Page 5 of Flowers and Moonlight
Even though I’m not working the party the same way the rest of the muscle is tonight, I always tend to stay near Violaand Fleur when I can. While both women are beautiful, I’m not attracted to them. I just have this need to protect them and keep my eye on them.
I know how life can change in an instant, it’s one of the demons I can never outrun or shake off. It’s always there at the end of the day and in the darkest parts of the night where not even moonlight can shine.
They remind me of my sister. She was so full of life, but then she was taken by a psychopath. He tortured her and raped her. He left her for dead and I wasn’t able to save her. I wasn’t able to find her in time.
My quest for vengeance led me to the Guidice family. I knew they had connections, ones I needed if I ever wanted to find the man responsible for taking some light from this world. I didn’t have them on my own and the police were fucking useless.
I remember the day I took a chance and walked up to Angelo Guidice to ask for help. I should have been scared. Everyone knows about the power the family has and the violence at their fingertips. I just had nothing else to lose at that point.
In some ways it made me reckless; in others it brought me to my future.
Once I explained to Angelo what had happened and why I needed his help, he looked at me for a long time. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was taking my measure.
“I can see how deeply your need for vengeance goes, but you must know, when you get to the end of your journey, it won’t bring your sister back. Her light will never shine on you again.” I flinched and his eyes softened, something I didn’t know a man like him was capable of. “Are you prepared to sell your soul to the devil in exchange for life of the man who is responsible?”
“Yes,” I responded without hesitation, knowing he could hear the truth in a single word.
“Then I’ll help you.” I opened my mouth to thank him, but he held up his hand to stop me. “In exchange you will come and work for me. Nothing in this life is free.”
“It would be an honor to be loyal to the family who helps me find the justice no one else has been able to give.”
I sealed my fate that day in so many ways. Angelo was right. I did pay a cost when I found the man who was responsible for my sister’s tragic death. He paid a bigger price though—in blood.
My sister’s tormentor was the first man I ever killed, but he wasn’t the last. I gave my life over to the Guidice family and I would do it again without hesitation.
“Are you sure you don’t want to just go to The Sanctuary instead,” Viola counters her friend, but her suggestion is laced with amusement.
I’m not entirely sure what they’re talking about, but The Sanctuary is a bar owned by the Devil’s Saints MC where Fleur’s father is president, and her brother is vice president. I’ve dealt with quite a few men from the Devil’s Saints while working for the Guidice family. They aren’t quite as refined, in some ways, but the Saints have a code very similar to the family’s which they live by.
Fleur rolls her eyes and smirks at her friend. “I’m sure. You know none of the boys will let me have a good time,” she pouts which makes Viola laugh.
“That’s what you get when you’re related to big, bad bikers,” Viola teases.
“Like your family is any better,” Fleur snarks.
They share a look and start giggling. I look up and make eye contact with Tony who is at the bar talking to the three Guidice brothers. They all have a hand in the family business, and I respect them for the roles they play.
When I look over the people attending the ball, I note we have plenty of security and everyone is behaving themselves. Most people wouldn’t expect a ball as upper class as this one would have security risks, but some of these people haven’t made their money in the most legal of ways. Rich and powerful people often cross lines and not all of them have the same ethical code as the Guidice family.
When my eyes scan the crowd again, I notice Bernard Moreau. He’s a man who pretends to be above all the things my boss embraces, but he doesn’t have any sense of morality. The man goes where the money is and is not the least bit ashamed of it.
From the way his daughter flounces across the room and tries to impress herself upon the Guidice brothers, I have no doubt Moreau would love to know what real power is. I have no doubt he would use his daughter to do it. It wouldn’t surprise me to find out she’s been instructed to get close to one of the brothers.
If Dante wasn’t enamored with his wife, I’m sure he would be the target for her advances. I shiver internally at the thought of what would happen if anyone tried to get between Dante and Jasmine. Dante would hold no prisoners and be bathed in blood. He puts his queen above all else; as it should be.
I notice Tony move away from the bar to have a word with Dante and Jasmine and my eyes scan the crowd again. It’s always a good idea to notice who people are talking to. It’s cued us into potential alliances and business dealings ahead of time in the past.
The Guidice Ball is the place to be seen and to network. When I see Bernard speaking to Juan Martinez, I stiffen. Martinez doesn’t try to hide his involvement in the things the family wishes didn’t have a foothold in the city.
The only reason Martinez is here is because it would be a huge affront to the man if he weren’t included in tonight’s festivities. At least if he’s here we’re able to keep an eye on him. Still, the man has no honor and if he didn’t have business dealings in the city, it would be better for everyone.
Bernard and Juan are speaking in hushed tones and Martinez doesn’t look happy at whatever he’s being told. I can only hope that they take each other out. It would be better if they did, and the city could breathe a little easier. The law isn’t always right, but it isn’t always wrong either.
There are some things you just shouldn’t make money from and the selling of people, something Martinez has no issue doing, should be off-limits.
I tear my eyes away from the pair before they can notice me watching them. My gaze swings toward the entrance just as a woman walks through the door. A woman I can’t look away from. It looks like she brought the moonlight in with her.
I can imagine the way her caramel colored hair would look wrapped around my fist. The thought makes my cock take notice, which has me imagining her pouty lips wrapped around my cock. The gentle curves of her body call to me and my fingers flex at the idea of cupping her perfect tits.