Chapter Nineteen
If not for the club being open that night, and all the work Tannin had to do because of it, he’d have lost his fucking mind. There was no regret in asking her. It had been as inevitable as the tides. The regret was in not doing it in a more romantic way. Women needed that sort of thing.
The timing likely made it appear that the only reason he’d asked was because she’d let him paddle and fuck her outdoors, and with Legs and Gorgon close by. Nothing was further from the truth, but she didn’t know that.
Legs had just gone up on stage for her first set when Vassago, his eyes wide with excitement, found Tannin. “Hey, just got a text from one of Donny’s men. Come into the office. Gorgon has the prospects watching the club for a moment.”
The other officers were already there. “What the hell is wrong?” asked Tannin, certain this had something to do with Rai’s staff, and praying at the same time he was wrong.
Vassago pointed toward the TV, tuned to one of the Cleveland news stations. Tannin watched and listened in disbelief as the reporter described a chaotic scene outside the headquarters of Comfort First.
Jennifer Wise-Minnick was dead. Shot in the head in the alley behind her own company. Timmy Bowling had already been arrested for the crime.
The Brothers all talked at once until a shrill whistle stopped them. Vassago held up his phone. “Got a text from Donny. He’s going to have a sit down with Vito tomorrow, and will be here Sunday to talk to us.”
“Holy shit,” said Tannin.
“No fucking way Timmy Bowling did this,” said Mastema. “This was a Mob hit.”
“You saying Donny had this done?” asked Rahab, their Vice President.
“One of them did,” said Vassago. “This evangelist is being framed. Who the fuck else would pull off something like this except Donny or Vito?”
“Can’t you just ask him?” asked Phenex. “He’s your cousin.”
“Yeah, right,” said Vassago. “Tell ya what, smart ass. Pretend he’s your cousin and you ask him.”
They all began talking at once until Gorgon yelled at them to shut the fuck up. He glared at the group. “No fucking speculation outside this room. Until we hear from Donny on Sunday, we know nothing but what the news stations have, got it?”
“We don’t know anything but what the news stations have,” said Phenex.
“You know what the fuck I mean. What we don’t need right now is gossip or rumors getting back to Vito or the Outlaw Dogs, or to have Donny think we’re spreading shit around about him.”
“I have to go to Rai,” said Tannin.
Rahab gave him a sarcastic smirk. “She’s gonna freak.”
“No, she’s not,” said Tannin, standing up straighter. He and Rahab had nearly come to blows earlier that week when Rahab referred to Rai as a “spoiled, scared princess”. “Quite the contrary.”
“Yeah, you’re right. If this was Donny’s doing, now she can go home.”
“Think again, wise-ass. I asked her to be my old lady this afternoon.”
“About time,” said Vassago.
“What did she say?” asked Mastema.
Tannin couldn’t lie to his Brothers, but now that the cat was out of the bag, he couldn’t avoid answering, either. Because this wasn’t inconsequential, and also because the way he’d defied them all and kept fucking the woman they’d fired still bugged the shit out of Rahab and a few others.
“She’s thinking about it. It’s a huge change for her.”
Rahab opened his mouth to speak again, but Gorgon cut him off, in addition to placing a hand on the man’s shoulder. “We’re done. No more discussion about this. We need to get back into the club.”
After the others filed out, Rahab and Gorgon stared each other down, but Rahab finally left. Tannin started to leave, but Gorgon blocked his way. “You sure about this?”
“Of course.”
“It is a huge change for her. And you need to be sure because it affects all of—”
“I know that. I wouldn’t have asked her if I hadn’t already considered how it affects everyone.”
“Keep your shirt on, Tannin. I need you to be one hundred percent sure this is what you want, and what she wants. We’ve already had to fire one woman you—”
“Shut the fuck up. This isn’t the same thing, and you know it. When was the last time I asked a woman to be my old lady?”
“Fair enough. Point taken. Go and tell her the good news about Jennifer and Timmy. Maybe you’ll get your answer.”
Tannin snorted. “You’re funny when you’re a smart-ass.” He brushed past Gorgon but stopped when the man put a hand on his shoulder.
“Tannin, seriously, I hope she says ‘yes’. I’ve never seen you this gaga over a broad, and she obviously adores you.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Now get out of here, asshole.”
“Fuck you.”
“No thanks. I’ve seen you fuck. I wouldn’t enjoy it.”
He ignored the man’s attempt at humor and sprinted up the stairs to Rai’s room, where he found her watching the news. She was close to crying. Tannin’s heart gave a lurch as he gathered her into his arms and held her. “It’s all right.”
“No way did Timmy do this. No way.”
“Yeah. None of us think so either.”
“What?” She pulled out his embrace and stared at him with those big eyes. “What did I miss?”
He told her about the text Vassago had received. “My guess is Donny had this done because he found out Jennifer was also working for Vito. And he’s had Timmy framed for the murder to use as leverage against Vito.”
Understanding dawned on her face. “That explains why you, Gorgon, and Vassago reacted that way when I first came here and mentioned Comfort First. You knew that was one of Donny’s companies.”
“Yeah. Jennifer was playing them both and when we told Donny your story, he found out.”
Her face blanched, and she put a hand to her mouth. “Then it’s my fault that Jennifer is dead.”
