The Fiddler's Heart Read online

  “Oh boy, I hope you’re right.”

  “I’m always right.”

  “Oh really?” she countered.

  “I was right around three a.m. when you shifted in your sleep.”

  “Hmm, well that doesn’t take a genius to figure out I wanted some,” she said.

  “Wanted some?”

  “Uhm, I am at work, you know, and there are people around,” she said into the phone and chuckled, but she felt her cheeks warm as she looked and saw May squinting at her and then smirking as she shook her head. May knew who she was on the phone with.

  “You can’t say you were horny or needed cock?” he asked.

  “Castle!” He laughed in that deep tone of his that instantly made her nipples harden.

  “I will talk to you later.”

  “No more phone sex?” he asked and she heard one of the others in the background.

  “Bye,” she said and then ended the call and looked toward the front window of Powerhouse.

  “One of your men?” May asked as Liz stood by her preparing to start another class.

  “Yeah.” She worried her bottom lip.

  “What’s wrong?” Liz asked.

  “Castle said that one of the waitresses was sick at Ciao Bella’s so Frankie jumped in to help.”

  “Really?” May asked and smiled.

  “That’s awesome,” Liz said.

  “Maybe,” she whispered.

  “Hey, don’t worry about her so much. She’s safe in town, and she’s learning to adjust to things, to the town and all the friendly people. She’ll be fine. This might be exactly what she needs to feel like she’s taking another step toward independence and her new life here. Plus Bella will watch out for her, never mind Bella’s family,” May added and Liz agreed. Angelina nodded, but she couldn’t help but to worry. She just wanted Frankie to be happy and to heal.

  * * * *

  Sodo and Century Buristoff were dining at Ciao Bella’s. Track was in a mood and resting at home with his arm in a sling, and Gordon was due here any minute. Sodo looked at Century, but his brother’s eyes were locked onto something across the dining room.

  “Do you think Track will be in a better mood after the weekend?” he asked, and Century shrugged. Sodo realized he wasn’t really paying attention to him and glanced over his shoulder in the same direction that Century was staring. When Sodo’s eyes landed on Francesca Pouquet his heart instantly ached, his gut clenched, and he sat even straighter. He watched her too now, wearing the slim fitting black pants, the white blouse and apron with her long blonde hair pulled up into a very perfect updo. Her shoulders were back, she had perfect posture and stood like a gazelle, but she was only about five feet four.

  Why he even noticed her posture when other assets stood out more, he didn’t know.

  “I forgot that Vander mentioned her working here, but I thought as a hostess or busser, not a waitress,” Sodo told Century.

  “Well, she looks pretty damn comfortable waitressing, and seems in good spirits,” Century said and then she headed their way. The moment she locked onto them, she stopped short, squinted, and then gulped. Sodo gave a smile and a wave which was completely out of character for him. She straightened out her shoulders, tilted her slender neck and feminine chin upward, and gave a soft smile. She didn’t know who they were and probably doesn’t remember any of the people who were there that day she was assaulted and her sister saved their lives. So his gut clenched thinking her expression and pause in her steps was out of intimidation of them being men, and big men at that.

  “We didn’t know that you worked here. How do you like it?” Sodo asked her and she looked at him strangely.

  “Do I know you?” she asked.

  “We met before. We’re good friends with Vander and his team, and we do the same work,” he said to her and tears filled her eyes but she looked away. Century reached out and touched her hand. She gasped, widened her eyes, and then stared at him, looking scared out of her mind.

  “Shhh, no sweetie, don’t be scared. We’re the good guys,” he said and then released her hand and she pulled it to her chest and worried her bottom lip.

  “So how do you like working here?” Century asked and she just stared at him a moment and then to Sodo.

  “It’s fine.” She looked around her as if checking on her other tables.

  “I was bussing but then a waitress called in sick and they were short staffed. Been running around for the last few hours trying to help out.”

