Julietta
The last couple of months, I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster. I think this is the worst I have been since I lost my parents. I’m getting close to my breaking point, I can feel it. A person can only handle so much.
Since arriving at the Dragons Clubhouse, I’ve taken care of Gigi. Not that I mind. I’m happy to do it for my bestie. And the distraction is gladly welcomed.
After she was raped by a man we’ve known our whole lives, and almost dying, she survived it all. I know it’s because of Gio. The fact that he loves her regardless of everything, the way she’s always loved him has given her strength. She is my inspiration and my new hero. I have always looked up to her, but after all this, it’s different. I guess you could say it changed all of us.
Not only do we have Gio back in our lives, but we have his Club, too. An entirely new family to support us and protect us. The brothers have all been welcoming and respectful, like real brothers. So many more men to look out for us. And one man, in particular, makes me want things I have no business wanting. Ace is a good man and he’s become a good friend just like Blaze and the other guys. I maintain my distance from Ace, though. I have to keep my heart guarded around him. He’ll surely break it and me.
Somedays we get along so well, others we are at each other’s throats and he grates on my damn nerves. It’s like he likes me when it’s convenient for him. He’s a very cranky man and puts me on edge.
I’ve hung out a lot with him and Blaze together and that helps. We talk, laugh, watch movies together.
When I’m not with them I’m cooking for the Club. That’s how I met Maggie, and the bitch is always rubbing in my face about all the sex games her and Ace play. He’s into some serious kink, Fifty Shades level kink. Hearing her talk about their intimacy turns my stomach. I’m ashamed to admit this, but I cried myself to sleep every night for a week after she told me.
I don’t know why he affects me this way when no man ever has. I can’t wait till our brothers are found so they can take me home. Back where life was... I don’t know, calm. I miss Cesare. I miss Bella. God, do I miss my besties, having them be there for me when I needed them. I feel so alone here. Yeah, I have Gigi, but it’s not the same. There are some things she’s too young to understand.
Hopefully, our brothers will be found soon, and this nightmare will be over for all of us. If Ces was here with me, I wouldn’t feel so alone.
I’m thinking about Ces, my bestie and the only man I really need in my life. Ces has never hurt me and he never would. It’s a shame he’s gay or the two of us would be great together. We are so much alike it’s scary sometimes.
I need to get dressed to go down to the kitchen to help with breakfast like I do every morning. I walk out of the bathroom in just a towel and find Ace standing in my room. His eyes roam my body, causing me to shiver.
I yell at him to get out, he finally leaves after telling me he has news about Bella, and I dress quickly.
I meet him in the living room and he tells me what’s going on and I can see so many emotions running passed his eyes. He hates this for Gio and Bella, but he wants to do the right thing for her. I can’t deny him or her, my help. They deserve a beautiful and memorable wedding day, and I will make it all happen in a couple of hours.
The wedding turned out stunning and so was the bride and groom. Seeing the light shine in their eyes for one another warms my heart. The whole Club pulled together to make it a special day for them.
Family, that’s what we have inherited here. How could I want to leave all of them? What’s left back home for me anyway? Our brothers, yeah, and Ces, but Ces could always stay here with me when he’s found. Bells wants me to stay and I know Gigi does too.
I need to think long and hard about what I want. Bella planted this seed in my head earlier while we were getting dressed.
Her words have been on replay in my mind.
As I lay here in bed at the resort, they come to me again.
“And as for Ace, don’t push him away, I think you’ve been misled. I see the way you two look at each other, follow your heart. Time will only tell what’s real or not.
“I know he really likes you, I can see it in his eyes when he looks at you.
She thinks I’ve been misled about him. That he hasn’t been with any of the whores or party girls since I’ve been here. Maggie is the one that’s been feeding me lies about the two of them. Maybe, just maybe, she’s jealous of me.
