Sniping Her Mafia King

Arwen felt his hand again at her low back as he escorted her into a small family-owned Italian restaurant. A sign on the door said closed for private function and she wrinkled her nose when he ignored it and encouraged her to enter behind his first bodyguard. The place was near empty except for the woman who greeted them at the door, a server who immediately poured them water as they were seated and whoever was in the kitchen cooking.

"What is this place?" she asked curiously.

"You made a comment about not enjoying Italian food in restaurants because it's not as good as Fabiana's. I knew you would not enjoy me taking you to a starred restaurant which gives tiny little pretty portions on dainty dishes with more attention paid to look than taste. This," he waved around, "belongs to an old family friend and I promise you, the food will be as good, if not better than Fabiana's," he grinned suddenly, "and I will call you a liar to your face if you tell her I said such blasphemy." She chuckled as she lifted her water to sip it. "It will be our little secret."

"I hope you don't mind but I took the liberty of discussing the menu with my friends Marco and Gia before we arrived."

"So long as you let them know I'm vegan it should be fine," as his water glass paused halfway to his mouth, she turned her head. "Did you not know?"

"You raise chickens for eggs."

"Your point?"

"If you're vegan you don't eat eggs."

"Vegetarian then?"

He noted the light in her eyes and clicked his tongue, "very funny, Arwen."

"I believe we're even for the shots of blood."

"Touché," he grinned as a man and a woman approached the table. "Marco, Gia," he rose from his seat to greet the couple bestowing kisses to their cheeks.

He spoke for several seconds in Italian and Arwen was reminded she really was going to need Jesse to give her lessons. Why she had started with French lessons with Jesse instead of Italian was beyond her. It was clear the couple liked Addy greatly as the woman clasped his hands and squeezed them tightly but whatever he was saying had the older woman with grey strands running through her mop of curly hair peering past his shoulder multiple times to stare incredulously at Arwen and the man was making excited clapping noises. What the hell was he saying?

"Marco, Gia, this is my friend Arwen. Arwen, these are my friends Marco and Gia. They are the owners of this fine establishment."

The woman finally got past Addy and gripped Arwen's hands in one hand her chin in another and examined her thoroughly. "Our Addy, he is good boy. He will take care of you. He takes care of all of us. You are first girl he brought here." Her English was stilted and her accent thick.

Arwen couldn't get out of her grip as she cast her eyes to Addy who was grinning broadly at her discomfort. "Is that so?"

"Yes, yes," the woman studied her intently getting almost within an inch of her face. "You are very pretty girl. Will make fine mother to Cavallaro boys."

"Woah," Arwen managed to get her chin away from the woman and leaned back in her seat. She c****d an eyebrow at Addy. "Someone is putting the cart way ahead of the horse. Like several laps ahead."

He shrugged and kissed Gia's temple and then turned her back in the direction of the kitchen and ordered her away laughing in Italian. Gia giggled and Marco laughed and pulled his wife along.

He took his seat and flipped a white napkin over his lap with flourish, "Gia is a romantic soul. Has been wanting me married off with a dozen offspring for years. She considers me one of her adopted children." He motioned to the hostess who had met them at the door, "her daughter Gina got married at the ripe age of twenty because her Papa caught her kissing a boy."

"Don't kiss me here then. I don't hear wedding bells in my near future and certainly not with a shotgun at my back because I locked lips with their son."

He threw his head back and laughed. "Mia cara, marriage is also a fine establishment. Don't knock it until you've tried it."

"Have you tried it?"

"No. I'm a deeply religious man and would never make a vow to God I could not keep."

She sputtered on her water at his comment. "Religious?"

"I say my rosary every night before bed."

"I

I grew up Presbyterian. I couldn't tell you what a rosary was."

"Prayer beads?"

"Like monks carry?"

"Or priests and altar boys."

"Were you an altar boy?"

"How else do you steal the money the from the offering if you are not an altar boy?" he asked mocked seriously.

"You did not steal from the offering," she grunted and rolled her eyes, leaning back as Gia appeared to pour her a glass of a deep red wine.

"I was a handful as a child. I most assuredly did, more than once, but I only got caught one time."

"What happened when you got caught?"

"My father beat me."

Her eyes widened but she said nothing. The brutality he had grown up with was known to her.

"You are not surprised." He commented dryly.

"No. You forget I know Jesse's opinion of your father."

"Ah yes. I should add a caveat. I didn't get beaten for stealing the offering. I got beaten for not ensuring the Cavallaro family got their cut of my profit."

"Good grief," she muttered as she lifted the wine glass to her nose and inhaled the rich scent.

"The wine is from my family's vineyards in Sicily." Addy smiled as if he forgot the story he'd just been telling. "Tell me how it is." He watched as she swirled the wine in her glass before taking a sip.

She closed her eyes and sighed, "it's heavenly. I did not know you owned a vineyard."

"I do. Who do you think keeps your best friend stocked in her favorite red?"

"Funny, she never mentioned it was a Cavallaro wine."

