Font Size:  

“And I’m so glad that you found him. He really is a great man,” I whispered. I believed it too. We may not look at things the same way, or agree on a lot of things, but he’d taken me in when I had no one and treated me like one of his own children. He didn’t have to, but I’ll always be grateful he did. “You found your place. I’m still searching for mine.”

There was silence on the line, but I knew he was still there. Unlike Gio, my cousin, Angelo still had a heart in his chest. I saw it often. He was a lot older than his time, his words always filled with wisdom like he’d lived a thousand lives already. I knew if I could make him understand, my uncle would too. Angelo just had that type of presence and power.

My eyes looked up into the mirror again, Blizzard stood still, watching me carefully. His jaw was clenched tight.

“My place is not your place,” he agreed quietly. “I will speak with Anthony, but you need to face up to him, too. He respects people that step up and share their thoughts even if they fear the consequences.”

“I will, there are just some things I need to figure out first.”

“Don’t leave it too long, tesoro mio.”

I sighed softly before pulling the phone from my ear and hanging up.

“Friend of yours?” Blizzard sneered.

I took a deep breath and pushed away from the vanity. “My uncle wants me home.” Just saying the word home made me feel ill. Even with all the bad memories of being beaten and abused, Athens still felt more like home than New York ever would.

I brushed past Blizzard as I walked back into the small room. He didn’t move to let me pass. But he never was one to stand down.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” I asked as I concentrated on stuffing all the clothes I’d pulled out of my bag in search of an outfit, back inside.

He walked around the bed, holding a skimpy bikini up between his fingers.

I laughed. “Having memory loss in your old age? We won remember?”

He tossed it at me and I caught it against my chest. “It’s not for that. I’m doing my good deed and taking you and Jay out.” He turned to walk toward the door. “Put it on under your clothes and I’ll grab the squirt.”

“What about Harlyn?” I called after him.

“She’s at school, and she’s also grounded, so Op said no.”

I stared at the bikini in my hands. It was cute, something I would have picked out for myself. I wondered whose it was, then quickly decided I didn’t want to know. I looked out the window, summer was on its way out, but it was still ridiculously hot outside when the sun reached its highest point.

I huffed out a breath and just decided to do it.

I pulled my jean cut-offs over the scarlet red bikini and a black tank top over the top before grabbing a towel and throwing my handbag over my shoulder. I found Blizzard sitting in the bar area with one of his brother’s, Wrench. Jayla was skipping round around the table they sat at in a beautiful purple sun dress, every now and then when she passed, Wrench would reach out and tickle her belly and make her giggle. Both the men smiled as they chatted.

“Have you got sunscreen?” I asked as I moved over to them. Blizzard took me in, his eyes roaming my body from head to toe. He lifted his chin and held up a large bag which looked to be stuffed full. He stood from his seat and patted Wrench on the back.

I scooped up Jayla in my arms and propped her on my hip. “You ready, missy?”

She grinned and bobbed her head up and down enthusiastically.

We loaded Jayla into Blizzard’s truck—which I didn’t know he had—and I climbed in the front seat.

I checked his attire. “Are you going swimming in jeans?”

He lifted his shirt as he steered us out of the compound gates and I had to stop myself from licking my lips. His swim trucks sat just above his low riding jeans, a tattoo peeped out at me just above the hem. There were swirls and patterns which stood out against his surprisingly tanned skin. The skin looked smooth apart from the line of hair which ran from his belly button down and underneath his pants.

I wiggled my hips, just that little temptation enough to start a wetness building between my legs. “Oh…” I whispered quietly before turning my head to look the other way.

We drove through town, turning off onto a street I didn’t know and began to head away from the populated area and into the country. I wound down my window, enjoying the breeze that hit my face and swirled my hair around me.

We drove for a good twenty minutes before we pulled off onto a gravel driveway which was marked with a private property sign. It wound down a hill, a steep cliff on one side, the road only big enough for one car.

It was a tight squeeze, but Blizzard maneuvered the corners with ease.

When we reached the bottom, the area opened up to a vast open space. My mouth hung open in awe. To the left at the base of a tall cliff, there was a wide open lake type area. The water was beautiful and blue, almost clear. The area had obviously been made specifically for swimming with lounging beach chairs set up around the edge.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
Articles you may like