King Of Her Heart

I remember the first time; my father took me hunting. It doesn’t happen often, but when fathers take sons out for hunting or other bonding activities. It should be something fun and relaxing. A time where you can get to know each other better.

A time where you can share your secrets among yourselves. A moment where one’s son tells their father about the girl; they had a crush on. Becauseafter all you are father and son.

But my old man, Alessandro Romano, was everything but a father. The memory never leaves my mind, and I often think about it. Every once in a while, every time I’m alone, I remember. I remember the blood and the screams. And I remember the begging. I’ve never seen anyone beg for their life more than that poor woman.

First-person I ever killed. Andrea Romano, my mother. My first murder was my mother. The woman who gave birth to me, the woman who bore me for nine months. The woman who raised me and was there for me until I was fourteen years old. I didn’t care about it then, and I don’t see why I should care right now.

This person in front of me means nothing. Why should I let him live when I ended my own mother’s life? “M-Mr. Romano, p-please.” Luca begged in Italian from where stood. “I-I will have the money back.” He whimpered his Italian almost un-understandable as I raised my gun.

“I need more, t-time. Please sir.” His body was shaking, and I think, he peed his pants. They had suddenly gotten darker against his thighs and were sticking to his skin.

“I don’t have time, Luca.” I sighed staring at him for a second longer before pulled the trigger. His body which once had been shaking from fear no longer moved, for a few short seconds his wide eyes stared at me in horror. But then life left his body, and he no longer took any breaths.

When his body hit the floor with a thud, I tore my eyes away from him and stared at Marcelo, the bodyguard who no matter what never bothered to leave my office.

I have Gio to blame for that, but then again, he was simply doing his job. Protecting me. “Get him out of here.” I order Marcelo and he quickly grabbed Luca’s feet and started dragging him out of the office.

“Vincent, are you coming?” Giovanni walked into the room while wrapping his hands. I stared at him for a second wondering if I should kill him too. But then again if he was dead half of my men would be untrustworthy. And I’d probably be all alone. With no best friend.

“Yes. I’ll be down in a minute.” I said and quickly finished reading the contract, from which I was so rudely interrupted a few minutes ago when Marcelo stumbled in with that piece of crap.

Once I was alone again. I looked at the papers in front of me, all of a sudden, the feeling of reviewing them gone away. I’ve always wanted to reread any documents that were sent to me, at least twice. But right now, I wanted to throw them into the fireplace.

I put my pen down and stood up but before I could leave the room, my phone rang. I sighed out in annoyance and grabbed it from my desk and stared at the caller’s ID. “Vincent Romano.” I spoke into the phone once I picked up.

“You don’t have to be formal every time I call, Vincent.” She spoke in a gentle tone. I leaned on my desk and rubbed my head.She’s right.I know she is. But I can’t think of her as anything but a business partner. “Iam, your wife.” I could hear the pain in her voice and I wish, so badly, I could feel remorse, but there was nothing. Well, except annoyance.

“Right.” I sighed, “What can I do for you?” I replied as I walked towards the door and closed it.

“Manuel and I will be leaving in an hour, for Spain.” She cleared her throat and for a second I worried that she was finally running away, but then I remembered she had a meeting with her father.

“When will you be back?” I asked and leaned against the desk once again.

“In a week.” She paused, “I thought Manuel could use a little bonding time with my father.” She informed me, knowing that it was best he wasn’t here for safety reasons, I couldn’t do anything but agree.

“Of course. Is he nearby?” I asked. “I’d love to say goodbye.” I cleared my throat and heard her softly laugh.

“Of course, just one moment.” I heard shuffling from her side before she spoke to Agosto in her native language. “Look daddy wants to talk to you.”

“Daddy!” He cheered in Italian making me smile as I relaxed against the desk.

“Hey buddy, how are you?” I asked and for a second didn’t hear anything. Until his mother made him talk.

“Good.” Came his reply, and the line went dead again. I couldn’t blame him; I barely spend time with him. And when I can see him, I am always running out of the house within five minutes because of business.

“Agosto,” I spoke out his first name, “I hope you know that I love you.” I whispered out the words fearing someone might hear them. The big Vincenzo Romano, saying I love you. Now that’s something my enemies are dying to hear.

“I love you too, daddy.” He replied, and I heard his footsteps running away. I sighed and was about to hang up before I heard Emilia’s voice.