"It is not." He grinned at her with a wolfish smile. "The vineyard belonged to my mother's family. When my maternal grandfather passed away, he left it to me as mama had already passed. Between my grandfather and I, we made sure Luca's hands never touched it." She took another sip, the wine even sweeter with his admission. "How lovely."

"It is. It is a highly profitable operation. We've won multiple awards and our head sommelier is tireless and I have great respect for him."

A basket lined with a checked cloth was set in between them and the smell of yeasty bread wafted towards Arwen and her tummy growled in response. She watched as Addy lifted a corner of the towel and edged the basket in her direction.

"Gia's breadsticks are better than any I've tasted. I once asked her for the recipe, and she told me it's the only thing to keep me coming back here so she refused to give it."

Arwen pulled a piece of bread between her fingers and thumb. It was warm and butter scented and as she put the morsel on her tongue she groaned. "It's made with the wings of angels or something."

Addy laughed at her comments and watched as she plucked another piece of bread dropping it into her mouth. "I might let you eat the entire basket and forgo my share just to watch you."

"No, you need to eat this. It's divine." she leaned forward and held a piece out to him. "Come on."

He gripped her hand and eased it to his mouth, his lips closing over her fingertips as took the proffered piece. He didn't release her hand as he chewed thoughtfully, lightly playing with her fingers on the tabletop. "You're right. I may have to fight you for the rest of the basket."

She giggled at his words, "you don't want to fight me. I'm pretty tough."

"I've seen you fight, or did you forget? We should spar sometime."

His words gave her pause, "excuse me?"

"Spar, fight, practice?" he threw different words at her. "I'm not the linguist my cousin is. Is there another word for getting physical in a ring?"

"You want to spar with me?"

"Mia cara, I've been thinking of many things I've wanted to do with you since the minute I locked eyes with you in the filthy warehouse."

"And sparring is on the list?"

"Among a hundred other things."

"Aside from s*x, what else is on the list?"

"All in good time, Arwen." His eyes were dark and foreboding and when she shivered at his study of her, a slow smile spread across his lips. "I'm in no hurry. Are you?"

"Not tonight, no," she met his gaze head-on. There was a zero percent chance Bellona would call her tonight considering she'd just done an assignment the Saturday before with her team and then a solo mission a couple of days prior. "I have all the time in the world." "Unless Dee needs you." He said suddenly. "If she needs you, I take you home. I need to make sure you understand above anything else, Arwen, I understand family comes first. She is your priority."

"You mean it, don't you?" she studied him aware as he played with her fingers, she was very aware of his strength just within his hands.

"I very much do," he lifted his glass of wine. "Arwen, I respect you are everything to her. As much as you need her, she needs you even more. You are her world. We could be naked, in the middle of the best s*x of our lives and if she phones you, we will stop and go home to her."

She nodded suddenly feeling a strange sense of emotion at his words. Everything he was showing her with his actions from saving women in a container and being thoughtful of Deidre was in stark contrast to what she knew of him as the new Don of the Cavallaro crime syndicate. Was he dark and dangerous and should she be running for the hills? Absolutely. Was he winning her over with his caring and loving attitudes? Definitely. Did the fact he was clearly into the same kind of s****l experiences she enjoyed going to sway her to him instead of away from him? It was highly probable.

He lifted her fingers and kissed her knuckles. "What is going on behind those gorgeous blue eyes?"

"You scare me." If those words were the answer, he was expecting he didn't show it. In fact, Arwen noted he didn't waver in playing with her fingers, his smile never faltered, and his eyes never left her face. She knew it wasn't what he'd wanted to hear. The man must be an epic poker player. If he had a tell, it was not discernable to her.

"Explain," he said simply.

"I don't need to run an internet search to know you're a dangerous man, Addy. I know you think I'm some kind of badass who does crazy a's things with your cousin, but I really am a simple woman who spends a solid chunk of her time with her kid or working. I also don't need to dig deep to find out you're wealthy and used to a way of life I'm not. I'm not fancy like Vegas. I'm not a big international traveller who flits back and forth between the US and Italy. For the last twelve years I've dedicated my life to living simply and being a good stand-in for the mom my cousin lost. Our worlds are eons apart. It won't be long before you get bored with me. I won't be one of your exes who chases you. When it's over, and I know it will be, I will walk away but I anticipate I'm going to be licking more wounds than those I get at fight night."

He acknowledged her words with a quiet nod.

Whatever he was about to say was interrupted as Gia come forward with a plate of antipasto with pieces of cured meats, cheeses, olives, and pickled peppers. Arwen considered what was in front of her would be a social media worthy charcuterie board and smiled at Gia, "it might be too pretty to eat."

Gia pinched her cheek warmly, "mangia!"

After the woman walked away, Arwen studied the platter between them the words she spoke hanging over them. Her fingers were still held in Addy's, and he twiddled them mindlessly.

"You are ending us before we even begin," he said suddenly as he lifted a pepperoncini and bit the end of the spicy pepper thoughtfully. "Why?"

"Your business is on the other side of the country." She said simply.

"I have businesses all over the world. America, Italy, England, France, Dubai and even Hong Kong. I have businesses here in New York as well as Vegas and LA."

