The exiled “sixth” family of the New York mafia. We’re the good guys.
People don’t fear us…much. They respect us.
The five of us? We’re the Brooklyn Brothers.
And we protect what’s ours.
You know when you have a little sister and she has that one friend that always follows you around like a puppy? For me, that was Roxanna “Roxy” D’Angelo. That was years ago, back when our fathers didn’t hate each other. Then they became enemies and she went off to boarding school in Connecticut.
Now, she’s back…and looking nothing like the shy girl I remember.
Cavorting with anyone from the five families is strictly forbidden to someone like me. So, I can’t figure out why I keep finding myself in situations with Roxy that could bring the force of the entire mafia syndicate down on our heads. Even if those situations are the wildest, most intoxicating experiences of my life.
But with the Sicilians in town and out for blood, times have never been more dangerous. If they find out about our relationship, they won’t hesitate to remove both of us from the equation so they can restore order.
We’re not Romeo and Juliet. They both died. And I refuse to let anything happen to Roxy. I have to protect her. From my family. From hers.
I hope she won’t hate me for what I have to do.
Because it might just kill her before any bullet can.
Ace
“You know how I couldn’t figure out what to do with the dining room?”
“Yeah…”
“Well, I think I found a solution.”
I dropped my hand and instantly felt her jaw drop along with it.
“Oh, Ace,” she breathed, her hand over her heart. “It’s… It’s beautiful, I… I can’t believe you did this.”
I watched, transfixed, as she slowly walked over to the shiny white piano in the middle of the room. She stroked her fingers over the keys, appearing mesmerized.
“I don’t know anything about pianos, but I was told this is one of the nicest ones on the market?”
Her eyes shot to mine. “Are you kidding? This is a 1916 Steinway Grand M. It’s one of the finest ones ever made. When did you even have time to do all this?”
I shrugged. “I may or may not have had Gia’s help.”
She smiled brightly for a second before jerking her hand back as if the instrument had bitten her.
I frowned. “What is it?”
“You shouldn’t have bought this for me, Ace.” She shook her head. “It’s way too expensive. You have to take it back.”
I strode over and took her by the shoulders, forcing her to look at me. “This is a gift for you, Rox. Voglio che tu l'abbia.” I want you to have it.
We’d been speaking a lot of Italian in the last few weeks. She said it reminded her of her parents because they’d spoken to each other more often in Italian than in English.
“È troppo,” she whispered. It’s too much.
“Believe me, I’ll get just as much enjoyment out of it as you, if not more so.”
She tilted her head to the side. “How so?”
I gave her what I knew was a wolfish grin. So glad you asked, baby.
I nodded toward the piano. “Go sit and play and I’ll show you.”
Her eyes gleamed with curiosity as she silently obeyed and took a seat on the bench.
I crossed the room to the white settee I’d purchased expressly for this purpose and sprawled out on it. I had the perfect view of her profile from this angle. It was exactly how I’d imagined this tantalizing scene when I’d first come up with the idea. Watching her play while I lounged back from here.
Looking like she still didn’t get it, I dipped my chin down at the instrument. “I want to watch you play.”
Her luscious mouth curled upward, the dimple in her lower lip smoothing out. Then she placed her feet on the pedals, her fingers on the ivory keys, and began to play. I didn’t know anything about music, so I had no idea what the piece was called or who had composed it. But the notes were slow and sensual and began to take on life as they drifted through the room.
The higher notes were almost romantic.
The lower notes were seductive.
The whole thing was one intense aphrodisiac.
As the melody sped up, she hit the keys with more force, more power. There was passion in the way she played, a sultry air about her movements. Her eyes were closed, her head lolled back on her neck. Her body moved with the music, swaying to the rhythm, almost as if she were unconscious to it.
I never thought playing a piano could be so sexual.
So erotic.
That was, until she glanced down at my lap.
“Open your shorts,” she said in a husky voice. “I want to watch you play…with yourself.”
I fucking loved it when she went all saucy like that. All take-charge. Over the past few weeks, she had blossomed into a sexually confident, self-possessed woman.
It was a gorgeous thing.
Without taking my eyes off hers, I pushed my shorts and briefs down past my hips. Even over the music, I heard her indrawn breath when my cock sprang free and smacked against my abs. Her gaze lowered to it, glazing over as I wrapped my hand around the rock-hard shaft. Then I gave it a slow pump with my fist.
She hit a wrong note.
I grinned.
The exiled “sixth family” of the New York mafia. We’re the good guys.
People don’t fear us…much. They respect us.
The five of us? We’re the Brooklyn Brothers.
And we protect what’s ours.
Jasmine Kingston should run from me. I mean, she should literally pick up her dress, toss away her heels, and haul ass in the complete opposite direction. Because for the last few months that she’s been in New York and taking the fashion world by storm, I’ve been watching her. From my ivory tower, from the shadows. Wherever she’s been, I’ve been only feet away, and she hasn’t even realized it.
Until now.
I can’t stay away and watch one more man take his shot with her. She needs to know what she’s doing to me. Especially since things are heating up with my family’s enemies. I just pray those enemies don’t discover my only weakness.
Maybe it was the wrong way to go. Maybe I should never have touched her. Never treated myself to her addictive taste. But I can’t alleviate this obsession I have with her any more than I can put a bullet between my own eyes.
She’s mine to protect now.
I’ll burn my entire fortune to the ground and take ten of those bullets before I let anything happen to her.
I just hope she doesn’t find out what I’ve done.
Author of the Cruz Brothers, Possession and Politics, and Timid Souls series, Melanie loves all things romance, comedies and suspense in particular because it’s boring to only stick to one sub-genre! From light-hearted comedies to sexy thrillers, she likes to mix it up, but loves her some strong alpha males and sassy heroines.
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Sounds like a great read
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