chapter Thirty-Seven
Kings and Queens
LaSalle
I look into the foyer mirror in my Uncle’s home. I’ve worn many suits over my life, but this black suit, shirt and tie, represent something new this time. As I look into my own eyes, I no longer see two men staring back at me.
Only one remains. It’s that one that Tasha wants. It’s the man that I want to be, that I have to be. Not just for her, but because it’s who I am. I will no longer exist in denial.
Today is the day. Before now, I was just Don Locatelli in theory. Everything I’ve done has been in theory. While there was cause to fear me, it was a fear that had not been vital until now.
Now, I have answers for the questions that have been murmured. Now, I won’t stop until I’ve reached my goal. Now, I am Don LaSalle Samuel Locatelli.
Brown arms wrap around me from behind and I smile. I cover one of her hands with mine and bring it to my lips. Her pretty little head pops to the side so that I can see her in the mirror, causing my smile to broaden.
I love that she hasn’t straighten her hair for this occasion. Instead, she has three of what she called, flat twist, on the left side and the rest of her hair is wild and free in her naturally thick coils. My cock swells just thinking about how my hands were wrapped in it this morning, when she woke me to one of the best damn blowjobs of my life.
I think we have a mutual love of her sucking my cock. Tasha and I have been exploring all of her hidden talents over the last few days. I groan as my mind goes to bending her up like a pretzel and fucking her lights out.
I turn and wrap my arms around her. I have to catch my breath. She looks as divine as she did the first time I ever laid eyes on her. Once again, she is wrapped in gold. The strapless dress calls attention to her chocolate skin, almost setting her aglow.
Her sexy gold heels, give her at least six more inches in height. Tasha doesn’t normally wear much makeup, but as I stare at her face, she looks like a flawless work of art.
The bronzes, golds, and a hint of blue makes her eyes pop. Her lips are even painted a glossy gold. Just pure perfection. No man will be able to keep his eyes off of her.
I palm her ass, bringing her into my groin. Not wanting to mess her makeup, I dip my head and kiss her neck. Not able to help myself, I flick my tongue over her shoulder.
“You are so gorgeous, you take my breath away,” I whisper in her ear.
The beaming smile that brightens her face is like new life to me. My chest swells. We are about to enter the ballroom to announce her as my fiancée. In one week, she will be my wife. For one week, I will spoil her and our guests, in a weeklong celebration leading to our wedding.
She reaches to straighten my tie. “You look edible yourself,” she sings as her eyes glow with mischief.
I squeeze her closer. “Why are you tempting me when we don’t have time for me to please us both,” I groan.
“You’re Don Locatelli. They can all wait,” she purrs.
I bend to place a trail of kisses on her neck again. “A true leader respects the time of everyone. Come, let’s introduce the world to my queen,” I croon in her ear.
~B~
Tasha
I smile up at LaSalle through my lashes. There isn’t one trace of indecision in him. This is my man. He oozes the confidence I’ve known him for since I was a young girl.
The man that stood outside my bedroom door and saved my life. The dark knight that moved through the shadows and handled his business. It wasn’t my imagination, this is the man I saw.
I’ve watched him fight kissing my lips, since he turned to face me. Butterflies rise in my belly, when I see that restraint break. He dips his head and kisses me soundly, as if he just has to have a taste.
I moan and cling to his suit jacket. Man, the things this man can do with his mouth. Let’s not even get into the fact that he is wearing the hell out of this suit.
When he pulls away, I sway a little on my heels. LaSalle chuckles and pecks my lips once more. I reach to wipe his lips clean of my lipstick. A quick glance in the mirror tells me the good stuff is worth the price. My makeup is still flawless, my lips have survived, LaSalle.
He wraps his arm around my waist and we start for the entrance of the ballroom. I’m eager to see this Alliance. From what LaSalle has told me, I will be meeting the main players, as well as the hidden players tonight.
I’m nervous and excited all at the same time. We stop briefly at the entrance, as LaSalle nods to one of the men standing there. The man disappears into the ballroom and the next thing I know, we are being announced like true royalty.
LaSalle ushers me forward and I have to hide my stunned surprise. I know he told me this was a worldwide alliance, but I still pictured a room full of Italian’s waiting for us. Not this.
This is more like a ball for a national embassy gathering, or something. Why do I feel like I just walked into the UN? So, this is The Alliance. I’d be lying if I said you couldn’t feel and tell that we just stepped into a room of total power. Yet, somehow, I get the feeling that I’m standing next to the most powerful man of them all.
I look up at LaSalle and I know my feeling is right. He gives my waist a gentle squeeze and I straighten my back and look forward. In this instant, I understand why he has been running from bringing me into this life. I’ve just stepped into one hell of a role.
