Free Omerta (The DeLuca Family #1) by K. A. Ware Page B
Authors: K. A. Ware
Angelo I was confident I could take him down if he tried anything. Still, I turned to leave, he seemed like he wanted to be left alone.
He appeared to relax at my hesitation, “No worries, there’s enough room for the both of us, my ego isn’t that big,” he responded, making me laugh.
I stepped up to the railing a few feet from him and let the muted music from inside wash over me.
After a few minutes of only slightly awkward silence he spoke, “Not much of the partying type are you?”
Another chuckle escaped my lips, “Meh, just not really into drunk assholes trying to cop a feel.”
His brow pulled down as he turned to look at me. “Someone giving you a hard time?” he asked, looking like he was ready to defend my honor once I gave the word.
I shook my head, what was it about me that made all the men in my life want to defend me? Did I look that helpless?
“No, I can handle myself.” It came out snarkier than intended.
His eyebrows shot up at my tone, “I’m sure you can, wasn’t trying to insult you.”
“Sorry, kind of a sore subject for me,” I winced.
“Brothers?”
I laughed again, “Yeah, older brother and cousin, how’d you know?” That was the story we had come up with to explain Angelo’s presence, he was my overprotective cousin, which I guess was partially true since I was Carlo’s pseudo sister.
“I drive my little sister crazy. She gets that same defiant look on her face whenever I insinuate that she needs protecting.”
“You would think that you’d learned your lesson by now then,” I quipped.
This brought out a soft chuckle from him, “You’d think but,” he knocked on his forehead, “Thick skull.”
I smiled at him, all earlier agitation fading away.
“I’m Zane,” he said, extending his hand.
“Mia.”
He made me relax, all the buzzing in my head faded to the background and I was just Mia. This guy didn’t know anything about me, all he saw was a normal college girl with a defiant streak. I wanted that, I wanted to live in that world, if for only just a little while.
Zane was a local and we dated through the summer and into the fall. Even though I didn’t want to admit it at the time, he was the primary reason I stayed through the summer and took extra classes. Not that I thought we would have something permanent, mostly because I just didn’t want to go back to my reality yet. I wanted to pretend for a little longer.
He was the perfect boyfriend; kind, patient, and always understanding. The sex was great too. Even if I felt like he was a little too careful with me sometimes, he was passionate and doting. I loved the attention he gave me. It was easy being with him, even Angelo came to like him, it was hard not to.
He was the perfect distraction, until my real life caught up to me.
…
One night during the fall of my sophomore year Angelo was back in Seattle handling business with Carlo and Enzo was taking on the role of my personal security. I had been studying late at the library, which was normal for me, and I still had a ton more to do that night before a huge test the next morning. It was going to be an all-nighter. After we got home and Enzo swept the house, I asked him to go pick me up some supplies for the night, meaning pizza from my favorite restaurant across town and chocolate gelato. About fifteen minutes after he left I heard Gina come in with her douchebag of a boyfriend, Chris, they were fighting again. I turned up my music and tried to tune them out as I studied.
A few minutes later there was a loud thump and I heard Gina scream. I jumped off my bed and barreled down the stairs to the main foyer in a matter of seconds. When I turned the corner into the kitchen Chris was standing over Gina kicking her over and over again, her crumpled body slamming into the cabinets with each brutal strike of his boot. Her face was bloody and she was whimpering as he continued to beat and scream at her.
I lost it, looking around the kitchen, I
He appeared to relax at my hesitation, “No worries, there’s enough room for the both of us, my ego isn’t that big,” he responded, making me laugh.
I stepped up to the railing a few feet from him and let the muted music from inside wash over me.
After a few minutes of only slightly awkward silence he spoke, “Not much of the partying type are you?”
Another chuckle escaped my lips, “Meh, just not really into drunk assholes trying to cop a feel.”
His brow pulled down as he turned to look at me. “Someone giving you a hard time?” he asked, looking like he was ready to defend my honor once I gave the word.
I shook my head, what was it about me that made all the men in my life want to defend me? Did I look that helpless?
“No, I can handle myself.” It came out snarkier than intended.
His eyebrows shot up at my tone, “I’m sure you can, wasn’t trying to insult you.”
“Sorry, kind of a sore subject for me,” I winced.
“Brothers?”
I laughed again, “Yeah, older brother and cousin, how’d you know?” That was the story we had come up with to explain Angelo’s presence, he was my overprotective cousin, which I guess was partially true since I was Carlo’s pseudo sister.
“I drive my little sister crazy. She gets that same defiant look on her face whenever I insinuate that she needs protecting.”
“You would think that you’d learned your lesson by now then,” I quipped.
This brought out a soft chuckle from him, “You’d think but,” he knocked on his forehead, “Thick skull.”
I smiled at him, all earlier agitation fading away.
“I’m Zane,” he said, extending his hand.
“Mia.”
He made me relax, all the buzzing in my head faded to the background and I was just Mia. This guy didn’t know anything about me, all he saw was a normal college girl with a defiant streak. I wanted that, I wanted to live in that world, if for only just a little while.
Zane was a local and we dated through the summer and into the fall. Even though I didn’t want to admit it at the time, he was the primary reason I stayed through the summer and took extra classes. Not that I thought we would have something permanent, mostly because I just didn’t want to go back to my reality yet. I wanted to pretend for a little longer.
He was the perfect boyfriend; kind, patient, and always understanding. The sex was great too. Even if I felt like he was a little too careful with me sometimes, he was passionate and doting. I loved the attention he gave me. It was easy being with him, even Angelo came to like him, it was hard not to.
He was the perfect distraction, until my real life caught up to me.
…
One night during the fall of my sophomore year Angelo was back in Seattle handling business with Carlo and Enzo was taking on the role of my personal security. I had been studying late at the library, which was normal for me, and I still had a ton more to do that night before a huge test the next morning. It was going to be an all-nighter. After we got home and Enzo swept the house, I asked him to go pick me up some supplies for the night, meaning pizza from my favorite restaurant across town and chocolate gelato. About fifteen minutes after he left I heard Gina come in with her douchebag of a boyfriend, Chris, they were fighting again. I turned up my music and tried to tune them out as I studied.
A few minutes later there was a loud thump and I heard Gina scream. I jumped off my bed and barreled down the stairs to the main foyer in a matter of seconds. When I turned the corner into the kitchen Chris was standing over Gina kicking her over and over again, her crumpled body slamming into the cabinets with each brutal strike of his boot. Her face was bloody and she was whimpering as he continued to beat and scream at her.
I lost it, looking around the kitchen, I