  “Well you’re doing great. There doesn’t seem to be anyone complaining or looking like they’ve waited too long,” Sodo added and gave a soft smile. Her eyes were absolutely stunning, and green. Unique in a shade of emerald and something else, maybe teal. Very unique, and despite how thin she was still, she had full, large breasts, and a round, ass that filled out her dress pants.

  “Well, you know my name, and I’ll be your waitress. What can I get you to drink?” she asked them.

  “Just club soda and lemon for me,” Sodo told her.

  “I’ll take an iced tea, unsweetened, and Gordon will be joining us. I don’t know if you remember him?” Century asked cautiously.

  “Gordon is coming here to meet you?” she asked and looked emotional.

  “Oh, there he is,” Sodo said and as Gordon approached his unhappy on-guard expression went to a flash of something as he looked at Francesca.

  “Hello,” Gordon said to her and she stared way up at him, her head back nearly to her shoulders. They towered over her and especially Gordon who was six feet five.

  “Hi,” she whispered and her voice cracked.

  “This is Gordon,” he told her and she nodded. He reached his hand out for her to shake, and when their hands touched Sodo saw Gordon squint and Francesca pulled her hand away and rubbed her neck.

  “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “Water is fine,” he said to her.

  “Okay. I’ll take care of that for you guys and then be back to take your food order,” she said but then she went to turn around and then turned back. Gordon hadn’t moved to sit yet. His eyes were on Francesca.

  “I… uhm, thank you, for getting back my fiddle for me,” she said to him.

  Gordon nodded.

  “I’m glad I was able to get it. Have you been playing?”

  “A little.”

  “Good,” he said and just stared at her.

  Sodo watched her and she shyly nodded and excused herself to get their drinks. Gordon and Century watched her and Gordon sat down and exhaled.

  “She looks good, a little thin still, but good.”

  “Definitely, but Vander and the guys say she is making progress each day. She told us a waitress got sick so she was filling in,” Sodo told him.

  “She looks comfortable,” Century said.

  “It’s so strange,” Gordon said to them.

  “What is?” Century asked.

  “Seeing Francesca. Like you know coming into a scene like what we did, her all battered and unconscious while Angelina fought off that scum bag ex of hers. Just so crazy to live in the same town as a victim, a woman who was part of an investigation.”

  “It is, yet it’s kind of nice to be able to see her progress. To know she’s getting a new start. She’s young, and very attractive. She’ll be fine,” Sodo added, but it was so strange, because he felt like this conversation was different and like Gordon and Century weren’t saying what was on their mind, or like maybe they were feeling what Sodo was. An attraction to Francesca, which was not good. She was way too young. She had been a victim of abuse for three years. He didn’t even know the details of that abuse, and all he had to go by were her injuries that day when they all went to find her and Angelina. Then afterwards as they continued to help search for Zane, they entered the mansion, and saw the upscale way Francesca had been living, but further searching and they came across the bedroom and one tall locked closet that contained training devices, restraints, and other things that made
them all assume that Zane was a sadist.

  When Francesca retuned with their drinks, he watched her demeanor. How shy, reserved, and accommodating, almost apologetic for speaking, or suggesting. There was little confidence. They told her what they wanted to eat and she wrote it down, went over it twice, and asked if they needed anything at all. When she walked away he felt this overwhelming urge to protect her, and for the remainder of the time they were there they watched, his brothers did too as if they felt what he felt until Angelina arrived. Although you could tell immediately that they were sisters, with the same color hair, same green eyes, Angelina’s body was in superb condition, muscular without an ounce of fat on her, full breasts, round, perfect ass, and obvious physical trainer and martial artist’s body. He could imagine Francesca having that same figure if she did the same routine as Angelina, but instead she was thin all over. Her fingers were long, her wrists tiny, and even when Gordon touched her earlier by placing his hand on her wrist, he encased it easily with thumb and pinky with room still between.

  She looked delicate, like a porcelain doll you needed to be gentle with, yet there was this feeling he had inside telling him she wasn’t weak. Perhaps that came from knowing she was a survivor.

