Paid in Full (Vitale Brothers, #2)

by Brea Alepoú

Enzo was being impatient as always, but it was enhanced by the fact he had a tall, big-chested, sexy boyfriend at home. I’d kill for someone to be waiting for me. When I went home, the only thing that greeted me was silence.

“I know,” Enzo said. “But Tex wants to go to the movies tonight, or he’s threatened to go by himself,” he said, pulling his phone out of his pocket. “And he will.” “So let him go,” I said. Enzo’s dark gaze landed on me. “I’d rather die.” “You’re so fucking possessive.” “And?”

She quickly passed it over. “His name is Ash. Twenty-two. Light brown hair. Dark eyes,” she muttered, rattling off the details. “He’ll be one of the first ones up. It’s a commodity to have a well-refined male to sell.”

found myself watching Giancarlo as he moved like a seasoned chef. He turned the radio up as some fast-paced song came on. He rapped every word, dancing around as he cooked. What kind of strange monster is he?

Something about him made me grin. He’s prey. A little bunny lost in the woods.

The last thing I needed was to bend over this tight little brunette, fuck him into a coma, and him turn into a love-obsessed puppy. “How much?” Ash prodded when I didn’t say anything. “Let me see your cock.” Color spread all over his body. He hesitated before he gave a single nod. Slowly, his hand fell away. My jaw dropped. He wasn’t even hard, and his cock hung heavy and thick between his thighs. “Are you a man or a goddamn horse?” I blurted out. I reached out on instinct. “Holy shit!”

Maybe it was worth a couple of thousand dollars every time we fucked. At least I didn’t have to be alone anymore.

I shivered as he rested his hand on my lower back. His big hands. The ones that had stroked my cock. Pleasure rushed through my veins and straight to my cock, making it twitch in the confines of my pants. His hand was like an IV of need steadily dripping into my body.

He grinned sheepishly. “Your ass looked so good I couldn’t help myself,” he muttered. When I continued to stare, he cleared his throat. “Besides, you deserve it for leaving me on my own, you dirty bitch.”

Ash didn’t fuck me like he had the first night. Instead, every thrust was angry, hard, and punishing. He fucked me like I was just a hole meant to be destroyed and filled. Shit. If I’m not careful, I’m going to fall in love.

“What am I talking about? Um, I threw up so hard my throat hurts!” I snapped. “What the hell did you two do to that food? I feel like it was done on purpose. If you want to kill me, at least shoot me in the fucking face.” Benito blinked. “We followed the recipe.” I threw my hands up. “That’s what you both keep saying!” “We did,” Ash added. “Every step.”

“Come on,” he groaned. “Come on what? My face? Your face? Where do you want it?” Ash wrenched out of my grasp. “Asshole.” “What was that?” He looked at me as if contemplating what he’d just said. To my surprise, his eyes took on a mischievous sparkle. “I said you’re an asshole.” I scoffed. “Rude. Gonna have to take a rude fee out of the next fuck.”

“Ash, go check and make sure Enzo isn’t rearranging everything.” “Yes, sir.” I slid off the couch and moved around them. I glanced over my shoulder, stealing another peek at Gin. Our eyes locked once more, and a bolt of electricity shot right through me. Giancarlo was far more dangerous than I thought, and it wasn’t just because he was a violent lunatic.

He’s part of the mafia. What was I thinking? Giancarlo bought me, for fuck’s sake, and I kept ignoring the facts. Giancarlo was insane, a busy body, raunchy, conceited, a jackass, kind, gentle in the most unexpected ways, protective, thoughtful, funny, and—a killer. “Fuck.”

Giancarlo killing me sounded like an improbability, like seeing a unicorn or werewolf. More likely, he’d just be upset. Why did it feel like that would be worse than death?

She reminded me of my own mother before she passed. “A cup of peppermint and chamomile tea with honey. Drink this, and you’ll calm down.” “Thanks, mom.” Tex smiled. “You don’t have to do this.” She waved a hand. “Seeing you boys struggle makes me want to help you. All of you,” she said as her gaze fell on me. “Drink. You want something to eat?” “Kate, don’t offer this demon food,” Enzo said.

Tex shook his head at me. “Don’t take advantage of my mom.” I frowned. “At least you have one. Share!”

“I shouldn’t have bothered you all.” Enzo shrugged. “Yeah, you should have. I always tell you that if you need someone to listen to your shit, I’m here, brother.” He clapped a hand on my back. “I love you.” I stared at the sincerity in his eyes. “I love you too.” My shoulders slumped.

“Please act like you have common sense,” Enzo said. “Do something nice for him. Maybe take him on a date.” He waved to Tex. “I did that with him, and he settled right down.” Tex narrowed his eyes at Enzo. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean? You went on a date with me to settle me down?” Enzo gave me a weary look. “See what you started? Get out.” Tex growled. “He didn’t start shit! I swear to God I will kill you.”

“Ever think it’s you who needs a collar and leash on their neck? After all, Gin, you look best on your hands and knees.”

His lips crashed into mine. I kissed him back, needing more, as my nails dug into his back and dragged him as close as he could possibly get. I wanted us to fucking melt together.

I’m going to marry you, Ash. You don’t know that yet, but I sure as fuck do.

“You make it sound like I belong to you or something,” I teased. Giancarlo gripped my chin and turned my head. Our eyes met, and I was stricken by the severity of his gaze. “You’re mine.” I waited on bated breath for the until or for now, but it never came. Fuck this. Hope would be the death of me.

No matter how many times I let him bend me over, the truth was that I was the one in control, and we both knew it. Ash could pout and say please, and I would melt for him. However, at the end of the day, he belonged to me. Mine. Mine. Mine.

“If I die⁠—” “Then we die together.” “Fuck,” Giancarlo moaned. “Did you just propose to me?”

“Ash can handle himself,” I snapped. “Hold on, puppy. I’m coming to kill him in five seconds.” “Yes, sir,” Ash called. “What the fuck?”

“Kiss me,” Ash whispered. “I’ll make you pay for all this bullshit later.” “Yes, sir,” I grinned. Ash’s eyes widened. Before he could say anything else, my lips crashed against his. I drug him close again, holding him against my body. He was always so small against me. I loved it. Ash was tiny but mighty. No one deserved love like the man I was going to fucking marry.

Yes, I was still on my groveling tour a month later, but I was okay with that. Ash seemed to be too. Expensive dinners, races, movies, outings, letting him renovate the house to erase my ex, and even more dreaded driving lessons; I was doing it all. For him. If risking my life didn’t prove I was sorry and that I loved him, I didn’t know what would.