Those Boys Are Trouble (Valetti Crime Family)

by Willow Winters

I wish I hadn’t let her go. I wish I’d never had to meet with him. I clench my teeth and close my eyes, wondering if I’ll ever see her again. I breathe deep and steady myself as I drive away, knowing I’ll never see him again. I hate myself. I hate myself.

I didn’t come from daddy’s money like these other women. I worked hard to get my restaurant up and running. I put everything I had in me into this industry. It took ten years to get to this point, and at thirty-one I’m the proud owner of an award-winning Italian bistro.

There are givers and takers in this world. I’m a giver, always have been. I know the givers have to set the limits, because the takers have none.

“Start at the left. Bottom floor,” I call out with determination and confidence. “We splittin’, Dom?” Pops' voice rings out, but I shake my head. I’m calling the shots. My problem, and my girl. I’m grateful Pops is ready to back me up. I don’t know how many of them there are. I want our numbers high.

She’s resistant and stubborn. I smile and kiss her hair. She’s gonna have to learn to let me take care of her. I’m not gonna give her any other option.

Shards of glass cut deeper than rope, and that healed. A sickness grows in my gut; it’s not the physical pain that causes the terrors and anxiety. It’s the memory of when the pain happened. I won’t let them haunt me. I can’t. I can’t go back to being useless, all at the mercy of a memory.

“I got you into this, babe. I’m gonna get you out. I’ll make them pay and take care of you. Both of you.”

She wants to act like that, it’s on her. But my heart is fucking open, and I’m not going to let her pretend I didn’t just make love to her. That I didn’t just see right into her fucking soul as she came on my dick. It was fucking beautiful. I’m not going to let her disrespect that.

"Seems like a shit deal, though. That degree cost a lot, but teaching doesn’t pay dick."

“I’m gonna put a baby in you. Then they won’t hurt you, sweetheart.” He whispers his words against the side of my neck. A baby. “No one’s gonna lay a finger on my girl.”