"But you reside in Vegas."

"I have a condo in Vegas," he corrected. "My home is in Sicily."

"Even further," she tried to keep her tone light.

"Is this fruitless then? Do you want me to take you home?"

"No." she shook her head at his question. "I said I was scared. I didn't say I was a coward, and I did not say I was going to run screaming for the hills." She gave a sly smirk as she caught his smile widening just a tad more. "I want you, Adrianu Cavallaro and I'm not one to shy from a challenge. Who knows? You could fall hopelessly in love with me, and it be you crying into your cereal the morning after, when I go home to my chickens."

At her bold statement he erupted with a shout of laughter which warmed her from the inside out, far better than the wine did. She smiled at his laugh, her dimples deep in her cheeks as she nibbled a piece of cheese. "You have a good laugh, Addy. You should do it more. You're very buttoned up."

"Buttoned up?" he huffed as he reached for his wine glass. "My best friend Santino would disagree with you. He thinks I am too free with my words and actions."

"You have friends?"

"You are in danger of a spanking," he gave a warning as he set his glass down.

"You know, you're eating and drinking with your left hand." She wiggled her fingers against his palm, "you could let my hand go to eat." "No." he negated her request. "If I had my way, you would be on my lap, feeding me. Be grateful I'm only asking to hold your hand."

Something about his words made her thighs clench. Arwen knew she was an anomaly with her team. As a strong group of feminists who killed abusive, threatening men, her girlfriends had no use for domineering men who controlled a girl. Arwen however had grown up in a very loving household with extraordinarily strong men who dictated the order of the house and had taken care of their girls. Her daddy had insisted on Arwen doing as she instructed. In her home, love was neither given as a reward nor withheld as a punishment. It was simply there. She had been a daddy's girl through and through, given unconditional love but also knowing respect and discipline. Losing him when she was young had left a hole in her heart for a strong decisive man to take control and take care of her. She had filled the void with dominant men in the bedroom. She had daddy issues. She knew it. She embraced it.

The thought of feeding Adrianu Cavallaro while balanced on his strong thighs was deeply titillating and she fought every single impulse to dive onto him. Her girlfriends would have a field day.

At her flush he tilted his head, "come." He pushed his chair back as if he had read her mind. When she hesitated, he held his hand out, "Arwen, come." His tone was more demanding, and she closed her eyes for a moment reveling in the tone. She swallowed the lump, looking over her shoulder in the direction of the kitchen.

"It is none of their business and anything which happens in this restaurant, stays in this restaurant. They are loyal to me, Arwen. You could go under the table, suck my c**k and nobody would bat an eyelash."

"Addy," she gasped at his words.

"I wouldn't do that to Gia. She does not need to see my junk. I'm simply saying, what happens at Martinelli's stays at Martinelli's." He did not lower his gaze, "I am not asking again Arwen. Now. If I say it a third time, there will be consequences." "Yes Addy," she whispered as she rose from her chair and moved to sit on his lap as he instructed.

She felt his lips kiss her temple and she closed her eyes, fighting the blush on her cheeks. His "good girl" comment echoed in her ear, and she reached out for a piece of cheese and held it out for him. He bit half of it and motioned for her to eat the other half of the cube. She wrapped her arm over his shoulder as he adjusted her legs over his lap, holding her close. His thumb danced on her waist, and she selected another item from the antipasti plate to feed him.

She jumped when he lunged forward playfully and ripped the meat from her hand, nipping at her fingers. She giggled at his actions. He asked for the spicy pickled pepper, and she held it out for him, and he bit it, the juices running down his chin. She leaned forward, boldly kissing his chin, running her tongue to collect the heat on her tongue. He turned his mouth to hers and caught her lips with his.

Their kiss was brief and spicy and when she sat up straighter, he stared into her eyes.

"Bread?"

"No." He shook his head. "If I know Marco, the biggest plate of linguine with clams is heading our way in about thirty seconds."

She made a face and he immediately grinned.

"If you tell Fabiana his is better, you risk your own life."

"Her dish of linguine and clams is out of this world, Addy. She makes her own pasta and I'm not sure she doesn't dig the clams herself." She shook her head, "I told you, I never order anything she has ever made me when I do Italian. It's not fair to the chef." "I promise you. You'll be eating your words."

"Wanna bet?"

"Cara," he taunted, "I run a casino. Of course, I wanna bet. Shall we make a wager?" his eyes were dancing, and his hand was squeezing her hip playfully.

"What do you have in mind?"

"If Marco's is better, I get to choose the first toy we ever play with together."

At his words goosebumps rolled down her arms in excitement. "And if Fabiana's is better I get to choose?"

"Yes."

"I agree to your wager, Mr. Cavallaro."

"Excellent." He nuzzled her neck, "I look forward to tying you up later with my bondage straps."

"You're very sure of yourself."

"I have considered something you haven't, mia cara."

"What, Addy?"

"Neither of us will lose," his smile was wicked as he leaned back to watch the smile spread across Arwen's cheeks.