“You know that he misses you.” She mumbled, I cleared my throat and couldn’t even reply. I didn’t know what to replay with. It’s not like I had another choice. This was for their safety. Everything I did was to keep them safe. “I wish you would just spend some time with him alone.” She added making my blood boil.

“I know, but I can’t just leave it all behind, Emilia!” I was suddenly consumed by anger. “If I leave we will stop breathing in the next 24 hours. You know that!” I snapped as if all this was her fault. But I expect her to understand, she wasn’t that innocent herself. She knew what this lifestyle did to you.

Although family meant everything to me, I just couldn’t risk it all. If I spend more time with them, words will get out and the next second I will find them dead. I needed to protect them. “Vincent, I know. And I understand, but just try.” She brought me out of my thoughts. “I have to go.” She whispered and hung up leaving me alone to my thoughts.

I threw the phone against the wall and watched as it broke and fell to the ground. Clenching my jaw in anger, I fisted my hair and pulled at them as my breathing grew stronger. “Just breath, Vincent.” I reminded myself, as I took deep breaths until my body stopped shaking.

“For fuck’s sake.” I groaned and closed my eyes for a second and reopened them. The episode I just had completely forgotten. I pulled the door open and walked downstairs, immediately spotting Nico behind the bar. He looked up making me wave him over.

He sprinted towards me, like a fucking child while grinning. “Sup?” I wanted to bang his head against the wall. He was always so cheerful, it almost physically hurt to look at him.

“Send someone for a new phone.” I glared at him; his smile fell as he stared at me.

“Again?” He questioned knowing very well what happened. I guess that’s why I keep him around. For the last six years, he has been a close and allied friend. I entrusted him with my life. So, killing him would be a dick move. Besides, he’s dating my sister, she’d kill me if I hurt him.

“Yes again!” I snapped, “Get me a new one!”

I walked away and pushed the steel door open immediately hearing the groans of people in pain. In a matter of seconds, I came into the wide-open space and saw all different kinds of men fighting one another.

Giovanni was sitting at the bar a blonde bimbo wrapped around him like a kitten as they continued kissing. I stalked towards him and sat beside him as I stared at the new bartender. “A scotch on the rocks.” I sighed and looked at the rings. “Enough, for fucks sake.” I groaned in Italian a few minutes later and pulled the girl by the arm and pushed her away.

“Asshole.” She hissed like a cat and walked away. Giovanni wiped his lips as he grinned at me.

“Really?” He groaned, “I was having fun.” He added once I shrugged.

“When are you fighting?” I asked and grabbed the glass.

“In five.” He turned serious, the childish Giovanni I grew up with gone instantly.

“Good.” I smirked.

I watched Giovanni land punch after punch at the poor man who thought he could win this fight. Giovanni was the best fighter I knew, but yet, somehow, this asshole thought he could bring down one of the best. Everyone rejoiced while the two idiots continued to fight.

“Tell him, I’ll wait in the office.” I told Marcelo after five minutes, having seen enough of this fight. He nodded still keeping his eyes on the fight. I lifted an eyebrow before I cleared my throat. He looked away from the ring and stared at me.

“I mean, yes, sir.” He straightened out his poster, the smile leaving his lips as he got serious.

“Good.” I turned my back on him and walked away.

When I climbed the stairs, the music at the club began to play louder. Opening the steel door, I groaned when I saw how crowded the club was. I was down for less than ten minutes. How? I walked to the bar as Nico noticed me and came quickly to my side. “Vince, what can I do for you, big boss!” He exclaimed making me groan, sometimes I really think he’s a kid trapped in the body of an adult.

“Nico, please.” I looked at him, “I need something strong; I can’t go to the office now with all these bodies dancing around.” The thought of closing down the club crossing my mind immediately.

“Right away, sir.” He replied and turned to grab a Jack Daniels bottle. I stared at the bottle as if it were my lost lover. All I cared about in this world were money, drugs, alcohol, and family.I know.I know that none of them are healthy, but who cares.

When Nico put a glass in front of me, I watched as he began to fill it. Waiting patiently for him to stop filling it up, I realized that his head was completely elsewhere. “Nico, enough!” I grunted and snatched the glass before it could start pouring all over the bar. He quickly turned to me with an apologetic smile on his face.