With my head held high, I take in the room. There are men and women of all colors and ethnicities. I can’t help my curiosity as to what has brought them all together. I swell with pride when it dawns on me that my man had something to do with it.
I don’t show my awe as I scan the room, but I do take note of all the faces. It starts to become clear to me that I’ve come across many of these men at some point in my life. When my eyes find my father, it clicks. My father has in some way had a hand in this from the beginning.
I have so many questions. I bank them all for later as LaSalle moves us further into the room and starts with greetings and introductions. We greet the entire Mairettie clan first.
“Welcome to the family, Dear,” Minnie sings. “These are my amazing in-laws, Marcello and Marie Ann Mairettie.”
“It is so nice to meet you,” Marie Ann says with a brilliant smile. Her eyes shone with tears. “Oh, Sam, you look so happy.”
LaSalle pulls his grandmother into a hug and kisses her cheek. “That, I am,” he replies and he pulls me back into his arms and kisses the side of me head. I blush, and lace my fingers with his.
“Marie Ann, we are to call the boy by his name now. Sam was the little snot-nosed boy that ran through your roses. This, this is my grandson. A legacy to himself. LaSalle, you make me proud,” Marcello says.
“Even if I no longer carry the Mairettie name?” LaSalle questions his grandfather.
“You have built an empire in the Mairettie name. As have your brothers. I feel no slight at all. I’ve known who you would become from the day you were born,” he replies.
“We haven’t built a thing,” Bobby counters. “Marcus and I are just carrying on a Legacy.”
Marcello snorts. “Do you not read the reports from your own firm? You youngsters have taken that firm to levels your father and I only dreamed of. Trust me, you have built more than you know.”
“I love my boys. They’re always underestimating who they are, but when they open their eyes, it is a beautiful thing,” James croons. “Go, go, greet your other guests.”
LaSalle nods and we move through the Locatelli side of the family. And I thought I met everyone. Lord, the men in this family are breathtaking, no make that panty dropping gorgeous. Their blue eyes all carry a level of mischief, something I’m seeing more and more of in LaSalle’s grey ones.
Speaking of eyes, Remi and Ramses have remarkable eyes. Both twins have hazel-amber ones with dangerous smiles to match. Their eyes seem to blaze with an ethereal glow.
Their brown skin that I’ve learned is courtesy of their Persian heritage, is just ice cream on some delicious looking cake. Their dark features highlight their eyes and gives them both a regal look.
“You have to let us treat you to some time at Desire Italy for a wedding gift,” Remi smirks.
“We both know that shit isn’t happening,” LaSalle pulls a face.
“I thought you would say that,” the other twin says, with mirth in his eyes. “We just thought we would offer.”
“Never…gonna happen,” LaSalle annunciates.
Both twins rumble with laughter. Ramses pats LaSalle on the shoulder and shakes his head. Remi winks at me, but steps back from LaSalle as he does so.
I can’t help being curious as I listen to the exchange. From LaSalle’s reaction, I note to ask him about this Desire Italy later. Whatever it is has his feathers in a bunch.
“Congratulations, old friend,” Ramses says, reaching into his suit jacket. He pulls out a jewelry box and an envelope. “My father sends his regards and a promise to be here in time for the wedding.”
He hands LaSalle the envelope, but turns to me and opens the jewelry box. “LaSalle is like a brother to us. You have become the queen of his heart, so we will treat you as such. This is just a small token from the Vahid family.”
I nearly choke. Small, my ass. The diamond necklace nestled in that box is mammoth. I look to LaSalle and he nods.
“Thank you,” I breathe in awe.
Ramses closes the box and hands it over to LaSalle. I breathe a sigh of relief because I would be a nervous wreck walking around with that thing. Heck, LaSalle requested I wear the ring he choose for me on my right hand. So, I’m now wearing over ten carats in diamonds on my hands alone.
We move through several more families. Eventually, we get to the Blacks, who happen to be cousins of Brooklyn and Logan. Phew, another family that should lock away it’s men. Fine is not the word.
I’ve met Wyatt and Toby once, and I thought they were sexy. I had no idea that there were five more degrees of sexy. I’m still having trouble believing I missed all this hotness at Ellen’s funeral and repass. I must have been more distraught than I realized.
I thought Logan was attractive with his thick locks of dark hair and green eyes. Trust me, Brooklyn is no slouch either. He just gives off a don’t fuck with me vibe, but those seven Black brothers.
Those eyes are just as alluring as the Locatelli’s and Vahid brothers’. I’m starting to think that dangerous and handsome go together around here. The sexier, the more dangerous.