  “Hello, Angelina,” Gordon greeted Angelina, standing up and giving her a kiss and hug hello. Sodo and Century followed.

  “Want to join us?” Sodo asked.

  “I can sit for a few minutes. I think Fredo is in town and stopping in. I wanted to see how Angelina was doing.”

  “She looks great and really seems to fit in with waitressing here,” Century told her. Angelina smiled.

  “I was a bit worried, but I have to agree, Century. She does look comfortable. I mean I know she can waitress, we both did that for our family’s café they owned. It’s just, you know, I want her to feel strong.”

  “She will get there,” Century said and she nodded.

  “She still looks pretty thin. How are things with the counseling?” Gordon asked her and Sodo was surprised that he did. Angelina smiled.

  “She’s doing very well with the counseling, and as far as her appetite I think once I can get her to take a few classes at the studio then she’ll gain that appetite back and look and feel healthier.”

  “What’s holding her up on the classes?” Sodo asked with concern.

  “Ahh, a combination of things. She really isn’t saying and I’m trying to let her work it all out. We’ll see what happens. So are you all coming over tonight for the game still?” she asked.

  “That’s the plan,” Sodo told her. She smiled, and then looked up behind Sodo.

  “What’s going on over here?” Fredo asked and of course Century placed his arm over Angelina’s chair and leaned closer.

  “Just enjoying this gorgeous woman’s company. What is wrong with you and your brothers?” he asked.

  “What?” Fredo asked.

  “Leaving this woman to walk around town on her own and even come to a nice place like this. You’re out of your minds,” Century teased. Fredo snorted.

  “She is not going to fall for your flirtatious crap, bro, and don’t forget how well trained my woman is,” Fredo said and Angelina stood up and gave Century and little tap on his arm.

  “You need a girlfriend. I know a few women,” she said.

  “No, no, no, don’t need more aggravation. It was hard enough to get rid of the last one,” he said and Gordon laughed. “How many more guys are coming over tonight?” Century asked.

  “Just a few of the guys,” Fredo said as Angelina got up and Fredo placed his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him.

  “Well I think it’s turned into a few more of your friends. I’m hitting the store when I leave here and then helping the guys cook. So be sure to come hungry,” she told them.

  The guys said a few more things, and Sodo thought about Ally and how that hadn’t worked out. She actually cheated on them. She was young and looking for a good time. They were too experienced in everything for someone like that. He sought out Francesca again, and a few guys at a table were smiling and eyeing her over and she was trying to take their order. When the one guy placed his hand on her hip and gave her apron a tug he almost got up, but then Bella’s brother Frederick came over and it was obvious Francesca had Bella’s brothers watching over her as well. Instead of feeling completely relieved, Sodo felt a twinge of jealousy just thinking that maybe Bella’s brother or brothers were interested in Francesca in a romantic way. He really needed to get his mind off of this. They were too old, too hard core, too much of men to even think they could provide for such a delicate, feminine woman like Francesca.

  Chapter 1

  “You’re out of your mind,” Myers said to Zane.

  “Am I?” Zane asked, looking out over the balcony and to the pool area below. There was a small party going on, and he pointed to one of the women, a blonde, and nodded for her to come upstairs to the bedroom. He was a fucking king, despite the feds on the hunt for him as well as Boger Slay’s mafia friends.

  “You got the fucking you know what looking for you. Flint and Carlos were almost picked up at the boat yard in Budapest. The chances you are taking are sick.”

  “Sick maybe, but not stupid. They will be worth the risk. I told you guys that and you agreed to stay on. Now I need you to get a message to Adrian Colomos. You let him know that contact panned out. Tell him to expect a sample this week. Make sure he knows to keep it under wraps, and that if he’s ready to make a deal, then I got the manpower and resources to do it.”

  “Adrian Colomos? What the fuck, Zane? He’s one of the guys who Boger ratted you out to.”