“Sorry.” He quickly apologized and put the drink next to him and went to grab a new glass.

“It’s fine.” I reassured him, turning to where he was so busy looking, and I spoke. “Now let me see what the fuck needed your attention.” I complained.

“At the door.” He answered quickly, I looked in the direction and my breath was cut into my throat. She sure did deserve all the attention from the club.

A brunette stood alone at the entrance of the door; a short red dress covered all the right places but left out enough to make you want to tear it off. Her red lips were so inviting that they almost got me out of my chair. Before anyone could understand her beauty and find out who this goddess was.

She did something I could say gave every man an erection, her smile was the purest thing my eyes have seen in, my thirty-three years of living. “Nico!” She walked up to us and waved.

“Hey, love!” He replied making me stare at them like the asshole I was. She turned to him and quickly gave him a kiss on the cheek, and I watched as the dress lift up her legs as she stretched over the bar to reach him. She was wearing black laced thong and it just got my dick hard to the point a groan left past my lips.

“You made it! I thought you wouldn’t be able to show up!” One of my closest friends spoke to the goddess as she laughed and slapped his arm.

“Oh, come on, Nico! You know I will never miss a night out with you.” I swear, all her movements took place in slow motion even the way she laughed and her head slightly tilted backwards, while the big smile adorned her face.

“I know you wouldn’t, but I thought you had work in the morning.” He replied making her shake her head as she looked at the drinks behind him. “The usual?” He figured out where her eyes were making her turn red.

“Yeah. I may need it after the day I had.” She sighed and sat next to me, completely ignoring who was sitting next to her. Like the only eyes she had, were for Nico. And I couldn’t help letting jealousy cloud me.

I cleared my throat making them both turn to me. “Oh, right, sorry. Elena, this is my boss, Vince.” Soon he introduced me knowing how much I hated the nickname he gave me. I preferred everyone calling me the same and Nico wasn’t an expectation, no one will ever be.

“Vince, this is my cousin Elena. She recently moved here to L.A. from Russia.” He explained when he saw me glare at him.

“Please, call me Vincent.” I smiled at her and forwarded my hand for a shake, she stared at it for a second before making up her mind with a smile.

“Nice to meet you.” She spoke before gracing me with another smile. I chuckled before placing my hand on my thigh while I stared at her.

“Trust me, pleasure is all mine.” I answered and smirked. She rolled her eyes before turning to Nico, who put her drink in front of her.

“Thank you.” She answered before she grabbed the bourbon and drank it, I looked at her astonished and sickly in love with the sight before me to even realize how stupid I was.

“Give me another, please!” She exclaimed and finished the rest of the drink. I raised an eyebrow of surprise lust just growing for this woman that unfortunately I couldn’t meet before I settled down with a woman that I don’t love.

“Hey slow down, I don’t want you to be hammered. I don’t finish work for another hour. Who’s going to take care of you-” Before he could finish I interrupted the idiot, both turning towards me as if realizing that I was still sitting next to them.

“I will!” Nico lifted his eyebrows by surprise as she stared at me as if I had just grown another head.

“You will?” He questioned with surprise, making me nod.

“Yes, I have nothing better to do.” I shrugged my shoulders like there were not hundreds of documents that needed my review in my office.

“If you don’t mind?” He turned to his cousin and waited for her answer.

“I mean, sure, if you don’t mind.” She smiled and grabbed the glass Nico had placed in front of her.

“Magnificent, so I’ll be your guardian for the night.”And for the rest of your life.I thought as she smiled and drank her drink. I felt Nico’s eyes on me, but I didn’t care at the moment.

“So, you’re the owner of this club? It’s nice.” She started a conversation, but I was too caught up on just creepily staring at her that she had to shake her hand in front of my face. I cleared my throat and tore my eyes away from her, as I cursed myself out.

“Yes, yes, I am.” I smirked and tapped the glass making Nico re-fill it. She smiled and turned the chair looking at the dancing bodies, while her shoulders moved slightly at the rhythm of the music.

And that’s how I spend the rest of my night watching, dancing, laughing, and fucking her at last. And God, she was the best fuck I’ve ever had.

I confess that it was not my proudest moment since she was wasted out of her mind, but she continued to tease and my lust continued to grow. So, I did what any sane man would’ve done. Sleep with her.

If only I had known she was going to be the death of me.