If Bells and Gigi can see the desire in his eyes for me, she must too and not like it. I know they can be territorial, I remember not too long ago the fight Bella and Chrissy got into over Gio. Bitch thought she was better for him than my girl. How wrong, she was, and she got put in her place fast by the guys.
The other things she said have me questioning myself over again.
“Take a chance on him and don’t be afraid.
“If it’s meant to be, let it be and be happy. Life is too short, believe me, I lost a decade with my love that I can’t get back. You have to live for today.
I know life is short, or I’d have my parents with me another day. I have to live for today. Easy for her to say, her love fought for her, Ace isn’t fighting for me. I guess the part that stands out the most to me is, if it’s meant to be, let it be and be happy. My dad always told me the same thing.
When dad met my mom, the timing wasn’t right. When it was meant for them to be together, they came back to one another. They were meant to be and have a family. She was his other half, his soulmate. I know about my father’s many indiscretions, but I also know he loved my mother dearly.
When she got sick, he never left her side. If he could have taken her pain away and kept her healthy, he would have. He asked God all the time to take him not her. She didn’t deserve to suffer, he did. He held her every day in his arms and fought her fight with her. They laughed and cried together for two years. His world revolved only around her at that time and when she passed, he was so lost.
I miss my parents and wish they were here with us. Losing them broke me inside, in so many ways. Then losing Uncle Dominic and Aunt Amelia brought all those emotions back to the surface, and I haven’t been able to deal with them. So many other important things have happened that need to be dealt with first.
I need to take a step back and stop thinking so much. My brain and heart need a rest. We’re on vacation and I need to relax and enjoy it. Let the pieces fall as they may.
****
We’ve been at the resort for a couple of days and things have been going great. Our first day here, Ace, Blaze, and Dusty took Gigi and me to the pool and out to dinner. It was a fun-filled day and we all enjoyed spending time together. Gigi ended up passing out after dinner, so the guys and I hung out in the living room, watching a movie. Ace sat next to me on the couch and Blaze and Dusty took the chairs. Everything was going great, until Ace put his arm on my shoulder and pulled me closer to him, in the middle of the movie. I freaked out on him, slapped him across the face, and yelled at him for touching me. Then I stormed off like a petulant child, to bed.
The next day, the guys took us, girls, shopping at the mall, and Gio and Bella joined us. Ace seemed to forgive me and forget all about my little outburst last night. He even held my hand for the first time, granted, he held Gigi’s too, but it was different. He was very attentive to my needs and Gigi’s.
Ace wouldn’t let me spend any of the cash I brought, as much as I protested. The whole day was on him.
He was like a different person. It kinda worried me for a while, but I dismissed it.
We all had dinner together and after dinner, we took Bells to get her property tat. I ended up having Ace give me a tattoo with my parents’ initials on my wrist while we were there.
All and all, it was a spectacular day and night.
Today, we’re all spending the day by the pool. The guys have Club business that can’t wait after the news they received yesterday at lunch. They can’t tell us anything about it. We’re used to that, that’s how we grew up. The women and children were kept in the dark when it came to Family Mafia Business. The enemy can strike at any time, and since we were the weakest link in the organization, they would not have any qualms going after us. We can’t be left vulnerable, so we’re kept out of it. It’s the same with their Club and I get it.
Once they find what they need they usher us off to the spa with Dusty. We have a divine time relaxing as the technicians pamper us for a couple of hours, then head back to Bella’s room.
When I see the look on the guy’s faces, I know something is up. They have a few things to explain to us and tell us the plan for the rest of our stay here.
“First, Shorty, you and the kid are going to stay with Cindy for the rest of our trip. She’ll bring you both back to the Clubhouse on Monday. There’s also going to be two brothers from our Tampa Club staying with you. They’ll be accompanying you all home and staying at the Clubhouse for a few days,” Ace says.
Romeo and Cotton are the guy’s names Beast informs Bella. She’s nervous about leaving her sister.
