, and she was packing.

More than Chase.

What?

“Mil De Lange.” This time Phoenix stepped up next to us. “My sister. And Chase’s wife.”

The door to the Ashton Martin opened.

A guy I could only describe as a giant got out of the car and slammed the door. My breath hitched.

“He has that effect on women.” Ax laughed softly in my ear, as he pulled me back against his body. “That… is Tex Campisi, the Cappo.”

“He looks like he could break me in half,” I mumbled under my breath.

“He could,” Ax said not so reassuringly. “But he won’t. Shot his father in the chest more times than necessary, and he’s married to Nixon’s sister, Mo.”

The more information they fed me, the more terrified I became. The power that radiated off those guys from the freaking parking lot had me ready to pass out.

No more. Please let there be no more.

Then another door opened.

An elderly gentleman emerged from the Mercedes and straightened the collar to his suit, then popped his knuckles. He joined the men and patted Nixon on the back twice before whispering in his ear.

“Alfero,” Ax said from behind me. “The eldest of the bosses, and most respected ever since Luca’s death.”

“Luca?” I asked.

“Nicolasi,” Phoenix added. “My mentor, the guy who saved my life, the family who I’d die to protect. He died a month ago, things have been… hard since then.”

I gave him what I hoped was a sympathetic look. He merely met my gaze with a cold one of his own before cursing under his breath and walking away.

“Don’t worry about him,” Ax said in a calm voice. “He’s still dealing with shit.”

All of the daunting figures made their way towards the house. For some reason I felt like arming myself, like grabbing a knife or something.

Ax reached for my hand.

I gripped it so tightly I was afraid I was going to break every single tiny bone in my fingers.

The door opened.

Laughter followed.

Sweat made my hand clammy as I waited for them to come into the room. I waited, and waited. The laughter got louder.

I started praying.

And clenched Ax’s hand tighter.

I saw Nixon first, and then Tex.

The rest followed.

All eyes were on me. The room was silent as death. Was I supposed to say something? Bow? Cry?

“So.” Tex, the giant, took a step toward me, he flashed a bright smile. “We finally meet.”

My knees knocked together.

“Shit, could you not scare every guest we have?” Phoenix mumbled from across the room.