It’s good to see Nellie and Kamara again. I had a nice time hanging with them when they flew in for the Father-Daughter Ball, LaSalle and the others put together. However, my favorite by far is this little copper-haired woman staring me down.
Cassidy Black is giving me the grilling of my life. She has scanned me from head to toe. She looks at LaSalle and back at me.
“This be one of my boys. He may not be a Black, but I sure as fuck love him like one. I have two shotguns for any lass that tries to break his heart,” she says with a straight face and no nonsense tone.
Her sons and daughters in-law around her all choke off laughs. I try to stifle my own laugh. Not that I don’t believe her, but because I do. She is the tiniest thing, but I can tell Cassidy brings it when necessary.
I wink at her. “I have two pistols of my own, so I’m sure I’d shoot that bitch first for trying to steal my man in the first place.”
Cassidy narrows her eyes at me, she then shrugs and gives me a blinding smile. I’m wrapped in her tiny arms in the next motion. “Welcome, Lass. You have a good one here,” she whispers to me.
“I know,” I say back.
Nicholas Lincoln and his wife Sephora are the next two people that stand out to me. Sephora gives me the biggest hug ever. She hugs LaSalle as well and apologizes profusely. For what, I’m not really sure. Nicholas has to pry her away, whispering something in her ear that turns her cheeks purple.
They make a gorgeous couple, but I think the couple that has my mouth on the floor, is the old Asian man and his stunning bronze colored wife. Kiyoshi Nash Matsumara, as LaSalle introduced him, is an older man, but his wife. Well, let’s just say I have goals for when I reach her age. Her eyes are what tell you she’s so much older than she looks. They have such wisdom.
Their two children are gorgeous. Both Carmen and Nelson are a very attractive mix of their parents. Carmen is adorable with her swollen belly. There are a few pregnant women here I noticed.
I think I’m dizzy by the time we get to Val and Uri. I literally fall into Val’s embrace, causing her to laugh at me. Uri pats my shoulder.
“You will get used to things like this,” he winks.
“He’s lying. I think your future husband paid him to say that. The first six months after Uri took over for Papa were exhausting, we rank number two, Sis. So, trust, family number one has a lot more in store,” Val laughs.
“You know how to throw party, LaSalle. But I would have given, moj malen’kij kotenok a much better party,” Misha’s voice comes from behind us.
LaSalle turns and rolls his shoulders. “Yet, you will still sit and watch me marry your little kitten next weekend,” LaSalle shoots back.
I stifle a laugh. LaSalle still doesn’t know that Misha is more than on to us. He looks like he is ready to take another shot at Misha. I move to LaSalle’s side and link my fingers with his.
“This is true, my friend,” Misha says, with a crooked grin. He lets his eyes roll over me in a heated stare. “Although, I may have to change my mind about allowing you to have her.”
“You haven’t allowed shit,” LaSalle scoffs.
“Yes,” Misha says as a sadness creeps into his eyes. “I have. I have no luck with the women that own that pretty face. She is safer with better man. My demons are not for her.”
A few moments of silence pass as Misha and LaSalle have a conversation that no one else can hear. They say all they need to say with their eyes. I have come to learn theirs is a relationship only the two of them understand. If LaSalle were anyone else, he’d die and I would be married to Misha.
“Where’s Milanie,” I look around, breaking up the tension.
“She is with your sister,” Misha twists his face. “They have been bonding.”
I smile up at Misha. I can’t help giving him a hug. Kurtrina needed Milanie as much as Milanie needed her. I think they will be so good for each other.
“Thank you,” I say for just Misha to hear.
“A deal is deal. You kick my ass before your husband jumped in ring to kick it some more. You know I keep word, always.”
“Enough,” LaSalle grumbles.
I can’t hold it in anymore. I laugh and turn to LaSalle. “He is harmless. I may have had the wrong idea about Misha. We have resolved our differences,” I chirp.
“Doesn’t mean I want his hands on my fucking wife,” LaSalle replies reaching to tug me into his chest.
“You will not have to worry about me. After wedding, I go home to Russia. I have things to handle there,” Misha says.
“Oh, no, but Milanie has made so many friends,” I pout.
“I will bring her back soon,” Misha frowns and nods.
Again, I notice the sadness in Misha’s eyes so I don’t push. We all look around the crowded room. A deep sense of foreboding sets in. This peace and celebration is only smoke and mirrors for what’s to come.
LaSalle won’t tell me who attacked us at my apartment building. However, I’ve noticed the increase in security. I think we are all thinking the same thing as our small group stands together, although it is Uri that speaks.
“It’s nothing. We just make them Hush,” he says pulling Val into his side.