Aunt Cindy only lives about a half an hour away from the resort. When Gio moved to Florida, she followed him, so she could be close. She was always closer to Gio than his brother Carlos. So, after losing her husband then her sister, she decided to follow Gio here, when he set his roots down with the Club.
“We’re going to have some company for the rest of our stay here as well. Bull and Ghost from Daytona are staying with us,” Gio tells us.
The guys want to have some adult time out since it’s the start of the weekend. I’ve heard Blaze complain about not getting his dick wet for days and needing a bitch to relieve himself.
Being that it’s Friday night and we have until Monday here at the resort, this is a good plan. This is going to be a long and frustrating weekend without having Gigi around as a buffer to keep Ace away from me, though.
“When we get back to the Clubhouse Monday, we’re going to have a full house. Gator needs all the sister Club’s Prez’s, VP’s and SAA’s staying with us for a few days to deal with some Club business.” Gio looks at Bella with a soft face to relax her. He continues talking to her more about what’s going to happen when we get back.
“You two need to go pack all your things,” Gio tells the kids. “We need to get ready to leave soon. Also, Mini Princess, around the guys you need to remember to call me Beast.” She nods to him and looks over at Dusty.
Then we go our separate ways, for now, to get ready. On the way, next door Ace says, “That goes for you too, babe.” I give him a look wondering what he’s talking about. “Beast, you need to call him Beast around the guys.” “Oh, ok, I can do that,” I say and run over to Gigi.
“G, go start packing your clothes and I’ll be in shortly,” I say and wave her to the back of the villa to our room, with a smile. The guys have all gathered in the kitchen for a drink and I do something I probably shouldn’t.
“Ace, may I speak to you alone, in your room.” All the guys stare at me for a long second before Ace nods to me. He places his hand on the small of my back and ushers me to his room. His hand makes contact with a sliver of bare skin on my back, electrifying me and almost sending me up to the roof. His touch has always affected me, but lately, it’s become more intensified. I’m constantly on my guard and trying to bury my feelings, deep, for him. I still don’t know where my life is heading with all the chaos that still looming around. And I won’t; no, I can’t add my heart into the mix any more than it has to be. At least, I’m trying not to.
“What’s up, babe? Feeling lonely and need a little one on one with my love muscle,” he says, chuckling with lust in his sparkling blue eyes. I don’t laugh as I turn to face him. He locks the door and I scowl at him. God, his cocky attitude has the butterflies in my stomach doing summersaults. His smooth, sexy voice is like silk slinking all around my naked body, caressing me and causing my nipples to become hard buds. My pussy is throbbing with need, and my honey is dripping. He is the only man that has ever gotten this reaction from my body. Heating me up inside, burning my core for his touch. My own touch doesn’t even soothe me anymore. My touch angers me more than it releases the sexual tension inside me. I know my body wants him, but my head blocks all those thoughts, so my heart won’t hurt. Guarded, locked up, that’s what my heart is encased in, cement and it needed to stay that way. Damn it, his sexy sledgehammer needs to stay away and not chip at my walls around my heart.
“You keep that little one-eyed snake away from me, asshole. I’ve already told you, it’s never going to happen,” I say acting pissed. “Can you be serious for me, just a minute? I have questions that I need answers to. I won’t ask you about the Club, but there are things I need to know.” His face goes blank, with no emotions as he glares at me and nods. I continue as best as I can because my thoughts are all jumbled up in my head and not in a good way.
“Are Bella, Gigi and Aunt Cindy in any danger? Cause if they are, maybe I should go with Gigi and you guys stay and protect Bella. She can’t get hurt again and I don’t mind protecting Gigi...” Ace places his hands on my upper arms. “Jules, stop! Look at me, now!” He steps closer to me and lifts my chin with his index finger. We gaze into each other’s eyes for a minute and I feel my heart rate picking up. He lowers his head, so his mouth is close to my ear. I lose my breath for a moment and close my eyes to take in his scent. Motor oil, leather, suntan lotion and pure man.