“What? No, it’s not. It’s her fault. Only a total moron would make secret deals behind the backs of rival Mob bosses. And she’s the one you heard on the phone, discussing the hit on you like it was nothing. You telling me you feel sorry for her?”
“I don’t know. This is … I’m very confused.”
Tannin pulled her close.
“Can Donny actually use this as leverage against Vito? Will Vito do what he wants because of this?”
“If Donny set Timmy up to take the fall, he’s holding that over Vito’s head. If Timmy rats out either of them, they both go down. The fact that Donny was able to pull this off sends a powerful message to Vito. This woman, who was under Vito’s protection as well as Donny’s, is dead anyway. And another man who was under Vito’s protection—Timmy Bowling—has already been set up to take the fall.”
“So Donny is letting Vito know that if he has the power and influence to do all this, Vito better not cross him, or he’ll wind up dead or framed for murder himself.”
“Yeah. Exactly. Something like that. And I’m also guessing Timmy won’t find he has any bargaining power to make deals, even if he’s stupid enough to try it.”
“Tannin, that would mean Donny has not only the FBI in his pocket, but the Department of Justice as well.”
“I don’t know about that, but I’m sure Donny has made it clear to Timmy and to Vito that if he goes down, Timmy’s family, and everyone in Vito’s organization, goes with him. You have no idea how much influence Donny Messina has. This is why we keep him on our side and cater so much to him.”
“Jesus. Timmy probably has two choices. Take the fall for Jennifer’s murder, or take his chances with Vito. Do you think Timmy knew that Jennifer was playing both sides?”
“I don’t know. You worked with them. What do you think?”
“I know those two were as thick as thieves. It wouldn’t surprise me if he did know and said nothing.”
“Which would explain why Donny has so much leverage over him. It’s jail or justice exacted by Vito for betraying him.”
“All this was going on under my nose, and I never knew it.”
Tannin hated having to leave her like this, but he had no choice.”
“I have to get back downstairs. But as soon as I hear—”
“Are you sure you have to go right away?”
She brushed her hand over his cock, stopping him mid-sentence. Even through his jeans, her touch slayed him. “Well, I…”
Tannin’s dick grew hard within seconds as she slid down to the floor and knelt in front of him. She unzipped his jeans and took out his cock, licking up and down the shaft slowly.
“Oh fuck.”
“That’s the general idea.” He grasped her hair as she took the whole fucking thing into her mouth and sucked hard. She alternated that with licking the tip, the entire length, and his balls, until Tannin was ready to die from need.
“Jesus Christ, Rai. Let me fucking come!” He tugged her hair harder and pulled her head as close to his body as possible while she moaned loudly. He fucked her mouth hard and rough, exploding into it with a loud cry.
“Oh my God…” He withdrew once he’d milked out every last drop. “Fuck. Where the hell did that come from?”
She grinned, wiping his cum off her chin. “Yummy. I don’t know. I had to have you. It was the only way to stop the horrible images racing inside my head. Are you complaining?”
“Fuck no. Get your jeans off. Now.”
Tannin opened the nightstand drawer and grabbed a condom, setting it aside while he pushed her down onto the bed and tore off her jeans and panties. He knelt on the floor and spread her legs, then licked and sucked her clit and labia, pushing three fingers into her soaking wet pussy.
“Should have saved the name ‘Creamy’ for you.”
She laughed, which aroused him further. As a strong orgasm tore through her, his cock grew rock hard again. No surprise there. This woman had the power to keep him hard all day and all night. Tannin hadn’t felt this virile since high school.
Once he was certain her climax was over, he stood, put on the condom, and lifted her hips, pushing her legs together. “You’re such a bad girl, and I fucking love it.” Tannin delivered ten hard blows to each ass cheek, holding onto her ankles as he did. Her loud cries and moans spurred him on. His dick was so fucking painful, he was ready to burst all over again.
Rolling her over, he told her to put her feet on the floor and bend her torso over the bed. Once she did, he shoved his cock into her pussy and pulled her arms over her head. He pinned them there as he slammed into her, deep and rough. “You like this?”
“Yes! Oh God! Yes!”
“Come again for me, Rai. I won’t stop fucking you this hard until you do.”
She cried out loudly as the contractions started again, and he hung as long as humanly possible. But soon his own groans joined hers as a powerful orgasm tore through him. When it was finally over, he withdrew, wincing at the soreness, but also loving it. He removed the condom and gently pulled her to a standing position so he could hold her in his arms.
“You are amazing,” he said.
“So are you.”
“I wish I didn’t have to get back downstairs.”
“You do, though.”
Tannin grunted.
“It’s all right. I understand. But … before you go, I have an answer for you.”
They stared into each other’s eyes as his heart pounded so fucking hard, he was sure he’d pass out. “Okay…”
“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, I want to be your old lady.”
For a second, he was certain he’d misunderstood. But the love shining from her beautiful dark eyes shot that theory to hell and back. Tannin kissed her, cupping her face and gazing into her eyes. “Well fuck. Now I really don’t want to go back downstairs.”
“You have to. It’s okay. I understand.”
“Soon, you’ll be down there with me every night.”
She nodded. “Yes. Soon. This is really almost over, isn’t it?”
“I believe so, yes.”
As Tannin forced his feet to move out into the hallway and down the stairs, he made a silent vow. When this was over, he was never leaving her alone up here again. Not for one second. Because he loved this woman. She was his old lady, and he’d never wanted anything as badly as he wanted Rai.