  “Is he, or perhaps it was all a way to figure out where loyalties lie and who has the bigger balls to get shit done?” he said and then looked at the blonde as she entered the doorway. He looked at her body in the red barely there bikini. She had big tits, a wide ass. She was nothing compared to his Francesca, but what he had in store for this one, she would need a little meat on her. If all went well, Francesca would be back in his arms and his bed within the month. He just needed to ensure his enemies became allies, and this deal was going to make it happen. In fact, Boger Slay will be the one to come crawling to Zane.

  “I need to go, but I’ll be in touch with further instructions tomorrow. Take care of things as I asked.”

  “What about your brother, Clifton?”

  “The lawyer will handle things. He has to serve some time, and I really don’t give a shit right now. I made things happen here. I was always better at business, that’s why I’ll be successful.” He ended the call and then licked his lips as the blonde held his gaze.

  He undid the button on his shorts while he stared at her, deciding what he would do. How much he needed. What would take away the ache for Francesca that was getting worse and worse instead of easing. The blonde knew what to do and was quickly in front of him, lowered to her knees, pushed down his pants, and held his gaze as she began to pleasure him. He didn’t reach out to grab her hair, to hold her head steady as he stroked. He wanted her to be Francesca. So very badly he wanted his woman back where she belonged. He shouldn’t be so focused and obsessed on her. He shouldn’t be. He needed to take care of business. To ensure he had a life out of prison, and in his control.

  He rocked his hips and reached out. She didn’t feel like Francesca. He rocked and thrust, could hear her gagging and tightening up as a thousand thoughts, ideas, plans went through his mind. Boger Slay fucked him over and tried to destroy his life and his business. He thought he could threaten Zane and all he worked for and accomplished. Zane was stronger, smarter, better. He yanked his cock free and pulled the blonde up from her knees and kissed her. He brought her to the bed, ran his hands all over her, and she moaned back. She was obedient, giving, a whore, and nothing like his Francesca. Nothing. He pulled away, tore off her bikini bottoms, and flipped her around onto her belly. He shoved her over the bed and thrust right into her from behind as he held her neck and head again
st the comforter. She was struggling to breathe and he didn’t care. He was in charge. He was in control of everything.

  “I’ll get you back. I’ll get you back,” he said through clenched teeth as he eased his mind and thought about Francesca. Sweet, fragile, feminine, classy, sexy Francesca. His woman, his possession, his life. You’re going down, Boger, and then I’m getting my woman back even if it means killing her sister and anyone else who stands in my way.

  * * * *

  Gordon wondered where Francesca was. It was so odd, but she was on his mind a lot, and on the way here to Vander and his brothers’ home, Gordon thought about seeing her again. Maybe talking to her. It was stupid. He was way too old for this. For any kind of real commitment or relationship. What did he have to offer a woman so young, so victimized? He was thirty-eight and had a handful of relationships in his lifetime. In fact he wasn’t even sure he could call them relationships. They were based on sex and convenience for all involved. When a woman got clingy and started to expect more from him, it always seemed to come at a bad time. When he was heading out for a long mission, or was in no state of mind for romance because death, violence, evil ruled his thoughts. It was part of his job to eliminate such evil. To save America and Americans from terrorism and from pretty nasty shit.

  He took a sip from his bottle of beer as he looked at Vander, Niko, Castle, Fredo, and some of their other buddies who recently retired from the military and were now working for the government or law enforcement. They had knowledge, experience, value to bring to these civilian organizations as more and more scum bags invaded society. The violence and terror were no longer contained overseas, out of the eyes and mind of Americans. Not today. Not with the lack of respect for authority or the intricate criminal and intellectual minds of those ready to hurt, to kill, and to conquer.

  “Hey, Gordon, what’s up?” Angelina asked as she approached from the side. She was just over by Liz and her men, Van, Eagan, Forn, and Stoli as well as Cassy, he believed the other woman was.