“You are not going anywhere, but on the back of my bike tonight, babe. Shorty will be fine at Cindy’s house. Romeo and Cotton are only there to watch over them. We are just doin’ this as a precaution. There is no direct danger, I promise you.” His hot breath fans my ear and I shiver.
Shit, he’s cracking my walls, damn him. Riding on the back of his bike, my body pressed against his... This is not going to end well for me. The last time I was on his bike, I had vision him fucking me on it. My naughty, lustful thoughts got me in trouble that week. I must have made myself cum a dozen times that night after Bella’s party, more the next day and through the week. I had to stay away from him for days to get myself under control.
I shake myself out of those thoughts and proceed to step back. I need to get out of here. As I step back, he grips my face in his hands, holding me in his tight grasp. I can’t move, I can only stare into his mesmerizing eyes. Then he bends his head down, his lips are so close to mine, one more move and he’ll capture them. He’s going to kiss me, my very first kiss.
No, no, no, not like this, it can’t be like this. Not that I need hearts and flowers or any of that shit. But, we’re not even together. I want my first kiss with him to be special and memorable. Not in the heat of the moment. That brakes me out of the trance he has me under. I grab tightly onto both his wrists, forcefully remove them from my face and jerk my head to the side away from him.
“I need to go help Gigi and get ready. I’ll see you later,” I whisper, darting out of the room. Most importantly, escaping him and the way he makes me feel.
I help Gigi finish packing her things and get dressed.
Tonight, I decide to wear a strapless dress that ends mid-thigh, which I designed myself and made with Ces. It’s probably not very appropriate for Ace’s bike, but I don’t care. This is what Bella and I decided we were going to wear.
We all leave for the night and I climb on the back of his bike. The ride to Aunt Cindy’s is excruciating, I’m so aroused by the time we arrive. The two men we meet don’t help. The way they are looking at me and the way Ace is acting, so territorial is cracking my walls even more.
We leave them and meet two more men Bull and Ghost for dinner before heading to the club. The men are easy to get along with and we have a great dinner with the best margaritas I’ve ever had.
Ace sat next to me and like a man showing his ownership, he puts the men in their place to back off. I swear I feel like he pissed on me like a dog marking his territory and they backed away from his property. I let it go so as not to start a fight and drink another margarita.
We finally make it to the club and I am able to put some distance between Ace and me. The guys get us frozen strawberry daiquiris and I sit with Bella at the bar. Blaze, Bull, and Ghost left us when we arrived, so they could have their own fun. I know they went to find a chick and get laid. Probably in the bathroom or behind the building, those guys have no shame.
After a couple of drinks, Bella and I decide it’s time to hit the dance floor in the first club. The guys dance with us and I find it nice dancing in Ace’s arms. This, of course, isn’t the first time I’ve danced in his arms. The first time was at Bella’s birthday party and it didn’t feel like this. Things are definitely evolving between us and I don’t think I can fully stop my feelings now.
With the alcohol running through my body, it’s becoming harder and harder to hold up my walls. They are starting to dissolve, slowly.
We leave the first club and head to the one next door. This time I steal Bella and drag her to the dance floor to dance with me. We only get an hour or so before exhaustion takes over our bodies. It’s been a long day and we’re all wiped. The sun, the spa, the alcohol, and dancing have done us in. The guys join us for a couple of dances before Blaze and the other guys find us and are ready to go.
I’m so tired, I can’t keep my eyes open, and hold on tighter to Ace on our ride back to the resort not to fall off his bike. When we arrive, he informs the guys, he’ll be staying with me in my room and Blaze will take his room, leaving Ghost and Bull the other.
I change for bed into my bedclothes in the bathroom. One of Romeo’s old band T-shirts and a pair of Lorenzo’s boxers, that I stole from them a long time ago. I get comfortable on the right-side of the bed, facing the bathroom, and crawl into a ball on my side. I stay on my side, and he stays on his for the rest of the night.